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Reptilians: Grash
Stats
Name: Grash
Nickname: "Captain"
Age: Still Youngish Adult
Gender: Male
Homeland: Widou
Training: Engineering, Space navigation
*~*~*
Description
Grash is a gruff sort of person. He is sturdily built with a broad neck
and shoulders and a short stature. His scaly hide ranges from beige to
army green and is cool to the touch. He has a short, stout tail that has
some strentgh but isn't agile and thus can't do much damage. It does aid
in keeping his balance.
Grash has some years of experience under his belt and has no problem
giving orders or giving punishment if his orders aren't followed. A
well-disciplined crew means less chances of disaster when problems occur.
Advantages: taste the air with his forked tongue, heat resistance.
*~*~*
Pet
Name: Nebzy
Type: Magical Snek
Colour: Yellow Splatter
Information: Cold-blooded and scaled like real snakes, they appreciate
warm places, tend to live quite a long time, and tend to have "their
people" if they're pets and everyone else beware they're not venomous
or technically constrictors, but they can exert more strength than
expected due to short bursts of enhancement magic. The head appendage is a
soft and flexible, has no scales and a small amount of conscious movement
control on the critter's part -- can't really carry anything, but can
grasp / feel with / etc, sort of feels like velvet to the touch. They have
generally flit-level intelligence, have a minor magical ability that lets
them do small / short term things (like fireballs the size of a lighter
flame, etc).
From: Clan
Akelara
*~*~*
Departure and
Getting Sidetracked
Time passed slowly at Erizon as the crew of the WiRSS5-23 repaired
their ship. There was little to do on the planet but the absence of large
predators was a definite plus. The locals seemed to hint at a mysterious
presence in the woods though, so Grash, Blad and Schub had steered clear
of it.
Getting the necessary parts delivered to Erizon had proved to be
impossible, unless they'd been willing to wait for half a decade since
they'd need to be dispatched from halfway across the galaxy. The people at
the company however had given them coordinates to a nearby space station
that likely carried the necessary parts. The Refugium it was called,
orbiting a planet called Zar. Supposedly it had some incredible deals on
lodgings and it had several biodomes that replicated different terrains.
And it basically was their only option. So, the Refugium looked about as
wonderful as food to a starving man.
Their journey there was uneventful though stressing as the WiRSS5-23
creaked and groaned under the abuse. She was really overdue for a big
tune-up. Grash felt a stab in his heart for each pained shriek the ship
gave. Schub didn't fare much better as he often looked over his shoulder,
wondering about cracks and the effect of what would happen if the hull
should breech. Blad tried to stay as sober as possible and chose to ignore
the others' behaviour. He just prayed the ship would hold.
And hold she did. Finally the WiRSS5-23 reached the Refugium and as they
explained their situation she was allowed to dock quickly. As the three
reptilian humanoids disembarked, Nebzy, Grash' pet that usually stayed on
the ship, flew out ahead of them and seemed intent on exploring. The
little yellow-cream spotted Snek was usually pretty disinterested in the
places they visited but maybe even she had noticed the dire situation
they'd faced on the way here and felt like she needed to egt out. Or maybe
she just smelled all the delicious smells and saw all the breathtaking
sights. Lights, dozens of people, all different species, races and
genders.
After a minute or so of walking they were being processed by the visitor's
center, given a place to stay and let out into the main city. They
were milling on the streets, unsure of what to do when they were
approached by a sparkly white, violet-marked, winged and furred dragon.
"Goodday gentlemen." she said, "Might I presume you are
from Widou?"
"Yes we are." Blad answered truthfully, "Not many people
know of our world."
"I like to travel, " the dragoness confessed, "My name is
L'ledax."
"Nice to meet you." Schub said.
The three introduced themselves and listened as L'ledax told them stories
of her adventures when she'd visited their planet. The dragoness had a
remarkable way of portraying their home in such a way that they started to
feel a little homesick.
"Oh, I think you might want to visit some of the biodomes. An Udraku
clutch is currently there and they would be looking for bonders who can
handle a more humid environment."
Grash looked a bit hesitant, "Or earthy." L'ledax added.
"We should check it out!" Schub said enthusiastically.
"They might ask you a few questions too but don't let that deter you.
I think you would have a good chance and I've been known to be right a lot
about these things." the dragoness winked and sent them on their
way.
*~*~*
Hatching
Many had come to see her eggs, people from worlds beyond Atefes'
imagination. Each of them had been inspected with patience and
deliberation, scrutinized until they squirmed and sweat beneath the mighty
shadow of the female udraku. Many of them passed. Many others didn't, and
she drove them from the egg mounds with billows of fiery smoke. The other
udraku kept watch outside the ring of egg mounds, hidden in the deep
swamps until only their bright eyes peered out of the gloom.
Her eggs were safe. They were protected. There would be no thieving here.
And so they remained waiting until the eggs were ready and the great
shapes of other udraku rose out of the muck and encircled the mounds,
crooning back to the chirps of the hatchlings. The young would still have
to dig their way free, a testament to their strength, but they were
surrounded by the encouraging song of adults. Stragglers would be helped,
but for now, the children muscles their own way into the world. Atefes
scanned the swamp in search of one of those alien figures and urged them
to contact the authorities.
Moments later the swamp swarmed with aliens, keeping a cautious distance
from the egg mounds encircled by the udraku.
Atefes stood above the peat mound, her massive wings spread to shield the
sight of her children digging free. Crackling yellow smoke billowed from
her mouth as she rumbled the arrival of her brood.
A striking brown male clambered from the nest. Ignoring the excitement
around him, he waddled the perimeter of the candidates, his shock of blue
eyes piercing through the options as he went. Hands that strayed too near
to him were met with snaps of his little jaws. There was only one person
here for him...
:: Grash. ::
Hearing his name, the small reptilian shouldered his way through the
crowd. "Sbinzi??"
:: Yes, that's me. :: Sbinzi closed the
distance, churring contentment now, and nuzzled his chin against Grash's
stout legs. :: Let's eat and then I'd really like to
see your ship. ::
Grash bonded at the
Refugium
Name: Sbinzi
Gender: Male
Color: Brown
Hatchling Length: 1'4"
Adult Height: 15' at shoulder
Abilities: Telepathy, Verbal Speech, Breath Weapon: Light, Breath Weapon:
Smoke
Personality:
Sbinzi likes to consider himself a worthy second to his bond and captain
Grash. He's a strict, no-nonsense fellow that is largely impersonal toward
anyone but Grash. He keeps his impulses under-wraps, presenting himself as
stoic and serious. Despite his cold exterior, Sbinzi adores travelling and
the chance to explore distant realms. He doesn't like to show his
excitement when Grash and crew land on a new planet, but Sbinzi is a
secret thrill-seeker, always looking for new experiences.
*~*~*
Adults
The WiRSS5-23 had been repaired and Grash had ordered the rwo others of
the crew to pack up so they could disembark once more. Life at the
Refugium was comfy, but living a life of luxury would only make them weak.
He'd had no difficulty locating a job they could do.
Though their first run would be a short trip, it had only taken a few days
for frustration and boredom to drive Bhele into nervous pacing around the
ship. With the added bulk of the growing udraku, the ship felt smaller and
more cramped.
:: I want to get out.:: Bhele growled.
:: Though luck. :: Sbinzi answered her before
Grash could. The brown udraku felt it was his duty to help keep the others
in order. After all they were his clutchmates.
Zandlethi didn't quite see the hierarchy in the same way and bristled at
the show of dominance.
:: Who died and made you boss? ::
Grash had his sneck fire a couple of small energy bolts. Though they
didn't hurt much, they did get the dragons' attention.
"I'll be the one to determine what happens."
"Do we have time for a stop on a nearby planet?" Schub asked,
feeling Bhele's frustration keenly.
Grash considered and finally figured some fresh air and room to expend
energy would help them all.
"Alright, we'll make a short stop but then we'll be on our way
again."
"Like last time." Blad mumbled, recalling how bad their last
pit-stop had gone, although truth be told that hadn't been Grash' fault so
Blad wisely kept his mouth shut and urged Zandlethi to keep from biting
Sbinzi the moment he turned his back.
:: Thanks Schub. :: Bhele crooned, nuzzling
her bond, :: You are the best ::
*~*~*
Story
Gloed - Genster - Grash
- Blad - Schub
Credits: all background images and
reptilian pictures found with google. |