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Post by Red Charge on Apr 4, 2013 23:59:05 GMT -5
They were walking down the corridor for what seemed like hours before realizing they weren't actually getting anywhere. Which was odd, the corridor wasn't twisting or turning, it was just straight and kept going forwards. But something obviously must have been wrong, by now they estimated they'd be on the other side of the hive.
Fortunately they did not encounter any more diamond dogs along the way, nor did they see any trace of the three they met. At some point they both realized that this corridor was more of a shaft than a pathway. It must have been going in wide circles around the hive itself. Looking up, they finally noticed what appeared to be tunnels within the resin, these were spread all over the corridor and must have been how the changelings moved.
But where was Starling? Was he able to get into the hive? He couldn't fly after all. How long did they have before the buzzing horde of Changelings came back? Entering one of the tunnels they continued their way inward into the depths of the hive. The tunnels overlooked many odd chambers, examining them they could see what appeared to be a room full of odd changeling pods or sorts, they couldn't see what was in them however. Another chamber lead to a strange room with lots of what appeared to be giant honeycombs filled with some unclear substance.
The tunnel ended at the entrance to another room, it had a bizarre biological structure in it, it was humming gently. They could either go into one of the rooms, which seemed to have more tunnels leading further inwards, or head back out and find another tunnel. At this point, time would probably be critical.
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Post by Draft Design on Apr 5, 2013 14:26:11 GMT -5
"Good. Because as far as I'm concerned, your backside is Rainlock property. And it's my job to look after Lady Rainlock's property." The pegasus then moved past Gilda, now taking the lead down the corridor. He had said it with a fairly serious tone, but the corporal now had a smirk underneath his helmet.
It soon became apparent that the two weren't making much progress. It seemed they were in a corridor that took them around the hive rather than to its center. Their only bet was to take one of the tunnels carved into the resin. Draft examined the chambers they passed in the smaller corridor, realizing that they would have to enter one and continue on from there. Turning back to find a different tunnel wasn't an option, not when the swarm distracted with Starling could return at any moment.
"Unless you've got any objections, I say we just take this one," Draft said, stepping towards the room at the end of the corridor, the one with the humming biological structure. It wasn't like any of the rooms seemed safer over the others. The two knew next to nothing about what went on in a changeling hive. "If there's no one in there, we'll just fly through and pick another tunnel."
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 5, 2013 17:39:51 GMT -5
"Hey, I ain't no one's 'property'." She scolded, muttering under her breath murmured insults like 'tin-pony' and 'grass eating dweeb magnet' to name a few. Her tail swayed with a hint of anger, like frustrated arm gestures as she walked along behind Draft.
Their progress was mired in a labyrinth of confusion, crisscrossing corridors that all appeared alike. No signs, no indication of where anything was - it was dizzying. Any guess was good as another by this point. Gilda shrugged at Draft's recommendation. "Lead on." The humming room at least was something different and strange. Perhaps they would be able to judge where they were located in the hive by it - or get swarmed. Whichever was to happen, Gilda just hoped she could rip off a few wings before they were through.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 6, 2013 15:13:12 GMT -5
As soon as they landed in that room, they realized their mistake. What appeared to be a biological structure turned towards them. It was no structure, it was a living being. An angry living being. Much like the Changelings, this creature appeared to be insectoid, not like a giant spider but more like a giant milipede, wrapped around something they could barely comprehend, it appeared to be a semi transparent sack of changeling infants. It was a protective measure to keep them in there more than anything and that thing was their keeper.
Changeling Keeper
This creature resembles a hideous giant centipede with clawed front legs, big powerful and venomous fangs and a long body that can coil around anything to subdue it. This creature is a close relative of the regular giant centipede, with the exception that it appears to have been domesticated by the changelings in order to protect their young.
Special Effects -
Coil: A Changeling Keeper can coil around anything, using its body to subdue and paralyze them.
Venomous Fangs: Venomous fangs that will paralyze and, if not treated, eventually kill their prey.
Danger Level: Medium-High
(Creature has yet to be studied!)
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 7, 2013 13:09:30 GMT -5
Careful what you wish for.
When the duo crossed into the chamber with the large pulsating object wrapped in the center, the situation turned against them frighteningly quick. The organic structure wasn’t just another fixture of the hive – on the contrary, it was alive, ugly, and had fangs dripping with venom. The sack of larva it housed was also a sight that made Gilda’s stomach wrench. She knew they were bug like, but this was utterly vile.
Gilda was already floating above the ground, ready to move, when she looked to Draft. ”I’m not following your lame directions ever again.” As their only way out was blocked by the skittering of the thing’s body, Gilda cursed under her breath. ”Great… fine! Be that way!” She scolded the monster. ”Drafts, I’m going for its head thingies and eyes, keep it busy or something!”
Gilda didn’t wait for an answer as she shot up at it. She ducked, dived, darted and diverted with grace and speed. Though confined to the walls and ceiling of the room, she moved like a dancer between and around the squirming body of the bug in a rolling scissors maneuver, it’s legs like tiny little fingers trying to reach out and touch her body and wings. Should this work, with primed talons, she planned to roll from under it to its topside and skirted along the length of its body to the last segment that is its head and when in range, she'd sweep her talon out to strike the antenna to sever it with her hand of razors, then quickly shoot up in a loop da loop, break off and attempted to get into a position for another run at the beast’s face.
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Post by Draft Design on Apr 7, 2013 22:41:09 GMT -5
Great. That biological structure was in fact a baby sitter. And it didn't look like it was going to let Gilda and Draft continue on through the room peacefully.
Draft almost considered cutting open the sac of changeling infants. Surely that would distract the creature and let them continue onwards. Of course, it would also probably unleash a pile of crying larvae. Nothing else would be better at giving away their position, let alone presence, in the hive. Killing the millipede-like being seemed to be their only option.
While Draft was busy thinking this, Gilda had already taken off. The pegasus didn't even have time to argue with her plan, quickly taking flight and pulling out his crossbow. "Of course, go right for where the fangs are. Great idea!" he thought to himself. If Gilda hadn't already started her maneuvers, he would have told her what a stupid idea it was. The only thing he could do now was try and distract it while Gilda got in close.
The Rainlock guard quickly flew around Gilda, travelling around the creature opposite of the direction Gilda would be swooping in. "Hey fang face," he called, trying to get the creature to look over at him. The pegasus let loose a bolt from his crossbow, aiming for the keeper's softer underbelly. Whether his shot made contact wasn't as important as keeping the thing's attention away from Gilda.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 8, 2013 11:54:30 GMT -5
Unfortunately for Draft, before he could even fling a shot the centipede snapped into Gilda, sinking its fangs into her chest and smashing her on the floor and coiling around her body. Now shooting at it with anything would have a chance of hitting Gilda. At the same time however, if he did not act fast, the venom would kill the griffon and he knew Lady Rainlock did not want that. Where was Starling when he was needed? No way that thing could bite through HIS armor.
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Post by Draft Design on Apr 8, 2013 17:20:21 GMT -5
Well, that's what Draft would have done, had the millipede creature not snapped at Gilda as she flew towards it's head. Draft could only watch as the creature dug its fangs into her chest, en-coiling the griffon as it brought her to the ground. Fantastic. Now Gilda was trapped and had venom pulsing through her body.
The corporal swore out loud, flying himself to a different position as he took the bolt out of his crossbow, replacing it with a stun bolt. He couldn't use a lethal bolt, not when there was a risk he'd hit Gilda. The pegasus positioned himself with as best a line of sight at the thing's head as he could, making sure Gilda wasn't in the way. He maintained as close a distance as he could, but made sure to stay far enough back to avoid the keeper's head and writhing body. A solid blow to the thing's head could knock it out cold, giving the two of them enough time to leave the room.
Keeping as steady an aim as he could, Draft pulled the trigger on his crossbow, watching as the stun bolt sailed towards its target.
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 8, 2013 18:41:59 GMT -5
She was so confident, so sure that the bug wasn't as quick or nimble as her. This hubris thinking was quickly cut down when, even at her best, the monster struck her - its fangs sinking into her chest. She fell, her body rocked with pain. She reached out, trying to catch herself, but there was nothing. She struck the ground, rolled and laid still. She could feel the venom snake its way through her veins, each moment in agony, gripped by hellfire and in its wake - nothing. Paralysis was kicking in, fast, the festering wound just a mere mark now compared to the agony she experienced.
She tried to crawl towards the pegasus. One talon, two talon, pull, repeat, but her muscles were giving out. She rolled onto her back, gasping, clawing for air as her chest began to fail her. She kept telling herself she wasn't going to go down this way, she fought as much as anyone could, but the venom was just too strong. "Lame..." She rattled between gasps. Her life was now in the pegasus's hooves.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 8, 2013 22:35:53 GMT -5
Fortunately for Draft, the Rainlock-issued crossbows were incredibly accurate weapons and the training Rainlock's forces underwent made sure to make all bad shots into good marksmen, at least from the appropriate range. Though Draft wasn't the best shot, he still managed to hit the Keeper straight in the eye with the stun bolt, the blunt, concussive tip popped, forcing the thing to release Gilda and scrambling its brain as it did so. The thing's exoskeleton rattled with the force of the blunt trauma and it collapsed on its back, leaving the majority of Gilda loose. The parts that were still coiled were no longer gripped as tightly and if Draft hurried he could pull her out, administer the antidote and be gone before the creature would wake up, if at all.
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Post by Draft Design on Apr 8, 2013 23:00:39 GMT -5
A direct hit. The bolt had struck right where Draft wanted it to, even piercing the creature's eye for further damage. Within seconds the millipede-like being had collapsed, it's grip on the injured griffon now greatly loosened. The pegasus quickly swooped down to her location, pulling her out of the creature's coiled body and onto the floor.
Draft rolled Gilda onto her back, pulling out and giving the griffon a dosage of anti-venom he had with him. He then gave her wound a very quick dressing, and stepped back to look at the pathetic thing lying in front of him. This stupid bird had almost gotten herself killed, all because she didn't have the common sense to not fly straight into the maws of a venomous death.
"Get up," he said coldly. If she couldn't even do that, then she was worthless for the rest of the mission. He'd have to take her to one of the tunnels and leave her there. He didn't have all day either. Whether or not that creature woke back up, there was still a job that needed to be done. "I know Rainlock put's a lot of value in you, but it's certainly not for your brains."
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 8, 2013 23:16:41 GMT -5
For Gilda, time passed immeasurable. The venom was unlike anything she had ever experience, both euphoric in its ability to drain all want or care, and terrible in its pain and suffering which it invoked. She knew not when she was released, nor when Draft injected her with his antivenom, all she knew is that suddenly her life felt as if it was just reinjected – like a bullet through her heart and mind. She shot up in a gasp, clutching her chest, feeling the wet dressings under her talons. She shook her head and recounted her whereabouts.
”Whoa, that was a trip.” She uttered as she looked up to her savior. She wouldn’t say it, but her eyes betrayed her reluctant thanks. Within a moment she was back on her paws and mostly good as new. She still felt weak, but she would not let that get in the way of the mission. ”Can we roll out of here first, you can berate me all you want when million legs is behind us.” She stated making a quick beeline for the exit – the further distance between it and them, the better.
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Post by Red Charge on Apr 10, 2013 10:16:02 GMT -5
The keeper stirred, one of its legs still managed to latch unto Gilda, but a short struggle caused it to let go. It wouldn't go far from where the infants were being guarded, so now was their best chance to escape. Moving forwards they reached a bottleneck that only allowed one to go through and they could not see what was on the other side. Very risky. They could go back to the tunnel or continue forwards, but the struggle with the centipede was bound to cause a ruckus and going back might mean encountering more resistence.
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Post by Draft Design on Apr 10, 2013 15:36:15 GMT -5
Draft snorted heavily at Gilda's response. What an ungrateful rat. She had almost gotten herself killed and was shrugging it off like it was nothing. That sort of attitude would put her right back in the same situation.
If the keeper hadn't started stirring, Draft might have called her out then and there. As it was, though, they did need to leave the room. "Fine," he said, leading the way to one of the room's exits. "I hope you learn to think next time. I don't need someone who's going to rush headfirst into every situation holding me back."
After a short walk they reached a bottleneck, one they couldn't see into the other side or pass through as the same time. He could already imagine the two of them getting separated or surrounded by a bunch of changelings that would take the first person's form. Wouldn't that be great? But he wasn't going to go back through the room with the keeper. Even if it wasn't awake yet, the bugs could have went to investigate. Not to mention they'd probably lose ground.
So it had to be the bottleneck. But Draft sure wasn't going to let Gilda go first. If there were a dozen changelings waiting on the other side, he'd rather have them take on his form than guess which one was Gilda. "I'll go first. Stay close, and remember the pass-phrase." With the, Draft slipped into the bottleneck, preparing himself for a confrontation he might find on the other side.
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Gilda
Griffons
Acolyte Griffon
I'm half-eagle, half-lion and all awesome!
Posts: 213
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Post by Gilda on Apr 11, 2013 10:15:47 GMT -5
Gilda shook off the centipede's grasp, stumbling out of the exit, her expression a wash of disgust and horror. If she never saw another centipede, it would be too soon. She spat a few curses at it as she entered into the corridor, shaking her talon back at it which proved to be a too much exertion so close from being stung. Even as the antivenom worked its way through her body, she was still rocked by pain and a heavy weight upon her chest. It was waning but not fast enough for Gilda.
Gilda remained silent as Draft scolded her, maybe if he told her in the first place he had some super crossbow, she might not have attacked like that. She let him pass her as they continued on so she could silently mock him, mouthing his words sarcastically. She didn't know what his problem was, not like he - nor she, ever went up against a bug the size of a house. How could she have known it would also be quicker than her.
As they came to the bottleneck, Gilda was growing unsure as to their course. She wasn't feeling 100% yet, likely it would be hours before she was back up to snuff. If they were to encounter more than a talon full of Changelings, things could get ugly. She cracked her talons as she squeezed in close behind Draft, pressing her wings close to her body as she slipped in after leaving only a short distance between herself and him, watching his tail as she wiggled through. "Yeah I got it. Maybe prep that crossbow too? Ya know, in case."
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