Sunset in the Tropics - The Tale of Koko Mama

[TwilightWolf 830]

A Balian artist's depiction of the Island Guardian

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It did not take the titanic palm long to garner both adoration and disdain from the realm; she was a shining beacon of hope to some, or foolish defiance incarnate to her enemies. Her name was Koko Mama, Guardian of the Barrier Islands, She Who Dances With Hurricanes. This is the story of her last waltz. A date with death itself, surrounded by the soldiers and druids that rallied around her.

 

Bolts of fire hailed down from the mesa like crimson hail, spearing shield and entling armor as the surprised druids scrambled to defend the tropical titan. In the brief pause of shock at the surprise attack, the infiltrators prepared for another devastating and distracting volley. Far below, echoing laughter of a troll breaking their allies taunts them. The plan to paralyze Koko Mama was clever and effective, but as the battle prepared to rage on the guardian palm began her dance as she often did, with a creaking lean in the eerie stillness of wind...

Spoiler

 

 

Then, as if a windstorm had suddenly crashed over the mountain, Koko Mama swept over the mesa with a swiftness to rival even the sieging dragon itself. Her fronds swept the crossbowmen like dustbunnies across a tile floor, bodies careening down the hillside. To the minds of the attuned, her voice was delighted and proud upon the storm she made, her supple wood spinning the elder palm in the air like the skilled twirling of a lasso. Down she came, slumping low to wallop the ground in a thunderous display of nature's fury upon the unlucky few to tumble towards her. Then, she stood tall once more, the light of sunset painting dazzling lines past her feathery fronds in the sky. It was time for her grand finale, and the druids prepared to support Koko Mama in her final act.

 

The palm leaned back, her bark glimmering bright in her dancing dress of many shades; a kaleidoscope of colors from the four maestros of her music. Dazzling displays of druidic energies in purple, gold, red and blue painted a picturesque beacon of renewed hope for the warriors tangled with the troll far below the valley. A single coconut grew within her boughs, a massive fruit with a thick hide of green exocarp. It grew until it bent the delicate fronds, pausing for a moment whilst the team coordinated and aimed.

 

Streaking across the sky like a comet, the valley thundered with the tremendous toss of Koko Mama's single fruit. Nearly cosmic in impact, the coconut hammers atop the stubborn troll and embeds his fat body deep into the earth. A wild cacophony of cheers erupted from the waterfalls then, the sunset and coming night seeming less hopeless. The palm twirled and twirled in the air, waltzing along the gusts of wind from her toss. And then, the sky above shattered with lightning, commanding the attention of all and silencing the brief moment of victory.

 

 

The Dragon itself, veering violently towards the guardian with maw wide and screaming in horrible, apocalyptic agony trailed a wake of smoldering smoke. In the heat of battle, the artillery sent Cloudbreaker rocketing towards the palm. The tree snapped, echoing a crack so loud the heavens shook. It paled in comparison to the crack felt in the hearts that looked on in horror as the tropical titan was decapitated before their eyes. A blink later, and Koko Mama was gone from the realm. Her stump smoked in the twilight, warning of more atrocities to come...

 

It is rumored that on the dawn of the pyrrhic victory, a golden coconut was gifted to the royals of Balian; a memorial to the palm tree that stopped the canyon troll.

 

Spoiler

((Highlighting our group's point of view during the siege. Great event for all who was involved! It was fun to attend))

 

 

[tadabug2000 1978]

The Countess of Aquilae, Johanne Vuiller stans and misses Koko Mama dearly. For the tree was here during the most dire of times, sending explosive coconuts to the dragon and aiding in keeping the Undead at bay!

 

Spoiler

That tree has brought me and a lot of Balian great joy! <3 Thank y'all so much for your help during everything!

 

[WaveLincoln 184]

"We will miss you Koko Mama!" Shouted a certain Hawksong. 

"Da...Koko Mama was there with us during these trying times. She helped us greatly in the fight against Cloudbreaker and the Necromancers!" Gaius would state as he held his head low in respect for the great Koko Palm Tree. 

[Periphonics 138]

Fal’leon returns to her mighty stump all but once, placing a mourning hand to her wood, remembering her joyful voice that he had felt within his very being. “Until nex’ time, ah’llir iyul’annuerah iheiuh’rostan…”

[Mannamannaa 573]

Spoiler

OOC Notice, one thank you for this wonderful description of the point of view for the defenders of Koko Mama during the siege! Is there any way this can be refernced IRPly, or is it merely an OOC recollection of past events?
Secondly, This is a standing offer for anyone who took part to reach out to Kor'garr as he has announced on other posts his wishes to interview anyone and everyone willing to talk about the siege. Please send a bird or forum message if your character would like to be mentioned and referenced in the upcoming Kaktuz Weekli headline article. =)