Renala nods. "I'm not going to argue with that,"
#HuntingTime – August 26, 2013
Iressa turns from Steve, starting off toward the forest. "Alright, alright. No issue. Just stay close."
Renala follows after Steve, looking around the area for any threats. Her left hand is near her holstered pistol, but the Carnifex remains in the holster for the time being.
Tyranniac| The forest they are approaching is subtropical in nature, and quite lush. There is no sign of movement aside from a few winged creatures flying off from one of the trees at the edge of the woods.
Renala nods. "Yeah, I'm okay," she says. "I'm just a little bit wary of hunting an animal with an unknown behaviour."
Darsk watches the winged creatures flying from the trees. "Heh. Iressa, have you seen that species yet?"
So long as we keep our guard up, we should be fine. I'm sure we have more than enough firepower to put it down if things get out of hand.
Iressa responds without looking back, eyeing the soaring creatures in question. "Common avain creatures... not sure of the species. Most likely something we've seen before." She shrugs, looking over her shoulder to address the group. "If this is to go smoothly, we have to remember to communicate. Anything suspiscious should be brought up with the whole group."
Steve gives Maria a sidelong glance. "Well let's just hope it doesn't. I'm sure we'd all prefer to get paid."
Tyranniac| The trees are starting to surround them as they enter into the forest. Rays of sunlight break through the treecrowns here and there. A small avian creature runs off into some nearby bushes at the group's arrival.
Steve glances around as they push forward. "This place is pretty alive... It's going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Renala seems to relax her stanse a bit as they continue, but keeps glancing to the side every few seconds. "If it prefers the marches, it might be a bit easier."
Iressa weaves in between the trees, leaving a sort of haphazard trail for the others to follow. "It shouldn't be that difficult," she responds, "especially if the needle decides to find us."
Renala seems to not be on edge anymore, most sounds and movements being false alarms. "No," she answers.
Tyranniac| The type of vegetation has changed to some degree, with more smaller trees with widely spread roots.
Tyranniac| There has been a few small, vegetation-covered pools of water, and the ground is wetter here. Running water can be heard vaguely ahead.
Darsk notices the water. "Hmmm... looks like we're getting towards the right spot. Does anyone else hear that?"
Yeah... According to your notes on the creature, this would probably be a prime hunting location for it, right Iressa?
Iressa grows more uneasy as the environment starts to resemble the marshlands the map depicts, and steps carefully over small pools and softer patches of earth. "Clearly." She murmurs, scanning the area before them with newfound suspiscion. In a louder voice she responds to Steve, "That's right. The dull hours in the forest may have put you to sleep, but now it's time to stay alert."
Tyranniac| A bug can be heard buzzing, passing Iressa and circling Darsk for a bit. It is a species native to Aite's marshlands, about fist-sized and with fairly large mandibles, but passive unless provoked.
Renala glances around warily as the environment change. Preoccupied enough with the environment, she manages to plant the foot in one of the puddles. Muttering to herself, she now pays more attention to the ground, offering it a few glances now and then. She glances at the bug circling that, then looks at Iressa as if expecting her to know what it is.
Steve scans his surroundings purposefully as they proceed through the area. "Looks like you made a new friend." he says, his helmet giving the words a mechanical hiss, as he spots the bug pestering Darsk.
Iressa chuckles, not paying much attention to the bug. "I'm sure we'll come back this way later. Do what you have to."
Tyranniac| The bug buzzes loudly as it flees the path of the krogan hand, flying off to Renala and landing on her head, mandibles biting down on one of her headflaps.
Renala reflexively tries to smack at the creature with her free hand, "Ow, fuck," she mutters, her expression visibly pained.
Tyranniac| The bug starts fluttering around since it loses its footing, but bites down harder. Maria looks towards Renala, expecting a threat. "What? You see someth-..."
Steve turns his attention to Renala. "What is it?" he asks, sweeping his gaze back and forth as he moves his hand to hover over his holster.
Darsk sets the tranquilizer down and slowly draws his combat knife, careful to avoid sudden movements. "Don't move."
Darsk slowly and quitely walks behind Renala. "Don't provoke it! It'll just make things worse. Iressa, any better ideas on how to remove this thing?"
Steve follows Renala's hand. Spotting the bug atop her head, he glances back at Iressa. "That thing can't cause any damage, can it?"
Iressa grimaces, stepping closer to inspect it. "Don't try to tear it off, that's the first thing. Pry its mandibles apart, or better yet, sever the head from the body." With that, she glances at the Krogan with serious concern. "Just don't stab her head, alright?"
Renala nods and lets go of it. "Just... get it off me," she says with a strained voice. Stinging pain like that is possibly the most painful on the cartilage-based crest.
Darsk carefully maneuvers the knife behind the creatures field of vision, keeping the blade facing away from Renala's scalp. With one wrist movement, he cuts into the creature's carapace between the head and thorax.
Tyranniac| The bug lets out a faint noise as it is decapitated, most of it falling to the ground. The mandibles remain attached to Renala's head, but with less pressure.
Renala stays completely still, her expression still seems a bit pained, but she dare not move with a krogan holding a knife dangerously near her head.
Darsk removes the dagger and wipes it on the grass, returning it to his belt. "You might want to get someone with smaller fingeres to pull it off. It's too risky to try to cut the mandibles off with a blade this big."
Steve sighs and steps forward, hesitating for a moment before grasping the bug. "Sorry, Ren..." he says as he attempts to pry the mandibles open.
Steve holds the creatures head up in front of his eyeports and looks it over for a moment before flicking the lfieless head to the ground.
Renala holds her breath and grits her teeth while she lets him pull out the mandibles. She sighs relieved, but the stinging pain is still there. "Thanks," she says with a weak smile.
Iressa stoops down, scooping up the portion of the creature that fell to the ground. She turns it over in her hands, her expression that of genuine interest. Steve discards the other half before she can request it, so she scooped that portion up as well. After pocketing them safety, she shrugs toward the group. "Got to have something for the ride home."
Renala glances at Maria. "I was just about to ask that," she says. She brings her free hand up to check if the wounds left behind are bleeding.
Tyranniac| The faint noise of running water can still be heard somewhere ahead. A faint wind rustles the trees, causing some leaves to fall.
Renala takes off her backpack and places it on th eground before her and opens it. "Just give me a minute," she says as she picks up a new pack of medi-gel.
Iressa steps after Darsk, curious as well and more inclined to press on in the shadow of a hulking beast with tranquilizers.
Renala applies a bit on her finger and quickly rubs it onto the wounds. "I got more than enough of it, anyway," she says. Afterwards, she puts the medi-gel back in the bag and closes it before putting it on her back. She begins following the others.
Tyranniac| It is clear that they have reached the river delta, as a small stream runs ahead, with the surrounding land very soft and filled with vegetation, reducing sight distance.
Tyranniac| A small ichtyoid is swimming around in the slow-moving waters, but there is little else of interest.
Darsk steps away from the edge of the water and begins following the stream, examining the banks for any hint of tracks or trails
Tyranniac| There is sudden movement in a nearby shrub, and a nasty-looking, compact, crab like creature of quite some size emerges, about a meter in height and more in width. It moves hastily towards Renala.
Tyranniac| The animal lets out a clicking, whining noise as it is shot, the left arm no longer moving. It backs away and crawls up into a ball, except the left arm which hangs lifelessly.
Darsk lowers the tranquilizer to one side and quickly draws his Executioner, aiming it one handed at the crab
Tyranniac| Maria spins around towards the creature and moves the dart gun into her left hand as she unholsters her pistol.
Iressa reaches out her hand to stay Renala's hand, but her actions are futile as the creature's life is cut short. "Everyone can calm down now." She says in almost an irritated tone, stooping down to inspect the critter. "It's completely harmless, though I don't blame you for being jumpy."
Renala looks at the crab. "It sure didn't look the part," she says in response to Iressa's use of the word harmless.
Iressa shakes her head, lightly patting the creature's carapace before standing back up. "Yeah, let's get going." She agrees, yet looks reluctant to leave the injured creature.
Tyranniac| The crustacean winces slightly as it is patted, but doesn't run off. It remains curled up with the exception of the limp arm.
Iressa frowns toward the little beast, but continues onward. "I think we'll have our hands full anyway."
Tyranniac| The animal starts to move away from then in an awkward manner, dragging the injured arm along in a way that reduces its speed considerably.
Steve shakes his head. "Nothing just... Guess he'll think twice before sneaking up on anyone again, huh?"
Tyranniac| Maria looks ahead for signs of their target, frustrated at the lack of it. She pays no attention to the conversation behind her.
Tyranniac| Several large rocks make following the small stream more and more impractical the further they go.
Steve looks over the rest of the group. "Gotta say... I'm not too excited about the idea of hopping into a body of water with a water-dwelling predator somewhere around here."
Tyranniac| Maria looks down in the water. There isn't much to be seen aside from the brown, muddy bottom.
Iressa frowns, looking over the map. "If we don't want to lose more daylight, it seems like our options are quite limited. How does the water look?"
Darsk sets a foot into it, splashing. "At least it's shallow. Anything coming our way should be visible."
Tyranniac| Renala successfully jumps the stream, although the ground on the other side is soft, so her feet would no doubt sink in a bit.
Iressa eyes Steve, "Quite the gentlemen." Backing up, she gathers enough speed to leap over to the other bank.
Steve glances behind himself and backs up even further. Getting a running start, he leaps towards the other side.
Tyranniac| Something stirs in the water after the krogan splashes across. As Steve jumps, something leaps up from the muddy bottom of the stream, claws digging in to his undersuit and pulling him down mid-jump.
Tyranniac| The left claw hits a spot of heavy armor, failing to penetrate it, but the right one digs in to the softer undersuit. Sharp teeth and a strong jaw bite down on the leg to hold Steve down under the water, pulling him into the muddy riverbed.
Tyranniac| Maria spins around when she hears the commotion, taking a moment to get her gun ready. "What the fuck?!"
Steve is pulled beneath the water before he even realizes what's going on. He fumbles for a moment, reaching for his Tempest, but is unable to regain his bearings enough to properly orient himself. Instead, he resorts to slamming his fist downward on the creature, causing little-to-no damage due to the water resistance.
Renala turns around, her eyes widening at the sight of Steve disappearing into the water. "Goddess!" she says as she takes a step closer. She builds up biotic energy, but doesn't use it..
Tyranniac| The water stirs and splashes, with water visibility becoming near zero due to lots of kicked up mud. The lurker tightens its grip of Steve, keeping him submerged.
Steve realizes his attempts at damaging the creature are futile, and turns his attention towards digging into the creature with his left elbow in an attempt at causing it enough discomfort to ease its' grip. With his right hand, he makes another attempt for his Tempest.
Tyranniac| Maria pointlessly fires a tranquilizer dart into the water - it of course accomplishes nothing.
Darsk holds the tranquilizer steady, aiming at the area above the water where the creature submerged
Tyranniac| The lurker starts trashing Steve around in the water with surprising strength considering the size of the creature, most likely with the goal of disorienting or incapacitating its prey.
Darsk stops aiming towards the creature. "This isn't working. Ress, catch!" He tosses the tranquilizer towards Iressa on the bank
Steve stops reaching for his weapon, and attempts to dig his hands into the riverbed to use a handhold to resist the creature. He begins kicking, planting the boot of his free leg into the creatures head.
Renala keeps looking at the water, her expression making her worry clear. She still keeps the built-up biotic energy, as no biotic ability of her is both useful and not risky in this situation.
Tyranniac| The riverbed is far too loose to get a grip on, but the kick causes the lurker to temporarily stop trashing around. A moment later it moves forward in a very quick motion, claws digging in to his arms to keep him still while the jaws come down on his throat.
Steve digs his fingers into the creatures face, feeling for any indents or orifices that he may be able to cause some damage to. A slight shimmer begins to surround him.
Tyranniac| Darsk hits both The creature and Steve, causing the two to be pressed deep into the mud, making movement hard for both of them. Steve would be able to feel the creatures eyes, but thick lids slide down when he touches them. Further back are the gills, which seem fairly weak.
Steve loses his grip momentarily as the weight of the krogan's impact catches him off guard and causes him to sink into the mud, but he quickly regains his handholds on the creature, digging his fingers into the lurker's gills.
Tyranniac| The lurker pulls away quickly as the krogan tries to pry it away, causing its teeth to rip into Steve's oxygen tubing and neck armor. The animal thrashes about wildly as the human grips its gills, claws and tail flailing around at anything near in an effort to break free.
Darsk delivers a quick punch into the side of the creature, now aware of its position relative to Steve
Tyranniac| The animal moves as it is struck by Darsk's punch, causing its left gills to rip slightly due to the sudden movement. It becomes increasingly agressive as it is injured, claws scratching at Steve. It is unlikely the krogan would be able to maintain an upright position due to the unstable riverbed and the movement.
Steve begins to panic as the creatures teeth graze his flesh, causing a light flow of blood to begin mixing with the surrounding water. He digs his fingers further into the creature's remaining gill as water begins to flood into his helmet. The shimmering around him intensifies for a slight moment before it's suddenly released at the lurker.
Tyranniac| Maria takes aim and fires another dart, which flies just past Darsk and hits the creature, but the water resistance is too much for it to penetrate the lurker's skin.
Tyranniac| The lurker is hurled out of the water, landing on its back on the eastern shore, lying perfectly limp.
Renala raises the pistol at the creature and takes a few a few steps towards the riverbank. "Steve?" she calls out.
Tyranniac| Maria curses as the lurker is tossed out of the water. She aims her gun at the animal but doesn't fire. It still isn't moving.
Steve pushes himself to his feet and quickly grasps at his helmet, releasing it from the rest of his hardsuit. Water rushes from within it as Steve takes a deep breath, nearly choking in the process. He slumps towards the embankment, coughing as he sluggishly attempts to lift himself out of the water.
Iressa nods, approaching the beast slowly. She looks over it, determining the softest area of flesh and firing twice into it with the tranquilizers.
Renala jogs over to the bank nearest where Steve emerged from the water, and extend her hand to help him up from the water. "You alright?"
Steve grabs ahold of Renala's hand and crawls onto solid ground. He remains on his knees and drops his helmet onto the ground beside him, pressing the palm of his hand against the side of his neck over the large laceration. "Fine..." he lies, followed by a series of coughs.
Iressa continues to look over the Lurker, shuffling closer as it becomes more obvious the beast is not likely to wake up any time soon. She rests the end of the rifle on the ground beside it, glancing up to look at the battered Steve as he crawls up from the mud.
Renala looks over the wound as she places the backpack on the ground beside her, rummaging through it for her medi-gel canister. "Please remove your hand so I can get some medi-gel on it."
Steve moves his hand away, causing a quick spurt of blood to erupt from the wound. "How bad is it?" he asks, looking at the blood-stained ground.
Tyranniac| Maria looks over at Steve and notices the blood. "Shit." She looks back at the animal. "Who's got the restraints? We should probably tie it up in case it wakes up."
Renala | "Not too bad," she says, not entirely truthfully, as she puts a fair bit of medi-gel on two fingers before quickly applying it to the cut. "Over there," she bobs her head towards the riverside where she stood while watching the earlier commotion.
Tyranniac| Maria grabs the restraints and moves over to the creature, taking the last few steps rather slowly, in case it suddenly awakens. Once she reaches the lurker she kneels down and restrains the legs and the jaws.
Iressa stoops down, hesitantly putting her hand on the creature to inspect the damage down to it's gill. She grimaces, but assists Maria with the restraints when she brings them over. "Any idea how powerful these tranquilizers are?"
Steve turns over and takes a seat on his backside once the medi-gel is applied, feeling instantly relieved once the wound is sealed. "Thanks again..." he says softly, still staring off towards the ground, "This is becoming a bad habit..."
Iressa pauses for a moment, "I don't understand. If you mean the tranquilizers, I did use them. Now I'm wondering how long they will last."
Maria: Long enough to bring it back, I think. Not sure if it will wake up at all. Were only supposed to use one dart...
Darsk fumbles with an omni-tool for a few moments before managing to open a channel to Malarus. "We've got the specimen. It's heavily sedated and may be injured. We attached the restraints."
Renala puts the medi-gel back in the backpack. "Anytime," she says as she is about to close it, but stops and asks, "Are there any more cuts?"
Maria (Comms): We've got wounded, might be-... Several small canisters roll up towards the group from several directions. A moment later they start spewing out gas at great speed, obstructing vision and sedating anyone that inhales it.
Tyranniac| A submission net is fired from an undertermined direction, hitting the krogan. The gas continues to fill the area at great speed.
Iressa covers her mouth as the gasses spread over the group, tripping over the downed Lurker as she tries to navigate the disorientating scene.
Tyranniac| Maria curses the fact that she didn't bring her combat mask as the gas starts to fill her lungs. She collapses a moment later.
Steve begins slowly looking over his armor for any additional damage, clearly unfocused until the krogan's shout draws him back into the moment. "Shit..." he mutters to himself, quickly attempting to replace his helmet in hope that it may slow the gas as he scrambles towards the river.
Tyranniac| Additional submission nets are fired at the people still standing, coming from different directions.
Renala can't really fight back against the gass, and a muttered curse is all that's heard before the sedatives start to affect her. She triest to get on her feet, but ends up stumbling and falling to her knees before collapsing ontop her backpack, a submission net flying right past her head as she hits the ground.
Darsk breaks the submission net and struggles to his feet before collapsing again, finally succumbing to the gas
Steve is forced to the ground by a submission net as the gas begins to seep into his damaged helmet, putting him out completely.
Tyranniac| A figure clad in what looks like home-made armor and a breathing mask walks out of the foliage with a stun baton resting on his shoulder and Carnifex in his other hand. He surveys the group with a grin. "Asari? Niice."