The Cloud Accord

[Damien Kriez]

​

Malak gave Lusca a sinister smile thereafter, his eyes piercing the Merfolk's like a cold arrow. While the dark Elf held neither intention nor desire to kill the royal heir of Elloris, there was something about the Merman that left a sour, salty taste in the captive's tongue. Should the once prodigal son accept the way the others see him, a villain, then this Lusca would indeed be Malak's first victim. But the lovely thoughts of gutting him were getting the group nowhere… and so Malak's eyes focused forth, and down below towards the smoking Dwarf and her mount that had marched beside him. "Tch… Lucky imp you are, then." He spoke, looking back to see that his two babysitters were near the vicinity. "But…" His eyes stayed locked unto the Princess as she galloped nearby, philandering with her human love. Oh how those two churned his stomachs! Perhaps it was the cold that writhed within him, but his heart and mind were too sharpened or rather, hardened for such trivial pursuits. "Between you and me…" Malak said, feigning his strict gaze upon Tyrian and Layana, who chose to tread past the slow Dodrella and the calmed Malak. He chose to wait for Layana to be far forward, and her human pet far behind, for them to be unable to hear his words. "Those idiots should have appointed me Right Hand of the Magister for what I did…" All he did was loose another breath of laughter, as he had long accepted the injustice and corruption that festered within Elloris' walls. Truly, Magister Alre was leagues beyond Malekor in terms of hiding their secrets. Because if a single fragment of bone would ever fall out of the dear Magister's closet, and his closet has long been brim-filled with skeletons, then there would be a great possibility that Layana too would be just like this lowly Elven prisoner.​

​

 

[Cartoonicat]

​

[Jojin & Hokum, Duras, Liika, and Lula]

Deep in the Swamp Forest

A whistle? A whistle. Mother was calling him back - but not exactly back. Further North, away from where they had been. Hokum had yet to find any threats in the swamp waters ahead of the wading group but that did not mean there weren't dangers lurking elsewhere.

So, quick on the pads of his feet, Hokum skittered through the shallow waters and hurried back to Mother. She could be in danger and not know it! How would she, without him there to warn her? Mother did not have as sensitive of senses as he, so it was up to Hokum to protect her.

And he would always protect her.

Through the brush came the crashing of small waves and the telltale Snap! Snap! Snap! of Hokum's jaws announcing his arrival. Jojin gave him a closed-lipped but no less genuine smile. Behind her, the sound of paws and hooves sloshing water caught her ear. The quiet hum of fairy wings in flight.

Slowing her buffalo to a canter, Jojin tossed a glance over her shoulder. Three other delegates had decided to join her. Duras, the orc general; Liika, the changeling mercenary; and Ermina, the fairy botanist. A rather well-rounded group, if she said so herself. Part of her wondered which path Rictus had gone while the other told herself this was for the best; he'd surely have gotten on her nerves had he followed, despite his dragon knowledge. Plus, Hokum acted irritable in his presence.

Goblin delegate aside, between Duras and Liika - not to mention Hokum - their melee front would be strong in the face of adversity. Jojin could keep an eye out in battle from afar with Ermina and, if things were to go South, Jojin suspected the fairy's healing magic would come in handy.

She did not know how to communicate such plans clearly in common, however; the words would not come to her - simply feelings pertaining to shoddy, basic Zandaluran translations. So instead of muck things up, she kept quiet. Trusted her new teammates to know what to do should battle befall them.

Even the orc. Jojin had never considered herself an orc-hater like the rest of her family but she'd be lying if she claimed she wasn't wary. Still, he'd been chosen for a reason. She'd like to give Duras a chance to prove his character and, perhaps, now would be the perfect time.

Up ahead the flora grew even thicker. It would be hard for the mounts to maneuver themselves accordingly, but leaving them behind seemed risky. Jojin drew her thin lips into an even thinner line, finally halting. She looked at Liika and wondered if the changeling would be alright in the dense forestry.

"Ride bad here," she said. Pursed her lips, thoughtful. Ride wasn't exactly the right word, so what was? Jojin did not know, so instead of explain further with spoken language, she gestured to her buffalo. "Forest thick. Ride slow, dangerous."

Still, she didn't want to leave the mounts alone or tied up. Something could come and scare them off. Or, worse - eat them. Then their deaths would be on the scouting party's hands. Jojin considered life sacred; the fact that the dragons seemed to disregard such a thing and continue to slaughter not only her own people, but all of those living in Halbernon, put a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Ride? Walk?" Jojin asked the group. Her eyes fell on Liika specifically, her milky blue irises filled with concern. "Liika be okay?"

[Lusca and Ricky]

Following the Path

A chill crept up Lusca's spine, this one not attributed to the frost mage's power but rather the sinister smile he wore. Yet, the merman schooled his face into a mask of nonchalance - something he'd trained himself to do with the less than desirable inhabitants of Waris. As terrified as he was of having his blood turned to ice or whatever the mage could conjure up, Lusca refused to back down. For now.

Showing weakness meant you were weak. At least, that's what he had learned. Dirt and dragons were different - he was out of his element in Dragon Country - but the comforting familiarity of dealing with conversation enveloped him like a blanket. Let the lesser races have their mud and magic and weapons; Lusca had the silver tongue of a trickster.

That and illusion magic. How easy it would be to cast allure on the foul elf. Force him through the manipulation of his emotions into serving Lusca - and happily - but it simply wouldn't do. While Lusca had nothing against the idea of putting Malak in his place, he knew all too well that his own magic was only temporary. Once the spell broke, Malak and his ice would no doubt turn on him without a second thought, just like he had Lord Elivagar.

Still, the thought amused him.

One by one, the rest of the delegation members left until only Lusca and the goblin remained. Lovely. He watched in the corner of his eye the goblin approach, Lusca's own mouth curling into a grimace. Instinctively, he used the sleeve of his lavish uniform to wipe at the muddy stain on his pant leg again. Yes, it would smudge worse, but he'd knock off what damp flecks he could and in doing so Lusca refused to dirty his bare hands.

That would just-... That would be awful.

"...Greetings," Lusca said after a time. Did not bother making eye contact with Rictus, lest he make the goblin think he actually wanted to talk to him. Couldn't he catch the hint? Though, Lusca supposed he'd rather be with the goblin than by himself. They were chaotic, frightful little creatures but at least they retained their intellect from their times as gnomes. At least he wasn't wandering around with that inarticulate, dirty troll and her crocolisk. Or, perhaps now just as bad, the ice mage.

Absently he listened to Rictus go on about peace treaties and roads and not-roads. Lusca didn't much care for his conversation but, as the goblin was his only company for now, he humored him. "Hm, roads. Yes. Perhaps they will..." Though, in reality, Lusca sincerely doubted it.

The two pressed on at a leisurely pace. Had no need to weave through trees, for the brush was just thin enough for them to walk in a straight line without much trouble yet still offer adequate cover from the sky. His horse trudged through the murky water, leaving only ripples and not hoof prints for the others to follow later on.

He glanced at Rictus, then, and noticed his slashing of the trees. Markers. Lusca hummed quietly. Thoughtful. Perhaps the goblin had his uses after all.

An idea struck him, then, and Lusca resisted the urge to grin. Instead he smiled, all perfect white teeth and charming.

"So, Rictus was it? Tell me about yourself, goblin."

[Dodrelda, Layana, Tyrian, and Malak]

Along the Swamp Banks

Taking a puff of her pipe, Dodrelda watched Tyrian and Layana skirt the edge of her line of sight. At first she wondered if they'd meant to come with her or go their own way but, after several moments of waiting for them to disappear into the brush and being pleasantly surprised they had not, Dodrelda let out a billow of smoke in approval. At least some people had shown enough backbone to follow her. Sure, her route was a little risky, but everywhere in Dragon Country was dangerous.

At the sound of Malak's voice beside her, Dodrelda quirked a brow. So he followed, too, eh? She glanced back at the couple in the distance. Hmm...

Then she cracked a grin, smoky tendrils wafting into the air through the part of her lips. "Imp? As if I hav'n heard tha' one a thousan' times. Step up yer game, Snowflake." She followed his line of sight, eyes falling on the couple a third time, and this time she audibly hummed. Curious more than anything as to why Malak had such a fascination for the two but, then again, she supposed it was natural - Layana's father had imprisoned him. Tyrian seemed to be guilty in Malak's eyes by association.

Ah, tha' price o' love.

Dodrelda had been in love once. Or, so she'd thought. Leaving one's fiance mere months before the wedding didn't count as love. Not in the eyes of many and, perhaps, not in Dodrelda's, either. Still, she'd deeply cared for her fiance. Granted, it hadn't been enough to make her stay, but it helped her understand the pair a little better. Their mild distance from the others; the blatantly obvious devotion to one another. A memory of fair skin and a ginger beard flashed through her mind. Prompted her to take an exceptionally deep swig of her pipe.

And then Malak opened his mouth again. She unintentionally inhaled part of her blend, choked on it, and beat her chest with an enclosed fist several times before settling. If Tyrian and Layana were to look over, she'd wave them off with a surprised smile. It wasn't often she muddled up a good puff but it wasn't often she found herself on the brink of such good gossip.

Wiping the choked tears from her eyes, Dodrelda looked to Malak fully. Didn't bother asking why he hadn't climbed onto his mount yet - his walking through the mud wasn't her problem - and, instead, adopted a cheeky grin. "Oh? And why's 'at?"

 

[Damien Kriez]

​

From a heavily guarded Elven convict to one a tad bit freer than before, Malak enjoyed the benefits of his loosed wrists. One of the benefits the dark Elf had reaped was the choice to heave the reins of his horned steed wherever he had gone. Step by step, with each black booted foot sinking unto the muddied earth, felt more natural than the last. Even during the peak of life, when the Élivágars had access to wealth and power most high, Malak favored the natural order of things (despite spending the majority of his years thinking that the Elves of Elloris were naturally the most righteous of races). Only during banquets or balls, or a show of luxury at the academy did the charcoal Elf mount upon the seat of his steed. When his father had hunted with him, Malekor stressed the necessity of being quite literally grounded. And so he moved, right foot, left foot, and right again—becoming one with nature itself.

His willingness, or rather apathy, to be sullied by the elements was tempered during his time in prison. It was there that he had forgone his well-mannered conduct and took on the mantle of a savage—boxing, crafting makeshift weapons, street smarts, and whatever traits criminals had to be aptly called so. However, one mustn't forget their roots… even if the truth is darker than one would care to admit. That was why, when he saw Aleguard once more, this time a free lady, Malak felt compelled to share the pacing space with her. Whilst admittedly, she wasn't the smartest and most fair lady in this ragtag Accord, she certainly shared more of Malak's plights. The Elf had remained calm and collected when she broke her own focus, swallowing the smoke she intended to billow from her nostrils. Malak hauled the reins of his deer as his sword-staff and other material essentials lay strapped firmly upon the mount's hide. After Dodrelda had coughed up what little smoke she had downed, the little Dwarf stretched her neck to its utmost capacity, only to look at Malak and get his attention. She had asked her silly query, prompting Malak himself to literally look down upon his Dwarven pace-mate. Her patch of taupe, flea-ridden, curls painting the majority of what he saw, as well as the smoke that ascended from her darkened, soot-covered lips towards his nostrils. Oh how fortunate was Malak, for the frost that emerged protected him, albeit a little, from the foul stenches of this place.

"Let's just say that the dear Magister," He cleared his through with a grunt, "The royal trollop's father dearest, is leagues beyond my father in terms of shoving skeletons in his closet." Malak said so in the faintest of whispers, so quiet in fact, that if Dodrelda failed to hear even a single word he uttered, then it wouldn't be his problem. He took a deep breath, once more forming a frozen breeze that escaped his cold, crisp lips. "And if I hadn't done what I did," the dark Elf smiled at the thought, "Then Tyrian and Layana would be cleaning the palace floors a hundred times over at best, and shattered at worst." Malak had fond memories of both his father and mother, and despite the lack of perfection in any life, Malak's own would have been better than most. After his words broke free from his heart and mind and unto reality as words, he couldn't help but remember the time that, in his pride, Malekor carried his child son after winning a competition of magic. Thereafter, he remember Malekor patting his shoulders and firmly grasping Malak's hand after graduation; and then, shortly after, the memory of their battle. Before he could, dare say, express an emotion, he loosed a deep, bittersweet sigh. "But I believe a child needs the image of a parent. And with those words, he gave Dodrelda a look that, without actually saying it, ended their conversation then and there.

He raised a brow and looked at the Dwarf, her vice nipping at his patience until he could take it no longer. "Also, stop smoking. You'll singe your lip hairs and give up our location... Speaking of..." He paced behind a tad bit further from Dodrelda, and wished to speak to Tyrian. While those two men held naught but dislike for the other, there isn't any doubt there was a respect that brewed between the two for each other. After all, they were great mystics and combatants of nigh unmatched skill. However, Malak saw no benefit in this horrid exchange of feelings... especially during a time like this. "Would you kindly tone it down? I know you wield fire quite well but being this in heat might attract unnecessary threats." He said so, pacing forth until the party ultimately stops.​

 

[Zero The Grimm]

​

At least the mercenary didn't focus on complicated matters by arguing or trivial arguments. She seemed competent enough given the marks she was leaving around. Though the faires company wasn't what he expected. He would have preferred he staid with the fish. Regardless, their group would at least be able to deal with most situations say short of a dragon.

He grunted when she asked his opinion on splitting up. "It wouldn't be my first thought though these aren't my soldiers." So arguing would ultimately be pointless. "I simply have to make the best of it." Which so far was working out well enough.

He paused when the troll, Jojin he believed, stopped to talk to them. He understood the jist of it. Though not the best with words, she seemed to know what she was doing. "My mount is not accustom to swamp areas." The lands he traveled around were more of solid ground and barren fields. "But she will bare it." He would make sure of it. "Unless your pet can be trusted to guard over them." Without eating them.

 

[Baddamobs]

​

Rictus wasn't too surprised when his initial attempts at conversation weren't exactly going down well: this was, after all, the guy he had just slighted by purposely making a mess of one of his trouser's leg. In some ways, the goblins recognised that antagonising other members of this delegation was perhaps not his smartest moves. On the other, Lusca's shout of pure shock and indignation had been pretty joyous to hear.

He was fairly surprised, therefore, when the merman turned to face him properly. Lusca flashed a dazzling smile, and asked,

"So, Rictus was it? Tell me about yourself, goblin."

Rictus shrugged, leaning back in his saddle as he did.

"What's there to tell, really? I'm just another post-Original Line goblin trying his best to get by without becoming a drake's breakfast." After a moment, Rictus scratched at his chin, his expression twisting into a confused one. "Or was the term 'Pure-Blood Goblin?' 'True Green Goblin?' Ehh, whatever term means I was born after the transformation. I grew up surrounded by older folks that lamented the sudden change of lifestyle, but it can't have been all bad. King Cutter seemed to have the right idea, at least: we embrace the change, and we become stronger for it. Thicker hides aren't the only things that make us tougher than our…cousins."

The last word sounded strained, like the goblin was close to retching it out of his throat. Rictus' hands gripped his reins, and his face fell into a grimace. Spitting to one side, he muttered,

"Let the damn gnomes keep their universities and gadgets. All it proves is they wouldn't last a day in our shoes."

Rictus let himself stew for a while, thinking back on some less than cordial words he said to a gnome once, before he shook himself.

"But listen to me talk your ear off." Rictus turned to Lusca with a sheepish grin. "Tell me about yourself, good man. How did you end up on this little endeavour? Leave any broken hearts behind you on your way? How are you handling…"

The goblin waved his hand around, as if hoping to somehow convey the lack of totally encapsulating water.

"…air?"

 

[Impudimp]

Shiftily taking in as much as she could of the terrain and life forms within it, Ermina did her best to stay near to the group at large once she had caught up. Well, large-ish. It was much smaller than the group proper was, but certainly it was fit for an exploring party in her mind. Everyone was strong, even the mounts. Perchance they stumble across anything dangerous- that wasn't a carnal plant, because she could handle those easily- they would survive.

This mindset kept her at a state of merriment amongst the flora despite the mild tenseness of the atmosphere. Her little ears caught the most important parts of the conversation. To dismount or not to dismount? Well.... She'd peer curiously back at her own wings before apprehensively cutting her gaze down to her feet. She wiggled her minuscule toes with a small shudder. No... She did not want to walk any time soon. Her walking was about as graceful as a three-legged fawn. She'd very much like to stay airborne.

However as she took in the density of the brush up ahead and the physical features that were inherent to a marsh climate, she couldn't help stating the obvious, "What about quicksand and sinkholes?" It wasn't that she didn't love animals, but... In the even that one stepped in such obstacles, the likelihood of survival went up if something were between the individual and the shifting earth. Also time tended to be of the essence. Entire sections of land- trees, buildings, and all- could be engulfed in mere seconds. Oh dear, Liika won't enjoy such a situation at all... She grew pensive over her thoughts of the centaur female.

 

[Cartoonicat]

​

[Jojin & Hokum, Duras, Liika, and Lula]

Deep in the Swamp Forest

Confused, Jojin narrowed her brows at the orc. Pet? She did not understand the term, but assumed he was talking about Hokum, considering her water buffalo would most certainly be incapable of defending itself, much less the other mounts. Jojin only hoped that pet was a kind term and not something rude; it would not do to insult her crocolisk companion in front of her, even if Hokum could not understand common tongue.

"Hokum..." She looked to the creature with a thoughtful frown. While she debated whether or not to leave him, the fairy spoke, raising a good point. Nature could be unpredictable at best, deadly at worse. She didn't much like the idea of forcing their mounts into territory that could result in their deaths but if it would allow them scouting party an opportunity to escape in one piece should an obstacle arise, it would not be a bad idea. "Hokum follow." And so, the crocolisk did.

Cautious, Jojin urged her water buffalo forward, through the trees. The muck there was soggy, the mount's hooves sinking quite low into the ground, but she trusted it to know how to navigate. The swamps were its natural habitat, after all. "Group stay together."

Still, it did not stop Jojin from tossing Duras' mount and Liika an apprehensive glance. They would need to take great care in the slop - especially Liika, lest she run too fast and trip. Having a wounded teammate so early on would not be good for the delegation.

"Slow," she said. "Careful."

[Lusca and Ricky]

Following the Path

Hmm, Lusca thought, actually listening to what Rictus had to say, that is at least somewhat interesting. "If it makes you feel better, in Waris, you are all simply goblins," Lusca said. He didn't much care to console Rictus, however. At the mention of gnomes, Lusca forced a sincere-looking smile instead of one with taunting undertones. "Cousins? I'd say they're more like... ancestors, to your people. You've since... evolved from them, no?"

He eyed the goblin's ears, his dark green skin, and tried not to pull a face of disgust. Lusca had to play nice, after all. At least, for a time. So, he turned his eyes forward with a hum. The less he had to look at the creature, the easier it was to speak comfortably. "Yes, many," Lusca admitted. "Though I fret not over the loss - there will be more lovers waiting in line upon my return home." Instinctively he reached up to brush his fingertips against the closed gills on his neck, lips curling into a frown. It would be okay, Lusca figured, to show vulnerability in front of Rictus. He seemed the type to feel for the underdog.

"The air above water is stifling and I've never smelled so many foul scents before," he admitted, nose wrinkling. "As for how I got here," Lusca glanced at Rictus, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips, "I've got connections. That bloody bastard Icarus froze-"

Rumble.

Lusca paused, his mount slowing. "What was-"

Rumble.

A sonorous grumble sounded ahead of them, growing louder the closer they got. Eventually, Lusca stopped his mount from moving altogether. He glanced at Rictus, eyes wide and voice quiet: "What is that noise?"

[Dodrelda, Layana, Tyrian, and Malak]

Along the Swamp Banks

"Ahh," Dodrelda hummed, listening intently. Oh, did she love some good gossip, and this was just the juiciest. Now, though, she began to wonder exactly what skeletons the Magister of Elloris had in his closet. Before she could dig deeper, however, the elf had cut their conversation off - and with a rude comment, no less.

"Lip hairs? Singe my lip hairs?" She snorted, brushing fingertips across the upper crest of her lip. "Alright, ye got me there, Snowflake." She exhaled a large plume of smoke just to spite him before snuffing the light out. While she took it mostly as a joke, Malak did have a point; the smoke would likely attract unwanted company. After knocking the ashes out and storing her pipe away, Dodrelda spat into the swamp water and pressed on. To her amusement, Tyrian and Layana had yet to not only respond to Malak, but come closer to the group.

She quirked a brow and said, good-naturedly, "Talk louder why don't ye? Don't think they heard ye over yer foul attitude."

Eventually the group came upon a troll hut in the shallow water, right before the trees thinned into the vast open area Dodrelda had wanted originally want to explore. "Hey, look'it! We ought to go in, huh? See wha' the trolls left behind."

 

[Baddamobs]

​

"If it makes you feel better, in Waris, you are all simply goblins,"

In all honesty, Rictus wasn't sure if necessarily did make him feel better. While opinions differed from goblin to goblin, he was of the mind that the distinction between the 'Original' goblins and those that came after was a fairly important one. The original generation were tough old folks, and deserved a lot of credit for holding it together despite all the trouble life seemed determined to pile on them and ensure the continued survival of what was essentially new and very young race. In comparison, he was just a goblin more worried about where his next meal was going to be coming from. Of course, he'd already let his mouth run away with him, and thus he merely grunted neutrally in reply to Lusca.

"Cousins? I'd say they're more like... ancestors, to your people. You've since... evolved from them, no?"

Now that did manage to draw a pleased chuckle from Rictus, the goblin's shoulders rising and falling with his laugh. It was a nice image, the idea that the goblins weren't just some freak accident, but the next step on the path of progress. Who knows, maybe in another life gnomes had purposely made the change, seeing the tougher green skin as just a natural improvement? The idea was amusing, if nothing else.

"Yes, many," Lusca, at least to Rictus, seemed to be looking off in one direction, likely imaging said broken-hearts he'd left behind. "Though I fret not over the loss - there will be more lovers waiting in line upon my return home."

"Pfft, at least that makes one of us." Rictus laughed, more than a little envious. Lusca definitely seemed to the sort to keep a small court's worth of paramours on hand, and even the goblin couldn't deny the guy had the looks for it. It wasn't exactly too surprising to hear that their situations were completely opposite. "Ahh, what I wouldn't give to have just a single goblin lass waiting for me back in Loobatai…well, any kind of lass that wouldn't look at me like I was something they found at the bottom of their shoe would do."

That was, however, the point where Lusca began talking about his experience above ground, and the air of mirth between the two faded.

"The air above water is stifling and I've never smelled so many foul scents before," His nose wrinkled as he spoke. Rictus wondered how it must have felt, to go from having the constant presence of water around you to suddenly be surrounded by a force that you could no longer see or directly feel, but could definitely perceive. The goblin couldn't even begin to imagine. "As for how I got here, I've got connections. That bloody bastard Icarus froze-"

Lusca's voice was suddenly swallowed up by a great crash, an unidentifiable sound of immense force. Rictus felt his entire body tense, head snapping left and right. It was like a string of great drumbeats, only this was threatening to shake the earth under the their feet. Worse, that sound was definitely getting louder. Each pounder, more pronounced than the last, caused a horrible reverberation in Rictus' skull, one that made his teeth feel loose.

"What is that noise?"

Lusca's voice was low, almost drowned out completely by the sound. The only other sound than the beating and the merman's voice was their mounts' increasing fear. Rictus tried to pet his ram's neck in order to silence it's fearful bleating, but the beast was clearly barely stopping itself from bolting.

Slowly and carefully, Rictus clambered off the ram, eyes scanning fretfully left and right. He would have cursed aloud if he was quite so terrified of being heard. The very same trees that had given them safety and cover from any dragons overhead were now blocking any clear line of sight. Anything could be making the noise, and they wouldn't be able to see it until far too close for Rictus' liking.

With fumbling hands, Rictus managed to pull his two daggers out of the sheaths by his side, a little of his confidence returning when the dull iron of the blades were glinting in the muted light. He had a plan, a fairly simple one. He would creep through what cover he could find, see if he could spot the source of the noise before it spotted him, and come back without being eaten alive. Of course, the last part of the equation relied on the second part not going horrible awry.

Keeping his voice as low as he could, the goblin turned to the merman.

"Stay here, and be very quiet. I'll try and see what's ahead. If I'm not back in the next couple of minutes, try and regroup with the others, use the trail makers if you have to." After a second of fiddling and gripping his daggers, Rictus added. "Take care of the ram for me. He's an idiot, but he probably doesn't deserve to get chewed up by some swamp beast."

With that, Rictus gathered what scraps of his composer that he could, and began to carefully push his way forward, keeping to the thickest parts of the foliage as he could. Goblins were pretty good at being sneaky: their smaller stature and earthy skin tones meant that they could creep around pretty efficiently. That being said, Rcitus knew that was hardly an advantage. He was wandering into unknown territory, into something that probably had a much better grasp of the land then he did. It'd be a miracle if it hadn't already spotted him, let alone him spotting it before that.

Taking a breath, Rictus grasped his daggers tight, and pushed forward.

 

[Shavynel]

Liika gave a half-chuckle in response to Duras's reply. The orc was a general through and through, and seemed as though he would have been more comfortable with an army at his back. For that matter, it was interesting that they had two among them accustomed to leading troops. Rubbing shoulders with Layana had certainly proved a good move. Befriending another general would likely pan out.

"I'll be fine," she assured the rest of their scouting party, poised before the thick foliage. They doubted her abilities to walk? She stomped the ground in irritation, but the move might not have registered at all, the softness of the earth caving to her hoof easily. That, more than any warnings her companions could have given, put her on her watch. Not that she wasn't before. Of course she was alert. Just more so now.

Liika once again let the others go ahead of her, but this time, it was to watch where they let their feet fall, taking care to pick her path, letting each foot sink before picking up the next. "Just take it slow." As if Jojin hadn't already said that. Still, Liika's hands were on her axe, as if somehow she might be able to slay one of the sinkholes Ermina mentioned before it proved problematic. That fairy really had an advantage here.

Really, though, the axe was more useful in moving aside the low branches. As if the ground below wasn't enough to contend with. She wasn't about to complain or go back, though. Let her new companions know their caution was well-placed? No way. She was perfectly capable of handling herself, thank you very much.

 

[Dante]

Continuing to look over the surroundings of the marshes around him he wondered briefly about the goings on and wellbeing of the other groups. He still was not in full agreement to splitting up like this but hopefully it would provide some of them with direction and or piece of mind to the rest of the delegation. Following Layana's motion he took his gaze over to observe that the Dwarf and frosted instigator were moving in that direction anyway.

"Of course. Sounds romantic..." he said chuckling into his fist before he caught the words of Malak and one could swear actual fire lit in Tyrian's eyes. The gentle charisma and confident charm turning to daggers and stone towards the man that would only prove to be more and more of a hassle to maintain around them all. "You make quite the habit of trying to cause problems snowflake...I can assure you I can control my fire and commotion well. Don't worry 'my friend' we won't be far from you." He said holding his look to him before his grin came to rest over Dodrelda. He could easily picture Malak turning his tongue to the dwarf and getting a needed reality check. "We will be right out here keeping watch. I would love to see if the trolls left anything interesting though" he said simply. Not holding much faith really. Although it was interesting to find some beings able to somewhat thrive so close to dragon country.

Suddenly having Layana dash off steadily away to a better position he simply kicked Nike once in command to follow while Elio ruffled and spazzed its wings out a bit in the sudden motion but staying to his shoulder. They would move out around and near to the hut but quiet and still keeping eyesight and only a few seconds of distance away, enough to still offer them a bit of privacy to speak freely.

"Ahh...I see you never cease to want to compete with me. Ever since the first weeks together back in Elloris... And look now no matter how much you plan to best me...I have already won the treasure of your heart" He said quietly keeping that side of him to her alone. Letting her hold the moment before he grew back to a bit of cockiness in his tone. "Besides I still did beat you at quite a few things. Maybe you have improved on your archery since then for instance." He said with a wink as his steed was aligned with her own and he took brief hold of her hand. "Queen Fallon also was...relieved I finally was able to offer the ring to you. She probably would have killed me before the dragons ever could had I took any longer" Tyrian said with a genuine laugh before returning his gaze to the hut and the area around them and to the skies above. Not letting his guard down and giving her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it to lean over and kiss her cheek. "Better late than never....besides...when we have a better chance to talk. I have some news regarding.....us. After this madness of course."

​

 

[Shayla]

Layana held close atop her horse to Tyrian as she watched Malak and the dwarf come to near that of the troll hut. Truly , she herself found no need to join in on the exploration of the hut and believed they were put to better use in being guards held stationed outside for them. Her look glinted in play to Tyrian's as she spared her look over him as she chuckled softly to his words and shook her head a bit at the notion."Tis I have always been one known to compete with you , Dear. From the time we were children I think it sprouted naturally between us growing up. Don't you think? Your flattery though.. That truly never changes with you. I dare say.." She said quite happily at that given knowing whilst a small blush held streaked against her features and revealed the true happiness from the words he spoke. It was at his next words that left her grinning from head to toe as her look came to pass slowly over Tyrian as she quirked her brow at him."You did beat me a few times but , I'm certain I can meet you halfway and show you just how improved I've become.. That is if you dare to try such." Layana finished with a devious look marked to her paled orbs as she shrugged her shoulders in light hearted tease to him. Soon , he came to steer his horse in closer to her own as his hand reached forth to clasp softly to her own. Instant relaxation came to flood her gaze as she smiled soft and eased it upwards to brush her lips to the tips of his fingers. Her look glowed playfully as she gave his hand a small squeeze."Was she now? After this long of waiting I can't seem to blame her either. For we have been waiting for sometime for this to occur.. My poor finger has been bare for one to many a year , Mister." She teased him light heartedly as his kiss to her cheek left a warm smile to grow in a curve to her crimson lips."News regarding us? Please don't go leaving me in the dark for to long on that , Beloved.. Gods only know how long this journey will cease to pull us away from a single time alone. Best we try to find that time when we can." Layana said in a soft voice for him to only hear as she kept her voice lowered to ensure that she kept her hearing on the events coming to be as they neared thehut as they watched and she spoke quietly."What do you think they'll discover in there , Heart?" She finished in question as her look lingered softly over him in that given moment.
​

 

[Impudimp]

Her wings would preen a bit despite the suddenly cautious nature of all her companions while a smile stretched her round cheeks. I helped! She was quite pleased with herself to have provided some type of safety... Well, at least maybe just a little. It wasn't like she had built a bridge of light for everyone to move about on, avoiding the muck entirely, but it was something.

All she wanted was to be of assistance to her party after all. Until they found some dragons, of course. Then she wanted to vivisect a serpent brain for much needed information. However, as near or far as that eventuality turned out to be, Ermina wanted to do her best to focus on the present, and make friends with her team mates so that when confrontation came about they would be more likely to work coherently instead of running around like headless chickens.

Circling the group as a ball of nervous energy and light, she'd quickly ask many things. "What would everyone like to talk to the dragons for? Does Hokum know any tricks, Jojin? Liika what's it like to have 4 legs instead of two? Garrus, what would you say the psi of your jaw is?" She had been meaning to have conversations with everyone, so now that the group was smaller, her nerves finally got out of the way.

 

[Cartoonicat]

​

[Jojin & Hokum, Duras, Liika, and Lula]

Deep in the Swamp Forest

Venturing further, Jojin let her buffalo steer itself on and off. She worried for Liika, no matter her reassurance's, and repeatedly spared glances beside her towards the red-haired centaur. Noticed how her hooves sunk deep into the ground with each step.

Slow, she reminded herself, giving the braided hair of her buffalo a warning tug. Slow.

Concerning as their situation was, the fairy seemed more than eager now to chat. Jojin didn't mind it, so long as they stayed alert. Getting to know one another would likely benefit them down the road. The stronger the bonds, the stronger the family, her parents had relentlessly instilled in her. Jojin found out through her time with the big game hunters of her tribe that the saying applied everywhere, not just with family.

"Tricks?" Jojin quirked a brow. Couldn't help but grin a little, sharp teeth glinting in the small rays of sunlight that managed to peek through the swamp trees. It grew darker the deeper they went but, with the sun overhead, the darkest it became was simply dim. "Hokum tricks," she nodded. "Hokum hides below water. Tricks prey thinking not there. Kills prey."

That was one of his better moves, though it really only worked in the swamplands of Zandalur. That and Fenswich Marsh, though Jojin knew the prey here were more predatory than anything.

​

Trudging through the marsh several steps ahead, Hokum lead the charge. He was quicker, stronger, and fiercer than the beasts Mother and her party rode. Naturally, he'd be the one to look out for them. Make sure they didn't step where they shouldn't; keep ears and snout alert for danger.

His gait faltered a step as a peculiar smell hit him. Hokum had never smelled something like that before. Flaring his nostrils, Hokum continued forward, cautious.

Sour. Salty. Maybe a little sweet, too.

He lead them through a thicker brush. Clambered over a particularly thick root, back legs frantically scratching against wood until he hauled himself over. Beyond, a shallow cavern dipping into the ground. Hokum snapped loudly twice and, in seconds, Mother arrived at his side.

"Not on map... explore?" She looked to the scouting party.

​

[Lusca and Ricky]

Following the Path

"What?" Lusca squeaked indignantly, "You're leaving me here?" Looked around, lips falling into a deep frown. "Alone?" Still, the goblin did not seem to stop. As though appalled as its rider, Lusca's steed stamped its feet into the mud. The merman chewed his lip.

He waited until Rictus disappeared into the brush up ahead before scowling. Slipped off his mount with a full-body shudder and a dry gag. "Ugh," he groaned beneath his breath, "absolutely foul..." Looking around curiously, Lusca tied the reins of both mounts to a rather large stick protruding from the ground. Then he set off after Rictus, feet sloshing rather loudly through the mud.

Mounts are fine and all, but I'm not getting eaten, either.

Once he caught up to the goblin he slowed. Whispered angrily, "I can't believe you-" only to have the reverberating rumble interrupt him. He quieted, eyes round. The sound had been much louder than before. "We should find a different route. Why are you going towards-" Another rumble, equally as loud. Something struck Lusca and, curious, he waited a beat. Raised his hand to prompt Rictus' silence.

1...2...3...rumble...1...2...3...rumble...1...2...3...rumble.

"It sounds like... snoring."

Sure enough, the rhythmic pattern continued. It sounded close enough to touch, almost. Pursing his lips, Lusca shimmied through the mud just enough to peek through an overgrown half-wall of flora, intertwined and held aloft by massive swamp trees. There, on a rock, was a sleeping drake.

[Dodrelda, Layana, Tyrian, and Malak]

Along the Swamp Banks

Ooh ho ho, she thought devilishly, enjoying the sparks of hostility between her teammates, this'll be one int'restin' journey, indeed. Dodrelda knew that tension among the delegation would only harm them but, even so, she couldn't quell her innate desire for drama. It livened things up. Kept them interesting.

With Layana and Tyrian opting to keep watch outside, that left only Malak. Curious as she was, Dodrelda was not going in there alone. So, prompting her yak forward, she passed by him and leaned to give his mount a proper smack on the rump. It reared before galloping forward along with her rapidly, startled.

Stopping several steps from the hut, her yak slowed. She shot Malak a cheeky grin before dismounting. "Best stay in groups of two, ye see?" The water came up to just above her ankles. Sloshed loudly with each footstep. Eventually she made it to the staircase and stepped onto damp wood. "Come on, then, Snowflake. Time ta make use o' this scoutin' party."

Ascending the staircase, Dodrelda became increasingly aware of its age. One plank dissolved underfoot, releasing a wave of mold stench. She covered her mouth, nearly gagging, and gripped the handrail tighter. "Erm... Maybe we'll start from the front, yeah?" Instead of continue upwards, Dodrelda back-tracked to the front and looked for a way in. The front of the door would not budge and she didn't think it worth using Ysolda to bust down. There's got' be another rotten plank 'round here.

Indeed, there was. After placing her hands on the wall and adding pressure, Dodrelda eventually found another cluster of planks completely molded through. Aha. They collapsed quietly, the dampness breaking their fall. Again, the smell of mold made her clutch her nose. She climbed inside carefully.

It smelled even worse, there. A sulfuric mixture of mold, rotten eggs, and decaying corpses.

Corpses. Everywhere. Some dragonkin, some troll, some goblin, and an abundance of normal wildlife. Dodrelda had seen her fair share of death, but this was too much. By Heaven's-... Unable to stop herself, she threw herself out of the way of the entrance and lost most of her breakfast on the soggy floorboards.

In the center of the room, surrounded by bodies and skeletons, was a massive, gaping hole leading downwards into darkness.

 

[Damien Kriez]

​

Doldrelda had smacked the rear end of Malak's horned, unnamed steed, compelling it to canter forth with all of the charcoal Elf's necessities. It slowed to a halt along with his diminutive companion a few meters before the deadwood shanty until Dodre herself had dismounted from her yak. Fortunately for the Dark Elf, he had unbound his silver sword-staff, the Elven weapon gifted to him by his father most cruel, before the Dwarf smacked the rump of his elk. Who knew what dangers lurked within the halls of this hut? When all's said and done, fate favoured those primed for anything.

Unsheathing the cold, silver bladed staff and gripping his weapon with firmness and conviction, Malak gestured with the sharpened tip to let his little friend lead the way. Should any pre-conceived threat make itself known and appear before the scouting party, then Dodrelda would be its first respondent. Was it cowardly? In the eyes of most, yes, especially those whose code of honor trumps their will to live. Sacrifice, however, is inevitable in this kind of life… and Malak was not one to act heroic, not anymore, not after doing so cost him his freedom.

He uttered no words at Dodrelda's statements, giving her no more than two nods of his sable-hued chin in agreement, and a smirk of acceptance of his new nickname. Snowflake was an innocent epithet. It was an ironic name, enough to lighten the mood a tad bit in times of grave seriousness. It was certainly better than the nickname his prison-mates had given him…

When the Dwarf attempted to ascend the stairs, Malak reached his hand to her in caution, "Wait, those stairs could be o-" and it was too late. He rolled his eyes at her and shook his head in disappointment as the wooden plank snapped with the step of her foot. "Ugh. You Dwarves always lacked finesse." He walked away from the Dwarf, pacing towards the front door. He turned the knob left and right; Malak was not surprised that it was locked—what could the Trolls have left behind? He cupped his Elven ear and leaned in, trying to determine whatever sounds were being made inside the hut, if there were any.

"The humidity of his foul place gives me more power. I could shatter the knob itself and open this door quitely," Malak thought, and in response his right palm beamed with a sky-blue energy. But before the Dark Elf could place his hand upon the rusted iron, Malak's ears twitched upon hearing the sound of falling planks. He paced towards the source and found, to his surprise, Dodrelda upchucking to the side… "What in the…" He gave Dodrelda a slight glance and a raised brow, a modest look of disgust, before being taken aback by the very sight of death that stood before him.

The only hostile that emerged upon breaching through the deadwood was the hostile stench of death and decay… The Elf chose not to cover his nostrils, the breeze of his frozen magic filtering the air and the stink of this god-forsaken marsh. He stepped forth and was immediately surrounded by death—skeletons and rotting corpses, painted with moss and fungi, and the flies and pests that called this display a feast. "By the Gods…" he whispered, a breeze of frozen air formulating before his mouth. Now, Malak was no stranger to death and the macabre, and examined the corpses that rested around him. "Natural decay," he pondered, fiddling with the bones and a plump maggot that squirmed helplessly between his fingers.

Malak turned his head thereafter, "Get on your feet, Aleguard." He uttered, Dodrelda's hands still resting on her knees after spewing her lunch. Indeed, she ate a lot. After the Dwarf had collected herself, the Elf pointed back to the direction of the front door with his thumb. "The front door. I can shatter the knob just like I did my chains…" the Elf turned backward once more, stepping forth into the shadows. "But I'd like it to be your call." Malak finally stopped before the large trench. He could practically hear the wind rise from its depths, and after taking a whiff of it, concluded that there too was a unique scent emerging from the bottom. How deep it was, Malak knew not.

It was then, at that moment, the Dark Elf did the unthinkable (or rather, in his own words, "logical"). He grabbed a dead Goblin's skull and froze it. With the skull still faintly glowing blue and crystal white from his magic, Malak chucked the skull into the pit. The glow slightly illuminated the depths, until the power itself faded into nothingness. Still, it fell, and Malak crouched, closed his eyes, and awaited the sound of shattering ice and bone he so deeply expected. Just how far did this chasm reach?

He was keen on knowing.​

 

[Baddamobs]

​

Rictus crept along the funa, daggers in hand and his ears perked. Admittedly, he could barely hear anything between the rumbles and the overbearing sound of blood pumping through his ears.​

Truth be told, he was pretty much quaking in his boots. He'd known the risks of this whole 'Delegation' thing when he had signed up for it, but that hardly changed the fact that he wasn't exactly relishing creeping through an unknown swamp, danger potentially around every corner. Being a 'dragon scout' had meant he'd been pretty close to dangerous situations before, but he'd never gone alone: scouts travelled in small packs, so you'd always have at least someone watching your back. Being left alone to his own devices and left to solo this unknown threat by himself was not a new sensation he relished. It was getting to the point where he was considering turning around and heading back to-

"I can't believe you-"

Rictus, thankfully, had the composure to merely flinch in place, instead of nearly jumping out of his skin in shock as he felt like doing. He had been so preoccupied feeling sorry for himself that he hadn't even heard Lusca creeping up behind him. He would have been more annoyed with his own lack of awareness if he wasn't so glad that he wasn't creeping about by himself anymore.

"We should find a different route. Why are you going towards-"

A rumble, a pretty aggressive one. It was getting loud enough now that Rictus had to fold his ears down, the long appendages feeling thoroughly abused by the reverberating sound. He was about to make some comment to Lusca, some smart-ass joke about goblin curiosity, before he saw the merman hold up a hand to silence him.

They waited several breaths, as the sound continued. Now that he was listening, Rictus started to think that there was something odd with the noise. It was continuous and rhythmic, but not like footsteps, which had been his first guess. It was like breathing, or…

"It sounds like... snoring."

Both the merman and goblin carefully crept forward, peaking through the vegetation that separated them from the source of the noise. Rictus felt his eyebrows shoot up several inches on his head as he finally caught sight of the noise's origins.

A sleeping drake.

It had actually taken a second for Rictus to see the drake, it's scales were so covered in moss and greenery. It was more like a small slab of the land had come alive, rather than being a simple animal. It's body shifted subtly as it took great breaths, it's loud exhales creating the reverberating snores that they had been hearing so far. It's paws were loosely wrapped around a rock, like a child holding onto some stuffed toy.
"Ha, kind of cute, in its way. Like an over-grown lizard you'd keep as a pet." Rictus elbowed Lusca, grinning. "Maybe you should go over and rub its belly, see if you can make a friend, hehe."

Despite his words, Rictus took a few cautious steps back, ensure there was a fair amount of cover between him and the drake. The goblin considered their options, before turning to his companion.

"Right, the way I see it, we have two options," Rictus muttered as low as he could to Lusca. "We'll need to go back to the mounts no matter what, but we either have to creep by the thing and hope the mounts don't act up, or take a longer detour around it."

Rictus rubbed a thumb against the notch in his ear, face screwing up in thought.

"The latter idea sounds safer, but at least we know for a fact what we're dealing with here, and something that big is likely keeping all the other critters that want to eat us in line. There's no telling what else is in this swamp, and I doubt we'll be lucky enough to arrive for nap-time twice in a row.

"''Course, it might just be smartest to go back and find the others. If we have to risk sneaking by this thing, we might as well be prepared for things going south." Rictus shrugged. "You make the call, my good man, and I'll follow behind you."

 

[Zero The Grimm]

Duras tried to keep the small talk to a minimum. While most of his group didn't seem too chatty, the fairies enthusiasm seemed to more then make up for the both of them. He glanced back, trying not to encourage much talking as he looked at Liika. The sudden weary way she started to walk almost brought a smirk to his face. Almost. She seemed like the sort not to admit something that made her look bad unless it was absolutely necessary. And even then. Still, she seemed capable enough. Out of the whole group she was one of the lesser risks to the mission. She simply needed to be nudged in the right path.

And the fairy seemed to be talking to him now if her gaze meant anything. She seemed...carefree. Overly so in fact. It was another thing to wonder what some of the leaders were thinking in sending certain members of the group. Luckily he didn't have to answer her question thanks to the troll Jojin. "It would be best to avoid unnecessary wandering. Unless the rest of the path is blocked by the cave, we should keep moving." Large or not, cats weren't very fond of water. That included his mount.

 

[Shavynel]

Liika chuckled lightly at Jojin's answer. It was a good 'trick' … for some definition of the word trick. And it was certainly good enough an answer to vanish the mild annoyance she had had at how spirited the fairy could be when she herself had to spend half a mind on picking her way through instead of being spirited.

"Well," she started, more used to this sort of question from little ones or those who had never seen a centaur before. Liika would have expected those sent on the delegation to be a little more world-wise, but far was she to treat the question belittlingly. "Right now, it means I have three feet on the ground if I make a misstep."

"As for dragons … " Liika followed Jojin through the thick underbrush, giving herself time to think of an answer. This, too, was an interesting sort of question to ask. To be honest, Liika wasn't sure it would be wise for her to open her mouth around dragons. There were more than a few she had lost to those beasts, and so while she could appreciate Warrior Princess Laureen's gamble for peace, that they might lose fewer in the future, she couldn't entirely suppress the desire to just punch them all in the face. "What would you talk to them about?" she asked in response -- half a delay tactic since she didn't have a courteous reply herself and half genuinely curious for it seemed the fairy actually had a topic of conversation to engage a dragon with.

She continued toward the cavern, indeed curious to explore, stopping just outside the entrance and turning her head back only when the Duras spoke. Her individual inclination was most certainly to press forward into the cave. She trusted her abilities, and half the reason she enjoyed her work was because of the different experiences they brought. But -- her tail flicked -- the orc spoke sense. They had a mission.

Still, it didn't hurt a look. She ducked her head, leaning left and right to get a better look. The cavern was wet, the ceiling positively low by her standards. But -- "There's a light!" she exclaimed. It was dim and far, but there was no mistaking it. It would be easy for Ermina to fly in and out again, but Liika wasn't sure how such an untraveled individual would fare in unexpected circumstances.

 

[Cartoonicat]

​

[Jojin & Hokum, Duras, Liika, and Lula]

Deep in the Swamp Forest

Jojin longed to explore the sunken cavern but part of her agreed with Duras; unnecessary wandering would do them little good if they ran into something beyond their capabilities. Still, the whole reason they broke into teams had been to explore. Get a lay of the land. What if something vital to their mission lay in wait within the cavern? Jojin doubted it, but such a thing was always a possibility.

​

Nostrils flaring slowly, Hokum took in the scent of whatever reside within the cavern. He took a step up next to the centaur woman though, this time, had little desire to take a chunk out of her haunches. Instead, his mouth began to water.

Mother will understand, he thought, taking a step inside the cavern. Behind him, Jojin practically squawked in Zandaluran, but he paid no mind. Mother understands. The floor of the cavern was slippery, slick with sime, and Hokum slid down to the bottom with scrabbling feet.

What he found lit his eyes and made his stomach growl in anticipation.

​

"Hokum!" Jojin called him back but, for one of the first times since he was a hatchling, he ignored her. Instinctively she brought her buffalo forward, only to have the creature nearly slip and fall into the cavern. Hissing, Jojin threw herself off her mouth. It wouldn't do to break its neck by accident. "Thurheruth duruth gorotu duloing?" She called into the cavern, trying to keep quiet. "Ilomuth shrakack!"

The crocolisk did not respond. With a curse, Jojin retrieved her bow from its holster on her back and grunted. "Must find Hokum," she said. Then, without another word, slid down to the bottom of the sunken cavern.

​

[Lusca and Ricky]

Following the Path

Pursing his lips, Lusca rolled their options around in his head. He felt somewhat confident that, should the need arise, he could use his magic to trick the drake into temporary blindness. He'd need assistance with that, of course - illusion magic came with a price -, but he could do it. Assuming more than one drake didn't show up, anyway.

Like Rictus said, they'd have to go back for their mounts and their teammates. Chewing lightly on his bottom lip, Lusca huffed quietly. Then an idea struck him.

"What if we kill it?" He whispered. "I can alter one of its senses for a little while. It may give you time to kill it. How about I blind it?" Lusca looked towards the sleeping drake. Summoned his energy, his power. He'd charmed (a nicer term for bewitching one with illusion magic, Lusca thought) many a merfolk and marine life over the years, but never something so big as a drake. He silently cursed himself for not practicing on the whale pods that came through Waris on occasion.

He blinked, a slew of sparkles falling off his eyelashes like shimmering dust. If Rictus were to look, he could see vibrant colors unlike that of Lusca's own natural brown bleed into the irises. "Also, I will be blind, too," Lusca whispered as an afterthought, "so don't let it find me or we are both dead."

[Dodrelda, Layana, Tyrian, and Malak]

Along the Swamp Banks

With great effort, Dodrelda stood. Covered her mouth with a gloved hand, only to find that the smell of her breath did not help soothe her stomach any more than the stench of the hut's interior did. Begrudgingly, she dropped her hand to her side. Looked towards the door. Nodded. "Aye, break it" she said. "We need ta tell the others." Looking around, Dodrelda pursed her lips into a thin line. "Wha' ye think it is? I don' see eggs, so... no' a den, but some'in else?"

'Less dragons keep eggs separate from 'eir den? Augh, I wish we had 'at goblin fella here.

Seeing Malak standing at the edge, she walked over to join him. Nearly gagged again because the smell was even stronger there. This time she opted for bad breath as the lesser of two evils and recovered her mouth. Muffled, she asked: "Wha' ye doin?" Then, responded with a curious "Oh?" when Malak dropped a frozen skull.

The two waited... and waited... and waited. Dodrelda counted a whole of five seconds before the goblin skull shattered, echoing towards them. She glanced at Malak. "Well... wha'ever made it is... pretty big." Big as in almost two-hundred feet, maybe? "I don' think we should stick 'round, 'case it shows up 'n finds us 'ere." Cautiously, she stepped back and turned towards the hole in the wall. "Forget the door, I don' like this place."

***
Outside The Troll Hut​

While the couple took watch, chatting in hushed whispers, something moved behind them. Something large, dark, and covered in slimy-slick scales. It rose out of the water as silent as a snake, jaws unhinging. A forked tongue shot into the air, tasting their scents.

A wyrm.

Beads of water rolled off of its massive body, their quiet drip, drip, drip the only indication that something was amiss.

 

[Zero The Grimm]

​

It seemed whatever discipline the troll Jojin had became absent when it came to her pet gator. Before he even had a chance to protest her action, she had run inside. Duras let out an audible sigh before dismounting and making sure his liger stayed in place. He turned to Liika. "Stay here." His eye wandered to the fairy for a moment before going back to Liika. "Make sure everyone stays put. If you hear shouting, you know there's trouble."

With that, Duras walked forth, axe drawn and ready to strike should hostilities occur. If that pet of Jojin's caused them trouble, some words may need to be had. Now that he thought about it, a talk with the whole group of travelers would need to be had. Assuming everyone was alive when they met back up.

Inside the cavern, slowly being engulfed by what appeared to be a sinkhole, the air was warm. Thick. Wet, almost. The humidity alone made it hard to breathe, let alone the sweet-sour smell that came with it. Vines broke through the rocky walls of the cavern, the swamp overwelming each solid surface. Underfoot felt slippery and wet - but not like with water; with each step Duras took, a trail of sticky goop separated his boots from the cavern floor.

Following the dim light at the end of the cavern, Duras and Jojin finally caught up to Hokum. There, in front of the crocolisk, lie an exit to the rest of the swamp. Before that, however, was a nest of translucent eggs, throbbing in time with their own heartbeats.

 

[Baddamobs]

​

Rictus let a worried noise vibrate out of his throat. The idea of just the two of them tangling against the drake wasn't exactly a notion that Rictus relished: drakes might not have been as dangerous as their much more intelligent dragon cousins, but they were still huge scaled beasts that could crush a man just by walking over him. Considering Rictus was only practiced at looking at these lizards and not actually fighting them, he'd feel a lot more comfortable if they had the rest of the Delegation backing them up. Not only was some of their number actually experienced in this kind of thing, but then they might be able to wear it down with sheer numbers.

Then again…were they ever going to get a chance like this a second time? The beast was quite happily snoring away, and probably wouldn't notice their approach. This could be a chance to dispatch the beast and clear the way for the whole Delegation simple and cleanly. That would make getting through this place a lot easier.

"…Ergh, alright, we can give it a shot." Rictus voice wavered with uncertainty, even as he glanced down at his two daggers. "I'll warn you right now that I'm not even sure these butter-knives are going to even be able to tickle that thing, so I'd be ready to bolt at a moment's notice."

Rictus looked back up just in time to see Lusca's irises starting to shift. A strange set of colours began to swirl and flow into his eyes. It wasn't just one shade, nor was it easy to place: there was ethereal, otherworldly quality to the light shining from Lusca's eyes that caused a shiver of discontent to pass through Rictus.

Magic.

Rictus knew better than most that magic would rip through a goblin like a dragon's tooth through tin armour. He was lucky that he only had the scars to prove it, Rictus thought absently as he fiddled with the notch in his ear. To that end, he tried to have nothing to do with it, though the fact he was soon going to have to rely on it to keep him alive proved fate had an odd sense of humour.

"Okay, I'll try to move into position without waking it up," Rcitus fiddled with his grip, peeking out to the still snoozing drake before turning back to Lusca. "If things go completely wrong, I'll start shouting like a madman so you know to stop doing your magic thingy. Of course, if I start shouting, it's probably not a good sign anyway."

With that last piece of 'optimism' behind them, Rictus pushed out of the cover he and the merman had ducked behind, and started to creep across the clearing.

The sudden lack of things to hide behind was causing the goblin's heart to beat like a war-drum in his chest, even as he forced himself to move slowly and as silently as he could. It suddenly felt like every shadow and piece of funa was hiding another, bigger drake. He tried to focus away from these imaginary lizards and keep his eyes on the one right in front of him. He would have to be right up in the drake's face to do any kind of damage before it woke up, which meant he would have to sneak right in front of the thing, but as long as he was quiet, he was sure he could-

SNAP

Rictus' blood was suddenly replaced with ice. He froze up, hands gripping his daggers so tightly the green of his knuckles turned a sickly lime.

His eyes darted down, to quickly assert that he had indeed just stepped on a branch like an idiot. This wouldn't have been a problem if he had simply stepped on it as the drake had been snoring, but of course he had stepped on it between breathes, when the clearing was almost dead silent.

Rictus was not a religious goblin, but right now he silently praying to every god he could name as his eyes turned back to the drake.

Don't wake up don't wake up don't wake up, don'twakeupdon'twakeup