Colossus By Choice: Book 1 Verse 21

3001 P.G.E. (Post-Godzilla Era)

[Universal Date: Day 120]
[Planet: Pyrestar]
[Capital: Silver Sun City]

[Location: City wall limits – eastern inner farmlands – Falc Family Farmstead]

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The early morning has come once again. As light shines in through the guestroom window, Taum opens his eyes and starts to get up. The Draconi youngling stretches his arms out and gives a short yawn after having had one of the best rests he’s had in the past few days; the large bed was soft yet firm, allowing him to sleep like the dead.

Taum pushes aside the blanket and scoots himself off of the end; it takes a few slides to actually get his feet on the ground.

As he stands in the morning sunlight, he closes his eyes and breathes in deeply while bathing his tan and brown-striped face in the warm and uplifting illumination; for the first time in awhile recently, Taum feels fully relaxed and refreshed. This moment of serenity is soon ruined by Yun-Tao suddenly slamming open his door and barging in with her loud, heavy footsteps; still, the young man takes this in stride as he turns to face his companion.


(Taum): Hey, Yun-Tao. Is Skrill up, yet?

(Yun-Tao): Not yet, though I’ll fix that up good. Cerato’s uncle is here, so let’s get going ya lazy butt!

(Taum): Alright, I’ll be right out after I gather up my things.

(Yun-Tao): Don’t take too long, or there won’t be any breakfast waiting for you! The youngling’s made some fantastic poached eggs!


The ever blunt Oxbul forge-widow leaves the room almost as quickly as she came in, leaving Taum alone once more. He begins dressing down and rifles through his backpack for his working clothes; he’s briefly interrupted by Skrill being quite literally tossed down the hallway past his door. The old man begins complaining as he walks back while rubbing his back which was no doubt thrown out after he was thrown out, to which the Draconi youth pays no mind as he returns to changing his clothes out and packing up his belongings and equipment. After a few minutes, he’s changed back into his Leather armour and has everything squared away.

Taum puts his backpack on and heads out of his guestroom. As he turns back around after closing the door behind him, he jumps a little when he finds Cerato Falc standing right in front of him.

Compared to yesterday, the Rapteaglet youngling is dressed less like a farm girl and more like a field researcher or handler, complete with a bookbag and strap alongside a pair of goggles with adjustable lenses. What’s most curious, though, is that she also has a Princess Arrow setup for a Bow holstered on her back; this is decidedly more serious hardware for a simple educational excursion than is wholly necessary.


(Cerato Falc): You coming down or what?

(Taum): Yeah, I-I just…. I was just wondering what’s up with the Bow you got there.

(Cerato Falc): Just a little bit of insurance is all. Took a lot of convincing to get papa to let me bring it. Come on, let’s head down to eat!


Cerato jumps up and slides down the winding handrail of the stairs. Before Taum can walk down, Skrill rushes past him and darts down the steps on all fours; the Draconi farm boy shrugs it off and takes his time walking down the stairs.

Once he reaches the bottom, he turns to his right and heads into the dining room. Just like the rest of the house, it’s a very ornate and well-decorated room to an almost overcompensating degree. At the table, there are several plates laid out very neatly and orderly with appropriate fine silverware; the middle plates contain a wide assortment of various breakfast foods, all of which have very aromatic scents.

Yun-Tao and Skrill are already digging right in, not caring much for their etiquette or table manners; Cerato Falc can’t help but chuckle at their display. Meanwhile, 2 of the other 3 Rapteaglets seated at the table are going about their breakfast with a more refined pacing and mannerisms; they shoot some dirty looks at their guests.


(Cerato Falc): Oh, come here, Taum! I saved you a seat right next to me!


The Draconi youngling obliges and plops himself down next to her. He looks over and sees that Tyrann Falc is there in the same attire as yesterday. The other 2 are presumably the man’s wife and the family’s archaeologist uncle.

Tyrann Falc’s wife is as elegantly and finely dressed as her husband, with a pure white short dress and necklace composed entirely of authentic pearls; unlike her husband or daughter, her feathers are a dark brown colouration with no speckles on her white underside. The uncle, meanwhile, looks quite a bit less well-kept and closer to Cerato Falc in general demeanour and table etiquette. He’s dressed in a simple white dress shirt with a brown outdoors vest over it, some khaki pants, and a straw farmer’s hat; like Mrs. Falc, he too has dark brown feathering and no speckles, though his beak is grey with a black hook instead of yellow like hers.

The young Draconi is careful to not simply pork down his food like his companions, though his attempts to replicate the head couple’s etiquette end in less than stellar results; Cerato Falc finds this even more amusing than Skrill and Yun-Tao wolfing down food like they’ve been starving for days on end.

The family’s uncle finishes up some of the food on his plate and puts his hand on Taum’s shoulder.


(Tarbo Haw): So, Cerato here tells me we’re gonna be heading into some Human ruins together?

(Taum): That’s right, mister….

(Tarbo Haw): Just call me Tarbo, lad.

(Taum): That’s right, Tarbo. We believe that the Iwi-ki who attacked Silver Sun City may have goals related to the ancients somehow.

(Tarbo Haw): Well then, lucky I got me some special access privileges to visit the area! And with you fine folks, I don’t have to worry about the trip there being dangerous at all!


Taum seems to relax a bit with the less uptight demeanour of Cerato Falc’s uncle. The 2 of them begin to have a little chitchat while they finish their breakfast; the Falc family heir looks on with pride at having fostered this interaction.

After a few minutes, everyone has finished up their meals. Some of the servants come in and start cleaning up the table, prompting the group to head out of the front door. Taum and the others walk out onto the grass in front of the porch and do some last-minute inspections of their gear and inventories to ensure they have everything they need; Mr. and Mrs. Falc stand on the porch to see off their daughter and her uncle.


(Taum): Everyone good?

(Everyone): All good.

(Taum): Then let’s head out.


The mercenary trio heads back in the direction from which they came; Tarbo Haw follows closely behind them, though Cerato Falc lingers back. She waves goodbye to her parents before then running off to rejoin her companions; the 2 Rapteaglet farm owners wave their goodbyes with worried expressions. Soon enough, the group is fully together and wading through the wheat fields to head back into the forest. As usual, Skrill is in the lead using his keen sense of smell to help guide the group with Taum right behind him to provide direct aid in leading the group with his knowledge in natural pathfinding through the rural areas and via his map.

It isn’t long before the group climbs up the hill that the bounty hunters originally descended from to root out the Jaggi pack that had been scavenging the wheat fields. The 5 of them turn around to take one last look at the farmlands that they’re leaving behind. While the Falc family’s acres may be safe for the time being, the rest of the surrounding rural areas aren’t very well off; invasive Monsters of all kinds continue to ravage sporadically across the valley.

Cerato Falc in particular seems almost saddened that she’s leaving; Taum instantly picks up on this hesitation.


(Taum): What’s wrong, Cerato?

(Cerato Falc): Huh? Oh, nothing, it’s just….. It’s been so long since I’ve been allowed to actually leave our home to venture out beyond our valley.

(Taum): We’ll only be gone a few days, after which you’ll be back home in no time. Come on then, let’s head through the forest and towards the east gate.


Skrill and Taum return to their path and walk into the forest with Yun-Tao and Skrill following suit; Cerato Falc starts to follow them, though she lags behind a little.


(Cerato Falc): Yeah…. Back home in no time.


The youngling Rapteaglet quickly jogs in order to catch up with the others.

Once she catches up, she finds that her uncle has been telling some truly awful jokes that only a family uncle would ever be caught dead telling.


(Tarbo Haw): And then I said, “But that’s just plain Scatternutty!”


Everyone audibly groans in annoyance at how bad that joke was, though Tarbo Haw chuckles to himself; he seems to be finding great enjoyment in telling these intentionally terrible jokes. Contrary to the very vocal complaints of Taum, Skrill, and Yun-Tao, the Rapteaglet archaeologist continues to tell his awful uncle jokes the entire time the group is hiking through the forest, giving the group nothing else to discuss due to this distraction; it serves its purpose, though, as time flies by remarkably fast.

The quintet has already made it out of the forest and onto the dirt path that branched off of the main road leading into Silver Sun City’s east gate.


(Cerato Falc): Hey, we made it out!

(Taum): I could’ve sworn that was gonna take longer.

(Tarbo Haw): I always tell my jokes to pass the time. Works every time. Okay, let’s head into the east gate.

(Taum): Things have changed a little last time you were here. There’s a lot more—


Taum stops mid-sentence and stops everyone with his outstretched hands. The Draconi youngling suddenly sprints towards the eastern gate with great speed and an expression of immense worry. The others quickly run off after him, with Yun-Tao being the only one who manages to keep pace enough to try and talk to him as they’re all running.


(Yun-Tao): Taum, what is going on?!

(Taum): Up ahead! Pianoto’s in trouble!

(Yun-Tao): Wait, what?!


The boisterous Oxbul forge-widow looks ahead and sees that the Gameran honey farmer is indeed up ahead and caught in some trouble; however, he’s not alone. Pianoto’s wife, Organala, is standing behind him by the eastern gate entrance with a massive baby cart filled with 4 tiny little Gameran hatchlings; her husband is busy trying to fend off a rather sizable Brute Wyvern alongside a few members of the Defence Watch.

An Anjanath.

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Anjanath

[Height]: 625 centimetres (average)
[Length]: 1646 centimetres (head to tail) (average)

[Category]: Brute Wyvern
[Title]: "Fierce Jaw Wyvern”
[Threat Rating]: Mid

[Appearance]:
> Has a classical theropod frame like small raptorial Bird Wyverns with greater overall bulk
> Skin is covered in smooth pink scales with darker scales around the limbs
> Possesses a dark bluish-black coat of feathers atop its upper back and tail, with greater volume around the collar of its neck
> Feet have 3 splayed-out toes and a dew claw while its arms are quite small with each possessing a large middle claw and 2 smaller ones flanking it
> Has a longer and more slender snout and jaw compared to other Brute Wyverns with a single row of large canines jutting out from the outer rim of the lower jaw
> When flipped up, the nose is a large bile-coloured sac with numerous large nasal cavities
> When flipped up, the sails on its lower back are a beige tan colour with several spinal fingers running down them
> Has small quills jutting out from the underside of the tip of its tail

[Observed Characteristics]:
> Is a highly aggressive Mid-tier predator that bullies and/or kills lower threat level predators to ensure its dominance
> Lacks the strength and/or adaptations to truly climb up and take on Apex-tier Monsters like Rathalos with its normal species but is still more than strong enough to threaten even veteran hunters and destroy small rock formations
> Can leap surprisingly large distances despite its otherwise average walking and running speed
> Has an oddly large nasal cavity that can flip up in order to smell out prey, fire off mucus for territorial markings or combat, and is particularly vulnerable to damage should it be hit while standing up
> Has unique sail-like fins that can flip up from its lower back to control its body temperature and are vulnerable to damage
> Can excrete a flammable substance from its throat that it can combine with its mucus for a brief flamethrower spray, but is susceptible to an explosive backfire if the throat is damaged enough while flames are being held within

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Most of the Defence Watch knights are primarily focused on trying to keep Organala and the hatchlings out of harm’s way, but the Anjanath’s aggressive attacks are preventing her from being escorted through the entrance into safety behind the city walls; the majority of the other knights involved remain stationed at the entrance itself to prevent the Fierce Jaw Wyvern from potentially entering into Silver Sun City. Due to these extenuating circumstances, Pianoto is left to try and repel the creature mostly by himself with the aid of 2 other Defence Watch members.

Although he’s extremely large and bulky himself and swinging around a particularly large rake as a makeshift weapon, it’s clear that he’s no hunter himself and is barely able to stop himself from being sent flying away by every attack; he mostly ineffectually swings his rake at the Anjanath and then turtles up so that the attacks impact the shell on his back. The Defence Watch knights, meanwhile, are mostly relying on their ranged weapons to pepper the Brute Wyvern from afar to little effect; these weapons are designed to take down other sapient beings, not Monsters like dedicated hunting weapons.

The Anjanath manages to fully knock down Pianoto with an unexpected tail whip, knocking him on his back. The Fierce Jaw Wyvern then places one of its feet on his exposed chest and leans his head in close to the honey farmer’s face.


(Taum): Get off of him!


The youngling Draconi rushes in, leaps up, and fires his Clutch Claw directly at the large Brute Wyvern’s head in order to latch on; the force of Taum flying in suddenly while it wasn’t expecting this knocks it away a little. After recovering from this surprise latch, the Anjanath roars loudly and begins shaking its head wildly in order to try and throw off Taum; in spite of its immense strength, Taum isn’t loosened off in the slightest.

The Mid-tier Brute Wyvern begins bucking and flailing around to try and shake off his unwanted rider, but Taum takes out his Hammer with his free hand and gives a solid upward pound into its lower jaw, managing to turn it around enough that it’s no longer facing the gate. This temporary reprieve is enough for the Defence Watch to help Pianoto up to his feet and evacuate him and his family through the entrance; the Gameran farmer briefly looks back as he’s about to head in.


(Pianoto): Thank you, Taum.


Pianoto joins his family behind the safety of the city’s walls, after which the entrance is closed behind him.

Taum, seeing that his family’s friend has made it in safely, smiles a little. This moment is quickly dashed when the Anjanath throws him to the ground due to his grip being loosened by carrying his Hammer one-handed and his attention briefly diverted away from the Brute Wyvern. The Monster then roars loudly and flips up the sails on its back and the large nasal cavity from its nose, showing that it’s quite enraged now; a red glow can also be faintly glimpsed through the skin of its throat.

The Draconi youngling shows no fear and instead merely stands back up with Hammer in hand; the Fierce Jaw Wyvern bears down on him with jaws open and saliva dripping down.

All of a sudden, several arrows pierce into the Monster’s left sailfin, ripping a few small holes into it and causing the Anjanath to recoil to the side a bit.

Both it and Taum turn their heads to look down the main road and see that the rest of the group has caught up; Cerato Falc is standing in the middle after having loosed some arrows from her Bow alongside Tarbo Haw; Yun-Tao and Skrill are running up to join Taum. The big brute roars at the newcomers and lumbers forward to meet them head on, to which the Draconi youth quickly sprints after it to help his teammates; he struggles to keep up with it due to its much larger step length.

Skrill quickly jumps onto Yun-Tao’s back and uses her to leap off and perform a jumping double slash across its mouth before landing down underneath its head. This only slightly phases the massive theropod and leaves a few surface-level cuts across the left side of its mouth, to which it responds by attempting to bite down on the small Radent smuggler; Yun-Tao comes in with an overhead slash that prompts the Anjanath to pull its head back to avoid the blow. It retaliates with a quick headbutt that the Oxbul forge-widow only barely manages to guard against it with the broad side of her Greatsword, and even this light blow is enough to push her and Skrill back a fair distance despite them not being knocked away entirely.

Taum comes in with his Hammer charged and raised, but the fearsome Brute Wyvern simply kicks backwards and knocks him across the ground. The Anjanath’s throat begins glowing more intensely, and his enlarged nasal protrusion starts to drip with mucus; it opens its mouth wide with small flames visible at the back of its throat and prepares to engulf Yun-Tao and Skrill in its signature flamethrower. Just before it can fire off ignited mucus, a single rocket-propelled Dragon Piercer arrow flies through the air and punctures straight through the soft nasal cavity, causing it to retract back into the Fierce Jaw Wyvern’s nose; the Monster throws its head back due to this immense pain and continually shakes its head at this damage.


(Cerato Falc): Hit the throat now before the flames die down!

(Skrill): Got it!


The elderly Radent fires off his Clutch Claw and latches onto the Anjanath’s throat while it’s still reeling from the previous blow. He then performs a spinning rising slash off of its hanging neck sac and lands on the ground. The large brute’s mouth erupts with a large flaming explosion from the back of its throat as it’s knocked down to the ground by the sudden backfire of its throat flames.

While the Monster is flailing on the ground and struggling to get back up, the rest of the group rush over to Taum and help him back up to his feet. They turn around and look at their opponent who has gotten back up on its feet and turns around to face them. It roars at them loudly before turning its back on them and lumbering off down the main road in the opposite direction of the eastern gate with its sailfins down; its gait signifies that it’s fleeing to avoid any further injuries.


(Cerato Falc): Taum, are you alright?

(Taum): Sure, I—ouch….


The Draconi youngling rubs his hand across his stomach in pain.


(Taum): You did good there, Cerato. You got good aim and even better ingenuity in the thick of things.

(Cerato Falc): Daddy always made sure I could defend myself with skill and intelligence.

(Tarbo Haw): Come on, everyone, let’s head into Silver Sun City. We’ll get you patched up before we head to the Human ruins, alright?

(Taum): Yeah, okay.


Tarbo Haw allows Taum to put his hand around his shoulder for some minor support. The group then heads down the main road towards Silver Sun City’s eastern gate to continue their original mission.