Fightin' Fiery Pumpernickels.

[Vega]

2nd Trial of Cylus during Arc 720

"Right, so what we're gonna do then," Vega said, well aware that she was being bossy but largely not caring either, "is we're gonna find ourselves some small, an' non-big, flamethings - or beasts generally, I guess. But we need to know if this slowin' them down works on 'em." Vega was able to speed Arlo - and up to two others - up with her mortalborn abilities, but she wasn't completely sure if that was going to work with these flameborn things. So, she'd decided that they should go out on a hunt and try and find one. She looked at him and grinned, just ever so slightly at the look on his face. "Jus' a small one. Like ... pumpernickel size." Vega was absolutely convinced that a 'pumpernickel' was a small furry creature. Nothing would ever divest her of this belief and ~ in fairness ~ people had tried. Sensible, logical people who had much more knowledge about such things. And him. But nope. "I were a little girl," he'd heard the story before. More than once, "an' I were sittin' on the dockside, danglin' my feet in the water an' there was this fella. He was tall, an' well put-together an' he looked like every adventurer in ev'ry story Papa'd ever told me." She got this sort of far-away look in her eyes when talking about this experience - again, as always.

"An' he told me he were huntin' pumpernickels, Arlo. That if you found one, then you'd have luck what was boundless, an' you'd be happy in yer life. So, I figure, I'm never findin' a real one, cos you're my pumpernickel, but the fact remains that they're small an' cute an' furry things." If she'd just complimented him, it largely passed her by. "So, we need to find pumpernickel-sized flame-things, or somethin' like that. Because otherwise, I'm gonna have to not find out if slowin' 'em down works, an' I'll....."

She stopped, suddenly. Total, dead stop. "I sing. I sing an' it happens right?" It was right, they both knew it - they'd both practiced it. "Arlo, why can't I sing while I fight? Why am I standin' around on the sidelines lookin' like Ursula Useless? I can sing an' fight. I can sing an' dance. I can sing an'... why didn't we think o' that?" Somehow, of course, it was also his responsibility to think of such things.

"Come on then, Creede," she said, thumping him. "Quit yer lollygaggin' an' lets get on. We're lookin' for the fiery pumpernickels.You ready?" Suddenly quite delighted at the prospect of it, Vega considered that she could sing and fight. That really did help with everything and the young woman grinned, happily.

"Look out, pumpernickels," she said, cheerily, "we're comin' for ya."

[Arlo Creede]

If Vega wasn't being bossy, she wouldn't be Vega at all. It wasn't as if Arlo was living in denial, or that he hadn't come into their pairing and marriage already equipped. He'd been raised by a bossy mother, after all. Though admittedly his mother's approach had been a much more subtle one than Vega's was. Nella Creede had just been sneakier about it. Most of the time he simply took it in stride, being fully aware that whether it was logical or not, it was one of the many reasons he loved her.

Of course she'd been struggling with voicing exactly what it was they were hunting. So as a result he'd been sure to equip himself for just about any scenario that might arise. "Not big, fiery, beast like things," he'd repeated with a half grin when they headed out. "Well that's clear as mud isn't it?" So, they were quick too? Then, though...Arlo's head shot up and the grin turned to something measurably more perplexed. "Pumphernickel size?" Before he could say anything more, she launched into an explanation...of sorts, and it took everything in him not to laugh out loud.

It got even harder when she called him her pumpernickel, and he couldn't contain the snort of amusement that burst forth. But finally, he realized that he had to say something before she repeated that story to anyone else who didn't know or love her as well as him. "Vega, the closest a pumpernickel could get to to being furry, was if it had turned to mold. It's not an animal. It's a kind of bread. That man was pulling your leg. He might as well have told you about snipe hunts." It was a nice story though, he was quick to add. Something remembered fondly from her childhood. But a pumpernickel was, in fact, bread. Or a nice roll if she'd rather.

But if she'd rather they were looking for something dangerous that was the relative size to a loaf of freshly baked bread, so be it. And no matter the name, legend had it they were quick and wily and dangerous things. The beasts, not the loaves of bread. "I don't see any reason you couldn't sing and fight," he said. "You're more than good at each of them, doing both together shouldn't be too much a tax on your focus." Or at least, she could give it a try.

So on they went, and Arlo kept a keen eye on their surroundings. Looking for what, exactly, he couldn't be sure. But out of the ordinary would do. And then a ways down the trial, once he'd begun studying the ground beneath their feet, he stopped and called Vega's attention to the trail. "Look at that set of tracks. Not a rabbit or wolf or big cat. Not a deer or goat. Can't say I've seen a track like that before." And then he grinned again, because he just couldn't help it. "Maybe one of your pumpernickels have passed here before us?"

[Vega]

2nd Trial of Cylus during Arc 720

"You say that," Vega said with a grin, "but I'm tellin' you, that man were huntin' pumpernickels. I know what you're sayin', an' I know there's a bread what's named after them," her eyes swirled in the colours of amusement for her, and she nudged him gently. "I don't talk to no-one but you, stop frettin'," Besides, she thought, who was to say that there was no such thing as a pumpernickel? If they met them, they could name them.

He found some tracks and Vega knelt next to him, looking. She frowned, paying attention to where he pointed and she nodded."Don't look like anythin' I've seen before, either," she agreed. "Must be pumpernickels, aye." And that was that. Vega was about to say something else when there was movement in the undergrowth to their right, and she stood in a fluid motion, her hand dropping to her sword, Melody. She moved so that she and Arlo were half side-by-side, half back-to-back, so that - depending on the direction they came from - the pair of them could cover the whole area.

More movement, a definite rustling, and so, Vega started to singOh, I'm sailin' away, my own true love
I'm sailin' away in the morning
Is there something I can send you from across the sea
From the place that I'll be landing?

No, there's nothin' you can send me, my own true love
There's nothin' I'm wishin' to be ownin'
Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled
From across that lonesome ocean

Oh, but I just thought you might want something fine
Made of silver or of golden
Either from the mountains of Scalvoris
Or from the coast of Ne'haer.

But if I had the stars of the darkest night
And the diamonds from the deepest ocean
I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss
For that's all I'm wishin' to be ownin'

But I might be gone a long old time
And it's only that I'm askin'
Is there something I can send you to remember me by?
To make your time more easy-passin'

Oh, how can, how can you ask me again?
It only brings me sorrow
The same thing I would want today
I would want again tomorrow

Oh, I got a letter on a lonesome day
It was from his ship a-sailin'
Saying I don't know when I'll be comin' back again
It depends on how I'm a-feelin'

If you, my love, must think that-a-way
I'm sure your mind is roamin'
I'm sure your thoughts are not with me
But with the country to where you're goin'

So take heed, take heed of the western winds
Take heed of the stormy weather
And yes, there's something you can send back to me
Rharnian boots of finest leather
Boots of Spanish Leather: Bob Dylan Her voice was improving, all the time, and she swayed on her feet just slightly. It never occurred to Vega how much she had changed from the elbows-and-knees days, but her balance shifted and her sword glowed bright, and then, bursting through the treeline were four ... almost frog-like creatures. Vega would see them again, of course, later and there, she'd get another bash.

"Pumpernickels, Arlo!" They weren't small or furry, they were more like Frog-er-nickels, and frankly if Vega didn't have to concentrate on singing, she'd have told him. But four of the critters, two of them. They moved, together, the pair of them, having fought together many times now, their movements more and more instinctual. It came from literally years of standing together side by side. Vega continued to sing, and she aimed that singing at three of the creatures. That was good, she thought, actually, she could tell that it was working because one of them was noticeably faster than the other three.

So, two on her (the fast one, of course), and two on him. Vega's sword, Melody, swung and it emitted it's own noise as she did that. The arc she hit in was along the gaping jaw of the too-many-teeth-frog-things, and Vega's sword sliced through it. It was quick, with too many teeth and the jaws on it were obviously strong. So, she sliced and it's jaw spurted nasty fluid which wasn't blood, but was good enough for Vega, whatever it was. She kept her momentum going, and although the fast-moving creature wasn't dead, it was heavily injured and spurting out what she assumed was the equivalent of its blood. It fell to the side, stunned and confused and she turned to her second, her voice continuing to sing what was, essentially, a gentle love song.

One of hers done, one to go. She hoped Arlo was faring as well, if not better.

[Arlo Creede]

There was no arguing with a state of absolute illogic. Arlo knew this all too well. As well, in fact, as he knew Vega. And for good reason. Once she'd dug in there was no prying her out. Wasted breath then to continue arguing the point. Pumpernickel was bread. Sometimes a nice roll to hold in hand. But still bread and not a living and breath, fearsome creature. "Suit yerself," he said, shrugging and pulling off a slight, lopsided grin.

It was his way and probably the way of every other husband on Idalos. Path of least resistance. Everyone's happy. Even when you're right, your wrong. That was key to a happy life. He'd learned that lesson from Jonas and him, probably from his father before him.

No matter then. There were the tracks to consider and all too little time in which to do it. The rustling of leaves in the nearby brush brought him to his feet in one fluid motion, and he reached for and then drew the crystal sword Harmony in one fluid motion. Even that bit of movement caused the thing to sing like a bell going off. It began to glow, casting an aura around him and when combined with the effects of Vega's Melody, would heighten both of their abilities at once. They were already masters with the sword anyway, the both of them.

Meanwhile, his little diri Lyova launched herself from the brim of his hat and began swarming and circling the attacking beasts like a glowing blue, teardrop shaped whirling dervish. Harmless of course, but at the least an annoyance and distraction for the things. Vega had begun to sing even before the creatures cleared the treeline and when they did, the first thing that occurred to Arlo was...Ugly things, but definitely not pumpernickel like. He was already waiting for them, blade at the ready.

The things took a tact of divide and conquer, or divide and distract, which implied that these were no dumb beasts. They hunted and behaved much like wolves or big cats did. But neither he nor Vega were easy targets or frightened hares. They'd hold their ground against just about anything. Two leaped at once, teeth bared and from each direction. Arlo trusted that Vega would hold her own, as he did his and he swept the crystal sword through the air. Timed just so that in the process as he twisted his body out of line with the creature, he sliced off both it's front legs before it sailed past and crash landed on the ground behind him.

It wasn't a blow that killed immediately, but unless the thing had some sort of ability to seal its own wounds and grow new limbs on the quick, it would bleed out in short order. Meanwhile, the beast with no front legs was howling and trying, and failing miserably, at getting upright again. A few more trills and even that would end. Meanwhile he turned back to the other who was a trill away from following it's companion's example.

[Vega]

2nd Trial of Cylus during Arc 720

There was something about fighting that was, for Vega Lei'nox, like dancing. Her movements were fluid and rhythmic, and it was the underlying tempo and beat of the combat which she moved in time with. Once upon a time she had been all elbows and knees but now Vega's movements were so fast, so well-honed, that her fighting style was almost laconic and she moved like she was dancing. She'd managed to take out the big and gnarly-looking one and now the smaller of the two which had attacked her was the focus of her attention. Her singing, however, hadn't slowed down that one and so it was on her and then some. The creature was fast, with lots of teeth, and Vega knew that she was on the back foot, in so far as she was still turning from her combat with the Bigger-nickel. Her sword swung and, as she moved, it began to hum in tune with Arlo's movements.

The smaller Frogernickel leapt at her and Vega realised in that instant that she wasn't in a position to meet it force-on-force, she didn't have the correct foot placement and her balance was off. Come to that, if she moved to one side or the other, she'd be out of the way but she would be on the defensive. If there was one thing that Vega didn't want, it was to give any ground to this thing because it was fast and strong and she was made of things which snapped and tore and bled. So, in the flash of a thought, Vega made a decision.

And it was the decision she would always make.

No going backwards for Faldrun's child, Jo'qan's daughter didn't sidestep things. No, she did was had been her nature since she first came into the world. She pushed forward. Now, Vega knew, if she ran to this, if she faced it head-on, then she'd be on her butt on the floor and it would be ripping at her. So, Vega waiting until the perfect moment and then she dropped and spun, her sword flashing as she did. The creature was leaping, and as it did she timed her movement so that she sliced it clean through the underbelly.

Her movement continued, momentum keeping her going as her blade cleaved through the soft flesh underneath the creature and it, too, maintained its trajectory. It was spilling the contents of its insides as it did, however, as Vega's blade had cut deep and the creature's insides fell on the floor in a splattering mess as it landed, very dead. Vega turned, immediately, to Arlo and she didn't ask if he was alright, she knew that he was. So, she gave him a grin. "Yer right," she said, starting to clean her sword as she wrinkled her nose at the innards steaming on the floor. "They're not pumpernickels. Them there are Frogernickels, an' the big one was a Toadernickle", there was a flush to her cheeks which was always there since Faldrun had cursed her, but post-combat there was another sort of glow - Vega knew that she had found who she was and what she did. "Shall we take the teeth an' skin an' stuff?" she asked, thoughtfully. "I fancy a frogernickel-hide cloak, you know? Or we could make a blanket. Frogernickel with a Toadernickel trim." Nodding to the larger one, she added.

"I reckon we take the corpses back to the Knights. They'll want to examine them. Come on then, get busy, Creede." And, that said, Vega would indeed get busy breaking down the corpses, two of which she would work with him and remove all the useable pieces of, and the other two she'd make sure they were secure and not dropping bits or dripping blood, ready for the Knights to examine them.

[Arlo Creede]

Arlo could fight with the best of them. Better than many of them. But he wasn't a fighter by nature. He was a storyteller, an adventurer, an explorer like his Immortal father. Cassion did like a good scrap and now and again, so did Arlo. Still, needs must, as they said, and this was one of those moments. The beasts, which Vega would come to insist on naming toadernickels, weren't giving up. Not by that name or any other.

One had as much fight in them as the next. Having taken the legs out from under the first one, literally, the second was just as determined to have Arlo's hide. It came at him so fast in the wake of it's compatriot, that there was no time to bring his sword point or edge around, no matter how quickly he was able to move. But if he was very good at swordplay, he was even better and quicker at acrobatic maneuvers. As if his feet were mounted on springs, he leaped into what would become a somersault. But one enhanced in a way that only a grandmaster was capable of.

Almost impossible, he was able to remain in the air longer than ordinary physics ought to allow. As a result, the beast that had rushed at him passed clear underneath as Arlo twisted in midair, and the creature, stumbled on past him. By the time the thing stopped, regrouped and turned around, Arlo was on the ground again and ready, and in one long sweep of his blade, he removed the beast's head at the shoulders. When Vega turned round to check on him in the aftermath, he grinned and wiped his blade before putting it away. "Nicely done," he told her.

"You want something made of them?" Arlo looked back at their kill and nodded. "Alright. I might string up some of the teeth for Cassion next time I see him." Either way, there was plenty to work with. They'd leave two whole for the knights to examine, and could make quick work of dismantling and skinning the others. No meat though. Not this time. Vega could call them what she wanted which invoked visions of loaves of break. But he wouldn't go so far as to extend that vision to actually eating them.

[Doran]

Vega:

Knowledge:
Acrobatics x4
Dance x4

Loot: 3 x "pumpernickel" corpses. 1 x "toadernickel", shared with Arlo.
Wealth: -
Injuries: Battered and bruised.
Renown: 5
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

Arlo:

Knowledge:
Blades x4
Acrobatics x4

Loot: 3 x "pumpernickel" corpses. 1 x "toadernickel", shared with Vega.
Wealth: -
Injuries: Cuts and bruises.
Renown: 5
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

- - -

Comments: This was such an amusing thread!

I love how bossy Vega is, and her accent is great! The fact that she considers pumpernickels to be small furry creatures even Arlo tried to tell her otherwise amuses me. I also like that she considers Arlo to be her pumpernickel!

It’s obvious that Arlo loves her from the first sentence on. He’s a very reasonable man for not arguing with her too much! I wonder what exactly Vega and Arlo will do with the pumpernickels!

Enjoy your rewards!