Defeat Horrible Hecteyes

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Characters:  Locke and Rydia
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: The Hunt Begins!
Location: Goug Machine City
Date: May
Warnings:

Locke headed off in the direction of Goug. He knew that while speed was crucial, he must also conserve some strength for the up and coming battle. This thought was all that kept him from bounding ruthlessly towards the city. As he approached the area where the device indicated, he looked off into the distance and could see the chimneys towering into the sky. From out here, he couldn't hear the fear in the voices of the people, but it must be the same as was seen when the Empire attached Kohlingen. He mustn't drag those memories into battle with him. It was dangerous baggage to carry them to a foe that could kill you with a single glance. He probably should at least have let his friends know before he bounded off on this adventure, but he didn't want to worry them.

He began to sprint towards the town, when Rydia offered to help defeat the beast. It was not fear of death that kept him waiting, but rather should he die, she would need to face the creature alone.

Comments

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

As interested as Rydia as in hunts, she had no intention of facing anything alone if it could be helped. With her power came the knowledge that she just wasn't as hardy as those who didn't devote all their time to Eidolons and magic. Coupled with her ignorance of the creature in question, facing off against it solo sounded like a very bad idea.

Anyway, Goug. The town was unlike anything she had seen before. Even Baron could not rival the area's technology--perhaps the Lunarians, but she had only seen glimpses of what they could do. A race in slumber couldn't quite compare to a bustling, thriving society such as this, anyway.

She could have lost herself in exploration but remembered quickly that she had a purpose here. The summoner paced around the town limits, keeping a lookout for the treasure hunter. Hopefully, nothing had happened to him along the way.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke was getting a little anxious waiting for Rydia. He wondered if maybe she had already gone into the town or if something had happened to her along the way. Maybe he should look around instead of waiting in one place. He couldn't stand the thought that she might be in a battle over her head, although after having already seen her in action, he knew she could handle herself.

Conventional wisdom of staying in one place was slowly starting to get pushed to the back of his mind as he considered going after her. He would check one more time before setting off. He scanned the horizon looking for any hint of the summoner.

He saw a green shape out in the distance. Realizing that this could only be his friend, he settled back on the ground to wait for her with the marks of pacing upon the ground being the only clue to his anxiousness.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia was easy to spot, true. Locke stood out a little less, but as Rydia approached, she was able to recognize him. Her pace quickened and she waved cheerfully. It was a relief to finally see him again. Now they could talk shop and see about helping the people plagued by this monster.

When they were in speaking range, she smiled. "Locke! I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?"

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

"Rydia!", Locke responded warmly. "I've barely arrived here myself." Standing, he adjusted his bandanna as he closed the distance between them.
Torn between his desire to relax with his friend and his duty to protect the innocent, Locke kept an eye towards the city as he inquired to the needs of his comrade.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

At that, Rydia shook her head. "I was able to resupply before arriving here, so I'm all set. Have you fought this creature before? It's unfamiliar to me, but I did take the liberty of asking the one who posted the hunt about any weaknesses. They're nothing I can really take advantage of -demon-slaying weapons and holy magic-, but no matter."

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke looked at his weapons mentioning, "I don't have anything specific to helping with that."

"After seeing you in action though, I'm not worried in the least." From what he heard, this would be a tough battle, but he wouldn't let these people down. Too many times he had failed to protect those he promised, but he would fail no more. He would lay everything on the line here for these people. They then began to quickly determine a strategy for eliminating this mark.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia smiled at that, pleased that he thought her capable. Then again, if he hadn't earlier during their other trip, she wouldn't have offered to help. "You can certainly hold your own, too. So, shall we? There's no need to keep these people waiting, if we're ready." She had no expectations of this being a quick battle either, from what she had been told, but they were both very good at what they did. Between the two of them, they ought to be able to manage.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

As they headed into the city, Locke wondered how hard it would be to find the creature. He should have realized that would be the easiest part of the confrontation. It was eerily easy to follow the signs of destruction that pinpointed the location of their prey. They just needed to get past the fleeing populace without being stampeded to death. Then he saw it, a creature that could see him no matter which direction he came from. Obviously there would be no ambushing this one.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

So that was a Hecteyes. Interesting. They reminded her of the various types of flan in her world. If this was akin to them, then she had a better idea of what to do.

First things first. She used a Hermes Sandals item on both, giving them an effective boost in speed. Spider Silk was tossed as soon as they were within range. Whatever the creature's strengths, slowing it down could only work in their favor.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke felt the familiar rumblings of extra speed as he sized up their opponent. It was time to see if this creature was as strong as believed. With that he flung his boomerang towards one of the eyes scoring a direct hit. As the boomerang returned, Locke noticed a small pinion attached to the weapon. His luck skill was with him this day.

Luck however was not with the treasure hunter this day, as one of the fake eyes was hit, doing little but announce to the creature that more prey was to the rear.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

As the hecteyes turned its attention to Locke, Rydia began to summon. She stretched out her arms after a moment and brought forth Leviathan. The Lord of All Waters in turn attacked the creature with a great flood of water. The attack seemed to weaken their mark, but it turned on Rydia then, and she winced as its Absorb attack drained some of her energy.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke knew better than to speak, wasting words when lives were on the line. He however did spare a glance of encouragement towards Rydia. Seeing the damage inflicted by her, he knew that her magic, and not his physical prowess was going to defeat this monster. Sensing this direction, he quickly changed his focus from attack to protect. Throwing himself between the creature and the summoner, he flung his boomerang towards the creature hoping to draw its attention. His feint worked as the creature stared right at him.

He was confused as his eyelids suddenly felt heavy. It took all his strength to catch his boomerang as he sank to the ground with weariness.

"Rydia, Hit him ...zzz zzz zzz", he finished as he fell into a deep sleep."

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"Locke!" Rydia wasn't a White Mage, so Esuna was out, but she had a quicker solution. She poured a Remedy on him, grateful that she had taken the opportunity to purchase plenty of restoratives. There wasn't time to see him recover, as the monster turned to her. Quickly, she began to summon Leviathan once more...but the hecteyes was quicker. The next moment saw Rydia inert on the ground, victim to its Roulette spell.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

"zzz". Locke stretched as he woke up. His mind was foggy as he felt something dripping down his chin. He quickly jumped up ready to lay into the prankster, when he realized they were in the midst of a heavy battle.

He really hated falling asleep in battle as his wits returned to him. He was ready to return to the fray when he sensed that Rydia was not beside him anymore.

He quickly tossed the first item he could grab at the creature hoping to distract it.

He then quickly spun towards his fallen comrade poking her with the earlier stolen phoenix pinion.

He quickly turned back to the creature smacking his head as he realized it was a potion that he threw.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

The phoenix pinion roused Rydia to consciousness once more. She stirred, then sat up. The previous events came back at a rush to her, and she snapped to battle alertness upon seeing the creature still present. The summoner rose to her knees at least, still requiring more healing but not about to stop putting up a fight. She fell into a trance again, allowing Leviathan to appear once more. The hecteyes did not appreciate that, starting to appear visibly damaged now. It lashed out at Rydia with another draining she could ill-afford, and she cried out, now at the verge of faceplanting again.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke's attention was caught by the cry. He had heard that cry many times in battle. An attack on the creature would have to wait until business was taken care of.

He deftly pulled out a hi-potion and restored the summoner as the demon began to cast roulette once again.

Not knowing the result of the terrible spell, Locke charged head on with the knowledge that if he could give Rydia time to summon Leviathan at ease, the battle could end.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Grateful, Rydia nonetheless didn't waste any time in summoning. She tore her gaze away and concentrated, finding that easier with the energy restored by the hi-potion. The Lord of All Waters took form yet again and lashed out at the creature threatening Rydia and her companion, drenching it once more in a great wave of water.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke slammed his dagger into the one true eye of the beast as the creature's attack finally connected. As he felt his life sink out of his body, he smiled with the peace of knowing the Eidolon King's strike had rung true.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

The summoner sagged in relief, watching the creature expire. She turned to smile at Locke--but that smile quickly slipped from her face and she ran to him, rooting around in her bag. A few frantic moments later and a Phoenix Down settled over him.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke opened his eyes slowly, finding Rydia nearby. Relief washed over him, that she was still alive.

As he shifted to a sitting position, he saw the carcass laying along the ground beside him.

"We win?", he rhetorically asked as water continued to drip down his face. Not missing a beat, he pulled off his bandanna wringing out the excess water shaking his head at the shear magnitude of water.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Immediately, Rydia handed over a hi-potion. She nodded, glancing around. "Unless there's another one of those creatures around, we did. I think we've earned a break, haven't you?" The reward for the hunt didn't even enter her mind, yet. She had joined for the adventure, and because it needed to be done.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke graciously took the drink allowing the liquid to cure his ailments.

"I don't think the city could take more activity from us right now," he commented looking around. He looked over at his comrade in an attempt to decipher any hidden injuries that she might have. There would be time enough later to consider the rewards. Right now, he was content to simply be here in the moment.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

There weren't any hidden injuries, but Rydia was somewhat battered and drained. The hi-potion Locke had offered certainly helped, but that creature had put up quite a fight. She nodded to Locke, about to respond, then turned upon hearing a familiar voice. "Rasler!" She smiled, then glanced over at the creature. "It seems pretty dead, to me. I just hope it doesn't have a twin somewhere...." She frowned, wondering if she was condemning them by saying that. Still, such creatures rarely came out of nowhere.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke turned towards Rasler, "That thing was pretty tough."

He then looked around as the people began to exit their hiding places, relieved that the danger had passed.

"For the sake of these people and this town, I sure hope there aren't anymore creatures around. It might just destroy the town."

The local tavern owner strode down the street grinning as he approached the trio, "I'd like to thank you all for clearing the town of this menace. It was hurting business. Come on over and have a meal on me."

Locke had never been approached this way before and was unsure of how to respond to the kind gesture. He looked to his companions pleading for them to help him out.