Post by beardalot on Nov 8, 2010 13:37:57 GMT -5
As I rode towards the Behemoth all I could think of was the last time I'd encountered such a monster, it was many years before, when I was still just a recruit on a standard hunt and destroy mission. Searching for a pack of fangs that had been killing livestock in a remote village, when we found them all that was left were their carcasses and in the middle of the devastation stood a beast I'd only heard of in horror stories from older veterans. The behemoth attacked us and we lost 15 of the 20 soldiers in our regiment, the only reason I was still alive was because Sir Valiant, our commander at the time, managed to achieve a Trance and fight the creature off, although he did not succeed in killing it he had caused enough damage that when the Royal Guard of that era arrived they were able to find and dispose of the monster with ease.
Here and now, heading for such a creature, with only Sir Valiant, Sir Dreygon the healer, Lady Yarfew the mage and myself forming our battle party I knew the Behemoth stood almost no chance of survival but I couldn't help my growing sense of dread, "How do I perform a Trance?" I asked, both Dreygon and Yarfew turned their heads to Sir Valiant, they too hoping to wield such a power. Sir Valiant sighed and I knew I would not like what he was about to say, "I can't teach you I'm afraid, no one can. A Trance can only be used under extreme circumstances, when the mind and body are pushed to their limits, or when the user experiences an intense wave of emotions, and even then not everyone has the capabilities, I myself have only performed one a handful of times" the feeling of dread grew further, but I remained focused on our objective, "what is your strategy then?"
Sir Valiant gestured towards our companions, "Lady Yarfew will attack the animal with magical strikes while Sir Dreygon buffers our defences, the creature is highly resistant to to debuffs so don't waste your energy trying to cast them. We will try to flank it, whatever you do don't try to attack head on, it will probably be the last attack of your life. Should the creature get the upper hand I will hold it off while you 3 retreat to the castle and take command there, that is an order and I expect you to follow it"
"Yes Sir" we replied, I had never defied an order and, although I did not like it, if the time came I would do my duty
After a few minutes we crested a hill and at the bottom was the Behemoth, standing in the ruins of what had been a small settlement before it's arrival, I could not see any survivors and I felt a hatred stronger than any I had felt before. The Behemoth stood taller than any of huts it had destroyed, a hulking figure of pure muscle, the king of the animal world. We dismounted our chocobos and left them where we were, a whistle would bring them running in an emergency, Sir Dreygon cast protective spells on us all and took position behind Lady Yarfew ready to channel magic into her if needed, Sir Valiant and I descended the hill to bring us either side of the Behemoth taking care not to alert it to our presence. Once we reached our positions Valiant gave a signal to Yarfew, the battle was starting, she raised her staff and a fireball the size of a wagon struck the creature in the back scorching the grass beneath it's feet. It staggered forward, Yarfew continuing her assault, thunder and ice falling from the sky to strike it, the ground beneath it tremoring and finally it fell. Valiant and I rushed forwards slashing and hacking at the creatures sides and legs but it was in vain, with a roar that I could feel rattling my bones the Behemoth rose to it's feet and swiped us aside, swatting us like flies, barely hurt from the onslaught, it's think hide near impossible to penetrate. I thanked the god's my armour and Dreygon's spell had absorbed the brunt of it's powerful attack, Sir Valiant wasn't as lucky, he had been thrown into a building and was laying unconscious, the Behemoth started towards him turning away from me as if I posed as much threat as an Oglop. I ran at them and at the last second used my powerful legs to leap onto a low wall and then spring onto the monsters back, I drew my shortsword from my side and started plunging it into the monsters ribcage, not doing serious damage, but managing to distract it's attention from it's intended target. The Behemoth reared onto it's hind legs and started thrashing about but I held on, continuing my assault, then it began to fall backwards. It was going to crush me underneath it.
I sprang from the beasts back and landed barely feet away from it, and as it fell it twisted around, finding its feet the way a cat might, then raised one of it's huge paws and swung catching me fully in the chest, sending me across the ground. This time I wasn't so lucky, this time I was dazed and in pain and the creature was still advancing.
I felt the hairs on my arms rise with static and was blinded as an almighty thunderbolt hit the Behemoth
When my eyes adjusted I saw Dreygon and Yarfew both crouched, completely drained of energy from their last blow, all their magic thrown into the attack. But It was not enough, the Behemoth rose, once again, turned to face them and started running, furious that they had prevented it's kill, intending to crush them with it's might.
And then I heard it…
Here and now, heading for such a creature, with only Sir Valiant, Sir Dreygon the healer, Lady Yarfew the mage and myself forming our battle party I knew the Behemoth stood almost no chance of survival but I couldn't help my growing sense of dread, "How do I perform a Trance?" I asked, both Dreygon and Yarfew turned their heads to Sir Valiant, they too hoping to wield such a power. Sir Valiant sighed and I knew I would not like what he was about to say, "I can't teach you I'm afraid, no one can. A Trance can only be used under extreme circumstances, when the mind and body are pushed to their limits, or when the user experiences an intense wave of emotions, and even then not everyone has the capabilities, I myself have only performed one a handful of times" the feeling of dread grew further, but I remained focused on our objective, "what is your strategy then?"
Sir Valiant gestured towards our companions, "Lady Yarfew will attack the animal with magical strikes while Sir Dreygon buffers our defences, the creature is highly resistant to to debuffs so don't waste your energy trying to cast them. We will try to flank it, whatever you do don't try to attack head on, it will probably be the last attack of your life. Should the creature get the upper hand I will hold it off while you 3 retreat to the castle and take command there, that is an order and I expect you to follow it"
"Yes Sir" we replied, I had never defied an order and, although I did not like it, if the time came I would do my duty
After a few minutes we crested a hill and at the bottom was the Behemoth, standing in the ruins of what had been a small settlement before it's arrival, I could not see any survivors and I felt a hatred stronger than any I had felt before. The Behemoth stood taller than any of huts it had destroyed, a hulking figure of pure muscle, the king of the animal world. We dismounted our chocobos and left them where we were, a whistle would bring them running in an emergency, Sir Dreygon cast protective spells on us all and took position behind Lady Yarfew ready to channel magic into her if needed, Sir Valiant and I descended the hill to bring us either side of the Behemoth taking care not to alert it to our presence. Once we reached our positions Valiant gave a signal to Yarfew, the battle was starting, she raised her staff and a fireball the size of a wagon struck the creature in the back scorching the grass beneath it's feet. It staggered forward, Yarfew continuing her assault, thunder and ice falling from the sky to strike it, the ground beneath it tremoring and finally it fell. Valiant and I rushed forwards slashing and hacking at the creatures sides and legs but it was in vain, with a roar that I could feel rattling my bones the Behemoth rose to it's feet and swiped us aside, swatting us like flies, barely hurt from the onslaught, it's think hide near impossible to penetrate. I thanked the god's my armour and Dreygon's spell had absorbed the brunt of it's powerful attack, Sir Valiant wasn't as lucky, he had been thrown into a building and was laying unconscious, the Behemoth started towards him turning away from me as if I posed as much threat as an Oglop. I ran at them and at the last second used my powerful legs to leap onto a low wall and then spring onto the monsters back, I drew my shortsword from my side and started plunging it into the monsters ribcage, not doing serious damage, but managing to distract it's attention from it's intended target. The Behemoth reared onto it's hind legs and started thrashing about but I held on, continuing my assault, then it began to fall backwards. It was going to crush me underneath it.
I sprang from the beasts back and landed barely feet away from it, and as it fell it twisted around, finding its feet the way a cat might, then raised one of it's huge paws and swung catching me fully in the chest, sending me across the ground. This time I wasn't so lucky, this time I was dazed and in pain and the creature was still advancing.
I felt the hairs on my arms rise with static and was blinded as an almighty thunderbolt hit the Behemoth
When my eyes adjusted I saw Dreygon and Yarfew both crouched, completely drained of energy from their last blow, all their magic thrown into the attack. But It was not enough, the Behemoth rose, once again, turned to face them and started running, furious that they had prevented it's kill, intending to crush them with it's might.
And then I heard it…