Meet the Landers: Kirin

Upon investigating a storm shortly before her departure to the Palace Lands, Mikage came upon an unusual small island, drawing her there in the midst of the night.

Liminality
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

It's been while now, since Mikage left for the Palace Lands. Still, during her preparations for the trip up, she was making a stop over at Tsushima Shrine to check up on the crystaline device that ensures the safety of that transfer. The gem hidden beneath the island, the Machine of the place seems to have gone into some kind of power savings mode for the time being.

From what she could tell from a quick look around, everything is working as intended. However, heading back down from the tall hill that the shrine lays on, she is drawn off the path by an unusual occurence.

Sparks akin to lightning rippling through one of the 'pits' which had been dug by the intense power of the resident Machine during an old battle with a Leviathan. Sparks gripping at the creature she spots within. Kirin, the being which she'd met so many months ago during a wild lightning-storm, appears to be struggling against black coated hunched invaders. Their bodies notably on the small side, while using what appear to be some kind of metalic devices to attempt to trap the Divine Beast.
Mikage
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

It takes a lot to convince Mikage to come out as far as the shrine. Traveling by sea had never been her favorite thing within the world of Elder Tale. The rough waters always made her more than a little sick to her stomach. So, she is in no great hurry to leave once she was sure that things were still safely in place.

The hint of electricity in the air catches her nose first, long before she hears the sparks and sees the flashes in the distance. Her Were Fang senses are more attuned to the sort of elements associated with storm magic, so she is instinctively drawn in that direction. The girl hovers on the lip of the crater, trying to take in what she is seeing down below.

Kirin, she recognizes, the other creatures, not so much. Her brows furrow as she reaches for an arrow at her side. Someone else might choose not to get involved but Mikage? Well... Mikage doesn't back off from the 'big damn hero' moments, even when it might not be smart.

She starts to fire arrows, trying to take down the creatures that are trying to trap the Kirin, using the advantage of range while she has it.
Liminality
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

Her first arrow bites into the creature, which immediately erupts into a blast of light. Interestingly, the metal they were using to clamp onto the Kirin disappears right along with her strike. This leaves only four of the robed creatures, and it would not take much for her to dispatch them. It almost seems strange, for the Kirin to be threatened by these small monsters she just dispatched so easily.

The creature at the bottom of the pit lets out a loud whinney, trying to use its rear legs to smash one of them to pieces. But it ducks and rolls under the strike, followed by a new yank on that chain. Another fierce burst of lightning blasts out from the Divine Beast, but the electric energy just seems to practically absorb into the critters. They must have some kind of Electric Resistance or the like to survive those powerful strikes. Because each burst that comes down creates a violent sonic boom that pushes the sand and debris around the impacts away!
Mikage
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

Mikage had learned from the last time she encountered the Kirin, that she is not resistant to lightning, despite her use of storm magic. So, she seems more than happy to stay at a distance, working on picking off the creatures one by one, so long as it seems as if she would be able to do so.

"What the hell are those things..." She doesn't have Cyrus' skill in analyzing things, but she runs a quick INSPECT on them just to get an idea of what she's dealing with. Of course, one question likely leads to others. What are they doing here? What is the Kirin doing here? Why didn't the shrine's defenses pick up on this if it can deal with the intrusion of a Leviathan?

However, the one thing Miki is good at is /not/ thinking. She's more about taking action. So the arrows continue, for now.
Liminality
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

When she INSPECTs the creatures from afar, she has some difficulty doing so. She's at a longer range from them, so she has to approach at least somewhat down the hill while picking them off one by one. Shot after shot, the Kirin is released from the creatures' metalic bindings.

She however waits long enough before approaching that last one. And when she does, it declares; 'Terraforming Einheit Eins - Pawn'. It's a green level enemy to her - being one of the highest level Adventurers in the Yamato region. And with that last volley of arrows, it too is eradicated.

The Kirin continues to rampage for a bit longer, throwing its legs about, shaking about and sending bursts of lightning around itself, before it seems to realize it has been freed. It calms down, looking around, stomping its foot down to the ground. Then turns its gaze towards Mikage... and bows its head.
Mikage
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

There is some focus on trying to make sure that she at least finds out what the last creature is, even if it means getting closer than she would like to the rampaging Divine Beast in the process. In the end, the name sparks no great understanding, other than a murmur from the young woman of, "More German. I mean, I suppose they had to have had a European localization team, but I would have thought they'd use way more English." She's talking to herself, it seems.

When the Kirin finally calms, Mikage returns the bow, holding her weapon in front of her in the process. The arms of Dawnbreaker have already retreated, the Elemental Machine weapon having been powered down. When she stands back up again, the Were Fang offers, "Glad to be of help, again. Just... try not to zap me this time, if you can."

She has no idea how well the creature actually understands her or not. "I... don't suppose you hae any way of telling me what those things wanted with you?" Miki asks, hesitantly.
Liminality
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

There is something to be said about the Japanese and their obsession with random German words because it sounds 'cool'. Even if that obsession tends to lean more into the side of Chuunibyou niche than anything else.

Whatever the case may be with their names, she at least picked up one particular part of their name that seems more telling than anything else. Even if it doesn't really seem to make sense in comparison to what she just witnessed. Why would 'Terraforming' units be fighting a Divine Beast?

Stepping forward, the Divine Beast in question, Kirin, quiets as she speaks to it. The last time she'd met, things had been pretty tense. But there's a sense of ease about her meeting this time. And as she offers her hesitant words, the creature bows its head down again, before it begins to stomp on the ground.

There, in the sand, it begins to draw something with its hoof. Something that appears to be the shape of a particular island. Grinding its hoof down over and over again, creating an outline for her to take note of. Perhaps even draw. Waiting for her to acknowledge it and perhaps even be 'done' with the drawing, before it looks her straight in the eyes...

And stomps its foot down on that image with hostile intent.
Mikage
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

Sure, Mikage might understand what Terraforming is, but certainlly not in the context of Elder Tale Online. It seemed... disconnected, at least to her.

Still, as the creature begins to stomp out a shape in the sand, she pulls out a scroll of parchment which has some quickly drawn scribbles of the island on it. She'd been practicing her cartography skills, and it seems that this is just another application of it. The girl is no artist, and it lacks a certain quality someone more skilled with art might be able to grasp, but... she can, at least, get a vague outline of what it is the Divine Beast is trying to show her.

When she looks up, there is a brief moment where their eyes meet, and then the Kirin stomps on the image. The downside about the fact that Mikage rarely thinks too deeply about things like this, is that the answer doesn't come all too clearly to her.

"The island you drew, they want to destroy it? Or you do?" She's not really sure if the hostile intent is the Kirin's own, or belongs to the strange creatures. "Or they were trying to use you to attack it?"
Liminality
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

The Kirin huffs, and bows its head as she says 'Or you do', indicating that he wants something needs to be removed from that place, or destroyed, or attacked. The creature then huffs and shakes its head as she asks if someone were trying to use it to attack the location.

It then moves towards the spot where one of her arrows lays into the ground - the light of the monster already long since faded. Clomps on it, then moves to the image of the island, and stomps on that. It's indicating that these creatures came from there, and it no doubt wishes for her to ensure they will no longer be able to come after her!
Mikage
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

Thankfully, even with only simple responses, the Kirin largely makes itself understood. There is an island, somewhere out there. An island which these creatures came from, which is threatening the creature. "I think I understand." Her brows furrow, looking at the outline of the island on the bit of parchment.

"But I'm not sure I've seen a place like this. I... don't do much sea voyaging." For some very good reasons, thank you very much. "I'll have to do some research, maybe talk to Jazuhanzu and Shiruba, see if they have seen any place like this in their travels." Or perhaps keep an eye out as she travels the wider world, looking for someplace that might match the image.

"I'll see what I can do, but you need to make sure you don't get caught by them in the mean time."
Liminality
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

Kirin nods its head as Mikage explains she's not seen this place before, but has people to speak to. The Kirin then lays down on its haunches, and lets out a long annoyed huff of breath. Lightning sparking from its nostrils. With a single annoyed flick of its ear, a violent shock of lightning blasts down on one of her arrows, shattering it and the spot that creature once stood.

It's clearly rather peeved about the whole situation. But it appears simultaneously at least... somewhat thankful that Mikage is willing to undertake this quest she's been given.

<< QUEST: Diminish the Terraformer Pawn Nest >>
Mikage
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

"Uh..." There is a moment where Mikage considers asking the Kirin to stop destroying her arrows. Since she isn't exactly a woodworker, they aren't the cheapest of things to come by, especially in the middle of the ocean. But... she thinks better of it.

What's a few arrows between... 'friends'? "I get it. Big annoyance." She takes a step backwards, making sure that she isn't too close to the still irritated Kirin.

As the quest pops up, there is a curious tilt of her head. She'd learned that quests in this game occured quite differently than those in most other RPGs. This was far more dynamic. "I'm on it."

Then, she hesitates before asking, "Will you be... okay here?"
Liminality
Yamato - -78 - 22 - 0

The Kirin lets out a snort of a breath, but it seems to nod its head in response to Mikage's inquiry on whether or not the creature will be okay, before it quiets down once more. Mikage has quite the adventure ahead of her, no doubt. Especially if her enemies can so easily deal with high level electric attacks like that!