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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Plane Sailing" data-source="post: 808957" data-attributes="member: 114">Fareena says the little charm which she uses to protect hersefl from fire each morning, but changes the wording slightly to ward off lightning. The waggoner on the lead wagon is straining at the traces to his oxen when the ground erupts like a volcano to his right. Soil, stones, and grass are hurled skywards 40 feet or more as a huge boney carapace bursts out of the ground, slams into the wagon and clamps mighty jaws into the wooden sides. The wagon teeters on two wheels and falls sideways as the waggoner jumps clear. A soil covered beast of immense but sleek proportions heaves itself onto the surface spitting pieces of shattered wood and rounding on the oxen. A shiny object spins lazily in the air for a moment before thudding back down into the grass nearby.Clint, Alavarielle and Troy rip out weapons and charge towards the monster, eyeing it’s substantial carapace and soil tearing talons with alarm. What on earth IS this thing and why did it attack NOW? Dariol summons a flaming sphere in the grass next to the beast and scorches it’s hide. Fareena tosses her torch at the creatures feet and calls forth the familiar pyrotechnic smoke over the downed wagon, concealing the beast momentarily, while Alavarielle curses it with Corellan’s Doom. The beast lurches out of the smoke, all flailing claws and snapping jaws.  Too far away and wobbling on a midstream wagon, Katarn commences a battle song, boosting his companion’s spirits as they make contact. The armour is thick, but several telling blows are landed in quick succession. Drooling uncontrollably and watering mightily from it’s beady eyes, the great creature snaps and bites at these buzzing gnats, ripping through armour and tearing vicious wounds with ease. A shiny multi-legged object clatters out of the grass into the burnt out soil strewn area near Dariol, and thumps the ground loudly. A gem glows at the front of this strange thing; seemingly scanning it’s surroundings Cyclops like. Dariol calls another flame sphere into being and rolls it over the coppery spider, apparently to no effect, and Fareena’s crossbow bolt also skips harmlessly off its armour.The landshark heaves forward with tremendous force, ripping another oxen open as it fixes it’s jaws in the side of the second wagon. It’s legs lock against the ground and this wagon too is quickly wobbling. The party redouble their efforts and weapons bite deep into the hide. Blood spurts forth but still the creature heaves. As this wagon topples, Dariol draws his scimitar and clouts the shiney construct solidly on top.  A large dent rocks the thing on it’s sprung legs and blue fire coruscates up Dariol’s blade. His electricity endurance saves him from injury, and Fareena joins in with her favourite cast iron pan, swinging it wildly like a club.Clint is sorely hurt now and tumbles out of the fray as Vladimar arrives on horseback. He charges in as Alavarielle too steps back to heal her terrible injuries. The creature seems to regain some awareness, and springs into the air, lashing out with all four feet. Alavarielle is caught badly, as is Vladimar’s horse. The normally consummate rider is instantly unhorsed and laid prone at the Bulette’s feet, but Clint, Troy and Alavarielle re-engage with renewed vigour, and the deluge of frantic blows finally brings the monster crashing to a halt.The construct seems only capable of self-defence, and Dariol and Fareena pound it to bits in short order, Fareena’s pan apparently breaking some delicate internal working that sends springs and wheels flying into the air. The thing sags and whirres to a stop.Breathing hard, the party survey the carnage. Oxen lie torn and kicking in the grass, two wagons are turned over, battered and helpless like beached whales. As Katarn’s battle song echoes away across the plains Dariol and Fareena gaze at the shattered machine, then at each other and wonder, who makes THESE?</blockquote>

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