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abraxaslogs2022-09-27 06:23 pm
monomachy) wrote in abraxaslogs2022-09-27 06:23 pm
Entry tags:
fake water all across the road
WHO: Diana & Inej.
WHEN: September.
WHERE: In the desert along the southern trail between Solvunn and the Free Cities.
WHAT: Protecting the supply caravan.
WARNINGS: Possibly some bandit fighting.
[A few days in Libertas was all it took for Diana to see that there were plenty of people to help with the search and rescue efforts. Almost all of the large rubble has been moved by that point, and the hounds are more effective at finding survivors than any one person. So it is that when the call goes out for Summoned to escort a supply caravan across the desert, Diana has to only briefly weigh her options before volunteering. She has trained in tactics for most of her life, and knows how important supply lines are to an ailing city; she has also been in this world long enough to know how dangerous the desert can be.
Being paired with Inej is a stroke of luck and a blessing, and despite the wreckage left behind in Libertas, she finds that the first leg of the journey is fairly easygoing. The portal got them close to the supply drop, but the rest of the journey must be made on foot--or, in their case, on horseback. Diana's steed is a dapple gray mare, beautiful and sure of foot, and hardy for the desert clime. Her name is Quicksilver, and she's easy to ride, mostly able to manage the route on her own, which allows the Amazon to keep an eye on their surroundings.
Much of the journey is made at night in order to avoid the desert heat, so it is near the end of the day, as the sun sinks towards the horizon, that they prepare to set out. Once her own supplies are gathered and packed upon Quicksilver's back, Diana makes her way over to Inej to check in with her.]
How goes it?
WHEN: September.
WHERE: In the desert along the southern trail between Solvunn and the Free Cities.
WHAT: Protecting the supply caravan.
WARNINGS: Possibly some bandit fighting.
[A few days in Libertas was all it took for Diana to see that there were plenty of people to help with the search and rescue efforts. Almost all of the large rubble has been moved by that point, and the hounds are more effective at finding survivors than any one person. So it is that when the call goes out for Summoned to escort a supply caravan across the desert, Diana has to only briefly weigh her options before volunteering. She has trained in tactics for most of her life, and knows how important supply lines are to an ailing city; she has also been in this world long enough to know how dangerous the desert can be.
Being paired with Inej is a stroke of luck and a blessing, and despite the wreckage left behind in Libertas, she finds that the first leg of the journey is fairly easygoing. The portal got them close to the supply drop, but the rest of the journey must be made on foot--or, in their case, on horseback. Diana's steed is a dapple gray mare, beautiful and sure of foot, and hardy for the desert clime. Her name is Quicksilver, and she's easy to ride, mostly able to manage the route on her own, which allows the Amazon to keep an eye on their surroundings.
Much of the journey is made at night in order to avoid the desert heat, so it is near the end of the day, as the sun sinks towards the horizon, that they prepare to set out. Once her own supplies are gathered and packed upon Quicksilver's back, Diana makes her way over to Inej to check in with her.]
How goes it?
no subject
I agree. I don't like it, either. We're so out in the open...
[She hasn't been in this sort of way in a long time, it draws a well of anxiety up into her chest. She's grown so accustomed to the close-knit fit of cities, traversing rooftops instead of dirt roads. There's a swell of shame that tangles with the rest for that, too. A betrayal of her roots. She pockets the realization to deal with later.]
What do you think's more likely out here? Monsters or outlaws?
no subject
Beasts. This is their land, and we are just passing through. Well, we were.
[Bandits are also a big problem, but they tend to prefer places with plenty of rocky outcroppings for them to hide in. She looks towards the sinking sun.]
It is not dark, so if they are quick about changing the wheel, we may yet move on without encountering anything hungry.
no subject
Hopefully it won’t be long.
[but there’s something of a sinking feeling when she catches sight of movement. She reaches silently for Diana’s attention and gestures to her ear, and then some point in the distance— did you hear that? ]
lmk if this is ok!
As soon as Inej motions that she's heard something, Diana's focus shifts to where she's pointing. She thinks she sees an outline slithering along the sand, but it's difficult to tell in the burgeoning gloom if it's a trick of the growing shadows. Her eyes are keen, but her eyes are still adjusting to the evening light. Nodding, she urges her horse around the wagon and towards the movement, ensuring to keep a slow pace and to avoid as much rock as possible. She holds the reins with one hand, reaching for the hilt of her sword with the other.]
no subject
Inej had dismounted her horse, was still on the ground as she edges around the wagon. Her palms itch to reach for a blade, but she keeps her movements small and cautious.]
no subject
It's a basilisk. I have heard stories of them, and seen them from afar, but never encountered one face-to-face. It must be desperate to come after a group. [Her hands flex on the grip of her sword.] Their breath is poisonous, so try to get behind it.
no subject
[Inej has never encountered any monster like this up close, so she's far keener to take Diana's lead. Every muscle in her body is coiled tight and ready to spring into action in an instant.]
no subject
It likes an easy hunt. The best thing we can do is seem too difficult a meal for it, and scare it off.
[The beast is still scuttling across the sands towards them; Diana glances back at the caravan, and sees someone running towards the broken wagon with what she hopes is a new wheel in their arms.]
Are you ready?
no subject
[She nods, eyes still on the beast as she follows Diana's lead. She has her fingers wrapped around the hilt of one of her daggers, ready for whatever the beast might bring.]
no subject
It's burrowed, it's going to try to catch us from beneath. Stay close.
[She tries to feel if the sand is moving, but it's a vain endeavor; the basilisk is a stealth hunter, and will not make itself easy to detect.]
When it comes, we will have not even a moment to react. [She's certain she can get Inej out of the way, but is less certain about avoiding injury herself. She straightens, and scans the area around them.] Watch for small shifts in the sand, or vibrating pebbles. If you see them, back away.
no subject
What about you? [She keeps her voice soft, unsure how well a basilisk can hear, but it seems to be in her best interests to call as little attention to herself as possible.]
no subject
I will be fine. [There is such conviction in her tone. Her eyes catch the slight trembling of leaves on a dry bush a few yards away though there is no wind, and turns towards it.]
There, it is coming--be ready to move. If you can throw that dagger well, aim for its eyes.
no subject
The slight rumble of the ground turns rapidly more violent before the basilisk finally moves to strike. The first thing that runs through her mind is:
It's bigger than I thought.
The next is automatic reaction and reflex– her dagger thrown with practiced precision, landing in the right eye of the basilisk.]
no subject
Inej's throw lands true, and she'd congratulate her companion if the danger wasn't so imminent.
She gives a shout, drawing its attention towards herself with noise and a swing of her blade. Its hide is tough and her weapon is sharp, but it's a glancing blow at best, the creature twisting its reptilian body just in time to avoid a more direct strike. Luckily, it twists towards her, and she shouts again, raising her arms up and trying to make herself look bigger than she is. The creature hisses in return, and lunges for her, apparently undeterred by her tactics.]
no subject
She recalls Diana’s earlier suggestion to get behind the beast, and tries to slink carefully in a wide circle. If she can get close enough, perhaps she can take out the remaining eye— surely if it was blinded, it would retreat?]
no subject
She sees Inej trying to get behind it, and knows she has to keep its attention until she can. It's already enraged by the pain from its one bleeding eye, and maybe inflicting a second, similar wound will be enough to drive it off. Diana widens her stance, and bellows a challenge cry at it; the creature meets her in kind, flinging its head back, dropping her sword, and screeching at the sky--leaving its face open to attack.]
no subject
Diana's challenge serves as enough of a distraction to give Inej her opening for her next attack. She casts a spell she's been perfecting and from it, a blade made of shadow forms in her hands, which she drives into the remaining eye of the beast- and in something of an impossibly smooth, acrobatic sort of movement, grabs the dagger she'd first thrown, the blade tearing further into the soft tissue of the eye as she pulls it sharply down and out.
She knows how to fall, it's innate as she goes down to make herself as small as possible, tuck and roll as far as the momentum might carry her and immediately scramble to her feet to flee the serpent's reach.]
no subject
But Inej's attack seems to have done the trick; now blinded by its own blood, the creature screeches in pain and frustration, and dives back into the dune beneath them. Panting, Diana scans the area, following the trail of crimson it left in its wake, but the creature does not emerge again, nor does she spot any signs of its return.
Right arm hanging limp by her side, she finally turns her gaze to Inej and smiles, a little lopsided. It seems part of her face has gone numb, too.]
I think it's safe to say it won't be coming back for us.
no subject
Good. [She nods and makes her way back to where Diana stands.] Are you all right?
no subject
Get me on my horse and I will be just fine. We should be able to make it to the meeting point and portal by dawn if they've managed to fix the wheel. And if the gods are good, this will wear off by then.
["This" being the numbness, which she demonstrates by awkwardly shrugging the shoulder of her numb arm.]
no subject
All right. I hope you’re right. The sooner, the better.
[With that, she takes lead but lingers close to Diana in case she needs more help than she first thought.
It’s a quick assessment and back on the road after that. The wheel is fixed and they have time to make up for now.]
no subject
During the hours they travel, the shallow cuts on her sides close, though her armor is ruined. She isn't looking forward to having to replace it. By the time they actually reach the checkpoint and the portals, it's nearly dawn. Diana is tired (her body has spent a lot of energy repairing itself), but once more whole and able to move every part of herself as she should.
Diana and Inej are the last to step through the portal, and it feels good to be back in Cadens, in familiar territory. She just hopes that their efforts will bring even a little bit of relief to those in Libertas.]