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Post by Queerly on Jan 16, 2016 19:44:38 GMT -6
  The pit fighters had thought they'd be fighting each other, not an invasion. But should you fend off these attackers? The Vindicators have come to set you free, or so they say.
Event Journal// Located Here
Premise Journal// Located Here
Hello Starborn, and welcome to Plot 006: Unleashed! We have so much planned for your little firebabies, and we hope you enjoy the Chapter as much as we enjoyed making it for you! Please keep the following in mind!
- Posts must be a minimum of 175 words. There is no maximum!
- No strict order is enforced, but there must be at least two posts between your own character's posts.
- Five posts is the minimum to earn the event AP/CS/FVR rewards. After you've posted five times, you receive 1 AP for every post after!
- Your team is precious. Don't let anyone feel left behind! Try to interact with everyone. <3
- Have fun! Even if your pony isn't. 8'D
Once the team leader has posted, you may begin posting as well!
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Post by GingerBlues on Jan 17, 2016 23:18:46 GMT -6
 Checkpoint 1// Your master has entered you in the New Year’s Brawl, a tournament-style fight that will see only one winner crowned. You will be pit against your brothers for the entertainment of Valore, and though that is nothing new, the citizens’ good cheer and revelry is hard to swallow. As night falls and the gong sounds, you and your fellows enter the arena. But just as the announcer begins to call your names and identify your masters, an explosion rocks the Crucible - and suddenly, Vindicator Vagabonds are spilling into the arena, followed shortly by Chevaliers. Chaos reigns as you find yourself, perhaps for the first time, completely without direction. What will you do? |
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Post by GingerBlues on Jan 17, 2016 23:22:09 GMT -6
 The spotted stallion stared up at the crowd, taking in the onlookers as they cheered. Nobles and commoners, royals and slaves all crowded the crucible, waiting for the spectacle to begin. They were crazy. The whole lot of them, and the stallion couldn’t help but feel like he’d much rather tear into some of them instead of the other horses with whom he shared the ring. Glancing to his left and right, he took note of the horses who in a sense were his brothers, each standing like a showpony as the began calling out names and recognizing past winners. All was as it should be. Until it wasn’t. A dull thud, followed by the excruciating sound of tortured winds passed through the Crucible as the very foundation of the monument shook free. Spectators fell into the ring as screams of terror rang out over the chaos. The massive doors that led directly into the Crucible’s ring swung open and strangers of the like Ghost had never seen before came pouring in. Chevaliers barked orders, trying to get everything under control as civilians ran away screaming. The entire scene was utter chaos. Ears ringing, and mildly disoriented by the explosion, Ghost looked around, realizing for the first time in years, no one was leading him around. His mistress was nowhere to be seen, and the Chevaliers seemed to be more focussed on the strangers than the pit fighters who were now loose in a sense. The first thought to cross his mind was to find Evalynn and ensure her safety. Though she owned him, the two had grown to have a mutual respect for each other over the years, and he was even rather fond of the young mare. The second thought pushed its way violently to the forefront of his mind, as realization dawned on him. This could be his shot at freedom. Many times had he tried to escape, and many times had he failed, but this time….this time seemed different. [Post 1, Word Count: 334]
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Post by Western-Witch on Jan 18, 2016 0:00:54 GMT -6
|| G A L L O W A Y || Gallow pinned his ears low to his neck as him and the other pit fighters were paraded around the Crucible arena. He always hated this part. It was loud, obnoxious and strangely out of place with what was to come next. He was much more at ease trying to take down a fellow pit fighter than being strutted in front of a large crowd. And this crowd was even bigger than usual. With the old year coming to a close and a new one being ushered in, everyone and anyone was here to celebrate. The stadium was packed to the brim. Gallow could just feel the heat emanating from them, it made his skin prickle to be near so many horses. But before Gallow could start cursing them under his breath he was abruptly thrown to the ground, a heavy muffled ringing settled deep into his ears. He looked around, confusion fixing deep into his mind at the sudden change in events. As he saw the gaping hole in what he thought was the indestructible Crucible -a symbol of imprisonment in the young stallion’s mind- he put the pieces together. These were not Aodhians streaming into the arena. Gallow squinted as he dragged himself back to his hooves. They looked rugged, rangy almost. They were Vagabonds. Vindicators to be exact. Gallow’s eyes widened at what that meant. They were there to free the slaves of Aodh. At least that’s what he heard they did. As the stallion continued to put the pieces together, his brain muddled from the blast, he looked around the stands. His eyes caught his master, Scarlet as she disappeared behind the gold curtains that hung in the King’s box. Screams, shouting and general chaos trickled back into his ears. And so did his senses. He could leave. He could run out the hole in the arena and disappear into the dark streets of Valore. The chaos would keep his tracks and his whereabouts completely lost. He glanced up again at the golden curtains. Scarlet was good. She was kind and just to her slaves. He couldn’t have asked for a better master. But he felt no affinity to her, no reason to run after her and keep her safe as he knew he should. His previous masters had kept him from that sort of feeling. No. If Gallow could he would try to escape. He looked around in the arena and saw Ghost steady on his feet. Gallow started to move over to where he was. Maybe he had the same thought Gallow had. #1 (WC: 428) |
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Post by rohgir on Jan 18, 2016 0:36:22 GMT -6
JACELYN
Glory and gore go hand in hand.
It was a show, alright.
JJ felt it in her bones. Her father was there too, somewhere, entered and paraded much the same. She was behind Galloway in the initial display of strength and showmanship, and it was at the behest of her...new master. The term itself grated at her, and Jacelyn rolled her eyes as she displayed herself. Standing at a height greater than the other mare pit fighters, she was quite looking to crash herself against Brutus or one of the other beefy fighters. Blood on her coat and in her teeth and on her hooves was practically guaranteed, and rumor on the wind had it that her first bout was to be against Galloway. What a way to open the display, hm?
But then the world exploded.
Jacelyn screamed in rage as something exploded.
Her head swung, and the mare whirled, vision swimming and ears buzzing. There was so much noise--
The draft mix's hooves scored the dirt. Galloway. She had to find her friend. With a surge of muscle, the draft pushed through her confusion, and she approached Galloway and Ghost, not even really thinking of escape, not yet. And then a thought came to Jacelyn, and she went still, muscles clenching. "Vagabonds," she grunted, eyes from one to the other. "We can escape."
What even was escape?
She didn't know. She'd been born a slave. Raised in the pits.
But...there was...something out there, right? Something good, something for her to experience. There had to be more to life than this, this life of slavery! It didn't feel good, the knowledge that she was probably going to be bred, too, at some point. The mare's eyes narrowed. "We can run! And we're stronger than so many of these horses." It was pure, bestial knowledge.
Jacelyn knew she was powerful. She was confident she could knock away any threat to whatever she decided.
--319 |
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Post by 0mooncry0 on Jan 18, 2016 6:51:29 GMT -6
JENKO
Jenko was excited for the Ceremony. He had been waiting so long for this golden opportunity at vengeance. Now was the perfect time to drag that poor excuse of a bay stallion to hell. The fact that it was in front of whole Aodh was an added bonus. The Gods are good. Joffrey was going to get what was coming to him. He was, at last, going to pay for killing Jenko’s father. Hard. The spotted stallion’s heart was beating fast, a pleasant burning sensation forming on his insides. Ooohhh yes He thought to himself.
Jenko was standing behind Jacelyn, a worthy opponent with a force to be reckoned with. He admired the mare’s strength. Cheers erupted at the announcement of his name. Jenko couldn’t help himself but to smile and wink at his worshippers. He was a show-off and loved the attention, yes. That, he had to admit.
The prancing soon came to an abrupt halt when the pit fighter was sent flying. A loud explosion caused a dull sound to fill his ears. He got back to his feet in an instant, shaking his head. The ringing sound was soon replaced by an orchestra of panicked screeches. Aodhians were running all over the place. It was utter chaos. What in Ignacio’s name…? He looked up and saw the Crucible’s wall in crumbles, horses he had never seen before barging through the arena. It took him a brief moment to realize what was going on. Vagabonds… He thought. However, Jenko was too preoccupied with the fact that he won’t be placing his hooves on Joffrey today. “Dammit!” Jenko cursed as he stomped the sandy surface of the pit angrily. He noticed blood dripping down his leg. He cursed again. Whoever was responsible for taking the one thing he had been anticipating for so long away from him was going to pay the full price. That was a promise.
As he noticed a few lifeless bodies lying across him, realization dawned on him. One of these could potentially be his friends’ or master’s. “Master? Lady Scarlet?!” he shouted whilst scanning his surroundings, his eyes flickering from left to right. His master has been treating him like a king ever since the day she took him in her household. He would never forgive himself for not protecting her when she needed him the most.
Suddenly, Jenko recognized his master rushing to the back of the King’s box, disappearing behind the golden curtains. He sighed in relief, knowing she was safe. Jenko glanced to his left and soon enough his eyes fell on his spotted comrade. "Galloway…" he whispered under his breath. His brother was alive and well. That’s all that mattered. Jenko ran after his friend, catching up to where Gallow, Ghost and Jacelyn were standing. “Is everyone alright?” he asked.
- 470 words |
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Post by Moose-On-Ice on Jan 18, 2016 7:20:54 GMT -6
Illidis | Pit Fighter
"In the end what separates a man from a slave? Money? Power? No, a man chooses, and a slave obeys."
-Andrew Ryan, Bioshock
Illidis took a deep breath to steady himself. It was just like another pitfight... A really large fight. His master had entered him in the New Year's Brawl, the biggest fight of the year. Illidis eyed his fellow competitors. He had to beat them... He had to, so he could please his master. If he didn't... While he doubted his current master, Lord Luciano, would punish him harshly if he didn't win the whole Brawl, he didn't want to consider it. His old master HAD punished him when he lost. His spiraling decorative scars burned slightly at the thought. No, he'd win... He'd make his master proud.
His ears rang with the screams and cheers of the crowds as the fighters paraded into the arena. This was just a small part of the fight. It'd be over soon. And so, he kept his neck arched, steps proud... He turned from a pitfighter into a showpony. It was all to make his master happy. He didn't care what he did as long as he made him happy.
The grullo paint stallion's green and brown eyes flickered from the other slaves around him to the sandy ground of the arena. Who would he be fighting? He hoped he wouldn't fight Brutus... He was not meant for encounters with large beefy fighters. He was smaller, thinner, more agile. He specialized in fast movements and attacks. While walking through the streets of Valore he'd occasionally heard passing equines whisper about him, calling him a "snake" after seeing his fast attacks with his flashing teeth and back legs.
He'd need to be that "snake" if he was going to win whoever he was put up against. The pitfighters stopped for names to be called. He took a deep breath to steady himself, waiting for his name to be called out.
That was when all hell broke loose.
Screams pierced the air, the ground itself shook and stone went flying, spectators fell into the arena. Illidis crashed onto his side, his eyes wide. What had happened!? He shook his head, starting to get up onto his feet when he saw the doors to the Crucible slam open and equines pour in. They were not Aodhians. Instead they were something that many Aodhians hated. Vagabonds. His mouth felt dry as he scrambled up onto his feet. He looked around, seeing the spectators that had fallen scream and run in an attempt to escape. The king had vanished from his box. The metallic scent of blood was starting to sting in his nostrils.
His gaze snapped to a pitfighter standing nearby him when they spoke. What had they said? Escape? His green eyes flashed to the gaping hole in the Crucible, which must have been the explosion that rocked the arena. They could get out, they could run through the streets of Valore and escape in the chaos. He could see the world his mother and father had told him about and desperately tried to show him... But... Escape. Freedom. The words and ideas left a bitter taste in his mouth. Those... Things, had brought nothing but pain into his life.
"No! We must stay!" He snapped at the other Fighter, his ears flat against his skull. "Freedom is not a good thing!"
( Word Count: 545 )
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Post by corruptpudding on Jan 18, 2016 10:36:05 GMT -6
The roar of the crowd hit Ze'ev at full force and he embraced it, basking in the glorious attention. He arched his neck, pricked his ears, and whinnied loudly. He had been pampered and groomed to perfection before the new years brawl so that his spotted hide was gleaming and he looked at ruggedly handsome as ever.
This was the sort of life he had searched for ever since he was a colt. Fame and fortune. It had taken bigger sacrifice to achieve than he ever could have imagined, but he tried not to dwell on the past, and rather to embrace the lavish lifestyle he now enjoyed. He was one of those slaves to have experienced freedom before the chains of captivity and found that there were pros and cons to both. Somedays, though, when his mind drifted, he often thought that nothing...not his delicately embroidered throw pillows, jeweled bridle, or even the mansion he lived in with his mistress...would ever replace the days he spent wandering the deserts, mountians, and plains with his best friend Mateo at his side, just the two of them against the world-
BOOM
A deafening explosion filled the crucible...no...it was tearing it apart! Ze'ev scrambled up from where the ruckus had tossed him to the ground and looked around wildly, almost numb with shock and confusion. That's when he saw it. His yellow eyes locked onto the gaping hole in the crucible where a group of equines now poured in. The scent of pine and grass and wild places washed over his senses.
Vindicators.
What else could they be? He knew plenty about their kind after so many years as a vagabound. They had come to free the slaves.
The blood was rushing in his head and adrenalin had kicked in. He had to make a decision. Fast. He glanced back at the crumbled arena, panicked equines running every which way. His mistress Angelia was up there somewhere. He imagined her leading him home after the tiring but fruitful pit fights, where he would bathe in expensive shampoos and oils, his wounds would be treated with the best medicines money could buy, then he would sleep upon the softest, most delicately embroidered throw pillows he could imagine and be treated like a king for the remainder of his days. Then he glanced back at the hole and the vindicators where freedom beckoned. A chance at redemption.
A small group of pit fighters stood, looking a bit unsure of themselves, almost directly in front of him. Illidis, the stallion he had been prancing behind, was standing nearly at his side and shouting something to the group, but Ze'ev was too preoccupied to hear. Suddenly, he lunged forward, straight at the Ghost, JJ, and Galloway. <b>"Out of my way!!"</b> he shouted, bolting dead straight for the hole in the arena.
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Post by empyre on Jan 18, 2016 12:11:36 GMT -6
Regina | Pit Fighter
Regina closed her eyes for a moment, basking in the glorious sound of the people cheering. She didn't try to particularly show off as she was paraded around the ring, but she did wink mischievously at a younger mare who she'd caught watching her behind. After that, however, she focused her attention on the competition, her eyes travelling over the other contestants and plotting out where their weaknesses may lay. She wasn't really expecting to win the whole competition, and neither was Jana, her master telling her this morning that she understood Regina hasn't been back in the ring for very long, and that she should just have fun today --it was a celebration after all. That, of course, didn't mean Regina wouldn't try to win, it just meant she had nothing to worry about if she should lose. She heard a shout of her name and she turned her head with a grin at the source, one of Jana's friends whom she'd brought along for the occasion. She was about to turn her grin to her master herself, but then-
BOOM
Regina stumbled with the force of the explosion, but didn't fall. What knocked the roan mare to the ground was the force of another equine hitting her square in the shoulder and falling on top of her. Regina was stunned for only a moment before she managed to get her front hooves under herself, her hips still trapped under the other horse. She looked down at sightless eyes and an obviously broken neck, but it was nobody she knew so she had no issue simply kicking the corpse off of her and launching herself back onto her hooves. 'What in the name of Ignacio is going on?!' she thought, taking in the scene around her. There was a ringing in the ear that had been closest to the blast, muffling every other sound it picked up, Regina shook her head as though to dislodge the ringing but it did little good.
'Jana...' The thought made her freeze, head snapping around and up to scan the stands around her.
"Jana!" She shouted this time, her eyes landing on her master's beautiful coat only a moment later. The other mare was wide-eyed, trying to fight her way through the crowd to get down closer to the ring. Regina pinned her ears, her master had to get out of here not move towards the danger! "Go home!" Regina shouted, "Go home, make sure Dhaval is safe!" That made Jana pause at least, though it didn't seem as though her master heard her words, judging by the look that crossed her lovely features.
"Dhaval!" Regina practically screamed in order to be heard, but it seemed to have worked as Jana nodded, only hesitating a moment before letting herself get carried off with the flow of the still panicking crowd. Regina offered a short, silent prayer to Iganacio that her master would make it back home safely, but with that concern out of the way she turned her attention to the danger she had been thrown into. A scent was lingering in the air, one she thought she should know from years and years ago, but really only could place through process of elimination --and the scent that a few of the slaves Jana would pick up still carried on their fur for their first few days.
"Vagabonds..." Regina growled, looking to pick one out of the crowd in order to rip their throat out for daring, for having the audacity, to come in here and cause such a disruption. To do something that could have hurt, or even killed, her master! Her gaze fell, not on a group of vagabonds, but a group of fellow pit fighters just...standing around? What did they think they were doing? They were born and bred to fight, not hold social gatherings in the midst of a war zone! Regina would not stand for it! With an agitated snort the dark mare began to canter her way over to the small group, jade eyes narrowed in a vicious glare.
"Out of my way!" She was now close enough to the others that she could hear the shout of the stallion, one she recognized as a pit fighter, as he barreled past the others. By the gods he was making a run for it!
Oh no. Oh hell no.
Regina burst into a gallop, pushing her way past the other pit fighters. She was already close enough to them that she easily caught up to the stallion attempting to run. She reached out, latching onto his mane --and probably his neck too but Regina hardly cared-- and skidding to a halt, before throwing the other to the ground.
"Know your place, slave!" She yelled in the other's face. It probably sounded weird coming from another slave, but then again it was also probably weird that a slave was stopping another slave's escape in the first place. Regina didn't care if it was 'weird', all she knew was that there was no way she was going to let anyone's misplaced dreams, delusions more like, of 'escape' or 'freedom' come true, and she would enjoy every moment of beating them down.
words: 875 | Post 1
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Post by brindletail on Jan 18, 2016 12:40:51 GMT -6
B R U T U S "I am the character you are not supposed to like."- Alan Rickman
Of course he was entered in the New Year's Brawl, it was the perfect opportunity for Guinevere to really show them how the two were going to decimate them all. He scratched his face on his bracers, imagining the tiny king hardly able to lift them due to the sheer mass of incandescent steel needed for the humongous brute. The thought may have even earned a small twitch of his mug, not that anyone was looking at him.
He told himself it was out of boredom that he scanned the onlookers for his master, wanting to know just where she stood when he gave the final blow of each round, so he could feel her approval on his back when he brought her such victory. He thought he saw a shimmer of her when suddenly everything went silent except the horrid ringing in his ears. His vision swam, sounds dulled and movement slowed as he blinked the rubble from his eyes, shaking his head with a loud snort that seemed to pop him from his bubble.
Earsplitting wails threatened to rupture his ear drums, bodies whizzed in front of him, ushering into the arena like locusts. Were they the enemy? Why would they attack the pits? Unable to think straight, he instinctively screamed out in his double bass for Guinevere, was she standing near the collapse? He suddenly surged forward, surely crashing into more than one body as it became clear that the idea was escape. WC: 246 |
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Post by rohgir on Jan 18, 2016 12:55:19 GMT -6
JACELYN
Glory and gore go hand in hand.
Everything was going so quickly. Jacelyn had been so focused on shouting at Galloway and Ghost that she'd yet to notice that things were chaotic. She whirled in time to realize that her new master was in the pit with her, damn her, and there was a moment's thought that she could perhaps end her delimma, but, no, no, no. Andalo had trusted her not to do anything stupid. And stupid would be attacking her new master. Muscles twitched again, and then Jacelyn watched Ze'ev.
Her throat tightened. That bastard of a horse, of course, was making a break for it. Hooves dragged on the ground, and the normal confusion that came with being out of the ring was compounded now with stress. Jenko had said something to her, and Jacelyn stared at him, her eyes wide, lost, uncomprehending. She was caught between a rock and a hard place: escape, or, or--
Brutus' baritone.
Regina, attacking Ze'ev.
Illidis' screaming.
Jacelyn's breath came in a ragged inhale.
Everything seemed to slow, and she tried to scan the writhing mass for her father, who had been in the line to fight, and, and--
KNOW YOUR PLACE, SLAVE!
It was enough to spur her onward. What one must understand about Jacelyn is her odd feeling of being lost outside the pit. Her life has been one of battle and conquest, and anything outside of that is an utter unknown (and some horses deal better with the unknown than poor Jacelyn). Yet, the first thing she tends to feel, you see, is temper, the rising of anger. And so that is what she felt then, the swirling of rage. Whatever freedom was, someone was trying to prevent it's gain.
"KNOW YOUR PLACE!" The bellow comes, then, of course it does, and eighteen hands of confused rage whirl. She rears up on her hind legs, hooves slashing the air, and when Jacelyn comes back down, there is a madness in her eyes. Vindicators! Gods damn the Vindicators!
In her uncertainty, she does the one thing she knows: Regina's order has lit the rage, and in comes the mare, aiming to slam a mighty kick into Regina's side. She's lost in it, and when she bears down on Regina, unless she is stopped, Jacelyn is intending to cause quite a bit of damage. She will hide her fear with the boldest of acts. The act of rebellion.
In her fervor, she does not, did not, notice the clashing of a stallion that half-resembles her and Vindicators. There is only Regina, the barrier to freedom.
--428 |
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Post by Moose-On-Ice on Jan 18, 2016 13:17:13 GMT -6
Illidis | Pit Fighter
"In the end what separates a man from a slave? Money? Power? No, a man chooses, and a slave obeys."
-Andrew Ryan, Bioshock
Illidis's ears felt numb at the roaring noise around him. He twisted to the side to avoid some confused equine attempting to strike at him. The other pitfighters were thinking of escape... They were honestly thinking about it! He heard the stallion who had been behind him shout and take off running. He was making a break for it! He couldn't! "Stop!" He shouted after him. Emotions he hadn't felt in years started resurfacing... Anger... He was actually feeling something other then concern and a desire to please those higher then him. He felt rage swelling in his heart.
The fighters were trying to leave! To abandon their master's sides! He was about to take off after the running pitfighter when a large horse blasted after him. She grabbed the runner's mane and threw him to the ground, screaming at him to know his place. At least there was someone else who had sense! "Escape is not the right answer!" He snapped at the remaining fighters, his eyes flashing. His ears flicked at the clatter of hooves. Another pitfighter was running! Except this one wasn't aiming for the hole. It was aiming for Regina, the one who had stopped the runner. He grit his teeth, taking off after her. She was trying to rebel! To help the other slaves escape by taking out the only other pitfighter trying to prevent the pain of freedom!
He'd stop her. He would help Regina and they could try to help the rest of the pitfighters keep their master's favor. No one would get punished or be hurt. He leapt in front of Jacelyn, his hind legs snapping out and around, connecting into her shoulder to send her crashing onto her side. "What are you thinking!?" He shouted. "You are being a disgrace to your master!" He stood in front of Regina, his head held high for once. In this environment, submission was not the right thing to show. He had to be strong, as much as he hated it. "We are not meant to escape!" His nostrils flared. Then pounding hooves and movement caught his eye.
Brutus. One of the largest pitfighters the scarred grullo paint had ever seen was thundering towards the exit. What in Ignacio's name was he supposed to do to stop him!? He couldn't try to face him head on. And he was quite sure his sharp kicks and lunges wouldn't feel like much to the hulking pitfighter. "Brutus!" He shouted over the warring in the arena, in hopes he could get him to stop, if only for a moment!
( Word Count: 431 )
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Post by empyre on Jan 18, 2016 13:39:24 GMT -6
Regina | Pit Fighter
Regina was pushed back suddenly by a large hoof colliding with her side, she didn't fall though, her training having taught her to let herself move with the momentum of hits --letting them push her perhaps, but not letting them knock her to the ground. The breath was forced from her lungs, however, with the force of the hit, but then again Regina found she didn't find the sensation entirely unpleasant. The dark mare lifted her gaze, expecting to see a Vindicator looking back at her, but instead found herself locking eyes with another pit fighter. What did this insolent filly think she was doing?! Regina prepared herself to teach the younger slave a lesson when suddenly there was yet another slave standing between her and her target. Regina couldn't hold back her snort of irritation --she could handle herself without some knight in shining armor jumping in to attack the other mare. She was soothed slightly after recognizing the stallion as Illidis; she actually didn't mind the younger stallion, at least he seemed to share her views on the subject of escape.
Regina's head whipped around at Illidis' shout, eyes widening slightly at the sight of Brutus' hulking mass practically mowing down equines to reach the exit. She thought about running after him but a vision of him merely trampling her over was enough to deter the thought, it was only one escapee after all. She reached out towards Illidis, nipping his shoulder to get his attention, "It's not worth it!" She shouted to be heard over the continued screams of the crowd, "Focus on the others!"
words: 270 | Post 2
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Post by corruptpudding on Jan 18, 2016 14:03:26 GMT -6
The breath was slammed out of Ze'ev as he hit the ground and there was a warm, sticky sensation of blood dripping down his crest where the older mare had bit him. His head swam and his vision blurred. Silhouettes ran by him, hollering in a panic, fleeing in every direction. Then his sesnses were bashed back into him and the pain and rage set in like a wildfire.
"LET ME GO!" he screamed, flailing wildly as the mare stood over him, pinning him down and telling him to know his place. What in Ignacio's name was she saying? She was a pit slave, just like him, what was wrong with her?
He knew now he had been wrong.
The fame.
The fortune.
It wasn't worth sacrificing his freedom.
Sacrificing Mateo.
He had to find her. He had to tell her-
The spotted stallion wheezed as more weight hit his side and he realized another pit slave was trying to fight off Regina and yet another, Illidis, had decided to add to the scuffle. His heart raced in a panic as their hooves crashed around him. By the gods he was about to be trampled! His desperate flailing was probably only making it worse!
Then he did something most unusual.
"HELP!" he pleaded over the screams of the crowd, calling to the other pit fighters. He wasn't sure how they would react. After all, he had never helped them. Never shown another opponent mercy. If they wanted to escape why waste their time helping him when they could simply flee on their own?
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Post by 0mooncry0 on Jan 18, 2016 15:20:23 GMT -6
JENKO
The mare did not answer him. She simply stared at him. She looked lost, confused… he couldn’t really tell. He didn’t blame Jacelyn either. This entire situation was confusing as hell. “Out of my way!” Jenko heard another horse shout in the distance. He spun his head around, only to find Ze’ev barging through the lot of pit fighters. He only managed to dodge him on time. “What the hell, man?!” He screeched at the Knabstrupper.
Ze’ev was soon followed by a mare. She was galloping so fast Jenko could feel his mane whooshing violently. It was Regina. Only then, the thought occurred to him that his fellow slaves tried to escape. Until Regina proved him wrong. She soon caught up with the stallion, throwing him to the ground. Sand was flying around the pair of them, dancing in thick clouds. “Know your place, slave!” he heard her yell.
Jenko was about to interfere, but Jacelyn beat him to it. Soon, Illidis was part of the brawl as well. “What are you thinking!?” he heard him shout. He was about to make a move until he noticed Brutus charging towards the gap. Any sane horse knew going after him meant the end of their days. He let that one slide.
“Brutus!”
“It’s not worth it! Focus on the others!”
“Let me go!”
The whinnies and shouts of arguing slaves was too much to handle. Didn’t any of them realize what was happening? It was enough. Jenko had seen enough. “You got to be kidding me…” he grunted and approached the handful of pit slaves at high speed.
He glid to a halt and reared. “Stop this madness!” at this point, Jenko had lost his cool “What in the name of Aodh are you all doing?!” he screeched, hoping one of his brethren might snap out of it. “Help!” he heard a familiar voice calling out beneath him. Jenko shifted to his right, grabbing Ze’ev by the mane to help him up. Normally, he would beat the crap out of them and show no mercy whatsoever. Yet, for some strange reason, his gut instinct told him he had to help the other stallion up. They had to stick together, he figured. These Vagabonds reeked of bad news. - 364 words |
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Post by Western-Witch on Jan 18, 2016 21:11:59 GMT -6
|| G A L L O W A Y ||
It was complete chaos and Gallow could barely wrap his head around what was happening. As soon as he had galloped up to Ghost's side, Jacelyn popped up next. He felt ashamed he hadn't thought more of his friends, but it was soon replaced by relief at JJ's safety. The words she whispered beneath her teeth struck hard with Friesian Appaloosa. They could escape. They were free from anything standing in their way. But he pushed the thought aside as he remembered the other pit fighters. He looked for his slave brother Jenko and found him galloping towards them. He greeted them with concern and Gallow assessed his body. As a pit fighter he never really felt the pain until he was safe at home. The adrenaline that coursed his body kept any prevalent pain at bay so he just nodded his head towards Jenko. Gallow would be fine whether he was or not. But their reunion and reassurance didn't last long as a lanky pit fighter shouted at Jacelyn's words. "No! We must stay! Freedom is not a good thing!" It took Gallow a second to recognize the fighter as Illidis. He wasn't entirely surprised by the stallions views. But he was still put off by them. Why would freedom not be a good thing? Sure it meant uncertainty, but it was an uncertainty Gallow could have his own control over. Gallow tried to keep the look of disgust off his face. He respected Illidis and was jealous of his almost graceful way of fighting, but this trait was not sitting well with the spotted stallion. Suddenly a blur of bay and spots similar to Gallow's, came barreling past the group of arguing pit fighters. The words he shouted didn't do much to warn the group and Gallow clumsily sidestepped out of the way. "What the hell..." He mumbled. He didn't quite know this fighter. Though he had seen him before. It was an odd sounding name he remembered. Ze'ev. That's it. He was the well groomed, more elegant fighter out there. Gallow hadn't met him but he didn't particularly like his character from what he had heard. But he shoved that aside when he realized that Ze'ev was trying to escape. "Ze'ev!" The word feeling strange on his tongue. "Wait!" Gallow wanted the stallions help. He himself aimed to escape as well. At least he 99% sure he would escape. But Gallow's cry didn't stop the speeding Knabstupper it was instead a compact dark colored mare. She appeared out of no where, her eyes lit like demons and grabbed Ze'ev's neck with ease, viciously throwing him to the ground. Gallow couldn't move. What was even happening right now!? The poor stallion couldn't wrap his head around what was going on in the arena. He suspected his head was still clogged from the blast and he may have hit it too. And then again before Gallow can gather even a quarter of his thoughts JJ loses it. She bellows something than raises her heavy draft body towards Regina. And honestly Gallow doesn't blame her. Regina's actions left him stunned and angered. Why would you stop your fellow slaves from finding a life that could be better? Damn their masters. They had money and an endless supply of pit fighters to choose from. They would be okay. And there went Illidis again. He leaped in front of JJ and stopped her in her path. The mare was unbalanced and toppled over before she could smash a hoof into Regina. Gallow was becoming annoyed and was verging on enraged. This was getting ridiculous. You would think they would just mind their own damn business and be on their way, but no. They had to interfere. "Hey! Where do you get off stopping us? Why does it matter to you?!" Gallow's mouth couldn't stay shut any longer. He felt his emotions bottled up inside and they were bursting. But before anyone could say anything to him they all paused and looked in the direction of a massive bay roan forcing himself through the crowd towards the hole in the Crucible. Gallow suddenly didn't care about the rest of the fighters. He was going with Brutus. Gallow turned to where Jenko was helping Ze'ev from beneath the jumble of hooves and legs. "Jenko! I'm going with Brutus! If you want to leave follow us!"He the turned to the fallen JJ, helped back to her feet and told her the same thing. Gallow Then lifted his head and said loudly for all the fighters to hear. "If you want out of your enslavement follow me." He glared at Illidis and Regina then turned to find Brutus right on them. Gallow didn't hesitate to twist his body and move next to the larger than life horse. He had a biting feeling Brutus wasn’t going to slow down. When he wanted something he wanted something. So Gallow dug his hooves into the arena sand and leaped into stride with him. “Brutus!” He shouted over their huffing and the pounding of their hooves. “If you’re thinking of leaving, I’m coming with. I want out too.”#2(WC: 853) |
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Post by empyre on Jan 18, 2016 21:48:58 GMT -6
Regina | Pit Fighter
Regina had turned her head back towards the other small group of pit fighters who hadn't gotten involved with her small scuffle. She was meaning to fix them all with glare, a warning not to run or she would be coming for them next, and they'd certainly be sorry when she did. But just as she did so she caught the sound of one of the colts, the black and white one Regina couldn't remember his name shouting at her,
"Hey! Where do you get off stopping us? Why does it matter to you?!" Regina's eyes widened slightly at the words, how dare he disrespect her like that! How dare he think he was in the right to want to escape, had he no pride in who he was?! An almost feral growl rose in the dark mare's throat as she poised herself to charge the younger slave, her hooves itching to teach him a lesson. Before she could move a muscle, though, the colt shouted something else that she didn't quite catch before he came over to help the mare whom Illidis had knocked over back to her hooves. At first she thought he was merely helping his friend, but she should have known better as not even a second later he was bolting.
Thanking her training for her quick reflexes Regina sprang forward, charging after the runaway colt with practiced ease. It was a rush, really, chasing down a target --it really got the blood flowing, her pulse racing. It was exhilarating in the best way possible, and she honestly couldn't wait to get black and white fur beneath her hooves, her teeth, and paint it a lovely shade of red. She didn't have to wait long, though instead of pulling up beside the other slave, she stayed behind him, reaching out to yank his tail back.
In the end the action brought then both crashing to the ground, but Regina was quick to get her footing, rearing up and slamming a hard hit down onto the colt's shoulder,
"You insolent child!" She growled at him, rearing up and striking at him again, "There is no escape for you, there never will be! Give up now before I make sure you'll never so much as stand on your own four legs again!"
words: 387 | post 3
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Post by rohgir on Jan 18, 2016 22:08:58 GMT -6
JACELYN
Glory and gore go hand in hand.
Things happen quickly, and one must understand that there are dozens of horses with faster-working brains than Jacelyn's. There are horses that work better with the rapid change going on than Jacelyn, and the mare is many things: a fighter, a beast, but yet, here...here there is familiarity. Illidis managed to get in the way and knock Jacelyn over, and for a moment, she got up on her feet. Her powerful form paused, and the chimeric mare looked at her companions. Ze'ev, struggling, Galloway, Jenko (who got her to look to the side in shame at her outburst) and perhaps things would have gone quite differently. She'd been cowed, for the moment, after all.
Unfortunately, the mare's first instinct is fight.
The flight response is gone after her childhood, after all. And one must understand that Jacelyn does not like uncertainty. And so as she sees Regina once more lash out, but this time, lash against Galloway, Jacelyn knows what she must do. There's no questioning it, you know, just the lash of action. Her body tenses, muscles tighten, and silently, Jacelyn powers forward. The pit slave is quiet, compared to her earlier action.
There's no warning for dear sweet Regina, unfortunately! Just the barreling of weight into her side, the lashing of JJ's hooves, and a bite at the neck to try and sling Regina to the ground. Once she's down, JJ aims to slam hooves upon her side and snarl. "If you hurt my friend--" Her gaze turns to Galloway. She needs to be sure he's okay.
A breath left her lungs, and JJ stepped off of Regina, then stood near to Galloway, head lowered: come, then.
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Post by brindletail on Jan 18, 2016 22:35:34 GMT -6
B R U T U S "I am the character you are not supposed to like."- Alan Rickman
Despite popular belief, the mountain's goal was not in fact, freedom, but to locate Guinevere at whatever cost. Moments seemed hours as he realized that even with an almost guaranteed opportunity to return home to War-Forged, he knew he would not be welcomed. It had been too many years to redeem himself, the only remaining factor in his herd's mind was that he was sold off to Aodh, and only the disgraced were delivered that sentence.
Much as he hated to admit it, his home was this wretched place now, and he wasn't about to lose the one pillar of solidarity in it. While their intentions were righteous, the vindicators were still intruders, and one look at the rubble told you there were already casualties. That made them the enemy.
He had started to climb the debris when he heard his name like a shock, then again, closer this time, "If you’re thinking of leaving, I’m coming with. I want out too.” Brutus turned his head just in time to see the familiar face yanked to the ground and pummeled by the pit bull mare he never bothered to learn the name of. It was damn near funny, if the atmosphere were different. With a slow turn around, said mare had also been knocked off her feet by a bigger mare he also didn't care about and that was just too many people to deal with already.
"YOU FOOLS!" he bellowed, only wasting his breath on them for the sake of his slightly-more-than-aquaintance Galloway. "YOU BOTHER WASTING YOUR STRENGTH ON EACH OTHER? NOW IS NOT THE TIME." As if for emphasis, a vindicator rushed by him in that moment, only for his barrel to connect with Brutus's head as he sent him skidding on his side. He planned on breaking all his legs with his massive front hooves, but he had already dallied too long as it were.
Queerly Edit: GET HIM BRUTUS
WC: 320 |
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Post by Moose-On-Ice on Jan 18, 2016 23:02:42 GMT -6
Illidis | Pit Fighter
"In the end what separates a man from a slave? Money? Power? No, a man chooses, and a slave obeys."
-Andrew Ryan, Bioshock
"Focus on the others!"
The grullo paint's gaze turned away from the massive pit slave thundering away through the crowds of Vindicators. He heard the protests of the slave Regina had pinned beneath her. He didn't want to keep him pinned down like he was, but he had no way of knowing if he'd end up running again. He felt a sharp hit to his flank and he promptly kicked out with his hind legs, hearing a satisfying crack when his hooves connected with a Vindicator's jaw. He looked at the remaining pit slaves. Oh Ignacio no.
"I'm going with Brutus! If you want to leave follow us!"
Not another one! He was about to run after him, throw out a kick to his hip or shoulder to send him off balance- when Regina rushed forward again. He felt a bit of relief knowing he wouldn't be the one to roughly pull a fighting pit slave down to the ground. Regina was so... Harsh though. Although the situation was tense, the stench of blood and sweat thick in the air, she did not need to threaten him like that. "Regina, calm down!" He called to her. He would still be trying to help her, but that amount of anger was not needed right now.
While the scarred grullo's focus was on Regina and her new prey, he did not notice Jacelyn quietly burst towards the other female pitfighter. His eyes widened when he saw her full on ram into Regina, sending her crashing into the ground. Flashing hooves, gleaming teeth, blood drops glimmering in the air... His body went rigid at the at the thinly veiled threat that left Jacelyn's mouth. For the love of Ignacio and everything Holy... He felt a small bit of tension leave his body when Jacelyn stepped off of Regina and he saw the female laying on the ground still breathing. He made to move towards her when a booming voice echoed across the arena.
"YOU FOOLS!"
Brutus. Illidis looked up, fear creeping into the pit of his stomach when he saw the hulking pitfighter glaring down at all of them. He opened his mouth slightly to speak, yet it felt too dry and tasted of dust.
"YOU BOTHER WASTING YOUR STRENGTH ON EACH OTHER? NOW IS NOT THE TIME."
Illidis cringed at his words. He was right... He spotted a flash of movement in the corner of his eye. Another Vindicator. He reared up when they lunged for his chest, making them go directly underneath him as they rushed past. He then struck out with his teeth, biting deep into their hindquarters before striking out with his front legs. He released when the Vindicator cried out and ran yelping like a dog. He spat blood out of his mouth, his mind racing. If no one stepped in... The Vindicators would keep coming... Half of the Pit fighters would leave and he and Regina might be left to fight off the Vindicators. He swallowed, flinching at the iron taste still in his mouth. "Brutus is right!" He called out, his voice failing him at first then growing stronger. "Our fight is not among ourselves! It is with the Vagabonds! They caused the chaos and may have hurt those dear to us!" His voice grew stronger as he grew more confident. "We need to fight them! We can settle this later!"
Perhaps if they managed to fight for long enough the Chevaliers or someone else that was high ranked could come and help him and Regina keep the other slaves under control... He would not say this thought. Just focus on trying to keep them here and fighting.
( Word Count: 612 )
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Post by corruptpudding on Jan 19, 2016 0:14:00 GMT -6
They were all going to tear each other apart before the day was done.
Ze'ev hadn't felt this helpless since the day he'd first been captured for the slave trade. The spotted stallion was still trapped beneath Regina and the cluster of flailing hooves, hoping his skull wouldn't be crushed in, when he felt someone clench their jaw on his mane and crest and pull him free of the fray, albeit painfully.
Gasping for air, Ze'ev scrambled to find his footing in the sandy soil, glancing back at the equine...Jingles? Or whatever...that had saved him a potentially fatal injury. Thanks didn't come easy to the wily knabstrubber, so the most he could manage in terms of gratefulness was a half-hearted grimace in the other pit fighter's direction.
He perked up as JJ flew past and watched with a mixture of surprise and glee as she tackled that wretched scum Regina. He surged forward, ready to help rip that pretty little smirk off her face when the baritone voice of Brutus nearly knocked them all off their hooves.
Fear wasn't a familiar feeling for Ze'ev. His arrogance and bull-headed tendancies blinded him to his faults and failings and barricaded his "fear feelers" by overriding them with an abundance of confidence.
But Brutus...well...one would have to be beyond any level of stupid in the known world not fear that hulking mass of scariness even just a little bit.
But it seemed the thug wasn't about to go out of his way to flatten them. It was Illidis and Regina that were the problem.
"I have no quarrel with the vindicators. The Aohd aristocracy got what was coming to them." Ze'ev spat with a sneer, his attention on Illidis. "If you want to play 'pet' to those disgusting leeches that's your own problem." but was it really him speaking or jelously? The spotted stallion was thoroughly torn now as the reality of the situation sank in. Did he really want to return to his old life of poverty? Begging and stealing on the streets? What chance was there he would even be able to find Mateo? Was she was still alive? The nobles had everything Ze'ev had dreamed of as a colt. Riches beyond imagining, fame, popularity, and doting companions.
But by achieving a life of luxury he'd sacrificed his freedom and Mateo.
He was angry. Angry at his indecision. Angry at Illidis and Regina for stopping him. And angry with the world for its cruelty. He needed to tear into someone. To hear another's cries so as to assure himself of someone else's misery.
The little group from earlier had made an attempt to congregate again despite Regina's voilence. Since she was down at the moment the only immediate threat was the rampaging crowd, a nearly impossible obstacle obstructing his freedom. Only Brutus, it seemed, was able to shove his way through without a problem.
EDIT: Z was walking away but I changed it so that he's sticking around~
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Post by GingerBlues on Jan 19, 2016 7:43:39 GMT -6
The stallion snorted loudly as the pit fighters began turning on each other. What was this mess? Slave or free, it made no difference now as he looked around. Innocent blood had been spilled needlessly, and more were being injured in the crossfire. Where they each ended up when this was all over was of no consequence now.They could sort that out later. At this moment, they needed to be unified, otherwise none of them would get what they wanted, as they would all be dead. As he opened his mouth to speak, Brutus hollered out to the group. “YOU FOOLS. YOU BOTHER WASTING YOUR STRENGTH ON EACH OTHER? NOW IS NOT THE TIME." The spotted stallion nodded in agreement, galloping to Brutus’s side just in time to hear another spat break out among the fighters. "Our fight is not among ourselves! It is with the Vagabonds! They caused the chaos and may have hurt those dear to us! We need to fight them! We can settle this later!" The voice of the painted stallion rang out, only to be countered by Ze’ev. "I have no quarrel with the vindicators. The Aodh aristocracy got what was coming to them. If you want to play 'pet' to those disgusting leeches that's your own problem."“ENOUGH!” Ghost shouted, stomping a large fore hoof into the ground. “WE MUST STAND TOGETHER. Do any of you truly think we will be looked kindly upon by the chevaliers if we don’t? And what of the vagabonds? They may not look kindly on us either. The way I see it, we only have each other as allies at the moment. Who gives a damn where our loyalties lie?” he glared at Ze’ev and Illidis, feeling as if they were squabbling like children. "For now, I believe we should stand our ground and STICK TOGETHER. There are innocents here, one way or the other, and I am sick and tired of the needless bloodshed. We do what we can to protect those who can’t protect themselves and then, and only then, should we resume this discussion.” He snorted loudly, furrowing his brows. He had no intention of staying here, trapped and serving a people who looked at him as less than. He had a family out there somewhere, and Ghost had every intention of finding them. But making a run for it now would be counter productive, even Ghost could see that. Placate those who wished to stay first, then shoot for a logical argument later. As much as he had grown to respect his mistress, he knew deep down she’d understand his decision. He also knew that not every slave here had a life to go to outside these Aodhian walls, and he wasn't about to tell any horse how they should live their life. Freedom wasn't for everyone, but neither was slavery. [Post 2, Word Count: 485] (Sorry if it's a bit disjointed, I had a hard time catching up with everything XD) |
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Post by 0mooncry0 on Jan 19, 2016 15:00:56 GMT -6
JENKO
It seemed the stallion got back to his feet rather quickly. Jenko scanned Ze’ev’s body swiftly. He seemed whole. He was lucky to get out of there alive. He could have been trampled to death, but the Knabstrupper knew that already. Much to Jenko’s surprise, the other stallion offered him a smile… sort of, it was more of a forced grimace. He grinned back at him. A grimace is better than nothing.
“Hey! Where do you get off stopping us? Why does it matter to you?!” he heard Galloway shouting, not entirely sure which horse his outburst was directed to. “Jenko!” he turned his head to face Galloway “I’m going with Brutus! If you want to leave follow us!” He was baffled to these words coming out of Gallow’s mouth. “But I-“ Jenko said hesitatingly, not able to finish the sentence he barely started. He had to think about the words his friend just spoke.
He had heard many tales about what lied behind the thick walls of the Crucible. It was tempting, sure, but was freedom really what Jenko wanted? Were those stories even true? His grandfather was a famous pit fighter. Jenko’s father was, too. Now, it’s up to the spotted fighter to keep his family’s legacy up. Not to mention he still had business to take care of. His sister was still here as well. He was born and raised in the Crucible. It’s all he’s ever known… He was lucky enough to be sold to a kind Noble. What could possibly lay out there that was better than the life he currently had?
His thoughts were rudely interrupted by an imposing voice stating: “YOU FOOLS! YOU BOTHER WASTING YOUR STRENGTH ON EACH OTHER? NOW IS NOT THE TIME.” Brutus was right. “I-“ Jenko was beat by Illidis before he could say anything himself. When he was about to open his mouth to agree with the slender slave Ghost started speaking instead. “ENOUGH!” Was he ever going to be able to throw his opinion out there?
“WE MUST STAND TOGETHER.” He listened carefully to what the older stallion had to say. "For now, I believe we should stand our ground and STICK TOGETHER. There are innocents here, one way or the other, and I am sick and tired of the needless bloodshed. We do what we can to protect those who can’t protect themselves and then, and only then, should we resume this discussion.”
Jenko could no longer contain himself. Now was the time to say what he had to say. “I’ve been trying to tell them that but noooooo, it takes Grandpa-fuzzy-brows and Termineightor’s words for these…That bunch of quarreling yearlings to understand.” Not that his sassy tantrum mattered. Most of the pit fighters were still caught up in each other’s hooves. Jenko sighed exasperatedly. - 466 words |
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Post by Western-Witch on Jan 19, 2016 21:56:14 GMT -6
|| G A L L O W A Y || Gallow loved the rush of running. It felt good. He hadn’t done it with this intention before and the thought of freedom was becoming a realty. All doubt vanishing behind him. Well until he felt a violent tug on his tail and the view of the gaping hole was replaced by dirt and sand. The brutal change in environment chased the air straight out of Gallow’s lungs. He felt the pain this time around. It was heavy and sharp and racked through his bones at an alarming pace. He knew he was going to feel this for a week or more. Gallow twisted violently on the ground and tried to see who his assailant was, and it didn’t take long for him to find out. A sharp punch to his other shoulder whipped Gallow’s head around to face his attacker. She was inches from his face and he swore he saw fire flickering in her eyes. He was shocked and even fear raised to the top of his emotions for a bit, but then anger overcame it all. Before he could do anything she opened her mouth and shouted insults at him. She promised he would never see freedom and the passion and spitefulness in her voice was astonishing to Gallow, so much so that he barely felt the other bunch she landed on his person. Where was she coming from? Who would want to be owned by someone else? Gallow had no reason to love these people. They tore his family apart. And none of it would have happened if they had been free. He sometimes thought about them traveling the world and enjoying freedom, but those were dreams of an innocent colt. He needed freedom like he needed water or food to survive. And like he needed to rip into someone right now. Preferably Regina. But he was beat to it. The force of Regina was gone in the blink of an eye and Gallow could breath properly. He arched his neck to see JJ going to town on Regina. Gallow grimaced and almost felt pity for Regina, but then he moved his body and instantly forgot about the pity. He hoped JJ gave her a month long bruise. Cause he was going to feel these until the next New Year pit fight. When Gallow caught the whispered threat from JJ he couldn’t help but smile. JJ was something else. She was definitely a loyal friend and he was grateful he had made some in the pit fights instead of just enemies. While he was trying to figure out if he could move without setting his nerves on fire, JJ’s head appeared next to his and encouraged him to get up. As Gallow wobbled to his feet like the day he was born, Brutus’ voice quivered the very air and ground Gallow was trying to stand on. And the shame he felt after hearing the stallion’s words was coming to a close second to the bruises Gallow was collecting. He was grateful the larger stallion had stopped the violence and kept Gallow from being beaten further into submission, but he still felt the shame. The black and white stallion had only thought of himself and he had forgotten his friends first and now the innocent ones caught in this violent situation. The vindicators were his way out but this was not the way they should have gone about it; killing and hurting those who otherwise had no part in this. Gallow lifted his head and took a deep breath, pushing the pain of his beating away. Regina still lay on the floor and became a tad worried that they had been too rough on her. But then Illidis suddenly swerved across Gallow’s vision and took down a vindicator. He really did move like a snake. Illidis also felt the same as Brutus. And the number of voices was growing on the topic of fighting the vindicators. Except for Ze’ev. That one was still as defiant as when he bolted the first time. Gallow was interested in his mindset, but he didn’t think they would get along whether or not they both wanted to escape. And then Ghost finally had a say. His age gave him an air of leadership and knowledge and Gallow couldn’t help but listen to him. So that’s how the majority felt. Stay here and fight the vindicators. It drove Gallow mad to have to put his dream of freedom away. It was his ultimate goal one day. But he wasn’t about to make a break for it again. Not after Regina’s nasty stop to it and especially not now that everyone was starting to form a team instead of a disjointed brawling match. Before Gallow could say anything he then heard Jenko. The sassy retort didn’t catch Gallow by surprise it was the fact that Jenko had no desire to escape. He had misplaced his understanding of his friend. Jenko was exasperated at the turmoil that was happening between everyone. And to be honest Gallow didn’t blame him. They were all well beyond the age of colts and fillies. Hanging his head, taking a deep breath and finally standing tall, Gallow proceeded to say his part. “Fine. I won’t try and run. It’s true that I would prefer freedom to the life of being bought and sold, but I must agree that the slaughtering of innocent horses is not something I stand for. These vindicators must be stopped. I’ll find my escape later without guilt on my conscious. Let’s start by driving these asses out of the Crucible. Allow for the audience members to escape without further injury. Unless someone else has come up with a better plan.” Gallow looked to the stands and saw that most of them were empty. A few still struggled with reaching an exit. Maybe he could win his freedom through honor. #3(WC: 983)(so there's just a lot of recapping. ;^; I'm sorry. lol) |
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Post by empyre on Jan 20, 2016 17:31:13 GMT -6
Regina | Pit Fighter
One moment Regina was baring her teeth, growling threats down at the colt who'd had the nerve to try to run while she was staring straight at him, and the next she was thrown off balance by something --or, well, someone-- barreling into her at an alarming speed. The pain didn't even register until she hit the ground, her head hitting off a piece of debris, muddling her mind and rendering her unable to rise. She let out a wheezing gasp, a combination of hitting the ground so hard and the sudden wave of pain the hit her stealing her breath away. She didn't find it entirely unpleasant, but she could do without the world spinning around her and the fuzzy blackness creeping around the edges of her vision. The mare who had thrown her down said something to her, but it was said to the ear still ringing from the blast, then processed by her groggy brain, and sounded like nothing more than garbled gibberish.
Everything seemed muffled for a minute, as though a blanket had been thrown over Regina's head. She didn't like it, she was too vulnerable just laying there like that. 'Come on, get up. Don't be weak.' She thought to herself as her senses began to return to their normal capacity, allowing her to roll up so she was laying on her belly instead of her side --blinking rapidly at the dizziness the simple motion had caused. Ignoring the feeling of the ground swaying beneath her, the dark mare rose to her feet, shaking her head as though to dislodge the remaining fuzziness. It didn't help in the slightest, the only things becoming dislodged being several drops of blood from a gash above her eye.
She raised her head, leveling the gathered group of slaves with a look that screamed 'touch me, and you die' before she turned her still less than sharp attention to Ghost --at least he was a fighter she could respect, him and Brutus both, unlike the rest of these younglings. Illidis she liked, sure, but she was still his elder by a hooful of years which made it hard for her to see him as anything more than a youngling like the rest. She didn't pay any special attention to the mare who'd knocked her down either. It was fair, Regina had pinned the other mare's friend, had gotten too absorbed in the attack to notice the mare --JJ she thought her name was-- before it was too late. The roan wasn't about to go holding a grudge about it. Forcing her mind back on track, Regina opened her mouth to state her agreement with the grey stallion's voiced thoughts, but before she could get her words out another of the colts spoke up,
“I’ve been trying to tell them that but noooooo, it takes Grandpa-fuzzy-brows and Termineightor’s words for these…That bunch of quarreling yearlings to understand.” Regina pinned her ears, turning her head to glare at the appaloosa stallion,
"Watch who you're callin' 'yearling', brat!" She hissed, spitting a glob of bloody saliva in his direction, not really watching nor caring if it hit him or not, before returning her gaze to Ghost, "Now that's a plan I can get behind," She started, letting a smirk settling onto her face --normally pristine, white, teeth tinged reddish with blood. She stepped forward to stand slightly more towards the middle of their gathered group, "I don't know about you but I'm ready to kick some Vindicator ass!"
Words: 592 | Post 4
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Post by Moose-On-Ice on Jan 22, 2016 12:24:13 GMT -6
Illidis | Pit Fighter
"In the end what separates a man from a slave? Money? Power? No, a man chooses, and a slave obeys."
-Andrew Ryan, Bioshock
Illidis fought the urge to shrink back when Ze'ev sneered at him. Playing "pet"? He didn't mind being called names himself. He'd already had handfuls of them thrown at him. But calling his master a disgusting leech... He wanted to attack Ze'ev, kick and bite him... No one insulted his master. While he did want to try and keep the other pitfighters here, he wanted to help protect those who did not have protection or training. Yet, Ze'ev seemed to think it was pointless. He opened his mouth to respond, his green and brown eyes narrowing when Ghost cut in.
“ENOUGH!”
Illidis cringed at his voice. He looked at the other pitfighter.
“WE MUST STAND TOGETHER. Do any of you truly think we will be looked kindly upon by the chevaliers if we don’t? And what of the vagabonds? They may not look kindly on us either. The way I see it, we only have each other as allies at the moment. Who gives a damn where our loyalties lie?”
Illidis lowered his head, his eyes immediately dropping to the ground at the scolding. He had been bad... He swallowed, his throat feeling tight. What would master Luciano say about his behavior?
"For now, I believe we should stand our ground and STICK TOGETHER. There are innocents here, one way or the other, and I am sick and tired of the needless bloodshed. We do what we can to protect those who can’t protect themselves and then, and only then, should we resume this discussion.”
He knew Ghost's words were true. Yet, as he heard the murmurs of the other pitslaves who were responding to Ghost, who had said almost the same thing he himself had said just moments ago... It made him feel insignificant. He meekly nodded his agreement, his eyes locked on the blood stained sand beneath him. His ears twitched when he heard Jenko speak.
“I’ve been trying to tell them that but noooooo, it takes Grandpa-fuzzy-brows and Termineightor’s words for these…That bunch of quarreling yearlings to understand.”
He cringed. Had his words really been so weak that it took another pitfighter, one who wasn't... Broken, like him, to spur the rest of the pitfighters into action? He slightly looked up, hearing more voices from the pitfighters around him as they spoke up. Galloway had a decent plan. At least it was one. He again nodded his agreement, his voice gone for now. He felt no need to speak. Even around other pitslaves he felt the need to be respectful...Pathetic... He jumped at Regina's voice cutting through the air. She was so confident and powerful. She was ready to jump into the fray, do anything necessary.
Oh how he wished he could be more like her... Be more confident and unafraid to do things like that. He mentally kicked himself. Focus. Focus. You can think more on this later. Just focus on the Vindicators. He told himself. He raised his head, avoiding all of the other pitfighter's gazes. He wouldn't meet their gazes again, not yet. Perhaps if this had been an actual pitfight he would have been more willing, more confident. But now that he realized he'd been childish and merely quarreling with the other pitfighters, his confidence was lowered.
He'd just need to try. He'd try to take down the Vindicators and keep the innocents safe. "I assume we are keeping the Vindicators alive?" He softly asked, hoping his voice could be heard over the din of battle.
( Word Count: 583 )
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Post by GingerBlues on Jan 24, 2016 13:30:49 GMT -6
Grandpa fuzzy brows? Ghost rolled his eyes at the younger pit fighter's comment. He'd be sure to teach the colt some respect later. Snorting, he flicked his ears about, listening as the others spoke their piece. “Fine. I won’t try and run. It’s true that I would prefer freedom to the life of being bought and sold, but I must agree that the slaughtering of innocent horses is not something I stand for. These vindicators must be stopped. I’ll find my escape later without guilt on my conscious. Let’s start by driving these asses out of the Crucible. Allow for the audience members to escape without further injury. Unless someone else has come up with a better plan." Galloway sounded resigned to the matter at hand, and Ghost nodded in agreement as Regina's voice piped up as well. "Now that's a plan I can get behind, I don't know about you but I'm ready to kick some Vindicator ass!" The older stallion turned to look behind him as a quiet voice spoke up. "I assume we are keeping the Vindicators alive?" Illidis's voice seemed almost like a whisper to Ghost as he strained to hear the smaller stallion. "Aye. If we can drive them out without killing them, I think we'll be alright. Even better if we can capture one or two alive for questioning." He paused momentarily, remembering a similar situation from years ago. The crown had not at all been merciful to the pit fighters involved... "Chevaliers don't grant mercy to killers, especially not slaves. We should pair up, watch each others backs." He said loudly, hoping the others would hear and see reason. "Illidis, you're with me." His voice was strong as he spoke. Pawing the ground with his fore hoof, he charged into the fray. Protect the innocent for now, escape when the opportunity firmly presented itself. Ghost nodded once as he ran, silently affirming his plan in his mind. By the end of the day, he would taste freedom again. [Post 3, Word Count:340]
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Post by Western-Witch on Jan 25, 2016 21:09:38 GMT -6
|| G A L L O W A Y ||
It seemed to Gallow that Regina never skipped a beat. She was full of an odd terrifying energy and he didn’t want to find himself alone with her. She was dangerous and he knew now why she was a pit fighter. Though when she pulled him to the ground by just her teeth he should have known. Regina was ready to fight the Vindicators and honestly so was Galloway. He wanted to sink his teeth into something and use his physical form to solve problems, not his emotions and feelings. Those weren’t meant to see the light of day. He felt a shiver run across his coat as the heat of the initial explosion and fighting between his fellow pit fighters subsided. The new year air was cool and chilly, he could even smell the ocean breeze in the distance over the smell of smoke and blood. It left him with gooseflesh knowing that everything normal was still there. That things kept moving even though a horrible event had played out. Next to him Illidis seemed to be crouching lower and lower. As if he could get any smaller. Then in quiet almost whispered words he asked if they were to keep the Vindicators alive. Ghost immediately answered and gave Gallow a reason to sigh in relief. Gallow may have been raised as a fighter but he never had the lust for bloodshed. He would only kill if it meant protecting someone he cared for. Only if it was necessary. Then Ghost suggested teaming up. This was a great idea. Two fighters would be better than one. Especially against these kinds of Vindicators. Ghost took Illidis so that left Ze’ev, Regina, Jenko, JJ, and Brutus. Regina was a straight up no. He wasn’t going alone with her. Not until he understood who she was more. Ze’ev was a little self-centered. A little bratty and snarky. But he did share Gallow’s want to escape. At least he had verbally and physically showed as much. Gallow didn’t really think he had the patience for a character like Ze’ev. This left Jenko, Brutus and JJ. Gallow was still unnerved by how Jenko didn’t even think once of escaping. He apparently didn’t know his friend as much as he thought. It bothered him. Maybe he could team up with Jenko and ask him as they ran after Vindicators? Brutus and JJ were a good choice no matter what. Though JJ had a temper that was quick to rise and that might end badly for whoever was on the receiving end of it. And then Brutus was giant and mean and would be a great asset in forcing a Vindicator to come willing as a captive. Gallow shrugged to himself and tried to decide. He couldn’t make up his mind so he opened the suggestion for the others, “Jenko? JJ? Brutus? Any of you open to partnering up?” #4
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Post by corruptpudding on Jan 27, 2016 9:21:11 GMT -6
Ze'ev's irritation spiked as the ongoing argument took a turn for the worse. Something about working together? Partnering up? Blah blah blah...The rest was all just background noise. Pffft, yeah sure, why didn't they all just hold hooves and share their feelings while they were at it? He didn't give two pegasus feathers what those old farts had to say. Old people were almost as annoying as foals. Almost.
But he had to admit, fighting with a partner would certainly be easier than muscling his way through the panicking crowd alone. And if he could pacify Regina and Illidis into thinking he had decided to cooperate it would be that much easier to slip away unnoticed if the chance presented itself. That is, if he still wanted to slip away.
Some of the pit fighters had already started to call out to friends and allies. His name wasn't so much as muttered. Well, what did he expect? He shrugged it off and tossed a careless, yellow-eyed glance at the stallion closest to him. That grey appaloosa that had pulled him out from under Regina and the others. He didn't seem to be all that keen on escape, but he wasn't a nutcase trying to stop those who were, something that might work to Ze'ev's advantage. If the opportunity for escape came along, The other stallion probably wouldn't ditch him for it, but he wouldn't attack him either.
"Jingles." he said casually.
"Look behind you." as a renegading vindicator barreled toward them.
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Post by 0mooncry0 on Jan 27, 2016 14:58:14 GMT -6
JENKO
Clearly not everyone appreciated his sassy comment. That’s just too bad. They better get used to it. Not that it was his intention to hurt someone. On the contrary, he had mad respect for his comrades but this wasn’t the first time he threw a tantrum and it certainly wouldn’t be the last one either. Besides, he may be one of the youngest pit fighters but that didn’t give them the right not to hear him out. “Fine. I won’t try and run. It’s true that I would prefer freedom to the life of being bought and sold, but I must agree that the slaughtering of innocent horses is not something I stand for. These vindicators must be stopped. I’ll find my escape later without guilt on my conscious. Let’s start by driving these asses out of the Crucible. Allow for the audience members to escape without further injury. Unless someone else has come up with a better plan.” He heard Gallow say. He was proud of his friend. “Watch who you’re callin’ “yearling”, brat!” Regina hissed at him, spitting his way. The glob landed right at his hooves. He thought higher of her. Calling him a brat is one thing. He was a brat, that, he had to admit… but spitting? Regina went too far. Every ounce of respect he had for her was now gone. His blood was boiling. Queen of the pit or not he was going to give her a piece of his mind. “You-“
“Now that’s a plan I can get behind, I don’t know about you but I’m ready to kick some Vindicator ass!” Jenko grit his teeth. He was fuming. He wouldn’t be surprised if smoke was actually coming out his ears. It took him a ridiculous amount of effort to remain in control. Thankfully he heard Ghost speak before he could do anything. It would be a shame to deform such a pretty face. Besides, he had to stick to the plan. "Aye. If we can drive them out without killing them, I think we'll be alright. Even better if we can capture one or two alive for questioning. Chevaliers don't grant mercy to killers, especially not slaves. We should pair up, watch each other’s backs." Groups, huh? That was actually a very good idea. Jenko had the perfect horse in mind to pair up with. "Illidis, you're with me." He heard Ghost say. He had to pick Galloway at all costs. He just had to talk to him. They shared the same owner after all. Did his friend really want to run? Was there a chance he could convince him to stay? Deep down he wanted Gallow to stay, but he knew very well that he couldn’t force him to stay in slavery against his will. Especially not now this golden opportunity had presented itself… He had to speak with him no matter what. “Jenko? JJ? Brutus? Any of you open to partnering up?” He heard Galloway ask. This was perfect. “Yeah, bro. Let’s-“
“Jingles.” Jenko paused. Was that addressed his way? Did this stallion seriously just called him that? Right after he saved him? “I dare you. I double dare you to call me that one more time and I swear the only things that will jingle *off a rope* are your test –“
“Look behind you.” There was no need to tell him twice. He spun his head around and caught the vagabond by the nape of his mane, pinning him down mercilessly. The vindicator yelped. Clearly he didn’t see that one coming. “Woops, pardon my clumsiness.” Jenko said. “Now that you’re here, though, we’d like to ask you a few things.”
- 612 words |
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