Fate: Sealed

[22:47] The Drakanite drops to the ground, feet digging into the ground as he comes to a full stand. The Rowan would glance between the parties there, and then his eyes narrowed.

"Why the fuck are we killing dragons now?"

The demand is short, simple, and sweet.
(Niklaus Rowan)
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[22:47] Artaghh says, "Ooof."
[22:47] Artaghh says, "Tha' spread quick."
[22:48] Freya Vishkar says, "People are just allowed to keep taunting and degrading me. "
[22:48] Artaghh exclaims, "So uh.....it was fun? Oh! An' we brought it back so we coul' resurrect it, an' ride it!"
[22:48] Niklaus Rowan says, "It spreads quick when people casually--..."
[22:48] Nyphadora says, "Mm, stop letting the words hurt you then. Wear it like armour."
[22:48] Niklaus Rowan says, "..."
[22:48] Artaghh exclaims, "An' it had a spire shard!"
[22:48] Nyphadora says, "You performed the most loyal act Dawn has seen in a long time, young Freya."
[22:48] Niklaus stares at Artaghh, wide eyed and a bit wild.
(Niklaus Rowan)
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[22:48] Freya Vishkar says, "I see the dead eyes of my mother every time I sleep."
[22:48] Freya Vishkar says, "It fucking haunts me."
[22:48] Artaghh says, "Okay before ye' beat me up wit' a staff."
[22:48] Freya Vishkar says, "And people like Quincy get a free pass from Dawn to walk all over me."
[22:48] Artaghh says, "Sors wanted the revivy stuff."
[22:48] Artaghh exclaims, "I jus' wanted the adventure!"
[22:48] Nyphadora exclaims, "Do not take it as an insult!"
[22:48] Nyphadora says, "You did what had to be done, in that moment. In that situation."
[22:48] Nyphadora says, "Now you must do what you /can/ to have your wishes fulfilled."
[22:49] Nyphadora exclaims, "There is no point in listening to degrading words, ever. Trust me, I know!"
[22:49] Artaghh says, "An' this is the angry yelling part, I fear."
[22:50] Ser Artaghh bowed his head, prepared.
(Artaghh)
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[22:50] Ali Wibble asks, "Yelling part?"
[22:51] Freya Vishkar says, "It's all so tiresome. That I have to work, and work, while everyone above me distrusts me."
[22:51] Nyphadora exclaims, "Mm, I don't!"
[22:51] Kobuk stares, wow it looks like they're having a good time.
(Kobuk)
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[22:52] Nyphadora says, "I do not trust your emotions however. You may need to work a bit on that."
[22:52] Ali Wibble exclaims, "Im going to go try and find a teacher... goodbye strangers!"
[22:52] Nyphadora says, "But I understand... Mm. It does suck."
[22:52] Nyphadora says, "Being judged because of who you are, having to constantly argue back for no reason."
[22:53] Nyphadora says, "You didn't ask for it."
[22:53] Nyphadora says, "But I must say, you did a darn good job with what you were given, young Freya, so never let your past discourage you! You are strong."
[22:54] Freya Vishkar says, "I don't feel stong. I feel like I've put years of work and haven't progressed."
[22:54] Nyphadora says, "Nobody feels strong."
[22:54] Nyphadora asks, "Why do you think Quincy had to prove himself today, despite being as strong as he was?"
[22:54] Nyphadora says, "Trust me, you are strong."
[22:54] Nyphadora says, "Very strong."
[22:54] Nyphadora says, "And you will be rewarded for your efforts, I swear."
[22:55] Nyphadora says, "Maybe not today, but some day."
[22:55] Nyphadora says, "Maybe not too far in the future too, with war on the horizon..."
[22:55] Freya Vishkar says, "I need- I need to go, I think. I won't feel better here. "
[22:56] Nyphadora exclaims, "Mm, yes, yes! Go, grab some fresh air and what not. Take your time!"
[22:56] Nyphadora says, "If only there was an easy cure for depression."
[22:56] Every step of the way, this was treated casually when it very clearly meant a good deal to the Rowan. It meant more than just 'I'm going out to hunt', it meant more than just 'it's a test of our mettle'.

"You're all hopeless. You're going to kill what is likely millennia old dragon, something that's been driven from Agartha? You people really think this is acceptable? I came back with a dragon's blessing, her good fortune, and you all can't think outside of your fucking pea brains to try to level with a creature like that?" His demands are momentarily quiet, surprisingly enough.

It didn't seem like it'd stay that way for long by the way that his faded, gray wings extended outwards, shuddering against the air there.

"I heard it sacrificed people and that it was an asshole, blatantly to my face. Did you all forget that we're all driven by pride? That Dawn is built off of sacrifice to Azrael?"

Is this all something that passed their minds?

"Who's resurrecting him, Artaghh?

And why do you all strive to make what Skadi said about Agarthans true? Even when dragons are driven from this land, you all strive to make them stay away. Far, far away."

Dawn wouldn't be the place that he would allow his dragon to grow.

...It was a decision that he had now come to. There was no way that he could let his child grow to see the disrespect that had been afforded by Dawn and it's leadership.
(Niklaus Rowan)
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[22:58] Nyphadora would love to stick around for this too, but unfortunately it is getting late! Have fun guys!
(Nyphadora)
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[23:08] Ser Artaghh would hear out all of Niklaus' concerns with full attention, nodding steadily as he crossed his arms behind his back, puffing away at his corn cob pipe as he recalled the earlier conversation he'd had with Ohtli on the topic. It had not been a pleasant one. "Considerin' the dragon in question was a lazy, gluttonous excuse fer'a energy master, succourin' like a leech upon the bloody, runed sands tha' were its nappin' ground. We DID kill Kerafyrm, aye, we survived the trials'a those who sought'a become dragons. I won' lie Nik, wit' Sors along I didn' expec' things'ta end peacefully, bu' I sure as hel tried!"

The commander would cross his burn scarred, bandaged arms over the black plate of his cuirass, sighing lightly as he recalled the night in question. "It was sappin' off sacrifices, aye, tha' alone'd nae damn it. Bu' it asked fer one'a us to sacrifice ourselves fer an audience, then killed its own loyal worshipper in place when I asked wha'd happen if we didn' volunteer. Tha' arena....it wasn' wha' Nerafyrm's worshippers believed, they though' they'd learn'ta become dragons under his watchful ward, bu' they were jus'.....food...blood an' energy'ta sate his dream."

Ser Artaghh would shudder at that, recalling what had come when the ethereal dragon had revealed the true purpose of the runes....the living dream where dragons ruled the world. "It was usin'm souls'ta give it good dreams, ta' fuel its realm where dragons still ruled the sky. It was a beautiful, dreadfully sad illusion, a world untamed long 'fore the death'a man....bu' tha' foul nostalgia drove Nerafyrm mad.....there was no reasonin' wit'm. I would'a tried if I could Nik, on my solemn oath as a knight. We defended ourselves, did'nae draw firs' blood. Followed their trials wit'ou' error."



(Artaghh)
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[23:20] They were fools to seek something out like this. To go forward, to try and hunt some semblance of glory that Dawn would never have committing atrocities like this. It didn't matter to Niklaus what a creature that was far, far away did. They weren't here to make moves like Huangzhou, and that? That was one such move that seemed to burn at his very soul as he listened to the words addressed to him.

The trials, followed. The dragon, slain when they entered it's domain.

"And why do we care what something so far displaced from Agartha is doing? On the horizon of war, why do we throw ourselves against dragons? What glory will you all attain off of this that I haven't already offered to help Dawn with?"

Then, he draws in a sharp breath.

"You all could've stayed away.
You didn't have to go.
But you still did.
Like a point to prove, you drove it through a creature's vitality and life."

And Niklaus was looking none-the-better for wear, his features shifting to reveal the blood that ran through his veins, the gray scaling that congregated along his skin further and eyes with slits that only narrowed further.

"I'm going to ask this. One more time."

…

"Who the fuck is resurrecting the dragon, Artaghh?"

His patience was running dreadfully thin.
(Niklaus Rowan)
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[23:29] Ser Artaghh would raise his hands before him placatingly, bowing his head respectfully to the young Rowan as he allowed them to speak there mind fully before nodding sorrowfully. "I understand yer woes, dragons are importan'ta yer people, an' wha' we did is nae somethin' ye' can simply forgive. I won' ask ye'ta approve'a wha' I did, bu' I dunnae regre' it. It is my JOB as a knight to slay monsters, an' tha' is wha' Nerafyrm became. They were mad, plain an' simple. I think perhaps....the same truths ye' spoke'ta me abou' his kind bein' gone from the world did it so, bu' such is wha' he became."

The knight would nod grimly to himself, shaking his head as he returned his stalwart gaze to the young Rowan with an understanding expression. "A beast as glorious as Nerafyrm must'a been once upon a time, their mind ha' become'a ruin. Wha' we did was nae more than'a mercy killin'. An'ta ensure energy magi tha' pursued the rumors we did will nae meet needless fates fer the dragon's madness."

Finally, Artaghh would return to the question Niklaus was most intent on having answered, and one the legion commander would no longer delay. "Sors'd be the one'ta do it, the body's in his possession. Tha' particular business is one I go' nae'ta do wit', so those moral qualms ye'll need'ta sor' ou' wit'm. Bu' for wha' I can, I do apologize young Nik."



(Artaghh)
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[23:37] Mercy killing.

As if Dawn had any mercy.

They were grasping at straws trying to explain this to him. They just wanted the fight, that's all he could see. A short breath leaves him, laden with mist that would freeze and fall like snow. When had he grown so... cold?

Hm.

"You're not sorry."

There's but one harrowing moment that lingers between the statements that sweep through.

"But you all will be." It comes out as a snarl, fangs barred for any and all to have to witness. For one, brief moment the world around them felt sickly and corrupt, like the area would begin to collapse in on itself. Perhaps it was because they mentioned they wanted to literally ride dragons, or that it was fun to play it like it was sport--…

"Tell me one thing:

Do you take pride in being a Dragonslayer, Artaghh?

Is that something you hold NEAR and dear to your heart?"
(Niklaus Rowan)
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[23:45] Ser Artaghh would simply shake his head, retaining the placating rise of his hands forth as he sighed lightly. "Ye' misunderstand. I'm nae sorry tha' I had'ta slay the dragon Nik, I'm sorry tha' it caused ye' unhappiness. Tha' is nae my desire, regardless'a wha' ye' may think. We pursued the location'a a spire shard knowin' who or wha'ever held it wouldn' want'a give it up, an' found an insane energy dragon livin' in a pocket realm an' leechin' off'a a bunch'a gladiators. Blood was shed, an' Dawn's stronger for it now. Sors has a shard, an' wit' it the power to help us in this war. "

The knight would accept Niklaus' obvious threat without any challenge, no, not even a dismissal. It was valid, truly. "There's neither glory nae infamyin the fact tha' I'm a dragonslayer now, it's jus' a matter'a fact."

(Artaghh)
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[23:52] Artaghh says, "Oh hey Lady Cho."
[23:52] Cho seems somewhat curious but...Not curious enough to stand by and be nosy.
(Cho Grauhimmel)
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[23:52] Cho Grauhimmel says, "Hello, Artaghh.."
[23:53] "No."

It's stated in the coldest manner possible as he brings a hand up, fingers resting against the hilt of the axe at his back. "...Dawn isn't stronger for this." The metal of his fingers flex as all of his leylines fire up with magical potency.

"And if I ever hear a single tale of you boasting, of you stating you feel pride in what you and your merry gaggle of idiots have done to my kin, I will cut you down to size."

He should've now. He should've pursued all of their heads one right after another. He shouldn't have stopped until he was drenched in the blood of Dawn's upper echelon.

Yet there was something that drummed idly in the back of his head-- a soft voice, Taiga's voice.

"Do you understand? You and every single last person that went on that expedition. It is nothing to boast about."

It was a stain and a testament to Dawn's constant and resounding mistakes.
(Niklaus Rowan)
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[23:54] Artaghh says, "Okay, well, I ge' wha' ye' mean. Bu' Dawn is stronger for this."
[23:54] Artaghh exclaims, "We go' a spire shard. An' its real shiny!"
[23:55] Niklaus Rowan says, "Fuck your spire shard."
[23:55] Vedran Ivanovich says, "Enough. Cease this.."
[23:55] Artaghh says, "I understand Nik, ye' are angry. Fer ye' sake, I shall nae speak'a the event aroun' ye', if it brings ye' peace'a mind."
[23:55] Vedran Ivanovich says, "So I can yell at Artaghh fer' bein' a fucking dumbass."
[23:56] Artaghh says, "Says the vampire who also slayed the dragon."
[23:56] Vedran Ivanovich says, "... "
[23:56] Vedran Ivanovich says, "I meant 'bout Freya's promotion."
[23:56] Artaghh asks, "Oh tha'? Wha' abou' it?"
[23:56] Niklaus looks toward the back of Vedran's head. He can probably feel holes boring into the back of it by now.
(Niklaus Rowan)
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