RP:Of Streamside Blobs and Couatls

From HollowWiki

Streamside Track

A small stream ambles alongside the dirt track hear providing a wondrous green lane of vibrant colored flowers and lush green plants contrasting greatly with the dull yellow and tan of the sun bleached grass and exposed dried out earth. Slowly the path inclines upwards onto a bank and away from the stream eastwards onto a distant rocky plateau. To your north and west the dull and unwelcoming wilderness continues.



Ranok sits by the stream, on a rock and waiting idly. Just passing the time, at a glance. Upon inspection, he seems to have a blob of...something in his hands. Two ruby red eyes peer at the world from it. Made from a dark material, it looks both solid and liquid. When it moves, it resembled water flowing, and what it wasn't, it was like a rock. Ranok was talking to it, making gestures. Said blob seemed to be not giving a crap. But, Ranok persisted as he waited for the Frost Queen to come to their prearranged meeting.


Satoshi 's arrival is announced by the beating of colossal wings. Not the leathern snap of dragon wings but the whispering sighs of wind over feathers sounding from the clouds above, moments before a loop of emerald breaks from the sky-borne mists and begins spiral downward. In time the tiny circle will begin to take on detail as it approaches, manifesting into the glistening green coils of a behemoth serpent gliding upon rainbow-hued wings. A colorful shower of lights dapple the ground around Ranok before the snake slithers in for a land, its upper half reared up in the fashion of a cobra prepared to strike, jaws upon and fangs dripping... until Satoshi pushes her way through the splayed feather headdress of the beast, complaining, "Must you -always- do that 'look how big and impressive I am' entrance? I mean really, Scales." Emiur promptly dips his head in a gesture of abashment, bringing his amber eyes and his frosty rider nearer to Ranok, to be hailed. "Ahoy, Clinks~."


Ranok watches the display of showiness with that customary detachment of his. Always with the 'not really impressed airs', it was more of a great deal of practice on keeping his emotions in check. The blob in his hand, on the other hand, can only be considered to be 'rapt'. Those ruby eyes of the black thing peered at the couatl with glimmering eyes, and would stretch out like taffy to get closer. The thing obviously weighed more then it looked like, since Ranok grunts and his hand sags as the weight shifts unexpectedly. He says, crossly, 'Schtop dat." to the thing and flicks it. Said blob doesn't really seem to heed Ranok's words and the man was reduced to sandwiching it between his limbs and trying to crush it back into shape. He does, but with some effort, and a great deal of muttering in his native tongue. Once accomplished, he addresses Sato, "Greetinks, Sato." He hadn't come up with a retaliatory nickname for the kit yet.


Satoshi , after a pause to shift her goggles back to their perch on her forehead, slides down Emiur's snout to land lightly in a patch of flowers before the blacksmith. A bow is given, and a curious glance at the inky blob, before the kit grins, all fangs. "So then, how goes your scheming? I assume not terribly, as the island isn't a heap of burning rock. Or swarming with wraithlings." The rustling of feathers marks the couatl's shudder of disapproval at the mention of wraiths. ::Wretched things,:: he declares in a voice audible not by ear but by mind, a gentle--strangely polite--presence energy that brushes lightly upon any nearby consciousness that doesn't readily block him.


Ranok glowers at the mental touch. He does the mental equivalent of hunching his shoulders and readying a shield. Not quite blocking, but mere steps from doing so. He didn't trust anyone in his mind, not even a little. This takes a few moments and a bit of his concentration. The blob takes the opportunity to wrap around his limb and extend out to Sato now, ruby eyes unblinking. It was such an inquisitive fellow. Ranok was about to offer the tip of his hat, but said blob prevented it, "Vould hyu...!" was exclaimed in exasperation at the thing. But he answers Sato rather then trying to compact it again, "Forces gadder on de horizon, und de air iz tick vith de scent uf schtorm. Zumddink vill heppen soon, Hy vould lay money on it." He doesn't offer any apology for his mental defenses. It was him being him, and he hardly ever apologized for acting as himself.


Satoshi 's companion seems unperturbed by the mental defenses, perhaps because he's met so many with such a reaction, and him being the well-mannered being that he is, takes no insult in such things as caution. A peculiar shuffle of his wings in a couatl-esque shrug, and Emiur settles back on his coils, keeping his head level with Satoshi as she peers closely at the blob extending toward her. "Hullo there, inkling. What in the name of Sven's balls are you, hm~?" Ranok's words are heard, judging by the tweaking of Satoshi's ears, but they're given only a cursery nod while she regards the strange black... thing. "Yes yes, no doubt. He's been too quiet, after all."


Ranok seems unperturbed by the scrutiny of the large and small so close. The blob doesn't answer Sato, only peering back silently. And then it does the damnest thing. It pinches itself together below the eyes, and then chips its own body against itself, making a squeak. It would be the cutest thing ever if it didn't from from an inkly blob with unblinking ruby gem eyes. Ranok answers for the squeaking creature, "It hes no name. A recent acqvisition from zumone. Hed to pay a great deal for it, but...vell, it's a neat liddle tink, no?" Despite the obvious frustration, a note of pride could be detected in Ranok's tone. He'd gotten it from Ehli, a splitting of her metalmorphic creature, only made of the dense ghroudium rather then the flimsy silver.


Satoshi barely resists the urge to tickle the blob on that spot above its 'eyes', if only from Emiur's silent recommendation. Strange things fascinate the kit, and it's the couatl's job to make sure she doesn't become -too- fascinated, thus it's with a mental-prod that he snaps Satoshi to attention. Blinking, the magus shakes her head, offers the blob one more grin, and returns her focus to Ranok. "Quite neat. Part of your plannings," a sweep of the hand takes in the surrounding island, "or more of the companion sort?"


Ranok smiles a little, "Dat remains to be seen, no?" Since Sato hadn't, he did. He rubs the thing on the head, muttering, "Hokay, hokay, business time now. Go back to de ball." This seemed to work for the moment, and it silently retracts to snail up his arm to hang about the man's neck. Said neck was rubbed, "Heavy bugger, hain't hyu." And to business it was, then. Finally he was able to offer the tip of his hat to kit and couatl, the added alliterative appeal only sweetening the deal. "But ve didn' kome down to poke und prod at misbehevink blobs, deed ve? Ve're here to talk about de dragons dat lie only a fev miles north." Ruby red eyes of the blob peer out of Ranok's collar, completely negating much of the seriousness of which he speaks.


Satoshi said, "Aye, I suppose we did come here to chat about dragons. So tell me, which option are you leaning toward? Or perhaps you're planning to attempt a few of them for a better turn out?"


Ranok paces a little, turning his back on Sato. The blob continues peering at Emiur over Ranok's collar, extending itself to do so, even as Ranok moves about. The little guy was in awe of the sparkly snake, it seemed, "Hall options. Man power iz at an hall time high. De Parasite scared de population. Our numbers hef svelled, but de issue iz to now train dem. A large amount uf fresh, hyung recruits. Primary for kreatink a nev vink. No old traditions or old grudges. Ideally. Never vorks out dat vays. Hennyvays." Ranok turns back to Sato, causing the thing about his neck to bob, "Ve hef de fresh men und vomen, but vat Hy mostly need from hyu iz de eksperience. Loan a fev ufficers und zum pipple to train de nev branch." Honestly, he'd have preferred not to loan officers from anywhere else. Their loyalty laid with the Eyrie, not The Fold. It would take years to cycle someone with enough experience up the chain to recover complete control. But the Parasite made things harder for everyone, and thus, Ranok had to cut corners. Hopefully, this would serve to strengthen the ties between military organizations, and not serve as a way in. At least the men themselves were loyal to the land. Ranok continues, "Ve kan schtart vith tryink to brink in zum uf de feral dragons, get de progrem runnink. Und get de hetchlinks soon, too. Hy already hef volunteers to schnag de eggs. So, Hy suppose dat -vould hyu schtop dat!" The latter portion of his speech was directed at the blob, which had been nosing into his hair for reasons known only to it. The man reaches a hand up to scratch madly at his scalp, "Dat tickles." He was trying to salvage some dignity, here. The blob response with another squeak. Of defiance, happiness, or just because it liked the noise, it was hard to tell.


Satoshi watches Ranok pace, or more rather watches the blob that's watching Emiur--the couatl unable to stop himself from a moment of self-conscious preening in response. Still, she -is- listening to the blacksmith and adding the occasional nod here and there while attempting to store all the information away despite a poor memory for such things. "Hrm. I can provide a few officers. And there is already a wing from Frostmaw here, I sent them to Mahri when the trouble started and I haven't called them back. They should more than suffice for trainers, as well as wranglers and egg-collectors. If I recall correctly... Lady Elf... erm, Arien, had a dragonoid soldier or two among her numbers, am I right? Any dragons among your people should certainly consider playing some diplomatic roles, or at least convincing the ferals that their territory is in need of defending against a dark threat. It's worked before, for the cleverer of the lot. As for the ones that can't be talked to or caught..." A grin creeps onto the kit's features, a decidedly feral expression. "It's a matter of waving a red cape in front of the target you want your bull to trample."


Ranok fishes the blob out of his shortly cut and very unruly hair. Dignity shattered, of course. His other hand fixes the hat that had been knocked askew by his scratching, "Kome here, hyu. Und, uh. Hy suppose so, yah. Hef a fev draconians lyink around. Not sure how effectiff it iz to try to talk to de ferals. Hef to find zumone vith de dragon language hendy." The blob entwines his fingers that had pulled it away gently. It meant no harm, and it was hard to keep angry at it. Had it desired so, Ranok would have been unable to pry it from his head. It was made of metal, after all. Ranok tries to tug his hand free with a frown as he keeps talking, mostly pretending that the blob wasn't making a fool of him, "Are hyu sure de vink here in Rynvale iz kapable uf maintainink der patrols und additional duties? Hy do not vant to kompromise security. Dey've been vatchink de skies, tough dey kannot kover it hall. Und de ferals make for a konsiderable amount uf false alarms." He knew about directing the dragons at targets, though it was harder to do so against ground based ones then flying animals. Ferals would defend their turf, and in sheer numbers, all hell broke loose as 'friend or foe' dissolved when *everyone* was in your turf.


Satoshi leans back against Emiur's broad side with a thoughtful look. "More would be better, yes. I can't send more from Frostmaw, however. We have our hands full with our own patrols, defenses, and such. If you send word to Portea at our post in Gualon, he might be able to spare more. They'd be senior to ours, as well, and more suited to adapting to this environment than my northern breeds are."


Ranok considers this, giving his arm another tug, "Yah. Hy imagine dat de Gualon division to be more suited to dis task. But Hy hef heard rumors dat Portea iz much too busy vith his tasks to pay much mind to reqvests. Kould hyu put de reqvest in, instead? Dey vould likely konsider it faster den a vritten letter uf mine."


Satoshi glances up from a scale she's surreptiously prying off Emiur to flash Ranok a grin. "Tell you what, you write the pretty letter of request, I'll add my seal, and send it by Eyrie courier." Satoshi hates writing letters -that- much.


Ranok finally frees his fingers from the curious blob, "Dat sounds like it kan vork." He flexes his hand as if testing its circulation. Perhaps the blob had a tighter grip then it let on.


Satoshi 's couatl-ish seat is promptly removed then, Emiur recoiling away from her when she succeeds in yanking the scale off his side, thus leaving the kit to fall backwards in an undignified heap. It's from her place sprawled amongst the flowers that Satoshi decides companions are truly only good for ruining a person's image. Grumbling along those lines, Lady Frostmaw drags herself one-armed but to her feet, brushes her clothes off, and gives Ranok an 'I meant to do that' look before replying, "It should, yes. He'll respond quickly and I won't have to write a formal request. Win-win."


Ranok can't help but wonder what the heck Sato was trying to do with the scale. But he lets it slide, since she didn't seem to react to his own companion's hassling, "Hy'll get on it. Hyu ought to hef it enroute tomorrow. So, Hy suppose business hes been koncluded. Hy vill vrite de letter und organize de egg hunt. Hy'd prefer to hef eksperience at my back ven konvincink de ferals. De only draconian on hend dat Hy know uf...iz, vell. A child. Hy don' tink she'd hef much in de vays uf diplomacy." Ranok wasn't staring, but the blob was. It was stretched out from his collar again, and was flowing onto Ranok's shoulder to look at the kit. Ranok gives an indignation, "Hey!" to the thing, his balance shifting with the unexpected weight. The rubies peer at Sato like she was the most interesting thing in the world.


Satoshi examines the scale a moment, occasionally glancing at the staring blob, before the disc of emerald is held out in offering to it. The peculiar creature strikes her as one after her own heart, having a certain adoration for objects of a shiny nature. Whether it accepts the gift or not, Satoshi still says to Ranok, "I'll see if we don't have any draconians to spare in Frostmaw or Gualon. Until then, I suppose that's that, eh~?"


Ranok || The blob fairly quivers with excitement over the scale. It stretches out and forces Ranok to extend an arm to prevent the thing from falling off him. Not that a fall would hurt it, but it was heavy and hard to pick up. Tendrils extend to touch the scale. But it doesn't stop there. It was a inquisitive little fellow, after all. It would try onto Sato, vibrating with a pleased sound. The thing was surprisingly warm, even above the ambient temperatures. And extremely heavy, due to what metal it was. Ranok would try to pull it back to stop it, "Who, whoa, dere! Hey!" To not much effect. It flowed like water between his fingers and stretched when he yanked.


Satoshi can feel herself beginning to tip forward with the sudden weight on her outstretched hand, and with a startled yelp she flails once and drops her hand, more so out of instinct than a desire to remove the inquisitive blob. "Hellfire, you weren't kidding about the weight!"


Ranok || The blob withdraws back onto Ranok's hand at Sato's sudden parting. It was expressionless, so it was impossible to tell how it felt, if it felt at all. Another squeak emanates from it. The thing crawls under Ranok's duster viat the sleeve, and its progress could be tracked via where a bulge was in the thing. It pops out of his collar again, holding the scale in front of its ruby eyes. Ranok was wearing a slightly discontent look, and it seemed he was on the verge of scolding the thing.


Satoshi examines her hand in curiosity, the tingle from the immense weight still present, and positively intriguing. "I need to find out where those things come from. Fantastic little bugger~," she trills, while Emiur shifts closer in preparation for the kit to hop aboard. Before she does, however, Satoshi lingers to do a double-check of things she needs to remember. "I'll send that letter along to Portea once you send it, I'll assign a few more fliers to here, and I'll see what can be spared for wrangling and the like. Additionally, if there's enchanting you need done, I have a talented one under my employment." And a divine warder, if that frost giant ever returned.


Ranok lifts an eyebrow, distracted from the oncoming scolding, "Enchanting? Such as?" He wasn't sure if it was catch all enchanting, or just frost related types. He was looking for an enchanter to help him with smithing and commissions.


Satoshi said to you, "She specializes in a wide variety, skilled enough to take even strange requests." One such request had been the test Satoshi gave Arkanya by way of determining if the woman was a liar or for real. "I hired her with the promise of recommending her services to others."


Ranok looks up at the kit on her perch, "Send her my vay. Dat kould proff to be incredibly useful." The blob has since cozied up to Ranok, holding its gift from Sato and vibrating in what seems to be a purr. That expressionless gaze practically reeks of adoration. Seems the little guy has found a new favorite person. At least, until something shiner comes along. Ranok would step back from Emiur to allow the couatl room to take off. He holds onto his hat, as well, to prevent it from blowing off.


Satoshi nods, pulling goggles down over her eyes. "I shall. Her name is Arkanya." With that, Emiur spreads his wings and gives two mighty flaps to lift his lengthy form into the air. A brief swoop is made over blacksmith and blob, Satoshi saluting the pair, before the couatl turns sharply and winds his way up into the clouds.


Ranok strools off, heading back into the city. The name supplied to him was noted for future reference.