Closed The Okomo Rescue Squad [Rae]

(This is a thread from Mizahar's fantasy role playing forums. Why don't you register today? This message is not shown when you are logged in. Come roleplay with us, it's fun!)

The Diamond of Kalea is located on Kalea's extreme west coast and called as such because its completely made of a crystalline substance called Skyglass. Home of the Alvina of the Stars, cultural mecca of knowledge seekers, and rife with Ethaefal, this remote city shimmers with its own unique light.

The Okomo Rescue Squad [Rae]

Postby Zach Grasswind on November 7th, 2018, 9:38 pm

.
.
Image
"Speech"


Zach paused, eyes flicking up to the sky as he tried to remember when he had left Endrykas. "Uh, I left in... the Summer of 517, so just over a full year ago now." Zach scuffed a boot absently along the ground as they walked, his mind momentarily wandering back to the grasslands. He wondered how his brother and sister were doing. Did he have any new family members? He imagined so by now.

Zach bought himself back to the present in time for him to pay attention to his fellow hunter as the red-head spoke again. There was something behind the man's voice, subtle enough that Zach could not tell quite what it was. The corner of Zach's mouth twitched a little as he tried not to smirk too much at Raeyn's response. The meaning of Zach's question appeared to have gotten slightly off track, although he found that he didn't mind too much at the hint he would be welcome to stay with other people. His mind started to turn back to Raeyn's previous words on his living situation before he quickly brushed them away. That can't have been what he meant.

Zach chuckled quietly once, mostly to himself before speaking again. "After Endrykas my tiny room does feel oddly quiet." He shrugged a shoulder lightly and didn't comment any further on the topic for now.


Zach quickly joined Raeyn at the second the second set of tracks and blood, squinting down at the mess in the dirt. It had definitely been left by an animal in a hurry. The sight clearly affected the other hunter - Raeyn looked paler as he glanced over at Zach, and the urgency with which he retrieved an arrow almost alarmed the Drykas.

“They’re Okomo tracks... I don’t think we have a choice.”

Now Zach understood the red-head's reaction. While he couldn't say he was particularly fond of the odd creatures, he knew that the Okomo were absolutely sacred to the people of Lhavit. For one to come to harm would be a terrible thing. Mirroring Raeyn, Zach retrieved his bow and an arrow, holding it ready by his side. When Raeyn looked over again, Zach nodded and motioned for him to lead the way onwards.

The Drykas followed off the beaten path after the tracks. It was usually more difficult to follow them off a path, but the animal had been moving at enough speed that the branches were sufficiently trampled for the pair to follow with a fair amount of accuracy. Occasionally a blood spatter would confirm that they were on the right track.

"What do you think did this? Is there anything out here that would usually hunt the Okomo?" Zach couldn't think of a predatory animal that would come quite so close to the city. In all his forays before he had been fortunate enough to never come across anything that he would have needed to defend himself from.

He could sense worry emanating from Raeyn, who clearly had a fondness for the Okomo. Determined now, Zach continued to sweep his gaze ahead, trying to spot anything significant that might alert them to any creature. After a short while of walking, a small flock of birds practically exploded out of the trees somewhere up ahead, flapping and screeching. Zach shot a glance at Raeyn. Something had caused a commotion and he was willing to bet it was the Okomo, or whatever had gone after it. He steeled himself and picked up the pace, glancing over at the red-head to follow.

ooc :
I am so sorry for the ridiculous delay, especially after I said I'd be writing again. My health has been so crappy recently, but I'm determined to try! I hope this post is at least semi-decent.

Image

Boxcode by Allassanachassanya
.
.
User avatar
Zach Grasswind
What’s a tree?
 
Posts: 198
Words: 193110
Joined roleplay: August 9th, 2018, 12:56 pm
Race: Human, Drykas
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Mizahar Grader (1)

The Okomo Rescue Squad [Rae]

Postby Raeyn on May 10th, 2019, 12:31 pm

.
.
Image


With the sudden shift in mood, Raeyn kept one eye on the tracks, the other on Zach. Ears listening for any odd sounds in the bushes as much as their very own footsteps. He wasn't used to this, for sure. Hunting with a partner he wouldn't trust his life with was an experience he could have lived his entire life without. But now was a little too late to turn back and change his mind. Raeyn would have to commit to hoping the Drykas would turn out to be a better hunter than expected.

Zach's question was met with lies in a low whisper. "Wolves, bears, mountain lions... could be anything. I don't see any other tracks however. Do you?"

Had it been a bear or a wolf they were after, Raeyn would count himself the luckiest man in the world. But he had his fears. In the back of his mind where deepest fears and most pessimistic thoughts resided comfortably, Raeyn saw the face of Zith. And all he could to was pray that on this day, the two hunters weren't about to walk right into a Zith trap for if that was the case, neither of them would make it home alive.

It could have been such a pleasant day and an easy hunt. It seemed fate had other ideas.

As the two pressed on, they'd come to pass a tree with a branch snapped in two as if a great force came hurling right at it. Small tufts of pastel fur still stuck to the raw splinters of the severed, wooden limb. To the hunters it was a sign they were on the right track, but to the Okomo who made this mark on the forest, it must have caused nothing but agony.

Then a black cloud of feathers took the sky in a thunderous cacophony of crowing. Whatever had spooked the birds was close enough to spook Raeyn too who did his best to at least keep up the composure of calm, though inside he was anything but calm. The Inarta knew the forest too well to trust it not to try and kill him.

For a brief moment his eyes met Zach as an unspoken promise was made between the two hunters; whatever happened they were going to face it together. And what a better way is there for two men to bond, than facing their own mortality and certain doom?

"Be careful." whispered Raeyn, following in Zach's footsteps as the Drykas picked up the pace. "Whatever it is, there could be more than one of them."

He found himself avoiding every loose rock on the ground, every twig that could snap and every leaf he could slip on, even if it meant taking longer strides. Periodically scanning the trees to their sides, and behind them, he let Zach lead the way. And once a desperate call of agony came within earshot, they picked up the pace just that little bit more until they came to a thinning in the trees where a cliffside towered overtime, blocking out the sky. And what they saw ahead was a heartbreaking sight indeed.

One Okomo lay sprawled unceremoniously on the ground in a puddle of it's own blood. It's gut shredded, a feast for the grey wolf which undoubtedly took it's life. A stone's throw away two other wolfs backed another Okomo against the cliffside. From where they hid, Zach and Raeyn could likely see the fight the Okomo still had in him, in spite of it's hopeless situation, as it pointed its spiral horns at the wolves and stomped it's hooves. Loud grunts came from it's bloody muzzle as it panted with exhaustion but refused to leat death take it. At a closer glance, one of it's hind legs quivered, curled up in the air, likely injured or broken. A deep gash in it's side parted the fur with blood, from where it had hit the trees in mid gallop.

Without much hesitation Raeyn took aim at the closest wolf, praying the beast wouldn't smell their scent so close by. But the wind was on the side of the hunters, blowing in their faces and down the mountain. "Don't die." he whispered to Zach, narrowing his eyes and letting the arrow fly.



*Boxcode by Allassanachassanya
.
.
User avatar
Raeyn
...and the Wind Chicken
 
Posts: 343
Words: 310107
Joined roleplay: May 24th, 2018, 11:35 pm
Race: Human, Inarta
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 3
Featured Character (1) Overlored (1)
Lhavit Seasonal Challenge (1)

The Okomo Rescue Squad [Rae]

Postby Zach Grasswind on May 12th, 2019, 6:17 pm

.
.
Image
"Speech"


Hunting with a partner was something Zach was used to. Before Lhavit, it was all he had known and the Drykas had missed the feeling of camaraderie that usually went along with such activities. With Raeyn next to him now, the lonely woods didn’t feel quite so empty, even if the redhead was a relative stranger.

He flicked his gaze over to his companion as he reeled off a list of predators. Zach grimaced and shook his head.
“No, none. Just the Okomo’s.” He could sense that there was something else Raeyn had declined to speak aloud, and after a second of thought he recalled another name he had been warned of. But they didn’t come out in the daytime right?

Zach didn’t notice when the man next to him jumped at the startled birds, for he was too intent on watching where they had come from. He nodded at Raeyn, green eyes meeting blue.
The Drykas was clearly less experienced than his companion at tracking through the woodlands. Zach would occasionally place a foot wrong, a muffled crunch sounding as he caught a stone or twig, but he barely heard a noise from the redhead behind him. He made more of an effort to keep his footfalls quiet, eyes darting between the ground and the trees ahead as he trusted Raeyn to watch his back.

When the call came - that horrible, wounded animal noise - Zach pressed on faster as Raeyn practically sped past him. He stopped just behind his companion and took in the scene ahead with a furrowed brow. One Okomo down, and one to save. The hunter ran his eyes over the creature still standing, injured, but very much alive, very scared, and still fighting. The beasts attacking the poor Okomo were another thing altogether. Zach knew they were wolves, but that was mostly all he knew. They looked and sounded very much like dogs, snapping and growling as they closed in on the Okomo.

Zach checked he had his short hunting knife in easy reach before raising his bow, an arrow already nocked to the string. He shuffled a foot back as quickly as he dared, eyes flicking over to Raeyn momentarily.
“You too.”The Drykas pulled the string taut on his bow, hand coming under his chin as he aimed down the shaft of the arrow. The wolf had its back to the hunter, so he knew it wasn’t going to be an easy shot. He took a breath to steady himself against the mercifully favourable breeze, and let his arrow loose.

The arrow tore through the air and pierced the skin of the wolf at the back of its neck. The animal yelped and spun, distracted from its taunting of the Okomo. Golden eyes landed on the hunter and the beast snarled before rushing for him. Almost as soon as he had let his arrow free, Zach had reached for another, and so he was prepared for his second shot. The wolf was quick though it was also getting closer, a plus and a minus. His aim was somewhat messy, but the arrow still took the creature in its chest and the wolf landed heavily on the ground a few steps away from him. Its breath was still coming in ragged gulps, and Zach quickly drew his hunting knife to put it out of its misery. He definitely needed to work on his pin-point shots. While the kill was the purpose, there was no need for unnecessary suffering.

The Drykas glanced round to see what Raeyn had made of his target. The third wolf had vanished in all the commotion, and had thankfully left the second Okomo alone. The hunters would have to keep an eye on the trees in case it reappeared, but Zach hoped wolves were smart creatures and knew when they were outnumbered. If Raeyn needed any help with the second wolf, Zach would aid him quickly, otherwise he would move to join the redhead in subduing the injured Okomo.

Image

Boxcode by Allassanachassanya
.
.
User avatar
Zach Grasswind
What’s a tree?
 
Posts: 198
Words: 193110
Joined roleplay: August 9th, 2018, 12:56 pm
Race: Human, Drykas
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Mizahar Grader (1)

The Okomo Rescue Squad [Rae]

Postby Zach Grasswind on December 10th, 2019, 8:32 pm



Raeyn had made good work of the second wolf, the beast lying not too far from its companion. The Drykas shifted his gaze away from the canines and over to where the Okomo was still cowering against the cliff side. It’s sides were heaving as it panted for breath and its beautiful coat was stained with red.

Slowly Zach approached the animal. While he definitely didn’t hold the strange caprine in the esteem that the residents of Lhavit did, to see them in the states he had today still saddened him. Hands held non-threateningly palm out to the animal, he was able to get close enough to see that it was far too tired to resist the help of the hunters, even if it wanted to.

Wrapping one hand carefully around one of the shining horns, he placed the other at the beasts shoulder. Raeyn did the same on its other side, and together they gently ushered the Okomo through the trees and back to the path that led to the city.

Thankfully the hunters didn’t run into any more trouble on their way back, and once they had taken the Okomo to be seen to, the pair made their way back to the Guild. Together Raeyn and Zach relayed their short adventure to the redheads father and the other Guild members.

The evening had drawn close as they had been talking, and eventually their tale had led to other members sharing stories of their own. Chatter, laughter and ale all flowed freely well into the night. Eventually, when he could hardly keep his eyes open any longer, Zach bid his farewells and stepped into the street to wind his way home.

As he walked, fingers played with a new accessory tied around his wrist. A bracelet made from brass and cord, an etching of a flying bird adorning it. Zach smiled as he walked - the strange city was feeling more familiar and, dare he think it, like home, with each day that passed.


User avatar
Zach Grasswind
What’s a tree?
 
Posts: 198
Words: 193110
Joined roleplay: August 9th, 2018, 12:56 pm
Race: Human, Drykas
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Mizahar Grader (1)

The Okomo Rescue Squad [Rae]

Postby Ambrosia Alar on January 6th, 2020, 1:50 am

Grades!


Zach

Skills
● Animal Husbandry +1
● Hunting +2
● Logic +1
● Observation +5
● Socialization +5
● Stealth +1
● Tracking +3
● Weapon: Hunting Knife +1
● Weapon: Short Bow +1
● Wilderness Survival +1

Lores
● Lomki: Butcher at the Jugged Hare
● The Hunter's Guild: Displays trophy heads
● The Hunter's Guild: Joining requires a hunt to prove one's self
● Orim: A founder of the Hunter's Guild
● The Hunter's Guild: General layout
● Stannis Sunwalker: A founder of the Hunter's Guild
● The loss of Wirren was a wound to deep to recover from
● Drykas: Bond to Striders
● Raeyn: Has a twin sister, Mara
● Tracking: Discerning predator from prey via footprints
● Tracking: An Okomo hoofprint
● Okomo: Sacred to Lhavitians
● Tracking: Following prey to find predators
● Tracking: Move to where birds take flight
● Hunting: Stay down wind
● The Hunter's Guild: A place of camaraderie
● The Hunter's Guild Mark: Brass and cord bracelet with an etched bird in flight

Loot
Congrats. You're a member of the Hunter's Guild now. You have the aforementioned mark.


Raeyn

Skills
● Acrobatics +1
● Hunting +2
● Leadership +4
● Socialization +5
● Stealth +1
● Tracking +3
● Weapon: Short Bow +1
● Wilderness Survival +1

Lores
● Orim: Raeyn's father
● Leadership: Exude an air of command and confidence
● Orim: A founder of the Hunter's Guild
● The Hunter's Guild: General layout
● Long Stan: A founder of the Hunter's Guild
● The Hunter's Guild Mark: Brass and cord bracelet with an etched bird in flight
● Acrobatics: Bend the knees to lessen the impact of a fall
● Zach: From Endrykas, a grassland with few trees
● Zach: A Drykas who lost his Strider
● Drykas: Bond to Striders
● Striders and Kelvics: How similar is the bond?
● Zach: Has a large family
● Tracking: An Okomo hoofprint
● Leadership: Keeping composure in stressful situations
● Hunting: Staying down wind

Comments

Nice thread, both of you. I like how in the midst of the difference of their two family lives and cultures the two find common grounds to bond over. I'm hoping we get to see more of both of you about. I will always feel new to grading, so if you feel I've missed something or would like lore rephrased, just let me know. Please be certain to mark your request as graded. As always, thanks for the read.
User avatar
Ambrosia Alar
"The kid's got smiles for days."
 
Posts: 221
Words: 242735
Joined roleplay: September 28th, 2014, 2:54 pm
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 6
Featured Contributor (1) Featured Thread (2)
Mizahar Mentor (1) Mizahar Grader (1)
Donor (1)

Previous

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests