the journey to the badlands

[elkmobile]

WHO: Ashitaka, Drift, Wing, Cliffjumper, Dinobot, Korra, Luxord, and Mirage.
WHERE: Nearing the corners of the Badlands.
WHEN September 2nd-6th.
WHAT: A task was set by Prima to find a way to contain Ashitaka's curse. After asking for help, Ashitaka has a group and they are setting out to the Badlands. Expect some bumps along the way.
WARNINGS: Violence for battle scenes, no doubt!
NOTES: Since the characters are nearing the Badlands, their Links are much, much weaker. As a result, they cannot connect to the network very well. Ashitaka only knows Japanese, so communication as they get further out will be difficult for him. We can say that, along the way, he might have picked up some very broken English.

I will make a separate thread for various interactions, depending on your preferences! Something more action-filled? Something for socializing? Up to you!



The journey itself has been quiet enough. Still, for Ashitaka, the curse grows bit by bit. Burning him, inside and out. It would have been harder without Korra's waterbending, but it's difficult still.

Off and on, he switches between the various Cybertronians. Though he does find riding on Naga's back to be the most familiar in terms of travel, he often finds himself in Drift's passenger seat anyway. Despite appearances, Ashitaka has found the metal warriors to be no less alive than himself. As such, Drift feels very familiar on a different level.

And so it goes, as they push out further, the sky seems to darken, the land dead, and the air heavy with something wicked.

It tastes like the decay of a demon to Ashitaka.

Comments

CAMPSITE

[elkmobile]

Need to refuel, or in the case of the organics, eat? Rest?

Fortunately, Ashitaka may insist for everyone's sakes to take a moment to themselves.

This may be the best point of interest for socializing.

[winged_knight]

Wing settles companionably with the group, his Great Sword lain to the side but well within reach.

"We seem to be making pretty good time I think?"

Which was good, because as much as this felt like an adventure at the start, now that the light from Prima's quadrant had been swallowed by the horizon and replaced by a creeping feeling of malcontent from its opposite, Wing would be happy to have this done sooner rather than later.

[perfavore]

"Sì."

The red bot sits next to him, his wings twitching idly as he takes a moment to get some R&R.

"Although distance is hard to judge."

[sword_redemption]

Drift is, of course, doing a sweep of the camp perimeter. They haven't run into anything yet, but the operative word in his mind is 'yet'. And with the strange, heavy feeling he's been having since they left, he's doubly sure their luck won't hold.

He moves toward the small group, flashing a smile, and nodding at the red mech. "Distance is hard when there aren't any recognizable landmarks. Learned that on Cybertron--my Cybertron--twice now." First the wanton destruction under the Swarm, then the wilderness of the planet's resurgence.

[winged_knight]

A welcoming nod to Mirage as the other mech settles near him.

"There'd been a mountain range far off to the east, barely visible from higher altitude but," Wing shakes his head, "even that's fallen out of sight now."

He smiles at Drift's approach, looking up, "There were parts of Cybertron that featureless? Did we have a Badlands on our Cybertron? I never got to see as much of it as I would have liked."

[perfavore]

If the statement were spoken, Mirage would most definitely agree with you on that, Drift. It wasn't often that peace was held, especially when it came to high risk areas. It was true on Cybertron back home, it was true on Earth, so there's no mistaking that it would be different here. He looks over at the bot scoping the perimeter.

"My own Cybertron had landmarks, although it was much older than it is now."

And more dead. That was a difference.

"We did not have a place like this."

[elkmobile]

Ashitaka's gotten to work. He focuses on stirring whatever he's brought along with him, the pot steaming over the humble fire he's put together.

His eyes look to the large device given to him by the acolyte of Prima. It has started to darken somewhat since they began to leave the safety of the Haven, and more as they have ventured out.

Here, it is like a void. Distant and empty, unnatural. It is godless.

Ashitaka looks to Wing as he speaks, then nods slowly in agreement.

"We'll make it." He looks down at his work. "Thank you again for coming with me, Wing."

[winged_knight]

"It's my pleasure Ashitaka. Challenges such as these need not be faced alone when one has friends and allies to be called upon." He smiles, it's a small bright point in the dull half-light.

Wing contemplates the vial, glad to see some progress but the symbolism is a touch chilling. Searching for a distraction, he chooses a different subject.

"Would you tell me of your homeworld Ashitaka, where you come from? From what little you've spoken of it, it sounds quite interesting."

[elkmobile]

"Is it so terrible of me to say that I'm not sure I'm used to that out here?" Ashitaka admits quietly. "I'm honored so many have come to my aid, yet I didn't know them before they joined me. I'm glad all the same."

The vial does catch Ashitaka's gaze momentarily as well. It, oddly enough, reminds him of himself. Being tainted, slowly, by the darkness waiting.

"I can, to some degree. What would you like to know, Wing?"

[herodecoded]

Dinobot has no need to rest, just prepare. Dinobot sits on the edge of the campsite, focusing on his surroundings, on each sound and grunt that happened around him. He was in his element, his way as a warrior.

[elkmobile]

"Dinobot."

This one of the metal people looks different. He isn't sure of the significance, but there's something almost reptilian to Dinobot. It's interesting.

"You don't need to eat or... drink energon?"

[herodecoded]

"I shall eat when the time comes," he had more important things to do. He knew the importance of rationing.

"Any signs, human?"

[elkmobile]

"The vial has darkened some, but we need to venture out further, I think. Lord Prima said it would become darker the further we go in." Ashitaka looks out into the horizon.

"There is something... absent here. I just hope we won't be here any longer than necessary." The young man turns to face Dinobot and bows his head respectfully. "Thank you."

No one had to go with him. He is a stranger. They all have their reasons, whether it be for the sake of nobility, or something else entirely. But that does not mean Ashitaka isn't grateful.

GLYPHLESS

[elkmobile]

Monsters leftover from the Second Wave roam here.

So accidents and attacks do happen.

Re: GLYPHLESS

[not_halfbaked]

Naga started to growl. Ashitaka was riding her. Korra whispered to the polarbeardog, "Stay with him." Then the girl dashed off, trying to sense the apparent threat with her earthbending.

[sword_redemption]

Drift is in his alt mode, rolling with the party, when the white creature seems to tense. He slows down, edging over. "What is it?"

[elkmobile]

"Korra! Where--?"

Ashitaka looks after the Avatar as she runs off, but he feels ... something. It makes his arm twitch and he knows that something must be coming.

He warily draws out his bow and arrow.

"Drift, can you call in the others?"

((others can pretend they heard Drift's call and join if they want?))

[sword_redemption]

Drift draws out his swords, tempted to race after Korra. There's a bad feeling around this whole thing, almost like Cybertron when the god of the Dead Universe had tried to come through--thick and malign, almost choking.

He tries to hail the others, but the Link gives him static and clicks. "Report? Anyone? What's out there?" They need information. But right now, Drift's job is to protect Ashitaka.

TRAVEL

[elkmobile]

Here the group can roam out, performing the task set onto them.

Ashitaka wears the device on his back, either out on his own two feet, or maybe he's riding with one of you.

[cliffjumper]

"Okay... so how much father do we gotta go, and what do you need to do with that thing?" He's definitely antsy because while he can't hear anything, he doesn't like the strange, empty feeling up against both frame and field both.

Like atom-small pieces of self are just getting lost and while he doesn't regret volunteering, how about they be done yesterday?

[winged_knight]

Wing is scouting. He makes wide overlapping circles around the group as they travel, occasionally shifting the pattern to a figure eight and crossing over them. Normally flight always eased him, but there was something about the atmosphere here that felt uncomfortable. He tried not to think how exposed his bright white frame was in all of this twilight gloom.

He speaks over internal comms since the Link was rendered useless sometime a go.

//"A good question Cliffjumper. Ashitaka, did Prima give any indication what the Badlands would actually look like? How will you know when you're close enough?"//

[elkmobile]

A bit to his embarrassment, but Ashitaka had been dozing off. He can't really remember the last time he's rested, and there's something almost comforting about the rumble inside of these metal people. It's like a steady deep purr of a beast, ready to be ferocious.

At the words, he sits up in attention.

"I know he stated I should keep an eye on this vial. To see it darken. When it is pitch black, then we are to leave immediately. I don't know how the Badlands actually look."

[herodecoded]

And Dinobot? Dinobot himself had his sword drawn, busily scoping out the area. While others may have been just traveling, he was busy making sure nothing was out there...yet.

"It has been long since I've seen some combat."

[perfavore]

Mirage was close behind Dinobot, looming over him like some kind of shadow as they scouted. He was rather stealthy for a larger bot, you had to admit.

"Do not tell me you are rusty."

[herodecoded]

"It was not since before this world I have seen a worthy adversary."

Someone certainly felt smug about his combat skills. But wow, this one was fast...if not strange in design.

"Your design differs greatly from most Cybertonians..."