Gathering Guardians

Luna<I think we should just board the ferry...I'm sorry.>

*She walks briskly towards the beach.*
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*Rin hands Hitomi the book back.*

Rin<Keep it. It won't be hard to get another.>

*He turns to bow back to Syrona.*

Rin<Thank you. Your patronage is very much appreciated.>

Zazak<Next we go through Thunder Planes to Guadosalam. Then we're half there.>

Ark: <Got'cha.>

*He jumps onto a rock nearby and then onto a higher one, before climbing onto a large disk-shaped part of a machina at the top of it. He shouts to the camp*

Ark: <Kioc! E kuddy ku yht tu cusadrehk! E'mm pa caehk oui ymm mydan, E's cunno E ryja du ku mega drec, pid ed'c esbundyhd. Poa!>

*He gets back down and follows her running, his Blitzball under his arm*

"Why do I have a feeling there was an insult about me in there?" Zephyr follows quickly.

"Guadosalam, that's a bit away. We should get a move on."

OOC: I've found a translator for Al Bhed, believe it or not. I'll be putting it up in the Information topic, in case anyone wants to use it. But remember, acting heavily on OOC knowledge is considered a no-no.

*That night, Luna wakes up & comes above deck, watching the full moon reflect off of the ocean. To the north, she notes a dark sillohette looming into view. She grips her spear tightly before relaxing.*

[Funny...in this light, at this distance, a peaceful island looks just like Sin's back.]
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Zazak<Guadosalam not far. The problem is-->

*Scene transition! A long expanse of dark grey land with storm clouds overhead. Occasionally, lightning hits one of the many large lightning towers in the area. One bolt strays, impacting Zazak's horn. Some of the fur on his head burns, but the damage is superficial.*

Zazak<Storms rage constantly here, but those rods keep most lightning at bay. Most. Be sure to dodge if a bolt comes.>

Ackbar<These towers can't repel lightning of that magnitude!>

OOC: The image is actually from another game, but it's the best Thunder Plains image out there.

Zephyr is laying on the deck and waves, "Can't sleep?" he asks her clearly transposing his own issues to her.

*Ark is sitting back on the second floor, feeling the breeze with his eyes closed, and ignoring them down below cause he doesn't give a shit*

OOC: Was that an ackbar reference?

[Jeez, starting to seriously doubt my decision to come...]

*Syrona tries to stick close to Zazak, but after the stray bolt can't seem to stick to him, she often staggers towards the middle of the group.*

"How much farther? We can't stay out here if the storms get worse, the towers won't repel all the bolts."

OOC: I've made 2. Both paper thin.

Ackbar<The towers won't repel lightning of-->

Igri<Heard you first time!>

*Two floating imps float down behind them while a small, running cactus darts between their legs, turning to face them.*

Zazak<Least after Plains, it be smooth sailing.>

*A lightning bolt strikes down at Hitomi.*
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*The ship is stopped near the docks as dozens of monsters resembling horseshoe crabs with long, prehensile tails & external claws climb over the rail of the ship.*

"There's a Sinspawn nearby!"

*Hitomi lets out a scream and attemps to jump back, falling rather than landing.*

*Ark gets up and leans forward, scanning the deck*

Ark: <Uh oh.>

*He jumps onto the edge of the platform and then down onto the deck, drawing his dagger*

Ark: <Luna, be careful!>

*Max attempts to cast a spell, but then loses his concentration, panics and stumbles to the ground.*

*Ackbar rushes forward, impaling one of the imps on his horn & tossing it to the side. Igri rolls behind the other imp, leaps up, grabs its wings & shoulders, & rips it clean in half. The Cactuar just fucks right off.*

Zazak<Escort paid to kill Fiends. We not supposed to be doing guarding.>
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"There's too many, I'll have to summon!"

*This happens, only Valefor lands next to Ark.*

"Seems he's taken quite a liking to you...why don't you command him?"

Ark: <G-Gotcha! I think... Hum... Valefor, right? Mad'c fung dukadran. Cruf sa fryd oui'ja kud!>

*Valefor rockets forward and spreads its wings in front of the enemies, blasting powerful sonic waves at them. Ark slides down the deck over to where Valefor is and stabs at the closest crab*

Ark: <I think it can understand me!>

OOC: Tae and Aquilamon 2.0

Zephyr grabs his blade and plays damage control knocking away and killing any of the crabs that get near Luna.

[Why would Ronso need escorts in the first place?]

*Hitomi gets up off the ground.*

OOC: As mentioned earlier, it's not that they can't beat the Fiends, it's that they want to stay in top shape for the game. Also, Tae, there's nothing in that lake but a few stone spires. >.>

*Luna twirls the spear about, slashing at the Sincrabs. The gouges she makes in their armor don't run very deep, but Zephyr cuts them right in half. The blast from Valefor's wings blow the remaining ones back into the sea.*

"If we don't kill the Sinspawn, Sin will come back for it! Everyone in Kilika is in danger!"
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*They pass another of Rin's inns. After a while of walking, they realize that no lightning has struck for several minutes, not even the lightning towers. In the distance, they see a hulking shadow moving across the plains. The reason they've been spared is because all of the lightning is striking it, briefly illuminating a tremendous, arm-like fin, or a swiping tail.*

Zazak<...Sin must be headed for Bevelle....>

Igri<Does not matter. Nothing we can do. We pray it moves on, & we hurry to Luca.>

OOC: What the fuck are you talking about?

Ark: <So... is it in the ocean?>

*Valefor growls and hovers above the ship*

[Sin? I already have a useless team, that last thing I'd need is Sin to give us trouble.]

*Jade hurries ahead to the front of the group and pushes through the storm, keeping a wary eye on the large creature*

*Max starts walking slightly faster than normal and shakes as he struggles to catch up with the group.*

"If its in the water than Ark will get it handled."

*What looks like a giant lobster climbs aboard the ship. It has a dragon-like face, two long tendrils extending from its snout, 3 volcano-like protrusions running along either side of its back, & Sincrabs clinging to it in various locations.*

"Looks like it came to fight us directly. It looks fast, armored, & nasty. This could be bad."
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*Before long, the group makes it to the bank of a river. The water is crystal clear, reflecting the light of the hundreds of pyreflies drifting lazily across its surface. A small warf is constructed beside a large beast being fussed over by a group of Hypello & there are at least 6 merchants patrolling the area.*

OOC: There are great pictures of the Shoopuf, but not the Moonflow. >.> Also, the "machina" Tae keeps mentioning under Besaid lake. It's just a bunch of buildings.

OOC: I know, but fuck you, this is creative writing. Supposedly.

Ark: <I bet Valefor can handle it!>

*Valefor rockets over to its head and opens its wings, blasting sound waves at it. Ark circles around it, fast and nimble, and slashes at its right side*

"Armor isn't a problem for me!" Zephyr moves to the left flank dodging attacks as he goes and swings with his oversized steel oar/sword in a cleaving motion at the thing's side to open up a crack in it's caripace.

*The Sinspawn scuttles out of the way of Zephyr's attack. As it does, some of the Sincrabs drop off & slither towards him. Ark's knife just bounces off of its carapace as the creature turns its claw to him & snaps it, causing a directed explosion that hurls him back. Its head snaps back at Valefor's attack, but the tentacles dart towards the Aeon.*