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Post by Sethunya on Dec 26, 2012 12:58:34 GMT -5
Zebras were not really meant to climb trees, but for most shamans there was really no other way to get the mosses that grew on the top branches of the tree here. Sethunya's telekinesis was an enormous advantage for her, but this morning she was up in the tree anyway.
It was quite silly to use unicorn-powers for this when Sethunya could climb perfectly well! And anyway, climbing was fun!
"Here's a little bit of moss, and look, there's another! It's time to make a special brew for a mare's little brother," Sethunya sang to herself as she worked.
The moss was stored safely in a bowl, which Sethunya carried down once it was full. Her other ingredients were already waiting for her.
"Moss from the morning, flowers from noon. Berries from the evening, and water from under the moon," Sethunya continued, mixing each ingredient in turn, "A colt and his sister, for them life's a ball! But the poor dear colt, he was born far too small! A brew for longer and stronger life, made from all parts of day and night! The doctor's ordered it to be, and that doctor - why, she's me!"
It didn't matter that no one was here to listen to her song besides herself: Sethunya would hardly be herself if she wasn't singing! Once the tincture was completed, she stored it in a stoppered bottle and packed up her equipment. It would mature while she traveled to the tribe where her patient lived, and then...
...Sethunya's thoughts trailed off as she heard rustling. Her bags slung over her back, her ears perked up as she scanned her surroundings.
"...Creep, creep, creep! I hear the sound of feet!" Sethunya announced, "You'd better look elsewhere, if you're hoping for some meat! A rock right through your head will surely make you retreat..." |
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Dec 27, 2012 18:36:09 GMT -5
“No need to be so bleak, especially with a rock so weak.”
From out of the high brush another zebra emerged, black and white striped with copper eyes. Mane hawked and tail in long braids. By the stripes and the two rings in her ear, gold and copper, she was from one of the nearby tribes. Friendly – mostly artisans and trackers. This particular zebra was a tracker, indicated by the dull black and green skirt she wore over her flank, simple weapons and pack on her back. She was young, barely older than a filly.
“This how you greet all you meet, or only after up a tree?” The tribal zebra inquired. “What treats can possible be up a tree?” She asked, curious. “Or does that horn make you so mean?” As the zebra approached, she studied the strange tree climbing zebra with even more budding curiosity. “Striped green with horn, and sap on hoof, what manner of tribe are you?” She tilted her head, confused and interested. “Zuri, they call me, but one like you I have never seen. What word is it they call you?”
((I'm really going to hate trying to make any kind of rhyme sound.))
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Post by Sethunya on Dec 30, 2012 20:10:35 GMT -5
To Sethunya's delight, instead of gnolls or any other predatory animal she'd thought was sneaking around, the source of the noise turned out to be another zebra! Zuri, as the newcomer introduced herself, was barely out of fillyhood and still so adorably cute that Sethunya wanted to scoop her up for a great big hug and a round of cheek-pinching! But that was rude to do to a zebra you'd just met...maybe later.
Being accused of being a nasty mare didn't faze Sethunya one bit: she laughed happily, shaking her head and sending her mane swooshing lazily around.
"Never fear, my new little friend! Since you're no monster or gnoll, you won't meet your end," Sethunya replied, "Traveling alone as I do, it's best to be wary! You're not easily hunted if you make yourself scary."
Turning to the tree, Sethunya pointed up to the higher branches where there was still plenty of the moss growing.
"As you can see, there's moss in that tree. It's a special ingredient I needed quite urgently. Not the simplest climb to make, but to complete my brew, I just couldn't wait!"
Now she turned to face Zuri.
"Zuri's a name that will suit you quite well. Believe me my dear, I can already tell! I'm called Sethunya myself, and as you can see...I am most certainly a Colored Tribepony!"
Sethunya giggled a bit.
"But tell me, little Zuri. What brings you here? I certainly didn't know anything else important was near..." |
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Jan 2, 2013 19:54:43 GMT -5
Zuri found the new zebra a curious delight, with her trees and horn. She certainly was a pleasant surprise. And like her, she too was grateful that Sethunya proved to nothing more than one of her kind. After days of avoid gnolls and the predators that abound, she finally found somepony friendly. By what the new zebra spoke of, was she a shaman? A medicine pony? What fortune for her, a fortunate find.
“Medicine above?” Zuri said as she gazed up to the tree’s uppermost branches. “What fortune I find. I feared you one of the Tribe. The haunting spooks of white from the faraway plane. But like the very tops of the trees you climb, you are clearly not painted in white.”
Zuri sheepishly looked away, unable to hide her embarrassment about her predicament. “Uh… you see. My tribe had found themselves in strife. I went in search of new lands, rich in water and life, but in three days time I lost my way in the night. Now, I find myself tracked by those long in tooth and spite.” Her ears flick, twisted left and right, ever diligent to the sounds of the savanna. Though gnolls were not too bright, they knew their land well enough to bring quite a fight. “Are your people nearby?”
((Ignore the horrible "rhyming"))
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Post by Sethunya on Jan 8, 2013 19:17:44 GMT -5
Oh, so poor Zuri was lost and all alone? It made Sethunya's heart ache: the savannah was no place for someone so young and adorable to get lost in! Although the green zebracorn had to blush a bit when Zuri asked where the rest of her tribe was. She just sounded so hopeful. Sethunya felt so sad that she was about to disappoint cute little Zuri with her next words.
"My little friend, I'm so sorry to say...but I'm the only one of my people here this day," Sethunya replied, "I usually travel alone, between tribes and villages I roam. Which means that we're both pretty far from home."
Her smile was kind, apologetic and reassuring as she reached over to pat Zuri on the shoulder.
"But there's no need to worry, and no need to fear! I'll see you safely home myself, Zuri dear! It's no trouble at all, of this be assured. Leaving you on your lonesome now would be truly absurd."
Sethunya did a happy little hop-skip, the bags and bottles on her back rattling merrily around. True, she still had to deliver that brew...but Sethunya's patient didn't actually live anywhere near here. This tree was out in the middle of territory that no tribe had claimed, and the nearest village Sethunya knew of was days away. As for the brew, she'd planned on letting it mature while she traveled - an extra bit of delay to help Zuri wouldn't harm it at all!
"Tell me about those trackers. Are they gnolls, or trolls...or perhaps carnivorous bowls? Whatever they are, I'll help you fill them with holes!"
((Dr. Seuss power to the max~)) |
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Jan 17, 2013 20:29:55 GMT -5
“That is a pity to hear, Zuri was hoping that more friends were near.” Said the lost zebra mare, though she smiled back in a silent reply. What fortune, she would help, no longer did she need to roam now that wanderlust had long since paid its due. “Would you do such a favor? My gratitude is yours and debt owed in layers. What of your brews, you can let them stew? Won’t the sun bake and cake them?” She inquired, curiously tilting her head, looking to the green zebra’s bags. Clearly confused, yet curious all the same.
As Sethunya asked about those who trailed her, she grew nervious. Shifting uneasy on her hooves, looking about, scanning the horizon line. “They come on two legs, paws and claws. Hungerlust in their eyes, long fangs, they are assuredly gnolls. Three at the very least, terrible beasts. Can you really help, what brews can you do that make gnolls go boom?”
All this standing around, the gnolls would be gaining on them, tracking their zebra prey. Zuri and Sethunya must move soon else they’ll be set upon by furred beast.
“Let us go, the sun sets soon and who knows where the gnolls lurk, maybe just beyond the horizon or just behind us both. Lead Sethunya, with your brews.”
((Practice practice))
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Post by Sethunya on Jan 20, 2013 10:00:06 GMT -5
Seeing Zuri so interested in the contents of Sethunya's many bags and bottles made a song rise in her heart. With great reluctance, she set the song aside for later. Right now poor Zuri was nervous about the gnolls hunting her...Sethunya could sing to her about the brewmare's arts later!
"My brews are tough, meant to travel! It won't hurt them to wait, bake, or rattle!" Sethunya said instead, "I don't have any that will burn - I'm a healer, silly Zuri, and healthful brews are what I churn."
Turning to the horizon, Sethunya considered what she knew of the terrain in this area. After a moment, she started pointing.
"The nearest village I know lies that way, but to go there will take us over a day. But there's a hill with a tree straight here to the east: get up there, and on you it's hard to feast. Let's go!"
Sethunya was happy to lead the way, trotting briskly. With every step, her supplies rattled around: Sethunya had never cared much for making herself stealthy if she didn't have to, and a propensity to burst into song didn't lend itself to quiet movement regardless.
The sun was indeed beginning to sink by the time the pair made it to the hill Sethunya was thinking of: it was a steep and very rocky hill - easily defended once you made it to the top. Growing on the crest of the hill was a great big acacia tree - the thorny tree stank, with the smell showing how it meant to ward off hungry herbivores (including zebras), but the branches were sturdy and high enough that you could climb up there and be safe from hungry things in the night.
"A sure aid to our plight! We can camp up here tonight," Sethunya told Zuri happily, "If those gnolls think they can catch us here, for their overconfidence we can make them pay dear! At last resort, this old thorntree makes a commendable fort." |
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Mar 4, 2013 14:33:38 GMT -5
((I'm throwing out the rhyming))
Upon the little rocky hill, Zuri thanked the shaman. It may protect indeed protect them tonight, the shaman certifiably thought so, but Zuri wasn't so sure. Gnolls were crafty, sly, and moved well in the darkness. Also, she hoped climbing the tree was indeed a last resort. Thorntrees weren't known for their comfort, but it would make a far better fate than at the claws of the gnolls.
"Thank you Sethunya, you must be very tough not be afraid of gnolls as such. Though this choice of tree is foully unpleasant, I doubt I would have gotten any sleep tonight despite." She glanced out onto the landscape, they could see far and wide, no sign of gnolls anywhere in sight. But as the darkness would fall, so would rise a million hungry eyes. She feared the gnolls among them.
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Post by Red Charge on Mar 5, 2013 13:32:27 GMT -5
And it wasn't long before Zuri was proven right about her fears. Before she could walk another step something launched at her. It grabbed her in the midsection and sunk its teeth deep in. Zuri grunted in pain and attempted to struggle, but the creature in an instant chomped right through her, splattering her into two halves, front and rear. Before Seth's eyes the creature took the rear part of Zuri and carried it away, leaving the front part laying on the ground spluttering blood, the blind, soulless eyes of the now dead zebra staring blankly into Sethunya's own.
GBAHALI
The Gbahali is a reptilian creature resembling a salamander. It grows to 30 feet long, has a snout shorter than a salamander's, and somewhat longer legs. The Gbahali is said to be related to Equestrian Salamanders, but it displays rare cunning when it hunts. Instead of using its brute force altogether, it tends to stalk its prey silently, blending into the savannah and pounce at once, tearing opponents to shreds with its powerful jaws.
A live species has yet to be caught and studied.
Special Effects
Jaw Strength - Gbahali have a powerful set of jaws capable of chomping ponies in half. Legend has it they can even bite through hole tree trunks.
Danger Level - medium (high if manages to sneak undetected)
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Post by Sethunya on Mar 24, 2013 10:27:02 GMT -5
...What just happened?
Sethunya could only stare. She'd been expecting gnolls or something similar - a pack animal, stupid and easily chased off or killed, not...not THIS! In an instant, beautiful little Zuri was simply GONE. Her rear half carried off to make a meal for the thing that had bitten her in two.
...Eventually, Sethunya reached over and gingerly closed Zuri's dead eyes. She'd have to...have to see that Zuri's remains were treated with proper ceremony, make sure that her spirit moved on and didn't linger around the savannah where it could turn into a malicious ghost.
But first she had to find the monster that had eaten her new friend so she could TEAR IT INTO A THOUSAND TINY BLOODY PIECES AND SCATTER THEM TO THE WINDS FOR THE VULTURES TO FEAST ON.
"You think it was wise, you think it was good, Sethunya muttered as she unslung her pack from her back, removing a blanket to cover Zuri's top half, "Stealing my friend to use as your food. But this mistake is the last you'll make. What a bad monster, your life I'll take."
She slung a belt around herself, strapping on every sharp or heavy object and vial of too-strong medicine she had to it. She hadn't lied to Zuri when she said that her brews were meant to heal, but there was a fine line between a healing dose of something and a poisonous one. All medicines could be poisons if you used them improperly.
Once she was ready, Sethunya headed down the rocky hill in the direction that she'd seen the monster retreat with his dinner. Her ever-present smile hadn't quite left her face, but it was very...narrow at the moment. |
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 10, 2013 10:21:42 GMT -5
The trail of blood led her to a river bank, but after that the trails of the monster were gone. Either the monster had went down the river, up the river, or crossed to the other side. The river was not calm however and the stream was very strong. It was likely that should Seth continue that the river might sweep her further down. She could try to find another, calmer point to cross however the river led further in the jungle where gnolls and more vicious monsters resided.
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Post by Sethunya on Aug 3, 2013 10:51:26 GMT -5
Seeing that she'd lost the trail to water already made the tiny remnant of Sethunya's smile vanish into a frown. Where to go next? She could risk swimming across here, or trek along the bank until she found a calmer place to cross the river.
Despite being a wandering shaman at home with traveling, when it came to finding trails and tracks Sethunya wasn't always the best at spotting them. That was a talent best left for real trackers, like...Zuri.
"And I'm being a fool, stubborn as a pony's mule," Sethunya sighed, shaking her head, "Leaving Zuri's spirit to linger here, when I thought of her a friend true and dear? No, this cannot do! Oh Sethunya, shame on you."
Disappointed not to be able to avenge her fallen friend, Sethunya turned and trotted back to the remaining half of Zuri's body. She'd put that on hold while she made sure that Zuri didn't turn into a malicious spirit out to harm the living because she hadn't been properly honored in death. But in the future, if Sethunya should just so happen to come across the monster again...well, that would be a different problem, right?
She got back just in time: a snuffling and shuffling in the nearby grass revealed that some hungry scavenger had smelled the body and was coming for a taste of it. Grabbing a nearby rock with her telekinesis, Sethunya slammed it into the hidden form in the grass as hard as she could - the still-hidden scavenger shrieked in pain at the unexpected blow and fled without revealing itself further.
When the rites were completed, Sethunya would pack her things and continue to the village were the mare and her brother waited for her. She'd also have to pass word to Zuri's tribe about her fate...after all, they deserved as much a chance for revenge as Sethunya did. |
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 7, 2013 10:10:37 GMT -5
The scavenger was able to get away with Zuri's eyes in its belly, leaving her body in an all the more disturbing state. She was going to try and have the chief's mate inform Zuri's tribe of her fate, before she realized Zuri never had a chance to tell her what tribe she was from. She did pass on a warning about the Gbhali and hoped that non of her tribe would fall prey to it. With luck it would be hunted down soon or it would migrate elsewhere.
She was able to make it back to her tribe safely, though most zebra disliked the union with ponies, Sethunya was lucky enough to be from a tribe which was, if not tolerant, at least accepting of her nature. Some tribes were very different than others in how they treated half pony children with their bright colored coats. Sethunya's tribe was as active as it always was during the early evening, wives were preparing the food they have gathered during the day. The scouts and the warriors were playing games of strength and agility to hone their skills, the shaman was preparing medicine. All seemed to be perfectly well in their little piece of the world.
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Post by Sethunya on Sept 12, 2013 17:09:53 GMT -5
It was unfortunate that the journey to her destination wasn't particularly eventful, because Sethunya could've used the chance to vent her frustration. Of course the world wasn't fair, but it was still painful to have that rubbed in.
There was one moment where Sethunya had stumbled over some skinny gnoll - starving, packless, and clearly desperate - but the wretched-looking thing had run with its tail between its legs.
Well, at least Sethunya could smile without reservation about her delivery. Just as she'd originally anticipated, the delivery of her brew was perfectly timed: being warmed by the sun and her body heat, and shaken about as she walked, meant that Sethunya's brew was ready for drinking as soon as the family in question got the potion.
The zebras of the tribe she was visiting gave her odd glances, especially the foals, as she trotted to the hut of the family. From her gear, it was clear she was a shaman, and therefore a bit mysterious. From her coat and horn, it was even more clear that she was of the Colored Tribe, making her even more mysterious. So it was no wonder that a tiny herd was following Sethunya at a distance as she came up to the particular hut that was her destination.
"Hello in the hut! Is there anyone here? Sethunya has returned, with news for good cheer!" Sethunya called out politely.
With luck, both the sickly colt and his elder sister would both be in. If not, Sethunya would have to ask around. ...Not a hard problem to overcome, considering the half-dozen pairs of curious foal eyes watching her. |
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