Return of the Dragon Tamers: The Plague of Ogual

Soulserenity20 · May 24, 2014

[btn=modc|https://www.iwakuroleplay.com/threads/return-of-the-dragon-tamers-the-plague-of-ogual-ooc.52827/]OOC[/btn][btn=modc|http://www.soulroleplays.com/]Information Site[/btn][btn=modc|https://www.iwakuroleplay.com/threads/micro-return-of-the-dragon-tamers-courting-thread.154410/]Courting Thread[/btn]

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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]

White · Jan 22, 2017

Or so she thought... Two came crush-slithering down towards her and she felt strong hands grab her shoulder that pulled her back behind a line of troops. How naive of her to think, this weakened state would not be made use of by the enemies. She reliefed herself from the armor covering her legs and immedietly requested to be helped up onto Celestes back; not only the safest place, but also one from which she could still act, a place where the weakness in her legs would not matter.

Carefully, her eyes followed the line of troops and with a satisfied smile, she could tell that everybody was significantly calmer. Troops made gone mad were disposed of quickly, the acting commander, lieutenants and officer seem to have quickly reorganized the lines quickly, at least for the Queen's troops. The King's troops were less organized, they seem to have issues with adapting to a quickly changing situation and the sudden calmness that wrapped itself around their hearts like a loving mother...
No suprise, knowing that the Queen's men were born soldier, so to speak, while the King's men had lost battles and no thought was given by them for this possiblity of an underground ambush.

In a way, Reverie felt as if they all were her children, in an odd way. Maybe it is what the calming and soothing does, maybe it is just a thinking, a feeling she gained in the past days of battles or on those mornings she visited the wounded, held their hends, calmed their hearts and gave them courage when they themself had their doubt... her hands slid to the hilt of the sword, she had her doubts that any of her arrows that she was so used to using would make a difference and the sword slid out of it's sheathe and found itself in her grip.
Without a thought she wrapped the purification around it, it never could be too little for it would be wasted then and it could never be too much, for it would drain her too quickly. She practised this in the days prior to this, before the flames of war begun to rage. Holding the sword, it seemed as if light and dark itself was drawn into it and soldiers that could afford the time to see it, saw it with awe.
To her, it felt as if the bond between her and Celeste reached a point of unity, a kind of perfection, a fleeting perfection as both knew, this was not something they could make use of for forever.
Together as one, Celeste jumped and crushed towards one of the slithering traumas that had attempted to strike her earlier. With fire and sword it would burn and a slash right through it made it wither, shrink, as if absorbed, cleansed and purified by the sword itself, which only served to make the duo turn to rush to the next...

Afterall, she had to help her companions, her "children" and fight for a future, to fight so the suffering of Otamur will never repeat, so Terria could watch at them with Pride from the heavens and the blade seemed to shine brighter than before, as if her wish, her purpose, gave a strength that nobody else could bear.

Soulserenity20 · Jan 22, 2017

Goliath v. Challenging Opponent, Strength (Mana Block)

Strength Base Roll: 14

Armed (Ranged) Spear : +1
Mana - Bonded : +2
Mana Stamina : +1
Valor : +1

14 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 9 Required Success Roll

firejay1 · Jan 29, 2017

Illos was doomed. She punched him. Correction: The Venerated Queen Valaeria Euramil of Calidar, Head of State of Encilis, Sovereign of the Wealthiest Lands in Illos had just PUNCHED King Norvik Feum of Sylvis in the face in a fit of rage. Ogual didn't have to do anything. If he just sat around and waited, Illos would fall to pieces on its own with the leader of one third of the continent unable to keep her head long enough to remain diplomatic, and the ruler of another third of the land too busy being a sniveling coward to say anything back. And he'd had front row seats. Narien wanted to laugh. He REALLY wanted to laugh. He was not going back to Calidar after this whole mess was over - if they got out of this alive. Agni shuffled her wings in displeasure. He wanted to laugh because it was validation of the futility of what they were doing. It was Solona all over again: even without Ogual, the world wasn't salvageable.

After night had fallen in the initial day of fighting, Narien and Agni had fallen back and immediately set to work helping with healing. Although Avren had only taught Narien a little healing mana, his limited knowledge could help support those with smaller injuries, leaving the bigger problems to the more experienced healers. Narien had been quite intentionally conserving his mana during the fighting. He had come out very tired and with several cuts here and there, but his strategy of hit-and-run had left him with fewer injuries than he suspected other people may have gotten. Even having refused armor for the most part, he was well off. He had to do what he could, and Agni's near-endless supply of mana came in handy here. She had been impatiently staying with Dalaith and A'untyr for much of the fighting, and was nowhere near as tired and injured as the others as well.

This cycle of fight in the day, heal in the night, continued over the next five days, the two of them catching little sleep. Agni started fighting more actively in following days, and was tiring more and more quickly, but her human seemed full of life. Her exhaustion tempered his excitement, and his excitement tempered her exhaustion. This was all very good and well in the context of the war, but it continued to upset her just as it had on the very first day. It upset her even as they crawled through the tunnels carefully.

The tunnels were worrisome. Although Narien did not seem particularly pleased or displeased by this turn of events, the thoughts whizzing through his head told Agni that the tunnels had changed dynamics slightly. Having to divide their forces meant they were weaker. Ogual's forces could all come pouring out of each avenue equally divided... or they could concentrate their force on one entrance and sweep back to destroy the army from one area. Her tamer was also doubtful that having Nova squeeze deep into these dark tunnels was quite wise. He would be a far less effective force here, cramped as he was.

A thunderous explosion deafened their Vanity dragon and forced them into a space that quite quickly became something of a death trap. Yep. This had definitely been a bad idea. No matter, though. "Watch for burns!" Merrik yelled, as the first of the rune-men attacked. Narien was a close-ranged fighter and did not wear a lot of armor. He fought best when it came to physical fights and speed attacks. He hadn't been right up front, but as he moved closer to the middle, to avoid being too close to the walls, he got a split second view of Pamona's sword bouncing off one rune-man. "Merrik, I haven't learned much magic yet…" He heard her cry. Tough break.

His knives and rope were useless in this situation, and it was about time he started using his mana to fight instead. He wasn't sure if fighting fire with fire was actually a good idea or not, but it was one of those things you had to try. But first: Drawing on his bonded mana with Agni, he reached out to the closest rune-man. It was unlike how he'd used his bonded mana before. When they'd practiced previously, all his focus and concentration had been on their bond and the mana he was trying to use. He simply couldn't afford to close his eyes and concentrate this time, however, and Agni felt the difference. It was a strange sort of confident ease with which he pulled their bond into use, and the strange, harried comfort helped the mana flow. Their bonded mana crashed into the nearest rune-creature. It was fueled by mana, clearly, but if that mana was finite, there was a chance they could extinguish it. He wrapped their mana hard around the creature, hoping that it would cause the rune-man to sputter out, or at the very least falter and weaken, maybe enough for them to get a truly substantial hit in.

Soulserenity20 · Jan 29, 2017

Merrik X Pomona

[dscroll]
Merrik turned to respond to the warrior at his side, but before he could say anything a strong crack sounded as a burning limb collided with his back, sending him crashing to the floor, his armor searing with heat. "Damnit!" He cursed under his breath, annoyed with the sweltering heat that flooded his torso.

As quickly as he could, he willed a shield of his dark mana above him to cover his back while he drew moisture from the air to cool the steel of his back plate. Getting back onto his feet, he grinned at Pomona. "Perhaps teamwork will serve us best." He snapped open his hand and directed the dark mana from the shield behind him to wrap around Pomona's blade, mirroring the state of his own. His water mana had no effect on the fiery beings but his dark mana served to strengthen the blow of his sword, allowing him to damage the beings. However, he had yet to hack through one of their limbs.

"Nova!" He called out loud. "We need your might!" The dragon roared and began to push his way across the room - a short trip. Merrik looked to Pomona as he deflected another blow from the unsettling figures. They were so tall they often struck directly down at Merrik's head, urging him to put all his strength into an upward block. "Pomona, if we work together, we can direct them to Nova. We'll topple them and let him tear them apart."

Nova growled as he swatted one of the figures powerfully with a dark hand, sending the thing flying into the wall where it collapsed like a pile of burning sticks. It didn't take long for it to rise again. "They do not burn me, Merrik. My scales are too thick for their unnatural fires." As another came leaping through the air at Nova, he reared up and snapped his jaws around it, severing the thing in two. It wasn't difficult to see the elder drake was enjoying himself. The action brought a smile to Merrik's lips.

Grinning at Pomona, he nodded. "Let's go." He turned and began running at one of the beings that lumbered towards him. "Go low!" He shouted.

[BCOLOR=transparent]As Merrik spoke to her, Pomona found herself raising her blade directly above her in an effort to block another long-limbed attack swooping down towards her head. With the effort of the blow, she had just barely managed to keep the other end of the sword from cutting into her scalp. Once she pushed the creature back, she watched as Merrik's dark mana surrounded and empowered her steel, immediately using it with a mighty cry at the strange beast. While her blade didn't bounce back at it, it also did only slightly more damage than before. The beast was not taken aback by this, instead pursuing her harder.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]With the roar of Nova came a pitiful wail of Katla, who still lie ahead of the group with her head covered by her talons. Pomona turned to look at the dark drake as he slammed one creature against a wall almost effortlessly. Her gaze turned to Merrik as he spoke, and after a second of thought and a quick dodge from another blow of the creature whose attention was on her, she gave a quick nod, "Very well, let's get these things to him!"[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Another arm came swinging down at her, and Pomona did a rolling dodge out of the way, managing her way behind the creature and lifting herself up. It wasn't the most graceful of transitions, but she made it work. Before the creature could process what had happened, she swung her sword at its back, forcing it tumbling forward - and straight for Obsidian Nova. "Nova, get it while it's disoriented!"[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]She gave a laugh, now almost unaware of the tunnel surrounding her. This joy from battle eased Katla's nerves, and she had finally stopped whimpering, despite the fact that she still refrained from moving from that s[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]pot.[/BCOLOR]

Nova let out a low grumble, having felt the sting of guilt from harming little Katla's already sensitive hearing with his roaring. He he did, he tensed his muscles, coiling back, before pouncing forward into the air in a graceful manner that seemed unbefitting for a dragon of his size. He came down, hands first, onto the fiery figure as it stumbled back and crushed it to a pile on the ground before snapped its limbs off one by one. Merrik laughed and continued his dance with Pomona and the rune-men.

He turned and dove out of the way as another of the gangly foes swung a long arm at him, deflecting the blow with his sword as he spun around, out of the way. He recollected his footing and whipped his sword around to connect with the knee joint of the being, buckling its leg in the process. He reversed his spin, cracked out the other side, and as the beast fell to its knees, Merrik pushed with all his might, shoving it forward into Nova's waiting maw. He quickly drew on the moisture in the air to cool hi hands as his gloves threatened to ignite under the magical flames that encased the beings.

Before he could turn around again, a heavy weight struck him flat across the back and as he fell forward, another of the figures came out of nowhere and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backward in a world of pain. Landing heavily on the ground, the air escaped him and struggled to return. Before he could get back up, another of the things, or maybe the same one that hit him initially, swung its long leg and connected with his side, sending him rolling across the ground in pain, his metal armor clanging on the old stone floors.

He cringed with pain, the damn things sure packed a punch. Two of the beings descended upon him before he could get his bearings and prepared for what looked like a match of Hideball.

[BCOLOR=transparent]At this moment, Pomona was able to take just a small breath and regain awareness of her surroundings. While she did her best not to notice the fact that she was trapped underground with extremely hot, dangerous creatures that were almost impossible to kill - perhaps completely impossible without the help of a dragon - she was able to notice the bounce of Aislin's arrow from a nearby wall and the others scattered about. There seemed to only be seven left by now, almost a small enough amount for one per tamer.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]At this point, the warrior heard the sound of Merrik's breath being knocked from him. She whirled around just in time to find two creatures kicking him in the sides before a hot arm struck her square in the chest, sending her flying into the opposite wall. She felt her trusted blade slip from her fingers as her head slammed against the stone and cracking back forward like a whip. Letting out a moan of pain as she slid to the ground, her thoughts reached out to her dragoness, pleading with her to get up.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]~Katla…~[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Though still riddled with pain in her sensitive ears, the amethyst creature forced her eyes to open and look at the glowing creature now raising its long arms to slam over her tamer. Her armor still glowed with heat from where she had been struck, and she seemed almost completely motionless in a heap on the stone floor, her sword at least five feet away from her.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The dragoness let out a growl, and though she could not hear anything above the ringing in her ears, she used her eyes to aim herself. Though slightly disoriented, she managed to leap towards the creature and knock it back from her tamer. Like Nova, the heat did not seem to really affect her, and she kept her sensitive wounds away from the heat of the monstrosities around her.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]~Merrik...get to Merrik!~[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Katla took a very brief moment to let the message sink in, using her eyes to search for the leader of the Order. He, too, lay in a heap, but instead of only one creature over him, there were two. She gave what she had hoped would be a mighty roar, which made her ears sting and ring further, and made a small hop towards the man, snapping her maw around the side of one of the creatures and lifting it, swinging side to side and knocking the other sideways towards Nova. With great anger, she put the beast on the ground, though not loosening her maw, and using the weight of her talons to tear it into three separate pieces.[/BCOLOR]

Nova turned then to behold the younger dragoness defending his soulmate and nodded towards her, huffing a dancing flame in honorable thanks before turning to return the favor. The duo and their tamers pushed on, working together with the other tamers to defeat the eerie, fiery beings as they pushed farther and farther into the tunnels.
[/dscroll]

The parties worked tirelessly as they pushed back the foes from both inside and outside the tunnels. Above ground, the hordes were slaughtered as they poured out of their hiding places at the two entry points and the mana phantoms, formidable though they were, eventually succumbed to the defensive and offensive mana attacks offered up by Goliath and the others. To everyone's great dismay, dozens of soldiers were wounded and many more died at the hands of the unusual and fierce foes they faced. Norvik sustained major injuries that left him in the healing camps for days to follow. Below ground, the warriors toiled onward to clear out any enemies they could find within the tunnels and by night fall, they had nearly succeeded. It was discussed, upon their re-uniting with the others above ground, that they would send a party into the tunnels to scout ahead in search of access to the castle. With Norvik's direction, they were to determine if the path to the King's chambers in the castle of Kuhl was accessible or not.

Meanwhile, the armies would push onward with their battle, forcing their way through the last of the walls over the span of several days and in what felt like too short a time, they stood facing the great gates of the castle courtyard, covered from top to bottom in the black moss-like substance. It had been over two weeks since the start of the battle and the soldiers were weak and tired. The third portion of the corridor had been the most difficult to claim and even harder to maintain as they forced their way into the courtyards of the castle. They now faced the end of their battle and as Valaeria's troops moved swiftly to circle the massive, monument of man, the call of blood eagles pierced the silence of the skies.

Within the courtyard, there were no brutes, no mages, no nothing. There was only silence and empty space halted only by the great, blackened walls of the castle. The ground was speckled with the heavy shadows of the mighty, fallen Lords of the Skies, keeping everyone on their toes. The night before their final assault on the castle, the military heads had met and decided on a plan. The dragons would at last take to the skies and serve out their duties from above, combating the most fearsome foes they had yet to face. Valaeria would take the lead on the ground and with the help of her Shadows, they would enter the castle from the servant's doors and make their way to the Great Hall where they would meet up with the tamers once more and perform a sweep of the castle, removing any and all foes that existed within the dark walls. They knew not what lay in wait within the walls of the old center of Man, but they were prepared to face whatever foe stood between them and their victory.

They stood now, awaiting the Order from Merrik who looked to Valaeria. When the Queen offered confirmation that her men were in position, she took off on her war Xixen with her First Shadow and Obsidian Nova beat down hard with heavy black wings. With the call of his deep roar, the Order followed into the skies and began their attack on the fallen Blood Eagles and their mage riders.

NOTE: Many of the blood eagles are LARGER than your dragons. They are incredibly powerful, do not feel pain, and attack viciously and swiftly. They have powerful talons, they often roll into dives and attempt to pin the dragons onto the ground after a heavy fall under their weight. Their shrieks have mana instilled into them and each shrill call will cause sharp pains for the dragons and tamers alike. Their talons can pierce dragonhide with ease and their beaks will gouge deep. Their riders are powerful mages who will be attacking with balls of raw mana, fire, and an acidic substance that will slowly eat away at dragonhide and steel armor. Anti-mana will work against their mana attacks, but will not stifle the assaults and cries of the blood eagles. There are approximately 12 blood eagles in sight and they will not go down easily. Teamwork is recommended for defeating these foes and collabs are encouraged, however, feel free to post short, one paragraph posts in the IC if you feel that's the best way to attack. ANY AND ALL ROLLS AGAINST THESE FOES WILL BE AN AUTOMATIC SET TO 15. Feel free to roll freely to challenge yourselves into a more creative form of writing for this battle! :). Good luck! We have one week RL to defeat the blood eagles and enter the castle to face the final foe in the fight for Kuhl.

White · Feb 5, 2017

At the end of battle at the tunnels, she felt as if she had not slept for several days, a burning headache fired in her head and before any speeches could be given, Celeste carried her back to their place of rest. It took both of them a while to rest up and a few of the people she had made acquaintances with visited her. Short visits, like she had done to them just days prior.

Celeste and Reverie sustained a few wounds, bruises mostly, a few smaller cuts, going in only to fight that "trauma" in melee and retreating back to maintain the soothing with a couple of arrows for the enemies. If not for Celeste, her body had long given in to the exhaustion of casing mana a bit too exsessively and using mana that is so rich in what it does that it can't be handled well in the way she used it.

Rest would be halted as the call for the last push was made and her, her headache and a reluctant Celeste made their way to meet up with the other tamer. Celeste argued they should remain and continue the rest, 'least till the headache had disappeared. Both concluded that they would not tell the others on Reverie's wish. Weakness was not something they wished to show to an enemy either.

They made sure to fly in the center of formation, it would be safer for Reverie, Celeste decided. It was when the huge eagle creatures showed and flew at them that they knew a new battle would ensue. They were all a bit bigger than Celeste and just as quick, they learned when the battle ensued. Reverie made use of her bow but it required all of her years on the hunt to be able to hit one and the headache absolutely did not help her at all, no no no, it was the opposite, where as she was certain to hit, the arrow deflected and her own battle turned more into a race of dodging, escaping and trying to get the upper hand in the race as to unleash white flames onto them while remaining "at the top" so they could not dive onto them. Celeste cried in pain when one of the eagles managed to thrust it's talons into Celeste and she only narrowly escaped when one came diving down. The worst for them were the mages and they became the primary target for her arrows. Their shrieks, the two found, would have been horrible and be what would have given them the rest... if not for the burning headache, that one pulsed with pain much more so than the shrieks could.

Mowkie · Feb 5, 2017

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[BCOLOR=transparent]Somehow, in some miraculous manner, the group survived the attack within the tunnels with all parts intact. Having been one of the hardest battles Pomona had endured in her life as a sell sword - and certainly the hardest for Katla as well - the energy it had taken left the pair with a dire need for rest and healing the moment they were out of the tunnels. Katla's hearing took almost three days to recover well enough for her to actually hear anything around her, and even then, her ears rang as though a bell was constantly being thrown against a wall in a nearby city. By this time, she and Pomona had volunteered to venture back into the caves and use the still-sensitive hearing of the Vanity Dragon to scout out the tunnels and find a way into the castle. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The tunnels were seemingly endless, but the vibrations that Katla was able to pick up on allowed her to track her way closer and closer to the center of Kuhl, despite not being able to see the city, itself. With her tamer at her side, the dragoness wandered through the dark caves, sending soothing and comforting thoughts Pomona's way throughout the journey. By the end of the day, they were completely unsuccessful in finding a way in, and after much debate between them, the pair decided to turn back and report to Merrik on their findings. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]It was decided then that the dragons would simply have to fight their way into the castle and take it by force.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]On the day of what would be the deciding factor for the fate of Kuhl, neither Pomona nor Katla was at full health. Though she had done quite a bit of healing over the few days of rest, the massive burn beneath Katla's wing was still prominent and made flying a little more difficult than it should have been. Still, she flew in like all of the others, taking to the rear of the formation to catch as much of the currents drifting from the better flyers' wings in order to keep her from working as hard. Pomona sat upon the dragoness's back, her sword in hand and eyes prowling for any foes.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]It didn't take them long to discover the immense force that was to be thrown at them this time. In fact, their fate literally slammed into them with blood-curdling screeches and talons larger and as sharp as many of the dragons. Katla was able to throw her tamer a quick heads up before she, too, was slammed into by one of the soulless creatures. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The blood eagle that had chosen Katla as its prey was nearly twice her size, and its screech sent her spiralling straight into its clutches with a wail of her own. She had only just begun hear normally again, and that was all snatched away with a single cry. Pomona, who had barely learned any mana techniques, quickly found herself at a loss at the powers of the mage, who threw relentless balls of magic and acid at her and her dragon. Though she was able to keep the talons from digging too deeply into Katla's side by slashing a toe almost completely off, she found herself to be almost completely useless.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]~Katla, listen! Push yourself higher, back towards the others. If we can get close enough, maybe we can slam two birds together! Think hard, through the noise. Get Nova's attention, and maybe he can signal to the others that working together might get these birds off us!~[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The pain that seared through the amethyst creature's mind was mildly soothed by the quiet, calm thoughts of her tamer, if only for a moment. This moment was all she needed to gather her wits and send a broadcast to any dragon listening.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]~Everyone! Use their momentum against each other! Trick them...make them hit each other! The swifter dragons should dodge, and those of us who are larger need to use our power to slam the birds against each other. If we do it at the right angle, perhaps we can even knock the mages off!~[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]She could feel the hot red blood seeping from her fresh wounds as well as the pain from her tamer, who was hit in the left leg with the mage's acid ball. With how much she was losing, she would not be able to fly for long...but perhaps just long enough to help the others get the numbers down before working from the ground. Knowing it was a gamble, she let out a screech as loud as the eagles, soon followed by a violent turret of amethyst flame. While she knew that these creatures, just like all others she had fought since the beginning of this battle, felt no pain, she had a hope that she could at least surprise it or the mage atop its back enough to push it back towards the rest of the dragons.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]All either of them could do at this point was keep fighting and pray to whatever gods would actually listen. Pray that they could live another day...[/BCOLOR]
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Soulserenity20 · Feb 9, 2017

Merrik X Narien

[dscroll]There was little time between the ascension of the Order to the pale skies and the assault that ensued at the hand of the enemy. Obsidian Nova scoured the skies, pinpointing and observing each of his opponents, seeing where he would be of the most use. As the Elder drake, he was bound by honor to take on the fiercest and largest of foes in place of the other younger, and smaller dragons. It took little time for him to locate the largest of the fallen Blood Eagles and even less time for him to bolt through the air towards it. He watched as it curled into a dive, shrieking a painful, bellowing call, and swooped into to land an attack on the arcane dragoness.

"Faster, Nova. The skies are thy domain, the wind thy rule." The drake's heart grew warm with a fondness for the line. It was from a book Merrik used to read to him, about a great King Dragon that fought for man and drake alike with no need of a bond or duty to do so.

"My maw will be justice to all and my heart will be the tie that binds all beings together as one. All life is sacred." The dark dragon responded and pushed him wings harder, closing the space between him and the blood eagle as it collided with Agni, nearly decapitating Narien with a lashing talon. Truth be told, he didn't need the honor of the Noble Dragon King to fight for all he was worth in the name of Agni, or any of the other dragons for that matter. Obsidian Nova was a devout defender of his beloved dragonkind and would easily had laid down his life for the sake of any of the younger dragons.

Merrik shot a ball of dark mana at the eyes of the massive blood eagle just as Nova bolted into it's side, digging his own black claws into the beast's wing and tearing it out of the sky, away from Agni and Narien. He snarled and violently tossed the beast downward as it struggled to gain direct in its temporary blindness. Even with all of Nova's strength it was difficult to toss the beast around for it was near 3/4 of his own size, much larger than Agni and the other dragons. It was heavy and powerful, reminding Obsidian Nova of just how careful he needed to be. Then, just as he turned his back, a bolt of sharp mana collided with the dragon's neck, sending piercing pains down the length of his spine. The drake pulled back, returning to where Agni was.

"Care to fight at my side, Agni? We've a formidable opponent with no taste for pain."

Merrik nodded to Narien as he caught his gaze. "How good is your bonded ability?" He almost laughed as he summoned up a growing orb of black flame, readying himself to hurl it at the dark mage as the Eagle prepared for its second assault. The mage was powerful, the blast that had hit Nova did more damage than either would have liked and it was clear they had their work cut out for them.

Agni. Up there!

I see it. The blood eagle swooping down towards them made little effort to hide itself as it flung itself at Narien and Agni. It didn't have to, though, for Agni was significantly smaller than it, and was not the speediest of dragons. She took several large wing beats forward, but the eagle slammed into her all the same. Narien kept his head low, body flat against Agni's back and holding on with both legs and arms. Agni roared in frustration and pain, struggling with the eagle, then the weight was ripped from her and tossed aside. She looked up to see Obsidian Nova and Merrik having come to their rescue.

So that was how collaboration sky-fighting worked, eh? Narien did not want to concede his gratitude, but Agni would admit it readily. A bolt of concern flashed through her, as she saw Nova get hit by the mage's attack, but there was little time to dwell on it. I would gladly fight with you, Agni told him, words steady.

Narien caught Merrik's gaze and his eyebrows lifted slightly as the older dragon tamer seemed about to laugh. "I think it's gotten a little stronger." He called back tentatively. In truth, although their bonded mana had not been as effective as simply crushing the rune man underfoot, their use of it had given Narien confidence that he could use it effectively in a close fight, not to mention the potential to be had in releasing the stored mana into someone else.

Without totally thinking about it, he pushed up his sleeves and began drawing upon their bond, getting ready to put out the first feelers. "What do you want me to do?"

"One of us distracts them while the other delivers an attack, direct attacks will be too difficult, the beasts are damn strong." Merrik did laugh then, feeling like a right ass for asking such a thing of the other man. Distractions were never fun, or particularly safe, but defeating the blood eagle was going to be difficult enough without the added struggle of fending off the mage. Merrik had grown to treat the mages with a fearful reverence, coldly recalling the destruction they had brought at Ylandre. However, he knew that with the mana siphoning ability Agni and Narien possessed it would be possible to lure the mage into frustration and, with any hope, foolishness.

He paused to hurl a now rather large orb of flame at the blood eagle and balance himself as Nova dropped quickly to avoid an attack, the dragon sending his own sharp pillar of flame towards the wretched creature. "We either take out of the eagle and ground the mage or get rid of the mage and take on the eagle. My bet is the latter will be easier. Once we get rid of these --" His words were cut off by a sharp bolt of flesh on his face. Growling in annoyance, he shot rigid arrows of dark mana at the enemy duo, pegging the mage a few times and nearly knocking him off balance. It was then that he noticed the mages were tied onto the eagles to prevent them from falling off.

"We need to get rid of those bloody mages." He huffed and hurled another bolt of mana more aggressively at the mage, as if swatting at a mosquito that refused to stop buzzing in his ear.

Frustrated, are we? Narien thought drolly, never having imagined their leader to both laugh and huff in battle. It felt... strangely inappropriate. Perhaps because, for all his faults, he had never once laughed in battle. He had been angry, frustrated, and viciously pleased, but laughing had never been high on his list of compulsions while taking another's life. At times it astonished him how the other tamers could seem to place a difference in their hearts for the ones who were humans and the ones who were plagued. Then again, he'd been a child who hadn't understood hunting for sport, either. How things do change.

Agni was neither so large and powerful, nor so swift as Nova, and so both of them were grateful as Merrik continued spewing out attacks while laying out his strategy, as it kept the mage's focus largely on him. Ironic that his strategy was basically the reverse situation. You distract, I hit. Distract, Narien could do, but he wasn't on the ground, both feet solidly planted and ready to run, and he was not confident in Agni's speed compared to the eagle's.

You do not think I can handle the task? Agni asked, but her tone was more amused than disapproving.

You choose a strange time to tease lest you have some daring trick I know not of. He retorted, for once more serious than she. "Okay." He called over to Merrik. "It's... probably better if you attack. You two are more powerful." And mages were nothing without their mana. If they made it clear who was doing the draining, the mage was more likely to turn its hopefully weakened attention towards them instead.

Without asking for more direction, Narien urged Agni to pull away a bit from Merrik and Nova, so that their signature would be distinct. Throughout the course of the battles, he'd been subtle while using his mana drain, stealing it as slowly and quietly as possible to unconsciously weaken difficult opponents others were fighting against, but distractions called for a great deal less subtlety. He lit up a large, bright flash of fire in front of the two of them for just a moment. Thanks to the glassy nature of the arcane flame, it would hopefully call attention to them before the mage even really knew why his eye was drawn in their direction, while simultaneously signalling Merrik and Nova. Then, Agni darted a little closer and Narien flung their bonded mana hard at the mage, crashing against the unsuspecting rider's defenses to begin a large, sudden swallowing of mana. He was making a big show of it, but he knew he had to be careful. He had no interest in being physically ill in the middle of a fight because he'd recklessly sucked in too much of someone else's mana just for a distraction.

Merrik nodded as Obsidian Nova dipped out of the path of another attack and circled a fair ways from where the eagle and the Arcane duo were. He hoped that with enough space and enough of a nuisance from Narien and Agni, the mage would fall into a trap of frustration long enough for Merrik to weave a more complex spell. He was skilled at creating his own custom spellwork, but it took him a lot more time than he would have liked.

"Merrik is weaving a spell that will disable the flow of mana from the mage temporarily, opening it up to an attack. Agni, when the moment comes that Narien no longer feels the pull of mana, aid me in burning the foul creature to a fine dust so that we can target the bird. Our aim must hold true against the flight maneuvers of the eagle. It won't welcome our fire with any ease." To call a Blood Eagle a bird was offensive by any means, but the disgust Obsidian Nova felt towards the plague that took hold of the once-great lord of the skies was clear as day. There was no pity in his heart for the slaying of the mage, one who played a role in the spread of the toxic plague of Ogual. Obsidian Nova had seen so many fall, so many innocents lose themselves to the darkness they faced that he had grown cold and aggressive to the plague.

As Merrik continued to weave his spell, working his way around the mana-based barriers and twisting his will into a lock that would hold back the raw mana-forces of the mage, Narien and Agni were faced with the difficulty of distraction. The mage had, at first, continued to sent its attacks towards Merrik and Nova but very quickly it felt the pull of Narien's workings and it's rage overwhelmed it quickly, diverting its intent from the Dark Tamer to the Arcane.

The eagle shrieked, it's call sending waves of sheer pain into the skulls of any close enough to hear. As it curved around, remapping its course of attack to the small dragoness and her tamer, it shook its head wildly and dove sharply onward, going in for another pinning attack as the mage shot powerful bursts of acidic mana at Narien.

At first, the spurt of fire he'd put up no more than caught a brief glance from the mage, as the more serious threat was clearly Nova and the older, more experienced tamer, but Narien would not be ignored. He pulled mana from the mage ferociously, catching its attention with satisfied malice. The eagle shrieked and Narien knew the two of them were in for a ride. A curl of fear mixed with excitement whispered through the corners of Agni's normally calm demeanor as she suddenly turned and shot away in a strange, angular path. It would be bad to make Merrik and Nova have to chase the mage too much, so she sought to flee quickly, yet stay in control of the trajectory of their movement. She couldn't afford to let the eagle catch up this time, however, and so beat her wings as hard as she could manage, flying as quickly as possible.

Narien had stopped siphoning mana in a big way. He'd grabbed the monster's attention, and had to be judicious about when he chose to use this power with the drawback of it inevitably making him ill. There was also the very teeny tiny problem of the mage's counter attack. Agni managed to get away from the eagle before it collided with her a second time, but its reaching claws glanced across the scales of her back, causing a roar and a brief buck of pain. A few parallel lines had been carved into her back and were left bleeding. The pain was a side note in Narien's head, however, because he had his own worries in the form of a series of mana attacks. Agni's bucking helped him avoid a few poorly aimed ones, and he managed to dodge a couple on his own, not wanting to find out what they were. Unfortunately, he didn't have much of a say in the matter, as one grazed the side of one arm and a little splashed against his left side, leaving ugly red welts on his skin. More were coming, and he couldn't keep this up forever. He spread his hands and formed a glittering wall of little licking flames. It might have been more effective to build up a wall of water, which would more physically hinder the mage, but his control over fire was stronger, and would be a visual obstruction. It was also flashy and looked more dangerous, while taking less effort to build. It was nothing more than a series of very small fires arranged next to each other, not very difficult at all.

It would provide small relief, though. A little haste would be appreciated. He thought wryly to himself, the thought directed towards Merrik and Nova. Whatever it was, he hoped Merrik would do it soon, because his own burns and the gashes in Agni's back meant a long-term chase would not be a good idea.

Merrik approached the completion of his spell but quickly realized something wasn't working. It took him a few precious moments to sort out what was interfering with the delivery of his attack: Narien. The mana siphon was drawing Merrik's own mana towards Narien, like a whirlpool drawing in free-flowing waves. As Narien's mana pulled at his own, he found that his attack was being diverted and that if he continued, the spell would effectively be pulled to Narien and would block his own mana. Whatever portion of the attack did make it to the mage wouldn't be sufficient enough to do what Merrik needed to do. It would still have the power to defend itself against dragonfire.

Damnit, he cursed under his breath.

"Agni, Narien's siphon is drawing in Merrik's spell's manaflow. It'll stifle Narien's mana use and the diverted power of the spell will likely bring about failure. We need a new diversion, and quickly. The spell is near completion." The black drake delivered the message instinctively so as to prevent Merrik from having to break concentration and risk losing the spell he had woven.

Narien, hearing the message relayed to Agni, scowled ferociously, his expression invisible to Merrik and Nova. Even with him lessening the effect of their bonded mana, it had still drawn on Merrik's spell, had it? Unfortunate, because that was the best option he'd had to establish himself as a true threat to the mage. At least being able to stop meant the subtle poisoning of his soul slowed a bit. He felt disgusting. Whatever Merrik did, he had to do it fast, because the unfriendly extra mana was already greatly discomfiting him. Then an idea sparked in his mind. It would have to wait until the mage was dealt with, but it was a good idea... if horribly dangerous.

He stopped his mana drain abruptly, which Agni quickly informed Nova, then focused all his concentration into a feat of fire mana exceeding anything he had tried previously. Sweat poured from his brow even as the shimmering wall of flame dissipated. The mage paused, clearly wary of what was going on, considering the sudden drop of both his defense and his attack. He closed his eyes, trusting Agni to take action if they were chased down, and focused deep within himself. Build the fire. The fuel it needs. One by one. Not too close. Little fires formed into one enormous shape. Each one finely under his control. He visualized the image in his head, carefully sculpting it the way he might one of his little figurines. He had managed a lion's head successfully, but that was no larger than he was. This... this was different. Narien. This will take much of you. Agni warned.

So let your flames burn hot and your aim ring true. He told her back, simply, even as his features contorted in a concentration so deep it was almost pain.

He opened his eyes and a series of fires blossomed to life to one side of Agni forming the unmistakable image of a dragon's head. Specifically, Agni's head, but larger and glowing in all the clear, glassy glory of their fire. It was larger than the actual, however, and tapered off from the neck, so that it was more like a large snake, trailing flames every time it moved. The enormous dragon's head made a break for the mage. Apparently determined to burn it to a crisp, and large enough to at least cause the creature alarm. If that wasn't a threat worth looking away for, Narien didn't know what was.

He had Agni send a message to the other two: If you can, now is the time. And if we can destroy the mage, Narien has a plan for dealing with the eagle. The last bit of information disturbed Agni, because he had hidden his actual plan from her as well. For good reason, too. He'd wait until the last minute to tell her.

Merrik nodded, receiving Agni's words immediately as they flowed into Nova's mind. He hunkered down mentally and forged the reinforcing meshwork of mana his spell needed and within the minute he delivered it to its target. He felt the power weaving through the dark, toxic mana stores of the Fallen mage and knew the spelled had worked. The mage had not realized, for he was not attempting to access the dark flow of mana from the curse that linked he to Ogual. He appeared to be focusing on Narien, just as was hoped. "Now, Nova," he eased the words into the drake's mind as he summoned up an orb of fire.

Obsidian Nova emitted a deep growl as a he summoned the components of his flame. Merrik felt the warmth growing in the dragon's body and in a moment, the sharp snap of Nova's spark plate igniting the fuel was herald to a spiral of black flame that poured forward, engulfing the mage all at once. The eagle was largely unaffected by the assault, for dragonfire and mana-based attacks did little to combat the ancient beings that had evolved in an eternal rivalry with the dragons for dominion over the skies of the Origin Lands.

The attack of fire by the dragons subsided as the eagle shrieked and dove out of the way, continuously dipping and swirling to avoid the flames, not out of pain but out of annoyance. It seemed that even a plagued eagle bore a dislike for the dragons. Where the mage once sat, there was now only a patch of ashen feathers. "Now we eliminate the bird.[" Came Nova's voice to Agni and Narien as he soared through the air, circling up into the high skies and curving back down in a glide towards the angered eagle. It cried out as it neared, sending sharp pains down Merrik's spine. It was clear the beast was targeting the dark pair once more and as it bolted towards them, colliding with Nova, the battle grew primitive and violent as the plagued creature attacked with a ferocity unseen in the natural world. It lashed and flails, nearly ripping scales from Nova's chest and pecking deep holes in the the dragon's body. Obsidian Nova roared and snapped his maw at the beast's wing, shaking his head violently to tear at the flesh before throwing the beast aside and dipping out of the way to approach for another assault. As the eagle righted itself, it didn't hesitate to immediately propel itself forward in another attack, this time on the Arcane dragoness that was the closest target.

The plan worked! The two of them were almost surprised at the level of success their plan had achieved. The mage burned to a crisp with very little delay and ceremony. That, however, left the eagle, still a terrible threat. And that was when Narien let Agni in on The Plan. She rejected it instantly. That is absolutely foolish, Narien. Blood eagles have long been the enemies of dragonkind. They are powerful, and immune to most mana attacks. Your mana drain worked on a paltry soldier, and with that amount of mana if you try expelling it too quickly....

Your words are undesired wisdom. He grumbled at her. Still, this sickness grows within my body. You know we cannot continue for long. She didn't respond, because she knew what he was talking about. That feeling would only get worse, and they had no idea how long it would take for the dragons to physically rip the eagle to shreds. As the eagle crashed into Obsidian Nova over and over again, the gears in Narien's brain were churning. Agni flapped where she was, unable to intervene in so violent a fight. When or if the eagle turned its attention to them, she would not be able to fight it for long. Narien began exhibiting his personal brand of insanity atop Agni's back, and even though he was blocking her out, she knew he had something in mind that she would not like.

The eagle turned towards them, let out a shriek and came at them, and the reckless rider was ready. Narien, what are you- Before she could fully ask the question, she had to turn her attention to the eagle, claws reaching out to protect herself even as her wings stopped their flapping to steady herself. Narien pulled his legs up onto her back and instantly, Agni knew what he was about. NO NARIEN DON'T- Narien bounced upwards, ran across her back and hopped right off of one shoulder onto the eagle rising up to meet them. The tamer had wrapped roped around his wrist, the handles of knives tied to the other end. He had used two of his knives, but as always they were mismatched, the one in his right was his regular, comfortable knife, while the one in his left was a strange, large apparatus. His hands gripping the knives glowed slightly as he had started pooling some of the excess mana into his palms.

There was no way to miss the eagle, it was too big and too close. There was also no way to predict where he was going to land and whether he was going to be able to hold on. He fell feet first, angling his body slightly forward as if to flatten it out a little. His pale blue eyes scanned the flailing flesh of the plagued bird to try and estimate where he would land. Whump. His knees hit the bottom end of the eagle behind the talons and he drove his knives into its body as hard as he could, digging them in full force. The damn thing was flailing and he was lucky Agni was making contact higher up, clashing with the eagle's talons. His regular knife was sliding down slightly, but the fancy one was clinging on a little more pointedly. He flattened his body against the enemy's, grateful for its comparative size for just a moment. His legs scrabbled for a foothold and managed to wrap around the flesh and feathers. His lips whitened in exertion, but the hold his legs had on the eagle gave him just barely enough relief to let go of one knife and press his right hand into the eagle. His fingers gripped into his flesh, trapping several enormous feathers with it.

He felt the poisonous energy flow out of him and into the larger creature and would have breathed a sigh of relief if the rest of his body wasn't tensed up in exertion trying desperately to hang on. Sweat had begun coating his palm and his grip on the steady knife was slipping. Agni was grappling desperately with the eagle, both for her life and his. Her large claws were locked with the bird's, neck jerking forward to try and take a snap at it with her longer neck. Her teeth snapped emptily on feathers, but she tilted her head sharply and the horns atop them raked across the bird's breast, causing a burst of black blood. She gave a mighty roar of exertion, even as she vaguely heard Narien tell her through her bond to push it away and let go. Let go? Why let go? How could she. Let go and dive, Agni. His voice roiled through the fog of effort clear and sharp, even as the eagle managed to wrench her body under its own through its superior strength.

The eagle's shriek was near-deafening and horribly painful to her senses. Talons dug painfully into the pads of her feet, tearing away scales near the claws, and with another roar, she tore herself away from it, diving down at top speed. Where was Narien? Where was...

As the eagle swung above Agni, Narien knew he would no longer be able to hold on. Not with the ground pulling him away from it. He yanked the steadier knife out and held onto the looser knife tightly, waiting until the last minute - waiting until he saw Agni able to break away and- yank, he was falling. She was a little to the side. What mattered more was they get away from the eagle, far enough away that Nova would be able to intercept it, hopefully before it got to them. They were dead. Dead, dead, dead. When had he last thought that? Oh yes, fighting Sairantha, but that had been a very different set of circumstances, a different kind of death. Agni. To your left. She glanced up and one glowing white eye captured him in its gaze as she swooped to the side just barely in time and he slammed into her back, all the air leaving his lungs in one big whoosh.

He was momentarily stunned, so she flew as steadily as she could, but the minute he had grabbed securely onto a piece of the saddle, she was zipping away as fast as she could. The eagle would be upon them any moment. They were so close to the ground now and it was a race. Nova. Brother. Help me. Agni let out a cry. If it caught her, the eagle could so easily grab her and crush her into the ground, but close as they were, its bulk gave it a disadvantage. More terrain to deal with. They could only pray things would work out.

((I'm envisioning the eagle coming up to meet them like this, btw: http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get2/I0000vB8ZaIZHgE8/fit=1000x750/Bald-eagles-fighting-in-air.jpg ))

Nova closed the space between himself and the arcane pair as quickly as he could, the heavy sound of rushing wind and heavy wings beating down filled the air, mixing with the piercing cries of the eagle. Merrik summoned up a powerful wave of dark mana and willed it into a thick, snake-like entity before sending it forward. The eagle was in distress, now, more than ever. Though it felt no pain, the sickness of foreign mana was violent tearing it apart from the soul out.

At first, Narien's leap had looked like some foolish act of suicidal valor, as if he was prepared to give up his life to get a few slices into an foe thirty times his size. But as Merrik watched, he saw that Narien simply held on, and then got himself to safety. He quickly realized he had been using his mana in some way and the most likely option was the expulsion of the tainted mana he'd been absorbing through battle. Nova soared quickly through the air and without hesitation he slammed into the eagle, ripping it from the sky, sending them both barreling away from where Agni and Narien were recollecting themselves.

Merrik was feeling motivated at this point, inspired by Narien's bravery and so when the moment came, he wrapped the dark mana around the eagle's beak and then wove it down to its sharp talons, forcing the bird for duck its head, silencing it for a moment. It flew haphazardly, trying to attack, fighting its constraints. Nova, who had retreated to attack once more, soared toward the eagle and grasped its wings in his own talons. It was a hard fought battle to stay in the air at that point. From above, he had a good hold on the bird and it could do little damage while bound by Merrik's ties and suffering internal agony from Narien's assault.

Merrik slid from his place on Nova's back and shimmied down the dragon's legs, holding on carefully as the eagle lashed about. He then lowered himself slowly onto the eagle's back, between its wings where Nova's dark talons dug into the flesh. Summoning up the most powerful anti-mana shield he could, he managed to muffle the strength of the eagle slightly. At that moment, he wished for Goliath's power, the ability to mute mana entirely. It took most of his mana stores to force the powerful mana of the eagle to quiet even a little and as the moment came that his spell peaked, he drew his sword and with both arms, heaved down a heavy blow, twisting his body to strengthen the swing and hacked free the muscular tissue that joined the wing to the body. Nova jerked and the bone snapped free.

All at once, Merrik grabbed onto Nova's leg and the dragon dropped the eagle to the earth, its severed wing falling heavily through the air after it. Having culled it from the skies, Merrik felt assured as he watched the Shadows of Ashaar move in and quickly slaughter the flailing, disorientated bird, cutting its limbs clean off, and then its head.

Merrik climbed back up as Nova closed in on Agni.

"A foolish move, Narien." Merrik stared at the man sternly for a moment before smiling. "Yet, a damn good one." He lifted his sword in salute to the man before looking sharply over his shoulder as the cries of Kalta entered into Nova's mind, flowing freely across the bond. "We're needed elsewhere," he beckoned for Narien and Agni to join him, knowing they would be valuable allies in the next battle.

[GM Reminder: Narien +5 all stats from posts (5 posts at 1 point each) and +5 valor, +5 dragon teamwork, +5 bonded ability.)

Narien hurt all over. The fall had, thankfully, not been too far, but it had still been long enough for hitting her back flat-on had left his entire body feeling like one gigantic bruise. He had scrabbled to grab one of the saddle's straps before his head had stopped spinning and Agni had shot away. His knives bounced against her scales, hanging by the ropes still tied to his wrists. His sweat-slicked palms made it that much harder to hold on as she sped away from the eagle. Once she slowed down, he painfully dragged his body up along her back and settled himself back into the saddle, watching Merrik and Nova as they finished off the eagle. A small wry grin played about his lips at the older mage mimicking him by embarking onto the eagle, just with a great deal more control and forethought.

That was stupid, Narien. Agni snarled at him, through their bond.

Let it not enter your mind that I would play with my life and thus yours, he chuckled back slightly. I am beloved by Fate, do you not remember?

She snorted in response, and he went back to focusing on breathing. Every breath he took still, unfortunately, hurt to all hell, and he was wrestling with the pain as Merrik drew up alongside them. He looked up at Merrik's first words, expression completely empty of emotion, but then the commander smiled at him and complimented him and he blinked twice, which Agni figured was equivalent to his jaw dropping flat open. Even after Nova pulled away again, he sat stunned still on the back of his dragon, momentarily confused out of remembering his pain. Someone had just complimented one of the stupidest things he'd ever done. No, Merrik Tetra had just complimented one of the stupidest things he'd ever done. That was bizarre... and compliments were not his forte. Agni would have laughed, but she was too busy being cross with him and followed quickly behind to return to the battle.[/dscroll]

Mowkie · Feb 11, 2017

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[BCOLOR=transparent]The burning of Katla's amethyst flames did little more than sear the feathers of the ferocious bird, causing it to let out another of its deafening screeches, which the dragoness could barely hear any more. Pomona, feeling the pain of the screech as it raced down her spine, watched with slight satisfaction, though, as the robes of the dark mage kept hold of the flames, distracting it long enough for her to stand. ~Keep steady for as long as you can! I'm going to take out the mage.~[/BCOLOR]

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[BCOLOR=transparent]~Pomona, you are crazy!~ The dragoness let out another screech, pushing up with all her might against the anger of the eagle as it launched another attack of its sharp beak towards her crest. She swung her head as Pomona held fast to the leather straps of her saddle, waiting for a moment to strike, slamming it against the bird's and forcing the beast to take a slight dive to the left to adjust itself. This gave the warrior enough time to race up the back of her dragon's neck and stand on her head. As the eagle dove towards them again, Pomona slashed out with her sword, using the power of her bond with Katla to harden her flesh against some of the more minor damage. [/BCOLOR]

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[BCOLOR=transparent]The contact of her blade to the mage's throat threw Pomona back a step or two, but it was enough to send the dark creature's head flying backwards as the eagle slammed hard into Katla's left wing, its talons digging deep into her crest and side. The tamer let herself slide down her dragon's neck and back into the saddle, her backside now feeling heavily bruised against the coarse scales, and righted herself as Katla tried desperately to pull herself away, using all four legs to push at the breast of the evil monster latched angrily to her. [/BCOLOR]

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[BCOLOR=transparent]It was right around this moment that Pomona caught the sight of a lopsided, blood-covered eagle fall towards the ground followed by its dismembered wing. Nova's dark body soon caught the warrior's gaze, and a small amount of relief filled her. ~Katla, Merrik and Nova are coming now! Turn us more to the right so the eagle is in the right place for Nova to pull it off.~ [/BCOLOR]

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[BCOLOR=transparent]Katla did not hesitate to do as her tamer asked. Pomona was the dragon's ears, and for now, her eyes outside of the immediate battle she was struggling to manage. She could feel her energy draining, and she wasn't sure if she could survive much more of this. But the calm reassurance of her tamer kept her going, determination filling them both as Pomona continued guiding the dragoness into a safer route. ~When Nova gets here, dig your teeth into the eagle's left wing. Perhaps with your power combined with his, we can rip the creature's wings off and let it fall to the ground! Then, we can all help the others with their problems.~[/BCOLOR]
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[BCOLOR=transparent]~I trust you...just tell me when.~[/BCOLOR][/BCOLOR]
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Soulserenity20 · Feb 12, 2017

Death Cannot Touch Us -- Dalaith and A'untyr's Death @Shadicmaster

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For nights the dreams had come, slipping into her mind, twisting and telling secrets that were not hers to keep, not truly. A'untyr had worked tirelessly to keep them from her, his thoughts, his foresights. He had tried against all moral desire. If he had just told her when it first came to him, they could have worked together, found a way to face what lie in wait. It had taken her some time to accept it for what it was, several days stay at the camps as she healed. She took an extra day to regain her composure, readying herself for battle. Mana, was of the mind, and if her mind was uncontrolled then so, too, was her mana. She would not allow herself to become more of a burden than she already had. The illness that seeped through her veins haunter her constantly. With each breath, she felt the foreign force within her. With each spell, she felt it slither through her soul. She was weak, but she would not deny herself her duty to the fray. Still, she wished A'untyr had told her.

The day of the battle against the plagued eagles, she felt weak. She had felt nothing but weakness and fatigue for weeks. Her body, her motivation, but not her mind. Nothing, it seemed, could ever dull the intellect tamer's mind. She was ever working, ever plotting, even as she faced the physical and mental foes she faced today. "Do not be afraid, child. We are one. We cannot go different ways in the afterlife. We will be together for an eternity."

From atop his back, she pursed her lips. Though she had worked diligently to come to terms with the notion of death, it was a fair bit more difficult to hear her beloved soulmate speaking of another time from the one she lived now.

"The wise do not fear death, for all that is, is now. This moment A'untyr. We can tip the scales. We can change the path this battle takes."

Silence. He dipped low, cutting through the currents as his mind offered little more than background noise, the workings of his subconscious as it calculated the best route, paid mind to the air, the eagles that soared around the open skies, the battles their comrades partook in. The pair were not fighting, then. They flew through the skies, avoiding any combat, following the foresight of A'untyr's mind as he guided them away from encounters time and time again. There was peace, for a time. They shared those moments between the two of them.

"You should have told me."

"What good would it have done?"

"It would have given us more time to prepare… to say goodbye."

"It would have created an unnecessary distraction from the war. Perhaps a dire one."

"I wouldn't have told the others. But you should have told me." She stared off into the skies, concentrating on a single, distant cloud, as if called to her as their destination. An eagle shrieked, sending a painful chill down her spine, but A'untyr quickly dove and sent out a bout of rage to the creature, forcing it to shift its attention to another tamer nearby.

"To what end, Dalaith? You would have suffered distraction, depression, perhaps. What good might have come? Hmm? We will not part, Dalaith. Death has no reign over the power of our bond. Death has no grasp on our connection. Death cannot touch us. It is merely a gateway into another stage of our existence."

Silence. This time, from Dalaith's end.

"We cannot die in vein. We cannot waste this precious gift. We will not leave this world a burden or a woe, but an asset, as heroes."

"Heroes, you say." The dragon hummed, toying with the idea. "You've never been one for valor, Dalaith."

"I've never had to consider what I might be remembered for. At least, not with any seriousness."

"We will be remembered. We will turn the tides of this battle, we will not leave this land without one last act of duty to Illos."

"…"

"It is time, child." The dragon spoke in a calm, comforting tone, urging Dalaith to act. "It is time for us to leave this place."

Dipping her hand into her pocket, she drew out her feather, the one she had gotten from the mighty blood eagle that day, so long ago. She still had scars from the damage done by the wretched Mana Hound, Bau'gruhg. She ran her fingers along the length of the feather, observing how each fiber bent and danced back into place. "I always thought I would die of old age, A'untyr. Not in battle. Not in the bloody talons of a blood eagle."

"That is not your fate, anymore. We will deliver our soul to Ohktuvaar with honor, not at the talons of a plagued eagle."

"It ended that way every time, didn't it. No matter what you did, it always ended with a blood eagle and a body drained of blood, broken, fallen to the earth. It always ended in pain, suffering, and an eventually suicide of your own will."

"I tried for months, Dalaith. Nothing. No matter what happened, your fate drove you back to this battle, no matter what happened in your heart, you would not deny your duty. No matter where we went, it all brought us back here, to this battle, to an end."

"You should have told me. I had a right to know when I was to die."

"No mortal being owns such a right and though it is a pleasant deception, even the great dragons and their tamers are not so immortal that death can not be delivered by an outside force. We are not above the natural order. We are mortal, and no mortal owns the right to know when they are to die."

Dalaith let out a heavy, slow breath. Nodding once, she drew the feather to her lips, and blew gently through it. Little could be heard, a faint eagle's cry, as if already lost on the wind many miles away, floated from the hollow tip. As she lowered the feather from her lips, the fibrous strands began to wither and fade, falling away before the brittle core fell to dust. She stared as the dust was taken by the wind, and felt a calm.

"It is time." She nodded, releasing the white and gold cloak she wore and letting it soar off into the wind. It was heavy, it made her feel burdened, and in that moment, she would allow no burden to weigh her down.

For a moment, the two shared in themselves a deep love, a connection that A'untyr had convinced Dalaith would last beyond time, beyond life itself. She trusted him, more than anyone else, and she felt perfectly comforting in greeting her death for as long as his soul was hers and hers, his.

They made their way to the heart of the battle and when the moment came at last, as the eagle of fate cried out and dove through the air, A'untyr summoned up the entirety of his mana stores, drawing out every last drop, and he forced a mighty spell across the body of enemies that consumed the skies. Each one would feel a powerful, overwhelming, and undeniable force willing them to see each other as foes, ignoring the Order and the Illosian army. It took less than a moment, but as the last drop of A'untyr's mana faded, Dalaith pooled hers in and forced it into the spell, her life force draining from her physical body. Her body drooped, and within seconds, A'untyr and Dalaith fell from the skies, lifeless, peaceful.

The battle turned bloody from that moment on, but no more Illosian blood would be shed. The eagles and mages slaughtered each other, driven through the delusion of A'untyr's Deception. For hours they gored each other, tearing flesh and snapping bones, until only bloody feathers were left, drifting in the skies. The city below now covered in the remains of the plagued.

The Order knew what A'untyr had done, and it was only through a last minute relay to Obsidian Nova, an explanation from the Gold Drake, that they knew the truth of what had come to pass. A'untyr and Dalaith had faced death, but they had chosen to face it head on, instead of lying in wait. They had delivered up the ultimate sacrifice and in return for their valor, the battle ended without the further destruction of thousands of lives. Like Shirin, they had paid the ultimate price for the great land of origins. The dragons would gather, and together they would offer the Gold and the Gold's Tamer the same respects they had offered the Solar and the Maiden of Light. Together, they delivered the last of their physical bodies from this world, leaving only bones to be buried in the sacred Silent Peaks.

The Order turned in that night with heavy hearts, with questions for Obsidian Nova as to what happened and why, but at the end of it all, they were left with the sorrow of loss and the honor of knowing the strength and valor displayed by the pair. The eagles arrived, as summoned, nearly 20 of them, and vowed themselves to the battle. The next morning, when the army moved out once more, the eagles would soar with them and work tirelessly to clear the first great city of Man of the plague. Dalaith and A'untyr would live on forever in the hearts of the Illosian people and in the hearts of the Order. In another time, in another life, Ohktuvaar welcomed them into his eternal skies as heroes of Illos.

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Soulserenity20 · Feb 16, 2017

Points Gained Since the Start of Pg. 50[spoili]
Goliath: +5
Xylia: +2
Req: +1
Saira: +2
Narien: +8
Illyria: +1
Reverie: +4
Pomona: +9
Aislin: +1[/spoili]

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Nearly 12 days after the battle had begun, the Order moved silently through the tunnels that carried them into the King's Quarters at the heart of the castle. Merrik had only been to the castle once before, when he was a small boy. The king had invited the entire family for a meeting with a group of strangers to Merrik only a short while after Nova had hatched. Merrik could now only assume the meeting was one of the Council of the People of Dragons, likely discussing the grooming of Merrik Tetra, the young Dragonlord. His memories of the place were a great deal more different from what he saw now. The castle was muddled, buried under a decade and a half of corruption and filth. The corridors were filthy, the great works of art were faded and damaged beyond repair. Bodies that had long since faded to bones still lay about in the halls. Most were adults, some were children, likely servants that weren't given the care to be helped out when Ogual hit the city. Merrik moved quietly over a crushed skull, each step stirring up a light swirl of dust.

Their entry to the castle had come through a means too small for the dragons to follow, and so from the inside, the Order moved quietly with only a handful of Valaeria's Shadows. They would not risk welcoming the king and queen into the belly of the beast. This was where the Order would fulfill their duty to the land. This is where they would take up their role in the battle, to take on the mana-based foes that overpowered the humans by so much. The Shadows were backup, and while Merrik felt confident they could defend themselves better than he or anyone else in the Order, he knew that against a powerful mage, they would not last with only their ancient mana wards, relics seized from the homes of Encilis.

Mana was powerful against those who were not in touch with it. Immediately, against a mana-based foe, mana's power was stifled. Even a newly bonded tamer would be able to handle a mana attack better than a master monk without access to mana. It was the effect of the Great Balance. The Order was the harbinger of the Balance, and only they would stand a chance against whatever they were to face.

Several of the tamers and soldiers had their thoughts on what might lay in wait within the castle. So far, it had been empty. There were no Fallen, no allied soldier, no hounds, nothing. There was only silence, and a stale, lingering sense of death. Merrik hoped they would see Ogual and face him down at last, but he knew in his heart that with Terria missing, the dark one would not have risked his presence so far from where she was being held. The thought had come to him that perhaps she was being held here, at the castle, but he felt it a desperate stretch. Surely Ogual could not have been so foolish. And yet, Merrik had already made plans for a full sweep of the structure after they brought down the remnants of darkness that rested within those old walls.

They came around a corner, drawing nearer the throne room, the heart of the castle and pinnacle of power in the Great City of Man. As they did, a gust of cold air rushed past them and the halls grew so silent that the aura of death that lingered in those halls was given a voice, and it whispered, quietly, to the tamers. It told them of their deaths, violent, bloody, near.

Merrik stopped them and cast a protective spell that would work to dis-spell sharp attack on their wits, preventing Ogual from crippling them with fear. He had developed the spell over the last decade by working through the mechanics of Obsidian Nova's Nightmare ability. The spell was not perfect, but it would serve to steady the nerves of his Tamers and prevent powerful attacks based in fear from bringing them to their knees. He did not know what form of attacks would assault them, or what foe they would face, but in these halls that smelled so much of evil, fear was in no short supply.

Beckoning them forward once more, they moved on and made their way to the throne room. Its massive doors were coated in the dark moss-like substance that clung to the walls of the great city. It was thick and it seemed to seethe and move, as if growing steadily at their very presence. Merrik had no clue what it was and while he wished the time to sit down and study it, to find out what it was, where it had come from, and what it could do, he pushed past, keeping his distance. He veiled his hands in dark mana and pushed open the door, knowing his tamers would cover him if any sudden attacks burst through the opening. And yet, nothing did.

They moved in carefully, slowly, and scanned the room. The once great hall now looked like a catacomb, desolate, dismal, still as death. There was nothing to be seen, beyond the settled dust and pulsing dark moss. Nothing to be seen, yet, something could be felt. All around them, the air was heavy and dark, as if evil had been woven into it. Merrik felt a heavy pressure on his chest and worked hard to steady himself with centering techniques he had learned at the Lunate Monastery. He glanced over his shoulder at Saira, Goliath, and the others, and moved forward. Something was here, they only needed to find a way to trigger it.

NOTE: This is a puzzle. I need short posts of your chars trying to trigger the final assault. Try and figure out what might be there. Think about the new foes introduced in this battle and what they might tell you about what might be here. Look around, post your char poking around, questioning things, etc. Trigger the battle and we'll reclaim this city.

OVERVIEW: The room is super dark, stagnant, but the air feels alive and it feels evil. It is heavy, as if there is little oxygen in the room. The darkness hangs over the room like a toxic cloud. There is black moss everywhere, it is pulsing, it moves slightly whenever you get to close, as if it's reaching out to you. The room is large and oval, there are pillars on either side, a large throne at the top of two sets of stairs. The throne was once a brilliant black, silver, and emerald piece. Once shining, it is now dull and largely featureless under the dust and moss. Something is here. But what? And how do you defeat what will not come out to fight?
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Mowkie · Feb 17, 2017

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[BCOLOR=transparent]Pomona had never heard of someone sacrificing themselves as Dalaith and A'untyr had chosen to do mere moments after Obsidian Nova had managed to tear the eagle from Katla's side. At first, the pair was left with the shock of the rage the bird screamed with towards another of its own kind, and then amazement as they watched the brilliant Gold and his tamer fall to the ground in a lifeless heap. The warrior had heard of the loss before now - a warrior much like herself losing her life at the hands of a dark mage, her dragon sacrificing himself in a fit of rage and agony over the loss of his dearest friend. But she had never actually witnessed something of such a caliber. Katla had flown to the ground, where she watched with her tamer as the plagued blood eagles took themselves out, one by one. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]They would take a great deal of time to heal, and while twelve days would not have been enough by a long shot, neither was willing to stop helping to push the battle forward. Katla was almost completely useless in the skies, and as such, she and her tamer remained on the ground. Pomona, however, proved to be quite the formidable foe, not backing down easily. Though she did not know Dalaith well at all, the woman was still a lost comrade - and thus, Pomona fought in her fellow tamer's name. Just as Katla would fight for the name of A'untyr. A brother in almost every sense.[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]As the final battle finally inched close, the pair found themselves separated for the first time since the temple where they came to terms with what had blocked their bond from achieving its maximum effectiveness. Pomona was terrified, but though her body trembled with such fear of not having access to the open skies, she forced herself onward without openly revealing her fear to the others. She took deep breaths, keeping her heart from racing, and as they made their way up the stairs into the castle, she felt encouragement and determination from her greatest friend before her own fierce determination filled her. Whatever horrors awaited her, she knew that she would be able to push through alongside the other tamers. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]The castle was dark and silent, but for the cracking of bones beneath booted feet. Everyone had their weapons drawn, and the air was thick with the tension fueled by everyone's alertness. She was towards the front of the group, near Merrik, who led them. Her sword was drawn, and both hands held fast to it as her mismatched gaze darted to every nook and cranny in her line of sight. While she wasn't good with magic, her sword skills seemed to have been making up for it so far. So why wouldn't it help now?[/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]Of course, the threat wasn't immediately apparent as they finally entered the throne room, finding it empty. Here, the air felt even thicker - as though tension wasn't the only thing filling it. A dark, disturbing presence filled it like a shadow that belonged to no one. It whispered without actually using words, crushing her chest and sinking heavily onto her shoulders. A deeper breath helped keep her mind clear, and she latched tightly to the silver thread of mana that connected her to her dragoness, keeping herself sane in the dark, desolate room. Without lowering her sword, she moved further forward, towards the thrones. "Merrik, I don't like the looks of this…What should we do?" As she whispered this, she let the tip of her sword graze over the dark ooze that covered the throne on the right, narrowing her eyes in uncertainty. Could one truly be ready for anything if anything included an enemy one could not see or hear?[/BCOLOR]
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White · Feb 21, 2017

A sacrfice was made, so that others could live. Was this fate or the act of heroism by one's own choice? It is difficult to say, everybody wants to live and very few have the strength, the determination to sacrifice themself for everybody else. In a way, Reverie admired it. The determination to sacrifice onself, the strength to do so... but it made her doubt her own decision to participate where rest had been more appropriate for she could not do this sacrifice. Neither was it appropriate for her to be reckless, but at the same time, a single one less against those creatures could have meant another casualty.
Her thoughts traveled to Terria and the memorial she organized what seemed so long ago now and... her heart dropped at the mere concept that Terria may, too be... No. She has to hope. Terria is the most capable of mana user among them. She lives, she has to.

"There will always be casualties," Spoke Celeste in grief to Reverie's Silence and absent look.

Reverie could not bear to see her death comrade and turned in for the night quickly, almost in a fleeing manner. She was not yet ready to bid farewell, not before this city is taken again. She felt that she owed it to Dalaith and her dragon.

Again, with the blade drawn, they found themself wandering the halls into battle. Her sword in her hand, though it would do little in proper combat with her lack of practise with it. To her dismay, the halls have been empty, it would be another not so straight up fight, another abomination, trauma or horror to face. She sighed at that thought.
"Ogual really does not like us, does he?"
They made their way to the room, where even being close it made her feel sick in the stomach and she hesitated to enter for a moment. The air felt thick and bare minimal, almost like the trauma they had fought a few days ago.
"Burn it? Freeze it?," Reverie commented looking at the Black Moss. "Purify it? Does the moss release spores that thickens the air and is meant to sicken or weaken us? Then fire may be the worst choice while being inside of the room. Maybe it reacts to blood... But I would say we bring some light into the room, eh?"

@GM: Celeste and Reverie attempt to illuminate the room.

Crimson77 · Feb 21, 2017

[fieldbox="Hello Darkness, seagreen, dashed, 10, Tahoma"]The death of A'untyr and Dalaith traumatized Xylia. Xylia and Deventh had just stabbed and clawed through several Blood Eagles, damaging them but not really bringing them down. Xylia was growing more exhausted as she and Deventh pulled themselves back from battle, damaged by the strong talons of the Eagles.

"Over-sized Moth-" Xylia was cut off when she spotted A'untyr and Dalaith soaring and within seconds, falling. Xylia lost all sense of speech and could only watch as her fellow comrade became a fallen hero. Deventh bowed his head, as Xylia watched the Blood Eagles slowly tear each other apart and the mages attack one another. In her head, the turmoil cleared. How could she had been so selfish? Dalaith and A'untyr's chivalry and sacrifice, the courage to face death when she, herself did not fight with her heart.

~*~

Upon entering the tunnels, the realisation of being separated from Deventh itched at her nerves and it would have effected her more if it were a few days ago, but now, she refused to let it get the better of her. Deventh offered her a feeling of warmth and comfort to keep with her, to ensure that she would be okay.

Xylia tried to calm herself by distracting herself. She stood at the very end, taking the role of covering the groups back in case anything were to attempt to combat them from behind. As she walked backwards with the group, Xylia kept the end of her staff trailing in front of her, stabbing at the ground and the walls, trying to get a feel of the closed space. She pushed aside the bones and skulls with the end of her staff, saying a prayer her village leaders taught her, in hopes their spirit finds or has found peace.

Xylia felt her heart beat faster and harder each time the group drew closer to a door. Once in the Great Hall, Xylia felt even more suffocated, bringing back terrible memories she had locked away. Her instincts grew panicky and she felt a dark presence, but not in front of her; around them, surrounding them. Xylia forced her breathing to remain calm, but could not prevent the ache in her chest and her sweat to bead down her forehead, her spine chilled and the hairs behind her neck stood. The evil in the air was thick and rested very heavily on her shoulders. The only other time she felt this was but a very very long time ago. Xylia's Instincts triggered more overwhelming emotions, a voice in her mind telling her to run away, as fast as she could but she refused. She refused to abandon her team.

She observed the hall, staff now resting in both her palms in front of her, prepared for anything. Looking around, Xylia noticed black stuff all around the corners of the hall. She approached one though keeping her distance and noticed it was pulsing. Xylia, slowly, pushed her staff closer to it and watched as it reached out to her staff before she pulled back alarmingly. "There is somet'ing ere'..." she mumbled, loud enough for all to here though it came out like a whisper, "You can feel it too, right?" Xylia's voice shook a little a towards the end as she turned to look at her comrades expressions before turning back to the black beating gunk.

Listening to Reverie's ideas, Xylia suggested something else, "D'you think they stick to one another? Maybe group em' together and burn em'?"[/fieldbox]

Soulserenity20 · Feb 22, 2017

As Pomona grazes her sword against the ooze, it seems largely unresponsive. It simply separates beneath the blade and seeps back together afterwards, continuing to pulse, as if breathing. As Reverie casts an illuminating light about the room, an oddity is revealed that leaves several of the tamers feeling uneasy. All around them, the air itself seemed to cast shadows. All across the room, there seemed to be an invisible mist that was made visible by the light, shadows appearing all across the room like a bank of fog made up of shadows. Some areas were darker, as if there were much more of the invisible substance. All of the dark masses were translucent, some more than others. It was only up the steps where the throne sat that the shadows cast were thick, as if a large, dark cloud of the invisible mass was collecting around the throne. The illumination made it clear that there is something in the room, something lingering in the air, and concentrating on the areas surrounding the throne. Merrik listened to Xylia's suggestion and shot a fireball at some of the moss, as he had done before on the outer gates. The moss seemed only to absorb the fire and extinguish it with a quiet puff.

Chrome · Feb 25, 2017

The loss of Aunt'yr stung Hezekiah's heart as he collided with the blood eagles in his path. Tears fell from the dragon's eyes as he felt the connection between him and his brother sever. Goliath too felt the loss of Dalaith and though he knew little about the young woman, he found it difficult to comprehend someone he had trained alongside was now another casualty in the quest to rid Illos of Ogual's plague. The plague continued to take lives..

When the battle with the plagued blood eagles subsided, Hezekiah descended to join the other dragons of his weyr, and Goliath dismounted to accompany Merrik and the others inside The Keep. Hez and Goliath exchanged eye contact and they went on their separate way, confident that the bond would keep them in contact. <You better not do anything stupid numbskull...or I'll have to eat your favorite tunic>, Hez smirked and huffed air from his nostrils. Goliath replied with a quick wave with his left hand and a smile, he then turned and ran to join the other tamers with his blade gripped in his gloved right hand.

Once inside and as the soldier passed through the creeping foliage that was strewn across the walls of the keep, exhaustion hit Goliath like he got kicked by a mule. He was beginning to feel fatigue from the continuous battle they endured and the adrenaline had started to fade from Goliath's system, leaving behind wounds and bruises.. along with the pains associated. The soldier needed a rest badly and he hoped that the fighting would soon cease so that he could get some rest before the tamers would assuredly set off to rescue Terria. Soon Terria, we will be there very soon.

Goliath observed as the others attempted to illuminate the room to investigate the ooze that seemed to pulsate and cover everything around them in the courtroom. The ooze seemed to move fluidly around Pomona's blade and Reverie had cast a bright light which revealed a shadowy presence that lingered all around them. When Merrik sent a fireball at the foliage the creeping ooze absorbed the flame and the fire dissipated quickly. Focused around the throne was a collection of the shadows and darkness that twisted and lingered as the symbol of power stood wrapped in the clutches of the mysterious foliage. The room pulsated again and Goliath felt sweat drip from his hair inside his helmet.

The soldier decided that taking off his helmet would be a bad idea, something about this strange presence that lingered left him thinking that danger was closer than The Order realized. Goliath placed his left gauntlet on the wall of the entrance of the dim courtroom and questioned with an air of caution in his voice, "The plagued magic that lingers in the air seems to be focused around the throne, what if we try to purify the throne of the evil magic?", he looked around at the others who chose to aid in the investigation, his eyes meeting those of Reverie, "Think we could purify the throne Reverie? Your mana and mine?", he then turned to Merrik, "It looks like it feeds on mana like the wisps we fought above ground, if Reverie and I can purify the throne... there is no knowing what might try to stop us?"

White · Feb 26, 2017

(haha, I had the same thought a few days ago)

The room lightened up, like people shadows loomed all over the room, with the throne being the focus of it. "A cursed throne for a cursed king for a cursed court... shadows of the past?" Muttered the odd eyed girl. Her eyes turned to look at Merrik, whom casted a ball of flame at the dark moss, only to see it absorbed by it.

Her thoughts pondered back to the throne, maybe she could purify it? Is she even still capable of doing so? What would the consequences be? Would she even... Her mind returned to the situation at hand when Goliath looked at her. "Uh... What?" she asked almost timidly. Goliath inquired if they together could lift the darkness off the throne. "I was thinking about the same... but..." Reverie stopped and shook her head. "Nevermind. Let's give it a shot."

Goliath turned to Merrik and spoke about the threat that the moss may possibly pose a threat to her and Goliath when they would try and her eyes as well turned to Merrik for his answer.

Soulserenity20 · Feb 26, 2017

Avren grew nervous as Reverie and Goliath began to speak of their ideas to bring on an attack by assaulting the very nature of the cursed presence. He was feared another death, perhaps even two, and with the death of Dalaith still fresh in his mind, he felt he wished very much to avoid any more losses. Pacing, jagged swords in hand, he mulled over their possible options in his mind. Shooting ideas out to Viridian who circled the castle outside.

"It's oddly suiting for it to linger about the throne," came the voice of Merrik, "isn't it? The seat of power, the first great throne of Man." Avren looked over at his leader, worried for Merrik's safety above all others. If Merrik fell, who would lead them? Goliath, no doubt, but Goliath hadn't been conditioned to lead a magical Order of dragon tamers, rather an army of human warriors with swords, not magick.

"It's dangerous no matter what. We've come this far, I can't say our next move won't put us at great risk. But what choice do we have? We've come this far. Kuhl lay within reach, we only have to reach out and grab it. I say, go ahead. The two of you have unique powers that no others possess. I can quiet mana, but never mute it, as you can Goliath. I can deter the impurities that exist, but never cleanse them as you can, Reverie. You'll threaten this mana the most, and if that can't bring it out, I don't know what can. You'll both be in great danger if you manage to trigger the attack, but trust that I, and the rest of the Order will be at your side, ready to fight for you and defend you. I will not make you do this, but I offer my blessing and my strongest defenses to you if you choose to. Whatever will hit us, will hit us hard."

Avren's expressed turn grim and stern. He respected Merrik's decision to allow them a choice, but feared what lay in wait. "Surely there's another way. We can't just use them as bait, Merrik." Avren spoke up, a fair bit louder than he intended.

Turning to look at him, Merrik lifted his arms, shrugging. "There may well be another way, but for how long do we poke at the moss, cast disenchantments, deplete our mana stores as we try to egg on an attack. When facing an unknown opponent, there is no safe route."

He wanted to argue, tell Merrik he was wrong, and that with enough time, they could come up with a safer approach. But he felt that several of the others had already made up their minds.

"Play your role, Avren. That is all that you can do, for the time being. Let Goliath and Merrik make plans. They are leaders by nature, Reverie, too. She has chosen to offer up her skills. She made that decision herself, as did Goliath. Let them play their roles. The Great Balance does not kindly receive those who strive to tip the scales without right."

Avren frowned. "I... I will offer you protection as best I can. I will plant healing wards on both of you, I will protect your health as best I can, heal what I can even upon infliction, and I will fight alongside you." He spoke with a firm, but quiet tone.

Merrik nodded as Avren approached and sheathed his swords, muttering healing wards under his breath, weaving the spells around Reverie and Goliath, extending tendrils out to the other tamers for good measure, but focusing the bulk of his efforts on the pair.

Merrik couldn't help but smile. "I will protect your minds as best I can. You've both grown strong, but your minds will be weak after what we've been through. I will strengthen the walls in your minds and keep Ogual from poisoning your hearts." He, too, began to chant, weaving protective spells onto the hearts, souls, and minds of the two tamers, strengthening the defenses they already held against invasions.

"Unless anyone has any objections, I say, go for it. We're as ready as we can be."

Avren wanted to say something. He wanted to argue. But instead, like a leaf floating quietly on a stream, he put his faith in what may be and kept quiet, focusing his mind on preventing any more deaths.

White · Feb 27, 2017

Reverie was incredibly suprised to see Avren concerned about her and Goliath's wellbeing. She always thought him to be more seclusive, more passive and of dislike of her. Her eyes lightened up, the determination, the way she felt her trust build, it was an honour, incredible. She curtsied politely to Avren as he begun his magic, a wide smile decorating her face.
Merrik as well offered a degree of protection, Reverie nodded to him, still smiling. Holding the blade she borrowed from this very man at the sheathe up infront of her "For the order!" she cheered.
Her eyes turned to look to Goliaths, crossing them, locking for a moment and nodding with a smile before turning to the task at hand with this absolutely gorgous figure of a man in every possible way and manner.

She turned to the throne and walked with Goliath at her side next to her, with Merrik, Avren and all the others just meters away from her to support her, she walked to the throne, slowly, carefully. It became difficult to breathe, the air grew thicker and thicker, her heart felt burdened and heavy. Slowly she focused that purifying mana to her left palm, moving it flat to the surface of the throne...
She felt out for the darkness, for the evil and made her way through it by bringing light into the dark, piece by piece, bit by bit, cleansing it. It was almost ironic as this darkness felt similiar shadowy as the burdens of her past that she once bore and yet still so different in it's nature.

What she once felt, was more like despairing aggression, the reaction a cornered dog would have, this though, this felt malicious in more ways than she could have ever grasped and described before.
It was almost frightening, but she had all of them with her: Goliath, whom she thought she should tell what she feels for at some point, Avren, the one she made sleep with calmness, Merrik, the one that gave her the chance to redeem herself and Saira, Narien, Xylia, Pomona and all the others.
The headache felt like it was finally piercing and melting away her head with all the mana using to an extend she never practised for, but this, she would not fail. Not fail for the others in the order, not for all those orphans, all the people of Illos, all the men and women whom died by her side in battle, all the ones she met in her camp visits and lastly, Dalaith. A sacrifice not to be forgotten so soon. She would endure, she must endure. For all of them and everybody to have a future.

Chrome · Feb 27, 2017

"With friend's by our sides, there is nothing we can't accomplish", Goliath responded to Reverie's enthusiasm, which was almost as equally uncharacteristic as Avren speaking up to show concern. The soldier respected the man for not arguing but deep down Goliath was also just as worried the plan wouldn't work. He joined Reverie, along with Merrik to cast out the evil that veiled the throne of Kuhl. Goliath smiled under his helmet as he and Reverie locked glances, he had seen her grow more confident each day and took pride that he was asked to be her mentor. Now side by side the two tamers will deliver a powerful strike at the heart of the plague.

While Avren placed his wards and Reverie slowly walked to the throne, the soldier drew his sword and held it with both hands; one on the hilt and the other gauntlet held the blade between the thumb and index finger lightly. I'm going to need a lot of our power for this attack Hez, I know we're both tired...I promise we will get to rest soon, Goliath messaged as he began to draw bonded mana from his dragon companion and merged it with his own. The energy transferred from his hands to his gauntlets and flowed into his sword, the mana rippled with odd transparency as it wrapped around and weaved through the tempered steel.

<That's what you said before the Plague Eagles!!! ... And before the wisp things!! When we get back to the meadow I'm eating your favorite tunic and you can't stop me!>, Hezekiah shouted angrily in Goliath's mind, but reluctantly allowed his tamer access to all of their mana stores. Hezekiah had learned form experience that whatever reason Goliath had to use the mana would be a good one, and the dragon wasn't going to argue with a man he would call his friend and blood brother.

When the blade was ready and Reverie had started to cleanse the throne, Goliath looked at Merrik and nodded his head firmly to his commander to indicate he was ready. With a practiced flourish of his sword, Goliath plunged the blade deep into the heart of the creeping shadow that shrouded the throne and forcefully emitted his anti-mana from the tip of the blade as he met the dark resistance. He held his blade firm with both hands and focused all his strength to keep it from moving from the heart of the throne.

Pain wrapped Goliath firmly around his own heart and squeezed with intensity. He wanted to scream in agony but held on to his sanity as Reverie continued to cleanse the throne, if he had not teamed up with her, the instant excruciating pain would have definitively driven him to madness. Goliath yelled violently as he poured and focused his anti-mana to suppress the evil essence that began to retaliate against the soldier with everything it had.

Soulserenity20 · Feb 28, 2017

When the combined mana of Reverie and Goliath penetrated the mass of darkness, hatred would spill over them. At first, it was as if their mana was lulling, held off by the power of the dark magick that filled the room. As it pushed harder into the dark barrier, the two tamers would feel a horrid, pitting feeling, as if they were being grasped by dark, invisible hands that wished to claw the life from their bodies. But when their mana broke through, it was as if all the darkness in the world consumed them. Hatred filled their souls, the immense power of Ogual's ancient magic overpowering their own like a roaring river overpowering a reed. The feeling consumed them, ripped at their hearts, their minds, their souls.

Outside, the painful, excruciating cries of their dragons could be heard as the sharp, overwhelming emotions crossed the bond. For a time, they would crumble to the ground, nearly lifeless as their will to live faded under the immense misery that filled them. It was unlike anything they had ever felt. As if the heartbreak of a thousand men had been left to sit and fester for a millennia and now grew inside them. Merrik called out for them and Avren shuttered back, the dark mana leaching through his wards, like ink flowing up a strip of wet cloth, and it crippled him too. Merrik felt it, and all at once, he felt as if he'd never be happy again. As if hope had never existed, nor happiness, nor pleasure, joy. Only misery, only immense hatred. But Merrik's defenses were leagues more powerful than the others and because of his unique bond with the nightmare drake, a being whose mana lay rooted in the fears and disheartening corners of the mind, he was able to pull through long enough to expel a powerful segregation spell that ripped the sick mana from his soul and as he pushed it forward, calling upon the mana stores he had been storing in his pendant for nearly a decade. It took every drop of that stored mana to force Ogual's darkness out of the souls of the Order and when at last they were free, silence filled the room.

It took a few moments for Merrik to gather his thoughts, to recollect himself. Avren took several minutes to get back on his feet, having felt the death and hatred of all of Illos in his pain. And as the last of them began to rise, fear would sweep over Merrik's face. "Out battle isn't over yet..." He said is a ragged tone, gulping in air as the room seemed to drain of the substance entirely. He pointed to the throne and as the others looked, they would see the dark cloud beginning to recede behind the throne. What they left in their wake was a dark figure that slowly materialized out of the darkness. It appeared to be a man, with long flowing hair and pitting red eyes that glowed faintly. The figure was entirely black, ghost-like and semi-transparent. And all at once, Merrik realized they were looking at their foe, or at least, part of their foe. This looked to be Ogual's Shadow.

The being's lips pulled into a dark, venomous grin, and it rose up from the throne. As it lifted its arms and body from the throne, thick mounds of the black moss grew viciously outward and with each step, the dark substance welled up out of the ground, aggressively growing out, as if grasping for any semblance of humanity to consume. The shadow stood at the top of the steps and as it stared down at the others, a rumbling motion settled into the throne room, small at first, but as it grew, the dark red glow of the shadow's eyes grew stronger and the shadow's face settled into a hateful scowl. The moss shuttered, and all at once, it shot out from all around the room, dark tendrils that burned to the touch and pulled the very will to live from its victims, filling them with hatred.

The shadow lunged forward and attacked Merrik directly, its hand filled with dark red mana that threatened to destroy the Dragonlord with each powerful blow. The shadow fought like a monk, with sharp, concise hits. It was a tangible being, it seemed, for Merrik was able to block the first blow with his blackened gauntlet before rolling back, distancing himself from the shadow. It lunged forward again and Merrik summoned thick vines of dark mana and dove into a hand to hand battle with the shadow, struggling to avoid hit from both the shadow and the moss as he moved about the room. The shadow was fast, and attacked with a fierce hatred that seemed to mirror in the moss that snapped at every tamer. A thick tendril wrapped itself around Pomona's sword and ripped it from her hands, Goliath was dragged across the room and thrown while Reverie was hung up by the neck. Merrik struggled to hold his own against the shadow's elite hand to hand combat, pegging the being with orbs of dark mana and fire as he danced back, taking hits that sent him sprawling out on the floor where he struggled more and more each time to regain his footing. The shadow was a powerful omen of what was to come. If they couldn't defeat this small part of Ogual's darkness, what chance did they stand against the Dark Lord himself?

Return of the Dragon Tamers: The Plague of Ogual

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