Return of the Dragon Tamers: The Plague of Ogual

[Soulserenity20]

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• 
  
  
  
  
  
  Return of the Dragon Tamers
  The time has come for the dragons and the humans to join forces once again...​
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Hunting the Blackshire Stags
  
  Narien, Illyria, Avren, Pomona
  
  Reverie, Xylia, Alder, Saira
  
  ​
  ​
• 
  
  Terria has been rescued and returned safely to the meadow. Her retrieval came at the cost of another talented tamer: Goliath, and his dragon Hezekiah. Terria slumbers in sickness of the body and the mind even as Merrik has spent more than a week at her side, healing her thrice daily, doing everything in his power to bring her back to the Order.
  
  The party that ventured to eastern Galidus to sort out the issues in Kibran returned with a new stranger who turned out to be the bondmate of the Valor dragoness, Andraste. Alder Grey has joined the ranks of the Order and now works to find his place.
  
  Shortly after the Order's reuniting in the meadow, a council was called the a vote was ordered for the army's next tactical move. With the votes in, the Order is now set on unlocking the memories of the strange man Bren and travelling to Galidus to meet with the new king, Kylvest Brohn of Trespa while simultaneously meeting with the People of Dragons elders.
  
  Before the Order sets off once more, they are taking time to return to their training at the meadow and heal their hearts and bodies. At current, Merrik has chosen to mix things up and brought the Order out to the north-eastern woods to hunt for Obsidian Nova's favorite game: Blackshire Stags. After a great deal of drama in Kibran regarding Merrik's decisions on leadership, he hopes that the Order will begin to sort itself out within the ranks and grow to trust each other more deeply in a time when trust among comrades is a necessity.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Character Hex Colors
  [spoili]
  Aerarya is #800080
  Saira is #33cccc
  Merrik is Red
  Nova is Black with Shadow and Italic.
  Avren is Green
  Viridian is Yellow Green with Italic.
  Terria is Dark Azure
  Taega is Medium Gray with Glow and Italic.
  Requiem is Maroon
  Aleria is Dark Green.
  Agni color is #999999
  Narien is #0092b3
  
  [/spoili]​
  Soulserenity20 ---- Merrik Tetra ----- Obsidian Nova, Nightmare Dragon
  Soulserenity20 -----Terria Tetra ----- Ataegana Kuu'iah, Lunar Dragon
  Soulserenity20 -----Avren Lebram ----- Viridian, Forest Dragon
  Rainjay -----Saira Rinien ----- Aerarya, Atmosphere Dragon
  Rainjay -----Illyria Rowena Renthir ----- Mirazh, Desert Dragon
  Firejay1 -----Narien Ki'ila ----- Angi, Arcane Dragon
  White -----Rèverie Gray ----- Celeste, Celestial Dragon
  Mowkie ----- Pomona Ayelet Muldell ----- Katla, Vanity Dragon
  Mowkie ----- Alder Balthazar Grey ----- Andraste, Valor Dragon
  Crimson77 ----- Xylia Kalei Iwalani ----- Deventh, Swamp Dragon
  
• 
  Tetra Estate - Coliseum, 8:17am
  
  The morning air was cool and crisp, the last signs of Winter nipping at Spring's hold on the lands. There was a deep fog rolling in over the eastern forest, blanketing the ancient trees with an eerie, chilling veil. A pair of deep green eyes scanned the surrounding landscape from a hundred feet in the air. Their owner felt no fear, no discomfort of the altitude, being as much at home in the skies as he was on the earth. While the height and the crisp morning air did not bother him, a deep concern was festering within the corners of his mind. It was not unusual for worry and concern to waft about in his thoughts, but the intensity of today's concern was unprecedented.
  
  There was a silence that surrounded him, cocooning him in its peaceful tendrils, broken only by the steady whoosh of powerful wings. With each heavy downbeat, the man in the sky would exhale, taking in the pristine air the ancient woods provided and letting it out in a meditative manner. His dark hair swayed gently, not by breeze, but by wing-beat. The man was concentrating on the legend that was about to begin a hundred feet below him. The man was sorting out his thoughts, organizing his concerns, perfecting his plan of action. Worrying. Concerning himself. Stressing.
  
  The mind is of no use when it is tangled and knotted with stress and worry.
  
  Merrik Tetra opened his eyes as a wave of reassurance swept into his mind, settling what had been stirred up, putting his last lingering thoughts in the right place, and shouldering the mental burden that so commonly threatened to crush him.
  
  "Your wisdom could not have been more welcome. But to execute concern would be unwise. Today the stories of the world will shift mid-sentence, a new chapter forcing its way into a tale of growing darkness. Today the legends of old will be reborn, history repeating itself at the hands of peril upon these lands." Though his lips did not move and no sound rang out into the air, his words found their way into the mind that commanded the wings beating powerfully at Merrik's sides.
  
  The man in the sky was not alone.
  
  A hundred feet above the Tetra Estate, a creature of myth lingered in the air, sustained by the grip of its thick wing membranes on the cool morning air. The creature was massive, larger than any common animal of the lands, and it wore a cloak of scales as black as a night sky devoid of any stars. Blood red eyes that made every onlooker feel like prey blinked slowly as they stared at the distant fog bank. It's vast wings, cloaked in the same obsidian scales that coated the beast's muscular body, wore rings, red as the most scalding lava.
  
  The creature was a dragon. A Nightmare Dragon, to be specific; a beast of legends and fairy tales from a time long ago, long before the memories of even the oldest human. For hundreds of years the sound of heavy wing-beats parting the air could not be heard in these lands, or any other for that matter. For hundreds of years, the great draconic race was thought to have been extinct, perished by the hands of elves or man or even time itself.
  
  Few would believe their eyes. But Merrik Tetra would not so much as blink at the site of such a creature, for the dragon of nightmares and terror that claimed the skies was his dragon, and Merrik was its human. They were soulmates, best friends, companions, one.
  
  More than 2 decades ago, when Merrik was just a little boy, he was brought down into a damp, dark cellar in the depths of his family's manor. There, he received an egg. From within that egg came a voice, though not one any other person would hear, unless it so chose to be heard. Within that egg was a hatchling nightmare dragon, the same drake upon which Merrik sat at that very moment. The dragon was given to him by a strange, mysterious old man who called himself The Oracle. This man changed Merrik's life, shifted his path of fate to one of severity and ultimatum. His life for the next two years was leading up to this moment, this cool spring morning.
  
  Today, Merrik was going to form an army, a re-birthed order of old, summoned up again to bring forth a the great protectors of Illos. Today, Merrik was going to change the lives of a group of individuals, the very same individuals that stood a hundred feet below him in the center of a coliseum. Behind the doors that lined the walls of the coliseum were more dragons. More disbelief shattered by flesh and blood. Two years ago, Merrik had once again been summoned into that musky cellar where The Oracle appeared once agian. This time, Merrik didn't receive one egg; he received an entire clutch, each one a different color, texture and size.
  
  From those eggs hatched dragons, one of each of the draconic species, apart from the Nightmares. Those hatchlings had spent the last two years of their lives growing and learning from Merrik and his dragon, Obsidian Nova. They were being trained and prepared for this very day, this moment. Each of the drakes behind those heavy wooden doors lacked a piece of its soul, a part of it that could never have been filled. Not until now.
  
  The group of people standing, uncertain in the middle of the coliseum, were chosen long ago, though they could not have known it. The Oracle had selected them at birth, when their souls entered into their bodies with their first breath. Each soul chosen, was the missing half of one of the dragons below. And today, those two souls would collide and fuse together, changing the fate of Illos forever.
  
  "They know so little of what is to come." Came Merrik's soundless voice from his own mind into the dragon's.
  The less they know, the less they can fear and fight what is to be. Though we know that each of the humans below is the soulmate of one of our yearlings, the yearlings do not know for certain. They believe that these are mere potential candidates for the bond. They will test them just as a wild dragon would have tested the first of the dragonlords so long ago. The humans will pass these tests, of this we have been assured by The Oracle. Everything is set into motion.
  
  Let their oblivion be their guide, for both dragon and human. Let the bond work in its natural ways, it will give them strength in the long run. The humans MUST prove themselves to their drake, not only for tradition's sake, but to unlock the power that hides within their blood. Tamers are not made, they are born at the very moment a dragon's soul awakens. In that moment, the two become connected, separated only by distance and time. The tamers have an ancient magic within their veins, though they do not know it yet.
  
  Today, the bond with unlock that magic and change their lives forever. We should not delay it any longer.
  
  Obsidian Nova had a way about him that commanded submission and trust. There was no one else in the world that could calm and reassure Merrik in such a way as the black dragon. Nova had an ancient wisdom to him that came with being a direct descendant of one of the first bonded dragons of the Order of Old. Though merely 21 by age, the dragon's wisdom went on for centuries. Merrik agreed without a word or thought.
  
  With perfect intent-directed synchrony, the dragon descended, lowing the pair and coming to rest on a great stone perch that sat at the head of the coliseum. As the dragon's talons touched down on the stone and his great wingspan retracted to a resting position, Merrik stood up from his place at the base of Nova's neck and slipped down off the dragon's back without a sliver of difficulty, landing on the thick, stone perch below.
  
  The attention of the visitors in the centre of the round mass of earth focused on him. Some eyes shone with excitement, others with a sly intent, and others with a plain annoyance. There was too much personality within that circle for Merrik to handle all at once. He silently thanked the gods of old that he didn't have to get up close and personal with the entire group just yet. For now, the focus of attention was on dragons, and Merrik was completely at home in the realm of dragons.
  
  "You have all be told of your purpose for standing her today. I can understand if some or many of your minds linger in disbelief, this is an event of dreams and myth. But make no mistake, you are here to become heroes, legends, and leaders. You are here to become one with beasts of old, powerful creatures not seen in these lands for hundreds of years." He walked to the end of the perch, balancing casually on the round, stone hold.
  
  "The doors that surround you are the temporary dens of the dragons of Illos. The doors will open in a few moments. You must all be strong, be fast, and be brave. Today, you become dragon tamers."
  Then, Merrik's deep green eyes became twice as vibrant as any human's and he swirled his right index finger in a curious manner, concentration clear on his expression. The doors slid open, lifting up to reveals cascading plumes of steam as the temperature difference made itself apparent. The cool morning air welcomed the sound of wingbeats, too many to count, as a mass of dragons shot out of the dark spaces and soared up into the air. Flames of every color decorated the skies, scaled beasts of every shape, size and color bolted about before peeling off from the group and honing in on select individuals.
  
  One of the dragons shot a jet of colored flame down at the ground, nearing searing one of the soon-to-be tamers. The tests had begun.
  
  Merrik and Nova watched silently as the young dragons they had raised from hatchlings attacked, questioned, chased, scared, and tested the group of visitors. Each was seeking a human worthy of their soul, of their life, of their bond. Each would find a human, though they did not know it, and until then, they would test their worthiness endlessly. Merrik pitied the men and women below, for they had not been informed of what the bond was, nor were they informed of the fact that the tests the dragons subjected them to would look more like an attack than anything, despite the fact that the drakes would not actually harm them. This pity went away mere moments after it arrived as Nova's presence in his soul shifted with the drake's emotion. Any amount of terror and confusion was worth the bond of dragon and tamer.
  
• 
  
  Combat Event Guide
  +Steps+
  

  1. GM Scenario Introduction.​
  2. Player Response. Combat Begins.​
  3. GM Response to Combat. Required die roll will be presented.​
  4. Player Response. Player Roll. Player may close combat.​
  5. GM Combat Close Response (if necessary)​

  
  +Basics Behind the Rolls+
  
  Three Types of Opponents: Basic, Challenging, and Boss.
  Basic: Just classic battling. It is generally expected that your character can handle this with general ease.
  Challenging: These will require higher rolls and a bit of strength in whatever technique the character uses to attack.
  Boss: These will require the best rolls, the most creativity, and the best weaponry/spells/approaches suited to the character.
  
  Three Types of Character Approaches: Strength, Weakness, Long Shot.
  Strength: The character attacks within their class/strength/ability.
  Weakness: The player attacks in a class/ability that they are not necessarily comfortable or entirely skilled at.
  Long Shot: The player is being an idiot and doing something that would never work unless the die gods are on their sides.
  
  +How Opponent Types and Character Approaches work together+
  BASIC OPPONENT
  Strength Base Roll: 12
  Weakness Base Roll: 14
  Long Shot Base Roll: 16
  
  CHALLENGING OPPONENT
  Strength Base Roll: 14
  Weakness Base Roll: 16
  Long Shot Base Roll: 20
  
  BOSS OPPONENT
  Strength Base Roll: 18
  Weakness Base Roll: 20
  Long Shot Base Roll: 25 (requires stat bonus)
  
  NOTE: In a boss battle, there will be much more discretion for creativity and teamwork between players. Successful rolls will mean successful hits, NOT kills. Furthermore, for boss rolls, because they are much more difficult, the player will get a 'second chance' roll if their first roll is not successful.
  In Step 3, where the GM presents the required roll, it will have the relevant stats already added in and will be presented in a manner to explain the reason the roll is what it is. Stats are applied by level of skill, as portrayed:
  5% = Beginner ----> No Mod
  10% = Applicable ----> No Mod
  20% = Novice ----> +1
  30% = Adept ----> +2
  45% = Advanced ----> +3
  50% = Expert ----> +4
  65% = Sage (Mortal Mastery) ----> + 5
  
  Example:
  Shirin Vs. Challenging Opponent, Strength (Longsword)
  Base Roll: 14
  35% in long sword, +2 Bonus
  14% in valor, +1 Bonus
  14% in strength, +1 Bonus.
  
  14 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 10 Required.
  
  The player will then post a blank post with "Rolling..." posted and then roll a 20 sided dice (D20) on that post. Then the player will post a SECOND post with their response in accordance with how their roll went. They can wrap it up themselves (Step 4), or the GM can add a post in at the end to wrap it up accordingly.
  
  WARNING: If you delete ANY POSTS in these events, I will assume you're trying to cheat and get a better roll. I don't want any explanations, I won't believe a word you say, and I'll roll FOR you with a penalty of 5 added onto the battle. This means, for example, Shirin would need a 15 instead of a 10. If you make a mistake, for example, roll a D6, or roll twice. LEAVE IT. I have eyes. I can see the mistakes.​

[spoili][/spoili]

 

[firejay1]

Narien was not happy having to use the special magic gemstones to fly them to their new training grounds. It didn't feel smart or safe. Just how long was "extended use" before it would damage the dragons' bodies? If anyone got damaged right before the war, it would be bad. And if this magic left all of them tired before the battle, it would be even worse. It was true they desperately needed more specialized training, though. Still consumed by a sense of urgency, he'd been training like mad the past week and a half. There was no such thing as free time, when you only had a few months out of your ENTIRE life to train for war. He'd done his allotted hour of practicing his bonded mana on Terria every day, and had gotten better at keeping up a constant small flame, which now hung around him almost as a permanent afterthought. Meditation hadn't gotten any easier, though, and trying to master both archery and combat-focused rope use was being challenging to say the least. If meeting this monk gave him a leg up at all, he would be more than grateful. He needed everything he could get.

His companions were a matter of some interest to him. Busy as he'd kept himself, he had interacted very little with any of the other tamers besides Terria and Sairantha. Requiem he was probably the most familiar with out of the three others going to Kona Petl, because they had spent the most time in the same vicinity, but even so the two were nowhere near close, or even friendly. Goliath he'd only spoken to a couple times very briefly, though in his observations the man was noble and a born warrior. No doubt a man who had made his father proud. The girl, though, he knew nothing about. Her name was... what again? Aleria? No, wasn't that the name of Requiem's dragon? Now that they had split into smaller groups, he supposed it was a good opportunity to get to know them a little better. He cringed a little at the thought, but he had to find at out some point what kinds of people they were.

They touched down in the center of the Dragon Clutch, and Narien slipped off of Agni's back, looking around for Koruba. The man is an instant eye-catcher, with his wild red hair and loose white pants. Narien didn't walk closer, though, certain that the more assertive members of their group - Goliath and Requiem - would step forward with absolutely no prompting whatsoever.

 

[Silver]

You're sure you're fine? Aislin found herself asking her partner again, for the thousandth or so time since the dragon had swallowed the gem. The generally patient Yumiru found a bit of annoyance setting in , her tail twitching in irritation. At the woman atop her back.

Yes, Dear Heart, I assure you, I feel fine. Just tired. Yumiru lowered herself a bit so that Aislin could have an easier time sliding off of her back. It was a long flight, and all will be well after a night of rest. Fret not. The pearl being reassured as the hunter slid down, careful to not pull on any of Yumiru's sensitive tendrils.

If you say so... Aislin responded, trying to swallow the worry. The huntress had been not overly thrilled at first, but she had confidence in Yumirus judgement and the dragon of dreams knew that the oldest Tetra wouldn't ever harm any of the dragons he'd raised. So she hadn't tossed up any kind of fuss, Aislin just mutely handed over the gem to the dragon as she tried to swallow her paranoia and worry. The duo now found themselves touching down with the others Merrik had brought along with him. She'd been quiet during the journey, watching where they where going. With the greater speed, things flew by much faster and Aislin had wanted to see them all. As always, the woman found herself excited to be in this new place.

Her eyes landed on the woman who came out to greet them. They stared there as they where led into a building.

I believe you humans find it rude to stare? Yumiru prodded at he tamer. Aislin blinked. The dragon was right, so she let gaze turn to take in their surroundings. At Reverie's question, Aislins eyes popped back over to her, latching onto the excuse to study the woman again. She wondered if there where other humans with skin the color of obsidian.

 

[Rainjay]

Saira

Once again, Saira was a bundle of nerves. She was one part excited, and one part terrified; their time in the monastery had been inspiring, and eye opening, and she also loved the chance to travel and meet a new people. But she also feared the training that was to come. The constant, never ending training back at the meadow had been a pleasure. It kept her busy and occupied, and offered her chances to improve in her abilities. But now, she was being forced to face her weaknesses, even her fears. With Narien's help, she had been slowly improving her skills with a short blade, but she still only had rudimentary skill. Her balance was perpetually off, an aggravating fact considering how centered she was with her bow, and she had no idea on how to move and maneuver with a blade. It felt like trying to run in boots much too big through muddied water.

But, these people knew what they were doing. Saira hoped so, anyway. They'll have to be superb trainers to get me comfortable with a blade.

You will be alright. Aerarya said. It is not as if you know nothing.

I suppose. But they might expect more of me than I can give. Perhaps that is what worried her most; coming off as the weak joint of the Order.

After Saira climbed down from Aerarya's back, she took a good look around. She and her companions, Avren and Dalaith, had been given a description of the man they were looking for, Chief Ukura. She spotted him not far from where they landed. His hair was his most prominent feature, lengthy and braided down his back, just as described.

Go talk to him.

What?

Aerarya nudged Saira forward with her nose, the tamer stumbling forward a few steps before sucking in a deep breath and approaching the Chief with a bow. "H-Hello," she said, internally cursing herself for the stutter. Good impression, Saira. Good first impression. She hastily summoned an apologetic smile before she continued. "We are of the tamers of the New Order. Thank you for welcoming us in your home and for assisting us with our training."


Illyria

Training was awful.

It wasn't bad in the traditional sense; to an extent, Illyria found a way to enjoy some parts of their training. Morning runs and tests of agility were an entertaining challenge. It was interesting to see where she placed among the much more experienced men and women in the group. But that was where the optimism ended. The people of the Order were indefinitely more skilled than she, in just about everything. She wasn't particularly strong, or stealthy, or cunning. She certainly didn't know a thing about holding and using a weapon. Each one she picked up felt wrong, and it felt worse trying to use them. It seemed the only thing that she had above her peers was perhaps stamina, but what was she going to do with that? Run her enemies to death?

She was tired. She was frustrated. Above all, she felt useless. But she continued to try.

Mana was her one beacon of hope. As much as weapons felt wrong, mana felt right. It was difficult to control and bargain with, but when she managed to get it to do what she wanted to, it was rewarding as hell. She was driven by the talent of the other tamers, and strove to be able to do what they could do. Mana was an art, and she was determined to learn how to master it.

So, she was rather excited for this journey to the Kona Petl. Of course, she knew nothing about the place, except that they were sent there for mana and dragon ability training. She wasn't so sure that she belonged there--she had yet to see any sign of a powerful ability--but was sure nonetheless that she would learn something there. So eager she was that as soon as they landed and she spotted the man with the prominent red hair, she approached and introduced herself. This time, she wasn't going to forget to include her name in greetings.

"Hi. Are you Koruba? My name is Illyria--pleasure to meet you!"

 

[Chrome]

The soldier and the dragon of iron understood their orders. It was apparent to both of them that their bonded mana and Hezekiah's abilities were capable of turning the tide of battle; as they saw during Ogual's siege of Ylandre. In order to progress further in their specific mana training it made sense to the dragon and tamer that they required help from a third party once more, and both of them were eager to lift off and set out on another adventure.

On their way to Kona Petl, Hezekiah noticed a surge of power within him as he and Goliath flew with the other tamers and dragons assigned to the same training. The iron dragon felt as though his bones were lighter and that his senses widened into a greater understanding of his environment. Hezekiah had never felt so alert as his wings glided through the air with ease, he was one of the heavier dragons in The Order and a little slower due to his size along with his large robust scales, but thanks to the gem provided by Aglares the dragon felt as though the traits that at one point limited his capacity to fly for long distances, had been lifted.

<Too bad that gem-thing tastes like lily pads and rose petals, I would probably eat more of them if it tasted better>, Hez remembered how disgusting the gem had tasted when it touched his tongue and he decided that he would not abuse using the gem more then Merrik and Obsidian Nova allowed him. He figured that in the future he would avoid using it completely.

We wouldn't want you to get power hungry, maybe Aglares made your's taste bad for that exact reason, Goliath replied and laughed. When Merrik had given him the gem, Goliath at first was very reluctant because he considered Hezekiah to be an energetic personality to begin with and that the dragon didn't require the aid of a foreign substance that could lead to health problems later on their path. After he saw Hezekiah ingest the gem and the look of disgust that followed, the tamer felt more confident that Hez would refuse the next time he was offered the stimulant.

When the group had landed in the Dragon's Clutch at Kona Petl, Goliath shifted his boots from under Hez's scales and leaped from the dragon's back. The soldier adjusted his hair under the black bandanna he had tied around his forehead when he landed and immediately helped remove the saddle from Hezekiah, knowing that soon Hez would need to rest and that the iron dragon loathed his saddle more than most things.

The soldier nodded to Narien as he and the young man exchanged eye contact briefly, Perhaps he will crawl out from his shell soon, Goliath thought to himself as he witnessed Illyria quickly introduce herself to the red haired monk named Koruba.

Goliath walked to Illyria's right side and with a friendly smile he introduced himself along with her, he extended his hand in the process, "It is a great honor to be in the Dragon's Clutch within the heart of the sky, my name is Goliath" he nodded his head to Koruba, a strand of blonde hair hugging his cheek in the wind.

 

[Mowkie]

[dash=#D2B9D3]

​

From that tiny victory on her very first day of training, Aiko began to see many various improvements throughout the course of the next week and a half. Finally having a purpose, she pushed herself into every tiny bit of training she could get, primarily that of mana, as it seemed what she was the most good at. When not bathing herself or her dragon, eating, or training with the rest of the Order, she was in her loft delving into the many texts left behind by previous tamers and learning as much as she could to further improve upon herself. From a shallow creature whose only goals were to find a man, the young beauty rose to a tiny scholar with a need to learn more. This, in turn, seemed to make her more reclusive – at least over the time that she spent in the garden. Her ever-shallow dragon seemed to make a heavy note of this, and as the days passed, he grew more and more irritated over her antics. She didn't socialize, nor did she seek aide from others of the Order. She simply studied and practiced and studied some more. He wasn't the Intellect Dragon! His mind couldn't comprehend how her attitude changed from the seemingly shallow beauty he had encountered and bonded with to this monstrosity in so little time. But she would hear not a word of his complaints.

At least, not until the Amethyst beauty finally snapped. At his wit's end, he heaved himself up to where his front talons were on her beautiful bannister, his head within the curtains, nose just barely kept from touching her chest. It was this movement that forced his young tamer to put her current book down and look back at him. For a moment, Aiko found herself lost in the frighteningly beautiful mismatched eyes that stared at her furiously. But as that moment came to a close, his angry voice entered her mind viciously. ~All you do is read and practice! You do not get to know anyone else! You do not even try to find more ways to learn than just reading and practicing! What is wrong with you, tiny human?!~

Stunned, she stared back for a few more moments before finally speaking. "Nothing is wrong…I just…want to know that I am good for something."

~What do you mean by that? You are beautiful upon my back, and you make well with the others. Why not try to make friends!~

"I am not really comfortable with anyone, Zolykar. I feel that my own practices from home would fall upon deaf ears here. So I have to start anew. I have to practice and learn as much as I can before it's too late. Merrik already said we have little time to dilly dally! We've already had to run extra laps because of how many times we've been late! And the fire…it still scares me! How am I to be of any use in battle if I can't even produce a proper flame?"

~Maybe that is your problem, then. You are so worried about being useful that you do not see the use of those around you. Goliath is an expert in close combat, and he is bonded to the Noble Dragon. You have that lovely sword…why not further your knowledge on how to use it with him? There is also Terria, the master mage and Merrik's sister…you read about bonded abilities. Why don't you ask her about those? Or perhaps simply ask Merrik, yourself instead of avoiding him like you have been!~

She looked away then, ashamed of herself and her fear of reaching out. Perhaps for her, it was pride that kept her from reaching out. Or, it could be that she was simply afraid of appearing weaker than she already seemed. The delicate flower, afraid to mar her beautiful petals. Better groomed than any other, for she spent twice as much time bathing herself. Yet she held such a frail beauty…it wasn't the sassy, frisky beauty of Kalona, a seductress among men. Nor was it the commanding beauty of Terria, the golden jewel none could touch. Aiko was a shallow beauty, much like rose petals resting on a tiny puddle before the sun wretched them of all they were worth. And it was all she had.

"They do not like me. They find themselves thinking that I do not belong. That is why I must prove them wrong."

~You make assumptions, my little human.~ Zolykar nudged her cheek then, huffing into her well-kept white hair. ~I believe that is what you find yourself thinking…not them. You must reach out and learn how to be a part of the team. And tomorrow, that is exactly what you shall start doing.~

~~

The next day was when the announcement had been made, and each tamer was handed odd and powerful gemstones and instructed to feed them to their dragons. Alarm bells began to ring inside Aiko's head on whether or not such magic was safe for Zolykar, who was already significantly weaker than the other dragons. Of course, at this though, the violet beast gave a huff and snatched it from her hand before feeling it shatter against his tongue and slide down his throat.

It took him some time to work it down, gagging a few times and appearing much like a cat about to vomit a hairball, but he did finally find the magic working from his stomach throughout the rest of his body in a burst of beautiful, violent energy. By this point, while Aiko still wore the harness, the pair was much more accustomed to flying together. The young tamer had only packed the essentials – the grooming needs of both herself and her dragon as well as a few changes of clothing. She feared what was to come next and why the Order was splitting up as it was, but as usual, she did not question the orders of her leader and chose to follow in the back.

The maiden remained quiet throughout the journey, finding herself simply listening to the talkings of others and spending some time attempting to practice on her own, having fallen into a habit. This would always end in the scolding of her dragon before she would groom him and herself and then sleep on a simple fur bedding to keep herself off the soil, itself.

When they reached the temple, her heart sank at the mere sight of it. This place was droll, dwindling on the very edges of existence with its stones barely holding onto one another. By contrast, the woman who came out to greet them was anything but boring, her flesh colored nearly as dark as the scales of Obsidian Nova, who stood near his tamer at the front, with pale white markings that reminded Aiko of the scales of Yumiru, who stood just before Zolykar. How interesting, this woman appeared to be.

Still, the maiden remained in the back, her eyes falling towards Reverie, who was the first to speak. At least there was someone willing to do so, as Merrik was not the quickest to react. And Aiko was not the boldest one there.

[/dash]

 

[Soulserenity20]

[dash=yellowgreen]

When Merrik had handed Avren two small stone-looking objects and told him that they were to be eaten by Viridian to make his faster and stronger, Avren nearly lost his mind. "Really? That's amazing! How on Vesperia are these made? From which country did the ingredients come? Do you have more? What negative effects do they have? Have you tried them on humans?" He was like a panting dog, begging for treats from its master. All he could think about was how his crazy old mother would have loved to have known all the answers to the very questions he asked. Things like this were the very reason he loved the wilds so much. They were powerful if only man could learn how to utilize them. He was eternally enthused about the tricks Merrik Tetra had up his sleeves.

Soon after, it seemed, they were in the air. Avren never much liked flying this high, preferring to remain in the trees, as did Viridian, but the flight bore on and time passed quite quickly. It was difficult for him to adjust to the change in flight speed now offered by his dragon. Viridian was quick in the woods, but never a top speed flier in the open skies. After a few hours of nausea, Avren settled and enjoyed his flight in silence. He tried to keep his mouth shut, despite wanting dearly to speak to Saira. But Dalaith was with them too and she frightened him very much, as most women did. He had, of course, grown up with the belief -- and with constant confirmation from his mother -- that women were crazy. And he was convinced that the smarter they were, the crazier they were. Kalona was sharp as a whip and bloody insane, after all.

This sat well in his mind for a good while before he suddenly clapped his hands over his mouth, as if he had just cursed Ferin before his own shrine, realizing that he didn't think Saira was crazy! He had thought her an insult of stupidity! Guilt quickly drowned his mind as he realized that craziness and intelligence in women couldn't be connected. Saira was smart, and pretty, and sane. Of course this forced his logic concerning Dalaith to face reconsideration. Was she crazy?

It happened that the scholar decided to strike up a conversation with him only a few minutes later. It was as if she had entered into his mind and detected that he had suddenly decided not to assume her mad without direct proof by course of action.

After that, the flight seemed to literally fly by. The land came swiftly and the plains that surrounded them gave Avren a thrill he hadn't felt in some time. He had first come to the Storming Plains nearly 8 years ago, but dared not head too far north for fear of the swelling plague. As such, he had never been to the see the Stallion Tribe, though he had long wished to do so. This experience was going to be a brilliant one for him, for he always envied their culture. He knew the Stallion Tribe thrived off the land in a way few others in the modern era could claim. They were no longer nomads, like their cousins, but instead found a way to keep their people alive by means of agriculture, hunting, and strategic grazing of their mighty horse herds.

Their arrival was met by a mighty man with a glorious braided mane -- Avren had a respect for men with strong hairstyles, afterall. His name was Chief Okura, or so they had been told. Almost immediately, Saira approached and introduced herself and oddly so, Avren felt inclined to do the same! Before he could open his mouth to say anything, however, the brute of a man clapped his hands together, palm to palm, and rotated one so that the fingers of each hand were opposite each other and slightly curled under. He held this gesture against his chest and bowed lightly.
[/dash]

Stallion Tribe
Combat Training with Chief Okura
Avren, Saira, & Dalaith​

"I know who you are and why you come, tamer. I am Chief Okura, stallion keeper of this tribe. You will come with me, and meet the Great Chieftess. She will decide if and what you will learn." He beckoned for them to follow, and led them through the village to the center where a large, domed structure lay. Like all the buildings in the settlement, the structure was made of a wooden skeleton and walled with thick leathers. The door was made in the same fashion, and the windows were open gaps in the structure, but seemed to bear dyed skins, thin enough to allow light through, which acted as curtains to keep out the heat, cold, and wind.

The structure was not large enough for the dragons to enter, so the tamers pushed on without them. When they were welcomed at last into the belly of the great building, they would see a great throne sitting at the far end of a wide, open hall. There were servant scattered about, but all in all, the building seemed to be some sort of court for their leader, more of a ritual aspect than a residential abode. As they made their way down the dark leather carpets that trailed to the throne, they would lay eyes on a stunning woman, with long, flowing black hair that fell freely from her crowned head, to the wooden floor below. It was thick and wild, as if groomed only by the winds and washed only by the rains. Her eyes were dark brown, her skin a deep bronze, and the throne upon which she sat was made entirely of the bones of the great stallions of her tribe, the protectors of the queen. At the peak of the arched backrest, there was a horse skull that appeared to be fused with a man's skull, the man's skull seeming to melt out from beneath the horse's. The chieftess wore deep brown robes made of horse hide, adorned only with black stones that glimmered in the dim light. She stood, as they approached, and waved for the servants to leave.

After taking a deep breath and looking the tamers over, she smiled lightly. "I am the High Chieftess of the Stallion Tribe, and I welcome you within our mighty herds, to grow and to become strong. May your mighty hooves thunder across the eternal plains and may your mighty chests heave the air of vitality. Our might is now thine, our blood will flow in harmony with your own. The Tribe welcomes the great rides of the sky and will honor their pact to aid the skyherd in growing strong enough to dismount the dark fowl of the north. Okura, you have my permission. Take them to the fighting pits."

Forgotten Isles
Bond Training with the Seer
Reverie, Aislin, Aiko, Aris & Merrik
​

The woman with the darkened flesh waited silently for Merrik to join them before she beckoned them forward. Urging them into the depths of the temple. They passed a massive center of the temple and motioned for the dragons to remain there, while the tamers were to follow her.

She led them in silence, through the temple, past several abandoned rooms and eventually, down a dingy set of stone stairs that seemed to be holding up well enough. Down into the cool basement regions they went and what they found was shocking, to say the least. There was no light, in the dark belly of the temple, and for a moment, the party paused, unable to go on. Merrik was about to raise question about where the lady of darkness had gone, but before he could, a flicker of light sprang up a little ways ahead. Moments later, more light appeared on the walls closer to them, and closer, until all around them were tiny silver lights that appeared as stars in the night sky, randomly placed and clustered. It was captivating, but Merrik urged his tamers to press on, despite his own wish to remain and be dazzled by the display of lights.

They followed the sound of footsteps down a long winding hallway, until a silver light, larger than the speckles along the walls, began to near and grow. When the reached its source, they found themselves in a room with a burning, silver fire set in an obsidian pit in the center. The walls sparkled and shone with the same starlight as the hallways, the walls just as black. Around the pit there lie several cushions, to which she silently urged them to sit upon.

She sat before them and moments of silence passed. Then, from down the hall, came the sound of wings as a small, silver bat with brilliant purple eyes and a long tail tipped with purple feathers. Its coat glimmered and seemed to reflect the light of the fire, making it appear to glow. It sat on the woman's shoulder and within a few moments, a low, velvety voice entered into the minds of the tamers. It was the voice of a woman, the woman with the dark flesh.

"You have come to journey into the realm of your bonds and grow within them your strength as a single entity." Merrik smiled, ever fascinated with the secrets hidden away in Illos's old bones. "I will bring you to this realm, but this is all I will do for you, for within this sacred place you must learn for yourself what makes you weak and come to terms with it."

She leaned forward and placed her hand directly into the silver fire, without flinching, and withdrew a small, worn down pot. She gathered simple, black, stone cups from a pile in front of her, and filled each one with a small amount of the fluid, and began passing them around. "This will carry you to the realm of your bond, but only for a short time. Each realm will be unique and vastly different from the next, for each represents the whole of both individuals, dragon and tamer, and the magical unifying space between. You must face what tarnishes your heart and mind. Only in this way, will you come to master mana, and the bonded arts. Drink only when you are ready. You will awake, laying down, in this room, with your companions. I will watch over your bodies. Your dragons will be with you in heart and soul when you enter. Go now, and face what blackens the light of your bond."

Kona Petl
Mana Training with Koruba
Narien, Goliath, Illyria, & Requiem​

Two of the tamers approached and greeted Koruba warmly. In return, he bowed deep and low and rose back up with a smile. "I welcome you to the heart of the sky. If you are Goliath, and you are Illyria, the others must be Narien... and Requiem." He said half questioningly as he peered over the pair's shoulders at their comrades behind. He then let his gaze fall upon the mighty beasts of the skies, staring for a few moments in reverence. "And the mighty winged gods of the sky. Hezekiah, Mirazh, Aleria, and Agni. These grounds rejoice in your presence. The sky breathes bliss upon the rolling hills that once housed your ancestors. Make no mistake, oh ancient ones, this sacred shrine is yours, these hills, this earth, and all that you see, is yours."

He bowed deeply for several moments then before rising up and beckoning for them to follow. "The People of Dragons have been preparing for this for several hundreds of years. Our knowledge stores are vast, our wisdoms as much so. We have lived in peace, going about our days under the guidance of the great Oracle whose shrine lay beyond the hills in the east." He led the group through out of the center clearing where they had landed, and into the village that surrounded them. The village was beautiful and serene. They walked atop a wooden path that offered no give, even beneath the mighty weight of the dragons. The houses were made of the same, dark, deep red wood and were simple, yet beautiful in nature. The roofs were varying tones of deep teal, maroon, and ivy, and small bushes and beautiful arrays of flowers colored the streets. Many gurgling fountains and flowing streams could be seen and heard all about the village and as they passed by numerous other monks, the tamers would get a good sense of the people that lived here.

Each villager bowed most reverently at the passing of the dragons, not rising up again until the mighty beasts had long passed. The white material that made Koruba's own pants adorned the other villagers. The men all wore the same attire. The women wore simple dresses, tied with gold, brown, or red ropes. Many of the villagers here bore the same red hair that Korbua himself bore, making the entire village appear exotic and vibrant.

As the made their way through the village, Koruba continued to speak between greetings and pardons as they passed his fellow villagers. "Word came mere days ago that you would be joining us here before the great battle for the Sylvian capital. Lord Tetra had been offered our assistance months ago, but he believed our services would be best utilized more directly and specifically with only the tamers he deemed in need of it. Though there was some speak of a visit from the full Order in later months." On they pressed, strolling lightly through the peaceful, lush, green village.

Eventually, it came to be that they reached a large structure, much like the shrine they had landed in front of. Made of the same rich wood, built similarly, though much larger than the shrine at the heart of the sky. Koruba turned and spoke to them, pausing their trip at the steps leading up to the mighty doors. "This is the dojo where your training begins." He looked to the sky, seeing that the sun was reaching for the horizon. "But it will have to wait until the morning, my friends." He led them the rest of the way up the steps and instead of going in the building, he led them around it to a large courtyard, fenced in with a mighty, wooden wall. The wall was made up of wood blocks, giving it the appearance of brick, and topped with a thick slab that lined the entire perimeter. In the center of the courtyard was a beautiful, still pond, surrounded by stone and a wooden path. Low hanging trees dipped their branches into its body and a scent of rich pine and floral life wafted about the air. Along the outer edge were mighty trees with large woven orbs hanging from them. They looked like large nests, and were about the size of a small dragon, coiled up.

"You will sleep here." He pointed to the hanging, woven orbs and large nests of grass next to them. "In the morning, please enter the dojo at sunrise with your drakes for breakfast and our training will begin. I ask that you prepare yourselves for vigorous exercise, both physical and mental. Rest now, and rise tomorrow with a light heart." With a deep bow, he left them.
​

~~~​

The next morning, after a simple breakfast of rice and herbs, served with a small serving of fish and a large citrus fruit, the tamers stood before Koruba in the mighty dojo. It was spacious enough for the dragons and according to Koruba, mighty enough to withstand their weight upon its pillars.

"You have been sent here to grow stronger as mages. Some of you are to focus on your bonded mana, but the reality of all mana, its truth and origins, lie within your bond. This is what we will push to urge growth within each of you. We will test your ability use the bond, to protect the bond, and the strengthen the bond."

This likely seemed confusing to the tamers, but Koruba would clarify his words after a brief pause. "You will undergo severe physical training, to exhaust your physical bodies and force you to rely on your mind and your mana to carry your forward. Each morning we will begin training here, until your bodies begin to break. Then, we will take to the hills. You will be required to push through a specifically set out path through the wilderness to reach a sacred place and collect an elixir there to replenish your energy for the journey back. However, the journey will not be an easy one. You may not fully succeed the first day, and perhaps not the second or third. Turn back if and when you must. But by the seventh day, you must make it to the shrine. This will be the completion of your training."

It seemed simple enough, but of course there was a catch. "Be forewarned: the path is filled with difficulties that each of you must face, using your mana, your bond, and your wit. There will be a different path for each of you, tailored specifically for your form of mana, but all will require elemental mana use. When your body has abandoned you, you rely fully on your mind, and on your mana. This will urge a rapid development that I will monitor and aid you in, but the brunt of the duty is yours alone. Now, have you any questions?"

 

[firejay1]

Koruba apparently had a lot to say. When the man extended his greetings to Narien and Requiem, Narien opened his mouth to claim his name, but quickly shut it again as the man continued to speak. He turned to give Agni a look for a brief moment, but they were quickly ushered along deeper into the village. Kona Petl was a curious place. Since leaving Solona, Narien had, again and again, found himself thinking that he had finally seen it all, only to turn around and discover yet another place that took his breath away. The little village was no mighty city like Freya or Arinar. Nor did it hold the quiet wariness of the many little towns he had stopped at on the side of the roads during his long trek to the Monastery. No, the very ground on which they walked seemed to breath an unshakable confidence in its own safety. Sheltered, like the Tetra estate, but much more inhabited and structured than the thick woods and lonely field. The shocking contrast of colors that characterized not only the visage, but it seemed the people themselves, gave the whole place an almost surreal feeling. In their midst, the dark-haired man felt almost as if he was wading through a dream, but that was no longer a new feeling at this point. Lots of things about living his life as a dragon tamer made him feel as if he was dreaming, and he still had not shaken the idea that one day he would wake up and find himself back in his run-down little house in Solona.

The tour reached its close, and Koruba directed them to their sleeping quarters. Although he would be hard-pressed to ever admit it to anyone, Narien was relieved. It had been a long flight, and he could feel Agni's exhaustion setting in. Magic gemstones or not, some rest would most definitely do her good. He was less pleased with the sleeping quarters themselves. The whole place smelled very strongly like plant life, and a giant cocoon made of grass hanging from a tree did not exactly inspire confidence in its safety and comfort, but ironically those things simply reminded him of being on the road again, and he did not much mind them. He very much minded being separated from Agni for the night, as it had become a habit of theirs for her to curl herself around him as they both slept. For whatever reason, he found it comforting.

He was about to ask if he might sleep by her side, but was cut off. Narien, don't cause any trouble, tonight. His bondmate sounded tired enough to quench thoughts of rebelling, and he teasingly, but gently responded, As you wish. Oh mighty goddess of the sky. The last thought was accompanied with a little bit of silent, but still snarky laughter, and caused Agni to huff an mildly irritated breath of amusement at him through her nose, before he bid her good night and stepped into the odd nest.

~~

Agni awoke the next morning with the sky grey, just light enough to warn of the sunrise that would soon make itself known. Narien was also up and approaching her to put his hand on her snout. How did you sleep? She asked him with some quiet joy, refreshed after the night's rest. He, of course, did not oblige her with a straight answer. If he had, she probably would have been worried. That, I believe, is a question for the gods. How does one ever sleep and what is its purpose? He leaned against her and cheekily added, Ah, for cold stone floors and thieving murderers around every corner. The mundanity of sleeping without the constant sense of mortal peril shall surely be the death of me.

The great dragon lifted her head, and as they were called to have breakfast, chided him. You whine and exaggerate like a child.

He retorted with another sarcastic whine. You wound me. Such harsh words for one more than twenty years my junior, though the wisdom of your ancestors may be with you. If I could, I should cry foul at the universe for how it favors you winged beasts, though perhaps it is in truth providence that I possess no such thing. The ancient mutterings of dead men mark those we know to be touched with insanity. And I am perhaps a little mad, but you shall never take from me the admission of being insane. There is a difference, though not perhaps one I can educate you on.

Agni smiled to herself and shook her great head at his usual nonsense, but oddly found herself fixing on the words "more than twenty years." Narien had turned 23 less than a week ago, but had not bothered to tell anyone or even pause in his training. She had got the sense that he had not wanted to acknowledge his change in age at all, and so was a little pleased that he was doing so, even if he was using it just to be annoying.

They saved the rest of their playful banter once they arrived at the dojo, though. Again, it seemed as though the shirtless monk had much to say. This time, however, it was much more informative in nature. Narien was not certain he fully understood the meaning of "use the bond, protect the bond, strengthen the bond" just yet, but the training was meant to clarify that, he believed, and hopefully it would. Some part of him was actually looking forward to it a little bit - a chance to grow suddenly and have a change of pace from the day-to-day practice they'd been doing. He did, however, have quite a few questions, and it seemed this time no one else was inclined to step forward and ask. Leave the stupid questions to the quiet one, he supposed.

Quietly, he spoke up, brows slightly pulled together in a worriedly thoughtful fashion. "Excuse me, but... how are we carrying the elixir, and how much- are we supposed to....? Will the- our- companions. Our dragons. Are they coming with us? And- can't we? We can't stay on our trails over... night?"

 

[Chrome]

​

After he had retrieved Hezekiah's saddle and slung it over his shoulder to be carried, Goliath joined Koruba and the other tamers as they walked through the peaceful village of Kona Petl. The soldier walked the wooden path alongside the iron dragon and took in his surroundings, he found himself distracted by the magnificence of color throughout the village; from the dark red wood used to construct each home, to the colored shingles that covered them, and the wild flowers that seemed to sprout from all manner of surface. Life had a knack for surprising Goliath in the most interesting ways, and the village of Kona Petl in his mind was an entity that mirrored tranquility. One could say that he was inspired.

While Goliath busied himself with the colors and the fountains of gushing water, Hezekiah was busy looking at the people, he scoped the crowd of villagers to see if there was any children he could make faces at. A sea of red hair bowed reverently to the dragon's and the tamers, making it more difficult for the iron beast to spot any tiny humans and Hezekiah soon gave up looking, disappointed but not discouraged. There must be children here, Hez thought to himself, A village without children would be waaay too boring.

Goliath heard the last bit of Hezekiah's thought through their bond and messaged the dragon as they continued their walk to the front of the large structure that Koruba indicated to be the dojo. Remember how the Lunate Monastery had no children running around? Maybe this place is the same, he reasoned with the iron dragon, to which Hezekiah responded with an annoyed look, not even bothering to respond, the dragon would much rather see more of the village, and with some time he would learn more about Kona Petl and it's people.

When the group arrived at the sleeping arrangement of mighty trees with large woven orbs that appeared much like large nests and Koruba stated, "You will sleep here", Hezekiah immediately ventured to the closest of the trees and used his tail to move the surrounding debris before laying down. Hezekiah wasted no time falling asleep, the effects of the gem had taken its toll on his body and he no longer had the energy to pay attention. Meanwhile, Goliath listened intently to Koruba as the monk instructed the group about their upcoming training.

After responding to Koruba's bow with a formal salute, his right fist clenched over his heart, Goliath sat against the tree Hezekiah had chosen and rolled a bacco cigarette. The soldier savored the smoke as he swirled it inside his mouth and watched the sun vanish behind the horizon, knowing that the next day he would need to push himself further than he had in previous training, that he and Hezekiah needed to be stronger if The Order wanted to take back Kuhl and protect this wondrous village from the cold grasp of Ogual.

---

At sunrise, Goliath woke quickly and kicked Hezekiah awake gently, "Quit dreaming of Lyre and do your stretches you big oaf!!", he said jokingly and dressed in some simple training clothes, a faded blue tunic made of light fabric from the south and long brown trousers. He tied his black headband around his head after dipping it in the pond nearby and turned to see if Hezekiah had stirred awake. The soldier nudged the dragon again with his boot.

Hezekiah snapped awake and spun his head around anxiously, <IM AWAKE! Im awake>, the dragon grumbled and rose to his feet, he stretched his wings and opened his mouth wide with a big yawn. <I was having such a good dream too>.

"I know you were", Goliath smirked and shook his head at his companion, during the last minutes of sleep Goliath had realized how often the Hezekiah's and his own dreams would mesh into one, their memories colliding in a brutal battle for control over the dream. Goliath had dreamed that he and Kalona were staring out at the sea along the west coast, but he was unsure why he dreamed of her, maybe it was Hez's dream crossing over into his own, and instead of Lyre she was replaced by her tamer, or maybe it was him who was setting the scene within the dream realm. It confused the soldier but he shrugged it off when his stomach rumbled.

After a very large and healthy portion of rice and herbs served beside some fish and a large citrus fruit, Goliath stood alongside the other tamers inside the dojo while Hezekiah perched on a pillar looking down at the group with the other dragons. The soldier's main concern while listening was the extent of their training and how the monks planned on 'breaking' them physically, he knew that Requiem was likely capable at keeping up with him in terms of vigorous training... but what about Narien and Illyria? When the time came for questions, Goliath knew what he would ask, but was surprised when Narien was the first to speak. Goliath couldn't help but smile at the sound of the young man voicing his concerns.

When Narien was finished asking his questions, all of which were also questions that Goliath had thought of initially, Goliath added his own, "Do you plan on physically breaking down the dragons as well? Will we each be doing separate and specific training exercises based on what our bodies can handle? Or all together before we head down our own separate path to the sacred place which holds the elixir?"

 

[White]

Reverie kept following the woman whom decided to remain silent and not answer her question and it would be darker and darker until the woman was no more. Merrik stopped and as a result, so did Reverie. With a beautiful flicker, soon joined by many more encroaching the group. A beautiful sight "Like the hope in the darknest darkness," muttered Reverie.
Merrik urged her to continue on to follow the footsteps that came from ahead, till they would reach a room with a silver fire and cushions. They looked quite soft and comfy and Reverie was a bit glad when the Black Witch hinted to sit on them.
With everybody being comfortable, so it seemed to Rev, the sound of bat wings echoed to the group, curious as she was, her eyes moved to the darkness from which it seemed to originate and a bat, a metal like coloured one, with astonishingly beautiful purple eyes and feathers decorating it's tail. Her eyes followed the bat that would land on the witch's shoulder and for once, a voice like Reverie never heard prior, would come out of these two.

Soon one of the cups would get to her, her hands shaking as she held the cup and in an impulse of emotion to just want this to stop, she chugged it down, drank it, before the witch even finished. She felt herself fall to her side, the world going black...

Her eyes opened and it was all without colour. This realm that is only white or black, there were hints of grey, no source of light, no shadow, just a whiteness and black drawn over it, as if this realm was but a paper on which one had drawn with black ink. And this is how it has always been
A breeze, invisible, yet warm, gentle and soothing greeted her skin as her eyes anxiously turned to take in the environment and this is also how it has always been.
White stone, almost beautifully drawn with black lines formed an archway, a city, she concluded. Her body turned around, a gasp leaving her lips, her eyes widening in fear as she found herself staring at a pure blackness on the horizon. It was a void, there was nothing but a hole shaped, empty blackness. Has it always been there? Or is it something new?
Reverie did not know, could not tell and only panic begun to spread through her. She had to get away. At all costs as this demon, this looming void, seemed to consume everything and grew to be closer and closer to her.
Finally, the panic flooded her with Adrenaline and her legs moved, ran, ran away from this thing, ran through the empty streets, up, down, left, right, left and up again, til' there, the gate, ramming the door open, stepping into a whiteness, the whiteness of and with the bat of her eyes...

 

[Shadicmaster]

Dalaith was uncomfortable with the situation of having to feed the dragons enhancers, though having learned a fair bit about magic in only her short time of being here, she was confidant that with use in moderation, it would be safe. Moreso, A'untyr was in no mood to argue with his tamer, simply taking one of the gems before Dalaith had time to protest. Upon landing at the sight where she, Saira, and Avren were to be training, Dalaith thought it best that she stay silent, if her 'diplomatic achievements' in other situations were any gauge to measure by. She didnt want to jeopardize this opportunity, nor their lives in the upcoming battle because the group was unable to receive the training they needed. Dalaith wasnt so sure about the sound of the pits when where they were to be taken, let alone the rather grim look of the meeting room in which they were instructed to be sent to such a place. Sure, Dalaith had minimal ability in wielding a sword, enough to get her by should a robber cross her on the road, but she had no where near the experience or confidence in her skills to fight in the upcoming battle. Such inadequacy worried her about what sort of training they would undergo here to bring them at least up to par with the others in the order.

 

[Soulserenity20]

If everyone could use the corresponding headers for their posts as listed in the sticky thread under "Current Events" I would greatly appreciate it!

Kona Petl

Looking to the pale-skinned man, the sage smiled and responded in a low, gentle tone. "Well that's a very good question, boy, but not one I can answer for you. After all, the destination is as important as the journey. You will discover the answer to your question on your own. I can however, answer your other questions." He paused and nodded at Goliath as well. "I can answer yours along with them. Now, this journey will be difficult -- it is meant to be difficult. I'm not sure how much experience you have with distancing yourselves from your dragons, but you should know by now that your bond is like an elastic, though one that can never snap from stretching alone. The farther you get from your mana-source -- that is your dragon -- the more difficult it will be to tap into your mana pools. This is what makes this training so effective. If you can master mana use at a great distance, and use it effectively, your power in closer quarters will intensify greatly. When your life depends on mana use, you will be forced to go to greater lengths than usual to gain access to this mana. This can only be done with a stronger bond."

He paused, looking to each to make sure what he was saying was sinking in. "You will all rise at 4 am and train together. Your bodies will break at different rates, and this is normal. Those of you who are less likely to wear down will be pushed harder. Those who can withstand very little exertion will be pushed just as hard, though relatively so. When you feel that you can no longer move, your muscles giving out on you, your body screaming for rest, you will leave."

He pointed out the open doors of the giant dojo and out to the hills just past the town. "You will journey through those hills, along a worn path. There are hundreds of turns and twists and forks along the way, so each journey will be unique. It is up to you to decide how to proceed. You will be faced with numerous foes along the way, and you must face them with only the strength of your mana, and your will. Press on until you cannot press on and then summon your dragon to retrieve you. For this reason, your dragons will not train as vigorously. They may need to come to your aid, after all we do not want deaths to occur. As for staying over night... well, I wouldn't dare encourage such a thing. The path is dangerous by day. To remain into the darkened hours and let down your defenses in sleep is suicide. Now, are there anymore questions?"

 

[Soulserenity20]

Stallion Tribe

The Pits were exactly what one could have expected: large depressions in the earth with walls and slopes surrounding them, creating a rather curious diversity in landscape. There were three of these pits, each varying in size to promote everything from ranged to close-combat skill development. In one, the largest of the three, there were two men on horse back battling each other both atop their mounts and sometimes from the ground. They sprang from their horses' backs with ease, taking the battle to the ground and just as quickly they were back on their wild steeds. Both had long hair, though nowhere near as long as the chief and chieftess. One bore an intricate braid while the other had several ties holding his mass of hair back. The braided man dove from the back of his mighty, storm-grey mare and rolled under the opponent's horse's legs, leaping up from the other side and swinging a long, curved dagger at the man's gut. His opponent leaned right off the other side of his horse and quickly hooked his arms around his horse's neck, swinging his body around and kicking the braided man in the head before kicking off the ground and reclaiming his proper seat.

The man with the braid growled and ran to remount his horse, chasing after the man with the tied hair. The battle bore on, but before they could stare for too long, Okura grunted and beckoned for them to move along. He led them to the smallest of the three pits and stopped at the lip of it. "You will learn to fight with your inner ferocity. Humans are far-gone from the wilds. We forget our natures and force the unnatural response. The stallion knows no lies. He runs when his heart tells him to and fights when his herd calls for protection. The mare uses her wit to guide her herds to safety and her wisdom to go against tradition when necessary. Horses are flexible, natural, and powerful because of it. You must learn to be like the horse. You must fight with your instincts and let your mind and body work together."

He turned and looked at the three tamers before him. "Balance is the nature of all things. To develop the mind and neglect the body is to remove this balance. It must be restored. Where is the home of your spirit? Where does your body feel most comfortable? What is the most natural thing a human can do? What is most natural to you? Answer these questions and we can begin to find the disconnect. When it is found, we can rid you of it."

 

[Mowkie]

Forgotten Isles

[dash=#D2B9D3]

​

The silence became rather deafening as the woman beckoned them forward without a word or thought. The looming temple ruins made the young maiden uneasy, particularly as they came to enter it. She hesitated at the entrance a moment, staring up at it with wide eyes, her body trembling. Is it really safe? Her thoughts took a turn towards what an old creation such as this could do in its current state. The rubble sometimes falling down the sides, cast aside by a heavy breeze, made such thoughts even darker. What if it all came crumbling down on them? Couldn't they have done whatever the idea was out here in the open skies?

Finally, Zolykar gave her a nudge forward, ushering her inside with a grumble as Aiko gave a small squeak and walked quickly to catch up with the group. It wasn't long before the center of the crumbling creation that the dragons were motioned to stay. Fear all but consumed Aiko then, as she had spent all of her time with her dragon by her side unless he was out hunting. Now, in a strange place with people she hardly knew, she was going to be left without him. The amethyst beauty sent her a brief wave of comfort from his own thoughts as she was pulled away from him. Of course, her mind did not stop wandering into the darker side of her thoughts. All of the what ifs piling atop one another.

The silence grew ever deeper and even more crushing than before. She trembled as her footsteps echoed with those of the other tamers and the strange little woman. Feeling as though she was being eaten up by the temple, itself, the maiden found herself barely able to keep up in the darkness.

Then, there was a little light, and Aiko's already spiraling thoughts spiraled even deeper. It is the end…like a light at the end of a dark tunnel. I'm not ready to die!

~Calm yourself, little human. If you are meant to die, it is not today. Be still, and watch.~

She could feel the impatience of her dragon already, and somehow that was what brought her back from her dark thoughts. He knew something was going to happen, and he was waiting for it. So, all she had to do was wait and watch. It didn't take very long, of course. Soon, that light farther from them multiplied, and before they knew it, the entire group was surrounded by little silver lights that looked almost like stars. Mesmerized by such simple beauty, Aiko suddenly found her fear being buried by her curiosity.

No longer debilitated by her fear, she had no problem following the others, eyes sparkling with curiosity and amazement. She wondered, briefly, if this kind of beauty would be something she could one day create. How fascinating it would be…she could only imagine showing her mother such unworldly beauty. Perhaps then, the shrew of a woman would tone it down a bit. Though, that wasn't very likely.

When they finally came to the room with the silver fire and obsidian walls, Aiko suddenly realized that wherever they were, it was not going to come crumbling down upon her any time soon. The room was beautiful, in its own dark way, and she found herself looking all around as she was ushered to seat herself on a simple cushion. Even as she was seated, it was hard for her to keep her eyes in one place. How could something so dark be so beautiful? Then again, she had met Obsidian Nova, and he was even darker than these walls. Briefly, she wondered what he would look like with the same little sparkles shimmering around his scales. How interestingly beautiful he would be.

She felt a twinge of irritation from Zolykar then, hinted by the small bit of jealousy that ensued. Immediately, her thoughts fell to her own dragon and thoughts of the same little sparks of light twinkling around his scales and the gems on his shoulders. The mental image seemed to sate the dragon's need for attention, and once more, he calmed down.

It was around this point in time that the little bat came fluttering in. At first, Aiko had to keep herself from squeaking and darting away. Bats were nasty creatures, vile and riddled with disease. But as her eyes came to focus on this fluttering creature, she realized that this one was much different. Not vile, but alluring. As she calmed herself and took a deep breath to keep herself from running back into the dark, winding halls, the little creature settled itself on the silent woman's shoulder, and another voice entered her head. Her eyes widened when she realized it wasn't Zolykar, and a part of her wanted to fight the voice that had intruded upon her thoughts. But the dragon sent her another small wave of comfort, letting her know that it was alright – this was what Merrik brought them here for. Mentally, she leaned on him, and he allowed himself to be the source of her strength. Together, they listened to what the woman's voice had to say.

When a cup reached her, Aiko looked down at the dark, dingy fluid. Was this really what Merrik wanted them to do? Drink a potion in a strange old temple with a strange old woman the only one there to guard them? She was hesitant at this, even as Reverie drank the moment she got her own cup. Aiko watched as the young woman's body went limp and fell to her side, eyes widening fearfully.

Unwilling to trust the woman, she placed her cup on the ground and looked at Merrik, who was still awake. "H-how can I be sure to know where I am going? There is no guidance here…how do I know it won't just kill me?" Her tone was hushed, but her voice shook. She knew, at the end of the day, that her leader would not steer her wrong – as she had gathered that much from him so far. But it was only his words that she would trust. Not the words in her head from some strange, dark-skinned woman and a silver bat.

[/dash]

 

[Requiem]

[fieldbox=Kona Petl, teal]Requiem cringed at hearing the time they had to be up. He'd always hated mornings, but he expected that even if he didn't, four in the morning was incredibly unreasonable. Still, he reasoned, they needed the practice. He shot Aleria a weary glance and a nod of affirmation. They did have to do it.

When the man asked if they had any other questions, the Pirate wracked his brain. He wasn't really the sort to ask questions, preferring to observe and attempt to understand the situation from what he could recognise. The others had asked the obvious and important questions, so as far as he could tell there wasn't anything of great value that could be learned from questioning. Still, there was one thing that bothered him. He'd heard the phrase 'Until breaking' used repeatedly, but nobody had covered what exactly would be happening.

"I have one question." He began, turning to face the man properly, "As far as our physical training goes, what exactly will that be encompassing? I would like to continue my combat routines, and I feel like some of us could use additional sparring practice as well." He said, not indicating who, though it was fairly obvious those he meant, as he and Goliath stood apart fairly clearly.

He paused for only the briefest of moments as another passed through his mind. "Actually, I have two questions. The second being, when we first arrived, you said there was expansive knowledge here. If part of the process for succeeding is mastering our personal bonds, will we be granted access to the information already known of our bonded abilities?" He asked.[/fieldbox]

 

[firejay1]

Kona Petl

So they'd be going it alone, huh? Since bonding with Agni, Narien had never been farther than the other side of the field from her. They had never really had the opportunity to be much farther apart, and honestly he wasn't really sure what he felt about that. It wasn't discomfort, anger, apprehension, or even excitement. It was almost a... cheerful calm. An unsurprised, "back to the way things were" feeling. Plus, it was a chance to be himself again. No one watching, no one to play the child for. Just yourself, your wits, and death waiting around the corner. He was almost happy about it, in a weird way. Clearly, they were also being "strongly encouraged" not to stay overnight, which was about as much as he had expected. Other than that, Narien's main question left was, when would they start? Sunrise was long past 4 am, they were already getting a late start, but he stood silent and waited, listening attentively.

When Requiem spoke, Narien didn't divert his attention from the monk, waiting for the answer to the two very valid questions the pirate had asked, not even the slightest flicker in his slightly anxious expression, but his thoughts were scalding. He was perfectly aware of whom Requiem meant by "some of us." Well well, it appears my pristine estimation of others' characters has not blunted. A cocky little shit did indeed enter our midst the day that pirate arrived. In a spar, we would likely be evenly matched, and he would far sooner fall prey to being murdered in his bed than I. Yet he puffs his feathers like a peacock, flaunting what abilities he has as one above the rest. Replete with his arrogance and bereft of discretion, what a life this man must have led. While Narien had not sparred with many in the Order, he had not had much of an opinion about it. Now, however, he was determined never to do it with Requiem. If they wanted him to spar with Goliath or even this oddly-skinned female, he would do so properly. He wanted practice as much as Requiem, and didn't mind whatever difference in ability there might be. But hearing the thinly-veiled judgment placing the pirate on the same level as the strong and seasoned warrior, he quite suddenly felt that he would rather be beat senseless and openly humiliated than reveal his full abilities in front of this man.

Narien... Agni warned through their bond.

Do not place me on his level. He snapped at her, even though his face remained unconcerned. I am not fool enough to pursue a fight over my pride. But his admonishment was unnecessary. His soul mate simply wrapped her presence around him through their bond, eroding his contempt and irritation. She was good at that. It took little time for him to add, I am sorry. It was not my intention to place blame upon you.

She responded with nothing more than a comfortable feeling, and a simple, Just don't do something stupid without me to stop you.

Has it ever been in your power to stop me from doing "something stupid" as you say? He teased back lightly, locking the grudge away in a deeper part of his brain for now. Now that his head was a little clearer, he found himself oddly grateful that Sairantha had not been placed in their group. He had spent the most time with her, of late, and by now he believed there were times she could perhaps read him a little. She had sharp eyes, he had to keep his calm more. He hadn't let anything slip in his expression or body language this time, but if or when he did she was the last person he wanted to be present, as she was also the most likely to notice it. Regardless, after the monk answered these questions, he hoped they would be off. He was eager to start. They only had a week, and that was the most important thing.

 

[White]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Rev, are you there?" A kind smile, a gentle touch on her arm, welcomed Reverie as her eyes slowly opened. Caring, compassionate, feminine eyes looked into hers. Her eyes, as blue as a fresh breeze of the ocean, the same blue as her own left eye. Smiling, Reverie replied: "I'm sorry… I'm just..." [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]The girl laughed heartedly. "It is okay Reverie." she gleamed. "I am just glad that you are coming with me… really am. I was so worried sick that you would stay there… back home… I am worried sick for our parents. The plague…. I just feel like it is much larger than everything they expect…" Her eyes slowly moved downwards, sad, the smile disappearing. Reverie reached for her hand, carefully, calm and squeezed. "Thank you…"[/BCOLOR]


[BCOLOR=transparent]The void, looming, I stand staring at it here from a far distance wondering... is it to consume me one day? Or will I watch to bear it consume everything else, everything I love around me? Everyday I run, everyday a defeat, everyday I lose something. Everyday, all that I can do is nothing but to watch it consume more of me, this black and white....[/BCOLOR]


[BCOLOR=transparent]"Reverie?!" The girl asked, panicked as Reverie's eyes widened in shock. "Reverie… Are you alright, say something!" [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"I think so…" The dragon tamer replied, struggling with a leering emptiness, an emptiness, a void that consumed something... "You… are you certain??" The girl's eyes worriedly scanned Reverie's face for any hints to her wellbeing. "Just… just to be sure… do you… remember my wedding? Do you… remember where we are going?" The girl's firm voice inquired, distinctively concerned for Reverie's wellbeing. The tamer could do naught but stare, unable to speak, at the woman, her thoughts in utter turmoil. She knew… but she did not.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"Do you even remember me, still?"[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Reverie's eyes drifted away, unable to keep the eye contact. "I don't" She admitted in defeat to those feelings of information slipping away. Neither spoke. Minutes felt like hours as they passed, then like years. Finally, Reverie's eyes returned to look, to her sister that she knew she once loved, a feeling so far away, as if from a million millenias far away… only to watch her fall into an agonizing dust. "In the end, it is all my fault, is it not? You were all stronger, more capable than me. I should have died, I should have let him kill me… I deserve to die… I want to die…"[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Tears run down her cheeks, her hands clutching her face tightly as it all went silent and everything went dark.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]What do I live on living in with things like this? Guilty as I am, the kinslayer, murderer of the ones she loves. And the void, I can't help but to think, that it is my deserved punishment. Is it not there to make me suffer for who and what I am? For the lives that were so much more important than my own, that I have taken? Remember, I need to remember... I want to remember… but I can't... Their faces, their flesh... only their bones… their bones. It hurts. Somebody… please help me...[/BCOLOR]

 

[Rainjay]

Kona Petl​

Not long after Illyria herself offered her greeting to Koruba, Goliath approached and offered his, one hand outstretched in a pleasantry that she hadn't thought to offer. But it went ignored as Koruba welcomed them and instead bowed deeply before them, smiling all the while. The formality of it alarmed her, as did his immediate veneration of their dragon companions, gazing upon the four drakes as though they were the most precious of gems--no, significantly better. Though, hadn't she done the same upon meeting her bondmate? Thinking that, his response wasn't particularly odd at all. The reverence he put into his words, however, was still jarring; she had never before heard a person speak in such a way.

"...And the mighty winged gods of the sky. Hezekiah, Mirazh, Aleria, and Agni. These grounds rejoice in your presence. The sky breathes bliss upon the rolling hills that once housed your ancestors. Make no mistake, oh ancient ones, this sacred shrine is yours, these hills, this earth, and all that you see, is yours."

I like that. Mirazh's voice filled Illyria's mind, practically purring with a surprising contentment that only grew as they began to pass through the village proper. It was beautiful in a quaint way, not particularly extravagant or ornate, but simplistic and exuding peace. The colors of the houses and flowers dotting the streets were bold and bright, but looked entirely natural in appearance, unlike the constructed nature of the gardens at her home in Arinar. The people mirrored the nature of the village, dressed similarly to each other and largely with the same colored hair. As the group passed, they each bowed as Koruba had done. Despite the serenity of the town, it made Illyria uncomfortable. Mirazh, too, found the bowing and their guide's poetic language a bit incessant, but was beaming with appreciation nonetheless.

The shrine they visited next offered Illyria the respite she had been looking for. Behind those tall walls was an equally peaceful courtyard--though thankfully empty of the bowing citizens from the village--decorated with a pond and various trees. From several hung strange orbs, nests she quickly realized, with adjacent piles of grass beside them. Bedding for the dragons, she supposed. Koruba confirmed her thoughts, before leaving without much further explanation.

Do you not like it here? Mirazh questioned as he curled up in one of the grassy nests, the mere sight of a bed, any kind of bed, quickly ushering in exhaustion. There must be much to explore and learn in this village. It sounds like something you would be excited about.

It is exciting, she replied as she stood at by the hanging orb and pondered how she was to climb into it. Also very strange. I wish they would quit with the bowing and all. I feel as though if I were to talk to any of them, I would have to dig through all the grandeur and obsession to get to any useful information. I guess it's fitting that we're here for mana.

Mirazh snorted softly as he closed his eyes. It's not obsession, Illyria. They are a spiritual people who have not seen dragons in these lands for lifetimes. It must be like a blessing to them.

I guess, she said after a few moments of thought. She had managed to clamber into the nest, finding it's interior odd due to the spherical shape of the thing, but altogether not uncomfortable. It's still weird though.

Get used to it. A lot of people see the return of the dragons in this way. I thought you understood that.

She had to admit that she did, but couldn't deny how strange it felt to live it firsthand. Strange, and overbearing. No wonder Merrik always looked so strained. It was going to be a long war, she thought as she shifted into a comfortable position, lethargy dragging her into sleep.

--⌖⌘⌖--
​

Today, after a breakfast that left much to be desired, they entered the shrine before Koruba to finally learn of how their training would go. Illyria, refreshed after sleep and much more at ease in the shrine than she had been in the village, listened diligently, eager to get on with it. The longer they stood here listening to Koruba's explanation, the less time they could spent training. As they grew aware of the task at hand, her impatience only grew; such a feat would take time. A lot of time. And to think that they only had a week! But surely it was possible. They wouldn't have been set up for failure... Though as she contemplated it, the task before them seemed more and more daunting.

If that sounds daunting, wait until we go on some real adventures, little treasure of mine. I imagine a true quest for knowledge and exploration is very tasking indeed! Crossing great barren wastes, trudging through miles of sand to uncover mysteries long lost to time and the howling of the winds, covering your face during great sandstorms and from the blazing sun...

Mirazh, she turned her head slightly to give the pale dragon a stern look, I'm listening.

... The hunt for water and food alone is grand, but once you find the treasure you seek--

Or, I was. She rolled her eyes, turning towards the boy, Narien, was now asking his questions to Koruba. Either he had a natural stutter, was extremely nervous (for reasons she couldn't quite discern), or there was something broken about him. Something very broken. Though she had to give him some merit, he had good questions to ask, one she hadn't thought of herself, and didn't seem altogether a reckless or incapable individual. Beside Goliath, who stepped up beside him and then asked his own questions, he however seemed small and timid. But some part of her believed Narien would have an easier time getting through to the elixir than the latter man. She wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was stereotyping. Goliath seemed so... not mana.

I thought you said you were listening, not thinking about men. You get off topic easily.

I was listening. To these men. They have some important things to say.

Mirazh sighed, releasing a soft huff of warm air from his nose. He shuffled his paws and fell silent, retreating into his own private musings. After a few moments, Illyria continued, Another time, Mirazh, I would love to listen. But right now--

I know.

She sighed herself, tuning back into the conversation at hand as Koruba was beginning to answer their questions. They were to wake at 4 AM--which meant that any attempt she was to make at accomplishing this feat must end at a time appropriate enough to get ample sleep before the following day's training--and travel alone, without their dragons or other companions. She wasn't worried about going it alone. Nor was she of traveling so distanced from her dragon. But she didn't quite desire collapsing on a dusty road somewhere from exhaustion.

Nor did she really see where mana came into play at all. Would it energize them enough to continue? Would they use it to fight their obstacles? She had so many questions: but she decided there would be no good in asking these questions to Koruba. She would figure it out on the road.

"Are we going to begin this training today, then?" she asked, rubbing her thumb over the pendant hanging from her neck before crossing her arms. "Time's a-wasting!"​

 

[Silver]

[dash= plum] Forgotten Isles
Bond Training with the Seer
Reverie, Aislin, Aiko, Aris & Merrik

Entering the Dream Realm[/dash]​

[dash= plum]

Aislin paused for just a moment, as fear spiked a bit at her. She'd been to the realm of dreams before, but never alone, would it be different than normal? However the fear was outweighed by the curiosity and then the rush of excitement as her tongue darted out and licked at her bottom lip nervously. Yumirus soft voice filled into her mind as Aislin lifted the black cup to her lips and drank. The cup clattered to the ground as Aislins body fell backwards, eyes closed, the last thing she heard of this world was her soulmate wishing her a safe trip.

As she fell to the floor, Aislins mind kept falling, surrounding by a swirl of colors that looked like the sunrise and the sunset had met, clashed, then blended. It passed by. Faster. Faster. Faster. Around her was a whirl of motion as she fell headfirst down into an abyss of colors. Then just as suddenly, she was falling the other way, feet first. Then sideways, right first, then left. Then she was spinning and spinning, and spinning some more. For the first time in Aislins life, she felt sick by the blur of motion.

Then, she was on the ground, standing in a field as if nothing had ever happened. The woman blinked as she fell down to her knees, head still spinning. Her lips moved, but no sound came from them as she looked around. What had she said? She couldn't recall. Aislin looked around, the grassy field she had landed in was quiet, serene, moving just lightly as if the wind where brushing through it, yet no breeze stirred her hair. Sun drifted overhead in a soft warmth. The woman blinked. The grass was blue. Her hand moved over it, finding it almost cool to the touch. How peculiar.

Even before the thought finished, the grass wasn't grass anymore and Aislin wasn't standing on solid ground. She was sinking, and the grass turned to water with a splash. The light turned grey, lightening forked as her head bobbed under the water with a couple of bubbles. The woman floundered, kicking and beating at the water as her head broke the surface with a gasp. She looked around. The water was violet. The surf and foam lavender in color. She looked around as she tread the water, a wave came down over her head, sending her under again before she surfaced once more. She was in a sea. Or she thought she was at sea, she'd never actually seen a sea before. The woman, gasping again looked around before she spotted what must've been a land mass and she began to swim towards it, fighting with the slowly raging ocean. The further she swam, the more the ocean raged.

When she was finally able to pull herself from the water, the wind had her chilled in moments and she found herself huddling against the cold on the rocky surface. But for now, she was safe. Or so she thought. The stone beneath her shifted, rumbling a bit as she grabbed at the slick surface, and then it was shooting upwards as a soundless shriek pulled from AIslin's lips. A geyser of water jettisoning it up and up and up. Then she was in the sky and from both sides of the rock, bird like wings unfurled and beat at the now warm air, light the color of stars washed over her, drying and warming her wet flesh. Aislin blinked, looking down at herself, just not noting that her flesh was bare of any form of clothing.

The stone beneath her shifted again, and then it was stretching and forming, Aislin grabbing at it afraid of falling from the height she now found herself at. The stone beneath her eventually took a form that was vaguely familiar, it almost looked like Yumiru with a similar coloration and a great mane of silver. But it was not, the hair at the back of her neck rose as the creature turned to face her. Where a dragon's face would be, only a skull remained, the mouth stretched out in a mocking grin. The tamer again feeling a sense of nausea returning as she looked at creatures face. Where the eyeholes where, pearls stood locked within the sockets. Then it reared back and went into a break neck dive down, again that same swirl of colors raced around her. Like the sunrise had met the sunset.

Then the skull faced dragon was gone and Aislin was racing towards the ground, the colors fading away as the blue grass raced up to meet her, no break between her in the ground. She was going to hit it! Then a foreign sensation pulled at her shoulder blades and a gust of wind hit her face and she was flying backwards. Aislin blinked then the familiar sound of a wing beat reached her ears. Turning, the woman blinked once again, feathered wings, the same coloration as Yumiru where affixed to her back, they even had the same golden glimmer. As she looked at them, she felt the fear ebb away. They radiated a soft warm light. Aislin turned and willed herself forward, coasting along in the air now with her new wings before she found a spot to land. As her feet touched the ground, the wings disappeared, turning into a cloud of glimmering gold particles before it was whisked away in the breeze. Aislin had entered the dream realm.[/dash]

 

[Soulserenity20]

The Forgotten Isles

Merrik looked to Aiko, lowering the simple cup from his lips, for he had been about to take his own journey. He gave her a look of assurance, for he understood her discomfort and distrust. The world was filled of things that wished to hurt her, him, and everyone else. It was full of liars, dangers, and deception. She was right to be uncertain, most especially in such an unfamiliar situation after having entered into an unfamiliar new life path. He knew he could never truly console her, for he, too, was a stranger. But he spoke with kindness and confidence. "You can be sure you are journeying into the one place you should be able to feel safe in this world: your bond. Take refuge in it, and if you face adversary in its realm, then bear the courage to defeat those evils and reclaim the safe space that belongs only to you and Zolykar. Find courage in knowing that the bonded realm into which you travel, no matter what it ends up being, is your domain, shared only by your soulmate. Your guidance will come only from your soul's eternal desire to be whole and untainted. You are here to work towards purifying that which connects you to Zolykar, by facing that which divides you. I can promise you it won't kill you, though I understand that, at this point, my word is worth little more than a stranger's. But if you can trust in your drake, I hope you might find trust for me within his own feelings and memories. After all, the greatest danger to you lies within your bonded realm, as it stands. Correct the danger before it grows too great to overcome, Aiko. Through this, you will grow past all ties that bind you to the past, to weakness, and to fear. Through this, you will grow."

He offered another look of encouragement and a nod, before downing the substance in his own cup and closing his eyes. He did not fall over when his own realm consumed him, for he had a stable meditative posture. Yet, while he looked in control and coherent, he was far gone from the physical world that surrounded his body in mere minutes.

It began like a dream; a dream most pleasant and filled with fond memories.

Like a gentle mist settling into a quiet landscape, the realm of Merrik's bond began to seep into his mind until it veiled his consciousness entirely. The darkness of his closed eyes began to give way to a vision most welcoming. All around him the sight of an evening, pine forest game into view, the scent of the old trees, mighty and tall, wafted into his nose, drawing him into the world more swiftly, as the scent fooled his strongest sense. The sky was a deep, yet soft, shade of blue, blending into the pale purples and yellows that seeped into the horizon. He knew this to be sunset, the most beautiful time of day. The forest that surrounded him was filled with mighty, ancient pines, their heavy boughs cloaked in a deep, vibrant green that seemed to glow with the thriving life within the mighty giants. The earth was a deep, red-brown tone and was lightly doused with ferns and deep-wood shrubbery. The sound of wildlife bustling about entered into his ears, and as the winds blew, they sang quiet, olden tales, whispering the legends into his ears. Merrik closed his eyes and took in the peace, the serenity, that washed over him and immediately felt a sense of familiarity in the feeling.

The calmness he found in this world was synonymous with the calmness his bond-mate offered him each time they opened their hearts, minds, and souls to each other in private exchange. Safety, security, peace, and a perfect harmony with the world around him: these were the things that flowed freely from the bond they shared. All the emotions that flowed within him were ones he felt from within his bond with Obsidian Nova, but the most significant feeling he felt was an acceptance, and a calmness, with his solitude in the open world that surrounded him. This was something drawn directly from reality, and Merrik recognized it fondly; the most significant benefit he gained from his bond with Nova was the perfect peace he made with his solitude in the world. He stood alone as the sole living dragon tamer in Illos for most of his life. It was lonely, difficult, and alienating. But Obsidian Nova had always counterbalanced these feelings of dismay and brought about a peaceful congruence with Merrik's reality and the world around him.

For some time, Merrik simply wandered about the woods, claiming refuge in the beautiful world the surrounded him, embodying the perfect entity that was his bond. But as time passed, he would stumble across a small cottage, built of pale white stone, which stirred up a level of discomfort within him. The structure was unfamiliar, and foreign in this place. It was not welcoming, nor was it at home in the peaceful landscape that surrounded it. For some time, he refused to venture within, unsure of how he would deal with what lay behind the wooden door. It wasn't until he saw a familiar green light that he was forced to push forward, concerned for the safety of a dear friend that no doubt had found his way into a place he did not belong.

 

[Soulserenity20]

Kona Petl

Koruba turned to Requiem and listened intently as he spoke. One question turned into two and eventually the fiery man spoke, tugging on the rope that bound his flowing pants to his waist. "The physical training will be exactly as it sounds. Running, lifting, throwing, pushing, pulling, jumping, crawling. You'll be tested the first day -- today, that is -- so I can get an idea of what will be needed to break you down, but after that it'll be up to you to complete the training program each morning. You will depart exhausted, struggling to walk, and begin your journey to grow mentally. You may wish to continue your other combat routines, but this is not about combat by fist and foot, rather by mind. My job is not to train your body as your commander does. In regard to your second question: I wish to say no at this time. You are not here for reading and learning. It is to my knowledge that you have a war to fight in less than two weeks. I suggest you spend less time worrying about libraries and more time worrying about survival, my boy! You can return when your burden of duty lightens." He clapped Requiem firmly on the shoulder then, though his attention was quickly drawn to Illyria.

"Now that's the spirit! Let's get moving and see what you all can do!"

After some time, they would find themselves in front of a large obstacle course within the Dojo's property. Koruba had instructed each of them to display their strength, speed, agility, and power. Each was to jump as far as physically possible, then as high as possible. Each was to sprint 100m as fast as possible, lift as much weight as possible, run for as long as possible. Other tasks were presented. They were asked to throw heavy weights as far as they could and when faced with a tricky, wooden wall with a slight few handholds on it, they were asked to climb as high as they could. The last test was one of agility and they were pushed into a ring where they were pelted with small bags filled with grain and measured on how many they could avoid, the difficulty increasing as more of the monks came and joined in at throwing the projectiles at them.

Koruba had given them no indication of an order in which to do the obstacle course, rather allowed them to approach it as they would. Standing back, he began taking notes of their strengths and abilities.

PLEASE COMPLETE:
-Weight lift (max. weight)
-Weight throw (max. weight/distance)
-Weight distance pull (either 100lbs or 200lbs)
-Long jump (max. distance)
-High jump (max. height)
-Wall Scale (max. height out of 50ft)
-100m Sprint (max. speed/time)
-Endurance run (max. time)
-Agility defense ring (max. time)