Jinouga - The Proud, The Fallen
It has been years since the Jinouga started enveloping our villagers' hearts in terror. It's mere evening tantrums are more than enough to shove the people in to settling inside their homes til Dusk. It never attacks the village, but it has taken many lives of our great hunters. Even I almost fell victim to its static clutches.
I was on one of my hunts for a Bulldrome. I just finished off my target, and was headed home when I first encountered the Jinouga in a very personal distance. I had my stuff taken back to the village and wanted to take a little walk on the way home. Maybe my sense of direction got the better of me or not, but I ended up staring at the Jinouga's claws for some reason. I thought I was going to die. I've never had any experience hunting big game, let alone a Jinouga. My face went pale, and so did Rock's, my felyne comrade. With one fell swoop, I was on my back looking at the leaves and inhaling the pungent stench of the land lightning's mouth that was reminiscent of a rotting Anteka's carrion. My view was spinning, but my survival instincts told me to take Rock and flee as quickly as the wind. Strength waining, I couldn't run long enough to escape. All I could do was cover Rock while we were being mauled by the savagery that was Jinouga. The next thing I knew was that I was at home, recuperating from my wounds, and broken bones. I looked to my side and saw my sister, Himari preparing a meal for 4. It turned out the she was worried about me and went out on a search. She found me and Rock lying motionless near the stream inside a pool of water mixed with mud, pieces of tattered armor and blood.
That fateful reckoning came in a form of obsession for me. I wanted to bring honor and peace to my village, as well as take back the pride of a warrior this beast took away from me. I trained long and hard under the hands-on tutelage of three earth-hardened warriors, namely Ree-Ki, and the Xanthous Pair, Ei-Jhe, and Zel. I also seeked sound advice from the Ortigan hermit, Das-Ku for further monster hunting enlightenment. The days were slow, and the practices were gruelling. I've gotten stronger and have slayed lesser monsters left and right, such as the Titanic Barroth, the elusive Hapurukoba, and even the Malevolent queen, Rathian. It was all in preparation for this momentous battle that would change the future of my name, and the village's well-being. A year had passed, and I thought to myself that I was ready...
I had the village blacksmith craft me a Nightmare armor and make me the finest Blood Cross for the coming clash of heads. I swung my sword and tried out my new wares to get the feel of the only sources of protection I can place my trust in. I then bathed at the village spa to relieve myself from the pent-up tension I've been holding for 12 months, and after that, I went to my farm and made 6 pcs of well-done steaks for a hearty meal that could potentially be my and my comrades' last.
Morning came, and I set out to the stream with Rock and Kaburagi. We went to the exact place where I came across it for the first time. A year had already passed but I could still feel my scars aching, and my bones shivering for it was most certainly not a memory one would consider to be daisies and roses. We searched high and low near the streamline, but to no avail, it was nowhere to be seen. Before we could move on to another area, we heard a very familiar crackling noise. It was slowly getting louder and louder and my sweat started to drop. I felt an ominous presence and saw an enormous shadow casting over mine. It was now behind me... The Jinouga was right behind me.
I slowly reached for my sword, then in an instant, drew it out and gave a spinning slash to the figure behind me. It was quick on its feet, so I was only able to cut the scales on its front right leg. I gripped the sword handle firmly into my hands and focused on what stood before me. I watched as it blew a gust of wind from its nose, as if mocking me with my poor attempt. I waited patiently and tried to analyze what the beast do. I told Rock and Kaburagi to circle it, giving it no time to rest and no place to run to. Rock went to the left while Kaburagi went to the opposite side. I gave a signal and they knew what they had to do. Rock placed a barrel bomb while Kaburagi set up a pitfall trap to more or less cover both sides. The Jinouga looked left and right, then ran back. We chased after it but we were tricked. Upon running 2 steps backwards, the monster jumped in the air and flipped itself with its tail aimed for destruction. I was able to roll to the side and then unleashed a downward slash on its now lying tail. The hit was clean, I lopped off its tail. It writhed in pain whilst lying on the ground, so we continued to lay down the punishment it so truly deserved. I kept slashing on its belly while Kaburagi was throwing barrel bombs on its face. Rock climbed up a tree and jumped down on the beast's visage to thrust his Barioth Knife straight into the Jinouga's left eye. Rock's weapon plunged deep into the monster's eye socket, making it's left eye useless.
The Jinouga was enraged and went into a frenzy. It was wise for us to step back and gain a good 2 meters away from it because it discharged an awesomely frightening amount of electricity from its body. It shot 3 large orbs of electricity from its mouth, each filled with fury. The two felynes were able to avoid getting struck by the energy ball but it was too fast for me. I didn't have time to jump out of harm's way and ended up getting electrocuted. My body was numbing from the sudden surge of electricity. I fell on the ground and I couldn't do anything at all. Rock and Kaburagi tried to help but they were swayed by the Jinouga's big claws. They flew meters away from us, so far that they almost looked like scatternuts at some point in their flight. It walked up to me and pressed its front left foot against my chest. The pressure was just enough for me to be completely entrapped. It put its right eye towards me to give a good look and upon doing so, its back flickered and glowed and sent electric currents to me, thus rendering me immobilized from the intense shock therapy.
I was conscious but nowhere near fit to fight. I could see things, but all in a blurry manner...
I saw flashes of light...
I heard the monster roaring...
I heard a Jaggia...
I heard Rock and Kaburagi...
"How can I hear those two now when I know they flew so far away?" I said to myself.
My vision got better and saw those two furry friends of mine riding on a Jaggia's back! I couldn't believe my eyes! I don't know how it was possible, but they did it anyway. They were riding the Jaggia like it were some kind of trained Gagua. They kept our nemesis busy, long enough for me to be able to move again. I drank 2 mega potions and sharpened my sword. As I saw myself readying to join the fight, I gave a battlecry of my own, "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
I was psyching myself up while running towards the Jinouga. It seemed too busy buzzing the two furballs away that it didn't have time to pay any attention to me. It flung its left claw, trying to hit the 2 and ending up hitting the barrel bomb Rock had set up earlier. To make things better for us, the Jinouga was knocked back to the pitfall trap made by Kaburagi. I saw the perfect opportunity to deal the final blow. I ran towards it, climbed its upturned belly and stabbed it all the way to its innards. The poison laced on my sword's blade seared its way around the Jinouga's body. Thus, ending the gruesome battle.
I pulled out my sword and let the Jinouga wither away. With its final moments in this mortal world, it stood up shakingly and stood tall with all its might. With its feet firmly on the ground, it gave a mighty roar. It was the roar of a king in passing. I was humbled by the very sight of it and found a form of respect towards my fallen foe.
After its finest roar, it wavered and fell to the muddy ground, slowly falling into deep slumber. I chipped of one of its teeth to serve as a reminder of the noble beast king, Jinouga.
- Mrk-Oh 07/10/0211
(photo from monsterwiki)
I was on one of my hunts for a Bulldrome. I just finished off my target, and was headed home when I first encountered the Jinouga in a very personal distance. I had my stuff taken back to the village and wanted to take a little walk on the way home. Maybe my sense of direction got the better of me or not, but I ended up staring at the Jinouga's claws for some reason. I thought I was going to die. I've never had any experience hunting big game, let alone a Jinouga. My face went pale, and so did Rock's, my felyne comrade. With one fell swoop, I was on my back looking at the leaves and inhaling the pungent stench of the land lightning's mouth that was reminiscent of a rotting Anteka's carrion. My view was spinning, but my survival instincts told me to take Rock and flee as quickly as the wind. Strength waining, I couldn't run long enough to escape. All I could do was cover Rock while we were being mauled by the savagery that was Jinouga. The next thing I knew was that I was at home, recuperating from my wounds, and broken bones. I looked to my side and saw my sister, Himari preparing a meal for 4. It turned out the she was worried about me and went out on a search. She found me and Rock lying motionless near the stream inside a pool of water mixed with mud, pieces of tattered armor and blood.
That fateful reckoning came in a form of obsession for me. I wanted to bring honor and peace to my village, as well as take back the pride of a warrior this beast took away from me. I trained long and hard under the hands-on tutelage of three earth-hardened warriors, namely Ree-Ki, and the Xanthous Pair, Ei-Jhe, and Zel. I also seeked sound advice from the Ortigan hermit, Das-Ku for further monster hunting enlightenment. The days were slow, and the practices were gruelling. I've gotten stronger and have slayed lesser monsters left and right, such as the Titanic Barroth, the elusive Hapurukoba, and even the Malevolent queen, Rathian. It was all in preparation for this momentous battle that would change the future of my name, and the village's well-being. A year had passed, and I thought to myself that I was ready...
I had the village blacksmith craft me a Nightmare armor and make me the finest Blood Cross for the coming clash of heads. I swung my sword and tried out my new wares to get the feel of the only sources of protection I can place my trust in. I then bathed at the village spa to relieve myself from the pent-up tension I've been holding for 12 months, and after that, I went to my farm and made 6 pcs of well-done steaks for a hearty meal that could potentially be my and my comrades' last.
Morning came, and I set out to the stream with Rock and Kaburagi. We went to the exact place where I came across it for the first time. A year had already passed but I could still feel my scars aching, and my bones shivering for it was most certainly not a memory one would consider to be daisies and roses. We searched high and low near the streamline, but to no avail, it was nowhere to be seen. Before we could move on to another area, we heard a very familiar crackling noise. It was slowly getting louder and louder and my sweat started to drop. I felt an ominous presence and saw an enormous shadow casting over mine. It was now behind me... The Jinouga was right behind me.
I slowly reached for my sword, then in an instant, drew it out and gave a spinning slash to the figure behind me. It was quick on its feet, so I was only able to cut the scales on its front right leg. I gripped the sword handle firmly into my hands and focused on what stood before me. I watched as it blew a gust of wind from its nose, as if mocking me with my poor attempt. I waited patiently and tried to analyze what the beast do. I told Rock and Kaburagi to circle it, giving it no time to rest and no place to run to. Rock went to the left while Kaburagi went to the opposite side. I gave a signal and they knew what they had to do. Rock placed a barrel bomb while Kaburagi set up a pitfall trap to more or less cover both sides. The Jinouga looked left and right, then ran back. We chased after it but we were tricked. Upon running 2 steps backwards, the monster jumped in the air and flipped itself with its tail aimed for destruction. I was able to roll to the side and then unleashed a downward slash on its now lying tail. The hit was clean, I lopped off its tail. It writhed in pain whilst lying on the ground, so we continued to lay down the punishment it so truly deserved. I kept slashing on its belly while Kaburagi was throwing barrel bombs on its face. Rock climbed up a tree and jumped down on the beast's visage to thrust his Barioth Knife straight into the Jinouga's left eye. Rock's weapon plunged deep into the monster's eye socket, making it's left eye useless.
The Jinouga was enraged and went into a frenzy. It was wise for us to step back and gain a good 2 meters away from it because it discharged an awesomely frightening amount of electricity from its body. It shot 3 large orbs of electricity from its mouth, each filled with fury. The two felynes were able to avoid getting struck by the energy ball but it was too fast for me. I didn't have time to jump out of harm's way and ended up getting electrocuted. My body was numbing from the sudden surge of electricity. I fell on the ground and I couldn't do anything at all. Rock and Kaburagi tried to help but they were swayed by the Jinouga's big claws. They flew meters away from us, so far that they almost looked like scatternuts at some point in their flight. It walked up to me and pressed its front left foot against my chest. The pressure was just enough for me to be completely entrapped. It put its right eye towards me to give a good look and upon doing so, its back flickered and glowed and sent electric currents to me, thus rendering me immobilized from the intense shock therapy.
I was conscious but nowhere near fit to fight. I could see things, but all in a blurry manner...
I saw flashes of light...
I heard the monster roaring...
I heard a Jaggia...
I heard Rock and Kaburagi...
"How can I hear those two now when I know they flew so far away?" I said to myself.
My vision got better and saw those two furry friends of mine riding on a Jaggia's back! I couldn't believe my eyes! I don't know how it was possible, but they did it anyway. They were riding the Jaggia like it were some kind of trained Gagua. They kept our nemesis busy, long enough for me to be able to move again. I drank 2 mega potions and sharpened my sword. As I saw myself readying to join the fight, I gave a battlecry of my own, "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
I was psyching myself up while running towards the Jinouga. It seemed too busy buzzing the two furballs away that it didn't have time to pay any attention to me. It flung its left claw, trying to hit the 2 and ending up hitting the barrel bomb Rock had set up earlier. To make things better for us, the Jinouga was knocked back to the pitfall trap made by Kaburagi. I saw the perfect opportunity to deal the final blow. I ran towards it, climbed its upturned belly and stabbed it all the way to its innards. The poison laced on my sword's blade seared its way around the Jinouga's body. Thus, ending the gruesome battle.
I pulled out my sword and let the Jinouga wither away. With its final moments in this mortal world, it stood up shakingly and stood tall with all its might. With its feet firmly on the ground, it gave a mighty roar. It was the roar of a king in passing. I was humbled by the very sight of it and found a form of respect towards my fallen foe.
After its finest roar, it wavered and fell to the muddy ground, slowly falling into deep slumber. I chipped of one of its teeth to serve as a reminder of the noble beast king, Jinouga.
- Mrk-Oh 07/10/0211
(photo from monsterwiki)
Barroth - First encounter
I spotted the beast in the sandy dunes at noon. The sun was slowly inching towards the east as I readied my paintball to mark my current prey. My two Felyne comrades, Rock and Silvia, arms at the ready, wait patiently for my signal. As I creepingly went closer to the Colossus, I took a deep breath and steadied my aim. I flung my paintball towards the towering mammoth and watched it hit its mark. As soon as the paint covered a portion of the monster's scaly hind leg, I gave the signal and commenced the attack. I ran whilst pulling my Iron Longsword and land the first blow on its ribs. I was able to cut it but not enough to do any significant damage. Rock gave the brutish wyvern a piece of his mind with his trusty guitar, while Silvia ran around while lobbing barrel bombs on the Barroth's head, making it look from side to side and enter a state of confusion. We had repeated that pattern with hopes of having an easy victory.
Everything was going smoothly until the Barroth went berserk. It gave a spine-chilling roar, that would make even the mightiest of heroes pause for a look.
The thundering scream of anger and agony sent shockwaves to my body. I could see that I was not the only one who felt the power. Silvia was taken aback while Rock jumped 5 steps backwards after regaining his composure. I put myself in a defensive position because my instincts told me that something was going to happen. It brushed its right foot on the ground, then suddenly charged right at me. I was able to roll away but I was not able to time it right and got scratched in the process. my armor got caught in one of its talons and got torn like it was mere cloth. I got up as fast as I could but was pinned by flying mud that apparently came from the Barroth's body. Rock tried distracting it so that Silvia could set up a well-placed bomb and make it run away.
Luck, unfortunately, was not on our side. Before Silvia could throw her barrel bomb, she got hit by the monster's tail and was knocked unconscious. Rock gave his guitar another whirl but ended up short because of the mud dripping from the wretched beast. I picked up my blade and stabbed it underneath. The Barroth gave a screech of pain and hit me with its head so hard that I faded to a concussion.
I woke up at the campsite, sharpened my blade and hurried back to the dunes to finish what I had started. I found the Barroth recuperating from our encounter. I saw an opportunity to strike. I wasted no time. I pulled my sword out of its sheath and gave a loud battlecry. "RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I was able to slice the ligaments off of the beast's left ankle which made it limp and then fall down. I gave it a flurry of my best strikes, each coated with rage and determination. Amidst my series of attacks, My two comrades came to their senses and helped with the beatdown. Silvia let out her best explosive charges at the monster's torso while Rock kept ramming his guitar into the behemoth's heinous visage. We were actually winning!
My weapon deteriorated yet again due to my constant slashing. I stopped for a bit and used my whetstone to sharpen my instrument of death. As I finished, I noticed that the tides had turned once more. A pack of Jaggi's and Bullfangos appeared out of nowhere. Things would turn for the worst , if I don't do something about the new dilemma. I hacked my way through the sea of reptiles and boars before reaching my targert
I stood before the half-dead Barroth to deliver the final blow. I raised my sword high in the air to get the best leverage and gave a swing that would split the heavens.
Once again, lady luck had toyed with me. My sword would not cut through the lizard's scaly neck. I tried again and again but ended up with the same result. My sword would cut no longer!! I instinctively searched my pocket for a whetstone but could not find any. There was no way for me to kill it without a blade that's sharp enough. I had to leave the Barroth and search for a whetstone. I found a crack in one of the boulders and prayed that I would be able to obtain a whetstone. I used my pickaxe, hit the quarry and got a piece of stone. I tried again, but ended up with a bloodstone. I gave another try and chunked off a Malachite ore. "This is getting hopeless..." I thought to myself and gave one more hit.
Seeing what came out put a big smile on my face. A whetstone! It was a whetstone!! I didn't think twice and immediately sharpened my sword. After finishing, I went back. As I marched back to the dunes, I was put to a halt because I saw Rock and Silvia careening through the air like some paper ragdolls. The Barroth had a second wind and was more aggravated and meaner than ever. It's piercing glare left me with a large lump on my throat. I had no more potions. No more herbs and a quarter of my usual vitality. It was him or me. I only had one chance to do this and I had to make it right.
I had a moment of silence, took a deeper breath and walked towards the Barroth. The oversized lizard gave a roar and started charging once more. I was able to time my evasion correctly and ended up behind it. I sliced it and saw its tail get lopped off. The monster didn't mind and kept attacking. I evaded more of its attacks and lopped off the hard mud that was protecting it. I stabbed it in its throat, stepped back and prepared for the strike that would change my fortune. But, it was in vain. I was hit by its foot, splashed by quick drying mud and was kicked in the chest.
I was too tired.. I couldn't go on any longer... My eyes were slowly closing while the Barroth seemingly let out a roar that sounded proud, as if saying it was the victor until I fell into unconsciousness.
- Mrk-Oh
(photo from monsterhunter.wikia)