the Rift


[OPEN] Winter Games

Mesec the Nightwind Posts: 476
World's Edge Glazier atk: 5.5 | def: 9 | dam: 5
Stallion :: Tribrid :: 16.3hh :: 7 years old HP: 76 | Buff: NOVICE
Lucius :: Royal Zephyr :: Roc & Lyra :: Common Kitsune :: Dreams Sarah
#1


While Mesec was still trying to figure out what rank he should take in the Edge, there were still things he could do - things he could help out with, and he was actually excited about this small project he and Tembovu had discussed. Although Mesec had never really been bothered by spending time with foals before, he found that he definitely enjoyed it more now that he was a father. Vesper and Virga may be a year old but he had a hard time accepting the fact that they were getting older and he hoped that there was still a little part of them that enjoyed games. He had missed out on the age when they were really young and was still trying to make up for that loss.

It was mid-morning when Mesec arrived in the clearing with the purple tent, where herd meetings were often held. Today, with a little bit of luck, it would be a stage for games for the foals to forget the Frostfall chill for a little while. He didn’t move beneath the canopy, though, but lingered near it - enjoying the sunshine while it lasted. Already there was a soft smile on his silver-touched face. This place may only be home because his children were here, because his mother had told him to move here, but he didn’t deny that it was a beautiful place.

While Mesec waited for Tembovu, Lucius was circling through the trees and keeping his silver and violet eyes open for Vesper and anyone else around her size. In the snowy landscape, the large black and silver bird was easy to spot among the boughs of firs and pines. He'd herd and usher any tiny-horses he could find and get them to head their way over towards Mesec so that the fun could begin.


Mesec
the nightwind

image credits



A fun activity/games thread for the Edge foals!
Please let @Tembovu post first, but tagging the foals listed in the herd if you'd like to join in! <3
@Vesper @Gawen @Maude @Arakh @Zubari @Esinakh @Katua @Kiada @Hera @Oizys @Laume @Verro @Sansa
adults are welcome too if they wish

Lucius is looking for foals so you guys are welcome to have him collect your character <3
please tag Mesec in replies
non-life threatening force is allowed at all times

Tembovu the Elephant Posts: 805
World's Edge Captain atk: 7 | def: 9.0 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 18hh :: 10 HP: 77 | Buff: SWIFT
Mbwene :: African Elephant :: Ashen smitty
#2








" they say an elephant’s eyes speak the greatest language… "


The Elephant King loved foals, that was a well known and accepted fact by him—and likely by all those who met him. And, upon accepting the Nightwind into the Edge, he assumed that he found an equally foal-friendly soul with how the man was not often seen without his twin children. It made a broad smile cross the King’s lips when he saw such things. Thus, there was no question who he sought out when the idea to indulge the vast number of younglings popped into his mind.

And the man was already there, lingering near the lilac canopy, as the Elephant King stepped on the thick layer of pristine white snow that blanketed the clearing, Mbwene trundling in tow. She wasn’t entirely sold on snow, but it was fun to roll into balls and pelt at her bonded (or the unsuspecting Chico). Though any thoughts of throwing snowballs was wiped from her mind by a sharp flick of the King’s tail and (more likely) by her bright blue gaze landing on Lucius. She trumpeted a greeting, trotting directly up to the dark, wing stallion and his equally dark, winged companion.

The King halted alongside the Nightwind, an amused grin crossing his face at Mbwene’s antics, “Good morning Mesec, Lucius,” his heavy horn dipped slightly in greeting to each in turn. He then rose onto his haunches, coming down heavily with both forelimbs, trumpeting loudly as the earth quaked beneath him, “Foals, come!”


He then grinned, slightly apologetic, as he realized his close proximity to the other during his loud yell, before saying, “This will be fun.” His grin broadened across his pale muzzle as Mbwene shuffled around in the snow, trunk raised invitingly towards the dark zephyr.



" what else can make one feel so much without a word? "
image | table by cai


There will be some prizes at the end, so you're gonna want to come join this fun ;) teehee

Please tag Tembovu.

Oizys Posts: 134
Aurora Basin Soldier atk: 7.0 | def: 8.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Hybrid :: 17hh :: 2 HP: 73.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Ker :: Philippine Eagle :: Curse Snow
#3
I WON'T BE LEFT DEFENCELESS, AS GOD IS MY WITNESS
I'D RATHER BE


D A N G E R O U S

"BIG BIRD!"

Ker's bone-shaking screech echoes through the gargoyle's mind, making her flatten her ears into the thick strands of her mane and hiss angrily at her companion. She fixes the eagle with her withering stare, which is usually enough to bring the bird to heel. But Ker is in no mood to obey even the most dagger-laden of glares, so obsessed is she with the massive four-winged monstrosity circling above.

Oizys lifts her skull to look at the black bird with its queer white markings. Ironically, the zephyr looks quite similar to Ker, except he is a great deal bigger and possesses an extra pair of wings. There's definitely the look of the Philippine about him, though, and after Ker's initial fear has abated, the eagle stares adoringly at him. Oizys shrivels her brow in disgust as her mind is suddenly filled with "<3 <3 <3" from her companion, and she makes a gargled noise of contempt deep in her throat.

It looks like Ker's newest eye-candy is attempting to lead them somewhere, however. Interest gets the better of the yearling filly and she finds herself trotting after her companion, her muscular limbs breaking easily through the gentle snowfall that lays crisply on the ground. Ker sends a serenade of squawked greetings towards the black zephyr, desperately trying to get his attention and earn his admiration in return - pathetic, thinks the filly, and decides to ignore her companion's antics before they irritate her further.

She soon discovers where the large bird is leading them. A winged, horned stallion who she vaguely recognises stands at the head of the meeting, with their elephantine king at his side. Oizys raises a quizzical brow at both of them, keen to see whether this gathering is going to be worth her time. Ker circles around to perch on her bonded's broad hindquarters, but her eyes never leave the black and silver stallion's zephyr companion. Jesus, Ker, if you like him that much why don't you just fly up there and hump his leg? The eagle gives a superior huff and ruffles her feathers, deeming Oizys' words as unworthy of a response.



Summary: Oizys stands looking grumpy, whilst Ker makes heart-eyes towards Lucius. Girl's got a Philippine crush!

[ the gargoyle queen ]
OIZYS IS ALWAYS RATED M FOR STRONG LANGAUGE IN HER POSTS




Kiada Posts: 181
World's Edge Nurse
Filly :: Unicorn :: 16.3 hh :: 2 years - Birdsong
Khairi :: Leucistic Lammergeier :: Paralyze Skylark
#4
kiada
a mess of beautiful contradictions make her whole —
Poke, poke, poke.

A few seconds went by before another serious of pokes found their way along Kiada’s ashen neck. Her white eyelids fluttered open, a blurry world around her came into vision as she tried to focus. Suddenly, more white and feathers hopped in front of her, poking her yet again, this time right onto her horn making a horrific sound. The filly sat up, then shaking her head with a sharp narrow glare to the bearded vulture. “What is so important?” Her voice hissed to the bird, her gaze glimmering with the daggers she wanted pointed at her bonded.

Khairi simply offered a beaky grin and a coo before gesturing with his wing to the black and silver zephyr as he flew overhead. The filly’s eyes drifted upwards, capturing the zephyr as he trailed between the trees, then immediately her brows furrowed and she stared back at Khairi completely unamused. “I’m not going.” She huffed, ears flitting back as she closed her eyes again, aiming to fall back into the comfort of her tiny cave. Suddenly, Khairi began to poke her more, this time hopping back out of her way as her ever growing sharp twisting horn jutted out toward him. It took awhile and a lot of convincing, but the white bird finally won.

Quietly, and begrudgingly, Kiada made her way to the meeting where Mesec and her father stood. Her gaze looked upwards toward Khairi as if to ask if he knew that her father would be here, and all the bird could do was return a beaky grin. Shaking the sleep from her pelt, she did her best to hide the annoyance that burned under her skin. However, her passive magic made it hard to try and forget about such things. Snakes and wolves slithered and stalked along her spine as she appeared with the group. Her gaze traveling from Mesec to her father, to the silver and blackened older filly, standing there with a bird as well.

Khairi dove down from the branches above to land onto her withers, the snakes and wolves meshing and moving around his white pelt as his sharp red raptor gaze landed on Oizy’s companion. Kiada, meanwhile, dipped her head to both Mesec and her father before stepping over to Oizy’s side and offering a small smile. “What’s going on?” She questioned quietly, hoping her father wouldn’t hear, but allowing her oceanic gaze to land on the monarch.

"Talk."
— she wears fire for skin,
but a storm lives in her soul.
image credits


Kiada makes her way to the gathering, dips her head to Mesec and Temb, and stands next to @Oizys

IT'S SAID SHE'S MADE OF STORM CELLS
AND A WILD WOLF'S HUNGRY HEART,
THAT SHE'S LEARNT THE LIGHTNING'S SECRET
TO RIPPING DARKENED SKIES APART.

Esinakh Posts: 48
Outcast atk: 4.5 | def: 7 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Hybrid :: 15.2hh :: 2 HP: 66.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Sachi :: Plain Rougarou :: Water & Flame smitty
#5
esinakh
vod chafaan
dust to the wind
The strangling’s ears perked forward. A call? Arakh would be there. Arakh was always in the thick of things; brother calf always wanted to be apart of the action. Whereas Esi… Esi was happy at the edges. Safe and clean and whole. She could watch—she liked to watch. She kept herself pristine that way, but she also could be near brother. And some part of her wanted to be around other foals. Even if it was from a distance, mostly.

So the little calf, who ever-so-slowly creeped out of the trees, glanced towards the two other fillies already there. Brother wasn’t here yet? Her barred face cocked in surprise as she watched those that had already gathered. The King, the Nightwind, and filly older than her, and one around her age. Thought she was more focused on their markings (and the symmetry of them) than their ages.

She huffed softly, unhappy at the golden girl’s amorphous white blobs, her own body unsettled. So she turned her head and began to preen her already glistening white feathers of her white wing—if she could not fix the unruly markings then at least she could make her own white gleam evenly.

She swayed, alternating in even increments between preening her feathers, looking at others, and scrubbing the white sock on her front right leg. Though the pale markings were the bane of her existence as they never kept fully clean, the girl at least had something to do while she nervously waited.

image | bckg

Please tag Esinakh.

Maude Posts: 140
World's Edge Filly
Filly :: Unicorn :: 15.3 :: Yearling
Bunnie
#6

As usual, Maude does not take long to arrive to the gathering, arriving with more enthusiasm this time than she has most other things. Bounding and prancing, the snow-maned darling cavorts into the clearing of the tent, her citrine eyes happily glimmering, and laughter easy to lure from her lips.

That a pretty bird has led her, and her best friend, Katua, this far, is perhaps the root of the joy reverberating from her soul. With her eyes eagerly roving the crowd for people she knows, she gives a cheerful, smiling curtsy to the King, and a warm, girlish nicker of greeting to Kiada. Even though she doesn’t know the others, she manages a smile for each of them, too, despite the oldest of the girls, a big, multiple horned girl with an equally big bird companion, making Maude feel a little bit nervous for some reason.

Noticing Esinakh preening herself as they wait, the herbalist’s daughter anxiously wonders if she looks okay, too. Glancing over towards Katua from where they’ve positioned themselves among the flock of youths, Maude’s hooves never seem to manage to stop moving all the way, though she certainly tries to stand still.

"Are my pearls straight?" she asks, somewhat vainly; however, its quickly followed by a quick stream of happy laughter, because, at the end of the day, Maude isn’t going to let looking a bit wild lure her astray now. Obviously, something cool is happening! "It’s just all so exciting! What do you suppose we’re all here doing, Katua? Did your daddy tell you?"


Maude
How should we like it if the stars were to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
let the more loving one be me.

Image Credits | Table

@Katua
Hold onto this lullaby, even when the music's gone.

Arakh Posts: 77
Dragon's Throat Stallion atk: 5 | def: 8 | dam: 7
Stallion :: Hybrid :: 17'2hh :: 2 HP: 66.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Snow
#7


THOSE WHO OPPOSE THEE SHALL KNOW THE WRATH OF HEAVEN

As if drawn by some divine force, Esinakh's arrival at the event is almost immediately followed by that of her bull-horned brother.

Arakh's wings are stronger now, allowing him to pump powerfully through the air. Not for long, as his stamina still needs to be worked on, but for long enough to make him truly feel like his father's son. There's a unique thrill to the heavens, to darting through them on feathered wings, feeling the raw power in his shoulders that propels him through the frosty winter air. It makes the colt feel deeply sorry for those residents of Helovia who will never know the wind beneath their bodies, who will never see the world from above.

The calf's landings still leave a lot to be desired, however, and this one is no exception. With an ungainly lurch, he touches down on the frost-tinged Edge grass, immediately falling into an uneven gallop before moving down the strides until he can halt next to his twin. He ruffles his wings and folds them carefully against his sides, whilst at the same time noticing how Esinakh is uncomfortably cleaning her white segments. This seems to be a clear sign of her discomfort, and the colt straight away moves to nestle into her. "Rak here," he murmurs to her.

He casts a glance around, seeing their older sister Oizys here as well as a couple of other fillies and their king. The leader of the gathering is a black hybrid, and Arakh's attention lingers on him, sensing his importance.


[ ARAKH ]

Kianzo Posts: 95
World's Edge Sleuth
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.3 hh :: 2
Keusi :: Striped Hyena :: Terrorize smitty
#8
Kianzo
There was a rift that needed to be repaired between the twins. Not an obvious rift…more like an rib of velvet that was stroked the wrong, thus reflecting light against the grain of the rest of the fabric. It was all apart of the same bolt of cloth, as the two twins were, but there was just something amiss—nearly imperceivable by others.

But the colt felt it—felt his own blame in the matter and knew of Kiada’s transgressions with Ru’in that only worsened the entire situation. Though, despite this, the distance was an acute, open sore in the dark prince’s chest. So he orbited around her, not close but never far, allowing Keusi’s keen sense of smell to keep them in Kiada’s proximity.

So it was at the edges of the clearing that his sharp, blue gaze stared into the tent’s lilac shade. He glanced disapprovingly at the loud, grey filly Kiada chose to stand between—his own gaze following her darting look to their grinning and overly-exciting father (the colt’s lips turned down in disapproval; how undignified their father looked surrounded by all these foals).

Ash clouded at his chest for a moment—a passing whim in his annoyance to throw the hot, immobilizing magic at some unsuspecting foal. Then his eyes narrowed on the pale filly with pearls (she was pretty, his young, male brain acknowledged). But, instead of showering her with ash, he let it fall, marring the white snow at his hooves. Slowly, purposefully, walking forward, he approached her, “Your pearls are lovely,” his deep voice rumbled in answer to her question, a smirk of a smile crossing his dark lips in response to her happy laughter. Though it didn’t meet his sharp blue gaze, it did lighten his inherited, handsomely marked face.

“I am Kianzo,” was his surprisingly deep and gallant introduction, before he awaited to see what this ‘game’ would entail.
image | bckg


@Kiada cause twinning
@Maude for interaction!

Please tag Kianzo in all replies.

Verro Posts: 25
Absent Abyss
Filly :: Pegasus :: 17 :: Three Seasons
Nova
#9

The Spirits Sing Softly

"This way, Hāedar!" Verro called over her shoulder, her footfalls crunched through and over snow and frosted vegetation. She'd seen the unusual Zephyr disappear through the thicket, and while she did not know who it belonged to, she had enough common sense about her that the companion had wanted their attention by the way the starry Roc hadn't left until she'd given chase. It'd only been further punctuated when the King's voice had boomed from the direction the Bird had gone, calling all foals within the Edge to him.

She slowed as she neared the clearing, the vague picture of a tent floated in the back of her mind somewhere. She'd seen it only once or twice as she passed here and there, either in the company of Zubari or on white wings. Her eyes went to each of the gathered younglings, and lingered on her half-brother. "Ma'th gaezo." Nickered to the grullo colt with familial delight, her attention then turned to the King and the Nightwind. "M'ath, Tembovu and Nightwind." Her chords are light despite the peppered touches of roughened notes, a calling card of her Father's line. "Can my Hāedar, Tasokh, join in? She not of Edge, here to visit now I found her." She stepped aside as she spoke, her head turned with a bright grin toward her much smaller sister.

The Sand Princess didn't miss the absence of her friend, Zubari from the gathered foals, but she didn't mention it, as much as she wanted to. She had looked for him of course, after she'd returned with Tasokh at her side. He had been a kind friend to her, and she'd wanted to let him know that she had reunited with his sister, knowing that he'd seen how upset she had been at her disappearance.

Verro Talks
m'ath - hello
gaezo - brother
haedar - sister

sweet lullabies of lost love

Raggedi @ DA


@Tasokh @Arakh
[Image: BGJGwn32.png]
force & aggression permitted against Verro at all times
with the exception of maiming and death

NPC Posts: 298
User-based Random Event
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
#10
a winter's hunger
The winter was long, snow falling unexpectedly early in the season. It had left game scarce and predators hungry—a hunger growing in empty talons and unbloodied teeth. So haggard, tired wings flapped westward while vicious, starving, raptor eyes scraped the ground for any morsels of food that may fill her family’s bellies.

There! A keening, haunting screech filled the air, calling her mate and children to her as she dove from the lightly misted skies. A bright yellow beak stretched open; onyx, razor sharp talons spread wide as they sought her next meal. White-hot plumage and snow-leopard claws glinting like steel in the pallid light.

The blessedly clear day had revealed a grouping of foals—apparently alone as their full-grown guardians were hidden from the griffins’ view beneath the lilac awning. Another plummeted from the skies, this one a male whose gaunt skeleton showed how encumbering his too-large body could be in these harsh winter months. A dark, jagged beak and burnt gold plumage rippled in air as he plummeted towards the foals—though his attack used the sharp, lions’ claws of his hind paws, seeking so slash open the foals’ soft, giving flesh.

Behind their parents were two chicks, not nearly as confident in their attacks as their parents. And it was clear the harsh Frostfall took its toll, for their feathers were ragged and their wingbeats labored. But the first, a male chick with blue-black plumage, fur, and burning blue eyes dipped repeatedly from the skies. His orange beak snapped at tender ears and manes.

The female chick, not nearly as strong a flier as her brother, plopped from the skies. Her mottled white and black feathers along with her bobcat haunches crashed through the lilac canopy. She yowled in adolecet anger and hunger, sharp claws and talons slashing viciously at anyone who came near. Blazing, white raptor eyes snapped from foal to foal.

This would be a feast for the family.



Oh no! It seems that a family of wild, full-sized, hungry griffins has come to prey on all these scrumptious, bite-sized foals!

The following damages were rolled for these foals:
[1=miss, 2=clawed/nipped, 3=bitten/slashed, 4=snatched up]
@Oizys :: 4; The father griffin has snatched you up in his lion's claws!
@Kiada :: 4; The mother griffin has snatched you up in her sharp talons!
@Esinakh :: 3;  The father griffin has slashed you with his lion's claws!
@Maude :: 3; The male chick has bitten your ear with his beak!
@Arakh :: 3; The mother griffin has bitten your neck with her beak!
@Kianzo :: 1; The female chick just barely missed you as she fell into the canopy!
@Verro :: 3; The male chick has grabbed onto your tail with his beak!  
*Note: this is what the griffins attempted to do to your character. It is entirely up to you if you wish for them to succeed/injure/snatch up/etc! Have fun ;)

There is no posting order, and you may post as much or as little as you like! There will be 1 or 2 more rounds/rolls of this mayhem, and anyone (of all ages) is welcome to join in! (The next roll of 'damages' will be for everyone, not just kiddos.)
The next roll will be ~28th!

Maude Posts: 140
World's Edge Filly
Filly :: Unicorn :: 15.3 :: Yearling
Bunnie
#11

Your pearls are lovely,’ comes a surprisingly deep, male voice from alongside her. Looking up with wonder at the older colt, a sense of recognition washes over her; he looks an awful like Tembovu! Having already heard from Katua about all her siblings (her father being a powerful King, and all), she assumes that this fellow is one of the princes, like Zubari.

Either way, his words make her skin feel oddly warm, a smile blooming across her face that is more dreamy than most. The words which inspire the blush don’t diminish her vivacious, cheerful nature, though, and her naivety disguises the true coldness of the boy’s seemingly friendly grin from her.

She wants to see a friend, and so she does.

Oh, thank you!” she replies with a smile, her eyes genuinely lighting up with the expression, “my Auntie gave them to me.

She almost adds that her Auntie is very beautiful, and that with any luck, she would be beautiful, like she was, too. It feels like too much though, and even Maude has her limits as to what she might impulsively chatter about, her most personal fears and dreams included. So, she’s glad when Kianzo introduces herself, and quickly gives her something else to clamor on about to the boy, rather than her dreams of being an elegant lady, just like those she’s come to love within her tightly knit family.

Oh, you’re Kiada’s brother!” cheerfully converses the girl, occasionally looking over to the grown-ups, to make sure the instructions haven’t started (and that she should shush up), “she must be very glad you are home with her. I’m Maude! It is good to finally meet you, Kianzo.

The instructions, however, never come. Instead of Mesec or Tembovu’s strong voices dictating instructions, the shrill cries of beasts fills the clearing suddenly. Maude’s smile falls away quickly, her worried eyes shooting upwards to discover talons and wings.

She’s not even sure what they are before she’s screaming, at the top of her lungs, her little legs immediately coming to life beneath her. She wants to yell for someone to help her, like her daddy, or mommy, but it doesn’t seem very brave. So, instead, she does the next thing which comes to mind, which is to run about in erratic patterns, carrying on as if one of the griffons has actually managed to attach itself to her back.

Oh no!” she gasps, nearly falling over to avoid the swooping assault of one of the smaller creatures, she feels some sharp part of the monster clip into her ear, and her frightened squeals reach a sky-high pitch, tears blooming in her eyes. “Stop it, you horrible bird-things! Stop it!



If you’re tossing & you’re turning,
& you just can’t fall asleep,
I’ll sing a song beside you. and if you ever forget
how much you really mean to me, every day,
I will remind you.



Art by neverrmind @ DA

@Kianzo
Hold onto this lullaby, even when the music's gone.

Kiada Posts: 181
World's Edge Nurse
Filly :: Unicorn :: 16.3 hh :: 2 years - Birdsong
Khairi :: Leucistic Lammergeier :: Paralyze Skylark
#12
kiada
a mess of beautiful contradictions make her whole —
She stood alongside the grey filly for a few moments, but sensed the idea that her brother was nearby. A swift glance around the clearing affirmed that idea, as she spotted the ashen boy among the crowd speaking with Maude. Her brows lifted slightly, curiously wondering perhaps what the boy might speak with Maude about. Out of all the children the filly had met in the Edge, Maude seemed like the last one that her twin would end up speaking with. She disregarded any ideas that came along with it, and it wasn’t like it was a bad thing. Kiada liked Maude, however, it was just strange to her.

Despite that idea, she allowed her gaze to glance around at those that had gathered as well aside from her brother. And while she waited for the opportunity for her father to help introduce what the game was going to be, was when she heard the shrill cry from above. It sounded different from Khairi’s own cry – it sounded larger, louder, and more menacing. As her inky head lifted up, she spotted the large griffons aimed for all of the children. Her ears pinned back, Khairi took off from her back in the attempts to try and distract the griffons. It failed, however, while Maude tried to run, Kiada stood her ground and reared to try and snag one of the large creatures as it flew above her. However, she didn’t know what to do about the event that occurred after.

The beast was spotted with a vibrant yellow beak as she felt its talons reach into her back. She screeched at it, then, as it picked her up. Her flames immediately dancing into wolves and snakes as she did her best to thrash out of the mother griffon’s grip. Pain seared through her spotted back as the talons dug in, blood had already begun to drip slightly down along her passive flames. She was used to talons – but not like this. Her ink dipped legs kicked while she growled under her breath – wishing she had some sort of offensive magic to get her out of this predicament. Meanwhile, Khairi swooped up from his place, aiming to peck at the larger creature. He aimed for the talons, to let go of his precious bonded, until he moved further up to try and distract the mother bird, his sharp beak aiming to bite the creature’s ears and head. "STOP." She screeched at the griffon, continuing her thrashing. What kind of game was this?

"Talk."
— she wears fire for skin,
but a storm lives in her soul.
image credits


Mentions @Maude and @Kianzo and then gets snatched up :|

IT'S SAID SHE'S MADE OF STORM CELLS
AND A WILD WOLF'S HUNGRY HEART,
THAT SHE'S LEARNT THE LIGHTNING'S SECRET
TO RIPPING DARKENED SKIES APART.

Oizys Posts: 134
Aurora Basin Soldier atk: 7.0 | def: 8.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Hybrid :: 17hh :: 2 HP: 73.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Ker :: Philippine Eagle :: Curse Snow
#13
I WON'T BE LEFT DEFENCELESS, AS GOD IS MY WITNESS
I'D RATHER BE


D A N G E R O U S

What's going on? She's addressed by another filly, of a similar age to Oizys herself and bearing a remarkable resemblance to their king. "No idea, but it'd best be good," she replies to the other girl, her cold gaze darting between the filly and the two stallions who seem to be running this meeting.

From peace, though, comes sudden chaos. Within seconds the skies are owned by feathers and massive bird-claws as a family of griffins burst from the heavens towards the foals. Their gaunt, starved bodies do little to lessen their fearsome presence, and no doubt a clearing full of foals will seem like a fine feast to them.

Fear and rage stab through the gargoyle at the sight of the magnificent monsters. Ker turns the air blue with a cacophony of shrieks, and Oizys braces herself against the ground and flicks her horns threateningly towards her attackers. She doesn't know whether to take it as a compliment when the largest of the griffins, the massive male, makes a beeline towards her; despite her sense of self-preservation, the filly's innate arrogance decides that yes, being targeted by the biggest creature is a testament to the girl's own brute size and strength.

That doesn't make it hurt any less, though, when the beast's lion claws rip into her flesh. Blood erupts from the gaping wounds and Oizys howls a primal cry of agony and hell-bent fury, thrashing against the creature's grip as she feels the ground disappearing from beneath her hooves. In the savage claws of her captor, it would be easy for the filly to be helpless, defenceless; for her to succumb to the jaws of death and go gently into oblivion. It would be easy for her to hang limp and pray that her end will be swift.

Alas, Oizys is never helpless. She's never gone gently into anything in her life, and doesn't intend to start now.

With a bestial shriek, Ker lunges towards the large male griffin, her claws and beak extended as she aims to peck and slash at the creature's eyes. Oizys' disgust at the eagle oggling Mesec's companion fades like a dying star as she admires the bird's sudden display of guts, her mind full of Ker's fearless >:[ faces as she attempts to rip out the eyes of her bonded's attacker.

Through her haze of pain and - as much as she hates to admit it - fear, Oizys reaches for her magic. It bursts from her in a haze of sizzling electricity, a blast of powerful spark magic forming into the shape of a great griffin. The spark-griffin circles, sizzling and cracking against the sky, and seeks to slam itself into the left side of its male lookalike. Oizys hopes that the sudden explosive agony of electrocution will cause the griffin to drop her, preferably before she can be lifted high enough for a potential fall to cause broken bones.



Ozzy gets snatched up by daddy griffin, Ker tries to peck the griffin's eyes whilst Ozzy creates a large spark-griffin with her magic to try and sizzle the daddy and make him drop her.

[ the gargoyle queen ]
OIZYS IS ALWAYS RATED M FOR STRONG LANGAUGE IN HER POSTS




Arakh Posts: 77
Dragon's Throat Stallion atk: 5 | def: 8 | dam: 7
Stallion :: Hybrid :: 17'2hh :: 2 HP: 66.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Snow
#14

THOSE WHO OPPOSE THEE SHALL KNOW THE WRATH OF HEAVEN

The colt gently whickers back to his antlered half-sister, flickering his ears in greeting. It's good to be acknowledged by one of his other siblings, as he'd found the majority of them wanted nothing to do with him or Esinakh, perhaps out of jealousy that their father had bedded others rather than their mothers. Arakh holds no such spite; he's keen to get to know his family, which is a large part of the reason why he is contemplating moving to the Throat to be with them.

Nothing much seems to be happening, and the calf bleats over to Esinakh as though asking whether she's as bored as he is. Their boredom does not last long, however, because suddenly there's creatures bursting through the skies, winged and clawed and vicious. They bombard the foals like avenging angels, and there's nothing Arakh can do as the large female swoops down and rips at his neck with her beak. The force of the blow sends him sprawling to his knees, skinning those too; the agony is unbearable, a swathe of red marking the strip of flesh that has been torn from his neck, exposing pulsing muscle beneath, he's collapsing with the force of it, unable to breathe, unable to move....

Until, through his pain-blurred eyes, he sees the father griffin descending towards Esinakh. He sees those savage lion claws aiming to strike the filly, to harm the other part of Arakh's soul, and the despairing bleat that rises from his lips belies the sudden explosion of emotion inside him.

Because as quickly as it came, the pain in his neck is gone as papable, unshakeable rage fills him like a wildfire.

Up he staggers, rising from bruised knees with a banner of crimson dripping down his neck from the gaping smile engraved into it by the creature's claws. He feels nothing. There is no pain, there is only white-hot fury, ringing like a drumbeat in his ears as he stampedes towards the father griffin with his bull horns lowered. "NOT TOUCH ESI!" he roars, his voice a thunderous boom that quite belies his tender age, the whites of his eyes clearly visible as the blue orbs roll back into his head with the force of his anger. The father griffin has already moved on, to swoop up Oizys (Arakh feels no such attachment to his maternal half-sister - the griffin can peck the flesh from her bones all he likes as long as it keeps him from Esinakh) but the colt simply cannot allow him to get away without retribution. He's attacked Esi, and that is unforgivable. That is the fuel that feeds the fire of Arakh's wrath, the fury enough to unleash the passive magic he didn't know he possessed as he marches on without pain, without feeling.

The anger unleashes something else, too. Now the griffin has swooped upwards where he cannot be harmed by Arakh's horns, the colt instead taps into the tiniest nub of magic that lies dormant in his soul, which he'd been completely unaware of until now. The air beside the calf begins to crackle and burn and suddenly there's fire where there was nothing before; three roughly-formed birds made of flame, summoned and controlled by the unwitting hands of the boy. Through impulse, Arakh sends these fire-eagles upwards towards the male griffin, not caring if they accidentally hit Oizys, not caring if they help her in her quest to be released, only caring that the creature must suffer.



Gets badly slashed by the mother griffin, but gets angry when he sees Esi being attacked which causes his passive magic to kick in, preventing him from feeling pain. He sends three eagles made of fire after the father griffin as punishment.

[ ARAKH ]

Esinakh Posts: 48
Outcast atk: 4.5 | def: 7 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Hybrid :: 15.2hh :: 2 HP: 66.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Sachi :: Plain Rougarou :: Water & Flame smitty
#15
esinakh
vod chafaan
dust to the wind
A scream.

A scream so full of terror that it shattered the cold, crisp air into a thousand pieces. At least, it did for the calf. The moment the mother griffin’s keen had rent the air, the little filly’s horned head ripped up from scrubbing her leg, instead focusing on the skies in curiosity. Despite Rak’s belabored teachings on things she should fear, such a sound didn’t incite terror in her. No, it wasn’t nearly as terrifying as the dirt that loomed beneath the snow.

Well, at least it wasn’t as terrifying until razor-sharp beaks and claws began to rain down on the foals from the skies. It was then, when lion claws nearly as large as her small body raked through the flesh of her shoulder, back, and haunches that her single, terrified scream rent the air.

Pale eyes snapped around, searching for Rak, for safety. She darted towards him, eyes blinded by fear and pain which made her movements flailing and jerky. A mewl crept out of her tightly-constricted throat as her fear pushed her passive magic out of her spine; grey mud mingling with the bright red flesh of her deep, bloody wound.

’NO TOUCH ESI!’ It is this roared decree that brings Esinakh to her brother—unable to see but able to hear. So she stumbled towards him, “Rak,” was her quiet croak; a prayer, her only known word for absolute safety.

Heat passes by them, emanating from the two, horned foals. The calf rapidly blinks, sending a warm wetness down her cheeks (—it was tears that had blinded her vision—), finding flaming eagles chasing the dastardly claws that had split open her back. She whimpers once, eyes darting from Rak’s creatures, “How Rak—?” but her question is cut off when she sees the blood on her brother.

“Rak hurt,” she wails. Though she, too, is hurt, she loves her brother too much (and his beautifully even, grey skin is now broken), to not be hurt by seeing his wounds, too.
image | bckg


Esi screams/cries and cowers near @Arakh

Please tag Esinakh.

Tembovu the Elephant Posts: 805
World's Edge Captain atk: 7 | def: 9.0 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 18hh :: 10 HP: 77 | Buff: SWIFT
Mbwene :: African Elephant :: Ashen smitty
#16








" they say an elephant’s eyes speak the greatest language… "


There is a screech—high and keening and full of hunger— that rips through the bright Frostfall day. It cuts through the air just as it cuts through the King’s chest with fear—there is nothing good about that call. And then a flap of wings shatters the light mist into oblivion, just as talons’ glint cuts through his retinas.

At first it seems to happen in slow motion—the outward stretch of talons, the malicious hover of feathers as the female griffin reaches—and then pandemonium breaks as screams fill the air and sharp claws rake through flesh. More descend from the sky; a young one getting ensnared in the lilac cloth, coming down so close to his son.

A ferocious, but fearful, father’s (and stallion’s) scream ripped through the air. In that moment he was both King and Father; father because Kiada’s fear was heard just as her lithe gold body disappeared into the mists; King because so many other foals were being injured, and he must be strong to protect them.

So, with surprising speed, he shifted into an elephantine form. His trunk reached out, raising on his hind legs, trying to bash and grab and pull these feathered bodies onto his tusks.

But he did not have the size of the elephants on the Plains. He was his own size. Powerful and large, but not as large as those giants. Mentally, he cursed; aloud he bellowed in a terrible, warrior’s shout, “Foals, to me!” The griffins may be able to pick up foals. But not an elephant.



" what else can make one feel so much without a word? "
image | table by cai

Please tag Tembovu.

Kianzo Posts: 95
World's Edge Sleuth
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.3 hh :: 2
Keusi :: Striped Hyena :: Terrorize smitty
#17
Kianzo
Ears twitched at the overly pleasant, happy words and accompanying smile the filly with pearls gave him. He was… intrigued. It was a strange sensation, as it was a singular emotion; one that did not revolve around or get shared with his other half.

Though he was quickly reminded of his twin as Maude called him ‘Kiada’s brother.’ His head dipped quickly in acknowledgement, not wanting to delve back into the loneliness that had been his disappearance.

And he was not left long to investigate this filly; nor was he left to relive his desolation in his self-perpetuated abandonment. Because there were talons, claws, and feathers raining from the sky. Instead of thunder, there were shrieks; instead of lightning, there were glints of sun on beaks.

But what drew the colt’s attention was the shout he knew—one of angry fear. His bright blue eyes sharpened on the white, spotted mother griffin and the precious cargo he loved so dear that flailed and flamed in her talons. “LET HER GO!” Was his shocking loud and deep shout—so like his sire’s. Ash flooded from his chest, dark and writhing; filled with infuriated hyena jaws that snapped ferociously.

He paid no mind to the flailing lavender tarp alongside him. He was too consumed by the fear that filled his dark chest.
image | bckg

Please tag Kianzo in all replies.

NPC Posts: 298
User-based Random Event
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
#18
a winter's hunger

The male chick, not quite yet finished with the sweet taste of Maude’s ear, rounded back for more. Though smaller than his parents, the black chick was still larger than the pale filly. So his pawed front limbs and taloned hind limbs reached out, seeking to grab out around the filly and loft her into the skies with him.

The mother griffin shrieked at first, terrified of the flames, and nearly dropped the tasty Kiada snack in her talons. However, the intelligent raptor quickly realized that there was no heat in these flames, and so her pale yellow beak snapped hungrily as she heavily landed. Paws sought to pin the the filly to the earth while her beak snapped at her shoulder and neck flesh.

The father griffin bristled and dropped the electrified filly to the ground, beak angrily snapping at the winged pest that attacked him. The female chick, now brimming with rage at Oizys’ attack on her father, turned on the gargoyle foal. Sharp claws and talons freed her from the tent’s canopy as her sharp, (young) predatory eyes landed on the grey filly. Mottled feathers stood on end, and she howled in anger as the electrical creatures stung her skin—though it only fueled the chick’s slashing claws at the filly.

The father griffin continued to be punished—this time by eagles made of fire. His great, burnished gold feathers of his right wing sizzled in flames as a terrifying screech ripped from his lion’s breast. He turned on Arakh, dark talons stretched out as he sought to plug this troublesome morsel off the ground. His raking, sharp paws just barely missed the similarly horned filly (Esinakh) behind the grey colt.

However, on his ascension into the skies, a thick and powerful band tightened around the father griffin’s leg. With a screech and slash of talons at the Elephant King, he sought to free himself from the goring tusks and angry navy eyes of Tembovu.

The female chick, not quite yet done, turned on the colt made of ash. She had seen her brother pick up a foal—and so she would do the same. Or she would try to. But as the ash enveloped the back half of her body, she found her talons could no longer move. She screeched, reaching out to slash with her paws before laboriously flapping her white-and-gold wings and taking to the skies. These foals were more trouble than they were worth.

The female chick was not alone, for she was soon followed by her family. They would find less… difficult prey.


The griffins inflict more damage and then leave!

The following damages were rolled:
[1=miss, 2=clawed/nipped, 3=bitten/slashed, 4=snatched up]
@Maude = 4; snatched up by male chick!
@Kiada = 4; bitten while in mother griffin’s claws!
@Oizys = 2; clawed by female chick!
@Arakh = 4 = snatched up by father griffin!
@Esinakh = 1; missed by father griffin!
@Tembovu = 3; slashed by father griffin!
@Kianzo = 3; slashed up by female chick!
*Note: this is what the griffins attempted to do to your character. It is entirely up to you if you wish for them to succeed/injure/snatch up/etc! Have fun ;)

This was the last roll, and the small prizes will be posted in about a week!
Thank you everyone for participating! :D

Oizys Posts: 134
Aurora Basin Soldier atk: 7.0 | def: 8.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Hybrid :: 17hh :: 2 HP: 73.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Ker :: Philippine Eagle :: Curse Snow
#19
I WON'T BE LEFT DEFENCELESS, AS GOD IS MY WITNESS
I'D RATHER BE


D A N G E R O U S

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck! Whether it's her own magic that causes the griffin to drop her or the flame birds cast by her half-brother, it doesn't matter - she's still being dropped, and she's fairly sure fillies don't bounce. Thankfully she's not too high up, but there's still a jarring impact as she hits the ground and she releases a muffled oof as the wind is knocked from her. Shaking herself, the gargoyle glances around to see what's happening - there's griffins everywhere, and the king has shapeshifted into an elephant to try and protect the foals.

It's a nice thought, but Oizys is quite capable of defending herself. And now she's pissed off.

Ker manages to escape the roving beak by the skin of her teeth, losing a couple of feathers from her tail in the process. She wheels around and swoops low over her bonded, her face twisted into an avian snarl and her eyes glowing with concentration. To Oizys, she has never been more beautiful, more useful, and the bulky yearling watches the raptor with evident approval. This is what she bonded to, not some pointless lump of feathers!

Ker does not give up her pursuit of the father griffin, regardless of the fact he's no longer attacking her bonded. No, hell hath no fury like a Philippine scorned, and she has taken the loss of some tail feathers very badly. Her mental expression is one big ">:C", and suddenly she feels power in herself that she's never felt before. Oizys senses it too, reverberating in her mind, and a great spasm of darkness erupts from Ker's consciousness like a wicked, reeking aura. It is not visible, but she can feel it arrowing towards the father griffin; little does she know that her eagle has just discovered her magical ability, and is attempting to curse the largest griffin with bird flu.

Oizys, distracted by her bonded's newfound power, finds herself set upon by one of the chicks. Its assault is brutal but thankfully brief, and leaves the filly with great gouges across her withers and neck, adding to the savage cross-hatching caused by the father. She tries to summon a spark-creature to attack the chick but for the first time in weeks The Thing sends her rasping into a coughing fit; abhorring her own weakness, she's forced to just wait for it pass. She stands on braced, wobbly legs, breathing heavily and bleeding gruesomely as the last aftershocks of The Thing fade away, allowing her to breathe properly again. Despite this, the griffins are retreating - they won.

"Well, that was fun," comes the gargoyle's sardonic voice, fading off into a pained groan. Ker, looking immensely happy with herself ("Gave him bad bird disease :] :]") circles and lands on one of the few un-cut segments of Oizys' back, and presses her vicious beak gently to her bonded's flesh in an almost loving gesture. "I'm strong, too." Oizys finds herself smiling, softening, and turns her scarred head to gently touch her not-so-useless-after-all companion.



Ker uses her Curse ability to try and give the father griffin bird flu (xD), one of the symptoms of which is lack of co-ordination and diarrhea. This was a fun thread thanks guys :D

[ the gargoyle queen ]
OIZYS IS ALWAYS RATED M FOR STRONG LANGAUGE IN HER POSTS




Kiada Posts: 181
World's Edge Nurse
Filly :: Unicorn :: 16.3 hh :: 2 years - Birdsong
Khairi :: Leucistic Lammergeier :: Paralyze Skylark
#20
kiada
a mess of beautiful contradictions make her whole —
It wasn’t long while she was in the air with the griffin that she began to feel the pain that swelled in her shoulder from the talons. They loosened and gripped tighter as her flames writhed as angry snakes with snapping jaws. Khairi’s incessant shrieking muffled her ears from the other sounds around her, from the other foal’s own screams and her father’s booming voice. But there was another voice that screamed into the air after her, one that seemed to eerily close to her fathers but younger, that she had begun to realize was her twin’s. She wondered momentarily among the fit of rage that burned in her chest and the pain that seared her shoulders, if he too could feel the pain she felt.

Then, as if the mother griffin had begun to lose its grip, she was descending toward the ground. Instinctively, her legs stretched out to reach the earth to try and pull herself from the mother griffin. Dark hooves dug into the ground in her effort, but she failed as she was soon pushed to the ground by giant clawed paws. The air fell from her lungs and she gasped for breath, feeling the pressure of the paws on her chest. Her ears remained back against her skull as she kicked out with her hind legs, oceanic gaze watching as the mother griffon tried to bite into her neck. Another shriek was let loose as she furiously kicked further. Khairi had come to terms with trying to distract the griffon by using his own talons against the mother griffins head.

And while it was a great thought, it hadn’t worked perfectly. Pain and blood burned against her chest as the mother griffin bit into her shoulder. She kicked further, feeling helpless in this situation, but before long the mother griffin left her alone and trailed after the family. She laid there for a few moments catching her breath and relaxing her sore muscles before attempting to get up. As she rolled onto shaky legs, while blood dripped from her shoulder and back, she glanced around first for her companion. He had already vanished, however, noting how bad the wounds were and flying off in search of a bit of yarrow. Quickly, he returned with the plant gently in his beak and Kiada rest her head along the earth. “Good call, Khairi.” She thought to the bird, as she closed her eyes. She hadn’t been the only one learning in her trips to the greenhouse and her small lessons in the Basin. Gently, the vulture began to apply the leaves to her wounds while she winced, pausing momentarily to seek out her brother first and then her father.

"Talk."
— she wears fire for skin,
but a storm lives in her soul.
image credits


The griffin bites her pretty bad on her shoulder, and when it leaves Khairi grabbed some yarrow leaves to apply as a blood clotter while she rests and looks for Kianzo and Temb <3 Such a great thread, thank you!! :D

IT'S SAID SHE'S MADE OF STORM CELLS
AND A WILD WOLF'S HUNGRY HEART,
THAT SHE'S LEARNT THE LIGHTNING'S SECRET
TO RIPPING DARKENED SKIES APART.


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