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Post by jarahamee on Oct 7, 2022 14:34:20 GMT -6
“Weapons can harm it, but it’s skin is thick and it is powerful. I doubt a direct frontal assault will… go well.”
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Post by hadopelagic on Oct 7, 2022 14:46:01 GMT -6
((OOC: Una asks the group of adventurers whether they've killed a monster before, and then makes a suggestion. ITEMS: Flint))
Before they were invited into the circle fort and learned about the mannycore's reign of terror:
What a question! August was giving Una the chance to define her human guise. Was she a Ms? Or a Lady? Or ...
"It's ... it's ..." she beamed happily. "Dr. Una. Dr. of ... music. What about you?"
After they heard the villager's sad plea:
Una shook her head sympathetically. Human limbs did not regenerate; at least the man still had one hand with five fingers.
"Have you killed a monster before?" Una asked the group. In particular, Ash and August seemed too kind to be hunters, but even sweet, gentle, loving people could be driven to kill, especially in self-defense or the defense of others.
"I've hunted animals for food," she said, "but the prey is always smaller than me. Tunicates cannot run or bite back, and fish ... they are not difficult to outmaneuver."
Una licked her lips, suddenly hungry for a chewy meal of Megalodicopia hians. They were insubstantial creatures, only suitable for a quick snack.
"Then we should use a lure," she suggested to the villager. "Take the Mannycore by surprise. Trap him."
That's how she hunted fish; they'd chase a glimmer of light, believing it to be a meal ... and all the while, they were the prey.
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 7, 2022 15:34:07 GMT -6
The guard rubs his cheek as he addresses Una.
“That sounds like an idea. It likes meat, and it is drawn to light. You should speak to the others, maybe they have seen something.”
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Post by indeath on Oct 7, 2022 15:41:03 GMT -6
Before the village.
“Just August is fine or Auggie if ya like. I’m just a regular Mr not a fancy smart doctor like ya self.”
At the village.
“I ain’t killed nothin’. I’m more about catch an’ release. I don’t reckon it means ta be evil. It’s just followin’ instincts. I reckon we trap it in a pit or cage it can’t get outta and maybe the village can feed it or somethin’. “
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Post by tsukikoko on Oct 7, 2022 15:51:01 GMT -6
[OOC: John also guesses manticore, though not verbally. After listening to the back and forth, the fox wanders off to the woman collecting grapes (C) for completely innocent reasons.]
Sat back on his haunches, John idly listened to what the guard had to say, his tail swaying slowly. Lion with a human face and scorpion tail? Sounded like a manticore to him, as to the gruffest of their ragtag group. Brutish things, but their violence had made for a fun Sunday afternoon's entertainment in the past.
The Kumiho was only half-listening to the conversation that followed, for his gaze had been tracking it's way across the fort and settled, rather neatly, on a copper haired woman nearby. His attention fixated, ears swivelling forward. Her cleanliness was in an unfortunate state but, given the circumstances, that couldn't be helped. She wasn't a good enough candidate for a tail, that was ridiculous; but there were certainly other delights. His mouth near began to salivate at the thought of her liver, nestled snugly inside her body, just begging to be torn out.
Careful, John's remaining common sense reminded him, you have witnesses.
But she looked in need of help, how could he ignore a maiden in need?
With a new spring in his step, John hopped to his feet and trotted his way over to the woman collecting grapes (C). He gave her a friendly vulpine smile and yipped softly, to get her attention.
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Post by kilnarak on Oct 7, 2022 17:07:38 GMT -6
[ Ash answers Una and asks the guard some questions. ]
Ash kept quiet when they arrived, a little uncomfortable suddenly. He should be in his soft-skinned form to deal with humans - they reacted better, were less afraid. These ones at least didn't look afraid of him, but it still felt wrong to be like this.
At Una's question he hesitated, then nodded. "I've hunted for food before? But usually prey animals, not predators that fight back. But... but I've fought predators before, when they tried to hurt my friends..." He would rather not fight, but if he had to he could.
He glances at the guard, his wings resettling anxiously against his back. "What sort of game are nearby? For... for meat for the trap? Do you know about the flying creature above?"
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 7, 2022 17:39:45 GMT -6
The guard looks a little startled by Ash's question. He shakes his head and replies;
"There's no going out there now, the Beast is out lurking. You can ask the Swineherd boy if there's any sickly pigs or meat that can be spared."
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Post by beastly on Oct 7, 2022 18:37:58 GMT -6
((Vince dismisses the idea of keeping the Manticore alive. He agrees the pig could be a good lure.))
"Understood. "
The hunter nodded at the guard. A direct attack on the monster would be difficult. His lip twitched at August's idea of... throwing the animal in a pit and having the Village feed it. He was frustrated with the Vampire's insistence on nonviolence. What a bizarre thought, a nonviolent vampire. Capturing the thing would be more dangerous than just killing it.
"You do not have a cage. It has killed people and taken that man's arm. It has to be permanently taken care of."
He nodded at Una. Killing monsters was what he did.
"Yes. I have."
The pig idea was a good one. Perhaps a trap could be in order, and the vampire's pit idea could be used for something.
"Pig could work."
He looked over at the pigs, and started to walk over.
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Post by indeath on Oct 7, 2022 20:56:44 GMT -6
((August talks to the woman picking grapes to see if they make a drunk manticore.))
August frowned, it seemed like there wasn’t a not killing it option. He could at least try to make its last moments less painful. He looked around and spotted a vat for making wine, it was better than nothing.
“I reckon we should put somethin’ in the meat… Maybe wine. Hopefully it’s constitution ain’t too flash hot.”
He walked over to the woman picking grapes with a friendly smile. He patted John on the head and stood by him. The fox knew what was what.
“Hi there, mam. We’re here ta fix ya manticore problem ya see. An’ I was wonderin’ if we could use some of ya fine wine ta make it sleepy. What do ya reckon’? It would be incredibly kind of ya.”
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Post by hadopelagic on Oct 7, 2022 22:32:45 GMT -6
((OOC: Una stares at Vincent for an uncomfortably long period and then introduces herself to the candle maker. Items: Flint))
As expected, Augie and Ash were not violent people. However, John Hunter's answer caught Una by surprise. He'd killed a monster before? How interesting. He'd also identified the beast outside the walls, which indicated expertise in the supernatural.
For a potentially awkward thirty seconds, Una stared at John Hunter. Stared intently. She'd always considered humans to be dangerous in groups but delicate in isolation. He might be an exception.
Yes. Una decided that he was an exception. He was dangerous. Luckily, he was on their side.
Smiling, Una stopped staring and instead surveyed the little village. Augie and the clever dog were speaking to the pretty red-haired woman. Vincent was speaking with the pig man. But Una's attention was drawn by the candle-maker.
"Au clair de la lune," she hummed, approaching (B). "You're hard at work, my friend. The villagers must love your candles. Everything's more frightening in the dark." Una stopped and curtsied, her stringy hair dropping over her face. "My name is Dr. Una. What's yours?"
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Post by jarahamee on Oct 8, 2022 1:43:44 GMT -6
John and August:
As John approaches the young woman, she offers her hand to him as if he were a dog, and squats a little bit where she stands. Her skirts appear full as she busies herself gathering grapes from the many hanging trellises around her hut. The grapes are small and appear to be wine-grapes to the trained eye.
The winemaker then turns, distracted, as August approaches her. Her large eyes are wide as she appraises such a tall and handsome man speaking to he.
“Oh. Hunter, you may have my wine. I have some full bottles over there.”
She points behind her. Among the grapevines is a large wooden vat used for processing grapes into wine. There are many empty glass bottles around her hut, neatly stacked in crates, and on the other side, crates that appear full of processed wine. One of the crates appears to be broken. A bottle has rolled out, and some pigs appear to be sleeping next to the broken bottle. They seem to have shared some of this rather strong wine.
Vince:
A dirty, lanky child, perhaps ten years old, chases a small herd of pigs around. The animals appear to be growing young adults, well-cared for but lean. They move in every direction, wheeling and turning on the cobblestone in front of them, snuffling and grunting. The boy slides on the cobblestones in front of Vince, looking upward with wide brown eyes.
“Have…you come to kill the Beast?”
The mummy has wandered in this direction and reaches out to pet a pig, which immediately snaps at it. It pulls its hand back quickly, holding the fruit to their chest.
Una:
As Una approaches a middle-aged woman with smudged fingers sits on a wooden stool among a collection of handmade beeswax candles. The woman seems completely enraptured in rolling a candle between her fingers, but puts it down on her table as Una approaches. She puts her hands together and leans forward.
“Doctor Una. I’m Fedlimid, the Candlemaker. You’re here to hunt the Beast, aren’t you?”
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Post by indeath on Oct 8, 2022 2:28:08 GMT -6
(( August thanks the woman, grabs two bottles and chats to her. Items: Wine, balm and spade.))
August smiled brightly at the woman, what a kind heart. No wonder the fox liked her.
“Ooh ya blood’s worth bottlin’! I ain’t a hunter…Just call me August. Thanks a bunch!”
He went over and took a bottle, thought about it and took another just in case. Manticores were big after all, one bottle might not be enough. He went back to the lovely woman picking grapes.
“So have ya lived here long? Must be hard sellin’ ya wine with manticores about.”
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Post by tsukikoko on Oct 8, 2022 4:33:33 GMT -6
[OOC: John is even more taken with this woman now. He wanders over to a broken bottle and licks it to get a taste of the alcohol.]
Wine too? Goodness, this female was certainly proving to be an improvement to this sorry excuse for a day. While he had to be careful with alcohol, not wanting to find himself in the same situation as when he first lost his tails, still the Kumiho allowed himself the indulgence, occasionally. What could a small taste hurt?
It wasn't as though he could do anything with the woman right now anyway, especially now he'd been joined by that vampire yet again.
With a flick of his tail, the fox sauntered his way over to the broken crate and a broken bottle. Inhaling the heady scent of fermented fruit, his slender tongue darted out and carefully lapped up a taste of the alcohol. After the day he'd had, the company he was having to keep, taking the edge off seemed only fair.
If he were allowing himself to speak, he'd have simply claimed he was checking to see it was potent enough to work on a manticore.
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Post by kilnarak on Oct 8, 2022 5:53:25 GMT -6
[ OOC: Ash examines the hut with 'implements'. ]
Ash's crest quivered a little, but he turned away from the one-armed guard without much information gained. He turned to consider the other villagers - each of his companions seemed to have chosen one to go to - likely they had this handled. After a moment he decided to explore the village a bit, meandering toward what appeared to be some sort of tool shed to peer inside. Perhaps there might be something to be used as a weapon? He still had his fangs and claws, but the others were unarmed...
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Post by beastly on Oct 8, 2022 7:24:43 GMT -6
((Vincent talks to the kid, says they're here to kill the monsters and asks if they could have a pig. He tells the mummy to stay away from the pigs.)) ((Item: Flint))
Vincent nodded at the child. He wasn't very good at talking to people, and felt a bit out of practice talking to children in particular. Still, it was a hunt he was preparing for. A kid like this shouldn't have to live in fear of a monster. He crouched slightly, inspecting one of the animals, ignoring protest from his knee.
"Yes. We are going to kill it. Would you... be able to spare one of your pigs? For bait."
Vincent frowned at the mummy, shaking his head. He had no doubt a pig could easily take a dry hand off their undead companion.
"Stay away from them. Please."
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