Bumping Bumpers with Barsburg - 5/28

At the base of the snowy peaks and a short trip north of Theria, the group arrive at their destination: Lusecola Mountain, where a wyrm is said to be the warden of. With Dragonlord Khione as the party leader, they embark on their mission to make contact.

All around, snow danced in the light, a choreographed ballet conducted by the gentle wind. Any greenery wasn't to be seen so far up, with even the trees being coated in soft caps of white. It's so cold that it might reach your bones despite being wrapped warn, though those with dragonic heritage would certainly fair better. But Therians were accustomed to such weather and the distant sight of a temple draws you closer. Beyond the howling winds and the ice-white dust that moved with it.

The group leader, Khione, can take the time to remind the group of their objective here while everyone heads towards the temple at the foot of the mountain.

 The first leg of their trip wasn't nearly the hard part, trekking towards one frozen peak in particular, the cold itself not a hassle to the Frozen Dragonlord in the slightest. "..Remember why we're here." She gestures to the bag of gold and other treasures over her shoulder, tribute brought along.

"Before we seek out the true target of this expedition we're going to visit the temple, it hasn't been visited in some time, and it's always wise to touch base while we're here." That and perhaps they could learn more, or even help the temple as she had with Kyldre's those years ago.

"The most important thing of course, ensure proper respect is given, and keep your eyes open as we travel." She herself had fought a Demon in these mountains, who knew what else lurked this high up.

"Let's move."

Once everyone said their piece, she would lead them all forwards, towards the temple with her eyes peeled.. Feeling the ice and snow beneath her as a comfort in a familiar yet odd landscape.
(Khione)
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 Cetta nodded her head to her wife as she spoke, having heard little bits of information about the mountain over the years.

There are no words offered from Cetta, only a wary eye, primarily one that is watching out for her wife. While she doesn't want anyone to be harmed or caught off guard by something, her primary focus is Khione.
(Cetta Amor)
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 Right!

Without much in the way of hesitation, the Queen would venture behind the group of Therians, quietly humming to himself, as he they journeyed into the mountains. Though it seems instead of going straight towards their goal, they intended to stop at a temple first.

Which seemed more than reasonable.

Seeing the recent changes within his own faith. That being the Church of Three that he now represented, it was only fitting he'd be here to provide some form of aid, right?

Probably.

"Right, right. I'll keep an eye out."

Those emerald hues darted around their surroundings as they continued to traverse up the mountain.
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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 A trip into the tundra to pay tribute. It was a new premise for the son of the Fireblooded Priest, and yet it was one he was more than open to.

Coming off of a conversation with Kofe about Primordials, Angels, Dragons, and men, it would likely do Hades a great deal of good to make the journey alongside one of Theria's newest Dragonlords and the cast she had assembled.

And so he moves forward with one hand resting on the holster strapped to his hip, eyes bouncing from one side of their trail to the other on occasion.

For once, Hades was reserved to work inside the lines. Out of respect for his city's commanders and the Wrym that they were going to meet with sacks of gold and treasure.

"Got it."

He does a double take. Wait, there had been demons in these mountains?
(Hades Task)
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 Dun would traipse along softly along the path up the frozen mountain in silent contemplation, the elder of the Fireblooded nothing if not used to the cold after his decades in Theria. Yet, even after his surgery from the frostbite of Uraheim, the priest couldn't help but feel cold.

Rinn's death still weighed heavily his mind, but this was the way of things.

"I will be the rear guard, keep my ears open for any trouble. Keep focused, stay on the path, stick together, and retain body heat. The higher we go, the less oxygen there will be."

The elder would nod somberly, saying it more matter of factly than a genuine warning. Suffocation was just one of those things.

"Yes, dragons, especially the all powerful, ancient sort, are very particular about their given respect and decorum. Don't anger the giant reptile that can burn down a forest with a sneeze."

The old priest would allow Khione to take the lead, he was here to support her efforts and that of the youths as necessary.
(Dun Task)
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 Trekking towards the mountain was the easy part. Fire runes decorated the inside of his jacket which helped stave off a bit of the cold, but the closer they draw to the base the colder it became. Clenching his jaw tight he'd keep the chatter of them as silent as he could.

A temple, tribute, and what was more than likely seeing a Dragon itself. Crossing his arms against his chest he'd give a silent nod; The growling Arcanium wolves atop his hands feeling all the colder under this weather.

"Simple 'nuff." Was all the Ookami could say for now, boots stamping away through the snow and ice before them. Perhaps he should've worn more layers...
(Thalis Avitus)
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 While not as inherently suited for the cold as Khione is, her resilience is still emblematic of her heritage. Wrapped in a cloak that's meant more to blunt the wind than provide any true insulation, the young girl follows around the middle of the group.

Having been recruited to this adventure only hours before its departure, Ulyssa isn't aware of the location they're heading to- only the final goal. Mention of the temple is news to her, yet news met with some interest and excitement. It would be fun to witness the temple, and informative- she'll definitely learn more about the past.

Slitted bronze eyes widened and peeled as they view the landscape, trying to stay prepared in-case they get attacked.

"Yeah. Got it."
(Ulyssa)
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{NARRATION} With the Dragonlord going over the details of the adventure, the group heads to the distant temple and soon arrives at their departure point. The building was tall and wide, one of the earlier Fireblooded structures built off east, and was often manned by just a few priests.

(Ref: https://i.imgur.com/cZpaN7X.png)

Closer now, it's eerily quiet. Only the wind is in your ears. What awaits when the snow begins to clear and the path revealed beneath is signs of a conflict, etchings into the stone at your feet. Another step brings you nearer- perhaps more hastily, and before long someone from within the temple finally moves to greet you, stumbling out of the open gates. The man is in his mid-30s, black hair, wearing the red robes of the Fireblooded, but his shoulder is bandaged and his face is badly bruised...

"... A pilgrimage?" The weary priest calls out, raising his voice raspily through the winds. "You've... arrived just in time. The mountain is in chaos. There was- there was an attack..."
[19:31] Dun would follow the lead of the young party as they made their way steadily to the temple. Though his eye sockets had long been emptied, the old man still had his ways of gauging his surroundings through scent and feel, the flowing life of mana in the air.

At last, it seemed they arrived as the scent of smoke and iron touches upon the old man's nose and tongue, a light blink offered as the elder offered a one armed salute over his black plated, scaled cuirass upon their approach. The monks of the order were spread out by nature of their creed, but helping another of the fold was something Task certainly felt compelled to do.

"Perhaps this is fate, then. If there is danger in the path of the pilgrimage, than that too is now part of the pilgrimage by the eyes of Garljing. It is arguably our divine compulsion to see this through."
(Dun Task)
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 Reaching the temple itself, the place was quiet to an extent that disturbed her, the wind racing path her ears carrying a note of disease.

The gates begin to open, some wariness and concern on her features as she approaches.. The Priests condition taken in first, it seemed the winds hadn't lied.

"A pilgrimage among other things.." The Dragonlord speaks, trying to judge just how severe those wounds were. "What has happened here, put me up to speed." Glancing back towards the rest of the party, she speaks once more.

"..This might mean a detour."

Aiming to help the man back inside if he should need assistance, she would speak once more. "Lead us inside, and tell us of this chaos, and what exactly attacked you. Just so happened I brought just the crew to handle it I think."

She offers a reassuring smile, but something had clearly gone terrible here, something it would be her task to fix.
(Khione)
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 The eerily vacant ambience of the area sends a chill up the length of the scholar's spine, but he plays it off with a double-shrug of his shoulders. An action played out to bring heat to his frame. Even as a Therian, the northernmost region of Lusecola Mountain proved to be chilling. Perhaps that was why only the Fireblooded dared to call it home.

Eyes move to focus on the bandaged practicioner of the faith as he arrives, hand slipping down from the gun on his waist.

With Dun's words, Hades perks up some. Seemingly prepared mentally to assist however he could.

But if the Fireblooded had taken that much of a beating already, the question of what they were up against is one that should be asked.
(Hades Task)
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 They'd arrived at the temple, or near it anyway. Cetta quickly takes note of the path before them, no stranger, as any Therian is, to the markings of battle.

Something catches her eye not long after, a middle aged fireblooded.

Cetta's attention turned over to the priest, a small frown forming from his words.

Still no words offered, Khione had already said everything Cetta had thought up. While they waited to be lead in, Cetta began to look around, doing what she can to take in the different sights. She's not one to overlook the areas that aren't often ventured by those close to her.
(Cetta Amor)
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 A few moments later, and they'd be venturing off into the mountains. Further, and further until they arrived at their desired location. The temple that Khione had brought up mere moments ago.

Though something about it seem odd.

It was eerily quiet. Not just that, but there's rather obvious signs that some form of conflict occurred here. Though before he can raise a question, a Fireblooded Priest arrived, and boy did he look injured.

"Well then..." Sparrow mumbled, as he glanced around the party. It seems like their nice little pilgrimage was going to have a detour. One that probably lead them towards a fight.

"Lead the way, we'll deal with whoever attacking your temple."

With that, he'd make his way with the group towards the temple.
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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 Stomp, stomp, stomp...

Soft crunching of snow sounds his steps alongside the group that moved forth. Already he was beginning to lose feeling on the tip of his nose-- A matter that was a boon and detriment when it came to the curse upon it. Proceeding with a sniff his jaw began to idly chatter under the weather.

Dipping his attention towards the cut stone his gaze began to narrow. They'd missed a fight... A shame - Only to be restated by the weary priest as they move forth.

"Pity we ain't get 'ere sooner, but tha' seems t' typically be m' own luck." Thalis murmured, nose scrunching up as he turned his gaze unto Khione and the priest. Whatever information was put forth was bound to aid heavily.
(Thalis Avitus)
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 Ulyssa doesn't spot the marks of combat immediately- inexperienced as she is, it takes until she witnesses the wounded man shambling from the gates of the temple.

One hand keeping her cloak held around her, the other reaches within it and produces a long metal rod. Flicking it has it extend with a quiet 'clink' into a stave, which she holds at the ready in-case something strikes out at them while they speak with the Fireblooded monk.

Glancing towards Dun as he speaks of fate, the young drakanite nods just slightly. It'd be terrible to have witnessed this and done nothing- she wouldn't be suitable to call herself a dragon in the coming years if for even a moment she considered fleeing.

Nodding to Khione, Ulyssa readies to follow. "Whoever attacked this place is despicable."
(Ulyssa)
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 {NARRATION} The priestly man closes the distance between himself and the group as they do, hobbling over with a limp. He can see the wings of Khione, the slittedp pupils of Ulyssa, the red robes of Dun. Allies. "There isn't time for that," he wheezes in reply to Khione, "You must... Move, right away. Before the damage gets worse. But I will make it brief- A band of men claiming to be dragonslayers attacked our temple and tried to beat information out of us," he said with a frown.

"Somehow they knew that this is the home of the Dragon Fathiry." The guardian of this place- The wyrm that Khione was seeking, who was said to lurk the great halls of the maze-like mountain.

"Some of us died... But these men... They've enraged the dragon. I-" The sudden, high-pitched roar echoes out from within the stone fortress, chilling your bones. "She has went mad... The monsters of Lusecola have been let loose. Everything is unstable, off balance. She was our protector and guardian." An overwhelming force to keep the peace among the supernatural. Now all Hel has been unsealed.

The priest looked up towards the sky. There, in the distance, you can a blue-scaled dragon, twisting and turning-- Letting off flames of misty white, tunneling down right back into the hole and disappearing. For a moment you catch a glimpse of the dragon when it flies right up and beyond.

"Yes... As you can see. Ascend the mountain and calm Fathiry, please..."

 Dun would listen quietly to the priest as he explained what had occurred as best he could manage, the elder of the Fireblooded nodding steadily with light disgruntlement. Those of the dragon cloth were as varied as they came; as many ancient warriors as himself as there were legendary craftsmen, simple devotees, and people that simple admired the philosophies therein.

"Yeah, that sounds like dragon slayers. They'll dig up any dirt they can on stuff like this, turn up stones best left unturned for personal glory. Never realize what they're messing with, the ecosystems they effect for their fancy goddamn trophies."

The elder priest would spit upon the ground, a degree of menace in his tone. He had done many'a horrible thing in his day, hunted countless beasts of all sizes and strength. But dragons weren't mindless abominations, they were sentient beings that possessed beating hearts and burning blood the same as any Fireblooded.

Poaching them for sport rubbed him the wrong way.

"I....I'd rather fight a whole army of bandits than try to calm a rampaging dragon, especially one that's already tasted blood. But that looks like what's cut out for us Khione, looks like the only way's forward."
(Dun Task)
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 It was clear she heard something that enraged her beyond belief, the already frigid mountain plunging in temperature around them all. "..You're right, try to secure everyone in a safe space, don't worry any longer." Anyone who knew Khione knew she was extremely protective of Dragons, in life and death, they were to be revered and treated with all possible reverence.

The roar echoed throughout, the cold that followed overpowering even her own for a moment.. What have they done to the Wyrm..? "We're going to kill each and every last one, leave not a single survivor, we will use their bodies to appease the Wyrm."

It was then the Dragon erupted forth from the hole, before descending once more, trailing frost as it went.. "Try to keep everyone safe Priest, we will return soon." With that..? "Let's move." She nods to Dun, she would do what had to be done, or nearly whatever had to be done..

Thoughshe would cross that bridge if it came to it.
(Khione)
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 Well then.

Turns out the idiots who had decided to attack the temple, had somehow also managed to unleash all Hel upon the mountain. In the form of some... Monsters being released, as well as pissing off the Wyvern that made it's home here.

Sparrow opens his mouth to say something, but is swiftly cut off by the roar that echoes throughout the fortress, and well, any idea other than standing there, with wide eyes flew out the window.

Why? Why did these idiots have to enrage the Wyvern?

But, it seems they had a task. They were to climb the mountain, to calm Fathiry. Which... Well, Dun said it best.

"Aye, this is going to be... Something. I'll do my best to keep everyone in fighting shape, but I can't really make any promises."

The Priest takes a deep breath, as he readies himself for what was to come.

"Please be careful everyone."
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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Dragonslayers was a term he heard one too many times. Teeth begin to slowly grind against one another; Eyes scan the temple to draw in the sight a bit further. Temples being built towards the Dragons always did fascinate him to an extent - His own deity had lesser known places of worship.

Perhaps he'd change that in time.

His attention's pulled back to the setting they're in just as the dragon roars overhead. Already he could feel the absence of feeling in his body. To think he'd be going up there to aid someone in talking to them...

"Ain't think we really 'ave much o' a choice. Came all this way fer a reason, ain't we?" Thalis mused, eyeing the distant plumes of misty white flames off in the distance.

Never could have a simple journey, did they?

With a short nod towards the priest he'd join the others as they set off.
(Thalis Avitus)
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The mention of dragon slayers and chaos brings an overly curious expression to Hades' face as the scenario is laid out for them to see and understand. A path would have to be carved to Fathiry's lair, through enemies and enraged underlings of the wrym.

In short, it was highly likely that he would have to break in the new pistol on his hip.

Looking over to his father and Khione primarily to catch a feel for just how bad the scenario was, the oldest-younger sibling of the Task family recalls the stories that had been told to him about the poachers.

Those that wanted glory and fame from the corpses of the dragons that they aimed to slay and in some cases capture.

"It seems like our work is really cut out for us." He finally chimes in, seemingly with the slightest smirk on his face. Perhaps it would be more of an adventure than a simple prayer session and tribute. A thumb wipes it off in favor of a neutral expression as Sparrow gives another warning.
(Hades Task)
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Dragon slayers? Now there is something that Cetta just would not approve of. Dragons are beloved to her. She's always liked dragons, dreamt of being a Drakanite, even as a small child.

What exactly could they have done to make a dragon go mad?

A roar drew her attention directly to the fortress.

She thought doing such a thing to a dragon was unthinkable.. shameful even..

A nod is given to Khione as she began to ready herself for what may happen. The dragon was beautiful.. seeing it only furthered her wish to help the dragon.
(Cetta Amor)
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She nearly snarls when the priestly man speaks of dragonslayers. It wouldn't be hard to discern that she was pissed, and quickly becoming more pissed. If they encountered these dragonslayers…

But that's not right now. As Fathiry whirls overhead, blasts of white sent soaring across the sky, Ulyssa gives a slight shiver. Even at this distance, witnessing a dragon is magnificent- and terrifying.

Khione's affirmation that the dragonslayers are going to die is met with enthusiastic nodding, her hands flexing, seemingly as claws- though it seems she hasn't quite half-shifted yet.

Really, there isn't much she can add. Or much she'd try to add, at the moment. There isn't anything for her to say until hunter-blood has been spilled and the dragon calmed.

...she'd like to try to stop by the temple here on the way back down, though.
(Ulyssa)
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 {NARRATION} "Dragons hoard wealth and knowedge...and this attracts greedy men," the priest said to Dun, shaking his head slowly. He glanced to Khione and gave her a thankful nod- If anyone can appease the dragon and put it back on the right course, its a group of Therians. "Return safely. May Garljing watch over you and his wrath be invoked against these fiendish bandits..."

The mountain beckons you forward; it's a sloping ascent where the snow might reach your mid-section, certainly a trudge. And to make matters worse, the monsters that were once content to behave themselves beneath the thumb of the Dragon Fathiry had been left to roam, likely alarmed by the howling roars of their guardian.

The 'hole' that the dragon dived into is roughly mid-way up the peak. With the goal in mind and determined to rid this place of the hunters, you set up alongside your party and make the climb.
(Ref: https://i.imgur.com/SbVHs7l.png)

About ten minutes go by before you encounter your first obstacle, a pack of demonic looking icy critters, with sharp, open mouths and beady blue eyes. Roughly twenty of them, all hopping about and acting as a blockade between the group and the entrance to the mountain. A small sample of what has become of this once peaceful resting place, perhaps.

[ENCOUNTER: Enranged Water Elementals!]
[20:00] Leaving the priest behind they began their ascent towards the summit, the path bearing dangers they could in no way properly predict in every instance she was sure.

The around she and her allies was easier to shift, this wasn't to say that it moved on it's own, but exerting a portion of her mastery over the element she aimed to conserve them all some energies by making it easier.

"..As much as I like snow.." This was a lot, almost like trying to drown a fist by condensing water around it. Though their trek was soon interrupted by a flock of... "What in the name of Garljing are those things.." The angry little elementals skittering around, clearly not very friendly, some of those uncontrolled beasts she was sure of it.

"This will be but a trial to prove our worth for the battles to come, everyone stand firm and we'll pull through this no problem." Her whip snapped forward, the snow and ice erupting as walls of earth aimed to block off some of the elementals... Fighting them in small sections would make this much easier. "FOR GARLJING!" She lets out a cry as her first attack struck, it seemed the battle was on.
(Khione)
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Dun would bow his head in goodbye to the younger priest before continuing upon the journey at hand, watching the rear of the pilgrimage party with his ears focused on their surroundings, ensuring no unhinged monstrosities ambushed them from the depths of the snow behind them.

Well not really stop. But at least they'd be informed as they were being mauled.

The ascent chilled the old priest to his bones, but luckily they were mostly mithril anyway, so his frayed nerves weren't too assailed by being turned into a human ice box. As they pushed higher and higher up the heights of the peak proper, the scent of wetness and frost in the air even beyond the cold mountains touched upon his nose.

Hollow, etheric sockets alit as they turned towards the gathering of the water elementals standing before their path forward in the distance, sighing as he cracked his back and neck with audible pops before raising his remaining fist to the air.

"There is no time to attempt to purify anything minor I reckon. Necessary sacrifice, we need to move fast if Fathiry is gonna have a chance of leaving any of the mountain intact, it looks like we'll need to push through these things."
(Dun Task)
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Cetta began the climb, she knew the area was very cold, but it didn't bother her, she'd spent the last few years living in Theria, and the eternal flame within her only helped to balance out that cold air, keeping her warm just like a campfire.

A few moments went past before her eyes fell on peculiar looking icy creatures. She'd not seen things such as those before, how they worked together to form a blockade was something that was interesting to her.

As Khione rushed in, a powerful wave of heat burst outwards from Cetta's form, raw magma penetrating the snow covered mountain to wrap around her body. She wasn't wasting any time.
(Cetta Amor)
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 Greed was something he understood, but foolishness came to those that allowed themselves to be overtaken by it. While he wanted to applaud the bandits for their devotion to their desires... Well, it wasn't exactly bright to steal from something far above you in size.

Trudging with a faint chatter of teeth the Avitus remains stalwart as they continue. He'd fought almost everywhere bar the ocean and mountains, so this was a nice little notch to his belt of experiences.

Hazel hues take an occasional glance at their surroundings - It may very well place him near the rear of the pack, but he was always a curious one. With a puff of frosty breath he'd take the next trudge forth before--

Their path's blocked. Electricity crackles about the Ookami as a silent mutter escapes him, "Fuckin' lovely..." Raising his gauntlets up the core that circled the left piece began to spark violently. "Take 'em down 'n continue on-- Aye, I like th' thoughts o' tha'."

"SHOW 'EM WHA' Y' GOT!" The Avitus barked out, Asena's breeze dancing upon his frame. While it warmed him up ever so slightly it paled in the chill. Shrouded in a faint blue he'd surge forth to join the fray.
(Thalis Avitus)
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Luckily, Hades had finally taken Dun's advice to wear boots more fitting for a trek through the snow. Even then, they hardly helped as the pack made their way up towards Fathiry's icy lair with no shortage of obstacles and potential enemies that wanted nothing more than to tear and bite them to shreds.

He had seen plenty of water elementals during his time as a 'gatherer', but these beady-eyed creatures were unlike any of the easy-going critters that skittered about inside of smaller caves, content with simply existing.

They wanted blood. To inflict pain upon those that had trespassed through their domain.

And while Hades was more than willing to adhere to and follow the orders of his elders, he knew when the time for self-defense was near.

His dominant hand unclips and twirls the pistol on his hip, shreds of mana forming in his palm and slipping into the chambers. Bullets of emerald, sapphire, and a tainted ruby are condensed and prepared to be fired out - should Khione and Dun not have another plan entirely.

"So we're to think of this as a trial, then? Say less. My weapon is yo--"

He clears his throat as the Dragonlord calls out for Garljing, clearly missing the introductory call out to Theria's patron protector.

There was always next time.

Raw mana erupts around his frame, only to be refined and worn like an aura.
(Hades Task)
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Sparrow would give a quick nod to the priest, before he followed behind the rest of the group, as they renewed their climb. Further, and further up the mountain. Trudging through the waist high snow wasn't a very pleasant task, but it's one that they needed to undergo in order to halt those foolish dragon hunters.

"Holy heck... This is a lot of snow."

Until well, their path is halted by some strange looking critters, and there seemed to be quite a few of them!

Oh dear.

The High Keeper's body would find itself graced by the warmth of the lifestream, as his hand reached back for the hilt of Starburn, slowly drawing forth the legendary Claymore.

"Well, it seems we've stumbled across some uhh… Things. They don't seem real pleased with us either, soooo..."

With his body now flickering with light, Sparrow would rush into the fray. All while spectral hands worked to guide his blade.
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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As they depart, Ulyssa offers the middle-aged priest a quick glance- a nod- "May Garljing watch over you as well." Said with a reverence disusual to her common tone! Perhaps she can show respect sometimes.

Brandishing her stave afore her as they begin to ascend, the drakanite invokes her gravity magics- using them to both try and lighten her own form, and condense that of the snow in her path. Though tiring in its own right, and not enough to have herself walk completely atop the snow, it was enough to save her energy overall.

They make progress, yet it is suddenly halted by appearance of icy-cold elementals. Glaring at them, those same magics used to lighten her path are sent forwards as soon as Khione has sent forth her own whip.

Echoing the Dragonlord's battlecry, she follows her icy lead, a shroud of energy wrapping up around her. Even if not immediately in the front line, she's going to inflict her displeasure upon the elementals that seem intent to block their path.
(Ulyssa)
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 {NARRATION} Trudging through the snow will make this confrontation difficult, no doubt. You'll stumble against the weight holding you down, find it difficult to catch your mark...

...though a levitation potion would certainly make it easier.

But who carries them around?

The critters snap towards the group, agile in their natural element. They moved on the snow as if walking on air, barely even sinking into it.

[INITIATING BATTLE . . . Say 'ready' in LOOC]
[20:05] Cetta drinks levitation potion
(Cetta Amor)
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{NARRATION} These simple creatures of the mountain weren't a match for the group, but they do serve as a warning sign for what was to come: From this point on everything would be unstable, the harrowing roars of the dragon that you can still in the distance setting slumbering beasts away. An elder like Dun would certainly be reliving his glory days with the trials that awaited.

But the group weren't simply hunting monsters, were they? No.

They were after the humans that begun it all- The hunters. They make the final stretch and one by one fall into the hole in the cliffside, escaping any further harm from the lesser stock. It's particularly dark within, damp and dreary, but the light Sparrow gives off and the ethereal essence of Dun and Hades does serve to illuminate the path forward.

Down the rabbit hole you go, heading into the central entrance.

Another roar, cutting through the air- faint in sound given the distance, but vibrating. The walls around you practically shake.

The hall was long and narrow, and one way. Your last chance to turn back before becoming a meal for an angry ice wyrm...

 One by one they began to fall to the strength of the group, such an array of magics used it made little sense to try and name them all. The prevailing adventurers would take their moment to catch their breath, and that's all the Dragonlord would allow, a moment.

"Forward." She spoke, stepping forward, reaching the inner edge of the hole she peered into the darkness. "We don't know what else could be waiting down here, but I assume the fools troupe are within these caverns."

"..That's all I really need to know really." She says before descending further, letting the glowier members of their group take positions to provide the best light to travel by.

The walls shook, but her resolve was firm, a mountain in her own right she would go forward.
(Khione)
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 Dun would proceed to show why despite his advanced age, he still lived as long as he did despite doing as many dangerous things as he did. It was only natural the water elementals would learn of it first hand, as with blinding speed and kinetic force, thunderous kicks and punches wreathed in hardened, blackened mana would be lain forth down upon the icy creatures, smashing the ones he faced to bits with repeated, violent kicks.

Good thing he brought snow shoes.

Taking a deep breathe as the cacophony appeared to briefly settle down, the elder of the Fireblooded would chuckle mirthfully as he reminded himself once more, especially with his expedition to Uraheim and this journey, why one should always come prepared for the cold. Were that he’d brought some fresh chicken soup, like that which he used to make for Rinn when she was younger.
…
Now he was sad.

His reflexive shroud of pulsating mana maintained with the danger at hand, the elder would bow his head to Khione and continue to follow her lead without complaint, both because he desired the young generation to take a stride forth in leading endeavors, and because thinking about Rinn had dropped his heart once more.

As they entered the tunnel of ice, the roar of the wyvern cut off all other sensory input from the former overlord’s ears. There were no lupin that made sounds like that.

…

Holy shit he hoped not.

"Alright. I can smell the brimstone. There’s no going back if we keep on from here. There’s only moving forward, and trying to save this mountain. Calming a dragon isn’t impossible….but it’s not gonna be easy."

(Dun Task)
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 Cetta had began to wonder, were those creatures little more than a deterrant? There to turn non magi away? They weren't much of a defense. That's a good sign though, that things didn't start off absolutely deadly. Perhaps they'd be able to calm the dragon, instead of just being attacked and eaten.

With no hesitation, she slips into the hole, calmly descending down it as she looks around.

"Not going to be easy at all, but we have to help her." She wasn't going to back down, she aimed to meet Garljing soon, to deliver a dragon's egg to him, to kneel before him and pledge her life to him. It would go against that desire if she were to ever turn tail.
(Cetta Amor)
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Doing what he could to avoid becoming an ice sculpture in the brawl while also refraining from the use of his most potent magic out of the concern that Sparrow might actually beat it out of him, Hades dances from one elemental to the next firing off rounds.

A concentrated shot of time mana to slow the approaching swarm for the others to capitalize off of, followed by rapid rounds of raw energy that aim to overpower and disable the very fighting spirit of the misbehaving mobs.

Khione had given the order to move forward, and so they would.

"Just how strong do you think these poachers are, Father? If they were able to kill some of the priests and enrage the dragon, they have to either have large numbers or powerful magic, no?" Food for thought as they enter the next stretch of the journey.

With Ulyssa being the youngest member of their group aside from him, he sends a light nudge to her side to ensure she was still all there - physically and mentally.
(Hades Task)
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 Darting between the creatures with vicious efficiency the Summer Wolf's devotee continues forth. Arcs of lightning pull down from the sky, striking those he marked for the storm's wrath. One by one he'd aid in the hunt upon those creatures - Simple as they may be it was satisfying to merely stretch his legs once more.

Joining the group as they force themselves into the cliffside's hole a puff of breath hits the air. Step by step he followed their descent into the rabbit hole, hazel hues scanning the walls about him.

"We'll figure somethin' out more than likely. Prolly best left t' a few within this group, 'owe'er, when it comes t' talkin' t' 'em." Another comment from the peanut gallery, but life was better lived than risked.

Yet he wasn't pulling back yet, no. Nothing had shook him to his core - From the Gehennan deity he danced with to the arctic wolf of Saekanis's. With a slow nod of his head his fingers rolled within the gauntlets.
(Thalis Avitus)
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 Stars, there were a lot of creatures here, weren't there? When one fell, it felt like another would simply take their place. Yet, even with those numbers, it wouldn't be enough to stop their march.

With those rather angry elementals out of the way, Sparrow would press on until they arrived at the hole, Sparrow's gaze drifts down into the darkness before shrugging.

He could provide enough light for everyone, should they need it, plus he was levitating right now soo... Without fear, he'd leap down, allowing his body to glimmer with a radiant light, illuminating as much of the cavern as he could.

"Aye, more than likely they're in here somewhere." A brief nod follows, as he took a rather deep breath, before he aimed to press forward.

"So... Any ideas how we're actually going to calm the dragon, or awe we goin to just... Wing it?"

Was that a pun?

Maybe...

"Only oneway to find out, I suppose."
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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 The chilled elementals were quickly dispatched by the barrage of the various magics, and onwards they weren't into the mountain itself. Somewhat thankful for the trio of magi whose auras granted the darkened passageways a greater degree of visibility, Ulyssa continues to follow Khione- remaining within the middle of the group.

Keeping her eyes open especially for any sign that could lead them in the direction of the idiots who started this mess, the drakanite isn't wholly paying attention to the path they walk itself- trusting that as long as she stays with those with her, there is naught for concern.

With knowledge that it's more than likely the foolish hunters are within the tunnels, the same as them? Is enough for her to deem it justified to enter, and continue on, despite the inherent risk. She'd follow the Dragonlord and Dun further in, as she s they did go in.
(Ulyssa)
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{NARRATION} A touch of nerves that comes with inexperience was already showing itself with Hades' question to Dun, though it certainly wasn't undeserved. These attackers couldn't be simple bandits to cause this much trouble. Those were the kind a dragon happily welcomed into its den for supper, and not to share.

At least the group are finally out of the cold, despite how their breath still misted up in front of them. The ground was wet and slippery in places, melted over. The tempature of this refuge was lower than most places with the magical effects of its guardian causing a shift in elements.

When you reach the end of the hall, it opens up into a larger room with more space to shift about. But there's skulls, fresh corpses frosted over. The signs of a battle. The men are wearing red and black - The colors of Barsburg?

(Reference: https://i.imgur.com/p4ixF2P.png)

...

Something looms in the distance. Footsteps, other men. "Who's... who's there? We 'aven't been able to leave this place with that damned dragon encircling the mountain, cagin' us in."

"Reinforcements?"

A large golem-like creature moves with them, as tall as five men.

The shift in temperature is met with a short measure of relief, yet arriving to the end of the hall...Ulyssa is taken aback by the blood, viscera, and gore. It causes her to pale for a few moments- though quickly she swallows the uneasy sickliness such a sight inflicted, comforting herself with the certainty that these are the idiots who caused this problem in the first place.

Looking further, she sees movement in the distance- a looming shape unlike anything she'd seen afore, and voices. Their words leave little doubt to her that these are the so-called dragon-hunters, and only self-preservation halts her from immediately sallying forth to tear and crush them. She wouldn't be able to kill them all alone.

But she'd absolutely follow Khione and Dun the moment they went forth, stave readied to inflict as much damage as she could- especially to that hulking monstrosity that moves with them.
(Ulyssa)
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Traversing deeper into the caverns she did her best to maintain her footing, it would look terrible were she to slip in front of everyone like that.. Though finally their corridor abruptly expanded into a wide cavern.

Vermillion eyes taking stock of the corpses, peering at the fresh one.

Barsburg.

"Oh fuck no."

The men approaching wouldn't be met by the cool-headed Dragonlord most knew, they would be met by a Dragon in a mostly human shape. "We aren't your damn reinforcements, and if they come we'll kill them too." Her whip lay coiled on the ground beside her, a flick of her wrist away from dealing some serious damage to someone.

"Tell me why you are here and I will ensure your deaths are quick." She spoke with all the sharpness of a blade, and with a cold akin to that of this unnatural temperature of the cavern.

They were dying regardless, but information could be useful, if she could just hold herself back for a few more moments.
(Khione)
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 Dun would cover the rear of the duckling ensemble with Khione at the fore, leading the gathering of young, yet certainly determined magi as they marched forth into the depths of the mountains. Task knew there was no beast more dangerous than a cornered one, especially when it isn't of its own senses.

This would be a dangerous game.

The elder was far more shocked to discover upon entering the room a variety of scents that overwhelmed him. Not from the golem, no, though its fine pungence of old metal and oil did appeal deeply to the machinist at a heart level, it was...the corpses that had given him pause.

A scent distantly familiar.

Slowly, the old man would dig through the front pouch of his time worn, burn marred cloak as he clicked his teeth together, popping in what appeared to be a metal eye with a wet, snapping sound a light wince from the priest.

After a time, he would blink, his gaze shifting between the golem and the corpses with a light chuckle.

"...The scent of rotten cheese and perfume, I knew it was familiar. Seeing it visually...what in Garljing's name is Barsburg doing meddling with dragonslaying…"

The elder would raise his fists to the golem, bowing his head in due respect to its girth.

"Questions for later, problems for now. I don't suppose you're the sort that I can say something like this statement is false to dissuade. Be ready for action."

(Dun Task)
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 A glance given to the men that are around the area, she's unfamiliar with the colors of Barsburg so the connection goes unnoticed to her.

When her eyes fell upon the large golem, Cetta couldn't help but think of Apep and her designs. Could Apep have gotten ideas from dragon slayers? No.. that would just be outlandish.

'Reinforcements?' the unit questioned, that instantly irritating Cetta. She's glad the dragon has trapped the people within the mountain, giving them no escape. They deserve a fate far far worse.

She was tempted to immediate attack the golem, even if it is absolutely massive. She felt no pity towards the men they were about to kill.

Yet for the sake of understanding, she held back.
(Cetta Amor)
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 It was cold. So very, very cold. While his body had somewhat adjusted to the freezing temperatures of Theria, the cold there was nothing compared to this. Hence, why he seemed to be shivering quite a bit. Yet, despite the cold, he pushed forwards.

At least he wasn't waist deep in snow now.

As he reached the end of the hall, his emerald eyes would dart around, scanning his new surroundings. Skulls, fresh corpses, and men wearing gold, and black.

"Hm..."

That was the color of Barsburg wasn't it? Did they come all this way just to hunt down a dragon?

Wild.

"Well than. I take it these are our would be dragon hunters?" Sparrow's smile fades for a moment, as his he once more brought Starburn out, his hands gripping the blade as tight as he could, as he awaited the order to attack.

Mostly cause Khione asked them a question. It'd be rude to just rush in before she got an answer.
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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 Field experience was important for the younger generation, but with that being said, this particular journey had the potential to be more than they could chew.

Alone, at least. In the company of some of Theria's finest, Hades could hardly force himself to show concern.

The otherwise reckless alchemist finds himself hovering just inches off of the ground, noticeably on the side of the unit that was furthest away from Sparrow and his brilliant means of illumination.

There was a feeling in his gut that brought implications of serious danger, even if the man was a family friend. Luckily, the voices of the men in black and gold pull his attention away. And the bloody sight before them yanks his mind even further.

Feeding off of the energy Khione put forward, the youth raises his gun at the largest man of them all-- only to trail upwards and realize that it was not a man in the slightest.

It was a god-damned golem.

"What the fuck is thaaaat?" He utters to Ulyssa, squinting.

The gun twirls, and he spends the next few moments condensing mana into bigger, thicker bullets. They were going to need them.
(Hades Task)
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 Every moment spent within this cold made him wish he brought a mug of hot cocoa. Despite that he knew it very well may have frozen up by the time they reached this spot... Even with a few heating-runes inscribed to it. With a slight shake of his head he'd pull his attention back to the moment at hand.

Eyes trail to the fresh corpses, his nose scrunching up at the sight. What more did he expect with what was given? Even the colors warranted a bit of confusion at first... He wasn't particularly well read.

Upon the callout the Avitus merely scoffed. "Wha' were y' expectin' when y' fucked with a Dragon? An easy get in, get out scheme? Tha's not 'ow these kinds o' thin's werk--"

With a pause as the golem comes into view his eyes widened. Oh. Two blinks are had as a light chuckle escapes him - Well! This was going to be extremely interestingnow. He could only wonder what its core had...

"Well this'll be fuckin' fun..." Was all he could murmur for now, scanning the mechanical wonder over.
(Thalis Avitus)
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 {NARRATION} ...

These weren't reinforcements, no- And the beaten up looking group soon realized that when the Therians came closer in the dark. About ten Barsburg soldiers in total, most of them shifting behind the golem .The commander steps out; he is aged with battle experience, and a trio of crows flock him, each of them shifting into a 'shadowy' essence occasionally, twisting around the man with his magic.
(Ref: https://i.imgur.com/p03UDRP.png)

"You are not our friends, but you could be - for all of an hour. We'll tell you where your dragon is and spare you this battle, if you simply let us leave..."

The commander makes his request. While they distract the wyrm, the Barsburgians will head for the exit, escaping freely. It's perfect.

He smiles towards them. "A fine deal, no?"
[20:44] Ulyssa glares. She glares very, very hard at the black-and-gold man seemingly leading the group of hunters. Were she strong enough, she'd charge forwards and try to take their heads now...but she isn't.

So she waits for Khione to respond. But, as soon as Khione did? She'd follow suit- since, truly, she doesn't expect the icy dragonlord to do anything but attack.

The drakanite raises her stave in preparation of said commencement of hostilities, and as soon as they began- she'd begin enlisting her gravity magics to throw whatever hard objects are loose upon the floor with as deadly force as she can manage towards the Barsburgians.
(Ulyssa)
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The Dragonlord stared forward with a gaze so sharp and insulted it could have pierced them all and the stone behind them.

She steps towards the commander a couple of steps, her gaze never relenting, her pupils flattening into slits that carry with them the chill of the coldest chill imaginable. "The only thing leaving this cavern is your screams."

The earth beneath them gave a faint rumble at the Dragonlord's call, her whip snapping forward in an assault that would perhaps doom them all, but she didn't care.

For as long as she drew breath she would do all she could to end them, end them all.. save one. "Kill them all but the leader, leave him alive. A few of you focus on the construct, Cetta attack the majority and wear them down."

She had chosen for them all, but if all went well, they would have a second offering for the Wyrm.
(Khione)
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Dun would bark out in laughter as he spread his arms wide to the gathered soldiers and their fancy golem, clicking his teeth together with a degree of amusmement at the soldier's responses. Desperate, of course, and if they'd met a priest of any other faith, they might even have received aid.

But Dun was elder of the Fireblooded.

"I'm a bit choosier with who I get in bed with than imperialist scum. That's a nice bit of machinery you got there, the sort a gal like Apep could disassemble and learn a whole bunch from I reckon. I think....we want it. And...well."

The elder would gesture around to the group of men beside the commander. He'd make an event count of those gathered with a light chuckle of amusement.

"Okay, I thought of a funny joke. Tell me if you get it. Since we need some information about why Barsburg is sniffing around our mountains, I'll....give you a vocabulary lesson. Do you know the meaningof decimation?"

Dun would chuckle heartily, clicking his teeth together as he raised his remaining fist.

"It's to kill one in every group of ten men in an army to punish them. But we're gonna do reverse decimation, can't risk you getting out of here alive and telling your bodies. Nine of you are not leaving in one piece, you can play rock paper scissors now for best scenic grave spots."
(Dun Task)
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 Sparrow just kinda, squints at the commander, and the strange crows that flocked around him. The chances of Khione, or Dun agreeing to not assault, and/or kill them were slim to none, and he knew it. They had done something unforgivable in the eyes of the Fireblooded, and had sought to hunt down, and slay a dragon.

"Yeah, I don't know about that one..." He'd mumble, as his gaze darted over towards Khione, fully expecting her to order them to attack. More than likely, the men wouldn't be an issue, but that Golem?

That thing put him on edge.

And yup, there were the orders.

"So be it."

With that he'd adjust his grip on his blade, as he rushed at the barsburgians, ready to cut them down, save for their commander. Though odds are?

That golem was going to get in their way.

Best to be prepared for that.
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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The commander among the Barsburgers drew little attention from the Ookami. What was to happen was already set in stone the moment they stepped forth - Especially before a Dragonlord. Instead his attention remained plastered to the marvel of technology beyond them, eyeing it for its core if it was even in the open...

How many more could he add to his collection?

A jolt of electricity dances between the lightning shard and core - Excitement. Thalis would let those emotions surface for now as the Asenite merely chuckled lightly.

"I'm willin' t' bet, more than likely, y'd jus' come right on in once we get 'em settled int' place 'n jus' blast away with tha' thin'." An idle comment, a boot scraping the cave's floor as it drags backwards. "I ain't a fan o' bein' used fer 'nother's gain! M' eyes are open, finally, t' wha' I've been missin' out on."

"M' days bleedin' fer free are looon' gone." A clap of thunder echoes through the cave as Asena's blessings are placed on full display - Arcs of electricity roaring about the Ookami.

"Survival o' th' fittest, lad, y' either claw yer way outta th' bed y' made o' y' fuckin' rest in it."
(Thalis Avitus)
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 Allow them to leave? So freely after all of the damage they had caused?

Hades didn't need to be a veteran of Theria to know what the decision would be.

His obsidian black gun is loaded in full and jammed shut, only to be aimed at the 'slender' mid-section of the moving golem. With the soldiers already seemingly worn down from combat, it might make his job as a sharpshooter just a bit easier.

A second hand moves up to hold onto his wrist and keep his aim steady, and once his elder's give the order? The trigger is pulled thrice with little hesitation.

"Come on, come on..."

They had not just been brought to be an extra weapon or body. They were meant to make worthwhile contributions to the efforts of their group moving forward. And so he would.

BANG.

A single bullet of condensed mana erupts from the chamber, sailing forth like a bat out of Hel(heim). It travels towards the golem and then shatters with the third click of the trigger. With Khione's order given, the bullet splits into six smaller shots, each one whizzing and whirring in an attempt to hit and pierce one of the lesser soldiers.

… And THEN he hears Dun's plan to have them ro-sham-bo over who lives.

"Sorry, sorry. Won't happen again! Probably." With a stupid grin on his face.
(Hades Task)
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 Cetta laughed. Let them leave, how cute, these men and the golem, were all going to die.

"You said the dragons circling the mountain, moron, if you knew where it was, you'd know how to escape. So fuck your deal, get ready to burn you pieces of shit."

The heat coming from Cetta quickly shifted from peaceful and kind, to overwhelming, like someone turned up the nob on her internal flame from campfire, to forest fire.

A wicked grin formed on her face as she launched a few arrows into the air over the foes, each arrow began to shatter and explode right atop them.

"Already on it." she said to Khione.
(Cetta Amor)
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 {NARRATION} As soon as Khione makes it clear that there would be no negotations here, the captain shoots her a cutting glare and winces, gritting his teeth. Escaping alive may be an impossibility now; the noise they generate from this battle would surely give away their location, and the dragon would swoop them in should they make out for the exit... Only the narrow halls had been protecting them from the wrath of the wyrm...

"You all... Very well, if you'll underestimate us so. Of the hundred that came here, we are the survivors. The strongest. And this 'machinery'- old man- is a top of the line assault weapon. Let's see if your brittle bones can keep up."

"Formation!"

The gunners sweep back, the spearman take to the front row. The commander twists with shadow magic, landing atop of the golem.

The battle begins...
 {NARRATION} The commander grunts his commands from atop of the golem, struggling to keep the group back. Several men are cut down.

You hear another deafening roar- This time it's closer, the high pitched sound of the dragon buzzing through the caverns. It smells the blood.

"Activate... Nightmare mode," he called out, placing his hand atop of the runes that were smoothly etched atop of the golem. The man shudders in pain when his hand is pulled into the rock and a sudden twisting swirl of mana encircles him, the construct absorbing his life essence- as well as the earthen energies around them- to grow larger in size, more potent.

A less ditched effort. Kamikaze.
 Thalis Avitus says, "... O'."
 Dun Task says, "No fear."
Thalis Avitus says, "No fuckin' fear."

{NARRATION} Now suped up and using its magical energy in overdrive, practically heating up and giving off smoke, the group was in for quite the challenge. Spheres of malignant magic were conjured along the cavern room, pulling out earthen stalagmites and dragging the most vulnerable towards it- It was very much a trial by fire.

They all endure, narrowly.

Dun would find himself needing to pull all the stops out when he deflects the onsalught of attacks, having to reroute the excessive flow of destructive energies. His veins might blow up from exhaustion, but he does it until the end, being the final nail in the coffin that causes the golem to lose steam and depower.

It falls apart, stone by stone. It could no longer move about, with Khione's ice magic slowing it to a halt completely.

For Ulyssa, however, the smallest, most vulnerable of the group- How badly did the earthen strikes cut her? (/Roll)

All others escape with minor scrapes and bruises. Aside from the captain, who falls off of the construct and onto the dirt below, bloodied and bruised. His men are defeated, likely dead. And he's all that's left. "You... can't take me there- No. We..."

"Killed a dragon. Haa... Haah..."

"But we didn't know there was two of them. We didn't plan for that."
 {NARRATION} Out of the golem, its power core also falls- thudding against the dirt. A useful crystal that could potentially be adjusted for an artificer's use.
 She fought with all of the ferocity she could pull forth, and it was no small amount. One of the Barsburg men falling to her instantly, that first strike having been a whip around his neck.

One quick pull later and it was severed, dead in an instant as the two groups clashed in full.. The sudden expansion had only staved off the inevitable, her focus shifted entirely upon the behemoth. "I SAID YOU AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE!" Her roar forced a freezing wind into the cavern, ice building within the joints if the golem, it's joints all frozen and locked in place.

The Captain falling, perhaps even landing upon a corpse of the men who fought beneath him, would find the Dragonlord standing above him. A glance to the core, she would add.. "..Decide whoever gets that, all I will say is that Apep needs to take a look at it before it's used in any capacity. Could be useful for the factory if she could replicate it." The keeper would get it back of course.

She delivered a swift and not very soft kick to the leader's ribs, driving the breath from him but it wasn't enough to break anything. "You'll find you can't tell any of us to do a fucking thin--." Her taloned hand pointed towards him, she freezes his hands behind him in a conjoined block of ice.

Lifitng him up to face her after she stares into her face.

"What Dragon did you kill, TELL ME!" She demands, frost forming along his face from her breath.
(Khione)
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 Dun felt his blood boil with the thrill of youth as he engaged in pugilistic, energized combat with the great golem, his hardened fists and sabatons clashing against the heavy metal of the artifice as he barked out with a satisfied yawp.

But then the thing had to go and get scary. That's when it got rough, things always got rough when one messed around with high stakes gravity magic. Sighing with preparation at what needed to be done, he'd raise his prismarine gauntlet as he leaped into the depths of the gravitic wells, flattening his palm as his hollow eyesockets ignited with etheric flame.

Redirecting gravitational force was not as easy as it was in his youth, even against something that wasn't a giant void beast. His arm would begin to bleed with pop blood vessels and burnt away skin incinerated by the sheer output of mana manifested in the gauntlet.

And yet, at last as the core popped out and the men fell...the deed was done. Covered in blood and barking out in exasperated laughter, the exhausted priest would catch his breathe before allowing Khione to handle the dealings, snatching up the golem's core to study before proceeding to pace in a steady circle about the room with his finger pistol, shooting any of the unconscious or hiding Barsburg soldiers that remaining through the heart with bolts of energy.

Always double tap.
(Dun Task)
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 Facing off against the towering menace was every bit as painful as he thought it might be.

While he had been honing his offensive capabilities, Hades had little to no defensive magic to speak of, and it shows.

At times he is thrown across the makeshift arena and into a stone wall, where the effects of his levitation potion cause him to float upwards along the wall rather than down.

"This thing hurts!" Adrenaline courses through his veins, and the urge to cave and make use of his darkened magic is tempting, but he holds strong. Hanging in the bout by the skin of his teeth as the others do the heavy lifting.

In the end, it is the Elder who is able to best the titan - likely from his century of practice against foes of similar strength.

Hades floats back to join the group once he is able to regain a bit of his composure, scar over his left eye glowing faintly with that sickly violent hue that only came on certain occasions.

"Hey, Uly'." He arrives by her side and lowers himself just enough to place a hand on her shoulder while Khione confronts the remaining Barsburgian with a side of frosty breath. "You alright? We--"

And as he sees Sparrow approach, Hades leaps back and away.
(Hades Task)
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At first it was nothing more than a regular fight against such a mechanical wonder. Strike its metal hide with fists of fury, sunder it with lightning-laced blows, and rain Helstorm upon it with his lightning. He always loved these kinds of fights--

Well, that was until it went into what was dubbed 'Nightmare mode'. Wells of gravity drag the speeding pugilist backwards, attempting to slow his strafes upon their enemies. Faint murmurings escape him as he maintains his foothold as best he could - Raining ranged strike after strike upon the machine with lightning.

As the golem crumbles a groan of relief parts from his lips. Barsburgians had fallen to their early Winters; Saekanis was bound to have a feast tonight. Sad, but that was the cycle of life in the end which the Asenite had to respect.

"No better sacrifice than th' one who wron'ed 'em, then." Thalis chimed towards Khione. A simple thought, really, that was more than likely already on their minds.

… Yet his gaze does linger upon that core that topples out of the golem. Greed spurs in his chest, but soon enough Dun takes it on up in his hand. Perhaps another one, then...
(Thalis Avitus)
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 Just as Khione had asked, Cetta laid waste to the larger portion of the forces. A volcano ripped out of the ground and unleashed it's molten fury within the ground. Lava itself was drawn to the surface, picked up, and chucked right at any foe she'd seen.

Avoiding every burst of mana the golem could send out was not easy though, she often felt earthen magic slam into her. That, actually, is something Cetta is quite used to. She and a certain someone on this quest spend numerous hours every day sparring with one another, training their bodies and their magics as much as they can.

The entire battle she'd spent the times she wasn't throwing lava, by shooting flames and explosions from her bow, utilizing arrows as the tool to carry the mana before activating it. Which leaves her arms and fingertips a bit tired.

The news of KILLING a dragon though? Cetta walked right over to the captain, she quickly raised a fist, and she punched him as hard as she's able, directly in the nose. She was careful though, so that she didn't accidently swipe Khione with that punch.

No words are offered, Khione's got everything covered.
(Cetta Amor)
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 Well! Sparrow's job here was rather simple, and one that he was rather used to doing. After all, every adventure he's ever been invited on was more, or less because of his abilities as a healer.

While on occasion, Sparrow's body would flicker with light, as he appeared near the golem, slashing away at it, while his body was assaulted by those spheres of malevolent magic, shields of light would be summoned forth to protect him, as he dove, in and out of the battlefield.

But that was just a side objective here.

His main goal was to keep everyone present as alive as his could. His holy magic pouring out from his own body, and towards everyone present, allowing them to bask in the light's warmth, dulling their pain, and allowing them to fight on for just a bit more.

Man, it sure would be awkward if there was an occultist here. Good thing there isn't!

R-Right?

Though as Dun slew the golem, and the captain captured, Sparrow would wince as he made his revelation.

These idiots killed a dragon.

"Crap."

Outstanding commentary from the Queen. Khione seemed more than... Capable of dealing with it. So he'd focus on everyone else. Moving to go check on them.

Then Hades leapt away, which prompts the Keeper to squint at his Nephew? Cousin? What... What was Hades to him?

"...You alright?"
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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 Ulyssa really wasn't equipped for this journey. Clothed in quite literally just her dress and cloak, she bares the brutal brunt of the damage inflicted upon her- no padding or otherwise to dull their harm.

Her actual part in dismantling the golem was largely weakening the structure itself- trying to crush and condense it with her gravitational forces. Stumbling to the ground near to the last moment afore Dun finishes the monstrous mechanation off, it'd take several seconds before she was able to pull herself back to her feet- but taking a moment to look herself over revealed she looked not much the worse for wear, sans some small cuts and scrapes.

...though she should probably try to get armour when they return from this trip.

Looking over towards the leader of the dragon-hunters with a glare, she takes a moment to examine the carnage around them. Hades is only given a short nod before she move to stand next to Khione, stave at the ready in-case the Bars-tard does attempt to escape again...

Though as he speaks, it'd be impossible to deny that she really, really wishes to kill him then are there- especially at his testations that he slew a dragon.
(Ulyssa)
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{NARRATION} The kick to the man's ribs has him wince and grunt, but he looked defiant. Scarred from many battles and seen more than enough slaughter in his day, these demands did not wipe away his pained smile.

"I don't know it's fuckin' name...Blue scales, like the other," he spits back. "Smaller than it, but just as troublesome. Took out half of my men before we finally carved it down."

Precious scales. The wealth of the dragon's treasure.

And of course, a message to Theria and all of Esshar: Barsburg will be the first to strike.

A part of him wished he'd been taken out in the battle. Better than dying alongside the rest of them to this crazed beast.

Another howling echo throughout the caverns. It's so close now- The group could easily reach it if they followed the trail.

"You fools should run..."
 {Item} You picked up Crystal Of Balance. Dropped by Terra Golem v3. .
 A child.

"You killed a child." She slammed him onto the ground, tying the her whip around his arms to further secure him, she would simply begin dragging him across the ground behind her.

If he tried any fuckery to escape she would know it instantly this way.

It was going to be a bumpy and scratchy ride for one asshole in particular. The roar cascading through the caverns, the Dragonlord calls out. "Forward. This man as a crime to answer for, and I'll be damned if I delay this particular justice any longer." She starts trudging forward, the sound of a dragging body coming from behind as he spoke that final sentence.

"The first thing you should learn about any Therian, let alone a Dragonlord, is we don't run from our problems. We are children of a mountain that kills the weak, culls the unworthy on it's own." She continues as she leads them off towards the roar. "That's what sets us apart from gormless cretins such as yourself."
(Khione)
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 Ulyssa hadn't made the connection until Khione spelled it out. They had killed Fathiry's child. Her scowl deepens, her hands clenching white around her stave, and she follows along behind Khione as she calls to move forwards- staying far back enough to stand just behind where the scum lay dragged across the ground, so she could see the moment he tried anything.

It was as the Dragonlord attested- there was a crime he had committed, to which he was now to answer for, to have justice inflicted upon him. Though the reasoning for this justice saddens her- the death of a dragon and child both- that the justice is to be carried out brings her some pleasure- pleasure, at the least, that the Barean is going to suffer the consequence of his actions. Yet, overall, she remains silent as they traipse forth towards what the officer attested as certain doom.
(Ulyssa)
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 Dun would nod steadily as he tucked away the power core for latter study. Barsburg ingenuity....he'd resent it, but those cheese eaters likely had a better grasp on generator technology than he would have ever managed starting from scratch. With this power core, his work on the realm gate could truly begin in earnest.

Nodding lightly as he turned his attention to Khione, he'd nod lightly in assent to Khione's words, allowing her to take the lead on demonstrating to the young people the ways of Theria. It was a nation of action, not words. Of warriors who fought and earned the right to the freedoms they possess and accumulate.

"Shiny toys, but you Barsburg fellas got yellow bellies. No wonder your shells are such good make, but you see, that's where we differ. You want to avoid the scars from worthy trials, and your skin is soft for it."

The elder would wave his hand idly to them.

"We can offer him as tribute to the drake at the least. But I doubt it'll be enough to cool her rage. We may need to subdue her without lethality."
(Dun Task)
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 Wincing at the notion of killing a child of a Dragon he'd slowly shake his head. He had little to speak for though... Arms soon crossing against his chest as a puff of icy breath parts from his lips.

Soon enough he's slammed into the ground, hazel hues no longer paying attention to the Captain as he looked towards the source of the roars. Closer - Now they just had to venture forth and signal the beast down from the skies.

"Fair in itself, lets see 'em tried fer 'is slaughter." Thalis tapped his forearm idly, trying to get a bit of feeling back into it.
(Thalis Avitus)
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{NARRATION} A child, perhaps. "..That wasn't no baby, babies don't eat people," he coughed out, though he bumps his head against a rocky stalagmite when the Dragonlord makes to drag him off... falling unconscious, if only for the journey there.

The group follow the sound of the distant roars, helping to navigate the tunnels, making a left then going straight forward- then a right. Some were narrower than others.

Along the way there's fresh corpses and various trinkets- treasure?

Valuable gemstones, coins. The riches the attackers sought. (If you attempt to gather this when heading to the final destination, type /random 1 100)


Behind the wide, open gate, you see it in the distance- A room carved of stone, open and wide. Massive. As if the dragons themselves had made to clear the rubble and shape it in their own image.

There's the blue-scaled dragon you witnessed earlier, snarling out over the corpse of another. An adult sized dragon, easily thirty feet tall, slumped down and bloodied. Stomach carved out. Neck slit open. Dead. The slightly larger dragon sobbed over its corpse in outright rage, and when it turned towards the group its neck twisted at them with eyes alight blue. Its bloodied fangs were bared.
[21:35] Dun was willing to pick up any lost treasure for the temple coffers, as pragmatism was a naturally key tenet of the Fireblooded faith. But he was also blind, and only had one hand, and his efforts were pathetic at best all things considered.

Still, moving forward through the depths of the cavern, Task mulled upon the moral question the thief posed. Well of course babies ate people, that was the circle of life. Barsburg had clearly grown too detached to nature with their artifices and industry, a haunting reflection of what Theria could be if it lost its way.

Luckily, the city was built into a mountain, it was hard to ever be far from the earth.

Entering the room where the great, blue dragon sat mourning for their lost young, the elder of the Fireblooded would allow Khione to take the lead in the diplomatic efforts towards the drake.

The old priest would merely kneel, bowing his head with his hands offered forth in a reverent manner to denote a lack of intention to harm. Naturally they would likely have to fight, but this was probably good for his resume.
(Dun Task)
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Hades stupidly reaches out for some of the treasure, only to remember and recall the warnings his elders had given them over the years.

"It belongs to the dragon if it is here, right? And if they already took the other dragon's life, then it would be cruel for us to take even more from it." Said the youth who normally would have very little concern for the belongings of others.

But this was different. Khione had preached a rhetoric of respect and tribute, and as such?

Hades takes what he can, only to place it back down before the titan of a creature - returning it to the hoard. Immediately after, he falls to a knee and bows his head, just as his father had.

It would be good for his resume too, hopefully.
(Hades Task)
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 Roars become all the louder as they travel deeper into the belly of the beast. There's a pause, however, as he looks towards the trinkets and treasures among the fresh corpses... That Sudburian greed immediately flaring within him.

Thalis looks left, then right... Then scoops up some as they continue to step forth. Beautiful, beautiful shinies for home and his kids--

Kids he wanted to see grow up, so he drops whatever he gathered right back to the ground. While he wasn't bright he sure as Hel wasn't dumb enough to step up to a dragon with their treasure. Let alone the treasure of a deceased dragon... Child of the dragon they were going to SEE.

Yeah, no, he was good.

Sauntering forth alongside the posse Thalis soon kisses his teeth as the adult dragon towers over them. A shiver runs down his spine (literally) and his teeth grind against one another. Was this how he died?

As Dun lowers himself in a bow of sorts the Avitus follows suit. Much like the Clown Prince he kneels, head bowed with hands held forth in a similar reverent manner.

What the fuck was a resume?
(Thalis Avitus)
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 Moving towards the sound of a dragon. To most, that idea would be insane, or suicide, which there was a good reason for said line of thought. Mostly because, there was a very good chance they all might die from this encounter.

Yet, as they progress, there seem to be some corpses with some rather fancy loot on them! With a flicker of light, Sparrow would appear next to one of them, moving to take something from the corpse. Only for something to dawn on him.

Odds are? This was apart of the dragon's loot horde, so uhh… Best to not take that, and enrage the creature further.

Any loot he might've taken was immediately dropped, as he made his way back over towards the group. Continuing his march, until they arrived at what he assumed to be the Dragon's Den. It's there, that his emerald eyes would rest on the gargantuan being.

"Oh boy."

His gaze shifted over towards Khione. She was... The only Drakanite here, and the leader of this expedition. Perhaps she'd know what to do?
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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 Ignoring the gems and riches as they go, Ulyssa quickly comes to a conclusion as she witnesses the sight- that perhaps it was not a child dragon at all, but the sight does wrench a hole through her heart regardless. Truthfully, it nearly brings her to tears.

Following Dun's example as the massive blue dragon bares its fangs towards them, the youngest of the party kneel-bows as well- stave left to rest on the ground to her side- yet close enough for her to re-take quickly if- yet more likely when- Fathirys began to attack them- the words of the elder priest ringing loud within her ears.

Perhaps they would be forced to fight, but- she truly did not want to come to blow with as majestic a creature they are faced with, and while it is in such grief as it is.
(Ulyssa)
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 "It was still the child.." Or at least that's what she felt, the younger had been.. The group stepping forward, through a massive gate into an even larger chamber.

One meant to house Dragons, but the moment of wonder was ruined by what lied ahead.

The corpse of the dead before her, a few tears would grace her features.. Born of sorrow, but just as born of a cold rage that threatened to shake the mountain beneath them.

She would step ahead of the group alone, trudging along with the commander behind her, a back of gold and other valuables over her other shoulder. It was without fear she approached, to be the one to die should the moment call for it.

"I know you are mourning, I know that you want revenge.. I know that what was taken cannot be replaced, but I come bearing an offering." She yanks her whip forward, tossing the bound man onto the ground between she and the Wyrm. "It was he that was responsible, he lead the men here,they are all dead save he, it is your right to cull the root of their treachery and disrespect. I would not allow another to serve him justice"

Calmly she slides the bag forward, not as important, but it was clear what lied within.

She falls silent, to let the Wyrm take all of it in, the Dragonlord simply staring forward in perhaps the only semblance of humility she had shown the entire trip.
(Khione)
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 Cetta continued forward, stopping to see what she could obtain from the various trinkets that lay around the area. The way she saw it, she could return them to the dragon, they had likely been stolen from the dragon in the first place, and since the Barburgers were expecting reinforcements, the less stuff that was there, meant the less the burgers would obtain. Cetta's not all that sure of what to do when they actually meet a dragon.. though to see the one under it dead.. it hurt her. She knows death far too well.. her entire family save for Amy and Khione dead, biological and adoptive, at least, the ones she still called family. The ones she saw most often. The loss of the dragon.. even one she didn't know, brought tears to her eyes.

Even as the dragon bared it's fangs towards them Cetta didn't show fear, sadness shown on her face though.

"I'm so sorry.. we killed the rest of them, the people who did that.. except for this one." she said as she gestured towards the unconscious captain. Cetta completely figured Khione had brought the captain as a gift to the dragon.

Cetta always figured dragons would be big.. but this one, it was absolutely massive, she'd met some weird shadowy illusion dragon before but.. that was all magic and not really a dragon but a manifestation of terror. This, was a real dragon.

The treasure she'd found was pulled out and held within her hands, outstretched towards the dragon.

"These belong to you. Those guys mentioned reinforcements coming, I didn't want them to take your treasures, so I grabbed what I could. Tell me where you want them, and I will place them there."
(Cetta Amor)
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[2] {NARRATION} The dragon was narrower than most, a serpent, a Wyrm. When it rises its shadows extends beyond them all and it is a truly terrifying sight to take in. It is old, wise, but also furious after the loss of its child.

Frozen eyes take in the group- Trailing them while mist smokes up beyond its jagged teeth, listening to their words.

You hear its voice, as it speaks in the ancient dragonic tongue.
(Reference: https://www.theparselmouth.com/mp3/rhoffb4sapvit1a3vm2vba4jo3_3.MP3)

A fireblooded like Dun, on his knees, would know that dragons can communicate with telepathy. But this elder is too lost to anger to even piece together the words and the focus.

No.

It snaps forward, winds whooshing around it when the teeth of the dragon chomp right down around the offered captain. He's pulled back with a gush of blood staining cold blue, the dragon's chin lifting up to let the man sink right down his throat...

Swallowed whole.

The only escape is blockaded by a thick barrier of ice, locking them in with the dragon.

It would be a test of endurance: Did these Therians have what it takes to quell the wrath of the elder? To withstand it for long enough?

 It was as she'd expected, the captain being eaten, though she'd not thought her offering would be refused. It made sense to her though, the dragon lost within it's anger at the loss of it's kin. As the wall of ice formed behind them, she stowed the treasures she'd found and prepared to accept this dragons test.
(Cetta Amor)
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[21:51] It was as expected, the Wyrm consuming the Captain was all too justified, but what came next..? She raised her hand, pointing towards the Wyrm as pits and pieces of the rubble erupt from all around to strike..

Not to slay the Wyrm of course, but merely wear them down. "Stand strong, we will endure this, let Farthiry grieve and mourn." Doing her beast to rally those who risked themselves in coming with her, she lets out a roar of her own, the inner Dragon coming forth once more.

"Give us your grief, and let us help you."
(Khione)
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 Dun would take a deep breathe as the draconic, spoken tongue, insensate and lost in a rage as it was, made clear to him the state of things. This was no minor tantrum, this was a boundless fury. There would be a fight at hand.

"It isn't speaking into any of your heads, right? If not, we've got trouble. There's no chance of them stopping and talking unless we exhaust'm with a fight. And that means surviving a proper gauntlet against them."

The elder of the Fireblooded would blink slowly, flashing a missing toothed grin beneath his half melted mask as he hummed in cheer.

"...Then so it must be. Young hatchlings, this is what fate has determined for you. Your pilgrimage here will not be a visit with the temple, but a noble test of arms against a raging dragon. There is no more Therian a rite. Stand strong."

Dun would raise his remaining fist, prepared to fight. It was good he'd already been warmed up by the golem, this was going to be rough.
(Dun Task)
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 Ah yes, the tongue of a dragon... He didn't know what it said, but surely it was goo--

Winds whip up, nearly knocking the Avitus onto his rear. A sharp "FUCK!" escapes him under the initial blast of winds. Why was it that people used his element when he wasn't paying attention!?

Rolling backwards he'd spring up to his feet, heart pounding away in his chest. This was not good, not at all. Even as Asena's winds grace his frame with their deep blue hue he could feel his skin growing number by the moment.

"Right! So! This is goin' t' be one 'el o' a time, ain't it?" Thalis huffed, looking towards Dun for his wisdom. A gauntlet of tests..? So be it.

Clouds of icy air puff outwards from his nostrils, the Ookami's fists raising up once more. With the Winter before him he'd counter it as best he could with the Summeron his back... Hands curling into fists beneath the Arcanium wolves.

Even now he could feel the slimmest of warm breezes in his hands.
(Thalis Avitus)
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"So... Any chance anyone here understood what it said, ooor..?"

Y'know, now probably wasn't the best time to dwell upon this. Despite the dragon swallowing the man whole, it seemed like it was still rather miffed, and for good reason. Someone had slain it's child.

"Right so-"

He aims to speak, but the moment he even attempts it, he notices their exits were sealed off by ice. "Right, cool... I didn't want to leave anyways."

The High Keeper's grip on Starburn tightened, as he took a step forward. "Everyone, please be careful." With that, said his holy magics would begin to flow from him, and towards his allies, aiming to heal his allies.

So long as he was standing, so too would his allies.

Or well, that's the hope.
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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 No words. No communication.

Just the devouring of the former Barsburgian Commander and the sealing of the only exit out of the cavern.

The Clown Prince swallows a lump and slowly rises to his feet once more, cold sweat rolling down the side of his face. They had to exhaust the wrym to get it to speak. It made... a lot of sense, actually.

And after reassuring words from both Dun and direction from Khione, the youngest-older Task triplet reaches for his gun with a shaky hand and loads his own, raw mana into the chambers once more.

It was an experience. Mild terror mixed with adrenaline and a desire to go toe to claw with a real life dragon!

If the circumstances weren't so grim, he might actually be enjoying himself. Hel, it was likely that he might cut a bit too loose and tap into the magic he had been tip-toeing with up until this point.

"Careful. Cautious. Stand Strong. I got it."
(Hades Task)
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 Unable to understand its ancient draconic, the drakanite watches as the wyrm snaps its jaws forth around the captured captain- as he's swallowed whole. A horrible, terrible fate-

On entirely deserved.

As the passageway behind them is covered over with ice, Ulyssa stands- stave claimed once more within her hands. She stands defensively, yet stands she does- gently stepping back and forth in preparation for the elder wyrm to begin sending out it's attacks.

She hadn't wanted it to come to this, yet it was obvious there wasn't an outcome otherwise- the elder was too furious, too enraged. It saddened her further to see one as majestic as it brought to this state.

And enraged her to no end against the people who had done this. They're dead, yes- but they spoke of reinforcements, so more there must be. Perhaps they'll find them as they descend the mountain...as long as they survive here.

No words are offered- she's offered very few throughout the entire journey so far, preferring to remain in somewhat-furious silence. She'll be careful- she won't die here- that isn't what she came here for.

Then again, she didn't come here for anything in specific.
(Ulyssa)
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[22:01] {NARRATION} The dragon moved with blinding speed despite its size, surging around the group with its chilling frost following each movement. Its tail hit hard and the frost was a tempature far too low to bare, always on the move.

But it does speak, a single message.

This wasn't Fathiry, as Khione and many others naturally assumed.


"Fathiry was my daughter. I felt her death beyond the mountain, and I came to lay waste to the wretched humans that took her from me!
"

Its rage was not yet quelled, far from it...
 {NARRATION} An elder dragon, nearly as old as Garling himself- One of his first born perhaps, making the migration with the dragon of fury and might. This arena was more than enough size for the titan to soar with its wings, each gust lifting the group off of their feet- some of the more vulnerable ones like Ulyssa would likely need support from others, as the creature held no punches.

About five minutes have went by thus far.

Their combined attacks force the elder back, and none had yet died. Somehow. By the blessing of fate, they all stood toe to toe with Yrsonarth.

The great dragon ceases its assault, "Enough!" Its wings thunder out- extending up. "You've brought me the killer of my child. You've met my blue flames and survived. You will be spared."

Reprieve, a moment to regroup, to speak.

"She was the guardian of this mountain, this was her home."

It snarled and hissed, suddenly moving again- Its blue eyes narrowed down on Khione, "...Take Fathiry's egg and raise it to adulthood, to inherit this domain..."
 {NARRATION} Injuries:

- Cetta was caught in burning icy flames, a spiral of blue magic that burned right through her shoulder. (-5vit perm)
- Dun Task and Cetta have a bad case of the chills. They'll need plenty of hot soup... (Temp, -20vit, unhealable, 2 days).
 ** Yrsonarth has inflicted an injury upon Dun Task. ("The Chills", "Facing off against the elder dragon Yrsonarth, you suffered a series of minor coldburns. Your tempature dropped so low that you'll need to recover for a few weeks. (2 OOC days, unhealable)", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
 She did her best to endure all she was able, bearing the brunt of the storm as much as possible.. The massive thing flying towards them, she had been right, it had been a child.

The child of a Dragon so ancient she couldn't begin to comprehend the ages it would have seen.. Though finally through some virtue of luck or perhaps even mercy, the assault ended.

The thundering voice echoing all around them, she nearly fell to her knees, her body was as exhausted as it had ever been.. "It was.. the least we could do." She steps forward once more, towards the great one. "I will raise it as my own, better than if it were my own. I swear."

"This mountain will not go unguarded, even before the youngling is raised.." She looks for the egg, glancing about.. "Would you name it..?"

A perhaps final question to the Wyrm, waiting for an answer as she spared a glance to the condition of her allies.
(Khione)
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 Ulyssa really, really, really had not come dressed appropriately for the weather or the assault they had endured. Weaving her magics as best she could, walls of gravitational forced were raised before her- but she's young, and not particularly strong. While enough to blunt the force, certainly-

It wasn't enough to blunt them for long, or enough to blunt them to the point of no lasting damage. Half-collapsing as the assault continues on, she's nearly to the brink of unconsciousness when, finally- it abates. Falling to her knees, her stave drops to the ground, and she breathes heavily- exhausted from the exertion.

She's too exhausted now to respond as the elder wyrm speaks to them, yet slowly she shifts to a bow of reverence- not that she could really do much else. She's so tired, and- she sneezes softly, a high sound- so cold. She'll probably need some help getting down the mountain...
(Ulyssa)
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[22:28] Cold, that was all Cetta felt throughout the entire battle. It was like nothing Cetta had faced. Even though she'd spent years training with Khione, her own magic and Khiones combined wouldn't come close to Yrsonarth's.

Each flame Cetta controlled struggled to life and was barely able to do anything.

Cetta caught a powerful frozen flame in the shoulder, tearing it right to the bone. This was Cetta's first time being greviously injured. Her eyes went wide, she fell to the ground, yet no sound escaped. She held herself back from screaming. She'd accepted this risk when coming to aid Khione, and she'd rather be the one to bare such a mark than the others. She'd lived a safe life and this was her first thing to really show for her journey. Her path to help not only her wife, not just dragons, but all who would claim Theria as their true home.

After a few moments she got back up, a hand going to her right shoulder and flames being cast outwards in order to stop any bleeding. While it didn't stop the pain, it would save her life most likely.

A nod if given to Ysonarth. "I shall protect it with my life." Just as she would for only two others, Amy and Khione.
(Cetta Amor)
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 Darting about the practically frostbitten winds the Ookami huffed and puffed away. Why was it always wintry winds when it came to his opponents? The Summer breeze he clutched within his hands spurred him forth as he did his best to weather the storm.

This wasn't where he was going to fall, no. There were one too many sites he had to revisit for his deity - A temple, even, to bless Osrona's rebirth whilst he fought the cultist of Saekannis within the forests... One too many tasks to handle as the dragon's voice roars through the area.

Tumbling forth he'd manage to stay on his feet; The electricity that danced between the gauntlets now pulling into the orbiting core. Its color fades into a stark dark blue. Later on he'd have a charge to blast off against his opponent... A boon to aid in his own constant use of mana.

Brief thoughts of the treasure he'd dropped back behind him spur once more. His brow knits as a cursory look is paid towards where they'd come from. Maybe he could...- Best to not air those questions just yet.

Despite the heavy fight he found his hands still had feeling in them - Warmth, even. A soft hum builds in his throat as he takes note of that. Developments to dwell upon in the future.
(Thalis Avitus)
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 Dun would place himself directly in harms way in the effort to pacify the great elder dragon, his body lapped over repeatedly by immense frost and overpowering chill. Had he not recently been to Uraheim and gotten a frozen heart, this might have almost been a new experience.

But he had been frozen more times than he could count recently, so he just accepted he'd need to drink a lot of soup and alcohol while mourning in silence at a later time. This was the way of things.

The elder would fall to one knee in reverence to the elder dragon with his bones relatively frozen, allowing Khione her moment of interaction with the patron element drake as he puffed away idly on his corncob pipe.

This was a nice nature hike, all things considered.

"From the ashes rises new life."
(Dun Task)
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 Even after most of the ice melts, Hades can hardly feel his hands.

Playing off of a brilliant and desperate offensive by his father, Hades unloads everything he has into the final clash of the Elder Dragon's trial by combat. The action event causes Hades to expend all of his available mana, leaving him to linger around the others as the verdict - and the egg, are given.

A chance for Theria to right the wrongs of Barsburg. A place that, if this invasion of the north temple was any example, they would be clashing blades with soon enough.

He squats down to idly reclaim the item that he had found before, rotating it a few times to search for any serious dents or scratches.

… And then he just smiles at the outcome of it all.

How many Therian kids could say they got to fight a dragon?!

Dun's one liner pulls his attention back to the situation at hand. Back to reality. He straightens up some to continue showing Faithry's father the respect a winged-one deserved.
(Hades Task)
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 While Sparrow wasn't the most durable fighter, his body natural healing factor was insanely fast. Spurred on by his time, and holy magics working in synch to close up any small wound that may have appeared. All while the Lifestream's warmth seemed to multiply that effort.

That's the only reason he was still standing after five minutes of fighting this dragon.

"Holy... Frick." He'd manage to get out in-between labored breaths, as he dropped to a knee for a moment. The dragon had been sated, at least for the moment, and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to take this brief reprise in action to catch his breath.

Though it seems like they'd be leaving here with an egg.

Good.

"Life reigns, even in death."

Dun would surely recognize those words.

After that, Sparrow's eyes would dart over towards Khione, awaiting further instruction.

"A name, huh..."
(Sparrow cos Queen)
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{NARRATION} There's a belief that dragons don't make the best of parents- creatures of solitude, they prefer to keep to themselves. Yrsonarth was passing off the burden of raising this unborn dragon to the capable Therians, and it fully intended to head elsewhere once this was all done. But what it couldn't allow was those who harmed its kin to survive, and thus had dealt justice, with the aid of the adventurers.

"The child of Fathiry will be named Firvynth," the dragon answered, rising to its full height of thirty feet.

"Tell all of what happened here today. Of the many humans butchered and slain."
A warning.

Given that the mountain was no longer occupied by a dragon, all of the gold and precious minerals was theirs to take back to Theria. The group would convene with the Fireblooded at the temple before making their way home, in triumph- Avenging a dragon and being given the honor of acting as a guardian, having proven themselves this day.