Lilac Posted March 12, 2008 Author Posted March 12, 2008 The Emissary and Celestia flew across downtown Freedom, skimming the tops of the tallest buildings. Everything seemed normal: safe, clean, brilliant. Celestia gasped when the they cleared the last set of tall building and the bay came into view. "It's so pretty!" she yelled to the Emissary. "I love this part of the city!"
Lilac Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 The Emissary and Celestia flew across downtown Freedom, skimming the tops of the tallest buildings. Everything seemed normal: safe, clean, brilliant. Celestia gasped when the they cleared the last set of tall building and the bay came into view. "It's so pretty!" she yelled to the Emissary. "I love this part of the city!"
MarkK Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 He smiles, really just off of her own enthusiasm as much as anything else. "I"m quite fond of the bay. If you happen to be there at sunrise you can catch the light shimmering off of the water as though it's formed of flowing crystal, stretching out into a wondrous horizon of purples and golds, and a sense that you could fly right into the spot where the infinite horizons of each blend as one.." He trails off with a cheerily wistful expression, then blinks. "Ahm, what I meant to say was, for every unfortunate thing one might encounter while patrolling, the city itself finds ways to reward you every day for being mindful of her welfare, to remind why you fight."
MarkK Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 He smiles, really just off of her own enthusiasm as much as anything else. "I"m quite fond of the bay. If you happen to be there at sunrise you can catch the light shimmering off of the water as though it's formed of flowing crystal, stretching out into a wondrous horizon of purples and golds, and a sense that you could fly right into the spot where the infinite horizons of each blend as one.." He trails off with a cheerily wistful expression, then blinks. "Ahm, what I meant to say was, for every unfortunate thing one might encounter while patrolling, the city itself finds ways to reward you every day for being mindful of her welfare, to remind why you fight."
Lilac Posted March 18, 2008 Author Posted March 18, 2008 "Ahm, what I meant to say was, for every unfortunate thing one might encounter while patrolling, the city itself finds ways to reward you every day for being mindful of her welfare, to remind why you fight." Celestia didn't hear all of what the Emissary said over the sound of the rushing wind. She didn't have to hear all the words, however. The Emissary's intention was clear from the look on his face. He was enjoying this as much as she was. With a slight bend in her luminescent wings, Celestia turned sharply to head off toward the golden-lit harbor. She also picked up speed. Celestia enjoyed the thrill of seeing the ocean and the increase in speed, and she wasn't worried about leaving the Emissary behind. He could easily keep up.
Lilac Posted March 18, 2008 Author Posted March 18, 2008 "Ahm, what I meant to say was, for every unfortunate thing one might encounter while patrolling, the city itself finds ways to reward you every day for being mindful of her welfare, to remind why you fight." Celestia didn't hear all of what the Emissary said over the sound of the rushing wind. She didn't have to hear all the words, however. The Emissary's intention was clear from the look on his face. He was enjoying this as much as she was. With a slight bend in her luminescent wings, Celestia turned sharply to head off toward the golden-lit harbor. She also picked up speed. Celestia enjoyed the thrill of seeing the ocean and the increase in speed, and she wasn't worried about leaving the Emissary behind. He could easily keep up.
Barnum Posted March 18, 2008 Posted March 18, 2008 As the duo flew out over the bay, they could see a half-dozen or so boats cruising in the water. The nearest was a small yacht, motoring along at a good clip, heading toward the harbor. The boat was long, brilliantly white, and built with a sleek design. As the yacht reached the first channel marker, it slowed just a bit and began to turn. Then . . . in a splash . . . the boat vanished. Neither of the duo saw it happen directly, but it appeared to both, that the boat just disappeared . . . beneath the waves.
Barnum Posted March 18, 2008 Posted March 18, 2008 As the duo flew out over the bay, they could see a half-dozen or so boats cruising in the water. The nearest was a small yacht, motoring along at a good clip, heading toward the harbor. The boat was long, brilliantly white, and built with a sleek design. As the yacht reached the first channel marker, it slowed just a bit and began to turn. Then . . . in a splash . . . the boat vanished. Neither of the duo saw it happen directly, but it appeared to both, that the boat just disappeared . . . beneath the waves.
MarkK Posted March 18, 2008 Posted March 18, 2008 The Emissary blinked, looked to Celestia just to confirm he wasn't seeing things, and off of her expression, sped down through the air to where the boat had vanished.
MarkK Posted March 18, 2008 Posted March 18, 2008 The Emissary blinked, looked to Celestia just to confirm he wasn't seeing things, and off of her expression, sped down through the air to where the boat had vanished.
Lilac Posted March 18, 2008 Author Posted March 18, 2008 "Huh? Did you..." She didn't have to finish; it was obvious that the Emissary did see it too. And so they both sped off toward the churning water. "I'm going in," she yelled as they neared the waved, and then Celestia dove, head first, into the sea.
Lilac Posted March 18, 2008 Author Posted March 18, 2008 "Huh? Did you..." She didn't have to finish; it was obvious that the Emissary did see it too. And so they both sped off toward the churning water. "I'm going in," she yelled as they neared the waved, and then Celestia dove, head first, into the sea.
Barnum Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 The ocean had turned chaotic in the spot where the boat disappeared. The Emissary, with his keen vision, saw a dark shadow beneath the waves, growing smaller and fainter by the minute. It was the boat and it was going down fast. When Celestia dove beneath the waves, she could see more clearly what was happening. The yacht was indeed sinking fast, being pulled down by a pale giant tentacle with giant suckers. Celestia could see at least two people free of the boat, trying frantically (and hopelessly) to swim for the surface.
Barnum Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 The ocean had turned chaotic in the spot where the boat disappeared. The Emissary, with his keen vision, saw a dark shadow beneath the waves, growing smaller and fainter by the minute. It was the boat and it was going down fast. When Celestia dove beneath the waves, she could see more clearly what was happening. The yacht was indeed sinking fast, being pulled down by a pale giant tentacle with giant suckers. Celestia could see at least two people free of the boat, trying frantically (and hopelessly) to swim for the surface.
Lilac Posted March 21, 2008 Author Posted March 21, 2008 For a moment Celestia floated in place beneath the sea, trying to see what was going on. Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw the boat and the tentacle, but her concern was immediately for the swimmers and anyone else who might be on the boat. Leaving a powerful wake in her path, Celestia "flew" over to the two swimmers. She wrapped one arm around each waist and then blasted up to the surface. The trio left a huge waterspout behind them as they broke the surface. Trying to hold the pair gently but firmly, Celestia flew as fast as she could for the nearest ship.
Lilac Posted March 21, 2008 Author Posted March 21, 2008 For a moment Celestia floated in place beneath the sea, trying to see what was going on. Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw the boat and the tentacle, but her concern was immediately for the swimmers and anyone else who might be on the boat. Leaving a powerful wake in her path, Celestia "flew" over to the two swimmers. She wrapped one arm around each waist and then blasted up to the surface. The trio left a huge waterspout behind them as they broke the surface. Trying to hold the pair gently but firmly, Celestia flew as fast as she could for the nearest ship.
MarkK Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 Seeing that Celestial was already affecting a rescue, it freed him up to plunge underneath the water, where he beheld the sinking yacht, and tentacles pulling it down. Unsure as to whether there might be more people trapped on the yacht, or that if left unchallenged, the.. whatever this was, might pursue after Celestia and her charges, he opted for the extremely direct approach. Which is to say, hurtling downwards faster still with a jet of water distorted in his wake, and punching out towards the tentacle. "If you understand English, you are required to stop doing what you are doing now! Let the boat go!" Sure, it was burbled, and ridiculous to say, but still, he may as well see if it comprehended speech.
MarkK Posted March 21, 2008 Posted March 21, 2008 Seeing that Celestial was already affecting a rescue, it freed him up to plunge underneath the water, where he beheld the sinking yacht, and tentacles pulling it down. Unsure as to whether there might be more people trapped on the yacht, or that if left unchallenged, the.. whatever this was, might pursue after Celestia and her charges, he opted for the extremely direct approach. Which is to say, hurtling downwards faster still with a jet of water distorted in his wake, and punching out towards the tentacle. "If you understand English, you are required to stop doing what you are doing now! Let the boat go!" Sure, it was burbled, and ridiculous to say, but still, he may as well see if it comprehended speech.
Barnum Posted March 25, 2008 Posted March 25, 2008 The tentacle was hard to miss, it was nearly as wide as the boat in places. The Emissary smacked it hard and it immediately let go of the boat. The yacht was so badly damage it was nearly in two pieces. The wreckage floated in place about 40 feet below the surface of the water. The tentacle retreated into the murky blackness of the water, and then slowly a large dark shadow began to emerge from the deep . . . really large . . . and angry.
MarkK Posted March 25, 2008 Posted March 25, 2008 After quietly burbling "oh.. bother", the Emissary propelled through the water to the now freed wreckage of the boat, steeling himself for the arrival of.. whatever that was, even as he hoped the time it was taking to advance would let him search out for anyone trapped within the wreckage.
Barnum Posted March 27, 2008 Posted March 27, 2008 The dark shape grew larger and lager until it was easily the size of a barge. A host of tentacles began snaking their way up through the currents toward the yacht and the Emissary. Inside the yacht the Emissary could see two shapes . . . people . . . trapped inside the cabin. They were trying to keep their heads up in the shrinking pocket of air that was steadily being pushed out by the water pressure. The Emissary watched as cabin filled up completely and the two people thrashed around under the water helplessly.
MarkK Posted March 27, 2008 Posted March 27, 2008 The Emissary, while keeping himself wary of the creature's imminent arrival, flew quickly towards the trapped people, flipping himself about in his approach so that it seemed he was sailing by them horizontally, feet first, even as he called out "please do not mind the awkwardness of this!" His arms arced out to grab them both and hold the pair to his sides, feet smashing apart and scattering the obstacles to their ascent, gaping holes left in the boat's hull that their rise might be all the more rapid and direct, his positioning keeping them held away from points of impact. He pushed himself to move as fast as possible to the pier, so that he could set them down, and return to give battle to... whatever it was that was coming.
Barnum Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Both of the boaters had stopped moving by the time the Emissary crashed through to their rescue. Their limp forms were, however, easier to get to the surface. Celestia was already on the dock with the two other swimmers, using the power of her sword to revive them. As the Emissary turned to head back into the deep, there was a huge crash and a surge of water . . . as three giant tentacles lifted the entire yachtâ€â€it had to be sixty feel longâ€â€out of the water and began swinging it like a club right at the pier.
MarkK Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 With only time to shout (if somehow politely) "please get the injured out of here!" the Emissary took off towards the monster, seemingly heedless of its looming strength, arcing his flight so that his entire body was as silvery cannon fire towards the creature's makeshift club, hoping to smash it to pieces before it could impact into the docks.
Barnum Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Celestia's sword flashed brightly, and then she and all of the civilians on the pier vanished, teleported to safety. The Emissary delivered a crushing blow to the yacht, splitting it in half. The top half of the yacht shattered and then rained debris down upon the bay for nearly 50 yards. The tentacles kept their hold on the bottom 25 or so feet of the boat and used it like a club, smashing it down on the top of the Emissary's head. The blow and the weight of the tentacles sent the Emissary crashing back down into the water, that was now a blinding cauldron of churning water, wreckage, white foam, and massive tentacles.
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