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Post by Neelahn on Jul 16, 2009 23:17:18 GMT -5
{name:Neelahn#|#picture:4} The Old Tree House Up in the branches of an ancient oak, a tree house has been built within it's loving arms. Though old and slightly worn, the structure is very sturdy. From the outside, the building looks small, with a single window peering out into the woods, yet once inside it is easy to see the enormity of the tree house. The wooden walls are bare, and the abandoned house holds only a single table under the window. Upon the table is a small arrangement of items, very odd to these woods. Stones of bright uncanny colors and other interesting items brought from all over the land. This evidence shows that though there is no one living in the house, it is in use. The entrance is a hole in the floor, in the back left corner. Steps have been carved right out of the oak's trunk leading to the opening. It is obvious entry to this building is simple, but what or who is inside is a mystery. The question is, how smart would it be to trespass? Rules:Follow all 'When Fighting Other Players' rules. No Cheerleaders. Only the participants of this thread may post. Abilities and Weapons may not be used. This is a hand to hand combat training thread. Have fun. Itzok 'Varthlokkur' Ikonis Lvl: Trainee Race: BloodRider ~*~ Neelahn's honey blond hair fell into her face as she leaned down from her place against the wall. She felt a bruise on her left leg as she rolled her green cloth shorts up higher. Glancing at the blueish-purple spot she began to sing as she continued to adjust her clothing. In addition to her shorts, she wore a matching green clothed shirt, tight fitting around her small waist, but loose around the shoulders. This and the lack of sleeves help the agile woman a lot in her travels. Danger constantly finding her. A black leather strap stays wrapped around her waist, usually holding weapons of some kind, but her daggers were forfeit in her last battle. She took refuge in her hidden tree house. The sounds of the woods around her were comforting and somehow her song seem to fit perfectly with the hum of the insects and birds in the surrounding trees. Her voice switch pitch along with the wind as it blew through the branches and teased her hair slightly. Taking in a deep breath she felt along her right thigh. A still bleeding cut stained her fingers a deep red. With her unsoiled hand she retrieved a small bit of cloth from the adjacent table and pressed it upon her wound. It wasn't bad, but it was very unpleasant. The Nymph converted her cheerful song to a more somber tone as she continued. The forest around her changing it's mood to match. --------- Mission 1 - In The Branches: Enter the thread. Simple enough right?
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Post by Mallic on Jul 16, 2009 23:53:33 GMT -5
{name:Itzok 'Varthlokkur' Ikonis#|#picture:6}Itzok wandered lazily through the forest. vaguely aware how much time he had spent navigating the woods, he decided that he should rest for the night. He took his small travelers' pack and laid it against a tree. Next, took his twin scimitars and rested them on the ground next to his pack. Lastly, he removed his cloak and used it as a blanket to ward off the cool air that would surely descend on the forest that night. Slowly, he drifted to sleep.
Itzok awoke to a strange soothing song playing in his ears. He did not know who played it, just that it was beautiful and he must know the cause. He got up and headed to the direction of the sound in a trance-like state, forgetting to grab his gear. As he strode towards the sound, he spotted nestled within an elder oak, a fairly worn looking tree house. Sensing that this must be the source of the siren like call, he tried to spy someone through the house's one window. When that failed, he headed towards the base of the tree. He decided that he would see what the inside looked like and began climbing the tree's steps, which were molded from the tree itself. Shortly into his ascent of the tree, the tune changed and became more mellow. Pondering this, Itzok called out, "Hello. Pardon my intrusion, but who is it that is making that enchanting sound?".
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Post by Neelahn on Jul 18, 2009 3:11:40 GMT -5
{name:Neelahn#|#picture:4}"Hello. Pardon my intrusion, but who is it that is making that enchanting sound?"
Neelahn was startled by the voice. Her singing had made her unable to hear any approach. She straightened right away. Though her singing had stopped when she was taken by surprise, she acted as though this was a pause meant to be taken. Continuing on with her somber song, she silently made her way to the center of the room, then turned her back to the hole which acted as an entrance to the tree house.
She noted that the voice seemed very kind, and slightly intriguing. This bothered her. Neelahn had encountered many a foe who used the mask of friendliness to take her by surprise. Not this time. The only way this person could have found her was if he was tracking the nymph with the men she had fought earlier. Another human overwhelmed by power and greed. She thought.
Neelahn brought down her shorts and acted as though she had been putting them on, as she heard the tree's new occupant advance. Her song grew louder, hoping the male voice behind her would believe she had not heard his call, and she waited as she played the fool.
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Post by Mallic on Jul 18, 2009 3:52:45 GMT -5
{name:Itzok 'Varthlokkur' Ikonis#|#picture:6}The voice had paused for a slight moment following Itzok's call. Thinking the pause as an acknowledgment of him being there, he continued up the makeshift latter into the home. Taking in the sights, he saw a beautiful woman wearing a green shirt in the process of clothing herself.
"Oh I am terribly sorry," he said as he quickly averted his gaze. "I heard your beautiful song and was curious. I should leave," he said, slightly flushed from embarrassment. He started back towards the latter to leave and called out, "If you wish to speak, I will be waiting at the base of the tree." With that he descended the latter and leaned up against the tree, trying to shake the image out of his head. As if somehow that would return what he thought to be her modesty.
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Post by Neelahn on Jul 18, 2009 4:14:05 GMT -5
{name:Neelahn#|#picture:4}Neelahn was slightly confused as she heard the man's embarrassed comment.
"Oh I am terribly sorry,"
The nymph turned her head to study the man as he moved his gaze away from her. Dark skinned and dark hair, just like her attackers. Though this man seemed gentler she again could not trust that it wasn't a mask. She froze in a half bent position, waiting for his next move.
"I heard your beautiful song and was curious. I should leave,"
As he began to leave Neelahn stopped singing and took a deep breath. Maybe I was wrong. She began to think, as she moved closer to the hole, watching to see if he was truly leaving.
"If you wish to speak, I will be waiting at the base of the tree."
No. He wasn't leaving. He was waiting for reinforcements. Before he could finish, or send out some signal, she was out the window, scaling the side of the large oak, her tiny fingers easily gripping the sides. The tree seemed to cooperate with her. As she slipped down the last few feet, she bent her knees and prayed for a silent landing.
Thump
She was too loud. A small bird had heard the muted noise and fluttered away. Neelahn was sure the man had heard her and flung out her fist, hoping it would collide with his face, if he turned to see what the noise was.
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Post by Mallic on Jul 18, 2009 4:41:36 GMT -5
{name:Itzok 'Varthlokkur' Ikonis#|#picture:6}Itzok heard a small thump in the distance, and thinking it a deer or some other woodland animal, he ignored it. He hoped desperately that she would come down and speak with him. At least so that he could apologize for his intrusion.
He turned his head in time for the woman's fist to connect with his temple. Dazed slightly from the impact, he pushed the woman away and stared at her in disbelief. "Why? I did not mean to intrude," he said as he tried to slip away from the tree. Noticing finally that he did not bring any of his gear, he was exasperated. If a stronger fight came along, he would be helpless.
"Miss, I shall leave this place if you feel so strongly. Once again, I am truly sorry for my intrusion," he said as he attempted to walk back to the tree he left his gear at.
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Post by Neelahn on Jul 18, 2009 5:06:51 GMT -5
{name:Neelahn#|#picture:4}Neelahn knew she was not a strong fighter, but she had left herself no choice when she had lost her weapons earlier. Her fist connected, but it seemed to do practically nothing. She continued to move, but was pushed back by the dark skinned man.
"Why? I did not mean to intrude,"
She stumbled a bit, her feet quickly finding footholds in the grass. Taking a deep breath she began to asses the situation. Again she began to second guess herself. Could this all have been coincidental? Her mind raced as she thought of how to reply.
"Miss, I shall leave this place if you feel so strongly. Once again, I am truly sorry for my intrusion,"
Once again she barely waited for him to finish. There was no way she was letting this man get away to alert others. She moved along with him as he stepped away. Swinging her right leg up high, she balanced herself with her arms out wide. Then, using all her force she brought down the heel of her foot, hoping to hit the man's neck and drop him to his knees. If he was down, just for a second, maybe she could trust his disadvantage to try and decipher the sincerity of his innocence.
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Post by Mallic on Jul 18, 2009 5:19:19 GMT -5
{name:Itzok#|#picture:6}Itzok realized that the only way he could avoid harming what he still thought was a fairly harmless, if not ferocious woman, would be to take the hits until she realized he meant no harm. He angled his body so that the kick would hit him in the shoulder instead of the neck. As the downward strike connected, he rolled with the force, pushing himself to the ground as if it had forced him to collapse. His own movement saved him a great deal of pain, but still his shoulder would be bruised for a good couple days after this.
He waited for the next barrage of attacks to come while readying an attack of his own in case this should turn into the life threatening situation he feared it would. Pretending to wheeze with the effort of speaking, he cried out once more, "Why? I have made no hostile move on you."
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Post by Neelahn on Jul 18, 2009 5:47:38 GMT -5
{name:Neelahn#|#picture:4}As the man went down Neelahn could tell from her long years of fighting that he was putting up no resistance. He moved with her attack, dulling some of the pain. This charade cannot be held onto forever, soon he will show his true intentions. He cannot escape.
She shivered with that thought. If the woman could not handle the six dark skinned men from earlier, how could she defend herself against seven, while unarmed? And what if they brought their cursed hounds with them. She had barely outrun them last time.
The nymph's foot reached the grass once again. Continuing with her movement, she lifted her other foot, arching wide, and began twisting her lithe body.
"Why? I have made no hostile move on you."
The man cried to her. Neelahn almost faltered, but pulled through angling her new attack once again at the man's face. Blood will reveal truth... Her thoughts fought against her gut. The girl could not deny that more than one thing about this man seemed off, but her mind refused to let her believe that this was anything other than fake actions to trap her. She would not be trapped.
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Post by Mallic on Jul 18, 2009 6:28:25 GMT -5
{name:Itzok#|#picture:6}Itzok raised his arms to his face in time to take the blow in his lower arms, however he had not brought them up quick enough and took the shot partially to his face, tearing his lip and knocking a tooth loose. The impact rolled him over a couple times due to his prone position in the dirt. Struggling to keep his calm, he pushed himself to his feet.
He wondered what life could make this woman act so feral. It seemed like she was pulling her attacks ever so slightly, as if the thought of reason touched her, but was fought off by something. This realization gave him renewed hope that this could still end rather well all things considered. The idea of harming someone he did not see as evil, but scared, burned in his head, causing revulsion.
As he rose, Itzok spat out some blood that had been welling in his mouth. He spoke guardedly, still trying to convince her that he meant no foul play, "I know not what motivates you, but I come in peace. My gear is not far away. You could check it if you wish. If you do not trust me enough to do this, at the very least, tell me why you are attacking me," he implored.
Hoping she would see reason soon, he prepared himself for a fight. Itzok would not strike at her lest it save himself, but if he stood here taking much more of this assault, the possibility of defending himself would be taken from him. Judging from the way she was acting now, that was not a good position to be in.
Itzok tried another appeal to what ever logic resisted the reptilian fight or die instincts she displayed."I do not wish to harm you. Perhaps if I let you bind me, we could discuss a treaty in confidence," he spoke, spitting out wads of blood and tissue along with the tooth that had been loosened.
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Post by Neelahn on Jul 20, 2009 3:56:10 GMT -5
{name:Trackers#|#picture:1}Jeros turned to the others, as he picked up a faint trail heading deeper into the wood. He was right, the girl had slipped by Sempi hopping through the trees. Damn... He thought as he jumped down, landing hard on his feet.
"This way." He called, pointed north then headed off without waiting for acknowledgment.
Taz and Marth, the twins, both handling hungry hounds, started off after Jeros. He could hardly tell the difference between the two, except Marth never spoke. His brother always spoke for the both of them, and would not answer questions for his brother. Jeros didn't mind them, the two boys were easy company, and Damius talked enough for the whole group.
Though he was one of the more experienced hunters of the group, Damius could really work on your nerves. Carrying a large variety of knives and swords on him at all times, even his walking got annoying. He was short, but had a long reach, which put him at a great advantage in a fight. Thankfully Jeros had moved everyone quickly, forcing Damius to leave his things behind. He reminded Jeros of this as he grumbled by, glaring.
Sempi, the oldest of the group, was little to no help at all. He only did what he wanted to do. He constantly seemed bored. The only thing keeping Jeros from killing the man was his knowledge of the land. That and the fact that he an uncanny ability to pull out random magical spells. Jeros had only seen him do it twice, but it was enough to know he was indeed valuable to the hunt.
Lastly came Akins, pulling up the rear. Jeros' little brother. He was smart, and cunning, but was just barely ready for a real fight. Akins is simply along for learning purposes and after seeing this girl handling her own against the rest of them, he was starting to regret bringing Akins along, but it was too late now.
As Jeros lead the party over a small hill, he heard voices.
"Stayback" He ordered the twins. They followed suit, everyone staying behind but Damius. He march forward with a determined look on his face.
Jeros, wanting to listen in on the girl and the man he had just spotted, tried to stop Damius, but it was too late. The short man had shot a dart right for the blond girl. Apparently he was mad.
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Post by Neelahn on Jul 20, 2009 4:22:03 GMT -5
{name:Neelahn#|#picture:4}Neelahn felt her foot crash into the man's arms and face. This time his movement was not completely voluntary. She stepped toward the man as he picked himself up. She was about to strike again when she got caught in the man's beautiful blue eyes, full of everything, but anger toward herself. Her gaze broke as he spat blood into the grass.
"I know not what motivates you, but I come in peace. My gear is not far away. You could check it if you wish. If you do not trust me enough to do this, at the very least, tell me why you are attacking me,"
Once again she was sucked in. Sudden realization dawned on her. Maybe she was wrong. The nymph could no longer beat on this man. She had already done enough harm, and she had not cleared him as guilty or innocent beforehand.
"I do not wish to harm you. Perhaps if I let you bind me, we could discuss a treaty in confidence,"
Neelahn bowed her head, but spoke with conviction.
"Are you not one of the dark skinned men who attacked me to the south?"
Lifting her face, her eyes were hard compared to her other soft features.
Suddenly she brought her fingers to the man's lips and turned her head away from him as she heard a slight whisper in the brush to her right. "Stayback" The voice said.
Glaring back at the man she found only innocent eyes, but was quickly pulled away as the collar of her shirt was pinned against a low branch. Reaching up, she felt a small dart drilled deep into her clothing and the tree behind it. She struggled to free herself. Quickly, Neelahn studied the forest around her. Particularly the direction of the noise.
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Post by Mallic on Jul 20, 2009 16:02:13 GMT -5
{name:Itzok#|#picture:6}She bowed to him in what he thought was acceptance and asked guardedly. "Are you not one of the dark skinned men who attacked me to the south?"
He was about to respond when she put one soft, warm finger to his lips and glanced towards the forest. She must of heard something, for she looked back at Itzok with anger in her eyes. Not knowing what she had heard, or what was happening, he just gave her a look of pleading innocence.
A moment later, a small projectile pinned the woman to the tree without harming her. Itzok took one look at what had hit her, a small dart, and ripped it from the tree as she tried to struggle free. The soft man followed her gaze a long the forest line and saw a rather menacing man facing them in the bush line. He charged the bush blindly, thinking they had ranged weapons and he best close the gap between them before another shot could be achieved.
Once in the brush, he fell upon a man who while being fairly short, exuded an air of pure malevolence and power. He smelled and looked like a hunter, faint hints of past conflict marred his face. The man had a foul stench that followed him. A stench that only can be acquired by one who comes into contact with much violence. It is a smell of sulfur that comes from being completely unafraid of that which you are supposedly 'hunting'. Snarling in anger, he attempted to kick him full force in the chest. A blow that if sufficiently executed, would allow the man to be bound and questioned as he writhed painfully on the ground, out of breath.
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Post by Neelahn on Jul 25, 2009 2:51:48 GMT -5
{name:Trackers#|#picture:1}Snap!
Damius' bamboo reed dart shooter was in two pieces in Jeros' hands. Anger flashed in his eyes. Idiot! He thought as he turned back toward the woman and tossed the pieces to the ground. The girl was already free.
In his peripheral vision he saw the man who was previously talking with the blond haired beauty lunging toward him and Damius. He ducked into more brush just in time.
Damius had been facing the wrong direction when the man approached him. He had signaled the others to the left, ordering them to flank the two wanderers. They listened hesitantly. Taz and Marth moved with the hounds and Akins, but Sempi stayed leaned against a small oak.
As the short man turned back around he was blown backward. Kicked square in the chest, he gasped for breath in his now aching lungs. Landing hard on his bottom he heard Sempi let out a low chuckle, and glanced back sharply as he stood up and steadied himself. A hard look pulled across his face.
Sempi shook his head and watched, noting to himself that Jeros was moving forward to the groups true target. The girl.
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Post by Neelahn on Jul 25, 2009 3:09:45 GMT -5
{name:Neelahn#|#picture:4}Fingers brushed against hers as the dark skinned man pulled Neelahn free of the dart. Her feet touched the ground and she watched as he sprinted off in the direction of her attackers. So, he isn't one of them?
The girl had recognized a face in the brush from earlier. She raised her arm in warning, but she knew she would be too late. The man was just going to have to find out for himself how dangerous the situation was.
Rushing after him, Neelahn began to catch up, but nearly ran into him as he kicked another man off his feet. Her feet dug into the dirt, pulling up some grass. She looked up. Neelahn remembered the short man more clearly as he flew through the air. Wincing, pain shot up her leg as she thought about the gash he had given her.
She was about to move forward and strike, but she noticed the second man standing against the tree. He was taller and seemed somehow amused. The look on his face made the nymph sick. Reaching down, she picked up a piece of what looked like bamboo and threw it, aiming right for the taller man's face.
Neelahn didn't look to see if her attack had gone through, because she heard a rustle in the brush next to her. "It's an ambush!" She said to the man next to her, then turned to defend herself from this new angle.
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