Everybody's Grunge [OPEN]

[Gegenji]

[align=center]FREE FIRST CONCERT[/align]

[align=center]OUTSIDE WANDERER'S PALACE RUINS[/align]

 

[align=center][/align]

 

[align=center]Come witness a new sound - with an open mind![/align]

 

Such was the contents of a flyer, haphazardly scribed upon a piece of aged parchment. It was first found tacked to the outer wall of Camp Bronze Lake. It was found by one of the guards - a dour Roegadyn by the name of Stout Pillar - who, considering it little more than graffiti, tore the paper down and disposed of it before returning to his rounds.

 

The next sun, however, came with a fresh one in its place. And a second a few yalms further down. The handwriting and sloppy sketch of the ruins leading to Wanderer's Palace was different, but the overall content was the same. Another guard pulled one down out of amusement to show to the rest of his crew, and the other was promptly removed by Stout once he learned of it.

 

And so it continued for a few suns. Each time, like a hydra, more and more of the flyers would start to pop up. A few even managed to make it past the defensive perimeter to decorate the sides of changing stalls and the very buildings of Camp Bronze Lake themselves. While it amused the rest of the guard for the most part, Stout took it as a personal offense and made it his personal duty to remove the slips from every surface he could find them. He even went so far as to request assistance from the Yellowjackets to aid in dealing with the threat - and was promptly laughed out of the building when shown the offending piece of "propaganda."

 

In fact, Stout's tirades seemed to bring even more attention to the mysterious concert. Hands other than the Roe's were taking the flyers down now, not to dispose of them, but to spirit them away to show friends and family. Along with them came rumors, tales of small figures roaming about in nondescript brown cloaks posting up the stubborn slips of paper, only to escape the comedic bunglings of a camp guard who had his belt on too tight.

 

A couple forgotten flyers tumbled through the streets of Ul'dah, others had made it as far as Gridania. All announcing the same concert at the same location, all with a shoddy sketch of the ruins for emphasis. To some, it was just a brief amusement. While to others it had become a much deeper curiosity.

 

And now the all-important time was drawing near. For at the bottom of the flyers was a date and time - this very sun, at the 19th bell. Stout had already boldly pronounced the sun before that he would go forth and cease this horrific debacle, catch these miscreants in the act and bring justice upon them.

 

But what of you? Will you go to aid in the guard's quest? Will you go to stop him? And what of the concert itself? What might it be?

 

There's time yet, of course. It's still bells before the appointed time, and poor Stout was refused time off to deal with this "impending threat." He would have to complete his daily work before he could set out to intercede. Time enough to go to offer help, to detain him, or to gather up some friends and colleagues to just enjoy the show.

 

After all, it's free, ain't it?

 

So, I had a joke idea at some point that I've found myself fleshing out now.

 

FFXIV has its bards, its musicians. There's even that one quest line that involves what is effectively a boy band. I had conversations with folk over music in Eorzea and fun ideas for names for such troupes. Being the punster I often am, I came up with "Everyone's Grunge" - an all-Tonberry heavy metal group.

 

We all had a laugh and moved on, yet the seed was planted. It came back to me recently as I was aimlessly wandering through the vast venues of YouTube. I began to wonder: Surely, someone has done covers of rock songs and the like on classical music, right?

 

But of course.

 

uT3SBzmDxGk

 

E9BbTrHa82s

 

So! I'm kinda in the mood to try to put together a forum-based RP about Everybody's Grunge - a band of tonberries straight outta Wanderer's Palace, seeking to share the anguish of their imprisonment through only the sickest of jams. Basically, I want to throw an Eorzean rock concert. This may just fall flat on its face, but let's have a little fun before then!

 

... And feel free to let me know some good suggestions of your own for if/when the performance actually hits!

 

Also, the band members, for the curious (and so I don't forget them later):

Rasp - Lead vocals

Cran - Piano

Goose - Drums

Straw - Harp

Blue - Cello

 

[Steel Wolf]

Most. Imaginative. Motherfluffer I know...and how could I resist a good pun?

 

 

Cliaux had come across the flyer in Ul'dah at least a couple of times. Maybe once or twice it could have been considered a prank...but this was the fourth such leaflet that had crossed her vision.

 

She had heard of the area around the Wanderer's Palace. The stories it carried. And though she hadn't been there personally herself for all the stories of its dangers, how could she possibly resist a free concert from a troupe of completely mysterious performers?

 

It was all too much intrigue. Too shiny of a string to not pounce upon.

 

So she made her way from Ul'dah, taking the long trek towards the Palace. She travelled incredibly light to move at speed--a few daggers, a rolled up shawl of dark cloth, and a small pack of some hardtack biscuits and water for provisions. She would make good time and get to the concert at the appointed hour.

 

When she had made it to the forest, her travel changed dramatically, moving from trail to treetop, as the dark shawl was wrapped around her head and her movements becoming significantly more cautious. She was not about to be attacked by pirates, even for the love of music.

 

...unless, of course, pirates grew on trees?

[E'jusana]

E‘jusana was walking around the market in Limsa Lominsa with a large woven basket hooked in the crook of her arm as she looked for fresh fruits and vegetables for the day. As she perused the stalls brimming with a rainbow of goodies something caught her eye. It was a flyer pinned to the corner post of a stall it read

“FREE FIRST CONCERT OUTSIDE WANDERER’S PALACE RUINS. Come witness a new sound – with an open mind!”

 

Ana tugged the parchment from the nail and looked up at the sun and nodded to herself with a sparkle in her eye. The sun was still low, it was a beautiful morning as the sun tried to break through the remaining fog. Ana had wanted to make sure she went shopping before the crowds got bad and the food was still fresh. This sounds exciting, I don’t have any plans today and I love hearing new music. Hmm, I wonder who’s playing as her thought trailed off a smile crept upon her silent lips. I have time to get there before nightfall if I leave soon. Ana finished gathering a few more items for the journey to Camp Bronze Lake, placed the items into her basket, and walked out of the city to where her icy blue, feathered friend was waiting for her.

 

Ana gently petted her feathered friend’s neck as she gave a fresh krakka root to the beautiful chocobo and said “Are you ready for a little trip, Terra?” The chocobo was excited to see the treat and make a happy noise as she gobbled it down. Ana packed everything into a satchel hanging on the chocobo’s flank, re-checked the ties holding her bow and quiver in place under a flap of cloth on the other side of the saddle and then mounted the bird in one graceful motion. “Alright then, let’s go!” she said with a big smile.

 

Ana arrived at Camp Bronze Lake without much trouble and made good time considering the increased number of attacks on travelers recently. Since moving to the area a few months ago Ana was proud of herself for making sure she got good information from the locals on how to travel the safest and fastest routes to surrounding areas of her new home in the Mist. She sighed in relief upon safe arrival and started to look for a place to wait for the concert.

[Idristan Agache]

You had me at Tonberry heavy metal.

 

 

With the bright sun high overhead, Adeya Evenar wanders through the Limsa Lominsan markets, with no real destination in mind other than taking a brief respite from staring at books and documents until her eyes go cross. Pausing for a moment to glance at the wares of a hyur peddling clothes in a distinctly Ul’dahn style, she was about to move on when a poster tacked to a nearby stall caught her eye. Frowning slightly, her eyes run over the first few words—then she reaches up and snatches the parchment down, tearing it slightly in her haste. Barely even noticing this, she quickly begins to skim, her hands tightening on the paper with each line.

 

“What,” she finally says in a flat voice, her dark eyes narrowing as she stares at the badly done picture. Returning to the top of the paper, she slowly begins to reread it, as she was certain that she had missed something. But no; the words didn’t change. They definitely spelled out Wanderer’s Palace…

 

Adeya shakes her head as she crushes the paper in her hand, her expression torn between exasperation and disbelief. This sounded like a prank, more than anything else… yet she couldn’t afford to just ignore it either. The Wanderer’s Palace was important to her, both for its historical value and its prominence in her ongoing research. If there was something truly going on there then she would have to be there too, if only to make sure things didn’t get out of hand (or ruin anything she might need to study later).

 

A short time later, Adeya rode into view of Camp Bronze Lake. She had made good time, as both she and her blue-feathered chocobo had made this trip many, many times before, and were quite familiar with the area. Outside of the camp, she dismounts.

 

“Stay here Zephyr,” she says quietly to the bird, giving it a quick pat on the beak before heading towards where this “concert” was supposed to be taking place. As she walked, she was alert for any sign of other people, preferably ones who had come here for the same reason she had. After all, someone here would have to know more about what was going on. Right?

[Aya]

Concert!  Party time!!! :love::love::love::love:

[Gegenji]

Around the area of Bronze Lake, a light sprinkle of rain began to fall, heralded with a rumbling peal of thunder that called for perhaps further rain. Stout held out a gnarled hand, palm up, from the safety of an overhang of rock and wood, and smiled grimly. He may not be able to deal with this threat of marauding musicians until his turn at watch was ended, but perhaps the Twelve themselves were moving to intervene against this debacle.

 

Of course, the Roegadyn would still head on that way to esnure a complete subjugation of these roguish misfits. And, apparently, whatever malcontents they had attracted as well. Any coming through to Camp Bronze Lake bearing one of those Twelve-forsaken slips of paper would get the stoniest of glares from him. He'd let them pass, of course, he had gotten a stern talking to before about waylaying potential spa-goers for such paltry reasons as their musical preferences. So, dismissals and tirades had been subdued into withering looks and silent judging.

 

Surely the nobler of hearts would be corrected from their erroneous ways by a curt glaring at, Stout thought with a curt nod, his steely gaze falling upon the latest arrivals. "Ho, travelers, and welcome to Camp Bronze Lake."

 

Further away, the light rain was having other effects. The most notable was the rousing of the local salamander population, the beasties venturing out further from their murky pools thanks to the added protection of rainwater on their slick skin. In fact, one particularly hefty one had decided to settle itself across the path leading to the ruins of the Palace proper and seemed fit to not budge. Should he not be dealt with, any of those seeking the concert itself would have to detour through the very marshes the salamanders had emerged from.

 

A few such concert-goers were caught in such an impasse, looking on at the dozing hunk of flab from the safety of some ruin overhangs. They seemed content enough to try and wait the giant hunk of flab out, rather than get swamp muck and Twelve-knows what else seeping into their boots. Not to mention they did not seem to keen on touching the slimy thing either.

[Telluride]

"Tonberries."

 

Nathan was mere yalms from the edge of the tall bluffs at Swiftperch; the sounds of the sea below and the cool mists lifted by the winds were his only companions this night. The armored, yet sweet and flustered, blonde he'd met at the Quicksand the night before had been pleasant company, and he'd hoped to have gotten to know her a little better, despite her apparent naivete' and too-frequent mentions of her father, but the call to repay his debt to the innkeeper at Aleport had been too pressing, and so terrible necessities had given way to what could have been an interesting night indeed. However, the odd flyer had blown up to his feet on the road between the two La Noscean settlements, so something might yet come of it.

 

"Tonberry.. musicians."

 

He was stretched out on his sleeping pad, with the small tent nearby. The fire he'd built was down to glowing embers, but with the nearby torches of the farmstead, and the faint glow of Limsa Lominsa's towers in ready view, he still had enough light to read the flyer. Yet again.

 

"Oschon, you continue to remind me to be humble, even in my growing successes. Who am I to say no to providence?"

 

When the sun arose the next morning, he put the sunrise before him, and began the journey to Bronze Lake. Perhaps the show would be inspirational, and perhaps he might have call to pick up some new sounds, but at worst, there were always beautiful faces and bodies at the Springs there, and the mulled wine was quite refreshing, as he recalled, so what was there to lose? A good show made for good company, no matter which side of the stage he was on.

 

 

 

 

Ok, Chachanji, you need covers and songs for something like this? Let's talk shop. You had me at Thunderstruck.... and Iron Maiden sealed the deal.

 

 

 

[Steel Wolf]

Cliaux grumbled as the first spits of rain began to tap against her head. It wasn't impossible to traverse the ruinous overhands or random tree in her upper-tier leaping, but it made it that much more treacherous. She had to slow her movement less she endanger herself and fall.

 

As she made her way, she noticed the salamanders stirring to douse in the rain. She curled her lip in disgust at the slimy things...and fair fully recoiled in horror when the much fatter one decided to lump itself directly in the path of the less fleet-footed below.

 

"Oh I was RELALY hoping I wouldn't get stuff on me either..." ,she muttered. She unwrapped her scarf from around her face, sighed, and flipped herself off of the outcropping, landing with a dull thud on her back. To the untrained eye, it'd look all the world like she had slipped and fell.

 

Cliaux grunted as she slowly brought herself up to a standing position, then rolled her arms. She smirked and gave a roguish wink to some of the nearby onlookers as she hooked her fists into her cesti and took up a fighting stance.

 

"Well, that big chunky lizard is just RUDE!"

[Jancis]

That was a big salamander. Jancis stared across the old stone road at the beastly amphibian.

 

The conjurer had a habit of gathering up discarded papers to use, even if it meant pulping down and mashing back into parchment, and came across the flyer. Interested at music and anything that said 'a new experience' piqued her curiosity.

 

Growing closer to the crowd that was also looking, she heard the complaints. "Well, that big chunky lizard is just RUDE!" came from somewhere. 

 

Just rude. Surely the creature did not realize the problem it posed.

 

Trotting up the steps to the hot springs and the tavern there, Jancis pulled whatever gil she had out and asked for dodo eggs. They were so common on the island, and she got some awkward looks when she asked for them raw. Failing to haggle well at all and the merchant quick to see an easy target, they agreed, selling off half a dozen of the spotted eggs.

 

Heading back to the gathering crowd the plan was simple. Eggs were a tasty treat. Surely it would be a fair trade to the salamander for moving across the way. What could go wrong?

 

 

 

The other option:

 

The rude high mander, named Sal, just laid there in the road like a jerk.

 

"Sal, do you mind?!"

 

... salmander...

 

[Idristan Agache]

Adeya glanced up towards the sky as a drop of water fell square on the center of her head, and then scowled in annoyance as another hit her on the nose. “Of course it would rain,” she mutters under her breath as she pulls her long blue coat closer around herself. Ironically, she normally liked rain, which made her even more cross that it had decided to happen now, as almost despite herself she was curious about what was going to happen here.

 

Shaking her head, she trudges onward, secretly being glad that she had decided to wear both coat and boots for this endeavor. She almost felt bad for the people gathered up ahead: some of them looked as if they had come for the hot springs rather than a trek out to the La Noscean ruins. With the rain coming down, some of them had to be getting cold…

 

Wait a minute, why were those people standing there?

 

“Excuse me,” she calls out as she struggles to make out anything over the heads of hyurs and elezen much taller than herself—then when that doesn’t work the small miqo’te pushes her way to the front of the crowd, ignoring the nasty looks a few people throw her way. It was all worth it in the end after all, as when she got up there she was met with a rather strange sight. A woman staring down what looked like a rather large salamander. That just wasn’t something you saw every day.

 

“That seems a tad excessive,” she remarks mildly as she takes a few steps forward. Absentmindedly one of her hands drifts down to the spellbook at her side as she studies the creature in front of them. Truth be told, her spells would probably do as much damage to the creature as the woman’s fists, unless she could convince it to chase after a carbuncle or something. And given how content the creature seemed where it was, she didn’t think that was likely.

 

For a moment she glances back towards the rest of the crowd, to see if anyone else had any ideas.

[Gegenji]

"Um..." a Plainsfolk Lalafell quietly piped up, nervously adjusting her glasses. "A-actually, salamanders are not actually lizards. They're technically amphibi-ow!"

 

The quick bop to the head from what one would assume was the Lalafell's friend cut her correction short. The little popoto rubbed tenderly at the spot she was hit as her companion - a female Highlander with a flaming orange mane - straightened and gently rubbed the underside of her palm. Perhaps the little Plainsfolk's skull had grown tough from the rather slapstick nature of their relationship.

 

"Nobody cares, Oriri."

 

"B-but, it's true..." the Lalafell urged softly, earning herself a nudge with a muddy boot that sent her tumbling sideways a couple steps before righting herself. This was still enough to send her knee-deep into the muck, however, and the Plainsfolk made the saddest of faces as she schlepped and schlorped her way back onto relatively drier ground. The Hyur merely grinned at the spectacle, enjoying tormenting her much smaller comrade far too much.

 

The bloated hulk of a salamander, however, seemed much more content with its muck-filled situation. It even shivered a bit in delight as the rain continued to caress its massive bulk. The quivering of its slimy flesh made it seem almost gelatinous instead of a beast of rubbery flesh. To those of a more sensitive stomach, the very act was quite nauseating. The salamander itself didn't seem to mind; it was fat and happy.

 

At least, it was happy until it started getting noisy during its nap. The initial, fairly quiet mutterings of the amassing crowd were easy enough to ignore, since it faded seamlessly into the pitter-patter of the rain. It was only as the chatter grew noisier - along with the the splashing antics of a particular Plainsfolk - and more irate that the salamander began to shift about some to show its displeasure. In the end, it was a particularly loud one shouting something in its direction that finally got it to lazily open one glistening black eye to see the cause of the racket.

 

That dull black orb settled quickly enough on the Elezen in front of him, drawing most of its attention. It rolled its arrow-shaped head to one side, as if the change in view would make the obnoxious thing disappear. When it did not, it simply let out a muted whine that engulfed poor Cliaux in a wall of hot breath that stank of swamp water and mud. With its displeasure thusly aired, it settled back down with a snort.

 

The snort, however, brought new information to the flabby brute. In particular, it brought a particular scent.  The salamander sniffed once, then twice more in quick succession, to ensure it was smelling what it thought it smelled. Its eyes snapped open. Eggs.

 

Eggseggseggseggs.

 

Already suffering from salamander breath, Cliaux was quickly put into another predicament as the slimy-skinned behemoth trundled eagerly forward in search of those dodo eggs.

 

Ok, Chachanji, you need covers and songs for something like this? Let's talk shop. You had me at Thunderstruck.... and Iron Maiden sealed the deal.

 

I'll definitely take any suggestions or ideas for what pieces the little band will be playing! If you have any, feel free to either put them in spoilers or - if you want them to be a surprise for everyone else - send me a PM. :thumbsup:

 

[Steel Wolf]

Cliaux's eyes nearly rolled into her head as she was absolutely washed with the salamander's breathy protest. She staggered backwards, making several completely unladylike wretching sounds. She stood aghast, arms hanging at her sides as if she was covered in a sort of film.

 

"Awgh...how FOUL! What did you eat, an entire lichyard?!"

 

Apparently the salamander didn't take too terribly kindly to being taunted, as the gelatinous reptile...or lizard, depending on who you asked...lumbered its bulk at her, snorting as if she was suddenly an hors d'oeuvres.

 

She reeled back in disgusted fright as the jelly-like beast made for her. She then recomposed herself and took up her stance on instinct, fists raised as it began to close the distance. "I really REALLY don't wanna do this to you, but..you leave me no choice, Stinky!" ,she challenged, half-threatening, half-hoping that it could perhaps suddenly rethink its course of action.

[Telluride]

The cloak, rain-sodden and clingy as it was, could only hide so much of its wearer. It was obvious that the personage was tall, too broad-shouldered to be an Elezen, and not yet bulky enough to be a Roegadyn.

 

They could call it Bronze Lake if they wanted, he told himself, but in the inclement weather, it might as well be Mirk Moor, or the Flood Flows, or something about mud and muck and marsh. Yet, to complain about rain was like to spend one's day slapping a Goobbue with a stick - it wasn't going to change anything, and most likely would leave one simply feeling much worse.

 

He had finally come close enough to notice the growing throng of people, apparently music lovers whose enthusiasm could not be dampened even by drizzle and downpour - his kind of people, mayhap. Something had stirred them, but it wasn't music, yet, unless the sounds of these Tonberries sounded like women yelling and large things slithering in muck.

 

As it turned out, the spectacle apparently was, indeed a woman yelling, and a disturbingly large Eft menacing the crowd, and ignoring the source of the feminine shouts: A lithe Elezen, who appeared instead to be charging at the sodden beast, with raised fists.

 

A dirty joke flew through his mind about pretty women punching salamanders, but he bit his lip to stifle it, and began to reach for his bow, which was tucked under the cloak, even though the rain would play havoc with the bowstring.

 

 

 

 

You have a deal, Chachanji, and if there are particular songs you want to... use... for this, I'll put on my Weird Al wig and get to scribing!

 

 

 

[Idristan Agache]

As the situation continued to devolve Adeya grimaced. Clearly neither woman nor amphibian were planning on backing off. For a moment she watched, silently considering whether to just let things run their course; however, as the woman began to yell she sighed and opened her spellbook, her fingers quickly flipped to one of the pages she had marked in advance for situations like this. Briefly ignoring everything else that was going on, with practiced movements she quickly traces out the spell written on the page.

 

Finishing the spell with a small flourish, she snaps her red book shut as a carbuncle appears before her in a small burst of light. The light blue creature gazed up at her for a moment with an expression not unlike a dog awaiting a command, before Adeya lifted her free hand and pointed at the woman facing off against the salamander.

 

“Help her Cyan,” she orders, and at once the small summon would take off towards the pair. Meanwhile Adeya would watch with sharp eyes and book still in hand as the carbuncle would try to move to stand next to the elezen. With its black eyes fixed on the salamander, the summons tails would lash behind it as it awaited the command to attack.

 

Personally I vote more Iron Maiden.

 

[Jancis]

As quickly as the carbuncle closed the distance to the braced elezen lady, Jancis widened her steps to meet up with her as well. The 'aroma' was quite pungent and Jancis saved her breath to not yell and disturb the beast further.

 

But in doing so she also didn't do much to announce her presence on approaching Cliaux, coming up around the poised woman from the side in front of her fists, Jancis' arms overloaded with dodo eggs.

 

Awkwardly, finally in range over the noise of the rain and the meandering salamander, Jancis spouted out, "Lady, pray be careful-" 

 

She interrupted herself, realizing she was in-between a woman ready to punch, and might do so, and a hulking slime-skinned behemoth from the lake.

 

Was this concert going to become a fiasco? Moments drew themselves out into eons...

 

 

 

So, just threw a conjurer between a rock and a hard place. If she gets punched by scaring Cliaux, it's Jancis' own fault. I just hope she doesn't get eaten at this point.

 

[E'jusana]

Ana was a few yalms off from the whole eft commotion petting her chocobo's neck waiting and watching as things played out. "I hope they don't make so much noise that the other efts decide to join in on the fun" Ana concernedly muttered to herself as she scanned the area making sure none of the other efts were getting too close to the others.

 

Just as she finished she saw the large, slimy hunk of an eft perk up and start moving it's huge mass towards the group. It looked as if it was sniffing the air searching for something. "Oh no." She gasped with wide eyes. If that one smells food the others will smell it soon too she thought quickly and swept her eyes over the area again. Her gaze stopped on a smaller eft a short 10 yalms

30ish yards away if I understand the conversion correctly =)

from the commotion or herself for that matter. It moved it's head around a bit and looked as if it had caught a slight scent of whatever had gotten the larger eft's attention.

 

"Great" she said sarcastically. Well, at least it looks like it doesn't know where the scent is coming from, yet. Ana raised her voice only loud enough for someone in the group to hear and said "Umm guys, something is getting their attention. Look." and she pointed to the second eft sniffing the air and licking it's lips hoping to catch the scent again.

[Gegenji]

As if by divine providence, the eggs were coming to the salamander! The big lug couldn't be happier. Well, maybe a little bit happier - if the shouty one would stop yammering things. The little glittering thing was of brief interest due to its inherently shiny nature, but the amphibian knew where its interests lay.

 

It was big and it was hungry, so it wanted food. Food that just so happened to be presented openly to him. As would be his right, had he the intelligence or ego to even consider such things. He didn't, though, so he went with the simple solution of "see food, eat food."

 

That maw opened again, this time regaling three things with its... unique scent instead of one. Its rubbery tongue lolled out and scooped up the armload of dodo eggs in one go, curling up around the batch before retracting back into the salamander's mouth. A mouth that closed with a snap, followed by an incessantly noisy sound of shattering eggshells.

 

... And leaving poor Jancis with her arms - along with most of her upper torso and head - coated in salamander saliva. The hair that usually curved just so over her right eye was now sticking straight up thanks to its new, primitive styling technique. At least the rain would help wash it off... right?

 

That wasn't to be the end of the Conjurer's ordeal, however, as the salamander returned its attentions to her after a grand, guttural swallow. It sniffed and snortled at her clothes, which still had the scent of dodo eggs clinging to it, and dimly wondered what other gifts the Hyur had for it. It pressed into her intently, urgently, with a slimy, rubbery snout.

 

Several other of the slimy beasts has also seemingly gotten interested in the scent of eggs. The one near Ana oozed its way over to prod Jancis in the back of the leg, and several others were seeming to get interested as well. More and more seemed to emerge from the muck, until there was a crowd of them to rival the crowd of onlookers.

 

Salvation came from an odd source. The massive salamander itself. This was his treat-giver, they could not have her! With a warbling wail that engulfed Jancis, Cliaux, and Cyan again in his marshy breath, the beast took to rounding up his smaller kin, snapping and lashing out at them. Just as quickly as the smaller amphibians had appeared, they were chased off further into Upper La Noscea by the dominant male.

 

But how long until he returned, or more salamanders took advantage of his absence? Who could say...

 

You have a deal, Chachanji, and if there are particular songs you want to... use... for this, I'll put on my Weird Al wig and get to scribing!

 

I was just going to hunt for easily recognizable songs or ones that I would feel fit the tonberries' enslavement to their king's grudge and all that. Avenged Sevenfold's "Hail to the King", for example. However, my musical knowledge is fairly lacking... so any suggestions or outright parodies that could be provided for Everybody's Grunge would be incredible! :thumbsup:

 

 

[Steel Wolf]

Cliaux watched the entire scene unfold with a mixture of disbelief and perhaps disappointment. The stories of adventurers she'd heard never ended up like this....drenched in rainwater, coated to the very core in scents best left undescribed, and surrounded by some sparkling squirrel-creature and a woman who was now drenched in salamander saliva.

 

Cliaux coughed and wretched again as she had been doused twice in the breath of the creature, and decided to take advantage of the sudden disappearance of the flabby obstruction, giving out orders in between sickening gagging noises.

 

"Quick! Bleegh! Every--hwurrk!--everyone move u--awwrp!--up the road!"

 

With that, Cliaux went into a stumbling run, her head dizzied by the scent that dominated her nose. She was trying to do the noble thing, leading the innocent to safety...but instead it looked an awful lot like a drunkard trying to run from a mob. Regardless, she went into a wobbly trot, heading the charge past Fat Sal.

 

I'd perhaps suggest the band cover Digital Dagger's "The Razor's Edge"--name's thematic and lyrically it would suit I'd think

 

[E'jusana]

Ana was so shocked and amazed at the turn of events that she stood there for a moment with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. "Wow, spectacular!" she said still awed as the efts were chased off. She only was snapped out of her daze when she heard the Elezen woman speak. Ana shook her head to clear it and collected her thoughts again. Then she gathered her things and trotted off after the rest of the group.

 

As she joined the group Ana scrunched her face and wrinkled her nose to the horrid scent of the foul beast still lingering on them. "Is, um, everyone alright?" Ana asked as she approached those in the front of the group. She turned and looked at the conjurer woman with the salamander slime covering her from head to toe and said "Wow, that was quite a show, Miss." and gave her a sorry smile as if to say, I'm sorry you're covered in gross slime.

[Jancis]

At least she didn't get punched.

 

Jancis spread her arms wide as the eggs were swooped out of her grasp, realizing the true power of the over-sized eft. What she had hoped to be enough to lead the beast away was nothing more than a small snack!

 

She didn't fight the urging of the elezen lady, following her along as they headed for 'higher ground', her head turned half the time to look back as the beasts were shoo'ed off by the alpha male. Her hair was truly grudge worthy, perhaps inspiring style in the worst of places, the long lock curling sideways at the tip to make a hook above her head. Her face was completely showing, her engraved scar shining in glistening saliva. The robes were drenched, soaking up the spittal which made the conjurer smell overwhelming.

 

"Yes, yes. I am fine." she replied to Ana, echoing the smile lightly back to the woman. "Forgive me, it was meant more so to dissuade and move the creatures, not rile them up. I must needs continue moving. Dare not want him to return this way."

 

Retreating back to hopefully lose the scent, Jancis scurried back up to the hot springs, apologizing to everyone she walked by as they gawked at her mangled robe and appearance. Climbing far back to the cliff-side, she stood knee-deep in the salty spring.

 

It'd have to be up to the crowd, should the efts return.

[Idristan Agache]

Adeya stood watching the scene unfold, stunned into silent disbelief by what had happened. It was only when Cyan, now bereft of orders, came running back to her side, did she finally react. Mainly because the carbuncle now smelled like eft breath. Gagging slightly as the fumes reached her nose, she shook her head in a combination of disbelief and disapproval, then took off at a brisk jog to join up with those at the front of the group, her summon lapping at her heels.

 

“Well, that was interesting,” she remarks as she gets close enough to be heard by Cliaux and possibly Ana as well. “I don’t usually get to see people threatening to punch salamanders.” Winkling her nose at stench of eft breath now wafting from two places, she goes on. “I hope someone remembered to bring something to drink to this. After all of that I think we could use one.”

 

Though her tone was fairly calm and conversational, her eyes were scanning the area around them as they walked. She didn’t think that the salamanders would come back now that it had gotten it’s meal, but then again she wasn’t sure about it either. Besides, this trip had started out weird and had quickly gotten weirder, and she really didn’t want to be caught off-guard if there were any more surprises waiting for them.

 

Well if we're doing recommendations perhaps something by Falconer? Not parody but they have a medievalish sound. Lament of a Minstrel in particular seems appropriate.

 

[Steel Wolf]

Cliaux chuckled as, despite herself, she was getting acclimated to the odor of herself and her new companion. It still stunk, mind, but at least she wasn't attempting to pass her stomach through her mouth.

 

"I don't usually look to punch salamanders. Though now I think about it, I wonder how effective that would have been. Didja see the size of that thing?" Cliaux tried to envision how the encounter would look in her head, and all she could come up with is her fist burying into the lizard's side and being wrapped up to the elbow in slimy fat.

 

She shook her head free of the gross mental image and continued. "...and I dunno about a drink, but I could certainly do with a long hot bath. In the meantime, introductions! Cliaux Rondelet. Nice to meet you all...though I swear I don't always smell like this, I promise."

[Telluride]

He had watched in something intermingling awe, disgust, and outright amusement. After all, it wasn't everyday that a crowd gathers in the rain to watch giant efts charge people down, steal eggs, bathe interlopers in bile, and then run off in a cascade of slimy skin and thrashing tails. He felt especially bad for the petite one who got that close up tongue bath.

 

Wait... He took another dozen steps forward as the crowd began to file closer towards the springs and the resort area itself, following the little clutch of females that had gotten the worst of the Eft assault. Was that.... Lady Milburga?

 

Now, what a story that could make.

 

Since the bow no longer seemed necessary, he plodded on along the sodden road, in time to hear the punchy Elezen chatting at the others; however, any of his usual snappy patter was suddenly stifled at the sight of the familiar midlander woman and her slime-covered garments, and at the smell that wafted towards him, obvious even in the rain, which caught his breath before he could make use of any. He was barely able to clear his throat, suddenly hoping he could brand the view upon his memory.

 

 

 

 

I have two Tonberryish songs offered up to Chachanji so far, and a third one being tinkered with this morning... muahaha! :lol: 8-) :bouncy:

 

 

 

[Gegenji]

As Jancis retreated to Camp Bronze Lake, her passing was marked by a sniff by Stout Pillar. Not one to discern the awkward blend of smells that now permeated the air around her - which was a heady one of swamp and salamander and eggs - but one of disdain. After all, he had seen her amongst those people, the rubes seeking to promote the anarchic proceedings happening down by the ruins. Yet, he let her pass regardless, lest he bring more unneeded trouble upon his head for turning away a potential customer.

 

His gaze turned skywards, looking for the sun out of habit to determine how many bells 'till the end of his shift. If he had not sought the shelter of an overhang, such a glance would have been met with a couple fat raindrops to the eye. Such a thing was a disorienting event, he could confidently say from experience, and one he was glad to avoid. It still meant he was uncertain until his relief would come, however, and thus reduced him to grumbling.

 

For those still braving the path towards the concert ground, their continued journey would be marked by a distant warble as the Alpha Salamander continued to snap and nip at the fat tails of his lessers. By the time he would be done reasserting himself, his amphibian mind would have completely forgotten the reasoning behind it. He would instead be proud of his feral display of martial prowess and reward himself by flopping bodily on a grassy hillock, returning to enjoying the rains in a position less likely to be obtrusive.

 

"U-um... I'm... I'm Oriri..." the still slightly boggy-legged and squidgy-booted Plainsfolk offered to the Elezen, before receiving a disorienting nudge from her Highlander friend that almost sent her stumbling into Cliaux. She caught herself on the hem of the Elezen's garments, before whirling to face her companion with puffed cheeks and and angry flush to her features. "H-Hey!"

 

"Speak up, Ori, you're squeaking like a nutkin," the tall Hyur derided with a fierce grin, one that quickly moved to size up Cliaux. "The mousey one is Oriri, and I'm Phye. Phye Tanningwords. A pleasure, I'm sure."

 

Her chocolatey brown orbs flitted to the cesti that the Elezen bore before leaning in uncomfortably close to the pugilist, seemingly indifferent to the stench of eft breath still clinging to her.

 

"Fancy yourself a bit of a fistfighter, huh?"

[Idristan Agache]

One of Adeya’s ears twitched slightly as she made out the sounds of salamanders in the distance. Glancing in what she assumed was the correct direction, she tried to see if she could spot the creature coming back. However, all appeared to be calm for the moment, so she shrugged as she turned her attention back to the people around her.

 

“No idea. And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not find out,” she says with a look of distaste at the image the idea conjured in her mind. “Anyroad, I’m Adeya Evenar—“she begins, but is cut off as she notices that the lalafell and Highlander from earlier had joined them. Cocking her head slightly to one side, she watches the slapstick antics of the two with a bemused expression.

 

“Do you always let her push you around like that?” she finally asks as Oriri manages to regain her balance, in a tone that suggests she’s more perplexed than concerned about the lalafell’s plight.

 

Excellent. Can't wait. :bouncy: