[AW] Swimming UPstream [relic contest]

[Rostislav]

H

I'm broken, lying helpless, shattered, surrounded by the world Two down -- how many to go? I've come down from the mountain, taking care that my steps are placed exactly where I want them, for fear of losing my balance as sliding all the way down to the bottom. I grunted with each step, my body groaning at the effort of being careful instead of a blundering fool. I make a good blundering fool. But eventually I did make it down, to a nice and calm valley where a creek ran through. So now you find me, where I am now on the bank of the creek. Some unnamed creek that probably means sometime to someone. Not me of course.. I scratch my muzzle on my leg, pondering how I should go about this relic searching. No luck finding it yet.. but I also don't know what the hell I'm doing. I spare a glance at the flask around my thick neck, wishing that I could take a sip - just one sip! - to soothe the rumbling spirit inside me. Fuck it. Whatever stupid mission thing I'm on is just enough to distract me from the sorrows that are tugging at my insides. The pain of loneliness and guilt, the emptiness. If I focus on this fucking relic from this damn God maybe I can forget. Just for a little bit. I lower my nose to the creek's bank, having no idea what I'm looking for. What scent, texture, color.. is it gold? Pink? Neon green? What's with my color choices... scaly or smooth, rough and scratchy? I grunt at the innocent green bank. Maybe it is in the water... I step into the calm creek water and stick my head underneath. Luckily on the edge it isn't too deep, and my eyes stay above the water. There's only silt on the bottom, as I discover with quivering nostrils and a scraggly, mud-covered beard. I lift my mug from the water and grunt, then stomp a hoof angrily into the water, disturbing the serenity. "Well, where the hell is it? How do I know if I've found it?" "."

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[Lothaire]

THIS BEAUTIFUL DECAY

Lothaire had been watching the horned stallion for a length of time he had not cared to measure. Orphic reptilian eyes studied his broad frame with a curiosity that was both cold and curtained, hidden beneath a mask of iron-borne indifference. The lion-esque tail this stranger sported had initially triggered a flashing and fleeting memory of his own childhood; where he came from, it was not abnormal to see such affectations - and so certainly it reminded Lothaire of home, if he still dared to call it such. The python-marked man did not care to linger on the past; it had never served him well, and with recollection came reflection - something he treated with absent-minded disdain.  Still, in the quiet shade of solitude came the slow-burning beat of boredom melded with an interest in the man not far from his reach. Tick, tick, tick - until he could resist it not a moment longer. From the shadow of the forest Lothaire emerged, great hooves thudding steadily against the earth. He was, undeniably, a striking creature - milelong legs carrying a body that pulsated with muscle, torn wings kissing the sky. He approached the stranger with unlikely stealth for a man of his size, licking his lips as he pulled to a halt upon the bank. A hint of dark amusement spread across those serpentine eyes as the words rolled like cool gasoline from his tongue - "patience is a virtue, stranger." ooc: @rostislav

love, space

[Venari]

 


After searching all of the day court, Venari was halfway round searching the entirety of Novus. It had already been a long journey but he knew it was going to grow longer still. The trek from the day court to this creek stretched before him had been a long and arduous one, taking many hours and draining him of most of his energy. As a result the stallion was cranky and fatigues, his limbs aching at each step. Yet this was something he had learned to work through by now in all his past years of travelling; sleep would cure all ills by the dusk of each day and so he knew he could push himself as far as possible. 

As he approached the bank he craned his neck downwards to meet the earth. His muzzle brushed aside the wet leaves and twigs, a small sound escaping from the nature. He hoped no one was around this creek - his desire to socialise had gone from bad to worse and he truly hated the idea of having to meet someone new and go through the motions all over again. By now, he wanted a familiar face to talk to or he wanted to go it alone. 

Pinning back his ears, Venari registered a loud thud nearby. He could not know for sure what it was, but he rather guessed it was a thundering gait of another equine approaching. But how could it be? It had been only a single sound. Perhaps someone had fallen or smacked the ground; maybe it had been a heavy stone falling or another creature falling victim to a predator. Whatever it was, Venari didn't want to be close to it. Ven then detected the sound of speech, closely followed by another, different dialogie. He scanned the landscape with his azure orbs, trying to detect any sense of motion so that he could better avoid it. Today was not his day so it would seem; his head was all over the place. 

It was then he saw a movement of a black and white pegasus, it's frame large and hulking as it moved. From first sights, it looked like an intimidating creature and Venari didn't much like it. Anxiety pulsed a little within his veins, aiding him somewhat by keeping him alert. It didn't aid him as it bore a hole into his stomach, however. Venari paced forward by a few feet, curious if anyone else was close by (judging by the voices his guess had been two equines) - the thicket had been blocking most of his sight. As his skull peeked round, iced eyes spotted another, smaller horse. It was a simple blend of auburn with unique horns to his but horns all the same. Something also hung around it's neck, but Ven could not make out exactly what it was from this distance. 

Venari stood sentry for a small while, hoping not to disturb them. There was plenty of greenery to search before this stretch anyway, so if he at all could he would sneak away to avoid the inevitable conversations. Turning, he kept his eyes focused on the second stranger he had spotted, distracted from his own footing. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but not so much when it comes back around to say 'I told you so.' Distracted by the equines, Venari failed to noticed the tangle of foliages he had just stumbled into, leaving his foot locked into place unknowingly as he tried to take the next step.

With an undignified thud he crashed to the ground. Thorns pricked his side and his antlers scraped the top layer of earth. The jarring pain at his withers caused him to grunt a little but he managed to pick himself up into a laying position, forelegs curled beneath him. He sat there for a few moments, registering the fact that he had probably alerted the others to his presence. So much for a quiet search. With a sigh, he scanned the ground at much closer quarters, chuckling to himself lightly as he managed to find the silver lining to the situation; if there was a relic here, he would surely spot it in this involuntary position.


*


TAGGED: @Rostislav & @Lothaire & Open
NOTES: I hope you don't mind me joining in; feel free to react or ignore him as you both wish I'm easy either way! Just thought I would bring about some more misery to his day lol
TIMELINE: Eleventh relic location, fourth day

[Damascus]

DAMASCUS

he was like a storm,

"This is where lovers come I heard them saying" Dohv sniggered, tugging at Damascus' left ear as he stood upon the brute's poll. Lovers? Here? It was so dark and shady - wasn't it nicer to sail across the sky with loved ones or watch an incredible view rather than stare at cranky old trees? "Get lady friend I will and take her I to place nicer much than this!" Damascus roared, stomping the creek water with a plate-sized hoof as he continued his slow waltz across the low-laying creek water. 

They had come in search of the relic of course - the colt and his jerboa companion probably wouldn't stop looking until they knew it had been located, though it was becoming quite tiresome. How many places had they been to now in search? Nine? Ten? It was looking hopeless regardless. 

'Patience is a virtue, stranger' 

The words had echoed from up-stream, drawing Damascus' nose in the direction of a bulky man and another pegasus - the wise one. For a few moments the boy just stood watching from his place among the water, stones and trees, soon to take a foot fall in their direction when a CRASH spooked him almost six feet high.
Launching up into flight, his lofty wings holding his broad body at the height of the canopy, Damascus looked down to find Venari tangled in a web of vines - the cause of all the kerfuffle.
"Venari! Scare me you!" Damascus bellowed, allowing his wings to angle downwards, spiralling back down to the creek bed in order to help the antlered stag to his feet. "Clumsy, foolish you" the colt uttered scoldingly as he crossed his glance to the other males upstream. 

© ☀︎

[Rostislav]

I'm broken, lying helpless, shattered, surrounded by the world I stop my mild temper tantrum as a voice disturbs me, and I look up to see a tall, painted pegasus gazing at me derisively. I snort and snap my teeth at him. What does HE know? "A virtue for you perhaps, but maybe I'm the one who gets things done." Asshole. Still... splashing water about isn't going to get me very far. I'm about to move from the creek when a large THUD catches my attention. My skull snaps around to catch the culprit and sure enough... a SPY. Of course I don't think he is any real sort of spy, but someone who has failed at all stealthiness. Believe me, I am not one to be terribly good at sneaking around, I'm sort of an oaf in that area. But surely I can stay on all fours. I start chuckling, unable to help myself. The unicorn that's a little ways off seems to be trying to make a great recovery but of course, the thud was a giveaway. I may not have seen his fall but I can only imagine. Moments later a pegasus joins the fallen one's company. I can't exactly tell where he came from, but the two seem to know each other, based off the quiet calmness between the two. I sigh and step out of the creek's bed. Adrenaline begins to course through me as I realize I've suddenly been joined by three different stallions. Whether I mentally feel threatened or not, the rise in my blood pressure is inevitable and instinctual. If I could bulk up anymore I would, but I fear there's only so much I can do to appear bigger and fiercer. I glance at the stallion who thought to lecture me. "Come.. let's join them." My pelt shakes reflexively to rid itself of the water droplets I've splashed upon it. I pick up a lazy trot over to where the unicorn lies in the dirt, appearing to search for something. "Lost something? Dignity, perhaps?" I bite back a snicker, but my long tail twitches with amusement. "I am Rostislav." "." OOC: Apologies for the delay! Tag: @Lothaire

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[Lothaire]

OOC: I'm pulling Lo out of this thread, sorry not personal I just don't have tons of muse for the actual relic contest tingg rn and I don't wanna hold you guys up!!! (Also Venari isn't on the site anymore) Sorry if this is a buzzkill ick, you can just say he just slunk off or somethinggo c: @damascus @rostislav

p.s: will delete this after you guys have seen it xx