Agility Competition I

[M'kel]

Eligibility: All

Materials Available: Strong riding harness and helmet for rider.

Activities: This course takes place entirely in the air at the peak of Araelen Weyr’s volcano. Here, rock spires rise up randomly from the cliffside, remnants of earlier eruptions not yet eroded by the elements. The course follows a twisting route through these spires, the path marked by the rings that hang at intervals in the air. Each ring is held aloft by a team of eager fire lizards, and a competitor may even spot their own fire lizard in a grouping. The competing pair must pass through all of the rings successfully. This may sound like a simple enough task, but fire lizards are excitable creatures and may be prone to suddenly letting go of their loads at the sight of a dragon soaring towards them or in realizing that the rider is their friend. This may cause a slight dip in the ring’s height or a complete drop if the entire team gives up.

Some of the rings are also held at a horizontal position, requiring the competing pair to dive down through them. Also, the natural slopes and planes of the mountaintop have resulted in ramps of sorts that may need to be flown up after a steep dive. This course is all about angles and fast turns, with the added unpleasantness of Weyrbrats perched eagerly on some of the spires, tossing mushy redfruit at those passing by. At the end of the course is a narrow tunnel blasted through the rock by a past volcanic eruption that leads first horizontally and finally vertically to a plateau where the judges wait. Injuries may occur. If a pair chooses to go between to avoid collision, it is recommended they picture a beach scene rather than anything near this mountain top, due to the presence of many spires in which a pair might find themselves encased.

Procedure: Everyone wishing to compete will have 3 days to post in this thread starting June 12th. At this point, the winners will be determined from those who have posted by dice rolling.

[Skye]

((This one was a tough one to come up with a post for. Here is my best shot!))

Skye tightened her straps and tugged her gloves firmly into place. She was looking over the course that she and Calith were going to fly. It was a clever agility course and she and her green were both excited at the degree of difficulty of it.

Calith shifted into a crouch waiting for the signal and Skye pulled her flight helmet and goggles into place so that she would be able to see as they performed through the course.

As the signal was given Calith let out a bugle of delight and launched herself into the sky, quick wing beats taking them higher toward the first series of hoops. She ignored the squawking of the fire lizards as they passed through the first three rings, having to dive to go through the fourth as the fire lizards let of it all together.

Skye let out a yelp as a not quite so mushy red fruit splattered against her back. Calith growled at the weyrbrats above them, Skye would hunt down the little brats later and make then regret using hard fruit.

Calith spun on her right wing tip to turn around the next spire of rock. Skye leaned down low over her green's neck as they dove through a horizontal loop, bracing herself for the sudden snap upward as the ascended the slop toward the platform with the judges.

Calith let out a roar of pain as her hind legs scraped the rocky slope, but she kept climbing, ignoring the stinging of her legs. Once to the top of the plateau a she performed a small barrel roll before coming in for a landing. Her back legs almost gave out, but she recovered and knelt to allow Skye to slide to the ground to quickly check the scrapes on her back legs. They didn't seem to bad and Calith limped off to allow her rider to treat her with numb weed.

[B'kay]

Ravyna, in tight connection with her green, surveyed the course as she tightened her gear and made sure all was secure. She was mapping out a path through the hoops and around the spires which would, hopefully, complete the course without collision with any of the rocky ledges and outcroppings. That last stretch of tunnel was the primary unknown ... she prayed there were no obstacles within.

Igrainth trembled with excitement, her eyes flashing yellow as they awaited the signal to start.

And then, before the starting sound's echo had died, they had launched skyward. Igrainth climbed high, and then went into a steep dive, tucking her long, narrow wings in tightly. The first several hoops were taken in a swift zig-zag, never touching a one with any part of her body, and at such a speed that even Ravyna was shocked to be through them so quickly.

Igrainth then grabbed air with her wingtips, using her tail as a rudder, and made a swift horizontal loop to dive for the next set of rings. She'd gone through the first two when the speed of her approach frightened the firelizards holding the third, and they went between! The ring, falling fast, was looping end over end as it fell, but Igrainth still made for it.

Igrainth, what are you DOING?! Ravyna shouted in her mind, as the ground came up far too fast! But just as she was certain they'd crash, Igrainth caught the loop with her snout, opened her wings hard, and flipped the loop up and over her head as she made a sharp, graceful swoop skyward.

Whooping with laughter, Ravyna caught the hoop's upper edge as the dragon tossed it back to her, and held it first to the left, then the right, to let Igrainth maneuver her wings through. Then, the pair went into a steep vertical climb as the hoop fell away behind them.

The next several obstacles, a weave through sharp pinnacles and rings, required sharply angled turns that the dragon's long, slender wings took easily. At the end of that weave, a group of weyrbrats launched a volley of redfruit at the pair. The first hit Igrainth in the flank, but, swerving sharply, she flailed her tail and caught the rest solidly. They reversed direction with a sharp, wet, *smack* and the last thing Ravyna saw as they climbed for the final dive was a red-spattered group of sticky youngsters shaking their fists at the lithe green.

Once again at a great height, Igrainth doubled herself and dove.

Not so fast! Ravyna called to her, as the narrow entrance to the final tunnel sped toward them! You're going to--

And sure enough, she felt the jarring scrape, and the sharp pain on the leading edge of the dragon's right wing as they entered the tunnel.

Are you alright!? Ravyna called to her green, terrified, though Igrainth was still flying strong.

I took off a nice patch of hide, the dragon, her mind sharp with focused determination, But I'll be fine!

A sharp angle upward was ahead, and with a wing tuck and thrust, they made the turn without any problem and shot skyward from the opening.

Igrainth rose high, at rapid pace, and did a somersault that nearly lost Ravyna her lunch, before lifting her wings to gracefully drift downward, where she settled in front of the judges in a respectful bow. Ravyna, hoping the onlookers didn't notice that she was white as a sheet ... that somersault hadn't been in the plans! ... bowed as well from her place in Igrainth's neck ridges, before the pair flew lightly from the arena to make way for the next contestants.

Healers and assistants awaited them on the sidelines, and Ravyna gratefully thanked the attendant who handed her a pot of soothing numbweed. Igrainth's wing was grazed between the first and second joints, but it was nothing more than a surface scrape, and it was already beading nicely.

What was with that last roll? Ravyna asked, still shaking slightly, as she tended the wound with gentle hands.

I thought it would be a nice ending touch, the dragon replied smugly.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn surveyed the course as he and Greylith waited their turn. He strapped his helmet into place, fitting goggles snugly over his eyes. He could feel Greylith trembling beneath him and smiled, echoing her excitement to fly this course. The thrill of being able to show off her abilities as well as getting to fly like this was intoxicating to them both.

Greylih rumbled impatiently as they waited for the signal for them to begin. C'lyn patted her neck lovingly Easy dear one, we'll be able to show our skill soon enough he said tenderly. Greylith snorted and moved into position. C'lyn chuckled and tightened his straps, shifting to be in them deeply.

As the signal was given he let out a whoop of delight as Greylith bugled her own joy as they launched into the air.

The green easily weaved her way through the spires and C'lyn ignored the redfruit being tossed onto them. Greylith growled, but gave them no other acknowledgment then that as she winged her way toward the hoops.

One of the fire lizards holding up the third hoop was C'lyn's own Rhapsody and when she recognized Greylith she let go of the hoop and zipped toward the green and her rider, her person, chirping excitedly. The other fire lizards chittered angrily as the hoop started dipping and Greylith had to adjust her angle, flipping over and going through the hoop upside down, C'lyn clinging to her neck.

C'lyn shook his head as they righted himself, but he was smiling. Greylith gently scolded Rhapsody, but quickly turned her attention back to the course, they were coming up on the horizontal hoop. The firelizards gave a chitter of agitation and disappeared allowing the hoop to fall. Grelith tucked her wings to dive after the hoop.

C'lyn held his breath You won't make it Grey he said, closing his eyes tightly. Greylith snorted Trust me mine[/color] she said as she slipped through the hoop at the last moment, snapping her wings open and beating them quickly to gain altitude, but she still scraped her tail against the ground.

Greylith grunted in pain, but kept going, they were coming up to tunnel. C'lyn shook his head at his green's rick taking, but would scold her later, she needed to concentrate on the tunnel now. He winced as her wings scraped the edges of the tunnel, but she kept going, speeding through the dark tunnel, bursting out into the bright sun shine. As they approached the judges she did a quick somersault with a barrel roll at the end.

C'lyn grinned and clung tightly to the straps as they landed gracefully. Greylith folded her wings carefully and made her way toward the infirm area. C'lyn slid to the ground and nodded his thanks to the apprentice that handed him the numb weed. He was glad they had made their pass early so that he would be able to help any dragons if they needed it. He was glad that the one weyr brat that had come forward was an apprentice Dragon Healer, but he wanted to be present.

[Kitari]

((Are y'kidding? This is gonna be fun! lol))

B'rec could hardly stand still, as a mix of emotions swirled through him, leaving him feeling hollow and faint. Fear mingled with bare traces of excitement, all tangled together with anxiety over performing in front of an audience in a course he did not feel prepared for. He shifted anxiously from one foot to the other, avidly watching each competitor that came before him and Dagonth. As the competition progressed, however, he began to wonder if this was a bad idea, for the daring manouveurs and injuries that were occurring only served to increase his fearful apprehension.

A bugle of pain was heard as the first dragon disappeared into the tunnel, and the Sr. Weyrling held his breath until she reappeared, having feared a collision in that long, dark place. The second dragon performed a shocking stunt, catching a falling ring and tossing it back to her rider, all while swerving around rocky pillars. The third dragon barely avoided a collision with the ground, and B'rec was certain that he had seen the green's tail make contact with the rough rock before climbing out of range. It all left the Sr. Weyrling gaping at this dangerous course. When he had signed up for the Agility event, the bluerider had never expected to be taking part in a course designed for experts! Dagonth and he were so new to the air...how could they ever avoid all of those obstacles?

B'recmine, you don't think we can do this? his timid blue queried, eyes whirling orange with uncertainty and mirrored fear. The Sr. Weyrling cursed himself silently; he knew how sensitive his dear Dagonth was, and he always needed to be careful not to diminish the dragon's confidence. However, if the blue was too frightened, he was not going to force his dragon through this course.

Do you think we can? B'rec asked finally, absently stroking Dagonth's shoulder.

The blue dragon turned to study the hoops and pillars once more, then returned his gaze to his rider. All of the others have managed it, and I think we can, too.

That was enough. B'rec decided that he ought to learn from Dagonth's example; what was life without a little risk? And if they flew carefully, he doubted that either of them would come to any serious harm.

With that, the Sr. Weyrling settled himself between Dagonth's neck ridges and gave his blue the signal to take to the air. Not too fast, Dagonth, he warned, brown eyes scouring the course for their best approach. Their thoughts melded into one, offering suggestions to one another and making judgments together. There was no time for second-guessing in this event. Dagonth weaved through the first few spires, and both were impressed by how easily it came to the lithe blue. The first hoop was also a success, as the dragon easily swooped through it.

The second proved to be more difficult, but neither faltered, their confidence building, as the hoop dipped suddenly. Dagonth swerved downward, his tail flicking upward and barely striking the ring, which dropped abruptly as the fire lizards fled. They heard excited chittering from the next ring. It is our little cousin, Griffin. B'rec gazed nervously at the approaching hoop, wondering if Griffin would abandon it in favour of joining his human. Instead, the brown was exuberantly yarding on the hoop, thinking that he would help his friends by pulling it towards them. This only served to unsettle the other fire lizards, who squawked angrily and fought his efforts, causing the hoop to jerk around all over the place.

B'rec gulped nervously and closed his eyes, trusting to Dagonth's instincts and flattening himself against the blue's neck. He waited, until, triumphant, We're through! The bluerider opened his eyes, relieved, only to gasp at the sight of an apparently sheer cliff directly ahead. Dagonth swerved upward and down the other side, where the horizontal hoop was waiting for them. Not wanting to risk sudden movements from those flitters, the blue tucked in his wings and dove through before they had any time to react. He snapped open his wings once again just below it, thinking that they had performed marvelously on that tricky one, when suddenly it came crashing down on Dagonth's back, whacking B'rec in the shoulder. The material was light, but it stung nonetheless, and the bluerider quickly grasped it to toss it aside before his dragon's wings became entangled.

I shouldn't have come out of the dive so soon...

Don't blame yourself for those pesky flitters, B'rec replied soothingly, only to cry out when his vision was suddenly marred by something red and gooey. His forehead ached from the mushy redfruit, and he wiped frantically at his goggles. Dagonth, sensing his rider's difficulty, slowed his flight until B'rec was ready to aid him again (after ducking behind a pillar where the Weyrbrats couldn't throw more at them first). Finally, the pair moved on once again, and the tunnel loomed ahead.

Shard it, shard it, shard it! B'rec cried in fear, although excitement over their success so far was bubbling up to dilute his anxiety.

Here we go! Dagonth replied, winging into the tunnel. After a few moments, he queried, Can you see the curve, mine?

I think it's... B'rec paused, There! Dagonth, taken by surprise as a wall raced up to meet them, suddenly backwinged and started to rise too soon, scraping his back on the cavern roof that narrowly missed his rider and struggling to rise through the tunnel. It was much more difficult than flying upward in the open sky, with walls all around, but they finally exited and landed with no impressive show. B'rec quickly dismounted to grab some numbweed and begin application.

We did well. The injuries meant little in the face of success.

[Journye]

H'ter chewed lightly on his bottom lip as he watched the competitors before him. He heard each grunt of cry of pain as the blues and greens injured themselves. He looked over to Bediverth whose eyes were whirling with excitement. So far he was the only brown in the competition and his size worried H'ter.

Bediverth turned to look at his rider and nuzzled him I am not full grown yet H'ter mine, so I think we shall be alright,[/color] he said reassuringly to his rider and H'ter nodded slowly before mounting as the signal was given for them to take their place.

I trust you Bediverth, but I am worried he admitted to his bondmate. Bediverth rumbled softly as he crouched, waiting for the signal. H'ter sighed and tugged his straps tight just before Bediverth launched them into the air.

H'ter gripped the straps tightly as Bediverth made his way through the first hoop and held his breath as his brown's large wings nearly brushed the sides of the hoop. The made it through the next set of hoops and H'ter breathed a little easier.

The were approaching the horizontal hoop, his blue and green firelizard were helping to hold this one aloft. Ivy and Cobalt chittered excitedly as they approached, but kept hold of the hoop. H'ter held his breath as Bediverth folded his wings to dive through the hoop. They made it through safely, but the fire lizards let go of the hoop as the brown passed through and as Bediverth snapped his wings open the hoop fouled them.

Bediverth bugled in alarm and H'ter cried out, quickly sending the image of their favorite cove to his brown.

Bediverth disappeared between and reappeared over the ocean at the cove, landing with a splash in the water with the hoop still tangled in his wings, but thankfully relatively unharmed. H'ter coughed up water and had a nice bump on his head, but other then that he was alright.

[M'kel]

And the results are in!

*drum roll*

First Place: Ravyna and Igrainth (ability: 16, die: 3)

Second Place: Skye and Calith (ability: 12, die: 6)

Third Place: B'rec and Dagonth (ability: 14, die: 2)

Fourth Place: C'lyn and Greylith (ability: 12, die: 2)

Disqualified due to Non-Completion: H'ter and Bediverth

Congratulations to all our winners and thanks to all competitors! Hope you had fun!