I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains! [Open]

[manasponge]

Who: Marcille and OTA
What: Marcille and Chara decide to explore the mountains, find lizardchickens.
When: 8/16 and beyond
Where: Enso F4, the mountains near the beach
Warnings: N/A

The long walk (for Chara)

[ Marcille climbed ever higher, relying on her staff at times to give her that extra boost up. At length, she stopped for a brief swig of water. She shaded her eyes and looked back down at the terrain down below, past the rockiness of the cliff. ]

I liked going down steep paths a lot better.

Combing the area

[ Though little signs of life were about for those who were on the lookout for them, Marcille was more focused on finding landmarks and food than the local wildlife. It therefore came as a complete surprise when a swooping, crow-sized, lizard-tailed creature stole her comb right out of her hand. ]

Why, you...! Give that back!

[ More cries like the one from the pterax that had taken her comb could now be heard in the distance. Goddammit. ]

I need that, you scaly pigeon!

Counting chickens

[ Of course, after the initial ordeal was over, Marcille ended up with a few trussed 'birds' and a number of eggs carefully stowed in her pack for the trip back. ]

Ha! If I had some extra rice, I could make some oyakodon. Oh, well! Let's see... roast bird? Hard-boiled eggs? Both at the same time?

[ She was practically drooling at the thought. Shellfish were well and good, but sometimes you just needed some solid fat and protein in your diet. ]

Maybe I should save the eggs for Muffet and see if they'll do for baking...

Cultivating your strengths

[ Over the past weeks, Marcille had stumbled upon some strange seeds -- and a few root vegetables in foraging. She couldn't do much with the carrots but eat them outright, but potatoes, now -- those she could handle! With her knife, she busily began cutting into a potato that had begun to sprout, separating out the eyes to plant later.

It was honest work, and her recent experiences had made this sort of work easier. Maybe her garden would even rival Senshi's... one day. ]

Let's see, where should I put these...?

Comments

Combing

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet's looking quietly through the woods again, finding frustratingly little, when she hears a familiar voice shouting in frustration. She follows the noise, and finds a rather frustrated mage.]

Marcille? Is there something I can help with?

[manasponge]

That flying lizard just stole my hair comb!

[ Marcille pointed to where the pterax had landed on a high ledge, turning the comb over with its beaklike snout. It seemed to be trying to figure out if it could be eaten. She didn't even bother asking what Muffet was doing in the area -- these were HIGH STAKES. ]

Why, that little thief!

[prettypurpleparlor]

I see, what a rude little creature.

[Muffet eyes the pterax carefully, judging the distance.]

I believe I can hold it in place, if you're willing to handle hitting it. Ready?

[manasponge]

[ Marcille readied her staff. ]

Oh, I'm ready, all right! There's just no excuse for this kind of thing. It doesn't even have any hair!

[prettypurpleparlor]

And... now.

[A thin line of purple line appears out of nowhere, one end wrapped around the struggling pterax, the other gripped in Muffet's hand.]

[manasponge]

[ The pterax suddenly took flight, but found itself snagged nonetheless by Muffet. In shock, it locked up its wings, sending it into a dive. Marcille struck it hard, aiming for the head but ending up striking its entire body from above and sort of spiking it into the ground, since it wasn't as big as your average dungeon monster.

It rolled onto the ground, out for the count. ]

Aha! Serves you right! Thanks, Muffet.

[ Of course, Marcille was so wrapped up in collecting her precious polished comb that she didn't pick up the fact that the calls higher up on the mountain, once distant, now sounded closer... ]

counting chickens

[souris_keteer]

[Cheerfully calling out-]

Hiya, Marcille! Sounds like you got a pretty good haul!

[manasponge]

[ She beamed at him. ]

Yes, after a lot of trouble. How are you doing, Mickey? Did you get the hang of that fire spell yet?

[souris_keteer]

I think I'm gettin' there... I'm practicin' every day!

Need any help carryin' that stuff? If it was a lot of trouble, I bet you might be pretty worn down.

[manasponge]

Sure!

[ She handed him several of the pteraxes. Each was about the size of a crow. ]

Say, have you ever cooked something like this? What do you think would be the best way to prepare it?

[souris_keteer]

[Shuffling them in this arms-]

Aw, I'm not the one to ask. I don't know anythin' about cookin'. Growin' up, we just ate whatever we could find.

[... depressing backstory peeks around the corner]

[manasponge]

You grew up poor, huh? Well, then this must be a pretty good opportunity. It looks like there's plenty of stuff to forage.

[ Whew, having some help was good. ]

Let's get back to my campsite and we can roast 'em over a fire!

That Good Ol' Long Walk

[achievementhunter]

[They'd been looking for some time alone; not getting caught up in someone else's endeavors-
yet when it came time for an excuse, what other answer could they give besides 'exploring'?

With her answer being the same, here they are. It's better than just standing around and talking, at least.]

I read once that going downhill actually exerts more energy than heading upwards.

[Sure doesn't feel like it, mind.]

[manasponge]

[ Marcille swiped at her brow, and made a face. The sweat was getting into her eyes, goddammit. ]

Well, I'm sure either way would be a struggle with this sun. Maybe it'd have been better to do this earlier in the morning, before it really started beating down.

[achievementhunter]

Perhaps.

[It would have been hot anyway. They've spent every night, waiting for the heat to leave- this place barely cools down. Ever.]

No point in complaining about it now. The sooner we scale the mountain, the sooner we can turn back.

[manasponge]

[ Marcille was still grumbling to herself, point or not, as she hefted her pack and went on. ]

What's up with this place, anyway? Did everyone here die out?

[achievementhunter]

Who knows? The only one who must certainly isn't talking.

[That's gods for you. Chara smiles thinly, cheeks a more fervent red than usual. They can feel hair sticking to the nap of their neck.]

All of the buildings certainly seemed aged though. I take it we're the first sentient beings to occupy this island in some time.

[manasponge]

[ Marcille sent a little trickle of sandy rock down the cliff face, loosened by her footfall. ]

What I want to know is what really happened to them...

counting chickens

[ohshitsweetflips]

Taako isn't really thrilled with these mountains, so far. Majestic? Maybe, but you can't eat majesty. So he's pretty psyched to run up on, who would have guessed, some kind of elf. Muttering about baking. Not that he's ruling out pushing her off a cliff if she's competition, long live the king, but still, cool find. So he'll breeze into step with her without so much as a 'hail and well met,' pleased at the prospect of maybe not having wasted part of his day. "Oh shit dude, what'd you get?"

[manasponge]

Huh? Who are you?

[ While she wasn't certainly wasn't going to try and stop him if he wanted to haul his butt up the mountain, Marcille was suspicious of anyone being overly familiar -- especially someone she'd never met.. ]

[ohshitsweetflips]

"So it's like that, huh." If he is fazed by the rebuff, well, there's no point in speculating, he just isn't. The only disappointment he feels is that he isn't known by name on this island already, which is a grave oversight but correctable. "My name is Taako. Didn't know there were any other elves on this island, besides me and my sister. Look us up, maybe we can set you up a discount." They probably won't.

[manasponge]

And I'm Marcille. A discount on what, exactly?

[ While she hadn't run into this fellow or his sister before, he didn't particularly strike Marcille as a reputable purveyor of fine merchandise. Maybe a used armor dealer, though. ]

[ohshitsweetflips]

"You know, food, soap, housewares. I've got some ideas about nets." He can pick up on her skepticism, but that's not even a thing. "We're just trying to make this place a little less, hmm." He seems to think for a second, taps his lips, "Completely terrible. It's a lot of work, but somebody has to do it, and I don't see any other wizards stepping up to the plate." Not a burn, she's obviously been busy. "But we're still getting off the ground, in terms of materials. 'S why I asked if you found anything good." He grins brightly, to show he is a friendly and trustworthy wizard and this isn't a preamble to a mugging.

Combing the area

[thekingsglaive]

[The cries had drawn Nyx all but running, skidding to a halt a few feet behind where Marcille was standing.]

Everything okay?

[Though now that he stopped to look around everything seemed perfectly normal... This island was making him jumpy.]

[manasponge]

Oh, just a thieving, low-down dirty carrion bird!

[ Marcille rolled up her sleeves as the pterax alighted on a scraggly high tree branch to peck at its prize. ]

Sorry if I startled you. But I've got to get my comb back.