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middaeg2020-07-01 08:15 pm
curruid_coinchenn) wrote in middaeg2020-07-01 08:15 pm
Entry tags:
Juril Quests, Full Moon, and Catch-all [OPEN]
Who: Berserker (Cú Chulainn Alter) and you!
When: Throughout Juril
Where: Various places
What: Monthly catch-all and quest log!
Warnings: None currently
[ 1. Walk, walk, fashion baby (New Look) ]
[ Berserker has been wrangled as a model for one of the tailors in the city. A dragon draws enough attention just by existing, so he's in high demand. The look he's wearing is a little ... skimpy, to say the least. His hair has been braided to match the look, the red lacing a stark contrast to the dark clothes.
For someone being paid for this, he doesn't look pleased (does he ever look pleased?}. He shoots an annoyed glare at anyone that stares for too long. ]
What? If you want to buy this, it came from the shop behind me.
What a rousing advertisement...
[ 2. Moon Madness ]
[ Around the city on the full moon, you may spot a somewhat familiar dragon...Except he's small. Berserker has taken on his cat-sized form to run off his feral energy. The problem is that he's exceptionally touchy at this size, willing to bite, scratch, and even poison anyone that even slightly annoys him.
He rushes along the ground without any care for how he might be tripping people up. If someone does trip over him, he claws his way free and runs for the nearest dark spot. Dare you pursue him? ]
[ 3. Wildcard ]
[ Got an idea? Did we plot something out? Drop me a starter or hit me up on discord glitzkrieg#0673 and we'll make it happen! ]
When: Throughout Juril
Where: Various places
What: Monthly catch-all and quest log!
Warnings: None currently
[ 1. Walk, walk, fashion baby (New Look) ]
[ Berserker has been wrangled as a model for one of the tailors in the city. A dragon draws enough attention just by existing, so he's in high demand. The look he's wearing is a little ... skimpy, to say the least. His hair has been braided to match the look, the red lacing a stark contrast to the dark clothes.
For someone being paid for this, he doesn't look pleased (does he ever look pleased?}. He shoots an annoyed glare at anyone that stares for too long. ]
What? If you want to buy this, it came from the shop behind me.
What a rousing advertisement...
[ 2. Moon Madness ]
[ Around the city on the full moon, you may spot a somewhat familiar dragon...Except he's small. Berserker has taken on his cat-sized form to run off his feral energy. The problem is that he's exceptionally touchy at this size, willing to bite, scratch, and even poison anyone that even slightly annoys him.
He rushes along the ground without any care for how he might be tripping people up. If someone does trip over him, he claws his way free and runs for the nearest dark spot. Dare you pursue him? ]
[ 3. Wildcard ]
[ Got an idea? Did we plot something out? Drop me a starter or hit me up on discord glitzkrieg#0673 and we'll make it happen! ]
no subject
Berserker makes a satisfied huff as Diarmuid vaults up onto his back. ]
You're learning quickly.
[ Once he's sure he's settled in, Berserker gets a running start and takes off with heavy wingbeats. The extra weight is barely noticeable as he climbs higher into the sky. Soon the trees below them are barely discernible, the landscape flattening out. From the height they're at, the glittering surface of the lake becomes visible in the warm glow of the morning light.
It's not a long flight, the distance almost trivial in the face of a determined dragon. Berserker slowly comes in for a landing on the lake shore, his claws sinking easily into the wet sand. He lowers himself down again to let Diarmuid off.
How odd that it looks so peaceful right now. Wasn't whatever lurked within taking victims? Well, they would need to get the lay of the land and figure out a plan of attack if and when the beast made itself known. ]
no subject
By the time they make land he looks thoroughly windswept, hair teased out of its braid and cheeks tinged pink, but he wastes no time in dismounting. He takes only a moment to reacclimatise himself to Gáe Bolg's weight, giving it a few swings and jabs before nodding.]
We're early but it gives us time to prepare- this is the creature's territory so it's already at an advantage. [He glances back at Berserker- and potential snag in their plan becomes apparent.] Although I do have one question... can... you swim in that form?
no subject
Diarmuid has a point. He hasn't tried to swim in this form before -- he's heavy and doesn't have the adaptations necessary to make such a task easier. His tail should serve as a decent rudder, but his feet aren't webbed, which will make maneuvering that much more difficult. It's a challenge and one he'll overcome. ]
I don't know. [ Berserker answers honestly as he stands at the edge of the water. If it's peaceful during the day...Well, maybe it's safe enough to try. He wades in, the water still cold against his scales. It would be good to get a feel for how deep the lake is, too, just in case things got hairy. ] Stay there and practice. I should be able to manage well enough to not be a danger.
[ His wings fold and flatten against his back as his tail spines lower. A certain...anxiety fills him as his feet no longer reach the bottom, relying wholly on his tail to propel him for now. ]
It gets deep fast.
no subject
... please be careful.
[Drowning would be one hell of an anticlimactic way to go after all he's been through. Instead, Diarmuid turns his attentions to Gáe Bolg. The first thing he finds out is that, with its new size and sturdiness, it can support his weight far better than Gáe Dearg would be able to. Though he can't throw it any great distance- if he still possessed his superhuman strength as a Servant he could probably manage better- he finds other ways to use it. Like before, he plants the spearhead into the ground and uses it as an anchor point to swing around, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick to the tree he's practicing on. It's no mean feat with so many spikes to content with but after a few pricks he works it out. A few tries later and he's managed to use the momentum from landing to tear the spear back from the ground and swing it at full force.
Needless to say, the branches are more twigs by the time he's done and he's feeling more confident. As for Berserker...]
Oh? [Wiping his forehead with the back of his forearm, Diarmuid heads over to the banks of the lake.] Can you see the bottom?
no subject
But that is a distraction from his own task. Diarmuid's question snaps him out of his thoughts. The lake has to be rather deep to hide a creature as big as they say it is. Berserker takes a deep breath, then lowers beneath the surface of the water. He's fortunate that his body is shaped more like an alligator or crocodile; while he can't cut through the water as easily as some creatures, he can still move efficiently. This is also a test of how long he can hold his breath.
The lake is clear enough he can see the bottom, but it's distant, at least twice his body length away. It would be easy to get dragged under...
He turns and heads straight up to the surface. The water parts around him, a sparkling halo in the morning sun. A deep breath burns his lungs, all but gasping for air. He calmly swims back to shore, scales glistening as he wades in the shallow water. ]
...Yes, but it's too far. If one of us gets pulled under, that's it. Unless you can breathe underwater.
no subject
It's a tense wait- and then, in a dramatic spray of glistening water droplets and flaring wings, he returns.
Diarmuid is already close by and makes quick work of whatever distance is left between them, tugging off his cloak to use as a makeshift towel. As he dabs at Berserker's scales, he gives a thoughtful hum.]
I prepared a spell but I don't know how well it will work on you in this form. [Curious, he brushes a hand over Berserker's throat.] Should we try it anyway?
no subject
He stretches his neck out a little further, encouraging the touch. With anyone else, he might be more defensive and snappy; his throat is a rather sensitive and one of his weaker point. From Diarmuid, though, it's a pleasant feeling. ]
Of course. It's better we try it than not at all...If it works, I'll be better off.
[ "Or I'll end up drowning" goes unsaid. There's a real risk this can go sideways very quickly. ]
...You're going to make use of it, too, aren't you?
[ It feels silly to ask, but he wants to make sure he doesn't have to split his focus later. ]
no subject
Of course. [Diarmuid looks up to meet his eyes. Even before his transformation, they had a feral glow to them; becoming a literal beast has merely intensified it.] If I can't take care of myself, I won't be able to take care of you. You'll be the frontline and I'll take care of the rear guard and flanks.
[Promise made, he steps back and touches two fingers to his own throat. Breathe in, breathe out. As spells go, it's a little more complicated than his usual fare but he's been practicing since they decided to take on this quest.
Short though his command is, the intensity of energy concentrated into it is palpable.]
Anáil na farraige.
[Nothing. And then-
Diarmuid gasps and claps a hand to the side of his neck as gills begin to split the skin, magic burning through him as the differences between water and air are temporarily bridged.]
no subject
Berserker jerks his head back in surprise. Somehow, that's...not what he was expecting to happen. It makes the most sense, of course, if he thinks about it for longer than a moment. What better way to ensure you can breathe underwater than by giving yourself gills?
Gently, carefully, he nudges his snout against Diarmuid's neck. ]
Now I see why you're worried about using it on me. [ The amount of magic he had to use just on himself...It would certainly take more for someone his size. ] Do you have it in you to try it now? And do you know how long it lasts?
no subject
... supposedly until "the next dawn".
[As Berserker noses at him, Diarmuid tilts his head, letting him get a better look. It's a strange sight and not a particularly attractive one either but it's only temporary and he has enough faith in his abilities to be certain there won't be permanent damage. As for whether he can try it again...
A little unsteady, he catches himself on Berserker.]
Give me a little while. I think I underestimated how much it would take out of me... [He smiles weakly.] Besides, I want to see if it actually works.
[He tugs his cape off and sets it down alongside Gáe Bolg, his tunic following a few moments later. Then, a little uncertain, he wades out into the water- and gives a little gasp of surprise.]
You didn't tell me how cold it was...!
no subject
He follows after him as a safeguard, just in case. There's no guarantee the spell will actually work and a drowned boyfriend is a bad thing. ]
You didn't ask. You only asked about the depth.
[ Yes, he's being a shit. ]
no subject
With a flick of his wrist, a pulse of arcane energy creates a miniature tidal wave that crashes directly into Berserker. Apparently dunking on a grumpy dragon doesn't count as wasteful when you're trying to conserve your strength.]
Maybe I won't cast it on you after all. [just kidding... unless?] Bastard.
[Diarmuid stops to throw him a smile over his shoulder before, finally, ducking under the water completely.
Nothing.
- and then a chaotic flurry of bubbles. After a few moments, though, that stops too, leaving only ripples in its wake.]
no subject
After a little bit of sputtering and shaking the water from his head, he returns to observing the witch. If he were to be honest, it makes him nervous to see him just disappear under the water. Berserker can't see him, but he still tries to follow his path along the surface.
Patience. Any long and he'll go in after him. For now, he waits. ]
no subject
The good news is that the spell works. The bad news... I hadn't accounted for an even bigger problem. [He leans against Berserker, raking a hand through his hair to brush it off his face.] It's going to be near impossible for me to see anything down there once it gets dark.
no subject
We'll have to either lure into shallower water or just blindly attack it...
[ Neither of those are great options. One of the descriptions of the creature did mention that it lit up, but Berserker chalked that up to fantastical nonsense. Exaggerations with beasts weren't uncommon; picking fact from fiction was a nightmare. A fierce beast sometimes ended up being nothing more than a scared dog or a lost horse. He has his doubts of the size and ferocity of the one they're supposed to kill today. ]
We'll manage. For now, we should rest.