@kanila | Using her nimbleness to access vantage points the others couldn't Astarielle was constantly watching, trying to remember the landscapes. She could make out the other end of the basin, even further mountains visible in the distance, and all in between. It wasn't until they moved higher that she lost sight of the shuttle and the landing zone, the amount of lake she could see also diminishing. The former Banshee had stopped to take in the views, ending up near the back of the pack. She paused when Faenkon gestured for everyone to do so, drawing her shuriken pistol in spite of no visible threat, and moved forward toward Faenkon and Amriel, again pausing when she spotted the approaching rock-serpent. Turning slightly to keep an eye on the beast Astarielle glanced at Faenkon, keeping her voice low. "Ranger, what was it that made you stop us?"
@Avenging-Angel "Charges set in the rock ahead. They look old but it's better to be cautious. Besides it gave us the advantage of seem that thing." He said this all without removing his eyes from the scene that was currently unfolding. It would be over in mere moments unless something unexpected were to happen...
@kanila | "Couldn't we use them ourselves? Drive the rock-serpent off by causing a charge to detonate?"
@Avenging-Angel "That's an option, but we could cause rockslide and block our path. Plus who knows if they still work."
@Avenging-Angel | @kanila "I enjoy your thought process, but I suggest a direct approach, like our Fire Dragon has in mind. Sometimes the proper solution is reached through the simplest approach." Yareli chimed in from the front-center, still standing ready and still facing forward. She merely made her voice loud enough to be heard by both rangers.
[OOC Waiting on @DaKaptin and @High_Adept_Zeth , there is a monster hurtling in your direction, if I don't hear from you soon I shall assume your characters are open-mouthed in shock ]
Amriel braced. The rock-serpent undulated on, fast, lethal in its grace. Fire bloomed, the red flower of Khaine's wrath scorching a path across the cliffside as the serpent reared up, trying to avoid the blast. He clipped it on the shoulder. The sting of fire and the sudden pain made it cry out, a screech like a great bird. It thrashed, lashing out with its forelimbs but exposing its softer underbelly as it did so. Faenkon glanced around for other foes. He could see none nearby, and the drone hadn't chimed in with any warnings. He took a shot, aiming up on the thrashing dragon as it lunged forward. He was an excellent marksman, but the sudden change was hard to compensate for perfectly and the shot grazed along the ridge between its eyes, along the top of its skull rather than into an eye. Yareli took up a defensive, fencing stance, ready to bring her sword forward and up while keeping her body a narrow target. Alas, she had not the training the War path would provide, and she was not able to skewer it as it rose. She managed to deflect one of the clawed forelimbs, causing a minor wound to it. But as it swung by, the other caught her with a glancing blow. She was knocked back, past the Warlock who seemed lost in a trance, past the nimble figure of the Felarch. Searing pain flared along her sword-arm, and blood welled out, mingling with the serpent's own, bright against the stone. Llyr leaped clear of the thundering monster, swiping at Morvan to get him to respond and move. The little gyrinx was not a match for the rock-serpent, so he concentrated on the survival of his friend. Amriel took stock of the situation in a heartbeat. Khaine's molten ire pulsed in his veins. The fusion gun breathed dragonfire of its own, scorching meat and cracking bone. The serpent stumbled as the blast caught it in the underside, but though wounded, it was alive. Valandil, Morvan and Iktomi had yet to act, apparently stunned by the monster's sudden appearance. Its tail lashed, seeking a target, and its wounded head turned to the cause of its greatest pain as it sought to crush Amriel beneath it.
The Death Jester nodded to Artarsi and gestured with her right hand. "All right, then, laconic son of the Craftworlds." She pointed. "That way. Turn left. Don't stop until you hit the planet." Artarsi felt a sensation of movement, as he was whisked through a suddenly-open webway gate beneath his feet. A short rush of air, the feeling of falling - - and then the wet slap of water, cold and clear. Shallow, too. His fall was broken, and the reflexes of the Avenger are hard to surprise. But he had to right himself and tread water for a short while, catching his breath, taking in any threats. The lakeside scene was a peaceful one; beside the shore, a small Eldar shuttlecraft was lined up in the shadow of the surrounding mountains. On the sandy beach, a young Eldar youth kneeled beside a maiden sitting on a rock. While she observed intently, he showed her how to draw and pluck a wild waterfowl. It was as if a scene from the early life of Kurnous and Isha had sprung to life. But, just as theirs was a life interrupted by the violence of Kaela Mensha Khaine, so did the Aspect Warrior's sudden arrival shatter their peace. Meanwhile, the Shadow Seer turned back to Alo as if nothing had transpired. "I have not spoken to your Farseers, or at least, not of late. Wise Salianna I know, though she may not recall me." He took a step around Alo, tilting his head as if reading. "But I read the fates nonetheless. And you are destined for many things." He opened out his hand, and offered Alo a small rune - anthralac, Harmony in Destruction. "May you find the right Fate, Child of Asurmen." The webway opened a second time, and Alo felt himself being nudged through the gate - - to find his next step onto a rock at the lakeshore, where a youth and a maiden had just been disturbed by his companion's more showy arrival. Beside the Chance, the Striking Scorpion could see the two Dire Avengers arrive from his hidden viewpoint. Talshin could not see where they had come from, but he knew that he had not yet been seen. [OOC Note, Talshin hasn't given himself away and has not yet been spotted. Talis and Avrielle can see Alo and Artarsi arrive, and those two can see Avrielle and Talis but not Talshin. Such are the teachings of Karandras!]
@Uriel1339 @kanila @MetalDog4 @DaKaptin @BadDo9 @Avenging-Angel @High_Adept_Zeth @matt23 @Valonox @Wata @ItsTime a general summons for y'all for the posts above!
< @Jorimel @Wata @ItsTime ...I think? > In addition to the sword he had been trained in, Talis had a hunting knife to help with hunting and cooking. He had been just about to hang the bird and let the blood drain when there was a sudden splash. The exodite stood up and, despite being nervous and even scared of the aspect warriors, faced them with his knife, reaching for his sword slowly. "Who are you!?" he demanded to know, perhaps foolishly. Would they attack? He didn't know. But he did know that he was going to watch them, and trust that the one who had also stayed would help if needed. "I.. Don't want trouble. So.. Just say who you are, and what you came for!" he could tell that they didn't come with them. He wanted to get back to teaching Avrielle, but for now...
