NPF Avatars IV, Chapter V: Beyond the Wall of Teeth

Arhra · 08-22-2006, 09:04 AM

Arhra had just been trying to devise a means of procuring popcorn as it seemed there was about to be a messy fight going on. As Flare intervened to try and head things off, Arhra was reminded that intrapersonal conflict was not in her best interests if she wished to fulfill her goals. The only option was to be diplomatic. Regrettably, she'd neglected to bring her diplomacy hat. She'd have to improvise.

"I say, surely we can find a reasonable solution to this lamentable situation... my good chums? Are we not rational, thinking beings?" Being diplomatic did involve a lot of lying after all. It also seemed, inexplicably, to involve a British accent. "It would seem to me... my good chums... that 'twould be expedient to seek the wellspring of this conflict."

Taking a deep breath, Arhra continued, "The first circumstance would appear to be attitudes of one party having offended the sensibilities of other parties due to their offensive content (admittedly a highly subjective issue, but one that it would appear is against the group consensus due to a total lack of empathy for the plights of ones other than oneself) and thus giving rise to conflict of a physical nature with undesirable impact on group unity, meaning such behavoiur is unacceptable for successful peaceful interrelationship with other individuals who to adopt more conventional moral codes... my good chums."

Arhra inhaled again, "In order to resolve this dispute, I would suggest that we - RUN!" She bolted.

Her positioning meant that she'd been looking back down the tunnel and so had just seem the massive boulder drop ponderously out of a hole that had just irised open in the ceiling. Architectural anomalies like the tunnel's slope, closely toleranced, almost perfectly circular cross-section and complete lack of anything to shelter behind also had clicked together in her brain. Also, being flattened into a bloody paste by a really big rock would probably have a deletrious effect on her health.

Arhra's panicked mind was preoccupied with two thoughts as she raced down the tunnel, knowing the other NPF'ers and massive, heavy, painful, rolling crushing wouldn't be far behind. Firstly, she wasn't sure if there would be enough whips to save everyone and secondly that giant crushing boulders seem to be a potent means of stopping arguments.

PhoenixFlame · 08-22-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arhra

Arhra inhaled again, "In order to resolve this dispute, I would suggest that we - RUN!" She bolted.

"Run? Wh..." Phoenix was confused, and then turned to glance at the massive spherical rock tumbling down the just-correctly sized tunnel for it to chase them down.

"Earth Temple. Sentry. Boulder, Vanguard." The targeting computer of Phoenix's visor explained in it's needlessly verbose manner. Technically, had boulders been vehicles, a vanguard boulder would be one modified for increased speed and firepower. It was obvious however, that companies like PhoenixCorp did not construct "Sentry Boulder Vanguards" for errant Earth Temples.

"No schematics of the Boulder-Vanguard on record." It continued. Phoenix often wondered if computers were always serious, or just mocking her behind her back.

"Running is good!" The technomage agreed, and bolted down the tunnel after Arhra. If there weren't enough whips for everyone, she was going to make sure she got one before the rest of them.

Inbred Chocobo · 08-22-2006, 09:59 AM

Before the time of the boulder:

IC was the last person through the tunnel. He went and found another path down there that was much less dangerous, but everyone had already taken the tunnel. "There goes taking the scenic route." IC thought as he ran after the forumers.

As the forumers argued, only those that might have been paying attention would notice that IC came bursting through the teeth. Course, when he looked up and heard the argueing, he decided to listen. Though he did wish for popcorn.

Then the boulder thing happened. IC thought about running, then he noticed Garud and had an idea. IC took off running at Garud, then jumped in the air. He went to land on Garud's back, not only to force him flat on the ground, but to use him as a skateboard as such, and go skating down the tunnel.

Steel Shadow · 08-22-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Arhra inhaled again, "In order to resolve this dispute, I would suggest that we - RUN!" She bolted.

"Oh no, I'm not doing any more running today. Enough with the running!" He said, before turning around. Perhaps a wise man would have retracted his statment when he saw the boulder. An even wiser man wouldn't have bothered and just run anyway. Steel was niether of these things. "Ohhhhh crap" He sighed as the boulder rolled with great speed towards him.
He stood there staring at it, as if daring it to flatten him. The boulder rolled on, closer, gaining momentum. It was meteres away. Then feet, then inches. then centimeteres.
And then, for almost exactly 3 seconds, Steel disapeared from the space time continum. The boulder rolled on unimpeded, and Steel reapeared long after it had passed. Well, a few seconds anyway. He dusted his hands. "Easy."
Only then did it occur to him that the others were all on the other side of the still rolling boulder, and unless he could get past it again somehow, the only other way out would be alone, through the hall of mouths and back through the dreaded forest of stony death, where there were probably a bunch of dryads the forumites had missed just waiting for him. He paused to reflect on this for a moment. Then he turned around and ran after the boulder. "Hey, wait up!"

mauve · 08-23-2006, 12:04 AM

"I liked this better in the Disneyland ride," Mauve grunted as the boulder hit the ground, sending little shockwaves throughout the cave. "I got to ride a little jeep, and there was no risk of getting flattened."

She started to run, but then stopped as a horrible thought entered her mind. There were still NPFers in the cave. She looked back. Skyshot was struggling with Nightstorm near the cave's mouth, and some people were still trying to get out.

"Darnit...!" Cursing, she shoved a handful of whatever candy she could get her hands on first (Skittles, yay!) and ran back towards the rapidly approaching rock.

"Blizzaga!" At her command, large chunks of ice formed along the cave walls directly in front of the boulder, marring the smooth and perfectly-sized walls of the tunnel. The boulder hit the ice blockade... and smashed through it.

"BLIZZAGA!" More ice appeared in the rock's path, and it seemed to slow down for a few seconds. Mauve couldn't stop it alltogether, and her MP wouldn't last forever, but she might be able to slow it down until the others got a good head start.

"Skyshot! Get out of there!" she yelled at the cleric/thief. "Blizzaga!" She couldn't keep casting all day, but maybe she could at least give the slower people a chance to catch up with those who had already started running after Ahrha.

Toastburner B · 08-23-2006, 09:20 PM

"Oh....crap, dood!" TB squeaked.

He had several reasons for being alarmed. First and foremost, prinnys were not beings designed for speed. Being a patchwork zombie penguin with peg legs didn't really lend to being able to outrruning boulders.

As he whipped his little legs into gear, TB finally began to do something useful. Pulling little bombs out of the fanny pack on his belly, he began to leave a trail of expolsives behind him, hoping to either make the big rock smaller, or to make the cave less roll-friendly. It was then he noticed Mauve's efforts to slow the boulder.

"Dood! Get going, Mauve! If push comes to shove, I still have a few bodies to go through before I have to start worrying about it, dood, you don't!"

PyrosNine · 08-23-2006, 09:33 PM

"I shall continue this later!" Pyros said, and quickly flew down the path, but then heard Ice magic behind him. He saw the Mauve wearing mage attacking the Boulder to slow it down to save the others who were about to be entrapped by it.

Pyros, with the derring do that comes from being similar to Superman (except for the Lex Luthor part. If Pyros decided no good act could come from the man, he'd slice him up so good, and no amount of cloning would bring him back.), pulled out his wings and flew towards those still near the closed mouth in the wall.

"Grab my hands, I am far more swift than thee. And that is not a jab at Mages, I promise."

Flarecobra · 08-23-2006, 10:08 PM

"Mauve! I'll try to gum it up!" I called out, and decided to use my slime form to it's fullest. I launched myself at it and made myself as dense as I could, so that when I hit the boulder, I would at least try to stay semi-togeather, and when I was at the top or the bottom, I'd try to jam it up.

Skyshot · 08-23-2006, 10:42 PM

Skyshot slipped out from between the teeth, tugged out Nightstorm, and checked his balance. "I'm good. Hey, what's that...okay. Not good."

Skyshot wracked his brain for a solution while most of his teammates bravely ran away.

"Okay, I've got it. I run up and jam Nightstorm under the boulder to slow it down a second. Then Fenris and Flare can...where's Flare? Oh. All right, new plan: Thief Special Hidden Ultimate Trademark Final Technique!"

He fled.

mauve · 08-24-2006, 12:11 AM

Mauve was forced into a retreat as the boulder continued to push forward. She, Flare, and Toasty were doing all they could to slow the thing down, but it was still gaining ground.

"Dood!" squeaked Toastburner, his little legs moving as fast as they could, which really wasn't that fast. "Get going, Mauve! If push comes to shove, I still have a few bodies to go through before I have to start worrying about it, dood, you don't!"

Mauve instantly saw the wisdom in this. Throwing one more ice spell at the boulder, she turned tail and ran. She almost ran right into Pyros, who was running full-speed from the opposite direction.

"Grab my hands, I am far more swift than thee," Pyros instructed. "And that is not a jab at Mages, I promise." Mauve made a lunge and grabbed Pyros by the wrist.

"Well, if you promise," she said, somewhat out of breath already.

08-22-2006, 09:04 AM	#1
Arhra Ara ara! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Neo Venezia Posts: 5,013	NPF Avatars IV, Chapter V: Beyond the Wall of Teeth Arhra had just been trying to devise a means of procuring popcorn as it seemed there was about to be a messy fight going on. As Flare intervened to try and head things off, Arhra was reminded that intrapersonal conflict was not in her best interests if she wished to fulfill her goals. The only option was to be diplomatic. Regrettably, she'd neglected to bring her diplomacy hat. She'd have to improvise. "I say, surely we can find a reasonable solution to this lamentable situation... my good chums? Are we not rational, thinking beings?" Being diplomatic did involve a lot of lying after all. It also seemed, inexplicably, to involve a British accent. "It would seem to me... my good chums... that 'twould be expedient to seek the wellspring of this conflict." Taking a deep breath, Arhra continued, "The first circumstance would appear to be attitudes of one party having offended the sensibilities of other parties due to their offensive content (admittedly a highly subjective issue, but one that it would appear is against the group consensus due to a total lack of empathy for the plights of ones other than oneself) and thus giving rise to conflict of a physical nature with undesirable impact on group unity, meaning such behavoiur is unacceptable for successful peaceful interrelationship with other individuals who to adopt more conventional moral codes... my good chums." Arhra inhaled again, "In order to resolve this dispute, I would suggest that we - RUN!" She bolted. Her positioning meant that she'd been looking back down the tunnel and so had just seem the massive boulder drop ponderously out of a hole that had just irised open in the ceiling. Architectural anomalies like the tunnel's slope, closely toleranced, almost perfectly circular cross-section and complete lack of anything to shelter behind also had clicked together in her brain. Also, being flattened into a bloody paste by a really big rock would probably have a deletrious effect on her health. Arhra's panicked mind was preoccupied with two thoughts as she raced down the tunnel, knowing the other NPF'ers and massive, heavy, painful, rolling crushing wouldn't be far behind. Firstly, she wasn't sure if there would be enough whips to save everyone and secondly that giant crushing boulders seem to be a potent means of stopping arguments. __________________ This post is a good source of Ara ara, ufufu.* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Last edited by Arhra; 08-22-2006 at 09:28 AM.*

08-23-2006, 12:04 AM	#5
mauve So Dreamy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Someplace magical Posts: 6,863	"I liked this better in the Disneyland ride," Mauve grunted as the boulder hit the ground, sending little shockwaves throughout the cave. "I got to ride a little jeep, and there was no risk of getting flattened." She started to run, but then stopped as a horrible thought entered her mind. There were still NPFers in the cave. She looked back. Skyshot was struggling with Nightstorm near the cave's mouth, and some people were still trying to get out. "Darnit...!" Cursing, she shoved a handful of whatever candy she could get her hands on first (Skittles, yay!) and ran back towards the rapidly approaching rock. "Blizzaga!" At her command, large chunks of ice formed along the cave walls directly in front of the boulder, marring the smooth and perfectly-sized walls of the tunnel. The boulder hit the ice blockade... and smashed through it. "BLIZZAGA!" More ice appeared in the rock's path, and it seemed to slow down for a few seconds. Mauve couldn't stop it alltogether, and her MP wouldn't last forever, but she might be able to slow it down until the others got a good head start. "Skyshot! Get out of there!" she yelled at the cleric/thief. "Blizzaga!" She couldn't keep casting all day, but maybe she could at least give the slower people a chance to catch up with those who had already started running after Ahrha. __________________ Yoo Hoo! Last edited by mauve; 08-23-2006 at 01:26 AM.

08-23-2006, 09:20 PM	#6
Toastburner B Toasty has left the building Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hiding...because I don't want to die. Posts: 3,936	"Oh....crap, dood!" TB squeaked. He had several reasons for being alarmed. First and foremost, prinnys were not beings designed for speed. Being a patchwork zombie penguin with peg legs didn't really lend to being able to outrruning boulders. As he whipped his little legs into gear, TB finally began to do something useful. Pulling little bombs out of the fanny pack on his belly, he began to leave a trail of expolsives behind him, hoping to either make the big rock smaller, or to make the cave less roll-friendly. It was then he noticed Mauve's efforts to slow the boulder. "Dood! Get going, Mauve! If push comes to shove, I still have a few bodies to go through before I have to start worrying about it, dood, you don't!" __________________ I came, I saw, I got team-killed. A lot.

08-23-2006, 09:33 PM	#7
PyrosNine Zettai Hero Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A figment of my own imagination Posts: 6,103	"I shall continue this later!" Pyros said, and quickly flew down the path, but then heard Ice magic behind him. He saw the Mauve wearing mage attacking the Boulder to slow it down to save the others who were about to be entrapped by it. Pyros, with the derring do that comes from being similar to Superman (except for the Lex Luthor part. If Pyros decided no good act could come from the man, he'd slice him up so good, and no amount of cloning would bring him back.), pulled out his wings and flew towards those still near the closed mouth in the wall. "Grab my hands, I am far more swift than thee. And that is not a jab at Mages, I promise." __________________ Pyrosnine.blogspot.com: An experimental blog of writing. Updated possibly daily. Possibly. A fair chance. Current Works for reading: War Between them, Karma Police. PyrosNine: Weirdo Magnet Extraordinaire!

08-23-2006, 10:08 PM	#8
Flarecobra Burn. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Classified Posts: 11,017	"Mauve! I'll try to gum it up!" I called out, and decided to use my slime form to it's fullest. I launched myself at it and made myself as dense as I could, so that when I hit the boulder, I would at least try to stay semi-togeather, and when I was at the top or the bottom, I'd try to jam it up. __________________ "Only the fool wishes to go into battle to beat someone for the satisfaction of beating someone." -A Thousand Sons Rules. Read them, know them, love them.

08-24-2006, 12:11 AM	#10
mauve So Dreamy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Someplace magical Posts: 6,863	Mauve was forced into a retreat as the boulder continued to push forward. She, Flare, and Toasty were doing all they could to slow the thing down, but it was still gaining ground. "Dood!" squeaked Toastburner, his little legs moving as fast as they could, which really wasn't that fast. "Get going, Mauve! If push comes to shove, I still have a few bodies to go through before I have to start worrying about it, dood, you don't!" Mauve instantly saw the wisdom in this. Throwing one more ice spell at the boulder, she turned tail and ran. She almost ran right into Pyros, who was running full-speed from the opposite direction. "Grab my hands, I am far more swift than thee," Pyros instructed. "And that is not a jab at Mages, I promise." Mauve made a lunge and grabbed Pyros by the wrist. "Well, if you promise," she said, somewhat out of breath already. __________________ Yoo Hoo! Last edited by mauve; 08-24-2006 at 12:13 AM.