Kelp Cutter
Kelpie
New Kelpie
"No time for idlin'. Adventure awaits!"
Posts: 35
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Post by Kelp Cutter on Jan 1, 2015 2:46:10 GMT -5
"Huh?" Kelp said in response to the news that they would each be dressing up separately. "Your boss made it sound like we we're pretendin' t' be just one'a these things, not a pack of 'em."
The adventurer took a look at the new gear he was being given. He didn't care so much for how grotesque it may have looked, he just wanted good gear. Gear that would rival what the wolves would be packing. He had to hope that Maud's waste of good fruit was an indication that they'd be up to the task.
Roquefort dropping new torso armor next to Kelp snapped his attention away from Maud. "Alright, alright. Gimme a sec." The kelpie threw off his slapped-on robe and set aside his sword, then began getting his the torso armor onto his body. Roquefort was taking a similar action, which gave Kelp a look at the jerk beneath the armor.
Nothing like what he sounded like. If it hadn't been for the scars, this guy looked like he could be modeling for magazines. He also caught sight of the odd, barbed metal thing ringing around his legs. A cilice or whatever. "Yeah. I'm sure I wouldn't," the Kelpie responded to the comment about not understanding.
But to interrupt them came a food cart; a final meal before their departure. Considering that Kelp hadn't eaten anything since before entering Camembert's temple, the food was looking more than a little tempting. Maud's weird behavior with the rock almost made him reconsider, but after seeing her drink some of it herself he finally approaching the cart.
"Just so long as you aren't messin' with my food," he replied to Roquefort. His mouth was already watering, and a quick inspection was all the kelpie needed to start slurping down a bowl of the soup. It wasn't until he had finished a serving's worth that he finally said anything else. "Are you guys gonna let up on the weather before we head out? Are are we travelin' through a blizzard?"
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Jan 3, 2015 2:43:26 GMT -5
“We are...” Maud explained about the plan, ”If it goes according to plan, the Dogs won't realize there were three of us. Part of the illusion.” She explained, to which Roquefort expanded upon further.
”To reiterate, you and Maud split up, each taking one-half the camp. Get in, kill a few quiet and messy, then get back to me.” He was once more in full armor, with length long barding, peytral, helm, the works. His new suit was intimidating, albeit, perhaps just slightly humorious with the large moose-like anterlers, still, its visage was unsettling. Maud's and Kelp's was lighter, built more for mobility: chain, padded-leather, cloth, except for the forged steel helm with antlers a fraction the size of Roquefort's.”Then I strike the camp with a lightning storm, hit a few sentries if possible. The remaining ones will hopefully see their mutilated comrads and with the noise and lightning, they'll hopefully be scared off. I'll be sure to make an apparence in the distance to complete the effect. Now, is that clear enough?” So he asked with a strained hint of intimidation.
They ate in relative silence, though Maud had already been nearly done by the time the other two had started since she disposed of a portion for the rock she kept on her – to which she affectionatly refered to as 'Boulder' when she returned it to her garments. Roquefort appeared unphased by the mare's behavior and quickly drank from the bowl through his raised visor, using his magic to support the bowl. Once done, he set it aside and laid to rest while Maud continued to fiddle with her new weapon. She would slam her hoof down, testing the device's spring and trigger for faults, each bang of metal, hoof and stone made an ear-piercing din. Clank... clank... clank.
Roquefort turned his head to Kelp, ”Yes, it'll take a little time. Rest till then, you'll need your strength.” There was a long pause after he spoke, then, as if just remembered, the stallion asked, ”Your sword, did you want it enchanted too? If so, now is the time.”
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Kelp Cutter
Kelpie
New Kelpie
"No time for idlin'. Adventure awaits!"
Posts: 35
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Post by Kelp Cutter on Jan 5, 2015 19:28:21 GMT -5
"Mmm? No, no. I'd rather you not." Kelp walked over to pick his sword back up, sliding it back onto his back. "This thing's kinda important to me. Don't want it gettin' messed with too much."
The kelpie watched Maud testing her weapons for a few moments before speaking up again. "You know, if you just told these wolves t' go around, they probably would. They're mercs. They care the least about what you're doin' here. At worst you'd just have t' bribe them to go th' long way."
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Jan 5, 2015 20:13:39 GMT -5
Roqouefort nodded in agreement, Kelp's point was valid and if the situation warrented it, they would have done just that but, their situation was more complicated than the kelpie knew. ”What you suggest was an option we had considered but, as you said yourself, they're mercinaries. Elder Camambert doesn't trust creatures willing to sell their lives for a price. They very well could take our bits and go along their merry way – or take our money then sell our location to the highest bidder, even return to claim our temple. As you might imagine, we have many enemies and currently, only you know where we are. We're going to keep it that way... violently.” The knight squashed any further mention of a peaceful encounter, his voice almost chipper at the prospect of taking a few of the Dogs down.
A rattling of slices, punches and chomps came from Maud as she unleashed a fury of standing forehoof attacks against an upright bail of straw, shredding the fibers in her onsluaght. She slammed down onto all four after the bail was little more than dust on the floor. ”Only good Winter Wolf is a dead one.”
Roquefort chucked lightly to Maud affirmation, ”And there is that too, Sister Pie. I assume you agree, kelpie?” The stallion then motioned with his hoof to Kelp's back, at the sword. ”Your sword, it appears rather plain – can I ask its signifigence? I figured you had just pullled it off the body of an actual warrior.”
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Kelp Cutter
Kelpie
New Kelpie
"No time for idlin'. Adventure awaits!"
Posts: 35
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Post by Kelp Cutter on Jan 6, 2015 1:02:12 GMT -5
"No. I don't agree," Kelp responded flatly, looking between Maud and Roquefort. "Maybe you've got'a prejudice against diamond dogs, but you can't equate winter wolves with th' dogs fightin' in Equestria. They're mercenaries; diff'rent people with diff'rent values. Most of 'em are probably fightin' alongside ponies right now, what with th' Ice Queen up in th' Barrens."
"Also, these are th' best mercs there are; not carp like Julius who'll take your money then slit your throat. Mercenary work is their life and livelihood. Only thing a wolf value's as much as his pay is his word, 'cause if someone finds out that a wolf back-stabbed his employer, he's done. No one's gonna waste a breath on an untrustworthy merc, and wolves know that. They'd probably skin alive one-a their own just for doin' it."
"Not ev'ry problem's got a violent solution ya know," Kelp continued. "Why take a chance that this plan might work? And that if it does, you might manage a miniscule chance at scarin' some of th' best and bravest warriors there are into stayin' away? You could easily avoid this trouble by just gettin' their word that they'll look the other way and stay away from your perimeter."
"If you two and Camembert can't trust a winter wolf's word, I don't see how you can trust anyone or anything."
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Jan 6, 2015 16:44:41 GMT -5
Both Maud and Roquefort stopped in their tracks, frozen, as Kelp let into his long rant. They stood and sat, respectively, as the kelpie continued to praise the trustability, the skill and culture of the wolves. It would sound to them as if Kelp Cutter was a fan of the Wolves, as if they exhibited some note-worthy trait. As Kelp concluded his rant, Maud and Roquefort caught each others attention and, one could almost swear they caught Maud trying to repress a smile and a laugh – Roquefort made up for it as he mocked with a laugh.
”You really don't understand, so let me make it abundently clear, we don't trust anyone or anything that isn't us. For centuries, our Order has protected the Elementals from those who would wish to use them for their own purpose – even seemingly noble and good Ponies, Dogs, Griffons, have abused their power for their own leading towards its corruption; mercinaries included, so the word of a Winter Wolf has as much weight in our opinion as a sack of pony feathers, same goes for anyone who hasn't been initiated with us.” Both Maud and Roquefort's gaze feel on Kelp, ”If you are against this, you are free to leave but, if freezing to death does not suit you, then I suggest you keep your tongue still about things you don't understand.”
”Winter Wolves have taken arms against us in the past.” Maud interrupted.
Roquefort snapped his attention to her with a shush. ”Silence, he doesn't need to know our history. Know, this Kelp Cutter, we have a reason for the things we do – one that isn't always easily apparent.” The stallion crossed his forehooves over one another, ”Besides, the affairs in Equestria does not concern us at this time. If the Winter Wolves are fighting with ponies, all the power to them; it means nothing for us.”
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Kelp Cutter
Kelpie
New Kelpie
"No time for idlin'. Adventure awaits!"
Posts: 35
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Post by Kelp Cutter on Jan 7, 2015 1:22:08 GMT -5
Kelp stood glaring at Roquefort as he laughed, furrowing his brow as the unicorn pretty much repeated Kelp's last sentence. He had been clearly been expecting the impossible in hoping to sway either of these two, anyone here in fact, from their current course. The ponies here were certifiably nuts, and paranoid to the point of killing innocents. This was insanity, living in a world where any living soul who even risked knowing your slightest secrets had to be killed.
Kelp understood perfectly what was going on with this cult, but as much as he wanted to argue and accuse, it wasn't going to do him any good. Kelp was either going to have to keep his mouth shut and go on this mission, or else risk death wandering through the cold.
"You're not givin' me much of a choice," the kelpie finally spoke, walking over to pick up the robe he had left on the floor. He dragged the article all the way over to the corner of the room, folding it into as much of a bed as he could manage. "Let me know when the storm's died so we can leave," he said, laying down on top of the robe. The hippocampus wasn't in the mood to continue talking to either Maude or Roquefort. Right now, he had a lot that was running through his mind.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Jan 7, 2015 20:39:35 GMT -5
”Consider yourself fortunate to have a choice at all.” So said Roquefort, hinted with disdane for that fact. It was clear that it wasn't choice
It was another hour or two, difficult to tell in the still, torch lit room they were in. Outside the whistling, whipping wings gradually calmed as the minutes ticked by. The snow storm eventually silenced altogether, and once the sounds of angry winds disappated, Maud approached the barred, iron doors opposite the room, throwing up the bar and pushing the doors open to reveal a white, still world. Falling snow seemed to hang suspended in the air, creating the sense of a great white spotlight shinginf forth from the distance caused by the waning moonlight.
”It's time.” The mare said, hitching up her armor, a saddlebag of pershiables and other neccesities and stepped forward into the wilderness.
Roquefort stood without a word and, much as Maud had done, he too took up his armor and weapons not already donned and followed the mare into the wilderness. He paused as he looked back to the hippocampi and called, ”Still having second thoughts?” The stallion asked, ”It's a bit of a trot, sure you can handle it over land, fishy?”
They'd be traveling north-by northwest, away from the coast and towards the thick wooded region inhabitied by Timber Wolves and all maner of fiendish creatures. Maud nor Roquefort appeared uneasy with the prospect of walking into the woods in the early morning hours. Maud lead the way, Roquefort waited for Kelp, he appeared to wish to keep an eye on him, unsure if he'd take the opportunity to run once inside the woods.
From there, Kelp would be led through the woods for quite a distance, past Evergreens, over burrows and snow mounds, up a hill ridge and over a frozen stream till they came to a stop atop a gentle slooping, and thinckly treelined ridge overlooking what must be the Winter Wolf camp, hunkered down from the weather now abated, with dying fires bellowing smoke into the sky. There were seven tents, set up around two major, though dwindling fires in what would best be descrived in a dog bone shape, two tents on each extreme, two more tents closest to the ridge where the three watched from and one opposte the two closest, between the two camp-fires. There were visable sentries pacing around the camp, one pacing the length of the camp while two more sat around the right most campfire warming themselves half-asleep. The pacing sentry would occasionly stop at each campfire to warm himself for a moment, before moving on. It was, thankfully, not a heavy presence. The rest, best assumed, were asleep in the tents.
”Last chance, you could waddle down there and try to talk to them.” Roquefort suggested in a low voice as he hunkered down, staring down upon the camp as he kept low in the snow.
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Kelp Cutter
Kelpie
New Kelpie
"No time for idlin'. Adventure awaits!"
Posts: 35
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Post by Kelp Cutter on Jan 8, 2015 0:48:41 GMT -5
Kelp lay resting in his corner until finally the storm had died down enough for them to leave. When Maud finally opened the iron doors and the cold air came rushing in, Kelp let out heavy sigh. "Back into th' cold," he muttered, pulling himself up. The hippocampus gathered his things, trotting out the door behind Maud and Roquefort. "I'll manage just fine," he said in response, following the other two out of the temple and into the snowy wilds.
Kelp was constantly looking around him as they ventured towards their destination, not wanting to get ambushed by timber wolves again. Maud and Roquefort seemed much less concerned, at least in regards to the wildlife. Eventually reached the winter wolf camp, now with most of the winter wolves asleep, save for two or three standing guard. Kelp had his eyes locked on the wolves below when Roquefort suggested talking to them.
"Sure," Kelp replied, walking around Roquefort and descending towards the camp.
"HEY!" the kelpie shouted as loud as he could as he approached. "I SURRENDER! YOU HEAR ME? I SURRENDER! I NEED T' TALK TO WHOEVER'S IN CHARGE."
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Jan 8, 2015 21:09:07 GMT -5
Maud and Roquefort snapped to each other's attention, entirely flabbergasted that Kelp actually just did that. Roquefort had been facetious about going down to talk with them, mockingly so. He certianly didn't believe that annoying little trout would actually jump out and start barrling down towards them screaming like a banshee out of Tartarus. The two had to now act fast to save this operation and their own lives. They could still make this work, if the Winter Wolves were still groggy from sleep. Rouqefort would have to push his magic to the limits – this would require some strain on his part.
Roquefort snapped up from the ridge while Maud darted towards a nearby boulder and begun to slam her hooves into it, creating a rattling, thunderious and forboding din. With a bright flash which lit up the ridge like a second rising sun of brilliant white light, shilloeeting the stallion against the treeline. His full armor resembling the beast from the book, further detailed by a subtle illusinary spell. From the sky, heavy snow begun to fall as lightning bolts flew, liting trees ablaze like roman candles. Bolts flew, one after the other, hitting the trees, hitting the camp-fires causing them to explode out in a hail of fire and sparks as it knocked those close to them to the ground from the force, their ears exploding in pain from the terrible force and sound from the strike, more bolts struck the camp's tents, setting them ablaze and sending its occupants scrambling out from their shelters into the chaos outside only to find themselves either being struck by the bolts or being blown off their paws.
And as the camp was being assualted from the sky, a large bolt snapped down from the clouds and struck Kelp Cutter straight on his head, laying him flat onto the snow. Another bolt flung down and struck him once more, channeled through his sword and into his spine, super heating the sword and sending a massive amount of volts straight into his spine.
The storm of lightning continued for another few moments before ending with a wild barrage upon the camp and a bright flash from the ridge. As everything calmed, the creature on the ridge had vanished just as the fires in the trees and the camp dwindled, leaving behind little more than smoke and snow. Several Winter Wolves laid dead inside the camp, struck down just as Kelp Cutter had been. The surviving Winter Wolves had scattered into the woods beyond as they fled from the surprise attack.
Roquefort and Maud shuffled up against the ridge as they surveyed the scene, they kept low should there still be any Wolves within sight. They waited a moment, before Roquefort nudged Maud over the ridge, himself now too tired and drained to do much more for awhile. With speed and grace, Maud slid up beside Kelp Cutter's body as she examined him for signs of life. She tested his flesh, still hot from the burns as she rummaged for something on him, till finally she pulled out a now burned sash from the griffon Ambassador. She quickly stuffed it in her saddlebag and tapped Kelp on the head with her hoof, ”Sorry, I wanted things to end differently. Maybe next time.”
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