escordvi | [[Open]] MANTA Promots and Catch-All

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[[Open]] MANTA Promots and Catch-All

Who: Dongfang Qingcang and you!
Status: Open
Where: All Over!
What: MANTA Quests and Crew-Related
Warnings: None at current; will update as needed

A Strange Shopping List
Having been convinced by Rem that a ship of their own, set up with the equipment and libraries needed, would be more useful in conducting the research they were interested in, Daqiang has done his own research into how mortals of the world go about acquiring one. There were the usual mentions of sometimes having ships stolen out from under a captain - particularly if a Corsair was boasting about taking a ship previously owned by a Paladin. But the most common consensus was that if you wanted a ship that would match your needs, you should gather appropriate materials and 'offer' them to the God-Beasts.

What sort of materials? Well, besides the usual wood and cloth and such, it seemed that items and components that would have significance or relevance to the ship the God-Beast was creating for you were just as important. As such, Daqiang had inquired with Rem and then Kimmuriel about what they felt was appropriate and came up with a short, but very odd, list: Magitech Items (still determining what sort), Stainless Steel, Black Jade, and one Dragonfly. And since it was so odd, gathering the materials became an exercise in visiting multiple ports for both information and discussions with merchants.

During the first half of December, Daqiang can be found on Elah, Eltrut, Nogard, and Antam speaking (or arguing) with various merchants over the costs of stainless steel, out in the wildlands of the leviathans chasing down rumored veins of black jade. Maybe you've chosen to help him in acquiring the materials and that's why you're knee deep in mud while Daqiang releases yet another dragonfly you caught because it's 'not good enough'.

Recruiting
If you've been invited to join the Raiders of the Lost Arts or have heard the rumors of them recruiting, and have yet to meet the strongest in the Three Realms, the great devil and Moon Supreme, Dongfang Qingcang, well he's not that hard to track down. His inquiries into procuring a ship have made it easy for anyone unfamiliar with him to get pointed his way by most merchants and port authorities.

On Nogaurd he is easiest to find onboard the Stormbringer as he still has a cabin there. If he's not immediately available, go ahead and hang out with Deathstar, the large, black, warrior cat that Daqiang took on as a 'servant' but whom gets treated more like minor royalty himself. He's very friendly and affectionate and would enjoy a shoulder ride even if he's too big for shoulders in question.

On Elah or Eltrut, he is largely keeping to the merchant quarters and around midday, you're certain to find him enjoying a meal at a private table set up where he can watch the various mortals walk by. He's the perpetually grumpy one dressed like he just walked out of a royal court.

MANTA quests TBA and Linked from Comments
Bite-Sized Blessings (General)
Fey Fighters (General)
Picture of Dorina Grey (General)
Magitech Madness (General)
Coins of the Crescent (Corsairs)
A Steamy Winter's Heist (Corsairs)
Poke 'N Prance (Corsairs)
Untitled Goose Bounty 2 (Bounty)

Wildcard
If the non-quest prompts aren't catching your fancy and the quest prompts aren't what you want either, feel free to put up something else and we'll go!

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Yes.

[He took his sword in hand and inclined his head. Then he shifted a foot back and held his sword out and down to one side while the opposite hand rose hover in front of his chest. His stance was confident and he was ready to strike as soon as Cid fell into his own.]

[Hmm interesting stance. He's seen a number of different fighting styles over his long tenure, though he's curious how Daqiang will fight.

So with his usual lighthearted air, he brings his right hand to the hilt of his blade, drawing the long sword out and shifting his stance. There's just a slight glance at him, indicating that Daqiang can make the first move.]

[Daqiang moves as soon as the unsaid invitation is given, darting forward and past Cid on Cid's right. He sweeps his blade upward more to test Cid's defenses than to actually strike as he goes. Wanting to see how fast the other man was.]

[Despite looking relaxed, Cid's eyes never leave the other man and he's quick to note the speed. But experience is enough to allow him to read the movements, and he brings his up blade to parry without much issue, even pushing back a bit as shifts his weight to prepare for the next.]

[The next strike comes in the form of a backswing as Daqiang follows through in a pivot, using his left hand as his primary counterbalance, the majority of his weight on right foot. This then becomes another swipe across the chest as he spins, allowing his momentum to carry him through for the third strike.]

[Again Cid watches and is able to deflect the first and second blow, moving as he does to keep some distance between them as he remains on the defensive. The strikes are quick, and while Cid's sword is considerably long, he's able to deftly adjust the blade with minimal movement to parry or block each one before he just pivots on his heel to fully turn his body to dodge the last.]

Not too bad. Any formal training?

[Daqiang allows himself to settle back into his original position.]

This venerable one was trained by his father.

[Which was about as formal as it got in Cangyanhai for a crown prince who was expected to take the throne by proving he was stronger than his predecessor. Daqiang expected it was the difference in styles that made it unclear how formal his training had or hadn't been.]

Was yours formal as well?

Bit of both. Was fortunate enough to be taught the basics and then some, but then had to figure things out on my own to fit my own needs.

An admirable skill to have.

[Daqiang inclined his head, then darted forward, this time sweeping his sword up long before he reached Cid so that he could bring it down hard with both hands.]

[The moment Daqiang moved, Cid immediately hardens his stance and once again brings up his blade, this time using both hands to block. But then he'll push back, exerting more strength and swinging his blade for a quick counter slash and thrust combo as he advances forward.]

[Daqiang is able to dart backward far enough to avoid the slash and moves his own blade to intercept the thrust with a parry that pushes it to the side. His left hand rises in a claw and for a moment blue fire forms within the span of his fingers before he remembers himself, the counter too ingrained to prevent fully, only stop before it could go too far.]

[He sees that blue flame and he's quick to make some distance between himself and Daqiang. Though he'll also take that opportunity and lunge forward for another strike of his own, seeking to take advantage of his momentary distraction.]

[Having to reign himself in is definitely enough of a distraction for Daqiang to not be able to avoid the next strike entirely. Though it didn't land hard, it did manage make a shallow cut into Daqiang's upper left arm as he spun his body with the lunge.

He, too, put some distance between them. To give him time to reassess and also glance down for a quick examination of the wound. Nothing worth worrying about other than it happened at all.]

You dare?

[He asked, almost on reflex, and then rushed Cid with a flurry of quick strikes in the hopes of overwhelming him enough for one to get through.]

Edited 2023-12-09 06:47 (UTC)

[Just a cocky smirk.]

Still a spar.

[And then he'll be back on the defensive, the flurry of strikes forcing him to use both his blade and make quick movements to try and either deflect or avoid. But the speed is impressive, and while he manages mostly, there will be the sound of his sleeve tearing as well as one at his side as Daqiang lands two nicks on him.

Yet, Cid isn't bothered by it at all. If anything his smile just widens, as if pleased by Daqiang's hits. Since now it means he needs to try and either even the score, or get a lead.

So this spar is about to get a little more lively as Cid will deflect and parry that last strike to try and go after Danqiang, utilizing the length of his blade and putting more strength behind each swing in return.]

[Daqiang does well enough in deflecting Cid's blows even with the added strength he used. None of the blows seemed to jar him or cause him to have to put more effort into blocking. While he was still quite fast, and quite strong, he wasn't as fast or strong or as deadly as he would have been if he allowed himself to do what every instinct screamed at him to once he was moving.

The real problem Daqiang has is that he kept trying to infuse his blade with his qi and had to keep pulling it out before it could go anywhere. His qi was forced to surround him, crackling blue and ready to be used but with nowhere to go. The sword he was wielding was not built to house qi and it would definitely be destroyed if any got channeled into it. But more than that, Daqiang's instincts, honed through centuries of battle, insisted that he move from sword to spell and back again and weave his qi throughout.

It was a challenge that he didn't realize he needed until now. And unfortunately it was enough of a challenge to allow Cid to continue to push him back and keep him on the defensive.]

[Cid is noticing that Daqiang is struggling, and though he couldn't begin to guess that exact reasons, he can at least tell that whatever it is it's distracting him enough to leave more openings than he would expect.

Openings that Cid will fully take advantage of, pushing Daqiang further as he doesn't let up in the slightest. And as if to really put him to his paces, there will a slight shift in Cid's stance and grip of his sword before he drives in harder and faster, each swing and strike well measured with no wasted space or movement and precise as he begins to aim at those "vital" points.]

[The renewed assault doesn't give Daqiang much time to react, and so his instincts - battle hardened and refined over thousands of years - kicked in before he could pull back on using his power. The first of the new strikes was deflected by his off arm charged with hellfire, preventing any damage.

The second was intended to be taken by his sword. He brought it up, Hellfire flashed through it. And when Cid's sword came at him, there was no resistance to be found. Daqiang's own power had been too much for the practice sword and it evaporated from existence barely a second before Cid's sword pierced Daqiang's side.

Daqiang was still acting on instinct, however, and grabbed the sword at the hilt to shove it in as far as it could go with a snarl. It would bring Cid in close enough that he could wrap the fingers of his other hand around Cid's throat if Cid did not release his blade.]

[In the middle Cid realizes Daqiang is losing control, and for a moment he really does consider just pulling back. But then he's grabbing the hilt, pulling him towards the man. Immediately he ducks his head, twists his grip, using it as momentum so that as he yanks the sword hilt to try and pull Daqiang off balance, he spins around to slam his leg for a low kick against the back of Daqiang's, aiming at the knees.

And even though he released his long sword, his short sword that he also kept at his side is immediately in his hand—just in case.]

All right, I think we've gone past the rules of this spar.

[As the blade is twisted, Daqiang releases his hold on it so that it slides easily out of him. No longer locked together, he is able to roll out of the way of the kick. But it still lands him on his knees as he come out of the roll, left hand splayed in front of him to balance while his sword - the Hellfire Sword - flowed into existence on a wave of blue fire from his extended right hand. The wound in his side bleeding heavily enough that, even in the short seconds it took to come to their impass, it had begun to drip off his clothes and onto the wood of the deck.

He stared at Cid and breathed heavily. More heavily than he should have for a superficial wound. Something more important than skin and muscle had likely been pierced.

Another deep breath and he leaned back, pressing his left hand to his side to put pressure on the wound. Then he stood. Slowly.]

We have.

[He agreed, continuing to eye Cid warily, but otherwise doing his best to act as if the wound wasn't as bad as it was. He could heal it. He would need time to do so. But not in front of Cid. And certainly not in front of the crowd that had gathered to watch them spar and was now starting to clap and whistle at the show of skill they'd just put on.]

Edited 2023-12-14 05:44 (UTC)

[Cid is still eying him with concern, but he just slowly twirls his blade around his hand and sheathes it before reaching down to grab his other to sheathe it as well. There's another glance at his wound, or rather a notable look, but he refrains from commenting. He remembers how he had been the last time he was injured, and he suspects the man doesn't want to draw anymore attention to it, so he just looks back and flashes a grin.]

Still, that was quite impressive. Had I been a moment slower I would be the one on the ground.

[Or in the air, if his read on the move to his throat was correct. And had Daqiang used his actual powers... He certainly would have been put to the test.]

[Definately the air. Daqiang's tendency with choking was to raise his victim high enough they couldn't find enough purchase with their legs to kick free while he slowly squeezed the life from them. Considering he could fly, it was rather easy to get someone high enough.

He inclined his head at Cid's words. The Hellfire Sword fluttered back out of existence the same as it had come. Waiting until both of Cid's weapons were sheathed to do so.

A moment more and he walked to stand at Cid's side, looking past him. Daqiang's hand was still on his wound but he moved as if it didn't bother him at all.

He kept his voice low, so it would not carry past either of them.]

Had you been a moment slower, this venerable one would have killed you. Choked the air from your lungs and ignited your core to burn you from the inside out.

[A statement of fact. Not a threat. He would have gone for the kill, lost as he was in the fight. Acting and reacting without thought.

He lowered his eyes.]

It would not have been a death you deserved.

[Which was about as close as he could get to apologizing for failure to maintain his control.]

[Threat or not, it's only natural to feel the slight chill from the words, brow arching slightly before he lets out a small huff of air, as if to dispel the tension. He then reaches over and gives the man a small clap on the shoulder.]

Then it's a good thing I managed to slip away. But I appreciate the thought.

[He is so not telling Benedikta about that—]

You should, uh. Not mention that to Benedikta should you ever run into her.

[Daqiang's eyes shut as Cid's hand hits his shoulder. He wobbles slightly in the opposite direction, but manages to hold back on the hiss of pain that moving unexpectedly had caused. Instead, he gulps down his next breath and nods.]

As you say.

[—Right, in hindsight that was probably a bad idea and he gives him an apologetic grin.]

Sorry. For now, you should rest up. Though... Might want to work on that control. Can't quite blame you for instincts taking over, but had it been someone else...

[Just a slight cant of his head. No need to say any further.]

[He doesn't think anyone else would have been seen as a threat. Cid had brought him low once already. However much Daqiang had been responsible for that experience, it was not one he would forget.

Against mortals who didn't have the kind of power to match one of the Dominants he just couldn't see a reason for him to react as he had with Cid.

But it was not a reminder that Daqiang would fault Cid for giving him, either. The sword masters of his army would have done the same with any soldier that acted as he had.]

This venerable one-

[He stopped. Breathed in deep. He wanted to say he had no equals to face him in a spar that would drive him as Cid had. To pace him and keep him steady through the practice. But Cid already proved that untrue. And he had made a deal with Benedikta that should he need to test himself he would go to her over Cid.

So Benedikta it would be.]

This venerable one will leave first.

[He inclined his head and began walking.]

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ramuhs - 2023-12-14 07:53 (UTC) - Expand

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