Closed A murderous friendship indeed.(Sash)

[Lo'campo]

Sunberth, 1, Fall, 514 A.V The cool breeze of the fall wind blew through the Akalak long black hair as he stood in the forest outside of the city Sunberth. He had traveled well within the tall trees and thick brush to train and hone his skills as a warrior. He stood 7ft tall great sword in hand going through the movements of battle sending out percise strikes to invisible foes and blocking attacks from imaginary weapons. All was quiet, all was peaceful. It was he and nature training. It had occured to him that he had not trained for a while now, so seeing it was his day off he took the chance to travel out into the forest and build his strength. He griped his sword now with his eyes open and lashed out at the nearest tree striking it with force to which it cut deep enough to leave a mark but not hard enough to get stuck. Flipping the hilt of the sword in his hand, he extended his arm pivoting his body left and bringing the sword in a complete 360 hitting the other side of the same tree making the cut marks connect and the tree fall forward imitating a weapon coming over head and allowing him to practice blocking. Bracing the weight of the mid sized tree he tossed it onto the ground and proceeded with overhead strikes cutting the tree into smaller chunks. Now he had firewood to take home. There was a rustle in the bushes followed by a voice speaking out from behind a small hill that dropped down. "Now waht do we have here boys?" the voice called out as a group of men about 5 in total circled Lo'campo with swords and daggers. "Looks like we have someone that's lost. You do know that there is a fee for traveling in these parts right? If I remember correctly it was about 3400 miza, but for you we will take everything that you have as collateral. Lo'campo held his great sword in hand as he edged for his lakan not to far from him.""Now we don't want you getting a hold of that now do we big guy?" the person that Lo'campo deemed as the leader spoke out as he picked up his lakan and tossed it down the hill. Bandits. Lo'campo hated them. I am going to kill all of you, they will die quickly but I will make you suffer. Lo'campo said pointing at the leader of the group. There were five of them and by the looks of it they were skilled. All he had was his great sword and though anyone could swing a sword, it things got to wild he would have to know how to use this thing. They all stood in silence. He waiting for them to attack while they waited for him to give all of his possessions which he was not about to do. Gripping his great sword he shifted his feet at a stance that would give him balance. "We gave you a choice but since you want to be stubborn." with that being said the leader snapped his fingers and his goons attacked. Lo'campo blocked the first attack and dodged the second only to feel the weight of a club hit his back sending him forward. He was still standing that was all that mattered at the moment. He couldn't fall and end up vulnerable. They all moved in again as one unit this time striking at once. Lo'campo held his sword sideways letting their weapons hit the wide side of his weapon the weight forcing him down as he pivoted out of the way. Seeing no other option attempted to run as he went for his lakan down the hill only to get his foot snagged on a trip wire. Petching bandits he thought to himself as he tumbled down the hill quickly regaining his stance in time for them to surround him again. He held the sword up as they began to enclose him. He may die today, but he was going to take some of them with him. He stood still not making a move waiting for someone to attack. This was going to be a fight for the books if he survived.

[Shashvinaari]

Sunberth, 1, Fall, 514 A.V

All the thoughts that had flooded Naari's mind since arriving in Sunberth mere hours earlier, where to look for work, the layout of the city, building a reputation in these parts so as to attract higher paying customers, were pushed from his consciousness as he slid himself along the dense underbrush of the forest floor. Tasting the air with his outstretched tongue the large viper let the hunt consume him, as it always did. While these where all pressing concerns, none of it mattered until his stomach had been filled.

The sun glinted off of the 9 foot snakes deep gray scales as he followed the scent of what he believed to be a fox. As the smell became ever stronger, the Dhani's fervor and pace intensified. Nothing excited Naari more than the thrill of the hunt. He could almost envision the fear in the eyes of his prey once he had finally caught up to it. He wound himself through the trees as silently as possible, until finally the target of his obsession was within view. Beginning his approach towards the, admittedly small, deep orange creature before him Naari had only one thing on his mind. However, just before the he could get himself within striking distance, Naari's pray looked to the west, and then to him, before bolting in the opposite direction. Naari let out a deep, frustrated, hiss as his lunch ran with all it's might. What had set the fox into it's dead sprint out of his grasp, he wondered to himself? Tilting his head ever so lightly the large viper listened with all of his might, searching for the cause of his loss. A loss that he planned to have re-payed to him; one way or another.

As the viper scanned the distance for any inclination of what may have tipped off his dinner, as to his presence, the infuriated Dhani caught the distinct sound of yelling. The moment that Naari had located the sound, he was off. Pushing himself along, at full speed, the nimble viper darted between trees and through brambles. Not caring what lay in his way, the gray snake scurried along, the singular thought in his mind of 'visiting' whoever had cost him his meal. Following the sounds of yelling at first, and then the distinct sounds of battle, Naari did his best to pick up his pace. The closer he became to the, now relatively close, noise the more his fury multiplied.

Finally, the head of great snake protruded from within a bush, to witness the cause of the ruckus that had scared off that morsel of a fox. And what a scene it was. Before him Naari saw a large Akalak encircled by five humans, wielding blades of various sizes. While he had no idea what the quarrel was about, he did know that the quarrel had cost him his meal. Slithering backwards into the bush, Naari began his transformation. 'No use fighting them like this...', he thought to himself. As his bones began to shift, and his body began to lengthen, twigs began to snap underneath the ever growing Dhani.

Hearing the rustling and breaking from behind a bush to the left of the Akalak, the leader of the group glanced in the direction of where the Dhani was, unbeknownst to them, making ready for his assault. "You," the bandit captain said, pointing to his man closest to the bush, before refocusing his attention on the Akalak. "Check that out." Turning, to face the source of the commotion, the bandit raised his sword and began to approach the bush.

As his arms finished their grotesque growth from his torso, the gray viper ended his transformation, just in time to see the head of a bandit poke over the shrubbery in front of him. Quickly coiling himself onto his tail, the agile Dhani pounced forward, sinking his fangs into the neck of the bandit; who, due to his shock, barely had time to let out a yelp. As Naari, injected his venom into the throat of the now limp bandit, he was greeted with the taste of blood. Reigniting his hunting frenzy, the Dhani let his victim drop, coiled the majority of his 11.5 feet beneath him, and began to scan the group. Looking for his next target.

The shock evident upon the 4 remaining bandit's faces, they scrambled to ascertain which was the bigger threat. The hulking, sword brandishing Akalak before them, or the black mouthed, monstrosity the had just made itself known through the bush.

[Lo'campo]

Never in his life did Lo'campo think that he would see anyone taller than he was yet her in front of him stood some snake like creature that just took a bite out of one of the bandit's neck. Everyone including himself was frozen in a combination of shock and curiosity of what just happened. They all watched as the snake like creature coiled itself around the unlucky man and went down to the ground only to come back up ready for it's next victim. Snapping back into attention Lo'campo dove for his took this opportunity to diminish the number of his oppressors. Taking his great sword in hand he swung it striking another bandit across the back who let out a loud yelp reminding the others of his presence. He went for another strike swinging the weapon again only to have it countered out of his hands. Shyke now he was without a weapon with four bandits and a man eating snake thing surrounding him. Normally he would stay to fight with his hands, but this was no normal situation. He saw he lakan glimmering in the sunlight just behind the creature that had emerged from the bush. He didn't know if it was friendly to Akalaks or had a hatred for all living being, but he would be a fool if he was going to sit here and die without a fight. Side stepping out of the path of a sword Lo'campo gave a quick jab to it's wielder before ducking over the club used to hit him in the back. Today was not his day and he wondered if it would ever be. He was upset anger filling his eyes as he made his way across the battle field. It was a nervous trip for everyone. Trying to fight and be out of the grasp of the creatures fangs would be very difficult and if one wasn't careful enough it would mean death. A blade nipped him out of his train of thought before he realized he had traveled only a step away from where the creature lay. He involuntarily took a step back into a sharp something that sliced his arm causing blood to run at a quickened pace. In anger he turned and gave a swing with his other arm while ducking under another blade. This was his routine now until he could figure out something to do. He knew one of two things would be inevitable in the end. Either the bandits would tire out first and be eaten by the creature or he would tire out and be eaten. At this point it was all about time and looking at his arm he didn't have much to go on.

[Shashvinaari]

Naari's head was pounding with adrenaline, as he looked over the group before him. He had the scent of blood now, and he knew that he wanted more. Before he could make his move, though, the blue behemoth in the center of the broken circle made his.

He watched, as the Akalak struck a bandit, who was just a little too focused on Naari's presence, across the back with his blade. Right before engaging another bandit, only to have his weapon knocked from his hands. Naari wasn't particularly fond of helping strangers, but exceptions could be made. And in this case, would have to be made. Four on one would be too much, and the Dhani knew it. The Akalak would live to fight another day, so long as he helped Naari to do the same.

The Akalak was headed in his direction, potentially in an attempt to attack him; thinking the black mouthed Dhani to be a threat. The large blue creature stepped backwards into the blade of a waiting bandit, after apparently rethinking his proximity to the large snake man. 'I need to show this fool that I'm not hostile.' Naari thought to himself.

Wasting no more time, the deep grey scales of the Dhani shifted, and gleamed in the sun, as he darted towards his new target. He had the apparent leader in his sights. It had always been his way to eliminate the largest threat first, and if this man was kept the rest in line, then that title obviously fell to him. So intent on his target, Naari barely caught sight of the longsword being swung towards his head as he attempted to glide by one of the bandits. Ducking, just in the nick of time, the agile viper redirected his body to coil around the legs of the man who had just attempted to take his head off, the very notion of which made his blood boil to the point where reasoning was now an after though. He had been frenzied before, but as the man fell to the ground unable to keep his balance with the Dhani's long tail around his legs, Naari felt true blood lust set in.

Any semblance of reason faded from Naari's mind as utter fury consumed him. Uncoiling himself from the legs of the fallen bandit, he turned in time to catch sight of both the bandit leader, and one of his men, charging him blades raised. Letting out a deep hiss, fraught with rage, Naari returned the charge; only to dart quickly out of the way at the last moment, both of their strikes missing by only inches. If Naari had been any slower, he would have lost his life. Staying close to the floor of the forest as he moved, Naari quickly turned to face the men he had just so narrowly avoided, springing forward to tackle the one closest to him to the ground. Leaving the captain untouched, and on his feet.

While Naari began to lay blow after blow into the face of the man trapped beneath him, he let everything else slip from his mind. He was completely focused on the pain of the human below him, relishing every little sound and expression. Unfortunately, this also left his back to the other bandits, and his mind far from on the threat they still posed.

[Lo'campo]

The snake creature darted in his direction at full speed only to race past him and into another bandit. Lo'campo let out a breath. He didn't know what it was, but he was grateful that the creature over looked him. Not wanting to waste anymore time the, the Akalak dove for his lakan. The feeling of the weighted weapon in his hand was all to familiar to him. Now armed and more dangerous he was ready for a real fight. He moved in his first target being the person that cut his arm. He watched out the corner of his eye as the snake like creature agile and swift moved about the ground using it's size against their oppressors. He was impressed with the skill shown against the bandits as the creature managed to single handily offset the bandits and pin one down with ease, but soon became surrounded. Seeing it fit to return the favor and a chance to teach the bandits a lesson in pain Lo'campo moved in acting as a shield to the snake being. He absorbed the impact of the sword, pushing up with force against the pressure being put on him . Lifting up with his legs and moving the attacker backwards. Having no other choice he pushed the creatures head down to save it's head from being dislodged from it's body and began another attack on the second bandit. Now things were interesting. Now in a state of hate Lo'campo moved in striking the two blades of the bandits in a frenzy of strikes. Ducking under an attack blocking another his eyes were on fire and filled with rage. He would make them suffer. Pivoting the second bandit he stood behind the first gripping him by the waist and tossing him backwards. He moved forward attempting to rush the second man not noticing the sword that came up scoring his shoulder. He fell to the ground rolling on his side attempting to get up before the two men could make it over to finish him. He blocked with his lakan the tips of the swords attempting to break through his defense and pierce his flesh. Using his legs, he swooped across tripping one man and dealing him a few nicely place kicks to the face. He moved on top of the man giving heavy blows to the face and neck area. He was angry now and out for blood. Each strike getting harder with force landing at random points if the man. The blue giant changed position resting his knee on the man's chest and putting all his weight down. He watched as the bandit struggled for air arms failing like a child's doll grasping onto him in panic and fear. That is what he wanted. The fear to seep out of his eyes like the blood from his arm. They were going to pay for tampering with him. The bandits arms slowed as his eyes began to bulge. His body gave out less resistance and began to settle down. The death was quick rather Lo'campo would have preferred it to be longer for the lesson to be taught, but he had other things to worry about during that moment focusing back onto his previous attacker who finally had the courage to stealthily attack. Lo'campo rolled to the side evading the man's sword and gaining the ground to stand back up. He glanced back up to see the snake thing beating a mans face in through a fit of rage. He didn't know what that thing was, but he liked it. He continued he gaze noticing the bandit leader running through the bushes away from the battle. Petch he cursed not wanting his target to get away. He gave his attention back to the man in front of him. Who by the look of his facial expresssion feared Lo'campo now. This was sweet. He had to control every muscle in his face to prevent laughter. Focusing on the matter at hand Lo'campo rushed in fast and low coming up at the last moment colliding his lakan with the bandits sword throwing him off balance. Pivoting around the man Lo'campo took hold oh his throat and flung him onto the ground. Switching the grasp of his weapon in a swift movement he buried the lakan into the mans neck watching his eyes widen and face fade in color from loss of blood. Hey snake thing! he yelled out hopping to get the creatures attention Our target to a run for it. Think you can track 'em? Lo'campo picked up his great sword and held it in hand. He trusted this creature but if it tried anything he wouldn't hesitate to take it's life right now. He stared at the creature for a response or movement. He was hungry and Lo'campo had a score to settle. It was a beneficial situation for them both.

[Shashvinaari]

Again, and again, the gray Dhani brought his fists down into the face of the bandit beneath him, who by this point was an almost unrecognizable pulp of swelling, and blood. He should have been able to hear the sounds of battle behind him, but Naari's focus was as singular as his rage. It was directed towards any threat he saw, funneled by his vision, into a cone of aggression.

Eventually the long viper tired of this, particular, human's pain. He quickly bent down and let his fangs sink into the man's shoulder, releasing his own special brand of poison into the bloody mess of a bandit. It would end his life, but not immediately. Naari released his grip before administering enough venom to outright kill the man, where would be the fun in letting him die without suffering a bit, he thought.

Just as he let the bludgeoned bandit go, the Dhani, still blinded by his rage, heard a shout from behind him. The words, themselves, were lost to him. However, they did grab his attention. Turning to glance in the direction of the noise, Naari saw the large Akalak with two bodies before him. Just behind his makeshift ally Naari spotted the bandit that he had tripped earlier, sword raised as if to strike the distracted Akalak unawares.

Glancing up, and realizing that he had caught the gray Dhani's attention, the man's eyes widened. Dropping his weapon, and promptly taking off in the other direction, the man made a dead sprint for his life. 'Who does that fool think he is, attempting to escape. A coward deserves no mercy.' He thought to himself, having come down from his frenzy enough to at least begin to process thought. However, as he sprung forward, in chase, darting past the hulking blue mass of his impromptu brother-in-arms, Naari didn't process the fact that the Akalak may have taken this as an attack, not an attempt to pass him by. Shifting the muscles in his tale again, and again, the long gray viper moved at full speed past the Akalak; gaining ground on one of the two surviving members of the group. With all of his attention focused upon the fleeing man, the bandit captain's escape was still completely unnoticed by the large, gray, predator.

The large viper quickly caught up to his victim, once again entangling his legs with his long tail. The difference this time is that the Dhani ended up on top of the man, who let out a yelp as he was pulled to the ground. Struggling and fighting the bandit managed to turn onto his back, slipping a dagger from his belt. As the Dhani pondered as to whether this one should be kept alive, for a little bit of recreational torture, he was jolted out of his thoughts by a sharp pain in his shoulder. Exhaling a long, deep, hiss the Dhani looked down to see the bandits dagger protruding from his shoulder, just above his chest. The human had missed anything vital, but gods did it hurt.

His rage returning as quickly as it had dissipated, Naari began to strike out at the man over, and over. Biting wildly, in a flurry of teeth and fangs. Every strike filling the human with more and more of his potent venom. Bites went everywhere, the neck, the face, even the arms as the bandit tried desperately to defend himself. Finally the man went limp, as the paralytic effects of the vipers poison set in. The Dhani bit him a few more times for good measure, before uncoiling himself from the human's lifeless body.

Turning to face the Akalak still in his presence, Naari reached up and pulled the dagger from his shoulder with another low hiss. That was going to take some time to heal. He scanned over the now quiet forest, once, before returning his gaze to the blue behemoth in front of him. His black eyes finally resting upon the face of the man that he had just fought alongside; still wary of his intents. He coiled his tail beneath him, in preparation to strike, should the need arise.

[Lo'campo]

Lo'campo saw that his conversation was waiting time as he sprinted through the bushes after the bandit leader following the path of broken twigs and disturbed bushes. He came out in another opening searching around for a clue to follow.He was not going let this person get away. He cursed out loud realizing that the bandit had probably gotten away and was long gone by now. He punched the tree in frustration. All was quiet now as he searched his surroundings for a clue. All seemed lost until the sound of a splash coming from the east gave away the bandits location. Lo'campo bolted through the brush toward the sound . He ran through the forest jumping over trees and pushing through bushes out into a small lake surrounded by the forestry. He walked out not seeing any sign of the bandit that he was hunting down. He walked out to the edge of the lake where there was a human foot print followed by a bigger animal. Lo'campo knelt down putting his hand in the place of where the imprint lay trying to figure out what animal could leave a footprint that large. There was a growl that rattled Lo'campo's ears forcing him to turn around to see a panther leaping from the trees onto him bringing it's claws across his chest. Lo'campo bit his tongue to prevent himself from screaming, using his strength he rolled on his back flipping the animal off of him. He could tell that it was the bandit leader just by looking in it's eyes. He tried holding his lakan up but could not due to his injuries. The panther watched Lo'campo with devious eyes. It's muscle bound back pointed down to the earth as it readied to pounce. Lo'campo flinched at the animal hoping to scare it away but soon realized that the animal was still a person and that person no longer feared the injured Akalak. Keeping his distance Lo'campo stepped back tripping another trap set by the bandit. His instincts kicked in automatically making him spin around to avoid a swinging log leaving his fleshy back wide open. The panther took the opportunity and pounced onto the giants back digging its claws deep within the skin so he would stay and proceed to bite where ever his teeth would lay. Lo'campo struggled to use his only good arm since the other was out of commission. He threw his arm back trying to hit the animal in the head or push it off but its claws were already set. He felt the pain sink in as the animals hind claws began to tear through his calves. He was loosing blood he could feel it being drained from his body. Taking a last resort Lo'campo dove into the water back first. completely submerging himself and the Kelvic under water. He felt as the animals claws retracted from his body watching the black cat make it's way back to the shore. Lo'campo gave a grin. Cats don't like water He thought to himself. He was safe for now, but he was loosing more blood than before at this point. He could only hope that the snake creature like the taste of cat.

[Shashvinaari]

The Akalak had looked at Naari for but a moment, before taking off through the trees. The long viper let it go without much concern, as he relaxed and uncoiled himself to more of a resting position. The danger had passed, he no longer needed the Akalak, let him run in fear, the viper mused within his mind. He had more pressing matters to attend to.

Scanning the forest floor, Naari began to pick out his meal. Twisting to gaze at each body, in turn, the gray Dhani compared the bandits. Searching for one that would best suit his needs. 'I don't want to be stuck like this, when there are things to be done.' He thought quietly. 'Best to pick the smallest of the four.'

As he began to slither over to the smallest of the human corpses, something clicked inside of Naari's head. 'Four...' He thought. 'Four's not right...' Letting out a furious hiss, the long, dark, viper bolted through the trees; as the Akalak's purpose became clear to him. 'No one escapes!' Naari screamed inside his mind; weaving his body between the trees after the distinct sounds of the not so graceful giant off in the distance.

Naari's eyes were like a never ending abyss of rage, and hatred, as he darted into the clearing, discovering a scene that he didn't quite understand. There was fresh blood in the air, he could taste it; and the Akalak was afloat in a nearby river. The bandit leader was nowhere in sight, but what was within the Dhani's view was a large black panther swimming ashore.

As the beast reached the banks, and raised it's head to meet Naari's eyes, the viper was stricken by the amount of intelligence that the creature seemed to hold within it's gaze. Once again, things clicked into place for Naari. 'A kelvic...' he mused to himself. 'Now this should be fun.' Holding his body low to the ground the long, gray, viper snaked towards what he now recognized as the bandit leader. Coiling himself into a position from which he could pounce, Naari noticed the panther preparing to do the same.

As the two beasts launched themselves toward one and other, mouths agape and ready to latch down, they collided in the air with almost bone shattering force. While both managed to avoid the waiting jaws of the other, the wounded Dhani ended up underneath the growling cat; his claw piercing into the vipers already open shoulder wound.

Naari hissed and thrashed as the pain washed over him, his shear rage providing him the strength to throw the beast from him with his arms. As the jet black panther flew through the air, landing several feet away, the gray Dhani managed to work his way back up to a defensible position, one hand attempting to staunch the bleeding from his shoulder. As the large cat rose to it's feet and prepared to pounce again, the Dhani did the same, once again coiling most of his length beneath him. Intensity, and tension, almost palpable in the air as the two waited for the other to make their move.

[Lo'campo]

Lo'campo locked eyes with the kelvic sending threats with his facial expression. The kelvic bandit growled at the Akalak from the edge of the lake. Everything was silent as the lake filled with his blood that now had slowed. They were playing the waiting game. The only thoughts going his mind was to kill the Kelvic. There was a loud rustle came from the bushes as the snake creature launched form the forest ramming the kelvic sending it back. Lo'campo was grateful that the creature had returned. He watched as the two powerful creatures fought running into each other with the force hard enough to break bones. At first it had seemed like the snake had the upper hand until an unsuspecting claw caught it on an open wound on its shoulder. The snake fell back the panther following until it was over the snake attacking with a flurry of scratches. Though dominated the snake was not without energy as it slithered from under the panthers paws sending the big cat through the air and gaining ground shifting to a defensive stance. Lo'campo couldn't sit and watch another fighter fight his battle as he sat watching. He praised the snake for his gumption but it was time to end this foolery. He forced his limbs fighting the pain as he managed to stand up with a stagger. He moved forward pacing himself trying to not bring attention to himself as well as controlling how much pain went through his body so he would not be crippled. He walked behind the Panther stealth like throwing signals to the snake to be ready. Taking his chance he leaped onto the Panthers back falling to the ground with the animal. The cat was full of energy still strong compared to Lo'campo who's body hurt with every major movement. He felt the tips of the animals claws trying to make their way back inside him. The Akalak fought hard to keep the heavy animal off of him. Trying to stall time for the snake to get into position.