Hunting for the Basilisk (Pirates and Lilan Navy)

[Kristen]

Morwen stood back. It was difficult to see with the light of the fire giving off smoke, hiding what layed beyond for her. She was use to either all lights, or no lights at all. Her eyes were not yet adjusted to having small but bright lights near them while the darkness fell not too far from their feet. She squinted to see what was coming. Hand ready to pull out a knife or cutlass, she stroked the hilt, waiting for the creature to aproach.

[chase]

Chase saw the basilisk veer away from Poker, and thanked the gods for his shot. He kneeled up and pointed the crossbow vertically, firmly grasping the sinew, struggling to pull it back into place quickly...

[ulyssar]

The Admiral leapt off the rock she was on and landed deftly on the hard-packed stone floor. She felt a bolt hiss over her head and looked to follow. She had to stop herself from gasping and dropping her sword as she saw a huge snake-like creature launch itself at a man half-shrouded in darkness. She heard a horrible snapping and the beast roared and lurched away from her.

It was absolutely huge, longer than even one of her cruisers in her command. The skin was irridesently dark, reflecting the stone and darkness around it, camoflauging it almost perfectly. It had two huge fangs protruding from a mouth larger than she was, yellowed and dripping with venom, which glowed yellow on the ground.

Lorian, turned and called to Nau'ren, "Back to the entrance Sergeant, we'll take it in the tunnels!" She turned back to see the beast's tail whipping around to her. She stepped forward and put her sword out to block it away, but to no avail.

The tail was thick, almost entirely muscle and it knocked the sword away carelessly, slamming into Lorian's chest and sending her flying across the cavern, sprawling her on the floor almost forty feet away. The sword clammered down somewhere near her.

She landed heavily on her back, and Ullissyr lay, gasping for breath, as the pain in her stomach almost blinded her. She could almost feel the broken ribs inside of her. Her vision was hazy, all she could see were two blurred fangs of yellow moving towards her...

[Poker]

Poker saw the basilisk attacking the naval officer.

Poker knew his eyes were wide and his breath was quickening. He could feel his heart thudding like a bass drum within its cage but Poker knew he had to do something or he would never forgive himself.

Poker gripped his two cutlasses even tighter than before. His knuckles were now showing white and felt like they were about to burst through the skin.

Poker jumped between the snake and the naval commodore. He didn't know why he did it, but he had to do something. Poker could feel the fear rising in his throat and he screamed some wordless battle cry to quell it. Poker jumped towards the snake's mouth, intending to stab it in the roof of the mouth, but to no avail.

The snake almost carelessly brought its tail up and knocked it straight into Poker's neck. Luckily most of the tail hit the side of Poker's neck, but he could still feel the horrible feeling of his adam's apple being pushed into his throat.

The force of the blow sent Poker flying. He landed on the rocks before Archer, drawing a gash down his back. Poker put both of his hands to his neck defensively. It was the most painful thing he had ever felt. Poker could even taste the pain. Poker rolled onto his stomach and threw up onto the ground.

The last thing Poker would remember was Archer's harsh voice as he stood guard over his beaten master, the sharp pain within his throat and the dull pain across his back.

[Jarad]

Geddo had chased the basilisk from teh other side, having nearly avoided bieng killd by it. He saw Poker, Chase, Amory, and the officer being attacked. He yelled at it, "Away from my kin you blasted old beast, you want to taste flesh, then attack me." Geddo not sure why he did this threw some rocks at the snake to get its attention. When the snake turned geddo Fired an arrow at teh snakes eye, but a gust of wind made it ver off and land harmlessly on the snakes hard skin, breaking the arrow in two. "Great," The snake lunged at Geddo, and he just barly dodged the attack. Seeing as he coud not injure it he said, "Amory, Chase, Leave here, take the injured, I can buy you some time. Trust me, I wont die." Geddo said as he prepared for the second attack.

[Nau'ren]

Everything flashed before Nau'ren's widened eyes in one incessant moment. The Admiral was down but she had been given direct orders to go back. Time slipped past her, like soap in hands. She had never been in a situation like this before. After attacking Lorian, the creature turned to pay more attention to the pirates. It's enormous body squished the sides of the tunnels, making it difficult to see the other side.

Nau'ren finally decided to grab for her axe. The smooth wood slid through her hands, falling into the place to grip. Head raised to the towering beast, she side stepped over to where Lorian had fallen. "Please don't let this be your death bed," She whispered to herself. The sudden movement of another person made Nau'ren glance over her shoulder. Pirates. She thought.

The basilisk swayed into a lunge. An echoing crack told her one of the pirates were thrown against the wall. Nau'ren had no time to sit and think. She turned back to Lorian, "Can you hear me?" While the words fell out of her opened mouth, she checked to see the damage. Her brown eyes witnessed bruised ribs as she took a look at Lorian's stomach.

Out from another tunnel, another pirate joined in. Nau'ren stepped up and spun around, axe at hand. The dank air filled her lungs with the powerful stench of the basalisk's breath. She had no idea what to do; help Lorian, fight the basilisk, follow orders, or let the pirates help...

Nau'ren didn't even hesitate to show her frustration. She ran for the basilisk, axe above her head, raised for a strike. Her weapon was thirsty for flesh and fell too soon. The blade missed the wavering tail of the occupied creature. She didn't want it to come this way while Lorian was down, but she had to do something. Lifting her axe for another attack, the tail whipped her legs too, only causing her to fall. Her tall figure flipped to the side and fell upon the dusty cave floor. No injury had developed, but bruises had appeared under her pale skin.

Climbing up, she ran for her fallen axe, picking up Lorian's sword on the way. She leapt to where Lorian layed and set her sword to her side. Nau'ren had forgotten about asking the question and asked again, "Are you well enough to leave or stay and fight?" legs trembling, she bent over to hear if she could speak...

[chase]

Chase reloaded his bow, and fixed a bolt into place. He raised the bow up to his shoulder and stared down the sights with his target in sight. The basilisk lunged at someone Chase couldn't see. Chase aimed for the giant snake's eyes, hoping his bow might have more of an effect there. He lined up the shot, and pulled the trigger.

The bolt hissed through the air, and the basilisk must have heard as it moved its head towards him, and the bolt struck it right in between the eyes. It was even armoured there. The bolt cracked in half with such a loud snap that it echoed across the hall. It shattered into at least five pieces and flew across the hall. Chase swore and then something caught his eye. Archer was barking hysterically, facing the basilisk and beside him Poker was lying, not moving.

Chase swore loudly, put the bow on his back and jumped off the rock. He slid down the wall and landed in the dirt on the run. He ran over to Poker lying on the ground. He looked hurt badly, but he was obviously unconscious. Chase drew his sword and stood beside Archer, ready to defend them...

[ulyssar]

"Nau'ren," Lorian looked up at her. The pain in her stomach was terrible, but she didn't think it would be lethal. Some internal bleeding, nothing that couldn't be fixed when they got back to the ship. "Good to see you Sergeant," She moved to put her arm up to Nau'ren's shoulder, but she pulled her stomach muscles and the pain came flooding back in.

She yelled a bit and her vision blurred again for a moment, "Nau'ren... Here's your order... Survive..." She could hardly speak through the pain.

As she veered on the edge of consciousness, the baslisk slithered up behind them and loomed over both of them. Lorian saw it out of the corner of her eye, above Nau'ren's head, ready to strike. A drop of venom landed heavily next to her head. "Move Nau'ren!" Lorian pushed her out of the way with one arm, and lunged for her sword with the other, using every ounce of her self-control and willpower.

The baslisk striked down at her and Nau'ren, fangs racing down to meet them. Lorian rolled over and held her two-handed sword up to meet the baslisk. It rammed down on the blade, and the sword sunk into the snake's mouth, right up to the hilt, slicing out the other end through its nostrils, spraying dull blue blood over Lorian's body. The shattered fang was embedded in the dirt beside her, an inch from her head.

The baslisk reared up, and the sword shattered inside of it's head as it pulled away. It pulled Lorian's shoulder out of socket and tore a muscle in her stomach, breaking another of her ribs. She screamed in pain, and landed on the ground, face down, unconscious...

[amory]

Amory had previously ventured away from the beast, not watching her comrades attack at it and the snake attacking them. She had been focused in her own world, thinking, and wondering how they could defeat the basilisk, that seems to only tearing away each one, faster and faster. It had been difficult to stay focus as she heard everyone else screaming to each other, fear in their voices, and the sounds of their bodies falling to the dusty cave floor, the faint sound echoing in the large cave. Slowly, the basilisk was defeating their group, but Amory would not allow such an easy defeat. She bit her lower lip, continuing to stay in concentration. She forced herself to think about a snake's weakness, because no matter how large this basilisk may be, it was still a snake and had the same features as any type of snake. Amory rose slowly, but did not move from her spot. She suddenly remembered one day with Sango. Amory had been, at the time, rubbing her scales, and soon she touched the back of the snake's head, who immediately became irritated and forced herself away from Amory's touch. The back of the head... the others were all trying to attack the snake from the front, aiming for inside its mouth, but Amory was going to aim for the back of its head. This snake had to be killed. The others were paying for it.

Amory opened her eyes and ignored the others painful expressions, bodies on the floor. She passed Poker, trying her best not to kneel down to his side, and continued her way towards the snake. It had to be distracted, but right now, it was aiming straight towards Poker, Archer, and Chase. Her Pirate followers had been doing a great job, Amory would not allow her best Pirates to be killed by something like a basilisk. She refused. She stood in front of the snake and looked up at it, her stomach suddenly spinning. The snake had not noticed her at first. Amory gritted her teeth, pulled her claymore out, and aimed for the snake's stomach. It had, however, heard the sound of the metal against its sheath and its attention was directed towards Amory. It moved its body and its tail was whipping in Amory's direction, from behind. She stopped moving and looked, but had no time to react when the tail striked her back. She flew forward and landed just an inch away from the snake. Her back was in pain, but she ignored it as best as she could, as she still had her claymore in her hand. Thrusting it into the snake's stomach, she moved away from it, pulled her sword out, and ran to the back of the snake. She tried to ignore the pain searing up her back. Now... how was she going to get to her main target; the back of the snake's head...

[Jarad]

Geddo noticed Amory. Three weak ppoints to a snake, the eye, the stomach and the head. everything was armored, but no one aimed at the head. The snake reared up for another attack on Amory. It lunged, and Geddo moved quickly Geddo had made it just in time, the force of the blow nearly kocked him back, but his sword stopped the snake inches away from Amory. His sword was infront of the snakes frontt fanges. "Now Amory," Was all he could say as the snake used its tail to pull Geddo out from under his feet and threw him across the cavern, knockin gthe wind out of him, but he was able to watch the most of the fight. gather energy, and hope to lord that the beast dies soon.

[chase]

Chase saw Amory walk past him, "Mi'lady!" But she wasn't listening to him. Chase looked down at Poker, he couldn't leave him, not yet. He sheathed his sword and pulled out his crossbow, aiming for the beast. He fired at its head, but again the bolt just shattered on its scalp, and flew off into the distance.

Chase swore loudly again, his bow had been unstoppable in the past. Nothing could stop his bolts, not even heavy armour, but this snake didn't even flinch at his attacks. Its hide must have been terribly thick...

Chase drew his sword, and stood up, making his decision. "Horus, the eyes!" Chase flicked the falcon on his forearm, and she took off, flying towards the baslisk's huge eyes, ready to rake them out with her beak and talons.

Chase held his sword close to his body vertically, and ran towards the beast as he saw Amory leap up onto its back, and a pirate he hadn't seen before get thrown into the darkness.

"Amory!"...

[amory]

Amory ignored Geddo, nor did she listen to Chase yelling her name. She was completely focused on the beast in front of her, her eyes flaring from anger at the damage it had caused, to her pirates that were lying on the floor in defeat, and causing a stream of terror to the people of Diamond City. Amory wasn't one to care much for others other than herself and Pirates, but right now, she had too much anger to take notice to her dislikes of other people. When Amory focuses on something, she keeps the focus. She knew she would have to aim for the back of the head, but getting there would prove difficult. However, in just a moment's time, the snake did not move and she found it to be her chance to jump on its back and try to climb her way up as quickly as she could.

She took a sharp breath, closing her eyes to control her focus and let her anger pass, and opened them quickly afterward. She narrowed her eyes and jumped onto the back of the snake. She knew that it wouldn't take it very long to realize that she was on it, so she could not spare any time. She quickly grasped onto its scales and climbed her way up, struggling slightly as it began to thrash about. She bit her lower lip and continued to climb. Her breath caught when the snake began to fall to its side, hoping to crush her against the cold stone beneath. Her mind was whirling, and she didn't know what to do. But, in spite of the threat, she continued to climb up its back, which was taking much longer than she was comfortable with. She heard a wisp of air through her ear and she knew it was about to land. Suddenly, she had an idea. As the snake lowered itself farther, just a couple of feet away from the ground, Amory jumped off and ran in the direction of where its head was. It would not be able to stand up so easily. Immediately as it landed, though dust flew into her eyes, she held her claymore and stabbed it into the head. The rough scales reflected it with ease, but Amory pushed onto the hilt of her sword, taking staggered breaths in her struggle. Finally, she pierced the flesh of the snake and it let out a loud, ear-piercing shriek. Amory pushed in farther with ease, as the blade slicked through the inside of its head. The snake's tail thrashed and hit Amory in the front. She flew backwards and slammed into the wall of the cave. Pain seared through her back, but she was still conscious. She took a deep breath and watched it thrash about, knowing that it was about to die. A couple minutes later, it stopped moving and no breath escaped from it anymore. Finally, it was dead...

She stood up and walked towards Chase and Poker. "Do you have him?" She struggled to walk, but Amory had to help the others get out of the cave.

[Jarad]

Geddo slowed down his breathing. He was still alive and conscious. He had watched as Amory killed the beast. "I, Hate, Snakes." He said as he tried to get up. He limped over to the others. "Ok, Do you need help getting out?" Geddo said through rapped sharp breaths. He was still winded by the snakes blow, but he could walk and nothing appeared to be broken. ((wow that was horrible sorry about that))

[chase]

Chase picked up Poker in his arms, "I have him... lets go..." Chase was too tired to think straight, the baslisk was dead, that was all that mattered. Now they could leave, and he did.

When he got to the dead baslisk's body, he knelt down and tore out the crippled fang from its mouth, as a gift to Poker when he woke up. He kept walking, the darkness surrounding him and his heart thudding loudly in his ears. He saw the snake skin and had an idea. He lay Poker down and, remembering how strong the snake's skin had been to attacks, he pulled off about ten of the massive scales from the skin with a grunt, and set them away in his pack.

After that, it was all a blur. In later days Chase couldn't recall picking up Poker again, and walking out of the caves, regardless of who came with him. He couldn't remember walking to the Diamond City and making sure Poker was healed. He couldn't remember the naval soldiers. He could hardly remember anything.

It was all just... a blur. But he knew one thing. It was dead. And that was all that mattered...

[amory]

Amory nodded at Chase and turned her attention to Geddo, her breath deep. Her back was aching, she was in pain, and she knew she had to lie down soon or else she wouldn't be able to walk much farther. She nodded her head at Geddo and said, "If anybody in here looks alive, but unable to move, it would be very helpful if you could... get some." She took a deep breath and groaned slightly, closing her eyes. She leaned her hand against the cave wall. She chuckled at his snake comment. "I don't think I will ever look at Sango the same way again... that's for sure." She stood up and struggled to someone on the ground, grabbing them and wrapping an arm around their shoulder. The Pirate could still move slightly. She gathered two more people, one of them small enough to be carried on her back, as she went to the snake's head and had one of the Pirates pull it out and put it in its sheath. She sighed in relief as she walked out of the cave. "Finally it's over..."