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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Aug 7, 2014 22:47:56 GMT -6
Nayru had no real response other than to stare at the archer blankly, completely unprepared for the question. "I- have no idea." That wasn't something she had ever thought to even consider. It was like... something... unthinkable. She had no idea what the answer even was; the only related thing she could think of was when Aerious had razed the remains of Salvation Point with lightning, and she hadn't exactly gone looking inside the inferno to find out whether the spiders burned or not.
"...Maybe," she ventured hopefully. "Just... poke one of the corpses with a stick, then try setting it on fire?" The stick or the corpse, she wasn't particularly picky. "There really should be an Adventurer's Handbook on how to deal with situations like these. 'turn to page 38 for how to make a torch out of the remains of long-extinct creatures from Elibean mythology.'" She smiled, an awkward attempt at humor. Truthfully she had so little of an idea of what to do that she was willing to let Hayle spearhead the planning, he seemed to have some idea what he was doing. "Tell me what to do and I will aid you."
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Hayle
Archer
Posts: 55
Profession: Lone Traveller
Affinity: Wind
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Post by Hayle on Aug 9, 2014 3:28:54 GMT -6
"Hmmm... well, then perhaps tis better to go with what is proven to work in this case. Had we more time, we could test the whole burning spider bits thing but for now, we need haste."
Mind ticking over, Hayle assessed the situation. They needed to move fast but they needed a distraction left behind too.
"If you have any spare cloth you can part with in your bags, or even any oil, we can use that. I'll try and find some branches to actually use as torches. Also, if one of you could get our fire going again, we can use it as an additional distraction when we leave."
"Everything will be okay though. Brains are what seperate us from the beasts after all. As long as we use ours, we'll do just fine."
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Aug 10, 2014 3:11:39 GMT -6
Well, at least one of them was staying calm here. Hayle was as casual about this as if he made a living of escaping from maddened magical arachnids in dark forests. Certainly made the entire experience a little less surreal. She smiled ad casually commented. "You have remarkable poise." And enough of that. They had work to do. Cloth... she didn't exactly carry a bunch of spare sets of clothes around, but the ruined sash she had been wearing until Zarius and his band of bastards ruined it probably counted. Actually, her whole bag was cloth, ish, probably, and now that she had given the journal to Veigue, it wasn't really all that necessary outside of the kama. "I can provide the cloth."
Striding over to the bag purposefully, Nayru quickly picked it up from the ground, pulling the tattered sash out to be sure it was still there, then slinging it over her shoulder as she continued to the fire, more in her element than before now that she at least had something to do. Perhaps there was something to be said for just following orders sometimes. She found it relaxing, honestly, when working on menial tasks; freeing her mind from her body allowed her to think while still accomplishing something.
The fire was still burning well enough that there was little need for excessive effort in reviving it; a bit of tinder here, an extra few sticks there, and a few bigger 'logs' of the broken branch she had retrieved and snapped apart earlier were sufficient to bring it back to life and get it started on eating away at the larger chunks of wood. It would take time for the fire to truly climb to and through them, but without fire magic there was little she could do to make the process instant. "Fire, cloth, got it. What next?"
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Hayle
Archer
Posts: 55
Profession: Lone Traveller
Affinity: Wind
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Post by Hayle on Aug 10, 2014 7:12:54 GMT -6
Hayle gave a faint, wry smile at Nayru's comment.
"I don't know about poise, but woodcraft is something that I'm confident about. Of course, giant arachnids were never my forte."
"One torch each should be enough, given that dawn should only be 4-5 hours away. Especially if we leave our fire here large enough to attract their attention."
"Now, all we need to do is to tie some of that cloth around the ends of some branches, over the top of some grass for a little extra tinder. If we all stick together, we can light one before we leave and move in a grop, lighting the new torches as needed."
"Also, if you see any large rocks that you can easily carry, bring one along. Anything extra we can useto create noise for distraction will increase our chances."
"Now, whenever we're ready to go, we can move out. The sooner we get away from these things and this place, the better."
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Aug 14, 2014 1:36:30 GMT -6
Woodcraft...? Learn something new every day. Maybe it had something to do with the bow. Or maybe he had been a carpenter before becoming an adventurer. Or a lumberjack. ...Nayru couldn't quite imagine him as a bulging mass of man-muscle and beard, so the lumberjack thing didn't really seem likely, but one never knew where people's histories began. Actually, she really didn't know that much about Hayle in general. He seemed reticent to share anything on his own and didn't respond to gentle probing. If anything, it seemed like he tried to keep people out, or... something.
She didn't know exactly. If there was anything Nayru had learned in the past few centuries, it was that while she had slowly learned to be rather proficient at reading people to a certain degree, there were as many possible causes and problems as there were humans alive. While there were some conclusions she could draw about Hayle - that something had happened in the past to cause him to push people away; that he still had a heart; that he had tried to avoid being a bother since they met; that he was a good person whether or not he cared to admit it - there was much she did not, could not know about him unless he opened up of his own accord, and making too many assumptions or judgements without that would be a waste of time at best.
And none of that would matter if they were eaten by giant spiders, so it behooved her to stop thinking about it and get her ass in gear. With a wry smile of her own quirking the corners of her lips, Nayru stopped looking at Hayle and got to work. She hadn't made torches in... Sky above she didn't even know how long, and they were premade or something, it was so long she honestly couldn't even remember how it had worked. At least Hayle's instructions were simple, and her hands were quick and sure despite her relative inexperience with this particular subject;; so many years of countless types of handiwork ensured that Nayru was quite good at any sort of detail work she put her mind to.
The actual torch-making was almost disappointingly uneventful. For unknown reasons, no more of the creatures appeared while they worked, though she had the distinct impression the group was being watched regardless. At least if she ever got trapped in a forest - had she already made that joke tonight? The dragon honestly couldn't remember. Nayru suspected she was a bit more frazzled than she realized, but that was something to worry about AFTER they got out of here alive.
"Ready to go. Veigue? Hayle? Any last minute additions, or shall we continue to traipse merrily down the yellow brick road to madness?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2014 14:02:51 GMT -6
As he listened silently, he had this odd feeling they were still being watched. During the time they've all been planning, friends of the dead spiders should have been on them in no time, yet...they were leaving them alone. At the very least, they can't understand words, so it wasn't like the Baels had listening skills good enough to foil their plans. He was at least confident that wasn't the case, even if the only info he knew about them was what was told to them earlier. Nonetheless, they had to be careful even when they leave this clearing. It still pained him a bit that he wasn't strong enough to eradicate them all entirely, but perhaps there were locals that could handle any that escaped this forest along with them. He couldn't have any doubts that they could escape alive. The slightest bit of doubt would bring misfortune...and he needed to double check and see if he was truly prepared.
Swords? Check. Supplies and a few branches he crafted into makeshifts? Check. The fact that this isn't a dream? Eh...still working on that one, but oh well.
"...Ready. I've got a feeling we should move out right now." He responded as that unsettling feeling returned. He wasn't sure if it were more spiders finally arriving, or his gut just telling him to be on guard.
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Hayle
Archer
Posts: 55
Profession: Lone Traveller
Affinity: Wind
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Post by Hayle on Aug 18, 2014 5:44:49 GMT -6
Time to move out at last, lest they become an early morning spider snack.
"Madness is about right. What I wouldn't give for some sort of spell slinging, pyromaniac wizard to help us down said road, but with our luck he'll be waiting at the end of it."
One last minute rundown of his pack was in order though. Clothes, check. Bow and arrows, check. Cat that despite all odds, had still managed to sleep through this entire ordeal? Unfortunatly, check.
That was really about it. There would be no tearful goodbyes over having to break camp. It certainly wasn't something Hayle would recommend to anyone else.
"Alright. Torch lit and ready, time to get out of here before anymore unwanted guests come around."
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Aug 19, 2014 2:00:00 GMT -6
A wizard, eh? It certainly would be nice to have some sort of master of the elements along, one capable of raining magical destruction upon their foes and burning a path through the forest, one durable enough to nearly ignore the spiders and barrel on through like a battering ram through a wall made of gossamer. It would be even better if this mysterious' magic user's primarily element was one that created light and heat and fire, such as magical fire or lightning.
But wherever might they find one of those?
Half-smiling at the irony, both in the nearness of the object of their search and the irony of how useless any of that elemental power was when one could not use it freely, Nayru hesitated a moment before taking the lead, one hastily-lit burning makeshift torch in hand and a few more haphazardly attached to the waist. She was more than willing to follow Hayle's instructions here, and in truth he was the de facto 'leader' of their escape, but she was the best option to take point and meet their foes head-on as needed. Hayle would only need to take about one angry giant spider to the face to be permanently incapacitated, after all.
"If nothing else, this will make for an excellent story in the future. As good a reason as any to stay alive, mm?" It was a joke of sorts, but there was no joke about its intent - stay alive. Their great escape wouldn't account for much of anything if half or all of them ended up dead along the way. "Elibe's premiere insect extermination service setting out."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2014 8:40:41 GMT -6
Well, his little makeshift torch was also lit, fully prepared for the upcoming...and probably unavoidable, chaos. But at the very least, they had a plan and part of him was actually looking forward to how this was all going to play out. He had this very relaxing feeling that it would all go fine. Even if it didn't go exactly as planned, his faith in their teamwork was strong enough to see some light at the end. And hey, maybe he'll get to whack another spider upside the head again. This time, it probably had to be something other than his sheath. He doubt he had the time to retrieve it since they were more focused on getting out of this blasted forest, but with what they had in mind to sow the seeds of discord, he had plenty of ways to do that without sacrificing something.
With a silent nod of agreement, he followed along as he allowed his forearm to relax on the scabbard of his sword. This was the moment of truth, and at this point, there was no turning back. He maintained a clear state of mind, ready to allow his instincts to take over when needed to react to anything. Hm. He had thoughts of dragging a dead Bael out of here and bring it to someone who could research these things properly, but...eh, his natural curiosity towards the unknown can wait for another opportunity. He didn't care too much if that was creepy to anyone or not, but thankfully no one could read minds...hopefully.
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Hayle
Archer
Posts: 55
Profession: Lone Traveller
Affinity: Wind
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Post by Hayle on Aug 29, 2014 5:09:12 GMT -6
Hopefully this would be an uneventful exit to the shadowy forest and all that lay within. Heavens knew that Hayles senses were on edge, the slightest movement or sound around him drawing his attention. Ironically, it was like a spider on its web, waiting for the smallest vibration to signify that dinner was here.
The torches flickered every now and then, stirred by the faint wind making its way through the leaves and branches, caused the faint shadows cast to dance wildly over the scenery as they passed.
"Tis funny... were it not for almost being eaten, I'd almost call this forest... soothing, in a way. I guess it's a reminder that nature is not always kind and docile, it too has a hidden darkness within."
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Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Aug 31, 2014 16:32:01 GMT -6
This would be a really good time to have superhuman senses, Nayru decided, but this frame was too thoroughly imperfect for even much of a sense of smell beyond what any human could lay claim to. The dancing shadows and seeming movements in the periphery of her vision alike spoke of life and death hovering about them, but she could not see through trees.
They were not alone, though, that much was certain. She could smell the malignant stench of their pursuers all about them, taste the hatred that suffused them on the tip of her tongue... what were they waiting for? Was the main body of the creatures still on its way? Were they now investigating the clearing behind them? Was there an ambush ahead waiting for them to stumble upon it? Nayru didn't like not knowing what to expect or how to prepare for it... but for now, at least, they seemed able to move without opposition.
Hayle's line was amusing, in a way. Nature was a cruel mistress at times, but the irony of her existence was all the greater for it. "So too do we all." People had the ability to choose, one or the other... a choice she envied them. Hers had been no choice at all.
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Hayle
Archer
Posts: 55
Profession: Lone Traveller
Affinity: Wind
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Post by Hayle on Sept 6, 2014 1:46:38 GMT -6
It was a slightly puzzling comment from the otherwise enigmatic leader type figure but it could be shrugged off and attributed to the situation.
Hayle shivered slightly in the cool night air. The torches provided light but not a lot of warmth. It was almost tempted to turn back and risk spidery death if only to sit by the fire and be warm when it happened. Almost.
The occasional trailing creeper, draped precariously over tree branches came into view and they moved onwards.
A rather disquieting idea came to mind as a result.
"These beasts, would they be at all inclined to attack us from the treetops?"
The idea of cat sized spiders, lurking in the treetops with malevolent eyes watching, waiting for the opportune moment to strike from above was most unpleasant. Despite being a somewhat experienced hunter, spider were outside Hayle's normal expertise. A bear, boar or maybe even the occasional rogue bandit, those he knew he could deal with.
Deep breaths. In and out. Losing his head here after they'd already fought off one attack would serve only to label him craven in the eyes of his companions. Fear, after all, was the mindkiller.
Hayle reached a free hand around behind his head to check on Sere. Dopey cat was still asleep despite everything. Typical feline. But... it made him realise. If a mere cat could deal with everything they'd been going through, why couldn't he?
After all, embarassing as it would be to lose his head now, the idea of being beaten by a cat in such a simple task was worse.
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