isleofavalon | [Open] In the Summer Time

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[Open] In the Summer Time

🧙 WHO: Zidane Tribal and You!
⚔️️ WHAT: A summer of fun with quests and zombies...! Wait...
🕒 WHEN: July
🗺️ WHERE: Throughout Camelot and Beyond
⚠️ WARNINGS: Warnings will come as needed. Minor violence with Zombies and Minotaurs

I. Surf New Turf

[Though the Alpacapies and Mossatees would probably be easier mounts to ride with, Zidane had mistaken one for a floating log and didn't realize it was a mount until he was far away, and the Mossatees just recently had their babies. If they needed their attention anywhere, it wasn't on a guy standing on their back and probably annoying the hell outta them despite their passivity.]

[Deinosuchus it was, and they weren't kidding when they said it was fast! He was off the first time it picked up speed, and giving it some food when it came paddling lazily back, burnt out from doing that much. They'd work on it - in fact, they could be seen working on it.]

... and if you signal, I can give ya a boost in speed instead. That way, ya don't tire out as fast. Sound good?

[Of course, he's not an Animal Mage so it's not sure how much the Deinosuchus might understand. At least it's not pissed off?]

II. Clean Up Chaos

Hey, hey, hey...!

[He's not sure what's going on, but he was ambushed. First the sponges, then the animals... Zidane blinks when both were done and it took another second to process his clothes had been cleaned, his hair had been redone, and his tail now had a bow on it.]

... OH MY GODS! I thought that stain would never come out of my sheath!

[Looked like he didn't care he was just mauled by woodland critters and cleaning supplies, he's too busy admiring how clean his dagger's sheath was. Perhaps another irate or hapless victim might like to point it out.]

III. The Farming Dead

[Oh good, zombies were a thing here too. And what a time to have neither holy or healing magic to put them down. Not that either really matter - zombies went down like any monster still, but it seemed like going for the head was the quickest way to make sure they were down.]

[The only real problem was numbers.]

[Then again, being outnumbered was not something Zidane easily cared about. In fact, he whistled for the next hordes attention.]

That's right! This way, fresh meat, come and get it!

IV. Spotted Dicklivery

Alright, I have the route plotted out. We have one problem though...

[He still clearly remembered the Minotaur issue from a month or so back. He was sure the lowerside of Camelot remembered the Minotaur from a month or so back - in fact, they probably remembered the stench fairly well and he's not envious about it. Dealing with the rocks was enough, but the piss - dear gods...]

[No matter, Zidane pointed out the spot.]

That Minojerk lives somewhere around there. I went to see if he was in after he ran off, but he wasn't there at the time - heck, he might've moved out. Still, he'll probably nearby so we'll have to be careful.

V. Lavaft Behind

[Didn't matter to him how dangerous the Geode Slime might become living magma after it was freed - the issue was it needed help so he was gonna help. Y'know, even though he was warned it might be scared and attack. The burns wouldn't be fun to deal with, but the other option wasn't a choice to him.]

How do you wanna approach this?

[He already had his own ideas, but he always listens to any input from his partner - if they had their own suggestions.]

VI. Wildcard

[OOC: Rather do another prompt not present? Then this is the option for you! Hit me up at

demidemonLove and let's play!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Minojerk?

[Thankfully, Tifa's lucky enough to have avoided the minotaur issue completely, so the whole thing is lost on her. If it's such a threat, they should be able to take it out no problem, right? Zidane's proved himself capable and reliable in that sense, and she's taken out things twice its size before, so she's not at all worried.

Although now she feels like she should be...]

Think I might've missed the context on that one.

Okay, while we were trying to convince Celliwig to open back up, some folks decided ‘hey we should fight them instead’ and went into the mountains to harvest crystals. They disturbed this Minotaur and he came down to throw rocks into Camelot. Caused a bit of damage before he got chased off, but be then came back and took a piss in some of the city’s water supply.

[So, you know, just a great guy…]

Edited 2021-07-02 21:17 (UTC)

[The further he goes on to explain, the wider Tifa's eyes become, until...]

Oh.

[He did what now!? Note to self: make sure to double check the water before drinking? Hopefully they've cleaned it up by now but can never be too sure. She's pretty sure she can feel her stomach churning uncomfortably.

Yeah. Great guy.]

We should move fast, then. I can keep going a little longer, if we don't want to make camp somewhere... or run the risk of him finding us.

[And pissing all over their stuff.]

Yeah, but it was cleared up. Water's safe to drink.

[If she's worried about that.]

I don't mind going a bit further either. If we do have to camp, we should sleep in shifts; and if he does find us, can you use any earth magic?

[They might be able to cause a landslide or drop him off a cliff.]

No... Just elemental for now, and even then, most I could do for us is maybe cause a few burns. Start a fire if we wanna make camp.

[Nothing too crazy, and certainly nothing crazy enough that she can manipulate the earth with.]

I'm sure we'll figure something out if it comes to that, but as long as we don't stay in one place, we should be fine.

[Famous last words, maybe?

Tifa's already on the move again, picking up the pace. There's something about the quiet of the woods that's putting her off—so much that when she snaps a branch under her feet, the sound of it and the echoes that follow startle her and she freezes on the spot...]

Sorry...

... Wait, earth doesn't count as elemental?

[Since he doesn't have it, he's never asked. Some people seem to have their type of course, but... huh.]

Eh, burns might work. But yeah, if we don't give him a target, we're good.

[Oh yeah, they're probably screwed. Still, comfortable marching order they have for now, and Zidane's not much different from his usual self. Only thing important was making sure not to ruin the package. When the branch snaps, he blinks.]

... You're fine, but we might wanna move from this spot faster.

I don't know... It might. I just assumed that was green magic. [Which was a silly assumption for her to make. ~~and it was entirely my fault~~] Maybe I could, but...

[Tifa flexes her fingers when she starts to move again.]

Not that it matters, anyway. Even if I could, I don't think I'd trust myself to do something that big yet.

[Unless they wanted to get eaten up by the earth or blasted from it.]

So, why do you think the map didn't say anything about it? His cave, I mean? Seems a bit strange they'd leave such an important detail out.

Huh, fair. Dirt and plants, you'd think they'd be one magic. [But he's pretty sure they're different. ~~Nooo, no bad~~]

Something to add onto a list of 'magic to try later'.

[He had a similar list hehe.]

Could be he's not there anymore. He could've moved out after I swung by - which, yeesh, talk about being rude.

Really. Could've at least left a note.

[She can't help but smile at that, but it droops back into a thoughtful expression.]

Makes you wonder if anyone knows he's out here. It's pretty far...

[And if she heard that the Minotaur had wandered off into the mountains, she would want to avoid them too.

She's about to open her mouth to say something about how "if I were a cartographer", but something else grabs her attention first—a flock of birds taking to the skies very suddenly, which is never a good sign in a quiet forest. They're screeching and cawing in a cloud of black and brown before they're gone, but Tifa's already on edge, raising a hand in front of Zidane to stop him from moving any further.]

I'm sure someone does...

[Though, the moment the birds flee, Zidane's on alert, head up and tail raised a bit. He glances around once they're gone, his knees bent and ready to move should he hear or see whatever's approaching them. What would really suck would be if that guy threw a boulder first to cover up his footfalls because he was plenty heavy and not hard to spot.]

[The worst part about the mountains is that the higher up they go, the harder it becomes to see their surroundings. The trees are thick, and the edges are steep and littered with rocks jutting up, out, and sideways. It puts them at a heavy disadvantage, and Tifa's been around the mountains long enough to know that. It's why she's so cautious now.

She's still for a few seconds longer, waiting to see if anything comes of it, but when the silence returns, she relaxes, lowering her hands to her sides...

But something else grabs her attention now, just as she's letting out the breath she'd been holding in. The sound of running water that wasn't there before... and it's heavy.]

Do you hear that?

[More like... does he smell that? They're hit with a sudden putrid smell—not unlike anything that Tifa's smelled before, and with a groan, she brings her hands up over her nose.]

[Zidane listens and listens... and then squints his eyes slightly at the sound. And then the smell that comes with it.]

Ugh, I smell that... let's move.

[But he's not going to really suggest upwind. As much as they should so they're not smelling... that, it's more an issue with what might happen if they end up the ones with their scents downwind.]

[Just... give her a moment...

The smell is so potent that her hands can't save her. Tifa's hands grip her knees as she spills over, heaving at the ground. She feels like she's going to throw up every last bit of food she's eaten today, but she manages to hold it down... Somehow... It's a miracle, considering how awful it is.

When she stands, she gives her head a shake.]

I get it now. Why people hate this guy so much...

[She believed it before, but now she Understands.

Tifa agrees that they should move (as far away from here as possible), and she says as much in her purposeful stride, but they don't get far before a loud bellow echoes through the hills...]

And think about it. You just smelled it - think about the people that drank it on accident.

[Or don't! Probably better to not think about it at all!]

[Moving to get away, Zidane's head snaps back at the bellow. Or they... weren't. Must move faster, but in case he caught up...]

He better have his pants on...

[There is a split second where she does wonder, but—yeah. Best not to let the thought linger for too long... The smell is already bad enough that they could probably taste it in their mouths if they really tried. No thanks!!

She doesn't slow down, but the ground does quake gently beneath their feet. And then again, and again, and the third time, it's so close that she's sure it's going to fall out from underneath them. And then—]

Run!

[Up from the side of the mountain comes his hand, swiping at the path where they would have been standing. Next comes his head, and then the rest of him as the minotaur pulls himself up, and no. No. He's not wearing any pants.]

[Too late. You smell it, ya taste it, it's over.]

[Running on, Zidane had to look back after that hand came swinging out, and oooh boy, that glare his way. At least he doesn't have the package on him.]

Hey man! No hard feelings about that boulder, right?

[Because you deserved it, asshole. And when the rest of him appears, Zidane turns his head forward, his face scrunched tight.]

Dammit! No one needs to see that!

[As if he understands what Zidane is saying, a boulder the size of Tifa smashes up against the side of the mountain just over their heads, breaking into pieces and showering over them. Some hit Tifa, scratching her arms and face when she tries to shield herself while running, and she hardly has time to compose herself or check on Zidane before another one hits near her feet.

It breaks the dirt under her, and the path they're standing on starts to collapse against the side of the hill. Well, here's that landslide that Zidane talked about, but rather than take Simon the Minotaur down with it, it tries to take Tifa instead...!]

You're right, I should've busted your horn, bastard!

[Zidane, no, maybe don't further rile up Simon. Zidane shields himself as he turns tail and runs after Tifa, looking back and forward to maintain awareness of his surroundings.]

[The next hits near Tifa and there goes the ground. He reaches out with a hand.]

Tifa...!

[All she can do is cry out when the dirt disappears under her feet, and all she sees in her line of sight is the side of the mountain when she falls. Her hand reaches out to search for something—anything—to grab onto to stop herself from being dragged down with the landslide, and it latches onto Zidane's just in time while her feet dangle over the edge, gravity threatening to pull her away from him.]

Should've been more careful... [She tries to get some grip with her feet, but that only makes more of the rocks slip from under her.] Think you can—ah!—hold on?

[The naked minotaur is closing in on them, and he rips a tree from the ground, roots and all, and swings it around like it's a club.]

[Catching Tifa, there's a brief strain and he almost slips, but he holds on. Once he's more secure, he can start pulling her back, teeth gritted and still alert to Simon on his way.]

Don't worry about it. This guy's an asshole...! [Drawing her back more, he nods.] I got ya!

[Swing that tree all he wants, Zidane's already working out plans B and C... and D, but let's not go that low yet.]

[The tree splinters and breaks when Simon swings it against the rocks, and he's already stomping over with the now sharpened wooden club he's made for himself while Tifa desperately tries to clamber her way back up with Zidane's help.

It's hard to find enough footing to really anchor herself, but she tries anyway. Her feet slip, but her grip on Zidane's hand is secure. Together, they're able to get her back up onto solid, somewhat flat ground while more dirt slides away down the side of the mountain, and all just in time for her to push Zidane out of the way as the end of the tree swings onto the path between them.]

How'd you deal with him before!?

[She accidentally lets her eyes land on his junk and—GOD!! Put some pants on!!! She blinks her eyes shut hard, trying to push that image out of her memory as fast as she can before fixing his face with a hard stare.

Whatever you do, don't look down...]

[Perfect timing to get back up and have to stumble away. Looking up at Simon now that he's joined them, he takes in their surroundings again. Alright, looks like they have some stuff to work with. Just a matter of making sure to work with Tifa on this.]

He'd been throwing boulders so I threw them back. Nailed him in the head and maybe almost broke his horn...

[Glancing her way, he notices she's closed her eyes.]

You looked down, didn't you? Dude, don't you know it's rude to let that hang around a lady? Pretty sure that's why you're still single out here.

[He's also trying to get Simon's attention his way so Tifa can take a moment to collect herself.]

[She appreciates his sacrifice on her behalf. She definitely was not expecting to get such a view when she decided to climb up the mountain. This was supposed to just be a delivery job...

Her gaze fixes on Simon's face, and the tree in his hand, and she concentrates really, really hard not to let it wander again. Simon makes sure of that, of course, being angered by Zidane's taunting and roaring in response, bringing the tree down again to grind them into the earth. He's seeing red, so his aim is less than stellar, and he misses them by a longshot.]

So, what? All we gotta do is throw rocks!?

[No delivery job can ever actually be easy...]

[Zidane laughs when Simon misses because what was he tying to hit there? Awe, are the people too small to actually swat? Much harder than trying to hit a building when you don't ambush them, huh? He waves his hands and continues with a few taunts, but is ready to move if Simon learns how to aim.]

Not just rocks! You gotta hit him hard enough to make him run!

[She has to raise her hands to shield herself from the onslaught of wood splinters and leaves.]

Hit him hard enough, huh? That's something I think we can do.

[The two of them have managed to do it just fine before, so what makes this guy any different? Besides the fact that he stands several feet taller than the people inside the fighting rings, but when has that ever stopped Tifa before?

Angry, Simon finds himself a piece of rock to throw at them instead. Maybe his aim will be better this time around? Turns out that it is, and Tifa leaps up to shatter it with a kick before landing at Zidane's side. Not today!!!]

Just like last time. You ready?

I. Surf New Turf

II. Clean Up Chaos

III. The Farming Dead

IV. Spotted Dicklivery

V. Lavaft Behind

VI. Wildcard

IV!!!

OwO

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