RP:Laying a Trap
Inhospitable Lands
This area appears to mark some kind of border, to the south is nothing but empty desolation. Lands scorched by the sun with little water or shade to provide respite for the searing heat. The land is flat for quite some way so it appears to go on endlessly like some great unnatural void for life and civilization. To the north some greenery can be seen, the occasional leafy ancient oak and plenty of thick dark green grass evidently very healthy yet there is no sign of any animals.
A Blue Dragon is here.
Ranok || Bright. Blue. It was one of those Rynvalian days. The one where the clouds in the sky were floating lazily along, providing occasional shelter from the sun. Which, truly, contrasted with the blasted wasteland. There was no green to soften the eyes, and no relief anywhere. Rocks, the mountains to the west, and only the promise of green so far north. In that respect, the light was much harsher to the eye. Rode the man that gathered the hunting party, Ranok. Such sun was what his eyes were used to, desert born and outside dwelling. His hat rode on his brow, providing shade. The heat was beginning to stifle, but the height of the day had yet to come. The noon was prime hunting hour for the blue. It was necessary to ride in at this time because the blue would not come down from its mountain lair otherwise. The trap to be set, and the time to set it. The creature was a young thing, barely old enough to have grabbed some territory. It was foolish, in the way youths tended to be. Snatching livestock from many places, and including the sheep of a silver. In retaliation, the silver had laid open its neck and face. Those scars were the identifying marks that were used to track it to its lair. The men that Ranok personally brought with him numbered three. Three men equipped with wicked crossbows tied to lines. Ranok was carrying a much more massive one himself, his strength great enough to wield it. Anyone else that was along with the party can be assumed to have performed to Ranok's satisfaction in whatever tests he requested, saving everyone a fair deal of time with introductions. His plan was remarkably simple. He would be the bait. Tied to the ground to snag the dragon and prevent it from preforming its favored tactic: sweeping in from the blue of the sky and behind the sun and plucking prey off. When it was snagged, everyone would pepper it to death. The one thing Ranok stressed, however. Don't damage the heart of the creature, and leave at least one eye intact. Tall orders, but he was quite insistant on the point. The horses were stashed among some rocks, safely in the shade in cover where they wouldn't be harmed or suffer in the rising heat. From Rynvale's armory, the people along with were allowed to take any weapon or armor they wished. The men Ranok took were all clad in easy leathers with some splints. Plate wasn't going to help any in the claws of a dragon. And metal just attracted the lightning. "Ve are here."
Antioch rides with the rangers of Larket, bowmen of appreciative skill. They wear hooded cloaks, simple brown tunics and tan breeches. Each man is equipped with a long bow and a falchion, a thin bladed weapon for use in closequarters combat though none of the men wished to see the skirmish come to that. The Head Ranger trots forward on his roan mare, his King's Blade tethered to his belt in sheathe and the blackwood bow resting in a special holster with a full quiver of arrows on his back. He learned a long time ago to ignore the sweltering heat that bore down on the party as Ranok offered up his words. "So we are. Shall I have my men set up on the ridge o'er yonder?" To the riders around him he dismounts, "Levotir, Hundoras, Quil'Rothan, on me. Stay close." The archers all held bows at the ready and the son of Zena'thor was all but prepared for the battle of ahead.
Kayla isn't necessarily with the hunting party nor was her presence something to be expected but such is the strength of a ranger to be always unexpected. Certainly, the young archer wasn't stalking Antioch. That would be absurd. Nevertheless, Kayla would prefer to keep her presence a secret for the time being which presented a bit of a problem as she know found herself hidden behind a small rock formation, camouflaged in her light gray cloak, directly between Antioch's men and the ridge he declared as their post. Thinking fast, she retrieves a single arrow from her quiver and, with deft hands and a piece of twine, attaches a lightweight rock from the ground to the end. Bow drawn, aimed, fired, the rigged arrow zips through the air with a faint twang of the bow. The arrow plunges into a small outcropping to the south of the men, causing a notable din as the stone ricochets across the hard surface. Hopefully, the commotion was enough to draw the men's attention for the single moment she would need to move from her current cover to another rock formation slightly less in the way.
Haku quietly skulks through the woods towards the party, he had heard talk in the local tavern of some men hunting a dragon and decided to join if welcomed, or at least watch. Haku finds a small cluster of rocks and shrubs, not far from the party, deciding this would be the place to lay low until he's made up his mind.
Ranok gives a glance around. It was a bit of a bowl that they were in, yes. The ridge would provide a good vantage. Especially since it would let them hit the more vulnerable wings of the dragon. Fingers flick outwards, "Do it." He assumed Antioch could handle the rest and the proper placement. The men Ranok himself had brought along with were taking out hammers and pinions from the saddlebags. Hammered into the ground deeply and strong silk rope tied to them. That was the harness that Ranok would be wearing. He took the most painful and dangerous task for himself. Luckily, his armor would protect him, given its nature. To speak of which, the intelligence imbued within the metal was quite attentive, as its protective services would be called upon very shortly. A trio of blue lights burned steadily over Ranok's right shoulder, seemingly taking the whole area in. When the trick arrow hit rock, the men turned as predicted. Including Ranok. Gray eyes glance towards the sound. Just rocks shifting, or maybe a creature fleeing from the men of the party. Nothing to be worried about. Those lights, though. A flare accompanies the sound, the extra light generated nearly lost in the rising sun. Swirls, then, too. They were watchful now. Ranok busies himself with hammering a spike into the ground using his smithing strength.
Antioch grins widely, "Aye, it will be so." He nods to Ranok before directing his men to the ridge line with a sweep of the Ranger's arm, index finger pointing to the position they would be taking. Just then the arrow with a rock attached grabs the Ranger's attention as he looks over to the formation of jutting stones Kayla occupied. The operations had just begun as Ranok was setting himself up and Antioch hadn't recalled seeing other hunters in their band. He would give Kayla the 'on me' hand gesture but chances are without his training she'd think it to be little more than a passive motion. Silly Civilians, he thought. Even having no idea of the other one skirting the formation assembled he falls into position with his men kneeling and taking the blackwood bow in hands to keep it at the ready. The Rangers all huddle down into a prone position, lying on their bellies in wait, anxious hands lining the taut string of their bows with a deadly arrow. He didn't need to give his men any other command at the moment but to wait. Their discipline was unwavering even that the seering heat of the midday sun did nothing to mar their focus, all minds set on the task before them with lethal precision. One thing he hoped was that whoever the strangers skirting them were, that they knew what they were doing so he wouldn't have to play the Hero and rescue their sorry hind ends.
Haku continues to look around at the group and their preparation, wondering how long 'til the action starts. Although timid in social situations, Haku's rather brash when it comes to combative circumstances. But for now it seems he'll play the waiting game, begrudgingly.
Kayla turns to look over her shoulder mid-dash towards the second outcropping only to lock eyes with the ranger-general. She curses under her breath. Of all the people she would have minded spotting her daring maneuver he was by far the worst. What was she even doing here? What sane individual chooses stalking as a pastime? She turns to him, offers an angry glare, and marches up the ridge without invitation. Dropping down beside him, she lowers her hood and hisses, "What are you -doing- here?" Regardless of being out of the loop, her bow is drawn and quiver full.
Ranok was much sharing of Antioch's opinion on civilians. They usually got in the way. Panicking, useless, sometimes brazen when they ought to have run. A very hefty glare towards the commotion where Kayla was striding up to Antioch and his men. What an idiot! Who stalked this far into wasteland for no reason? Maybe a glory hound, or someone looking for a show. Short, savage movements towards Antioch. 'Take care of it' was the message. By whatever means necessary. He wasn't going to waste manpower and time on pulling up stakes. More quick hammer blows to the stakes, and the ropes tied to it. Ranok's own men were moving to vantage positons, too, the bulk of the word done. The site was being cleared, removing the signs of human touch. The trap was nearly set.
Antioch very clearly understands Ranok's sentiment as Kayla trudges closer, obnoxiously towards his vantage. He makes no bones about the present situation to grab Kayla's collar as she nears and pull her down quietly that her may presence might not alert the Dragon they were hunting. A single gloved digit is brought to the ranger's lips, "Shh. Do you not realize the danger you are to bring upon yourself and my men? We are hunting."His hood was already drawn down, his cropped brown hair well tended as his blue eyes locked on Kayla's after the command. He relaxes, hoping she understands his point. He didn't need to explain the situation, she would see soon enough after it unfolded. Ironically, she would have very few options but to huddle with the Rangers and the man she seemingly loathed as the air grew quiet and tense. The Ranger gestured toward his team to keep eyes for the Saurian beast. Antioch reached for his belt and retrieved a vial of oozing green liquid before letting the poison drip onto his arrow head. He had a mind to offer Kayla some before she could tell it was obviously a poison. He simply grinned with the thought. If there was anyone who deserved the tranquilizers it carried it was her. "Do as we do." He then suddenly says, returning to his position.
Antioch offers Ranok a thumbs up to convey the message it was clear to procede.
Kayla drops down beside Antioch. He tells her to do as they do, and so she does. Reaching into her pouch, she too retrieves a small vial of poisons and begins to apply it to the tips of several arrows which she lays on the ground in front of her. Whatever they were hunting, she came prepared.
Haku contemplates moving closer, but is unsure of his abilities to remain undetected or is even welcomed. Haku thinks to himself briefly what can he even do? He ponders for a split second grabbing his sword and smashing it against rocks to attract the dragon, but thankfully the little voice in his head speaks with reason 'My magic is rather pathetic, and I've never used a bow/crossbow in my life.. What to do..' Feeling as if he'll be a burden he continues to sit and watch, maybe in time he'll be called into action.
Ranok was mindless of the proceedings on the ridge. While it was he ass on the line, he was fairly confident that he could take the dragon down himself. His pride was a strange beast in that fact, truly. It might have been true, it might not have. Hardly mattered. Everything on his side was ready. Several stakes deep in the ground, equipment tucked away. Ropes tied to a sheepskin fluffed up with hay that was carried in. The perfect bait. Duster and hat shucked, to be put away. He was stripped to the armor. Wite plate that covered his vital areas, as well as the outside of his arms and legs. It focused on mobilty more then making an invulnerable target. Ghroundium underweave served in the place of chainmail, a more flexible alternative. The fake sheep was tied to the ropes. When the dragon tried to take off with its prize, it'd get a nasty surprise. The ropes were covered in dirt to disguise them. And, the final touch. To make it move, Ranok clambers onto the ground. His hand presses onto the ground. Those electric blue lights flare a deep purple, and that same color oozes over the white plate. The ground sags and pushes inwards, as if it was compressed. This ditch was crawled into. It was hokey as all hell, but honestly, try carrying a sheep that wasn't drugged all the way to the area without alerting the hungry dragon was something that was more trouble then ever worth. This would have to do. And so, the waiting game began. Ranok, hilariously playing the part of the sheep, Antioch and others sitting at their vantage points. The day stretches out and long,the sun creeping. Luckily for all involved, the waiting wasn't too long. The mountains stir and a shadow takes flight. It was showtime.
Antioch knocks the arrow to his bow, kneeling as he gently tugs back against the string. "Make ready." He whispers confidently and quickly as he takes aim for the gargantuan Dragon. All of the rangers repeat the motions, sounds of taut string stretching back, wood bending shape to contain the tension within. There camoflauged outfits blended in with the earthly scenery, looking like naught but shrubbery with the dull green of their hoods and cloaks. "Steady. Steady." He repeats. Were any to loose their arrow too soon well, no one would want to be in that pot of hot water.
Kayla follows Antioch's lead as dutifully as any of his men. It would soon become evident that she had some sort of formal training in archery and combat.
Haku stares, somewhat intimidated, at the dragon as it descends. Sits silently still waiting for the opportune time.
Ranok || It was done and the trap sprung in mere moments. A streak of blue hurls itself out of the sky, claws outstretched. Slamming into the ground, a blow that would instantly kill lesser creatures in a single strike. Probably a good thing that the ditch was a little offset, else Ranok would have been crushed like a can. Moments spent on the ground. Those wings billow and then claw at the air. The dragon was gaining momentum before it got clotheslined, a massive jerk as the ropes suddenly go taunt. The creature's body jerks as well, and it scrabbles to regain control. It was trying to figure out what was going on, the functional equivelent of someone reaching out to grab an unguarded cheeseburger only to find it glued to the table. That moment was the point of the trap, where the mind was muddled, the wings stretched, the body off balance. And indeed, that was the moment Ranok and his men were waiting for. Those crossbows twang, bolts laced with ugly claws meant to rend. The wings were the target, those fragile things. Holes punched in through, rending fragile flesh. The ropes attached to ensured that they didn't come out easy. The beatings of the wings worsened the wounds, making the dragon roar in pain. To the ground it was forced back to, unable to get any more height. The ropes were attached to rocks or anchors, and it was all happening too fast to truly register to the smallish feral. Its head swings around to bite at the offending tethers, shearing them off to free itself. Its wings were not shredded to the point of uselessness yet, but it was a close thing. That was, until Ranok springs from his ditch in a truly spectacular fashion. His boots had springs in them, and to use they were put. A dragon's head was a dangerous thing, but only if you were in front of the mouth. He was itching to get on the back of its head. Hands that had claws to hook onto spine and scale to help him find purchase, and the distraction of a hail of well aimed arrows served as the catalyst that allowed the smith to make his ascent. Truly, this was a terrible idea.
Antioch bellows the command for all the archers under his control to fire, bows simultaneously twanging with the flight of arrows. Antioch's arrow pierced the hardened carapace of its scales, the toxins the one thing to free it from the pain of passing while the other arrows land center mass or into the hardened flesh of flailing wings. The rain of arrows would hardly pass up until one wing was literally pinned to the underside of the Dragon's body, red-tailed shafts jutting out of the natural armor with bright red blood seeping out. The barren lands tremored with the continueing roars of the Blue Dragon, "Hold your fire!" Antioch yells out, not wanting to make the blacksmith a pincushion as he makes for the rampant's neck. "Fire for the heels! Do not hit our own!" The command to redirect fire had been given and suddenly the arrows were loosed at the hind legs of the struggling saurian beast, slowly lowering onto its haunch as they became greviously injured from the hail of arrows. Kayla had become one with the Rangers, following the command of the leader impressively as her own fire was redirected, her own poisons slowing the Dragon down. He did notice but for now there was making sure everything would procede smoothly as Antioch raised his hand, "Make ready, aim, fire!" He would give with a downward sweep of his hand, letting out another volley.
Haku gets up slowly and moves forward towards the fight and stands idly by waiting for a need of his services.
Ranok scrabbles hard on the dragon's hide. Toxins were all well and good, but this was a dragon. A natural born resistance to toxins and the like was literally in its blood. That magical liquid that coursed through its veins and burned did much to stop the venom. As well, its enormous size. It would take time to put it down by sheer venom alone, even if it took its toll. He was certainly glad that Antioch was practicing fire safety. That venom took time to put down a dragon, but he was much smaller then it and had no such protections. He had no time to dodge arrows, as he was focusing all his energy in making sure he wasn't going to fall off the bucking dragon. The creature roars, his mind crazed with pain. Lightining spews forth from the mouth of the beast, lighting up rocks and sending Ranok's men scrambling as chips of stone explode outwards in a deadly shrapnel. Grounded as the dragon was, it had use of its front claws to grasp at the man scrabbling on its neck. Claws with fairly sharp talons reach up and grab at the smith. Ranok avoids the first swipe by scrambling onto the other side of the creature's neck. Really, he was still serving as the distraction. Too busy to chase down the annoying archers pelting it with dose upon dose of toxin, it went for the more obvious annoyance. A second swipe comes closer to knocking him off his perch, laying open the weave on his back. Blood would have flowed were it not for the fact that his armor seemed to absorb it. As well, any blood the dragon was dripping on him was soaked up like an eerie sponge. His armor had returned to the white coloration it was previously, but then it surges black. In a moment of respite, tendrils of black whip forth from his hand, clawing at the scar on the blue's neck. Ripped away were the damaged scales and flesh underneath cut. But a minor wound, but it did serve as a chink in the armor. Blood was flowing freely from the wound, but Ranok pays for his actions. Claws reach up to grab him and seize onto a bit of plate. He was yanked off and slammed to the ground with an audible exit of air. The ground hit hard. A few wheezes and trying to get up, and the dragon was placing its claw over the smith. His plate protected him from being outright killed, but pressure and the boiling of electricity would be a little deadlier then those talons.