• Mature • The Fields of Flatulence

[Rakvald]

42nd of Ymiden 719

As far as the eye could see, pig asses, sticking up like little hillocks in the landscape. The sky, darkened and starless, save for a large pig-head moon that stared on all who entered into the Dreamscape. Rakvald was lucid. Too lucid. This was not the dreamscape he needed to occupy, but it was perhaps the one he deserved.

Every now and again as his boots fell on the fleshy behinds of pigs that filled the field, it would fart up at him, sending a plume of gas up at him. All over, the sound of snorting and pig-like chortling could be heard. First, flatulence, then chortling of a pig. It was embarrassing to be occupying this as his dreamscape. Idly he hoped that none would see where he was.

He walked along to the sound of pig farts and snorting. He kept an eye out on the Pig's head sounder moon. The last time he was in such a dream, he'd fallen into the cavernous ulcer in the middle of the landscape, only to be attacked by a butcher, a manpig wielding a great cleaver. It wasn't an adventure he wished to repeat, at least not for the time being.

He held a makeshift shield in one hand, which was little more than a piece of wood with a handle on it. In the other, he held his large kukri, ready to butcher anything that startled him.

He looked from side to side, anxiously awaiting anything strange to pop out at him.

Oddly enough, he thought he saw what looked like a man, falling down to a pillow-like flesh of a pig from afar. He set off in that direction, wondering if it was another dreamer.

"Ah! Who goes there?" He called out.

Armor: Butcher's apron and casual clothing
Weapon: mw embersteel Kukri and board shield
Tools: none
Dreamstate: Lucid

Time of Day: Who knows
Injuries: None
Illness: Anxiety
Ether Exhaustion: Non

[Balthazar Black]

42 Ymiden 719

Balthazar was falling. That was all he could tell for certain. He had laid down in his bed in one moment and in the next he was tumbling down through the sky to a pink fleshy floor. Oddly, he didn’t feel like he was going to die when he hit the ground- and he had been falling for what felt like seven bits.

At first he’d been falling through darkness but eventually the darkness gave way to a sky and upon that sky sat a pig headed moon. Balthazar stared in wonder at the moon for the full few remaining trills where he was tumbling through air. This was not his dreamscape. This was not the castle he’d seen before. Or perhaps it had simply changed beyond his memory? The world of dreams was a world Balthazar barely understood, but he was learning.

He collided with the pink fleshy earth and in doing so created the most audacious farting sound he had ever heard. The farting noise came to an end just as Rakvald called out to Balthazar. Balthazar used his hands to sit up and as each hands pressed into the ground, a soft toot sounded off. As he stood the ground around him continued to toot and out of curiosity Balthazar began beating his feet on the ground like a baker kneading bread to see if the noises would continue. They did.

With his curiosity satisfied he looked towards the approaching man and raised his fists for a moment before relaxing. Living in Yaralon had a lasting effect on random encounters.

”My name is Balthazar. Forgive me but I seem to be lost.”

[Rakvald]

”Aye, you lost, skinny man.” Rakvald felt a smile creep across his features, as he towered over the other man, his bulk half as wide as his height. ”You wander into wrong field!”

Rakvald’s eyes darkened suddenly, as he leaned over the man, glowering. Then he began guffawing, ”Oh, I just joking. I not bad, but yah, this place not goodest place. Bad things dwell beneath.”

”Beasts slumber beneath pig butts. Try not disturb them.”

So saying, Rakvald sheathed his kukri behind his board shield, and reached out a hand to shake the man’s hand. ”I Rakvald!”

Whether he took his hand, the pig farmer would sniff and take a look around. ”I been looking for a bad beast, one of dem that slumbers beneath the field of flatulence.” He grinned from ear to ear, ”It a loud, bad beast.”

Rakvald thumped his chest with his free hand, in confidence, ”I good mage though, I keep us healthy if anything try and bash us. I mend broken faces, limbs, and innards. Rakvald can keep alive!”

”So what you say, stranger. Wanna go dungeon deeping? The entrance to Fartlord’s lair not far! Not far at all!” Rakvald whistled sharply, and suddenly a cadre of pigs wearing red, cotton shirts appeared out of the ground, squirming up between the tightly packed flesh of the ground. They all cheered and snorted and giggled amongst themselves. ”I brought meatshields! Don't worry, dey not feel much pain when fighting start. They willing to die for we.”

[Balthazar Black]

42 Ymiden 719

Balthazar looked up at the large man and couldn't contest the notion of being skinny in comparison so he did not. His eyes narrowed in spite, but he said nothing of it. He looked at the area around him and lifted his right foot from the pink surface before pressing it down again. The pink floor emit a soft toot beneath Balthazar's foot and the mage frowned. This was not earth... what was it? Suddenly the man seemed to turn on him, saying he'd wandered into the wrong field and Balthazar stepped back, preparing for another fight. At least in this place his wounds did not seem quite as troubling as they did in the city.

Then the man's expression changed again and he began laughing heartily. Balthazar's face twisted in confusion and his defensive arms lowered. The man spoke of beasts beneath the field. He spoke of a hunt for one, and then he invited Balthazar to join him. Balthazar would have accepted quite simply but then a cadre of pigs in red began to rise from the surface like bubbles in a cup and Balthazar reconsidered for a moment. Did he really want to delved deeper into this madness?

Yes. Yes he did.

Balthazar was far too curious at heart not to accept. He reached out and took the man's hand in a firm shake then said "I'm Balthazar. I too am a good mage but I burn, blast, and break my enemies. I also make holes you can go to different places through.” Balthazar had noted the man's simpler sentences and figured it would be easiest to explain his magics in such simple terms. "I will go with you to find this 'Fartlord'.”

[Rakvald]

Rakvald scratched the back of his neck, as he considered the man in front of him. He seemed brave enough, but if he planned on using magic... That was beyond brave. He needed to know that it was supremely dangerous to use magic in dreams, at least when one was awakened and lucid while within the dreamscape.

"Ok... We need not use magic until we find Fartlord. I make a small magic, as bait, or sorts." The big man tapped his shield with his kukri, and then shrugged. "Not use magic unless I say! You can fight though, you break men? With your hands?"

Rakvald didn't think the man looked strong, but he wasn't always the best judge of another's capabilities. It wouldn't be the first or likely the last time he understimated somebody. So he nodded, affirming his strategy in his mind. It was decided, they'd delve the inner recesses of the Fartlord's under domain, and defeat him once and for all, with the power of magic!

Rakvald, waved his shield arm, indicating that Balthazar should follow him. As he did so, he felt a twitching in his left arm. It was the red eye in it. In the depth of his dreams, he signalled that the enervations should coalesce around it, in a small amount. He would lure this Fartlord out, and cast him out of his dreamscape.

Then Rakvald would be free to roam the world!

"Fartlord guards my dreams, keeping me from venture out into da Untold... But together, with your magic, we can defeat him..."

As they walked along toward the cavern that marked the beginning of the Lord's domain, the red-shirted pigmen began following behind them. They'd keep Rakvald and his companion safe from any threats to the back, but anything that tried to harm them before would be their responsibility.

In almost no time at all, Rakvald and Balthazar arrived at the cavern's mouth. With one crazy look at Balthazar, Rakvald charged in, bellowing a warcry in Vahanic.

[Balthazar Black]

42 Ymiden 719

Balthazar understood Rakvald's aversion to using magic in the dreamscape because he understood the danger of using magic in Emea from his exploring in Yaralon. When Rakvald told him no to use magic Balthazar gave an agreeing nod. When Rakvald seemed to question his ability with his hands, Balthazar replied "Most men have broken so far.” Though he looked down at his fists and for a moment Balthazar doubted himself as well. He had no concept of how far they'd have to go before he could use magic. He shook the doubts from his mind and marched with Rak to the soft poot, poot of the pink floor beneath their feet.

Rakvald explained who the Fartlord was and Balthazar nodded along. It was hard to focus on what the man was saying when every step was accompanied by a soft toot from the floor. To his own memory Balthazar had never ventured into the Untold but memory was a complicated beast. It didn't matter to Balthazar, not really. He'd already resolved to help the man and that was what he would do. They arrived at the mouth of the cavern in less time than Balthazar imagined they would and before anything could be said of planning- Rakvald charged into the cave. Balthazar turned to the pigmen with him who still seemed to be guarding the rear and then he turned back to the cavern. "Well, alright.”

And with that Balthazar jogged forth into the cavern.

[Rakvald]

Fartlord's Stats

Moderate Emeyan: The Fartlord


Minor Traits:

Armored: Thick Hide
Bestial: Pig-like
Natural Weapons: Tusks
Poison: Noxious flatulence

Major Traits:

Regeneration: Can regenerate. Regeneration is hindered only by heat/fire.
Humanoid: Bipedal Pig. High intellect and ability to speak.

Skills:

Strength: 50
Endurance: 50
Unarmed Combat (Wrestling): 30
Resistance: 20

As the duo entered the cavern where the Fartlord resided, the red-clad pigs that'd been accompanying them took up position at the mouth of the cave, guarding it against any retaliation or reinforcements for the Fartlord.

Presently, the tooting sound of the floor was no longer a problem here. Here, the ground seemed to be made of hardened meat, ribs or something of the like. At any rate, the two wouldn't have to deal with the gaseous emmisions of the ground on top of the Fartlord himself.

Rakvald put his blade inside it's sheath, and strapped his makeshift shield across his back.

They arrived at the edges of what looked like the ruin of a great academy, library, or some such structure. There was no roof, but frames and doorways leading into the stone-wrought ruin. Rakvald stepped over the rubble of one such doorframe, and put a finger to his lips, as if to signal that Balthazar should be quiet.

"Listen..." He said, and in the distance, not too far, they could hear the Fartlord's snoring. "Maybe we take him by surprise?"

Rakvald was very determined to get his hands on the Fleshbound tome, in order to further his studies of the flesh. Greed and curiosity hastened his steps as he made for the center of the lecture hall, where the Fartlord was sleeping. There, uppon the lectern, the Fleshbound Tome!

Here, Rakvald turned to Balthazar, "Listen, better not use any magic at all. Don't want to destroy Fleshbound Tome..."

"Owahh!" The Fartlord stirred from his sleep, having heard the whispering of Rakvald. The big Lotharro winced, and turned around to face the Fartlord.

The Fartlord's mouth twisted into a devious porcine grin, "Oo, fresh meat for the taking! YOu haven't forgotten about the book, Rakvald!? Good!"

"I haven't forgotten the devastatio you've wrought along these fields! Turning them into an abomination!" Rakvald shot back in Vahanic, which perhaps Balthazar wouldn't understand.

"I challenge you, Fartlord, as does my ally here. Put aside the Fleshbound Tome, and face us in honorable battle!"

The Fartlord rose from his sleeping position, and grunted. "Strike first then, fool mortals!"

There, stepping before the Fleshbound Tome, the Fartlord stood guard, waiting for them to make the first move. Rakvald was only too eager to oblige. He charged in, his fist cocked over his shoulder to deliver a hook to the Fartlord's solar plexus.

[Balthazar Black]

42 Ymiden 719

Jogging along the cavern, Balthazar heard little more that the poot, poot of the pink fleshy floor as his feet touched down one in front of the other all the way after the charging Rakvald. Until suddenly the soft farts came to an end and the floor seemed to be comprised of something else entirely. Balthazar turned and saw their little pig-men allies assembling at the exit- or entrance, it really was a matter of perspective. Then he looked back the direction Rakvald was moving and continued onward.

Now the ground seemed to give less beneath his feet. There was still an element of fleshiness to the floor but he could almost make out the feeling of a denser structure beneath the flesh... bones. Balthazar shuttered slightly at the thought but composed himself and continued onward. Balthazar caught up to Rakvald in what appeared to be the ruin of a library and he followed the larger man's instructions. Moving quietly was easier now that the ground was done farting. Then Rakvald suggested something Balthazar didn't agree with entirely. Don't use magic because it might destroy the tome? Would a rock falling upon it destroy it? Balthazar thought not. Perhaps the flames could be a problem but- no. Balthazar shook the questioning thoughts from his head. Rakvald didn't want him to use magic, he wouldn't. Not unless he had to. Balthazar did well not to forget where they were and what would happen when he did use magic.

Then they woke the Fartlord.

"For the record, I was quiet.” Balthazar mumbled mostly to himself before Rakvald and the Fartlord had their exchange. Rakvald said something in a language Balthazar didn't understand which discomforted him slightly. Was this a trap? Probably not. Then Rakvlad charged at the Fartlord and Balthazar watched. He was somewhat curious what would have happened if they refused to strike first but he realized now that there was no world in which Rakvald would not have struck first.

So Balthazar charged ahead with his new ally towards the Fartlord. When Rakvald aimed a punch at the Emeyan's solar plexus, Balthazar dropped down and slid towards the Fartlord's legs hoping to swipe them from under the Emeyan to send him more directly into Rakvald's blow.

[Rakvald]

The fetid stench that the Fartlord emitted was enough to challenge even the strong constitution of the mighty Rakvald! He could only imagine how Balthazar was holding up against it. But the pig farmer wanted nothing other than to lose his lunch here and now so he could get on with the fighting.

Yet his stomach was strong, as evidenced by his ability to withstand the initiation into graft. It would not surrender it’s meal so easily!

At any rate, the Fartlord was not in a position to dole out bio breaks for his opponents. He was trying to crush them. So as Balthazar swept the Onus’ legs, Rakvald’s haymaker toward the creature’s solar plexus hit with great force. The strength of the blow was enough to stagger the large Onus. Rakvald gave Balthazar an appreciative glance when he turned, to wind up for another well-in-advance, telegraphed punch toward the Onus’ kneecap.

His fist was caught by the Fartlord. His grip was strong, indomitably so, to the point the Lotharro couldn’t pull his fist out. “Argh!” Rakvald shouted at him, hit his knuckles with his free hand, even tried biting the damned thing, but no luck. The Fartlord picked Rakvald up well above his head, off his feet. There, his belly was open again to attack from Balthazar for a moment. Trills later, after the Fartlord had thoroughly crushed Rakvald’s right hand, he threw the Lothar aside, far across the lecture hall.

The pig farmer landed with an ‘oof’, but wasn’t down for long before he drew himself to his feet. He’d be right behind Balthazar, whatever plan of attack he had to follow, Rakvald would do so and support his temporary comrade.

“Oy! Don’t attack the joints! They’re well armored!” Rakvald shouted to Balth, and absorbed a slap from the Onus’s large meaty mitt. He shook it off, and yelled for Balth, “We need plan!”

[Balthazar Black]

42 Ymiden 719

Balthazar hadn't quite noticed the stench until he neared the Fartlord and at that point it was mostly the momentum of his attack that stopped him from hurling. After the attack it was a stark desire not to look the fool that stopped Balthazar but his facial expressions would make it clear that he was struggling to ignore the smell. His first effort to stop it from violating his senses was to breath through his mouth but all too quickly he acquired a nasty taste. He preferred the taste of the gross air to the smell of it.

Their first combined attack seemed to bring them some success but before Balthazar could move in for another, Rakvald had and it did not go as planned. When the Fartlord caught Rakvald's fist and hoisted him into the air, Balthazar saw his opening. The sound of Rakvald's fist being crushed beneath the Fartlord's hand only hastened Balthazar's thoughts. A lone spark danced between Balthazar's fingers- the result of his rising anxiety and anger. No. He said no magic. Balthazar convinced himself internally before charging into the Fartlord's circle. With Rakvald lifted, Balthazar sought to rain blow after blow into the Fartlord's exposed belly. Fortunately for Rakvald, Balthazar was an experience close quarters fighter who could try to succeed without leaning on his magic... but the question lingered of how long he could fight before his discipline failed him.

Balthazar recoiled from his striking range when he realized that the Fartlord was moving on from crushing Rakvald's hand and that he would make the next closest target with Rakvald disabled. Balthazar didn't get far before ducking under the body of Rakvald as it was hurled passed him. Balthazar watched the Rakvald for movement more than he watched the Fartlord because he knew his Rupture spark would warn him of any surprises from behind... or would it in this place? Rakvald rose, fortunately and Balthazar nodded to him. They did need a plan. "There's not much we can do but keep hitting him if you don't want me to use magic." Balthazar said as he turned his attention back to the Fartlord. His eyes scanned around for anything large and precarious they could drop on him but nothing immediately came to view.