The dawning of a new era brings with it an old nemesis of the Solterran people.
A distant sound grows in volume, until it shakes the very walls of the canyon that it has inhabited for years, unhindered. It has squabbled with lesser of its kin and driven many out, and killed too many of the nearby Court. A monster, the Teryr reaches sizes greater than most of its kind; stretching sixty feet from wingtip to wingtip, a beak lined with too many sharp teeth that raises towards the sun as it lifts its skull with another shrill cry.
Feathers and scales ... they all gleam on this monstrous beast as it pivots in the air and heads down toward the canyon floor. Something is different today, and it can tell.
The home it makes in the canyon seems so quiet today, something is off. Silence seems to tug the edges of the terrain, a tension so thick it's almost palpable. A beast it may be, but it isn't quite as brainless as some of the predators that lurk and snap jaws at passerby in hopes of any easy meals. The Teryr knows far better than that, knows to watch and wait, that those it hunts are dangerous. There are many bones littering its nest, conquests and glittering jewels of triumph in a fight for survival out in the lands that Solis himself has blessed.
A sharp tilt of its head is given, and it spies a roving band, their dust kicking up in the canyon itself, and its wings pummel hard and heavy against the air for a brief span of time as it focuses on them, before tilting the mass of its body, and diving.
like fuck it, i don't wanna come down
i wanna get fucked up right about now
gonna tear shit up, i don't wanna fight it
who the fuck here wants to start a riot?
Bel was part of a crowd, there weren't too many of them, but it was enough.
The hunt was on, and while she didn't really know what to expect, her heart, and her energy levels were buzzing with excitement. She could taste the salt on her tongue, the dropping of temperature around her as her magic responded to her own buzz of battle. Latticeworks of frost were climbing over her hide as the water vapors wafting off her back continued to plummet into negative numbers, colder and colder, until the frost left behind in her wake was a path of ice, the battle mage's eyes locked on the creature taking to the sky.
It seemed to hover, watching them and their approach.
Bel briefly glanced to the stallion at her side, her cyan eyes catching his gold, and she flashed a cocky grin, before the creature suddenly dived, and in that instant Bel swerved, instantly condensing the water in the very air around them, freezing the particles in the air, gathering it all into a concentrated force that extended as far as her reach could allow (roughly a 15 square foot, slightly concave barrier of one-inch thick ice) blocking the Teryr from completing its dive without veering it's course and sacrificing speed. She knew the quickly condensed ice wouldn't last long, especially with the slight thickness, sacrificing thickness for more reach of the ice, she let her gaze drift to her companions, "Quick, before it works it's way around, this thing is already on the hunt! We need to drive it back far enough to at least figure out a plan, don't we?" She called out, even as she returned her gaze to the Teryr.
Already she was leeching water off her vapors, off of her reserve.
The water quickly taking shape, into missile shaped projectiles, roughly 3 shots, and freezing them to allow a slight increase of range when her magic wouldn't have to be sacrificed away from range to keep the water in shape, "I don't have a very good reach her, I won't be able to hit it with much until it's within 15 feet of us or less of us, so I'd really love a plan on how we're gonna get this thing on the ground." The mare asked, her eyes never leaving the Teryr, so that the moment it dove into range, the high-pressured attack, 3 foot-long ice projectiles could be sent speeding in its direction, switching from her initial defensive to an attack mindset, as her magic was more geared towards.
"Bel" Yukime
@Sol Bestiam @Leviathan @Pangaea @Israfel @Faction @Tug Notes:: Battle Mage Applications: Combined the Attacks: Water Missile, and Scatter Shot in her Tier 3 Level, sacrificing the multiple projectiles of scattershot, for three, larger projectiles, that could be delivered at a higher pressure, freezing the water to allow for an increase of range. I'm so glad she's level three where she can now experiment with her most commonly used attacks and do things like this. Makes it much more fun, and easier to account for what I originally thought would be a decent range, but is severely limited in this case [I can't believe I didn't alter ranges properly for some of these more 'sniper' like moves, oops].
This flaming guardian could be your worst nightmare...
There was an air of terror and excitement around him, though the terror could be coming from the stallion himself. He was definitely worried for his own safety, but that of the mare beside him was more important. The teryr was bigger than he anticipated, the large stallion flaring his wings out of instinct as he started to gather radiation from the atmosphere. As he stayed beside Bel, he started to glow with his magic's absorption.
Bel's defensive move had the stallion pausing as he glanced up. The ice seemed so thin, yet the magic that needed to be used to create even that barrier was striking. Sol glanced at Bel with amazement, touching her neck gently. "Please do not be too reckless, my heart." He murmured as he stepped a touch away and readied himself for the battle that was about to happen. Wings flapped restlessly, ready to take him to the sky to avoid any attack he could.
Glowing golden eyes narrowed at the attacker, ears flicked to listen to those around him. There was a part of him that was thrilled that he had worn his armor for this battle. Oriens knew he would probably need it. He had left Jiri in the safety of their home with someone that could watch the filly. The youth's words echoed in his mind as he glanced back to Bel. "Keep Auntie safe, Daddy... I dont want to lose her." There was a tug at his heart and he readied himself to leap into action.
"Speaking"
@ Notes: Sol is wearing his armor, and is a level 2 mage <3
It's been an age and then some since he's dragged his sorry ass to face a Teryr , much less one that looks like the one above them now .
Leviathan is aware they've tracked this one to the Elatus Canyon , and that this hunt was to be something that would be thrilling . But he wasn't aware that the goddamn thing would be so large compared to ones he's seen before , and fought . Granted , they all have magic on their side , which is a relief in of itself , as the beast isn't too much of a threat , but even he can see the gleam of teeth in that jaw as it streaks toward them , and he's glad to have left Enyo behind at the party .
This isn't a place for an infant to be .
His ears pin back a moment , eyes narrowing as he tips his head to watch the beast plummet toward them like a feathered and scaled torpedo , but then there's a chill in the air , and he grunts as he sidesteps slightly out of habit , ears pinning back and scarred muzzle lifting just slightly as he watches the air erupt with thick ice around them . So , an ice user , or something along the lines .
" Well , some of you have wings , don't you ? Why not use them ? It isn't like it's going to try to fight all of you at once if you go up after it . Ground it if you can . Or , aim something at its wings from down here . " He can't aim his own magic at those wings , not just yet . It isn't close enough , and if the one with the finned tail is saying enough , she can't either . It would have to be chased down to the ground and pinned somehow .
It won't be easy , but that's what makes this a little fun , now isn't it ?
There was a tremor that ran through the mare as she danced over the sands. She had left her bonded at home, not wanting the canid to risk himself in the battle that was definitely going to be epic. And the canid was not thrilled with that fact. "Damn it, Faction… This is ridiculous. You will get hurt and I wont be there." Yep… the canid had been furious. Yet, he had listened to her when she insisted that he stay behind where it was safer.
The simple dun mare readied herself for the attack that was incoming, realizing that her magic would be of no use here. Or at least very little. Regardless, she was ready to do her part. As she stared up at the creature, the crazy side of her brain was in awe. What a creation it would make, though her heart solidly belonged to Sors. Her eyes danced to where the bones littered the sand, and she smirked. It would have to wait until a better moment… but she could use her magic to create a soldier to help her.
Faction moved from the group, determined to spread out and make attacks harder for the creature above them. One large group was an easy target… smaller beings scattered could save lives.
it’s only natural to free the animal locked up inside
the nature of the beast is, you want it
nature of the beast is, i do too
They were silent as they ran with the others, eyes narrowed as the golden orbs narrowed at these other horses. Tall, small, winged and otherwise. So many types. Heck, one had FINS. They didn't think too hard on it, their gaze focused elsewhere soon enough as the mammoth rose up into the air, wings flared out, and Pan couldn't help it. Their muzzle dropped open, eyes went wide with wonder, as a soft smile crossed their features. Soft, delighted, eager, "Oh, how lovely of a game this will be." And that smile twisted, morphed, as her muzzle split with fangs sharp, long in her muzzle.
She barely heard the command to take to the air, as she surged ahead, wings already unfurling to their massive length, powerful fwaps down creating an up lift that had her soaring through the air. The challenge that left her throat wasn't equine, it was primeval, old as the giants that walked her home world, as the saurian mare rose up high, wings working as she practically floated through the air, her tail balancing her out, her mane streaming back, bound up, protected from being caught, and used against her.
A second cry, a hunting cry as the mare twisted to dive, her front half being pulled up, as her hind claws grasped open to defend herself, to protect herself, trusting the thick, pebbled saurian hide of her chest, her belly and legs should hopefully further protect her from this creature's attention as she purposely dove at it, trying to guide it down, feeling small despite her stature against it, but she didn't let that effect her attentions, her worries. She had one goal. To get it to the ground, to get it closer to those who could do more serious damage then what her teeth and claws could do. She let out another saurian, piercing cry , trying to drive it down to the others, the thrill of the hunt already igniting her blood, and her smile vibrant as she followed through the hunt eagerly, claws clenching to try to rip through those wings, and kept away from the more dangerous teeth and claws of this monster so she'd have an easier time side sweeping away and repeating the attack again.
you are a vast forest
full of beautiful and vibrant stories
T
he old adventurer could not deny the call from her bones to join in a hunt. It was the familiar promise of danger that she missed the most about it. That and the friends she's made along the way. Her tiny form was dwarfed by most of the equines surrounding her. Cordelia's sheer cape danced in the dry wind of the canyon as the cry of the large avian creature made an appearance. So many bodies, and yet it seemed that so many were hesitant to jump into action. The small palomino mare knew she was at a disadvantage because she was old, much older than most of the equines here. She also did not have her sword or bow on her. One of the mages races out ahead of the group and laments about the lack of range for their magic.
Cordelia frowns as she looks to Leviathan for direction. He is the Sovereign, after all, he should likely be the one to call the shots. The tiny mare is not familiar enough with the soldiers to know who is in charge. There is a winged equine that takes to the skies, and this all feels too chaotic. Leviathan's only instruction was to those with wings. "That's all well and good, Leviathan but what about those of us without wings? Have you any swords or bows?" She turns her visage to study him for a few moments. The old adventurer does her best to spot anything in the terrain that might be a suitable makeshift weapon. The pegasus that took to the sky was doing their best to lure the large avian predator closer to the ground.
"We've go to have some order to this." She exclaims then, her growing irritation swells for a moment. "Leviathan! Organize the rest of us. I can assist in luring that thing our way." She shouts over the cry of the avian. Her tiny legs carry her swiftly through the open maw of the canyon toward the pegasus. Cordelia takes care to flash the golden pendant on her shoulders toward the bird as she races to meet the pair in the sky. She then rounds herself back around to run towards the larger group she is with. It is her hope that the predator will see her as an easier target because she is small and alone. Little does this creature know just how much of a fight she's about to put up if it decides to choose her as its target.
His heart, though used to the adrenaline of the battle, thundered and leaped in his chest though he didn't show it - war was war, whether it was against another man or against a beast.
And his King walks beside him. If he allows so much as a hair out of place on his King then he has failed as a soldier. Perhaps he was no mage - and he seemed quite alone there - and had no wings with which to carry him, he would not be useless. He had horns, and hooves, and teeth, and the knowledge granted by countless battles.
"By your leave, my highness." and with that he struck out after @Cordelia, his massive hooves thudding muffled on the sands, intending to help her catch its attention and to watch her back. With a shrill scream - a slight leap and a kick of his back hooves, he prepared for the battle.
Leave a note for your next of kin
Tell 'em where you been
Pray that Hell or Heaven lets you in
A set of eyes had pinned him
Became his version of a kingdom
She's everything the devil can't be
When she's singing to me "Glory"
Vermilion eyes glittered in the desert sunlight at the creature that loomed like a beast of destruction above them, shrieking like a banshee with enough force to make the very earth beneath their hooves tremble.
Oh, but this bitch was angry, and its animalistic rage pulled a wry, wild grin to the Sun Daughter’s face. It had been far too long since she had challenged anything like this, but she wasn’t a fool; half-god or not, immortal or not, Israfel understood that this was dangerous, and that she wouldn’t be able to do it alone.
“Spread out!” She called, knowing there was no point in staying as they were. A group would be far too easy to crush beneath its massive bulk, and Israfel, for one, had no intentions on dying here. “I hope you fuckers know how to handle yourselves in a battle!”
And with that, she was off. The Queen of Denocte sprung into action, her massive, gilded wings sweeping her ivory body into the air with grace and power. In a single breath she ignited, burning, churning flames kissing passionately against her very wings. Like a beacon she hoped to stand out, to draw the beasts’ ire, to keep its attention away from those who would not so easily be able to avoid its attacks.
As she flew, rising hire and hire into the air, Israfel cast her gaze back the way they had come from, knowing that her heart rested on the other end of the battlefield.
’I’ll come back,’ she had promised to Luvena, pressing a kiss to the woman’s jaw, staring deeply into those turquoise eyes she had come to adore, ’I promise you.’
“Solaris!”
Nearby, the Phoenix let out a loud, piercing scream before igniting like a comet, streaking across the sky. In tandem they moved, two creatures of yore, both ignited with burning flames, Phoenix and Queen moving in opposite directions to flank the beast.
Already the Sun Daughter began to summon her magic, holding it, waiting for the perfect opportunity. Where Below Zero had ice at her disposal, Israfel was already focusing her magic to create a massive, debilitating pillar of fire that would rise from beneath the Teryr to swallow the beast whole.
Summary: Israfel and Solaris are in the air, intending to flank the Teryr with fire on either side. Israfel is charging one of her flaming pillars (like a fire tornado), to rise from beneath the Teryr and hopefully help in knocking it from the air.
There’s a lot that happens at once, the creature begins to realize even in its descent. A beast it is, but it isn’t a mindless being. The feathery and leather wings beat hard when a wall of ice appears, catching air in great gusts while it shrieks loud enough to rattle the teeth in every jaw of the equines below and around it.
Intelligent eyes pick out those that run along the red sands of the canyon, but its head swivels up toward a sudden surge of flying equines that entirely take it off guard, and it struggles for a moment to catch the hot air of the canyon in the sweep of its wings. One, two, three sweeps and it goes skyward, away from the prey it had stalked at first to instead pull up and struggle to catch an updraft. It isn’t ideal, but it’s a good way to get away from the ice that would surely damage it.
Even as it does, there are the sounds of beating wings in the air, a shriek to parallel its own, and lungs fill with air before it echoes a call back, tipping wings and turning in a heavy arc. The creature coming toward it isn’t exactly equine, but the claws on it cause it to give a second thought, aware of how fragile its own wings are and what damage could be done to them. Instead, it gives another scream, rattling the walls of the canyon from far above, and even as it does, its heavy head swings toward Pangaea first as they dare get close to it. With a beak longer than they are tall, it aims for the legs.
A swing, and a hit as razor sharp teeth catch and twist, long fangs puncturing skin and sinking into flesh and muscle before releasing when bright fire catches the attention of the beast. Suddenly, the Teryr releases and buffets with its wings, pulling back and away, folding when the two ignited flames ( and the emerging third ) chase it toward the safety of the ground instead. Not an ideal place for a predator that wishes to remain in the sky, but it aims for the stragglers of a group already, away from the ice and the darting of two bodies.
It instead aims for the few that stand at the ready with a scarred beast at their head, landing with a thunderous slam of scales and feathers. As it does, the sharp beak comes down, bloodied teeth flashing and aiming for the scarred spine of the large beast, and it lays him open, using the momentum of its landing to put more force into the blow as it does. It’s an impact hard enough to send him skidding back against the red sands, crimson spilling against his flanks and legs buckling from the blow.
Now grounded, the Teryr lifts its head and screams, jaws opening as it issues its challenge and sweeps wings wide open to send a wall of sand upward and outward, an attempt to blind the current hunting party and to keep them from reforming or attempting anything else if they can.
![[Image: i-jTNwWx8.png]](https://photos.smugmug.com/BelowZeroNovus/n-X9d9fZ/i-jTNwWx8/1/e09fb6c3/O/i-jTNwWx8.png)
