Chocobo Roundup

[damn_juicebox]

WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN!
WHAT: A group of adventurers sets out to find themselves some new feathered friends, as well as spend time together camping out and battling monsters. On the last day, the adventure is capped off with a battle against a chocobo eater.
WHEN: November 7th - 9th
WHERE: Calm Plains

OOC NOTES
There will be two threads for each day: one for mingling, and one for fighting monsters/encountering chocobos. The encounter schedule is listed below. Assume encounters A-E happen in the daytime, and F-J happen at night. We can assume that most of the encounters are handwaved, so if there's one you'd love to play out, start a thread with the encounter listed in the subject. Example: Day 2, Encounter X: Five Hamsters.

Note: We will not find five hamsters. No one is allowed to die horrifically in this fun-filled expedition.

Some chocobo captures are reserved for those who signed up, and have been marked accordingly. You can claim one of the encounters on this list, if you like. And if you're a new character, you can join too! Either assume Rukia mentioned it to them and invited them along, or PM me and I'll have Rukia meet your character in the intro log if she hasn't already.


Day 1
A: Enemy female yellow chocobo (accompanied by two Buers)
B: 3 Red Elementals
C: Friendly female aqua blue chocobo - Claimed by LEVY
D: TREASURE CHESTS! (surprise it's two Mimics)
E: ANOTHER TREASURE CHEST! (still a Mimic though)
F: Friendly female green chocobo
G: Enemy female yellow chocobo (accompanied by 2 Gargoyles) - Claimed by RAMZA
H: 1 Mandragora
I: Friendly female yellow chocobo
J: 1 Hamster (run)

Day 2
A: Friendly male yellow chocobo - Claimed by FAI
B: 2 Geezards
C: Unfriendly male yellow chocobo - Claimed by YUNA (AU)
D: Enemy female yellow chocobo (accompanied by 2 Wyverns) - Claimed by K'pandolu
E: 3 Goblins
F: 1 Gargoyle
G: Friendly female yellow chocobo
H: 8 Goblins
I: Unfriendly male yellow chocobo
J: 2 Touch Mes

Day 3
A: Unfriendly female yellow chocobo
B: Unfriendly female yellow chocobo
C: Friendly female purple chocobo - Claimed by KIJA
D: 3 TREASURE CHESTS! (Nope still Mimics who puts a treasure chest in the middle of the plains seriously)
E: Enemy female yellow chocobo (accompanied by 2 Mandragoras)
F: Unfriendly female yellow chocobo
G: 9 Buers
H: Unfriendly female white chocobo - Claimed by RUKIA
I: Unfriendly female yellow chocobo
J: CHOCOBO EATER (small)

Comments

Day One - Setting Out

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia is well-prepared for this expedition. Given that she's working on her Ninja and Ghostbuster, she doesn't have the spells of the Red Mage to rely upon for healing injuries or removing status effects. So in addition to her camping supplies and rations, she's packed potions, antidotes, and two of every other kind of status healer. Elixirs are a bit out of her price range, however.]

[She waits by the town gate with a plastic poncho, since the weather calls for rain on and off. A little lousy, but what can one do? She made sure to get a waterproof tent, big enough for four heroes to sleep in if they don't mind squishing up like sardines. Rukia sure doesn't mind.]

[The most important piece of gear, however, is the purple crystal in her pocket: the Chocobo Lure. With that, they'll be able to draw chocobos to them for the purpose of taming a new friend and companion. But she's been warned that the lure can draw more than just chocobos, and she's very well aware that the plains can be dangerous at night. It's good to be armed and prepared. Now all that needs to be done is wait for those who wanted to set out together on this fine, chilly morning.]

Day One - Encounters

[damn_juicebox]

Day One - Encounter C - Placeholder

[scriptrix]

[Levy's never done anything like this before, but she figures getting her own chocobo might be a good idea for long trips outside the city. Plus, Rukia is with her, so that makes her feel a little more at ease. Chocobo Lure grasped in her hand, she ventures out onto the plains to look for a likely candidate.]

So... I just carry this around with me, right?

Re: Day One - Encounter C - Placeholder

[damn_juicebox]

I believe that's all it requires.

[She tested it out first, and that brought on the angry chocobo flanked by two Buers. An easy enough fight, especially with so many of them on hand, but no one was ready to claim the chocobo as a companion.]

One of them should show up soon enough, if we are patient.

now as the correct character

[scriptrix]

All right. I'll keep my eye out for one, then.

[Levy waves the crystal around in front of her as she walks, glancing left and right and proceeding slowly so as not to spook any chocobos that may be nearby.]

Day One - Evening Campfire / Day Two - Breakfast/Lunch Breaks

[damn_juicebox]

Day One - evening campfire fine I'll be the first gosh

[makingfriends]

[With other matters to take care of, Ven doesn't catch up until evening, just before the campfire's set up. With his own Chocobo fully recovered and healthy, finding the others is pretty easy and not too long of a ride from the city, although the cold and the rain make it a little more troublesome.

Still, he's not one to complain, and he's probably in a good enough mood for everyone else when they sit down to camp. As the warmest -- and most waterproof -- thing he owns, he's back to wearing the Time Mage cloak, leaning back against his green bird as it naps. And while Ven doesn't complain, Mograe's another matter; she's thrown herself on top of his head, pulling his cloak's hood up over herself for added warmth. Even then, she can be heard muttering now and again.]

It's okay if you go home, you know. I'll be fine with the others.

N-Nonsense, k-kupo. This is nothing compared to some of the blizzards we've had in the past!

Then why are you shivering?

That's just because I - I - achoo!

Hey! Don't sneeze on me!

[GROSS]

Day One - evening campfire fine I'll be the first gosh

[whereishe]

Are you alright?

[Yuna isn't wearing very much to combat the rain. She had a cloak but it quickly soaked through so she found that she had been colder when she wore it. So she's wearing her leather outfit which is able to keep the water from sinking into her skin. Of course it only covers part of her.]

Maybe you should head into the tent? Or closer to the fire. We don't want you to get sick.

[Hair mats to her cheeks and face as she looks over at him. She's yet to catch her chocobo but she isn't in a rush. She's a little surprised at the different colored chocobo's.]

Day One - evening campfire

[makingfriends]

[Both Hero and moogle look up, the former smiling brightly and the latter just continuing to shiver pathetically.]

Yeah, I'm fine! I keep telling Rae to go inside, though.

T-Too cold, kupo. Don't want to move. Body heat.

[Ven looks slightly amused at that, but only sighs sympathetically as he stands up.] C'mon, I'll take you. Sorry, Sora -- stay warm. [He gives his sleeping bird a pat before looking at Yuna, expecting her to follow.]

Sorry again for being late. How'd the hunting go?

Day Two - Encounters

[damn_juicebox]

C: Unfriendly male yellow chocobo

[whereishe]

[Yuna is used to capturing chocobo's so it's odd that she hasn't taken the time to find one for herself. She's not used to seeing them in color though and her first encounter with an aqua chocobo leaves her with her mouth hanging wide and the chocobo running off into the distance.

It took her awhile to adjust but she wants to find a chocobo that suits her. One with passion and maybe a yellow one since it's what she is used too. This is when she runs into her target. Her gaze is set forward and her mind is focused, only the chocobo doesn't seem to want to be caught. A smile pulls at Yuna's lips as she chases after the bird. It stops every so often and looks back at Yuna as if to see if she's still following.

The chocobo doesn't want to make this easy.

Yuna turns towards whoever is next to her with an excited smile. She's having way to much fun considering the chocobo is being more than a little difficult.]

We need to tire him out. Can you get around and cut off his escape?

[damn_juicebox]

I can.

[Rukia casts a confident smile at Yuna, and activates her Clone ability. Her form flickers, then there's a dark flash before there are two! Two vertically stunted soul reapers, ah ah ah! Both separate, one going left and one going right, as they move to route the chocobo's flight. Of course, she can only do so much. Yuna will still have to ride it to earn its trust, but given how it keeps looking back at her, Rukia's sure that the chocobo is merely testing her determination rather than resisting capture.]

A: Friendly Male Yellow Chocobo

[iscursednomore]

[Steadying Big Yellow Fai made sure that tracking was easy enough. He just hoped he actually would manage to catch a male one because how can one really tell? He actually had no idea.

With a chocobo in sight he moved to get off his own and make her do whatever she wanted, even getting her to slowly walk up to the other while he went into his little pouch before looking back.]

Question~ I have some Greens, but I thought I would check if everyone else had some?

I: Unfriendly Male Yellow Chocobo

[gonebyebye]

{It's well after dark when Ray finally encounters a chocobo, and unfortunately it's less than willing to just come to him. The chocobo ducks and weaves away anytime Ray gets even close to it, but never moves too far away to catch up. It's as if the bird playing a game with Ray, or possibly just messing with the Ghostbuster for it's own amusement.]

Little bit of help here, anybody?

I: Unfriendly Male Yellow Chocobo

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia chuckles. She didn't realize just how varied these encounters would be, nor was she counting on the vividly different personalities expressed by each of the birds. This one, she believes, seems to like Ray well enough otherwise it would have ditched him long ago. It just wants him to prove himself.]

What's your plan? I can circle around to the opposite side, if you wish.

Day Two - Evening Campfire / Day Three - Breakfast/Lunch Breaks

[damn_juicebox]

Day Two - Evening Campfire

[whereishe]

[The rain doesn't seem to bother Yuna and she doesn't do anything to cover up her exposed arms and legs. There are prickles along her skin as she looks up at the sad sky. The air is getting colder but she enjoys the way it feels. Getting into a tent isn't going to stop the chill and she'd rather embrace it.

The fire flicks and sizzles as if each drop threatens to put it out. There is a soft smile playing across her lips as she finds a seat among the wet grass. Her new chocobo is wrapped around her and looking annoyed at the sphere hunter. It's clear that the chocobo doesn't like her staying out in the rain.

She's happy to talk to those around her, however her chocobo might nip at those walking too close. She rests against the bright yellow feathers and tries to keep the birds head in her lap to prevent him from being a jerk to others.]

Maybe someone should tell a story?

[It's cold and she can tell that some people are feeling the weight of the uncomfortable weather.]

Day Two - Evening Campfire

[damn_juicebox]

Oh, a story would be great!

[Rukia's voice comes from above where she's stretched out on a tree branch, busily tying a secure knot as she does her very best to erect a canvas canopy over their heads. The drizzle isn't too bad, but the canopy isn't going to be much use if the wind picks up again. She's got two corners up, and she holds to the tree branch, gauging her distance to the ground before she hangs and drops. She brushes her palms together, then moves to the next tree to start climbing that one as well. It's more difficult when the bark is slick with rain and her sandals coated with mud, but she's been doing this for years. She likes being up high.]

I read an excellent book recently about a teenage boy who moves from town to town, hunting demons and monsters while trying to assume a normal life to avoid enemy suspicion.

[It's actually a horrible book, but Rukia has no taste when it comes to scary novels.]

I could tell it, if you wish.

Day Two - Evening Campfire (closed to Rukia)

[no1]

[ The evening stories have effectively dispersed his drowsiness from before, in fact Ace now found it somewhat difficult to fall asleep again, with all the new information which has snuck its way into his thoughts awakening old memories and making him wonder.

With most Heroes having already retreated to their tents, the blond moves closer to the source of the warmth, Suzaku following along only to unabashedly drop to the ground and resume dreaming its Chocobo dreams as soon as the pair secures a good enough spot. Letting his friend rest, the cadet sits next to the bird and retrieves a journal from his bag, though the dim light of the slowly dying campfire seems hardly ideal for the task he has on mind. Even so, he decides to make an attempt as he carefully dips the quill into a bottle of red ink. His favourite.

... And then he's unsure where to begin. ]

Re: Day Two - Evening Campfire (closed to Rukia)

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia can't sleep either. She's still not done drying off, and some of the stories Ray told were fascinating, even chilling! She wants to mull over them for a little while longer. So, after changing into some dryer clothes, Rukia emerges from her tent to string up a clothesline and hang out her wet black robes. She takes note of Ace, who seems unusually pensive, and moves to sit beside him.]

Are you keeping a travel log, perhaps?

[If so, maybe he'll let her read it.]

Day Three - Encounters

[damn_juicebox]

[OOC: After the defeat of the chocobo eater, the heroes will return to Aqures Ixen in time for dinner.]

Day Three - Encounter H

[damn_juicebox]

[Three days of rain. And three days of no white chocobos. Rukia's starting to regret not going after that beautiful aqua-colored bird, but she'd firmly believed that her white-feathered companion was still out there, waiting for her.]

[Perhaps a yellow bird would be just fine. She's liked all of the other yellow chocobos she's met, and as Cloud suggested, there's always feather dye if she has her heart set on a white bird. Why is the color so important? She can't really say, but if she had to guess, she would suppose it's because the color is somewhat thematic to her. Her zanpakutou is white, from blade to guard to ribbon. Snow is white, like the nature of her sword and the snow that blankets the ground on her birthday. She's attracted to the color and the purity it represents.]

[Wielding the chocobo lure, she activates it once more. She can't afford to be picky any longer. This is the last day, and she needs to go to Esdham to deliver her reports on the previous month.]

[But just then, there's a flash of movement near the outskirts of the woods. Rukia straightens, all of her attention riveted. Something tells her that this is it. This is the companion she is fated to join.]

Is that...?

[Glancing at the others, then at the woods, she edges forward as quietly and stealthily as she's able without going invisible. What she sees makes her dark blue eyes go wide with wonder. In a small clearing, dancing, is a splendid white chocobo with feathers as white as the clouds. It shakes the rain from its feathers with a feminine trill, and immediately, Rukia knows.]

[This is the one.]

[The chocobo lifts its head, fixing its gaze directly on Rukia. A connection is made, and it holds itself very still.]

[Carefully, oh so carefully, Rukia edges forward, holding out her hand.]

You are the one I have been searching for.

[The chocobo makes no sounds, not even ruffling its feathers. It regards her hand, then Rukia herself.]

Pleased to meet you. I am Rukia--

Kuh~wehhhh.

[It's the snottiest 'kweh' ever heard as the chocobo vainly tosses its head and turns its tail feathers on Rukia. Then it paddles up the mud with its feet, drenching the shinigami before trotting away.]

[Rukia raises her arms to shield herself, flinching as the mud and torn up grass spatters her robes and cheek. When she lowers her arms, her eyes burn.]

Why you...! RETURN AND APOLOGIZE THIS INSTANT!!!

[Despite her demands, she dashes after the chocobo as fast as her arms and legs carry her. This humiliation will not stand!]

Re: Day Three - Encounter H

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud is off a bit of a ways with Zack, trying to pick up the trails of any Chocobos wandering around. The rain and the mud are making any sort of tracking difficult, but eventually Zack perks up as he finds a scent. His headcrest plumps upward and he ruffles his plumage, something that Cloud has not seen him do before.]

What is it boy? Is it a monster? Hey!

[Zack darts off on his own, leaving Cloud behind to chase after him. Fortunately he doesn't have to run that far before he first hears and then sees the mud soaked girl shouting off into the distance.]

Rukia? What's going on?

Day Three - Final Encounter (J) - Chocobo Eater

[damn_juicebox]

[It's getting dark, and Rukia can say that the expedition was a success. The weather was nasty, true, but she'd still enjoyed sharing a campfire, drinking cocoa, and talking with friends. Even if she hadn't found Yuki, she still would have returned to Aqures Ixen with a smile.]

[Riding her proud mount, she notices a faint stink in the wind, one she hasn't detected before. She can feel Yuki tensing, dancing nervously and raising her head higher. The other chocobos are starting to grow skittish as well. They paw at the ground with their talons and make anxious chirps, ruffling their feathers. Some that are less trained may even cluster together or attempt to run.]

[Rukia twists at the waist and draws her blade. She may not know what's approaching, but she can feel the threat from sheer instinct alone.]

Something is approaching.

Day Three - Final Encounter (J) - Chocobo Eater

[whereishe]

[Yuna's walking alongside her chocobo instead of riding him. She has begun to ramble about something when the chocobo comes down and nips at her shoulder. It doesn't hurt but it's hard enough to make Yuna alarmed. It isn't like the playful bites before.]

A monster?

[With a hand on her chocobo her gaze looks over the skyline. She's been training her chocobo with her beastmaster class hoping that the pair could fight together should something come up.]