thebastion | Day 163, Closed

Entry tags:

Day 163, Closed | WE HUNT!

Who: Colin Starfury, everyone who responded to his rallying cry
What: Hunting a Gasfella for a fallen friend
When: Day 163, "Oh God" Early
Where: The Skyway
Format: Whatever the heck you want, we're all big kids here
Open: Closed to those who responded.
Warnings: Violence, oh boy is there gonna be violence. Also, this thing has killed one person already, so there's that.

He'd gathered his crew. He'd interviewed Rin. He'd examined Night's body, the wounds she'd suffered. He had all the evidence he'd be able to get here, and now it was time to head out. He'd grabbed his pistols and an ammo belt, wearing both openly. Also, he'd fashioned a bandolier some time ago to carry grenades, and today was the first time he was going to wear it out.

He wasted no time in getting everyone who said they wanted to come. He was mindful of the residents who didn't want anything to do with it, those who needed only to sleep and mourn. But for those who were going to hunt this thing down, Colin was there, waking them from their rest and rousing them to meet at the Skyway entrance.

There, he set out what was coming in what he hoped was easily understandable terms.

"Okay everyone," he announces. "Our first stop is where this all went down. We need to find more information so we can track down the creature. Rin tells me it was a BIG Gasfella, different coloration than the ones we normally see out there. She'd tried to talk to it, and it attacked them mercilessly. It didn't want them there."

His eyes narrowing, he continues. "So we're going there, we're going to find what it was guarding, and then we're going to find it. We are going to give it one chance to surrender, and if it does anything other than lay down its weapon and put its hands in the air, we are going to kill it so certainly that it will have to crawl into its afterlife."

He looks at Nanaki briefly, then he looks at Paarthurnax and Alucard. "Again I'm going to say... No eating this thing. It tore apart two full-power demons, I don't want anyone getting close enough for a hug, because that will open you up to all kinds of hurt," he explains. "We can inflict plenty of harm WITHOUT opening ourselves up to close range attacks."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

On the bright side, there isn't a small army of Windbags, or even just a posse.

On the down side...

Something suddenly seems to come slamming down in from the sky. It slams right down into the ground with something, just narrowly avoiding whoever is at point. The impact is forceful enough to send debris- dirt and rock- scattering everywhere. Anyone not careful might find themselves briefly blinded or hit in the head with a small rock.

Those with their eyesight clear will get a momentary glimpse of the creature- a Gasfella with unusual coloring and twice, maybe three times, as big as them. It's skin is a toxic green, and its eyes bright from beneath its hood. There's a wound on one shoulder, bubbled over in a strange way.

There's not much time to get a good eyeful of it. In a flash, its swinging its enormous ax with reckless abandon. It's making an effort to hit anyone in the group who's too slow, but it doesn't seem to mind when its ax drives into the ground to fling about more dirt.

For Alucard and Kitten, they'll be able to hear something if they're paying attention and not more focused on trying to save their own hides.

DON'T COME DON'T TOUCH THEY ARE NOT YOURS DON'T COME DON'T COME DON'T BRING DON'T COME DON'T YOU DARE, MINE

Considering it is more or less screaming it- at least that's how it will feel to their minds- it might be hard to miss. Not once does it let up on swinging its ax, however. It doesn't seem much interested in conversation.

As it happens, Colin has taken to the front of the group to follow the trail. He's asked Paar to keep to the sky, to prevent the Gasfella's escape in the event that it chooses to flee when confronted. It turns out that's likely not going to be an issue.

But Colin's been on the receiving end of a Bulrathi air drop before. The plummeting Gasfella triggers all sorts of warnings in his eye, and he's already jumping to the side to avoid the first slash of the axe, and then into the Gasfella's personal space, making it difficult to hit him with the axe.

"FALL BACK AND SPREAD OUT!" He yells, throwing a punch at the Gasfella's wounded shoulder, not trying to hold back his augmented strength in the slightest. "TAKE ITS BACK AND GET IT IN A CROSSFIRE! ALUCARD! KITTEN! TELL IT THAT IF IT DOESN'T LAY DOWN ITS WEAPON, WE ARE GOING TO TURN IT INTO A GREASY SMEAR ACROSS THREE KILOMETERS OF SKYWAY!"

Alucard had stuck close to Colin to assist in tracking, and would have been caught in the Gasfella's attack had he not immediately thrown himself in full reverse and out of the way of its axe. He doesn't bat an eye. Attacks from above are hardly anything new, after all.

What is new is the fact that the Gasfella is bothering to announce that it's guarding something. He keeps in its line of sight, but makes sure to remain out of reach for the moment, directing his next words to it.

"We are not here for whatever it is you wish to protect! Lay down your weapon, or we shall be forced to put an end to you!"

[In a normal situation, the sudden appearance of the giant Gasfella would have been enough to toss Ippo well off balance; both mentally and physically, but this was not a normal situation. The second the Gasfella touched down, Ippo's body was already sliding backwards out of range of the wildly swinging Axe, any shot that came within range of him was deftly woven around with the skill he'd cultivated over his intense training with Coach Kamogawa; this Gasfella was big and fast, but Ippo was definitely on the faster scale here.

Underneath his focus however, he could feel something boiling...it was like a beast patiently waiting in the brush for the right time to strike; whatever this Gasfella was talking about...whatever Alucard has said about whatever it was wishing to protect, this axe-wielding psychopath had about five seconds to explain itself before Ippo unleashed hell.]

[Raimundo was closer to the back so he wasn't in the full range of the attack from the giant green monster. He dove to the side to avoid the dirt and rocks that came flying at him. He ran around the beast, going with Colin's suggestion to get behind it. The thing had a hood and if he could just get behind it, maybe he could pull the thing over its eyes. This thing was going down, protecting something or not. Rai didn't much care either way.]

Zuko is far enough back herself not to have to worry about that ax just yet, but she does duck out of the way of a rock or two. She draws her swords as she straightens up, but she holds them defensively for now and keeps her distance, waiting on the minute possibility that it might back down.

It sure doesn't look like it's going to, though.

The slam into its shoulder earns a loud sharp hiss, air being forced out of it. Even with Colin's augmented strength, however, it's not much forced back- there's a reason Rin and Night together couldn't take it down. Its ax might do much good this close, but its been born with two hands. One hand keeps the ax, and the other makes a lunge to take Colin's head in its massive palm.

Whether it succeeds in this or not, one thing has been made sure of: it's focused so much on those in front of it that it doesn't keep an eye on its back. Raimundo succeeds, momentarily blinding the large creature.

For Alucard, there's nothing but more desperate and angry screaming the entire time.

DEATH BRINGERS! DEATH BRINGERS WHOSE TOUCH DESTROYS AND DESTROYS AND RUINS, DON'T COME DON'T BRING DON'T COME, YOU RUIN BUT TOUCH NOT MINE, NOT MINE! I'LL KILL YOU!

Now blinded, it trashes about violently, whirling about to slam whoever is too close. At the moment, that includes mostly Colin and Raimundo if they're not quick on their feet.

"And that doesn't look like its calming down." Tris notices its starting to thrash. Twisting a bit of wind, she directs her voice to Paar's head.

"Do you think it might calm a little if something much bigger flew by? I wouldn't mind a bit of a closer look at it."

This isn't good at all. Everything is going just like how it went in her vision. She even warned Colin, and he still didn't listen.

Nanaki keeps glancing skyward, like she's expecting something to come dropping in soon. If everything goes like it did in her vision, then it won't be long now.

"Fighting it isn't going to work," she yells out to everyone else, trying to get them to chill and pull back, "It's too strong, even for all of you combined! You need to find some other way to stop it besides fighting!"

Nanaki isn't a fighter. She has no backup plans. But if things keep going down this path, people are going to start dying. If only she weren't cursed to be unable to tell the truth about her visions! If people would believe her, then maybe she could at least be honest about it. But as it stands, she has to push everyone into a different course of action without telling them why.

"Enraged as it is, I am unsure if much would calm or threaten it now." Despite his words, Paarthurnax is already adjusting his flight course. He doesn't want to get too close, not with Tris on his back and vulnerable to some degree, but he'll get as close as he can manage. "What do you think you will learn?"

The combat group will feel a sudden powerful wind as Paar passes, wings folded as he makes a quick dive by to get a better look at the panicked creature- but not close enough to get involved just yet. If they need his voice or if any look as though they are in danger, he will intervene. Just not yet.

Colin's eyes narrow, and he ducks back from the attempt to grab him. With his life, he's used to people trying to grab and throttle him, most of the time from much larger species than he is. Avoiding that is second nature to him, a side benefit to being as abrasive as he is.

Control of the situation has already been lost, though. It did a good job of shattering their lines before they could even set up. As the field stood, they were going to thrash impotently against an opponent that was vastly superior to any single one of them.

Nanaki was right, this scenario needed to change drastically. Plan A was officially a wash, and Plan B's formation had yet to even be established. It was time to wing it until they could get something resembling a plan back in position.

"Can't say we didn't try!" He yells as he retreats from the Gasfella's personal space rapidly. "ANYONE WITH FIRE! Try to surround it with flames! Keep it from advancing out of there! We need to regroup! Raimundo! Dragon of the wind, right? I hope that's not just a title! Get out of there, and fan the fire with your wind! EVERYONE, DO NOT APPROACH IT!"

As he speaks through his amplifier, he's pulling his incendiary grenade off his bandolier, and rolling it closer to the Gasfella. In just a few seconds that grenade will erupt into a mountain of chemical flame just short of the Gasfella.

Ryu takes in the situation quickly enough. He's out of range from the Gasfella quickly enough, and sets his initial moves towards supporting the others. The magic takes a moment to charge, but it isn't very long before Ryu has one of his support spells prepared.

To anyone watching him, the spell appears between his hands as a pulsing ball of blue energy, which disappears with a loud crackling noise when he brings his hands apart and into a specific series of motions, likely part of an incantation. "Shield!" He calls out, willing the spell to protect the others. It likely won't reach anyone up in the air, but those on the ground may notice a dim green aura around themselves.

"That should keep you from getting too hurt, but don't get cocky about it!"

There's no need to tell Zuko twice. With a swing and thrust of her swords, a line of fire springs from the blades to pass between anyone ahead of her and billow up surrounding the Gasfella. Her footwork brings her in closer, but still not too close, and her subsequent fire blasts are aimed at throwing off those ax swings. She'll leave coming up with a non-violent solution to someone who still believes that might happen.

Tris unravels part of one of the braids she keeps her hair in, finger combing the freed hair and gathering up the lightning as she watches what the swords and fire are up to. She twirls it a little, which might seem a bit odd, but the lightning loops in her hands and she casts it out, tugging her end a little this way and that.

It lands around the Gasfella, because they don't want it to run anyway just about as much as they don't want it to rush them. This isn't her quick lightnings, but the heavy stuff that strikes during storms. Its far enough that the ax won't touch the ring of lightning unless the Gasfella moves, and unless the sword-and-fire user gets closer, that blade won't touch the lightning either.

"We could try to find a nice sized rock now, if you want."

[Ippo had been doing his best to stay as physically close to the Gasfella as possible, succeeding in getting right underneath it with deft bobs and weaves around each attempted strike before he managed to circle it. When Raimundo managed to blind it, Ippo saw his opportunity to lash out a few heavy jabs, most aimed as well at the injured shoulder; if it was going to present a weakness, he might as well take advantage of it, right? Unfortunately, Colin ordered them to back up, and not wanting to get stuck in a fire, Ippo back peddled away from the Gasfella, dodging any parting shots it might have been throwing his way until he was shoulder to shoulder with Ryu.]

Damn...I can get close, but it's not going down...let's hope this idea works, or we're really going to have to go all-out!

Ippo's hits only seem to piss the enormous Gasfella off, earning more of its focus. When the grenade, firebending, and lightning all mix, there's a flash and the feel of scorched cloth in the air... and something that smells like sewage. The ring of fire and lightning seems to be doing its job for the moment and the Gasfella goes still as its eyes narrow at its predicament. It's the lightning that's new and causes it to hesitate.

That only lasts for a brief moment. In a heartbeat, it seems to rear back and charge through the flames and lightning both, body catching easily. The electricity makes it jerk and shake- that's really the only thing that keeps it from charging right into the group. It's slower now, but that doesn't mean it's given up by any means. It's already raising its ax again with jerky sharp movements, wanting to bring it down on Zuko or anyone else who gets too close.

[Well this all went to hell in a hand basket pretty quickly. Raimundo had succeeded in what he wanted to do but that didn't much help. He quickly ran away from the monster and dove to avoid the axe at the last moment. He heard the command but wasn't able to build up the wind to fan the flames and lightning.

The damn things charged and was going for the girl with the scar. Well it was now or never, right?]

Wind!

[Rai cried out. He ran toward the monster's side. The giant axe was the problem. Maybe if they could get rid of it. He used a burst of air to fly and tried to spin kick the Gasfella's wrist, hoping to make it drop its weapon.]

[Colin sighs in annoyance as the Gasfella charges through the barriers. At least it didn't get through unscathed. Raimundo hadn't had the chance to raise the flames higher just yet, but that didn't mean it still couldn't be of use. The flames were still THERE... Just not in a prime spot at the moment.]

[No, they needed to change clip quickly. Far too much wasn't adding up.]

Zuko! Raimundo! Take charge of the fight! Everyone, listen to our front-line combatants!

Paarthurnax! It makes no sense for it to be here if it's wounded! We're missing something! What do you see??

[And with that, Colin's hastening over to Nanaki's side.]

All right, prophet-girl. Lay it on me, if we're doing something WRONG, what else do we need to be doing RIGHT?

[He's drawing his pistol in the meantime, his other hand going to his grenades. He isn't going to throw the heavy stuff yet, but that Gasfella is definitely earning his ire.]

This thing has got some nerve. Zuko's eyes widen in surprise as the Gasfella actually charges through the flames, but she doesn't freeze. No way does she want to go head-to-head with that ax, so she rolls to the side as it starts to swing down.

She attacks again as she's getting back on her feet, though the flame slashes are aimed enough at the creature's body that the airbender shouldn't find himself in their path.

At Colin's shout, she spares a glance for the others. Take charge, huh? That'd be easier if she knew the others' strengths. "If fire isn't slowing it, then what else've we got? Ryu, your ice?"

Edited 2014-03-06 00:05 (UTC)

[Paarthurnax is still raised high above the whole mess, looking for that "nice sized rock" Tris has asked for. At Colin's question, he scans the rest of the area and that beyond their battleground. Something catches his attention immediately and his deep voice carries down to the earth.]

Far past it are rocks, many of them. There are walls- they seem as though they were once tunnels.

[It's just his guess- he'd have to go past and get a closer look. That's not something he's willing to do just yet with everything as it is.]

Damn! We have to stop it somehow...I guess we don't have much a choice now...!

[Alright...that didn't work, it was time to take the gloves off and put the hurt on; not waiting for anything else to happen, Ippo rushed forward, weaving his body around as he stepped forward. The Gasfella's movements had hitched, but it still had all the forward momentum being thrust into a downwards swing...a prime opportunity if Ippo had ever seen one.

He whipped his to the right, building up tension in his body and funneling it all upwards as he slid into range; his body snapping up hard as he attempted to ram his right fist into the Gasfella's exposed gut as hard as he could, definitely hard enough to fire off his gauntlet's lasers. If the Gasfella had a solid body beneath it's cloak, it was definitely about to have a bad day if his punch connected./small>]

Edited 2014-03-06 01:01 (UTC)

[Kitten has scooted off to the side so no one is in her line of fire, but she stays very far away from their opponent. Her magic is strong enough, but Kitten isn't a match for a human in physical strength, let alone whatever this is. When she sees a clear shot, she takes it, screeching a generic destruction spell, the kind that might crumble a bridge. It is less specialized then the spells meant for bone or rock, requiring more power and leaving her with a lot less finesse.

She's seen the power of the others in their group, and Kitten doesn't expect her attack to be the deciding one. She does want to hurt the Gasfella badly enough to make it listen for a second. Kitten yells at top volume into its mind.]

What are you protecting!?

[Kitten really hopes she hasn't just drawn its aggressive attention. She's not sure how vulnerable that ax will be to her power if it's swung in her direction...

Invisibility might be a better plan if it comes to that.]

"If you want ice, then make sure you keep as far away from it as you can!" He calls, bracing himself for the transformation. There's a shimmering aura that begins flowing around his body. It takes a moment to picture the form he wants. Something with ice, and something big. Something to distract the Gasfella from trying to crush anything smaller with that pick axe. The transformation takes hold as a bolt of lightning shoots down from the sky, erecting a dome of energy around Ryu. Any attempts to push in the dome will meet with resistance, but it doesn't stay up very long.

It shatters away like glass, revealing a Behemoth dragon before the gasfella. The dragon's appearance is closest akin to an Ankylodon with two pairs of massive curved spikes protruding straight upwards from his back. Interestingly, the dragon's outer scales that covered his face and back were a dark blue, while the underbelly of the beast was a more leathery light brown in terms of color and texture.

In terms of sheer size, the beast could easily rival the gasfella, and that was Ryu's plan. Give it a big enough target to focus on, keep the others safe. But he had one other trick up his sleeve. As soon as the transformation is finished, he rears his body back and unleashes a mighty gust of ice and wind from deep within his body. If fire wouldn't slow down the Gasfella, then maybe ice would. It wouldn't be enough to completely freeze the creature, but definitely enough to hopefully hold it back.

Edited 2014-03-06 03:51 (UTC)

"Prophet-girl?!"

No, wait. There's no time to argue about that right now. Right now she needs to phrase her visions in a way that sound like simple battle advice, with no possible connection to future-sight.

"Um, the axe. If you can knock it out of that thing's hand, it should be easier to fight."

That sounds simple enough, right?

[It was at about this time that Alucard decided that throwing in some of his own spells would be useful. More fire seemed a bit redundant at this point, which left but two options. Summoning spirits might be of use, but perhaps it would be best to use something else...

He stops for a moment and briefly glows red, uttering only two words:]

SOUL STEAL!

Edited 2014-03-06 04:10 (UTC)

A wild GASFELLA appears!

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