Difference between revisions of "411/Save The Dragons!"
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OrbisFactor (Talk | contribs) (Hired to steal dragon eggs for a client, Gaffgarion thinks he only has Momma Dragon to deal with. He's wrong... to the tune of one pegasus knight by the name of Sumia!) |
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+ | ''<'''!-Scene-Hooks'''>'' Goffard Gaffgarion | An alert goes out from the Rookery. Seems there's someone attacking the nesting dragons. Perhaps stereotypically, the person is armored like a knight. | ||
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|Poses=:'''{{#var:493|Gaffgarion (493)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> That alert wasn't lying, either. Not too far from the warpgate (though not the Union one), one hears the shriek of a dragon. it's an angry shriek too. And pained. There's a reason for anger and pain, too. Nearby, a battle is unfolding. A nest high up in a group of rocky crags is being protected by a large, majestic, golden dragon. What's she protecting it from?<br /><br /> He's easy to spot. In brown plate armor, wielding a matching shield and a blood-red sword is a knight. He is the experienced type too, visible because the dragon sports cuts and gashes in her muzzle where she's attempted to bite him. As for the knight? His shield is smoking.<br /><br /> He's aiming for the dragon's head as she brings her head down and attempts to bite at him again. The knight blocks the teeth with the shield and tries to stab over his shield down at the dragon. Clearly he's not going for disable. He's going for killing blows.<br> <br> | |Poses=:'''{{#var:493|Gaffgarion (493)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> That alert wasn't lying, either. Not too far from the warpgate (though not the Union one), one hears the shriek of a dragon. it's an angry shriek too. And pained. There's a reason for anger and pain, too. Nearby, a battle is unfolding. A nest high up in a group of rocky crags is being protected by a large, majestic, golden dragon. What's she protecting it from?<br /><br /> He's easy to spot. In brown plate armor, wielding a matching shield and a blood-red sword is a knight. He is the experienced type too, visible because the dragon sports cuts and gashes in her muzzle where she's attempted to bite him. As for the knight? His shield is smoking.<br /><br /> He's aiming for the dragon's head as she brings her head down and attempts to bite at him again. The knight blocks the teeth with the shield and tries to stab over his shield down at the dragon. Clearly he's not going for disable. He's going for killing blows.<br> <br> |
Latest revision as of 11:32, 14 August 2014
Save The Dragons! | |
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Date of Scene: | 14 August 2014 |
Location: | TARGET: The Rookery (TR) |
Synopsis: | Hired to steal dragon eggs for a client, Gaffgarion thinks he only has Momma Dragon to deal with. He's wrong... to the tune of one pegasus knight by the name of Sumia! |
Cast of Characters: | 493, 544 |
<!-Scene-Hooks> Goffard Gaffgarion | An alert goes out from the Rookery. Seems there's someone attacking the nesting dragons. Perhaps stereotypically, the person is armored like a knight.
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
That alert wasn't lying, either. Not too far from the warpgate (though not the Union one), one hears the shriek of a dragon. it's an angry shriek too. And pained. There's a reason for anger and pain, too. Nearby, a battle is unfolding. A nest high up in a group of rocky crags is being protected by a large, majestic, golden dragon. What's she protecting it from?
He's easy to spot. In brown plate armor, wielding a matching shield and a blood-red sword is a knight. He is the experienced type too, visible because the dragon sports cuts and gashes in her muzzle where she's attempted to bite him. As for the knight? His shield is smoking.
He's aiming for the dragon's head as she brings her head down and attempts to bite at him again. The knight blocks the teeth with the shield and tries to stab over his shield down at the dragon. Clearly he's not going for disable. He's going for killing blows.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
The alert reaches Sumia and out she comes from the Union side gate, the wing beats of her pegasus heavy in the air. Lance at the ready, Sumia and her mount race along the sky, looking for the signs of what made the alert. Little did she know what she was going to see. In her other hand is a flower, all the petals upon it discarded and a confident look upon the woman's face.
The sight of the dragon and knight fighting sends the woman's eyes wide, setting lance upon her mount's holder, grasping at a javelin. "He... hey! This is unacceptable! Please desist!" she shouts out towards the knight, circling the air a bit before lobbing the javelin down towards the knight, not aiming to hit, a warning throw to be precise.
Flying lower, she picks up lance again, landing down on the ground, giving stare at the knight and the wounded mother dragon. "Don't worry... I'm here to help." she mentions towards the dragon, her pegasus getting into a charging stance, a hoof scraping at the ground as she snorts in anger.
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
The knight is locked in his fierce struggle against the dragon. The knight scores a hit and the dragon reels, as though stunned. It's the perfect time for the knight to strike the final blow! He sweeps in to do just that...
But then suddenly something flies in his peripheral vision! Not questioning the instinct to do so, he leaps back. And not a moment too soon, a javelin buries itself in the ground! As intended, it would have missed him if he hadn't moved back, but that wasn't a chance he was prepared to take.
The dragon shrieks loudly at the knight, and at first draws back from the woman and her pegasus. Angered and injured, the dragon is not going to be easy to talk out of its protective mommyrage at this precise moment. However, the knight is all too willing to talk.
"Pardon, milady," he begins. His voice is calm, actually. "But you are intruding upon a legitimate business venture. I assure ye, this is not mere random murder of dragonkin. I ask that you leave me to my work."
- Sumia (544) has posed:
Sumia's finger leaves the edge of her ear, giving a light nod. "I'm afraid that I cannot allow this venture to continue, sir knight. Please, leave the dragonkin in peace and try your hunt somewhere else." she responds in kind, "It would do us well to leave the injured in peace to recover." she gives a light smile towards the dragon before turning towards Gaffgarion.
"Will you honor this request?" she asks in a concerned voice, "I do not wish this to come to blows, there should be another place you can acquire your venture, yes?" the pegasus moves forward a bit, letting out another annoyed snort.
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
Gaffgarion pauses, turning his sword to rest the point upon the ground. His shield arm raises, letting the shield slide a little further down his arm, so that he can rub at his chin as if in thought. "Let me see if I understand you correctly. You wish that I leave a guaranteed site of that which I seek, and risk not completing my task? "
He tilts his head as he looks to her. "Would you be willing to supply me three dragon eggs, then?" Coincidentally there are exactly three eggs in the nest. "Or reimburse me for the gil I would lose in payment from my client?" Here he picks his sword up again. "If not, I fear I must refuse."
Gaffgarion tilts his head up, looking the woman over. "But. I am a pragmatic man. I do not wish to fight you /and/ the dragon. Therefore, I give you a second chance to leave me in peace. If not..." He pauses, spins his sword in his hand once. "I doubt threats of consequences are needed."
- Sumia (544) has posed:
"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to leave with the eggs. Nor do I have the payment you request." Sumia gives a nod a bit, listening to something come in to her ear mounted radio. "The land you are on belongs to the Union's kingdom. You are effectively a brigand right now and I cannot allow you to bargain your way to a victory."
Sumia hefts her lance a bit, "I give you just one chance to leave without anything, there are other places that do not belong to the Union's kingdom for you to do your venture, sir knight. Please, for the honor of your status, I bid you to leave without incident."
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
"I do not belong to either of these factions," Gaffgarion replies. The mention of his status gets a snort. "I do not suffer the self-entited to deem themselves fit to decry my 'status'. My 'status' suffers only when I do not complete a task. I am Goffard Gaffgarion. I am a professional sellsword, milady." Here he shrugs. And then takes a step to the side, to be out of the pegasus's direct line of attack.
"But if you will neither let me take the eggs nor offer recompense in exchange for my standing down, then there seems to be only one course of action." He's too far away from her to get to her. With her lighter build, she could move out of the way of a fully-armored knight before he could close the distance. Instead?
He points his blood-red sword up in the air. The blade begins to glow, and he growls, his voice taking on an almost dual-toned quality, "Master of all swords, cut energy!" Then he points the sword in Sumia's direction.
The area seems to darken a little, as a shape like an eye appears in the sky... right over Sumia. Growling sounds echo from the ground below. The eye opens, and bright, scarlet-red energies fall from the eye... and then with a snapping sound, the energy forms into a blade shape, stabbing into the eye above and disappearing.
If the blade pierces Sumia, no damage will be done. At least, not physically. But if it makes contact, she will feel a portion of her energy siphoned away, as if something had 'gulped' of her spirit.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
"I understand then." she replies, stroking the head of her pegasus with a nod, "Then, I believe this would be inevitable." Sumia makes a small kick and the pegasus kicks up into the air, "I am Sumia, Pegasus Knight of the Knight Sisters of Ylisse. I shall remember your name for my report!"
The sword is taken into account, he's not going after her but the chanting? A spell? Sumia eyes it warily as she gives another kick, the pegasus making a few heavy wingbeats before propelling beast and rider at knight.
Sumia's eyes look up, an eye... over her! "Evade this magic!" she tugs upon the reigns as the 'blade' stabs the eye, snagging Sumia in the arm with the etherial weapon. Sumia groans out in a bit of pain before redirecting the reigns to send the pegasus towards the Knight, running right through to give a couple stabs with the pointy end of her lance!
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
That was exactly what Gaffgarion thought was going to happen if he tried to rush the woman. She is after all mounted, and he on foot. So it's not too surprising when she evades the upwards-stabbing energy blade. It's also not too terribly surprising when she comes barreling at him with all the power of her mount behind the strike. And damn does it hurt!
He blocks what he can, but only manages to deflect the point of the lance into his thigh. Which is bad for him, because plate tends not to stand up to piercing attacks very well. And with the power of the charging pegasus behind it, the point penetrates deeply into the armor, and the flesh beyond. "Argh--!" A cry of pain, trailing into a growl, as he staggers back. His leg fails him as he puts weight on it, however, and he falls to a knee with a grunt.
Oh, but he's not out this early. He hisses, supporting himself on the sword as he gets to his feet again. "So. This is to be the way of it, then? Very well." He frees his shield hand as he did before, and whistles sharply. And in a moment, a black chocobo barrels into view, stopping near Gaffgarion and making a loud, sharp "KWEH!" It seems to glare at Sumia and her pegasus. But it sits still as Gaffgarion mounts, even dipping its body down some to make the task easier.
"'Tis mounted combat you wish? Then have at ye!" And he proceeds to charge at Sumia, and take a swing at her.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
Sumia pulls the lance free from the peirced armor and makes her way around to make another charge. "Ah, a sellsword who knows the way of mounted... why are you on a giant chicken?" she questions only to shake her head and smile. "Perhaps it may be best for you to stop now, as one mounted knight to another..." Sumia watches the charging bird and knight, nodding some. "Skyward!"
A simple kick and up the two go into the air to make way out of the charging black bird and brown knight. "I don't believe you are capable of flight, sir knight." Sumia takes off a few hundred feet away, landing softly as she readies her lance for another charge. "I wish this didn't have to go this way, Sir, but I do not think it right for you to poach our lands."
Sumia starts charging in again, taking flight mid way only to make a diving lance charge this time while her pegasus attempts to make a mid air stomp upon the black bird's body, though the stomp seems to be more of a 'knock away' than a 'injuring blow' to the chocobo. "I don't wish to injure you more than it will take to have you routed!"
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
The lance comes down, but instead of spearing him as it mihgt have been intended to-- that would probably mean his death-- it gouges along the seam of his armor at his upper arm, drawing blood. But the hoof stomp draws a squawk of indignation from the bird that does not sound too terribly unlike a chicken's pained 'BWAWK!', and it staggers back. Gaffgarion is forced to hold on or fall off.
He gives a grimace that could be either pained or angry. Hard to tell. "Ah, but now you have insulted my dear Melody." He punctuates the statement with a pat of his shield hand to the bird's neck. Apparently that is the bird's name. Suddenly the knight gives a sharp whistle through his teeth, and the bird gives a spirited "Kweh!" And...
Takes off into the air, seemingly without a lot of difficulty. He gives a smug smirk. "What was this about not being able to fly?" He doesn't give her the chance to answer, he's charging again, this time from the air. Should that sword cut into her, she may feel the same sensation as the strange energy blade, but on a smaller level.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
"Insult was not intended, my apologies!" Sumia's lance is pulled out and the tip stained red and seeing the giant black chicken take flight gives Sumia a curious expression on her face. "At least I now know I am not the only one who is capable of fighting atop a mount."
Sumia gets ready to take to the air once more, to give this fight in her domain, though, as pegasus takes air, left arm meets sword and that draining feeling comes to her ten fold as it cuts into the steel armguard above her elbow. She lets out a loud pained sound, stifling it before it goes on too long, her pegasus entering stable flight into the air.
One thing is for certain, she has to keep away from him, hit and run or... she holsters the lance and pulls out another javelin from her pegasus' quiver. "Alright, let's get into a good flight and aim.." the pegasus gives a snort of understanding before taking off once more, heading around the bird and brigand, letting loose the javelin towards them both, a loud 'hyah!' sound is made with the throw and a kick to get more distance between the two.
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
Gaffgarion is also aware of the success of the hit. Mainly because he feels the pain of the previous strikes begin to ease. It doesn't actually heal the injuries themselves, though... just makes it easier for him to concentrate on the fight without having to deal with the pain so much. So he's still very much bleeding. But it doesn't seem to be bothering him as much for some reason.
It's this newfound energy that lets him tap the bird's side with his heel and whistle, in time for the chocobo to react with a sharp bank to the right and down. The javelin scratches the bird's side, taking feathers with it, and producing a squawk from the chocobo.
Another whistle, this one of a different pitch than the other, and Melody turns again, aiming herself upward and climbing. He's trying to get on Sumia's six! He will lose the position shortly, whether he manages to attain it or not, because he makes another strafing run at her, again slicing with his sword.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
Sumia shakes her head, Javelins wern't her favored weapon of choice and she didn't get much practice with them. Sumia gives another kick and sends her pegasus flying away, looking around as the black bird and knight. She turns to the right and catches that sword again into her arm, her lance arm this time! Another kick and she puts distance between the two, clutching her arm. "Nngh, where did my vulneary go..." she mutters, patting her armor and a pack.. "I forgot them..."
Sumia shakes her head and bites her lip, readying her lance. "I do not believe that asking you stand down is on the table here..." she leans in, whispering to her pegasus, the winged horse flying upwards and circling around.
"Alright, now!" she makes a dive, the wings upon her pegasus tight against its body as she moves to impale the knight with her lance, using the force of gravity and speed to puncture that armor. If she hits that is.
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
"It is indeed not, milady!" Gaffgarion calls across the space that separates them. Is that a grin on his face?! He definitely looks like he's enjoying this. Even the black eyes of the chocobo seem to twinkle in glee. Or that could be a trick of the light. It's hard to tell from this angle.
The dive is fast, faster than Gaffgarion was expecting. It's only sheer instinct and training that keeps him from being impaled right off the back of that chocobo! He emits a short whistle and the bird just folds her wings next to her body and drops. It's only a short distance, and the chocobo angles herself first into a dive to get momentum, and then into an upward climb.
The knight's enjoyment of this is confirmed when he adds, "Now I am rather glad you chose not to stand down. 'Tis been a great while since I have felt so invigorated by a battle!" Yeah, this one's a little bloodthirsty, from the sounds of it. But instead of charging her again, he directs the chocobo to get some distance. The reason becomes clear when he clenches his shield arm into a fist before him. Magic gathers in it, and he speaks words that are lost to the wind. Then he straightens his arm, opens his hand, and aims his palm at her.
It's not so much a fireball comes out of his hand... but more that fire merely erupts in her current position! She's moving fast, so the may avoid it. Especially if she can feel the heat rising in the space in time to dodge.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
Sumia's lance sparks from the clash as she speeds past the knight in brown armor. "I do not intend for an invigorated battle!" Sumia pasues a bit, "I think of it... as training! YOu are no different than the Plegian's who wish to do war with us as such... I will not give quarter!"
Sumia's pegasus snorts loudly, following up into a rise with the black chocobo, Sumia's lance ready once more, however something's off... he's not coming after her and his hand is glowing red. "What... is he .. it's heating up ov... MOVE!" a kick and yell and off the pegasus goes, a tad bit late as the blast of fire erupts near her, scorching her and her mount, a her armor smoking with the magic and a medium sized chunk of fur singed off her mount's body.
Sumia frowns at this, her gaze going cold at the knight, "You sir... injured my mount. I cannot forgive this! Hyah!" wings flare out and let loose a heavy flap that sends the pair barreling towards the knight and chocobo at high speed once more, aiming at the shield. "First you use magic without a tome and then you have the gall to hurt my pegasus."
She kicks again and sends her mount into a faster speed, wings flapping hard before coasting towards her destination, rearing back with her spear before thrusting it fore, hoping to use the momentum in this.
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
Gaffgarion's interest is perked by mention of these 'Plegians'. "Oh? Perhaps I will seek them out later," he notes. That is very definitely a teasing tone to his voice, and a snug smirk on his face. He's baiting her now. And he's not being very subtle about it.
And then Sumia is charging him on her pegasus again. He can't possibly hope to move in time, and moves the shield in for the block. The lance reaches its destination, Gaffgarion is certain it is going to strike the shield and glance off...
It doesn't.
His smug expression turns to one of shock and pain as the lance pierces the shield, effectively pinning it to his torso. He emits a loud cry of pain, biting the sound off ruthlessly, and Melody warks in concern. Seems baiting pegasus-mounted knights has its downside.
Oh, but speaking of baiting Sumia? She seems upset about her mount being injured. Perhaps if he can get her to rage, to froth in anger, she will grow careless. So he wrenches his arm out from behind the pinned shield so he can use it again. Hey, jousters have those things on their pauldrons, this can act as one until he can get the lance out. He turns, and with a sharp whistle-- ow, stop breathing so deeply Goffard, it hurts-- and charges at her in the air, channeling his pain into a roar of anger. Hopefully he can score another it with that sword. Its draining effects would help ease the pain.
That also means that there is a knight with his own shield pinned to his chest by a lance that's still embedded in his torso, flying at her at full speed on the back of what looks like a giant chicken, and both of them with eyes gleaming death at her...
- Sumia (544) has posed:
You don't hurt a pegasus knight's mount without some reprocussion. Which is exactly what just happened. Sumia's face is in a scowl, aaaand without her lance. She looks at the knight and. So that's where she left her lance... inside her enemy.
Bother...
Sumia pulls out one more of her javelins and looks to be ready to throw it... until the knight gets in close and blade hits chestplate, the sparks from the blade cutting into the armor and biting into her side get thrown out. However, the closeness gives her one idea.
She twirls herself around on her mount, trying to embed the javelin into the shield and hopefully Gaffgarion, while using her other arm to rip out her lance! "I will take your suggestion to heart then!"
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
Well, that didn't go as planned. But it's still a little bit of energy, and every little bit helps. Thankfully as the two pass each other in the air, the javelin can't find purchase on his armor. However, that yanking out of the lance bloody hurts! And 'bloody' is an appropriate way to describe it too. When yanked out, the lance no longer stems the flow of blood. With predictable effect. And the choked 'hrrk!' that results from the pulling of the lance is proof enough of how painful that was.
Pulling out the lance does, however, free his shield, which he takes a moment to grab. It's perforated, but it's still a shield! And if he turns it, he might be able to use the hole already made in it to trap her lance a second time. Hopefully not with his chest next time... ow, Faram that hurts!
He needs to get to restoring that energy, and restoring it fast. Bleeding out is not a good position to be in during battle. Since the simple sword strike didn't work, he calls again on that strange sword-magic, and the eye appears. This time Sumia's moving, so there's a very, VERY good chance she's fast enough to avoid it. It's a gamble, but he's trying anyway.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
Reacquiring her lance was just step one in a not so masterfully planned attempt at routing the enemy. Low on javelins, her lance a literal bloody mess and her pegasus and herself feeling the drain on this battle, what else could go wrong with it.. She turns around and...
That's what can go wrong.
The spectral blade was set up right in front of her and with no time to react, it crashes into her and sends her flying from her mount, the spectral blade peircing both mount and rider, leaving both heavily drained as she goes plummeting towards the ground.
Falling rapidly, it's only stopped with a loud THUD... and a very odd feeling of still moving yet not down. She shakes her head, opening her eyes. Looking down from her post, her pegasus has landed but she's still on a red scaled thing that is moving and has a few scars of its own...
She landed on the dragon. The momma dragon.
Newfound temporary mount acquired, she holds on tightly to her, catching her breath, planning her next move. "I can't take much more of that. I need to rout him fast... Can you help me? Please?" she rubs at the dragon's scales and neck, hoping that it had some trace amount of capability of understanding her.
The dragon slows its flight and turns towards the knight and bird, Sumia peering over the dragon's head with a soft, if painful looking, smile upon her face. "Shall we?" she questions? "I recommend your retreat." She twirls her lance a bit and points it forward, the dragon moving along with the pseudo command, and, with another spin, she moves to slap the blade against Gaffgarion, trying to knock him off his own mount!
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
"Ha!" Gaffgarion guffaws, as he sees Sumia fall from her pegasus. And then immediately winces. Don't breathe deeply, stupid! It hurts! The woman can't fly, he is certain, and must be plummeting to her death. He relaxes a little, allows himself a moment to breathe-- ow-- and then turns...
...Only to find Sumia and the mother dragon right in front of him. His eyes widen in surprise. "...Bloody f--" WHACK! Probably a good thing that statement was cut off by being smacked. And the knight is also propelled from his perch upon the chocobo's back with the force of the strike. It's a rather immediate response for him to try to put his shield above him, hoping it can slow his fall some. He is not aware that gravity does not work that way.
He is however lucky enough to pass a mountain on the way down. It's this mountain that he uses his shield on, trying to slow his fall with the shield against the rock. Sumia can probably hear his cry of pain and effort echoing through the mountains, as the manevuer places strain on muscles that have already taken a beating.
But it slows him enough that Melody can get back under him. There's some rather awkward flailing around by both of them as he gets settled again. Once he's in the air again, it's with no trace of that awkwardness from a moment ago. NOBODY SAW THAT. It's only then that he responds to her suggestion to retreat. "I? Retreat? Why should I? With you mounted on my previous target, I can dispatch with both of you at once, and spare myself the effort of fighting her while I am weak." A positively evil grin spreads across his face...
Then he whistles sharply and the chocobo darts past Sumia again, Gaffgarion aiming a slice at her as they pass. It's not very well aimed. Partly because he's hurting too much. And partly because... well, if he misses and hits the dragon, that works too.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
Dismounting complete. At least... "I don't think a shield works that way..." as she watches the armored man hold that shield up. Sumia and the draconic 'ally' hold position above, watching the man slow himself down on that mountain, the sounds of his pained cries isn't music to her ears though. The pegasus, however, twitches her wings and readies herself to fly once more.
Breathing heavily, she gives a light nod to the dragon, who goes into a dive towards Gaffgarion, Sumia pulling on a scale to pull the dragon back up as he's remounted upon his own ride. "I've accomplished what I set out to do! You would be of not a right mind to engage these beasts with your injuries!" Her comment might fall on deaf ears as the black bird and red sword slice on by, cutting into the metal breastplate with sparks and the taste of fresh blood and flesh upon the blade, a mighty scream of pain as Sumia slumps over onto the dragon, groaning in severe pain, clutching onto her lance as if her life was on the line.
Which for her is almost true.
The dragon lands, Sumia slowly dismounting from it, stumbling towards her pegasus, the pain of actaully moving is quite hurtful, every step causing the woman to wince out in pain. Once she reaches her mount, she pulls out one more javelin and slumps up against the winged horse.
o O (I've got one chance. I need to stop him here... Cordelia, guide me.) the thought running through her head as she leans back, mustering what strength she can under pained and broken self. With a loud grunt and scream of pain, she launches one last javelin at Gaffgarion, using all the force she can muster.
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
She's down on the ground now, Gaffgarion realizes. From the air he has the advantage of a whole third dimension of movement that she doesn't have. She's injured (though so is he) and won't be able to fight much longer. Faith, she may fall over if the wind blows strongly, if her slumping against her mount is of any indication of her state.
He has her right where he wants her.
He taps the chocobo's sides with his heels again, and the bird begins into a dive. He's leaning over the bird's shoulder, sword raised-- not back to slice her, but pointed down to run her through. If she doesn't move, doesn't get out of his way...
...Suddenly that third dimension of movement avails him naught. Too committed to the finishing strike is he to notice her pulling a javelin, too straight in his path is he to turn his course in time. Thankfully he's not too far off the ground...
There's enough time for his eyes to widen in horror as he realizes the error he's made...
And then the javelin strikes true, burying itself in the right side of his chest. Thankfully not the center, or he'd be dead. He's close enough for her to see the wince of agony as the javelin pierces him from front to back. He abruptly aborts the strike, and Melody is wise enough to land, just in time for him to tumble off her back on one side. That had to have finished him, didn't it?
...No. No, he's still moving. Though in this case it's just enough to get to his knees and start to work the javelin out of his chest. Which he does after a few experimental tugs, and then a sharp yank that drew a loud cry of pain.
He hisses in pain, a hand over the bleeding injury. He's a mess. And he realizes she's right. Even if he does kill her here, he's in no shape to finish the job now. He tilts his head up, and drags himself to his feet, leaning heavily on that blood-red sword for support. He growls out, "You have until the count of ten to get out of my sight before I finish you anyway. And that was five." He hefts his sword, looking to make good on the threat.
- Sumia (544) has posed:
After loosing the javelin towards Gaffgarion, Sumia slowly and painfully moves to mount up, the Pegasus even kneeling down to assist. She hears the cry of pain and closes her eyes, slumping down on the back of her pegasus. "Thank you Cordelia..." she whispers, the mount moving to trot off until the voice of that knight rings into her ears.
"I came to do what... I needed to do. I am leaving now." she takes a breath and winces in pain, the sword cuts still bleeding and her body feeling drained from the spectral blades. She reaches into something on her hip and throws a few of her coins to the ground at Gaffgarion. "Recompense for your ... loss."
She turns her head towards him as the pegasus takes wing and starts flying... "Gaffgarion. Please do not show your face here again. I shall be informing Union members about your brigand-like activity here."
- Gaffgarion (493) has posed:
...Well. If she'd just done that to begin with, much of this could have been avoided. Still, it was a rather invigorating fight. Even if many of his inside parts can now be glimpsed from outside. Not a good battle situation for anyone, let alone a lone man with intent to fight a fully-grown dragon. That would be foolish. And despite his intense love for money, he does love his life a little more.
He's not too proud to take the coins. They're not gil, but they're still spendable somewhere. Still that does rather put him back at square one. And as Sumia flies away on her pegasus, he thinks...
...Maybe he should have just put dragonbane herbs in the mother dragon's food like Ladd suggested?
. o (Next time. Definitely try that next time.)