Oekaki Thread

[Dracos]

Free sites do that kinda stuff. :\

Dracos

[twentytwo]

Yes! - it looks like PNG is the answer... (smaller size, less loss, and no shrinking...)

***

In Excess of No Side 3
: Monster


After a short chase, Wren has stumbled onto BW who now stands motionless. Preparing one of Jarod's smoke-ball signals, she is surprised at what lies before her: a bizarre looking creature is lying on the ground in what looks like considerable pain. Switching to the red ball, she tosses it off to the side and smoke begins to rise from it...

For some reason, BW is just standing there watching the creature. Slowly, the monster takes notice of BW and begins to stir. Cautiously, Wren reaches back and pulls out her sword.

The monster rises up and starts to move towards BW...





Worried, Wren jumps out to fend the monster off. However, to her surprise, BW turns around and glares at HER...

Quickly, BW begins to rush at her, kicking with his legs. At first, she has no problem dodging it, but very soon, he starts to speed up and one quick knee knocks the wind out of her. BW kicks the sword away from Wren and is about to kick her again when suddenly a giant hand grabs him from behind and throws him into a tree...





...shattering it.

The monster stumbles a few feet before falling to the ground again. Clutching its head, it moans. It's body appears to be contorting and shaking.

As Wren gets to her feet, her eyes start to widen as the form of BW lifts itself off the ground, completely unscathed...

BW slowly approaches the monster with a soft and steady glance; the Monster begins to howl. With sharp jabs, the creature pounds on BW. Blow by blow, it barely knocks him back. Over and over again, he takes each strike, never changing his expression. Finally, the monster knocks him to the ground and with four jabs, it locks both hands together and in a single thrust pounds him into the ground.

A current of blue electricity surges around the hands of the monster as it lifts its hands up and away from its victim. In a state of shock, Wren finds she is unable to move...

Slowly and in a single motion, the form of BW rises up. Now that the bindings holding his arms in place have been broken, he stops for a moment and looks up at the monster compassionately. Softly, he simply raises his hand into the air...





Above his head, light begins to merge together forming black and white blobs that start to coallesce into the shape of a weapon. Falling into his hand, he points the newly formed sword down and towards the ground. With that, the blade turns white.

Suddenly the monster lunges forward and tries to strike him again. With one quick motion, he raises the sword up to block the attack. Surrounding the blade, a white barrier bounces the fist away from him. With each step forward, another attack comes and another is deflected. Each block is performed as a single motion. And yet through all this, that same look of compassion is in his eyes.

Once the monster has been pushed back for a while, it pulls back and stares at him. At that moment, BW lifts the sword into a forward position. Now, the blade turns black...

With a single swipe, BW's slash cuts through the air and the arm of the monster is severed away; the very moment that it leaves the creature's body, it dissintegrates into powder and falls to the floor.

The silent Wren can't help but gasp at the sight she sees. Instead of blood, something else begins to emerge from the missing limb: a human hand...

Moaning, the monster swipes with its other fist. A white blade deflects the attack and a black blade removes the other arm. Quickly, one slice after the next, the layers of the monster fade into powder as a human form emerges from beneath them. With a final swipe, BW stops (<the blade turns white>) and reaches out towards the young female form. As her eyes barely open, she reaches out for him.





Their hands approach one another, but at the moment of contact, her hand passes right through his.

What remains of the monster begins to convulse and quickly jumps up to consume the girl. With a single vertical cut, BW slices the monster in half (the black blade passes right through her...). The last of the creature falls, and returns to dust. The unconscious young woman softly floats towards the ground...

With that, BW stands tall, turns his head towards Wren and glares at her.

Wren:<shocked>"...!?"

With the black blade behind him and ready, he dashes towards her. In complete shock, Wren reactively reaches back for her weapon but it isn't there! Completely defenseless, all Wren can do is stand there and watch...

And with a single motion, a blue binding wraps itself around BW and he skids across the grass. The sword, which falls out his hands, evaporates into the air.

Jarod:"Heh... looks like I made it! Almost got you that time, eh?" <looks over at her as she falls to her knees> "a... are you okay?"

With a tear in her eyes, she looks up at him.

Wren: "He really is a monster..."


***


Well, sorry about that third picture. When his weapon forms, it's supposed to look like the insides of a lava-lamp (a black and white blob that forms into a blade), but since that's really hard to draw in Paint, I just used a spray... (kinda cheap...)

Oh, well...

And now for the girl...
-22

[Dracos]

PNG is awesome.

Hmm, neat way of laying out a set  of concepts though =)

Dracos

[twentytwo]

Wow... Photobucket sure is having a hard time displaying images...

Oh, well. Not much I can do with no budget...

***

In Excess of No Side 4
: The Red Rose


Jarod looks down at the bound BW, who appears to have stopped moving.

Jarod:<relieved> "Well, it looks like I got him."
 <smiling, he puts out his hand> "here..."

Reaching down, Jarod helps Wren get to her feet. A bit stunned, and still breathing hard, she leans against a tree. Searching around a bit, Jarod picks up her sword and hands it to her.

Wren:<not very happy> "Well, it looks like you got what you came for."
 <looking at BW and the girl, perplexed> "Though, I'm a bit surprised there were two of them..."

Now recomposed, Wren walks over to the girl who appears to be floating somewhat above the ground. Reaching down, she tries to touch the girl's arm, but Wren's hand passes right through her...

Wren:<surprised> "She's an Apparition..."
 <looks over to Jarod> "Hey, Jarod..."

Jarod is poking and prodding at the powder left behind by the creature BW fought. After rubbing it between his fingers, he reaches back for one of his bags and starts filling it up with the remains.

Wren:<taken aback>"Wh..What are you doing!?"
Jarod:<smiling, he looks up at her> "It's magic powder..."
Wren:<a little disturbed> "Y..You're not actually going to use it, are you...?"
Jarod: <serious expression, somewhat preachy> "Magic tends to cling to the dust in the air...
 "And magic powder is the condensed form of that.
 "Though it's not exactly hard to come by, there's no need to waste it..."
 <finished, he ties the bag up> "It looks like I'll be needing it with that guy around..."
Wren:<no longer paying attention> "..."
Jarod:<smiling, he looks at Wren> "plus, we could always use more kitty litter."
Wren:<scowls at him> "You're such an idiot..."

At that moment, the girl begins to stir. Shifting a bit, she lifts herself up and sits on her knees. Looking around, she is somewhat embarassed and ashamed...

girl:"... hnnn...."
Wren:<in a motherly tone> "Hello. My name is Wren. And who might you be?"
girl: <looks away> "..."
 <looking around, she starts to feel a bit more comfortable> "... I... I'm not sure... I..."

Suddenly, a single image flashes through the young woman's mind. Grabbing her head, her eyes thrust open, wide, and move about rapidly from side to side. Quickly, a set of jagged images race through her mind, each more disconnected than the last. As the pain builds, a single image rises above the rest, casting them, and the pain, away like a soothing bright light in the darkness. The image is a familiar face, who gently says one word...





girl: "...Scarlet..."

Wren and Jarod both stand somewhat perplexed. As the girl was rithing in pain, she began to glow. As the thoughts kept invading her mind, the light grew brighter and brighter until that last image, in which the light simply faded. With the light gone, the girl now appears to possess a physical form. Looking up at Wren, the girl stands to her feet.

girl: <gently and courteous> "My name is Scarlet."

Looking at the two of them, her eyes follow along until they land on the bound form lying before them.

Scarlet:<walking towards BW> "Is this... the one who... helped me?
 <reaching down, she places her hand on him, softly> "Please tell me your name..."
BW:"...."
Jarod:"I'm not certain, but he might be a mute..."
Scarlet:<saddened> "Oh... I see."
 <looking him over, she smiles> "Black and White..."
 <standing tall, she lightly bows her head to him> "Thank you, mister BW."
Wren:<a little disturbed and facetious> "yeah... thanks..."

Scarlet:<now, a bit perplexed herself> "Tell me, why do you have him bound like this?"
Jarod:<taking command> "Well, we're on the hunt for some monsters...
 "For the last ten years, we've been at war. The enemy is a clever one:
 "As far as numbers go, he doesn't really have a chance. But..."
Wren: <interjecting> "He doesn't fight fair..."
Jarod: <angry> "He uses monsters to do his dirty work!"
Wren: <looks away> "..."
Jarod: <smirk> "I just figured we should beat him at his own game; fight fire with fire, sort of thing.
 "Only problem is that that bastard has no intention of letting this battle end...
 "...some Hero he turned out to be."

An image passes through Scarlet's mind.

Scarlet:"Hero... Savior..."





Jarod:"Yeah. Ray, the Hero of the Light..."

Scarlet:"Hero of the... Li..."





Suddenly, Scarlet's head starts to hurt. She grabs her head and her body begins to shake. The pain builds sharply, and her body starts to glow again. This time, her back wrenches. Thrown back by it, her back breaks in half, backwards. Her arms start to flail as her body begins to melt...

"AHHHWRrrRR... RRAHHHHHH!!!"

Jarod jumps back quickly, and Wren pushes him behind her. The form of the sweet girl in front of them has changed from one of innocence to one of corruption. Her body is tearing itself apart. Ligaments erupt and bone juts out, contorting into strange shapes. As they reshape, they start to take on a blobulous nature. Instead of blood, a form of powder starts to leak from the broken fissures...

Jarod:"Dammit! That creature was her!"

Quickly, Jarod grabs some powder and tries to make another binding. Tossing it onto the girl, the magic chain has an adverse reaction and rapid explosions start running down the length of the chain. As fast as possible, Jarod casts the chain from his arm, lest it get caught in the chain's reaction.

Jarod:<frustrated> "I was afraid of that! Her magic's reacting with mine. I can't bind her!"

The creature starts to take shape again. Completely without its senses, it moans and pounds about the ground. With the creature not completely formed, Jarod has an idea...

Wren:<looks at what Jarod's doing> "Wait! Don't... you can't...!"

Wren backs away behind a tree as Jarod pulls the bindings off BW and wraps it around his arm. Getting up, BW quicky launches an attack against the creature. This time, without his weapon, he forcibly reaches into the creature's innards and tears it open. Inside, the apparition appears to be in shock. BW maneuvers the girl's old body so that it separates from her. Once completely separated, the body quickly falls apart and returns to dust...

As fast as possible, Jarod rebinds BW.

Wren:<angry> "Tell me before you do that!"
Jarod:<smirk> "Sorry. Impulse..."

The girl's ghostly figure slowly floats through the air but quickly regains consciousness.

Scarlet:<still floating> "... hnnn...."
 <looking around, she realizes> "NO... it happened again..."
Wren:"AGAIN!?"
Jarod:<puts his arm around Wren> "Wren, calm down!"
 <looks at Scarlet> "Tell me: how long has this been happening?"
Scarlet:"For as long as I can... remember."

Jarod:<thinking> "I see...
 "Do you know what triggers it?"
Scarlet:<looks away> "... I'm sorry..."
Jarod:<quickly> "We had brought up R~"
Wren: <quickly forcing her hand over his mouth to shut him up>
 "let's NOT do that again...!!"

Scarlet looks at BW, who is now standing up and looking at her.

Scarlet: "Thank you again...; I..."

Reaching out towards him, his demeanor begins to change. As she touches him, the transformation from tiger to kitten is complete. His eyes begin to droop as he falls into her arms, but instead passes through her and hits the ground, unconscious.

Jarod:"Well, no sense in staying here any longer...
 "It'll be night soon, so we should head on out."
Wren:"I'll get the buggy..."

Scarlet watches as Jarod tries to pick up the much shorter BW. Lifting him up, he starts to walk off with him. Naturally, she follows behind. Placing him on the Buggy's back seat, he turns around to see Scarlet approaching.

Scarlet:<uneasy> "I... I was wondering if..."
Jarod:<knowingly> "You want to stay with him..."
 "... in case it happens again."
Scarlet: "..." <ashamed, nods her head>
Jarod: <smiles, and motions for the girl to "get on">
 <whispering> "Just... don't tell Wren."
Wren: <sitting at the reigns, she glares at the horses, mumbling> "Idiot..."

And thus, the four head on out of the forest...

***

This scene is a bit faster than I would have wanted. Originally, she wasn't supposed to change back immediately but since I may have to remove a few scenes (which I can't possibly finish with the unresolved gaps remaining in this short version of the story), I went ahead and did it here while it was still fresh. As for the second creature scene, there are some things I'd rather not draw... (until I have to)

And yes, I AM aware Scarlet should be nude, but I'm not sure it would be appropriate for this version...

Oh well, and now on to the first confrontation...
-22

P.S.
The gaps have to do with the number of Ray's monsters they confront and fight. There were supposed to be five, but I'll only be writing up three of them here...

[Dracos]

Many a wise movie director realized that clothing is far more fragile than fits good fantasy =)

Dracos

[twentytwo]

Well, school's finally out and I'm looking forward to finally finishing this thing (I wanted to be done before the end of May...)

I'm officially now moving to the Unabridged version of this story, as the simplified version ended up breaking (it took more work to simplify it - so much that it made the unabridged easier to write...). As such, I've included the complete Scene 1 (added as an edit to the end of the first post) which explains the back story and the prelude.

Well, on with the show...

***

In Excess of No Side 5
: Silence


After a short time Jarod takes the reigns of the buggy and Wren moves to his side.

Jarod:<looking at Wren>"You CAN sit in the back, you know..."
Wren:<glaring at him>"I don't trust him..."
"Did I ever tell you story of the man who made a monster...?"
Jarod:"He became its lunch."
Wren:"EXACTLY!"
Scarlet:"...he doesn't look like a monster..."
Wren:<staring at her>"He wasn't trying to kill YOU..."

The awkward discussion soon drifts into awkward silence. With the day gone, Wren is eager to set up camp for the night, and quickly prepares her bed next to the campfire. Jarod busilly scans his map of the local area as Scarlet brushes the hair on the two horses.

Jarod:"This territory is Neutral, so we shouldn't see any trouble around here."
Wren:<setting up her makeshift sleeping bag> "And what about tomorrow?"
Jarod:"I heard word that the Hero, Ray, has a small group of soldiers nearby..."
Wren:<glances quickly at Scarlet>"..."
Scarlet:<startled, she stops grooming>"...what is it?"
Wren:<relieved, yet awkward>"n,nothing..."
Jarod:"... I was thinking of gathering some info on their location and number."
"Once that's through, I think we'll head on back home."
Wren:<scooting inside her bag>"Well, that sounds good..."
Jarod:"And once we regroup with the others, maybe I'll find out some more stuff on BW over there..."

Jarod glances over at the buggy but finds BW isn't in it. A little surprised, he looks around and notices a streak leading out into the woods. He mumbles, "You've got to be kidding me...". Following the streak, he is surprised at what he finds.



Wiggling across the ground like a catepiller, BW is slowly wiggling deepter into the forest. Following him, Jarod picks his legs up and drags him all the way back into the buggy.

Jarod:"Somebody's really got to keep an eye on this guy..."
Wren:<hides under her covers>"Don't look at me..."
Scarlet:"I'll do it."
"...it's the least I could do...

Walks over to BW, Scarlet lays down beside him on the buggy and starts brushing his hair, but finds the brush doesn't work too good. Giving up, she wishes everyone goodnight.

Jarod:"Hey, you're not gonna be cold over there, right?"
Scarlet:<emberrassed>"I'll be okay..."
Jarod:"Alright... and just call if you need anything"
Scarlet:"I have BW here. He's not going anywhere..."
Jarod:"Yeah, I know."

And so, quiet drifts over the woods as the band starts to drift off to sleep. A few seconds later, Jarod jumps up;

Jarod:<surprised> "Wait!!"
Wren:<surprised>"W-W... What...!?"
Jarod:<jumping to his feet>"It just came to me..!"
"Last time we followed him, he led us to Scarlet. What if this time..."
Wren:<grumbling> "Oh no... can't we just sleep?"
Jarod:<smiling>"Come on, this shouldn't take long..."
Wren:<pulls the cover over her head> "... You said that last time..."

Begrudgingly, the group grabs their things and heads out in the direction BW was heading. Somewhat deeper into the forest, nestled between a thick patch of tall trees, is a camp of considerable size.

Jarod:"Hah. And there it is!"
Wren:<groggy>"No way..."

Heading up behind the camping area, he commands Wren to sneak in and see what she can find. In the meantime, he ties down the buggy and prepares to do the same...

Scarlet:"Jarod..?"
Jarod:"What is it?"
Scarlet:<points at BW>"Can you unbind his feet a little?"
Jarod:"Uh... NO. That's an accident waiting to happen."
"Just keep an eye on him. We'll be right back."

With that, Jarod sneaks off into the bushes. Scarlet watches as the duo make their rounds.

Scarlet:"Hm... I wonder if I could help in some way."
"It could probubly be dangerous. I'd hate it if something happened while Bw..."
<looks at the buggy>"Uh... where did he go...?"

Sneaking behind one of the guards, Jarod lures him into the bushes. Pulling out a small dagger from his boot, he jumps him and takes his clothes.

The enemy soldiers don't appear to be too large in number. Estimated at 70 or so, some are sleeping and others are drinking and chatting it up. Out towards the middle area near a campfire is a set of soldiers who are somewhat drunk and laughing about some war stories. Interested, Jarod decides to see if they say something about where they might be headed next. At that moment, he notices something that catches his full attention. In one of the tents, a large figure moves about. Too large to be human.

Giant:<noisily, it pushes the tent open with one hand - in a booming voice> "QUIET OUT THERE..."
Soldier 1:"Sorry, sir. Just telling him about that one time you got 50 by surprise..."
Giant:"OH? AHHAHAHAH...."
Soldier 2:"How did that go again?"
Giant:"AHHH... LET ME TELL IT."

The Giant pushes back the tent and steps forth. Each foot steadily slams into the ground like a thumping heartbeat. Jarod, taken aback, immediately recognizes this figure. Shell... the army of one.



Known for his tendency to jump into the heat of things, this kind of enemy is not one to be taken lightly. Realizing this situation as a bad one, Jarod immediatley plans to pull out and starts to sneak away before he is surprised by a sudden laughter.

Soldier 3: "Hey... what in the..."
Soldier 4: "Take a look at that!"
Soldier 3: "Looks like a catepiller!"
Jarod: <shakes his head> "This can't be good..."

Moving slowly through the center of the camp, the bound BW makes his way towards the ominous Shell. Laughing, his men step aside. Shell soon also begins to laugh and watches as BW slowly wiggles towards Shell's legs. Shifting around, BW lays out and tries to kick Shell's legs with his bound feet.

Shell:"HEY... QUIT THAT..."
Soldiers:"Ahahaha"

Shell starts swatting at him, but BW isn't phased by it; instead BW simply tries again. The men continue to laugh at BW's feable attempts, and with that more men are woken up and join the crowd.

Shell:<laughing>"SO, YOU WANT TO PLAY, HUH?"
"HOW ABOUT THIS!?"

Lifting his hand into the air, he brings it down on bound figure, only BW's legs lift up and catch it. Surprised by the sudden deflection, Shell begins to get a little irritated. Kicking BW, it does nothing other than get him rolling, to which he simply rolls back. Laughing even harder, the rest of the men try to catch a glimpse of the pathetic battle. Now somewhat irked, Shell decides to end this little game...

Shell:<irritated>"FINE. YOU WANT ME!? THEN YOU GOT ME...!"

Grabbing ahold of BW, he lifts him up into a bear hug and starts to squeeze the life out of him. Only problem is that it doesn't seem to have the intended effect. Realizing this, Shell tries to let go of him but finds his arms are now stuck in BW's leg bindings. With that, BW wiggles up and lifts himself slightly out of Shell's grasp. With a twist, BW leans back and slams his head into Shell's own...

Soldier A:"W-What is he trying to do...?"
Soldiers:"Ahahahah..."

Laughing at the sight, the men watch as BW slams his head repeatedly into Shell's. Once, twice, three times. Suddenly, Shell's legs start to wobble... then he loses footing and falls onto his back. Again and again, headbutt after headbutt. The men who are laughing start to quiet down as they realize Shell is desperately trying to get free. Again and Again. Slam... slam... slam... slam...

crack.

The entire area is filled with a sudden silence as the onslaught continues. It doesn't take long for everyone to realize there isn't anything left to crush...

Soldier A: <startled> "He didn't just..."
Soldier B: <scared> "No... no way..."

The man stand startled and full of fear as the figure who has just single handedly taken down an army of one lifts himself up. With Shell's now limp arms dangling from behind his back, BW looks forward and glares at the crowd with an expression of similar intent. In fear, the men start to back away and quickly shift into fleeing.

Amidst the choas, the lone figures of Jarod and Wren are taken aback by what they've just seen.

Wren:"This is..."
Jarod:"This is..."
Wren:<horrified>"so...."
Jarod:"Ahahahahahhh..."
Wren:<startled, she looks at Jarod>"huh...!?"
Jarod:<victorious>"He did it... he actually did it!"

Jarod:<looks at Wren>"We may actually win this one!"



In a room bathed in darkness, a single window casts a solid ray of light down towards a mysterious effeminate figure. The figure, cloaked in hair down to the floor, turns and greets her visitor.

Figure:"I was expecting you. It's been a while."
Man:<serious expression> "Not long enough..."
Figure:"So tell me... how many have you lost this time...?"
Man:<looks aside, angry>"You should know."
"Two. Malice a few months ago and Thane a few weeks."
Figure:<steps towards him>"Is that really all?"
Man:"Wait... Shell. Shell's gone."
Figure:"Yes. That makes Three."
Man:"I know."
Figure:<steps close to him>"21 are still alive."
Man:<angry>"I KNOW that..."
Figure:<steps too close>"28 are now dead."
Man:<grabs her by the hair>"Stop it!"
Figure:<as if she could smile from her broken face>"hahhahahah..."
Man:<letting go, he takes a step back>
Figure:"You haven't changed one bit. You really should watch that temper..."
Man:<turns around>"Bator. The Giant of Three. Wake him up..."
Figure:"Of course, oh great and mighty Hero..."
Ray:<walks away>"Those were their words, not mine..."

***

I had a bit too much fun drawing Shell. And that gif is officially my first animation! Joy! (it actually came out better than I thought it would - it still makes me laugh...)

And that officially ends Act 1 - Precedence.

On to the Next...
-22