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Hokum was definitely an intelligent creature to know a trick like that. Most likely he had picked it up for survival, if Jojin hadn't taught it to him herself, which Ermina found hard to imagine. Maybe they'd spent some time in the water together? Wouldn't there be a problem with other crocolisks? Crocoliskes? Crocolis? What is the plural of crocolisk?

The mental loop nearly trapped the poor hovering thing so much so that she almost missed Liika's response. "Oh! Witty!" She beamed with some amusement. It was a joke right? Or maybe not... Her current party seemed to be made up of seasoned warriors for the most part. Did they joke? Even Jojin's sense of humor leaned more toward the practical, such as indicated by Hokum's revealed tricks.

It occurred to her that her new orc friend had not replied. Garrus did seem like the strong silent type... Wait, wait... Lula would physically rub her temples trying to assimilate her wayward thought bits into a complete picture of sorts. Something was wrong with her stream of consciousness. She'd have to do this manually it seemed. How tedious. Garrus.... Did... Seem.... Strong, silent type... Certainly it wasn't the articles was it? The... was right, although she could have 'a' just as well.

Letting out a mildly frustrated sigh, the fairy would start her mental audit all over again. Garrus... Did... Oh! Her large, water-colored eyes would widen as a flame of understanding flickered to life! Not Garrus, Duras! His name was Duras! Now how had she forgotten that? Well... actually, most likely in the same way that she had once forgotten that moss indicated the north side of an object. She'd been lost for 12 hours that day...

Anyhow, she simply must remedy her mistake. Even at his order to stay behind, she couldn't help fluttering to the mouth of the cave at least to call after the male, "Please forgive me Duras! I did not mean to mistake your name! I'm quite simple unfortunately!" She'd turn to her only remaining group member with a vexed expression, "Liika, you don't he's terribly upset do you?"
 
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Witty? Alright, she'd take that. Liika smiled to herself.

And then two seconds later, the crocolisk had appeared, then vanished past her, which prompted the troll then then orc to scuttle down the cavern as well. Like dragon's ass she was going to stay behind. Duras had been fairly reasonable up until that point, but he wasn't her commander, and he wasn't paying her, so there was no obligation to really obey (Liika refused to even consider his words a command). Besides, they were already just four -- or five if you counted the crocolisk -- splitting up was not really an option on the table by Liika's book. Besides, there was her ever constant pesky friend curiosity to contend with.

"Nah," Liika said in response to the fairy. "He's been through worse than having his name misspoken." Though just a guess, he was a general, and thus far hadn't struck her as incompetent, which meant he had to have gone through his own set of trials in life.

"Come on," she coaxed, an inviting smile on her lips as she set foot into the cavern, though not about to leave Ermina behind should she really be opposed to disregarding the orc's words. Jojin was too worried over the crocolisk, but she expected Duras to keep his head, and if they were forced to split, Liika would rather no one got left individually. Least of all someone calling herself simple. "No sense letting them have all the trouble, eh?" And that, really, was a joke.
 
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Tyrian chuckled and simply savored the words of his closest friend and love of his life. Telling off Snowflake, as he hoped the nickname would stay friendly and present around the group,was a simple bit of joy to compliment the moment. "O forgive me Layana." He said with a sigh and a knowing of the long journey ahead. "I am sure I will see quite the improvement of many of your skills. After all...my time as a diplomat and ambassador keeps me away from most of my martial training unlike your position that specifically calls for it." He said teasing her. "I won't hide behind any excuses though. As for what I wanted to discuss..." He said under the knowing she had a point that maybe time was best now as opposed to later. They may never actually have a good chance to talk with the chaos in their future nor did he need to burden the others with his affections. But his words slowly quieted as throughout his entire conversation out of say a single moment or two, he had kept his awareness sharp and his scope wide as this was no place to relax, his instincts not allowing him to do so either. Out of the corner of his eyes towards the lake he saw movement....dark...closing shadow as his eyes widened with the last of his words cutting short. His hand suddenly charging with flame extending from his palm and slithering up his arm just in time for the horses to notice what was stalking towards them and begin to rear back.

"Get Back!!!" He said to Layana and loud enough to show his sincerity as well as alert those in the cabin as he turned his body just in time as the beast before them was much larger than expected and far too close for comfort. Still in motion he held the reins firmly and aimed his other hand to give a powerful burst of flame from his palm to cover and hopefully stall, blind, or harm the wyrm enough to give them an edge. As soon as the blast left his arm he kicked the side of Nike having full confidence in the fact that Layana was already moving to get back and into a better position. Elio already freaked and lifting off in a scared hover over Tyrian's shoulder but not yet ready to leave him entirely in this unknown land as he made a swift landing back to his shoulder as the half of the group was able to generate distance between them and the Wyrm.

Hoping the two in the hut were alright and able to help he would be more than accepting to their assistance fully aware whatever damage his attack would have done to the creature of the lake would be less than moderate. He now freed himself from his horse to the swampy earth below and drew his bladed bow in defensive preparation, already notching an arrow as the first test of many had begun.

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

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In her haste, Jojin nearly lost her footing on the way down. Luckily, she managed to find her balance just in time to avoid crushing an egg. Upon registering what the eggs were, exactly, Jojin froze. "Eggs," she said quietly, eyes darting to each one. "Bad. Leave, now. Nest. Mother close."

From her experience, animals were little different than people when it came to their offspring. Where there was a cub or troll tot, there was an overprotective mother nearby, always watching. Jojin did not know much about dragons aside how hot their fire was, but she figured it safe to assume they had quite possibly stumbled into one of the most dangerous areas to be in.

"Hokum," she clicked her tongue. The crocolisk twitched its tail but otherwise ignored her. Growing irate, Jojin began to approach him, hissing low. She had to be careful of where she stepped, lest she step on an egg. "Hokum, gorotu thurilrag hakiste'bahg."

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Hokum's mouth watered the closer he got to the eggs. They smelled so delicious, so tantalizing. He hadn't disobeyed Mother in such a long time but, surely, she could smell it too? Mother would understand. He just needed a little taste. Just a little - that's all he wanted.

Teeth dripping wet with saliva, he opened his mouth.

"NO!"

[Lusca and Ricky]
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Lusca nodded, his world finally going dark. He could no longer see the swamp in front of him, much less where Rictus was, but he could hear everything in vivid clarity. Smell, too, which was a major downside. He brought his hand up to pinch his nose, bridge wrinkled from a quickly forming grimace.

Snap!

The sound of a breaking twig between snores shocked his senses like lightning. Lusca inhaled sharply, breath hitching. Oh, Gods, we are going to die. It is going to wake up and we are going to die because of a stupid gob- As if on cue, the drake stirred on its rock. Brought a large claw up to haphazardly scratch at the side of its face, before dropping back down, nails clacking against the solid surface. It made a noise between that of a growl and a cough.

Then it began to rise. Slowly, it opened its eyes. The drake blinked several times before shaking its head with a wet snort. Looked around blindly, seemingly growing more erratic the more it woke. From where Rictus stood, he could see its eyes colored similarly to Lusca's. The drake's gaze completely ignored him... until it took in a deep whiff of air.

The drake whined, head whirling in the general direction of Rictus, though its eyes did not completely focus on the goblin. Another sniff. This time, it growled.

And then it charged towards Rictus, clawed feet clumsy, with a deafening roar.

[Dodrelda, Layana, Tyrian, and Malak]
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A loud shriek split the air as the wyrm recoiled. The fans on the side of its face pressed flat against its head and it hissed at Tyrian. Tyrian's fire blast had given the couple just enough time to move out of range before the wyrm struck the spot they'd been standing in. Fangs bared, it lifted its head from the water. A small burn mark could be seen on the scales just below its neck.

Stepping out of the hut, Dodrelda nearly choked on the sight. "Dragon!" She yelled, voice cracking. She knew fully well it was a wyrm but did not care to correct herself. A dragon was a dragon, after all, regardless of what type. She held little respect for the classifications. "Forget tha door," she yelled again to Malak. Once he left the hut and drew his weapon, Dodre ran forward. Gripped Ysolda's handle tight and jumped into the water. It slowed her down significantly, for the closer she got to the wyrm, the higher the water was.

The wyrm hissed again and Dodrelda, still a significant distance away, swung Ysolda at the water to send a spray of muck in the creature's direction. "'Ey, asshole! Ever tasted dwarf-"

Its attention grabbed from Tyrian and Layana, the wyrm shot across the distance and went to bite Dodrelda. Instead of snatch her from the water, however, one of the wyrm's front teeth came in contact with Ysolda. The fang flew into the water, a trail of blood following it. The wyrm screeched and reared its head back, shaking it to and fro. During its distraction, Dodrelda marched towards it.
 
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Suddenly, there came the tumultuous boom of fire from the outside. Malak’s gaze narrowed, vexed at the sheer idiocy of such an action… but upon leaving the confines of the rundown hut did the dark Elf understand. Almost immediately, the Elven renegade lost his memories and questions from mere moments ago––the gaping fissure hidden beneath the hut, its height and depth, the fact that it took five seconds for both Dodrelda and Malak to hear a tiny shatter… the answer to Malak’s questions of whats and whys had quite literally unearthed itself from the dank muck. It was timely, of course, as Malak itched for some action, a chance to use his magic and combat prowess once more, especially after years and years of incarceration. He unsheathed his weapon, preparing himself for the coming battle. A slithering Wyrm had appeared before the party, and the dark Elf could remember the first and only dragon he’s fought, trapped, and dishonorably and unjustly killed—it was Wyvern. He knew just enough about this certain species of dragon thanks to his father’s grand library and other faculty members of the academy.

Dodrelda had dove into the mire, her Dwarven self decelerated by the thickness of the muddy waves. Bravery was one thing, but this was a daft response to the advent of a giant Wyrm. Despite all sense of logic, and Lady Fortune shining upon the Dwarf no matter how thickheaded, the blunt Ysolda managed to come into contact with the Wyrm’s fangs. The jagged tooth was sent flying, prompting Malak to follow in Dodrelda’s wake. Using his sword-staff as a conduit, Malak swung his trusted weapon and sent a powerful wave of frost, freezing the mire and creating a makeshift bridge for him. Malak, having done this since he was but a boy, slid seamlessly unto the frozen path. While the giant serpent shook its head, dazed from Dodrelda’s swing, Malak closed the distance between him and his fellow prisoner. He snatched her up by tugging on her collar and, despite the combined weight of Dodre and Ysolda, pulled her from the muck. Dodrelda, now atop Malak’s frozen pathway, was no longer hindered by the elements. She could run as she pleases and the only factor she needed to take into consideration was how well she could avoid slipping on ice.

The dark Elf then proceeded to freeze the muck and waters around the Wyrm, hoping to impede the dragon’s movements, and two controlled bolts of frost precisely targeted at the Wyrm’s eyes to further blind it. As of yet, Malak was on the defensive––his moves and decisions were tactical. As frost formed just outside of the Wyrm’s eyes, Malak latched on to the dragon’s fin with his clawed gauntlets. He rode the Wyrm’s head and began blasting the head with frozen magic, slowing it, albeit draining much of Elf’s power in the process. Malak held tightly his sword-spear and placed the tip of the blade on its head. He clung with dear life with the claws of his gauntlets and the more the creature moved erratically, the tighter Malak gripped him. The Elf had hoped that the stinging feeling of cold iron digging unto its leathery flesh, and icy magics that took effect in and around it would ease and slow the Wyrm so much that it could be controlled. Malak wanted nothing more than for it to stop swinging.

“If you can understand me, Wyrm,” Malak uttered loudly, creating more paths of ice which he slid and skated on, as the Wyrm shrieked in disillusion. “Yield now! We don’t want any unnecessary deaths on our hands.” He then gave Layana a stare so cold and dead, hoping she would understand that the moisture and elements gave not only Malak’s power and advantage, but also the princess herself. He gave her a nod thereafter, hoping she would realize this truth.​
 
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There was one brief, glorious moment where Rictus was certain everything was going to be fine. The drake’s eyes slid sightlessly over him, and it seemed like it’s lumbering form was going to be too drowsy to do much of anything upon waking. Then, it sniffed the air.

Rictus’ ears, originally raised and tense, slowly wilted as the drake’s attention snapped to him.

“Oh shi-”

The goblin leapt to the side as quickly as he was able, feet nearly failing to find purchase on the ground as he scrambled away. He could barely hear his own grunts and yips of fear as he forced himself to run from one end of the clearing to the other, his ears were still ringing from the drake’s billowing roar. As his legs pumped below him, he gritted his teeth in frustration.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! How did he not account for the drake’s other senses? Just because the beast was blind didn’t mean it couldn’t determine where he was, and all the blindness in the world wasn’t going to stop it from just crushing him beneath its feet. It’s had all its life to get familiar with the smells of this place: to the drake, the stink of a foreign goblin must stick out like a sore thumb.

Just as he was cursing his “roguishly masculine musk,” Rictus tried to force a calm thought through the noise of panic that was his head. Even if it being blinded didn’t make the drake helpless, the drake was still blinded. He had the advantage of seeing what was in front of him, which could be the turning point.

Rictus snapped his gaze around, desperately hoping that some idea would come to him (and that the drake was far away enough that he’d actually be able to pull it off). The only thing he saw were the trees surrounding the clearing, ancient and bent into the odd kind of angles that only nature could produce. It wasn’t much to go off, but it did give him an idea. A potentially stupid one, Rictus acknowledged grimly as he sheathed his two daggers.

Sprinting to the base of one of the larger trees, Rictus half turned stuck two of his fingers into mouth and let out a shrill whistle. He didn’t have to time to check exactly where the drake was relative to his own position, but he risked shouting,

“Hey! Over here, you ungainly bastard!”

With that out of the way, Rictus scurried up the tree as fast as he was able. He didn’t know if the drake would even take the bait, and he doubted it would do the convenient thing of running head-long into the tree. However, with the creature blinded, he might be able to get the (literal) drop on it. He could only pray. Pray, and climb the tree like his life depended on it.
 
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Oh dear... Lula watched Liika enter the cave with no little anxiety, the nervousness making her wings ever so slightly clip each other as they passed in a distinctly cricket-like fashion. The fweep-fweep echoing in her surprisingly good ears like a cowardly chorus. fweep-fweep Little cricket full of nerves fweep-fweep Cricket, cricket for the birds. - Not birds!

Letting ever-appraising eyes shoot for the sky, she instantly followed after her friend, straightening her wings to stop the maudlin music in her mind and in the air. Lest she deal with a raptor instead of the dark. So what if she was scared of the dark? It wasn't going to eat her, right? It wasn't like this cavern looked like a huge gaping maw, right?! "Mm.." An imperceptible sound of fright not unlike a whimper had her drifting ever closer to the taur until she found herself hovering in the small of the female expansive, equine back, just high enough to take peeping glances over her shoulder blades every so often.

The rest of her attention was spent scoping out the things she could make out, even her inherent fairy light couldn't illuminate the path for more than a foot or so ahead of her. She was not an artificial lightbulb. However, what she could see with her large eyes made the fairy unimpressed enough to not look around more closely. What is this gick on the walls? Judging by the sloshing of her friend's hooves it was likely on the floors as well. These are not slime molds, but this is organic... A bodily fluid of some kind? That was alarming. They were in something's home... in dragon land.

"Liika..." Her voice was nigh a whisper, very hard for larger beings to hear due to the smallness of her size. She'd drift further up, closer to the other female's ear, continuing, "Liika something else lives here... and it's large based upon the shear amount of... goo that has been produced. It's all over, not just the floors."
 
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Finally, Ermina spoke up! She had gone from being a chatterbox to just a dim light source producing faint shadows where there shouldn't be. Liika had just managed enough professionalism to use that as evidence of the fairy's presence instead of trying to look over her own shoulder and under her arm, so it was comforting to have another, more solid signal that Ermina was still with her, even if the fairy wasn't thrilled with the situation.

It was true that the ground positively squished. Liika hadn't thought much of it, having had to deal with the swamp muck already. But that a 'something else living here' had produced it?

"Well, I wonder who could be living in dragon territory," Liika stated dryly. In a word, she was excited, though managed to keep her voice flat anyway. She was tired of waiting for something to happen. But if push came to slash here, her battleaxe was going to be a bit unwieldy, especially since she was already ducking. She switched it to her left hand, unstrapping a javelin from her back with her right, and taking the time to pull it straight up first instead of swinging it around since, first of all, there was someone unquestionably within accidental smacking range, and second, there really wasn't space.

They hadn't entered too far behind the troll and orc. Liika could make them out just ahead, and … "Are those…" eggs? But before Liika could quite get out the words, really process the situation, Jojin had shouted out, a single word which meant something was about to go wrong if not stopped. Liika could just barely make out the crocolisk going in. But between crocolisk, the thought of eggs, and the possibility of a dragon making a home here -- even if it was the babes of the enemy -- she knew she had to act fast. She was too far to stomp its mouth closed, but there was always another solution.

Liika hunched further, trying to give herself a little bit more overhead room. She pulled her arm back and launched the javelin forward, aiming for that narrow sliver of space between jaw and egg. It wasn't a sure shot, but all she needed to do was get in between it, make it just that much harder for the dumb creature. And as much as she'd feel bad about hitting the crocolisk, she wasn't too fussed if she did given the looming alternative. Maybe it'd back off it was really as smart as Jojin seemed to imply.
 
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[Jojin & Hokum, Duras, Liika, and Lula]

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Sweet, salty goodness; Hokum could practically taste the egg already. His eyes closed. Jaws unhinged, he brought his mouth down, saliva dripping off his teeth and onto the floor... only to find that something was in the way. Hokum blinked and stepped back, finding a perfectly timed javelin stuck into the ground at a barring angle. He hadn't heard it coming, yet Hokum always heard things coming.

What happened?

Irritated - mostly out of fear at his own lack of awareness - Hokum ripped the javelin from the ground and shook it in his mighty mouth before chucking it across the room, teeth making dents in the base.

The sick-slippery sound of feet smacking on something sticky sounded behind him and Hokum didn't have time to turn before someone had grabbed the sides of his mouth, pulling him upwards and off his front two feet. He let out a loud, dissatisfied hiss.

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What a stupid crocolisk! Granted, he was but an adolescent in crocolisk years, but he knew better. She trained him as an elite of the big game hunting party! Nobody else's animal companion would act in such a way; would never be so careless, so reckless.

Furious, Jojin gripped Hokum by the leathery ridge of his upper jaw and hauled him backwards, away from the eggs. Her muscles strained, bulging with the effort. And then she threw him towards the rest of the delegation, though even with her strength he only skidded a few feet across the slippery floor. Face turning red, Jojin laid into him:

"Gah!" She yelled, not in Zandaluran this time but some more of primal chorus of grunts and growls. Hokum stood his ground at first, teeth snapping. The two looked like they were having a full-on argument, but then Jojin dared snap her own fangs in the crocolisk's face. Hokum's tail swished across the ground, moving the slime with it, and he took a few steps back.

While Jojin argued with Hokum, the others would have plenty of time to explore the area. The air of the nest itself was warm, muggy even, and left strangely sweet taste on the tongue when breathed in with an open mouth.

If anything, despite the danger, the nest seemed to have extremely inviting atmosphere...

[Lusca and Ricky]
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A roar split the air, alerting Lusca that whatever happened, it had been bad. Fantastic! Aren't goblins supposed to handle dragons well, or was that all a lie? He wanted to groan - maybe cry, even - but he knew that if he so much as made a sound the drake would likely hear it. Losing one sense often made the others stronger, especially with time.

You best finish this quick, Rictus.

The drake missed Rictus and stopped in place, snout parted to not only sniff but this time taste the air with its tongue. It blinked once, twice, and then turned its head between two directions; That of Rictus, farther away, and that of Lusca, just beyond the bushes ahead. Growling, the drake stepped towards the bushes.

Hidden but aware, Lusca's breath hitched. He tried moving to the side as quietly as he could, only to stumble at the last second and fall right into the muck with a loud splash. At the same time, a sharp whistle split the air and Rictus started yelling. Lusca gasped, spitting out water and desperately wiping his face.

Head whipping towards Rictus, the drake missed most of what happened behind the bushes, finding itself distracted instead by the sharp whistle in its ears. Claws finding purchase in the soft ground beneath it, the drake charged in Rictus' direction. Stumbled over a clip of rock, which slowed it down as though reminding it of its newfound blindness. Cautiously, the drake approached the tree Rictus climbed up. Sniffed it once before looking up at him, though its eyes could see nothing.

It huffed through the nostrils of its snout. Reared up on two legs and clamped its claws into the bark. Tried to climb upwards, only to have its weight drag it back down into the water with a tumble. Hissing and spitting, the drake scrambled to its feet and began not climbing, but ripping pieces of bark off of the tree with its mighty snout - sharp, like a turtle's - and claws.

Between each mouthful of tree trunk, the drake rambled in an almost delirious fashion. "I will-" it ripped off a particularly large chunk, throwing it into the water, "kill you!".

[Dodrelda, Layana, Tyrian, and Malak]
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Before Drodelda's very eyes, the water around her began to solidify. She raised Ysolda up high to avoid it from freezing, too. "Wha' the- Now I can't move!" And then Malak was there, offering her a hand. She blinked at him, almost stupidly at first, and then remembered that righ', Snowflake here's an ice mage. Jabbing the butt of her hammer into the ice around her and shattering it with brute strength, Dodrelda took his hand. Dug Ysolda into the rest of the ice as an extra handhold and pulled herself up onto Malak's thicker bridge.

Only to immediate slip and land on her backside. "Shite!" Ysolda nearly slipped out of her grasp, into the water. The hammer was safe, though, for now. Wincing, Dodrelda used Ysolda as a steadying cane to get across to the wyrm. Her movements were quite slow to start - she doubted she'd be able to run across, much less walk like a normal person - but if she could just learn the trick to using the ice to her advantage.

While Dodrelda figured out her footing, Malak had proceded to shoot ice at the wyrm. The creature moved its head in time only to be blinded in one eye, the second ice blast straying into a swamp tree behind it. Swinging its head around to look at Malak, the wyrm hissed - then looked down at the ice encasing its midsection in the mire.

When Malak climbed atop it, the wyrm let out a strangled screech. Whipped its head around, only to slow when Malak spoke. It quieted, body vibrating in what might be interpreted as either a growl or a rumbling chuckle.

"The only death here," it said, "will be yours, trespassers!"

And then it dove headfirst into the ice of the mire, taking Malak with it. Its scales began to move up and down, creating a shimmering effect but scratching roughly at the armor Malak wore. The ice shattered under the wyrm's weight and cracks formed across the frosty, solid surface, extending outwards towards the rest of the party.

Instead of run, Dodrelda simply stared, slack-jawed, before screaming: "MALAK!"
 
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There were several things that roamed through Duras' mind in the space of about a minute. Surprise and shock would be because of the contents of the cave. While he didn't exactly worry, concern might be an appropriate word for the sight of the trolls pet nearing an egg with it's several row of teeth bared. Then came shock once more when a spear flew past him and nearly struck an egg. Anger followed up when things finally came into context and the realization that the changling had no doubt ignored his orders. The removed threat of an egg being eaten may have eased his anger slightly, but his gaze narrowed as he faced the remaining two of their split group.

"Out."
He pointed back toward the entrance of the cave. So far he had no reason to believe they would follow his orders, but the contents of the cave might encourage them. Without waiting for a reply, he moved over toward the troll and her pet. Her bared his teeth at the oversized lizard before looking toward Jojin. "We need to leave." Now.
 
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There hadn’t been a branch strong enough to support Rictus’ weight, meaning the goblin had been forced to cling to the main body of the tree like a goblin babe clung to it’s mother’s back. In addition to feeling pretty stupid, this came with one noticeable draw-back: Rictus couldn’t look straight down.

This meant that when the drake had failed on it’s initial climb up the tree, Rictus had felt the tree starting to fall apart sooner than he had seen it being torn asunder.

Rictus felt a fresh wave of fear course through him: this drake was clawing its way through the aged and tough bark like it was nothing. The goblin would prove even easier to dismantle. That meant it was, perhaps literally, do or die time.

Rictus hung on to the tree with one arm, using his free one to pull a dagger out of it’s sheath. He knew that a weapon this small, being wielded by such a small wielder, wouldn’t even tickle the beast’s scales. But nothing was untouchable: the goblins had made frantic notes of there being small but vulnerable gaps in a drake’s otherwise impenetrable scale skin. One well aimed strike might be all Rictus needed.

Then again, it was going to be hard to aim when he was tumbling out of a tree like a drunk monkey.

Drawing in a breath (and hoping it wouldn’t be his last), Rictus tensed his legs, and-

"I will-" A voice deep like a river and rumbling with pure anger. "-kill you!".

Wait, this thing can talk!?

Was Rictus’ last thought as he bound off the tree.

The short fall couldn’t have lasted longer than a second or two, but it felt like a small lifetime had passed as the goblin threw himself through the air. He felt like he could see small, so so small, painted lines across the beast’s body: the gaps in it’s scales. All he would need was one solid strike, just to make some progress in bringing this thing down.

Rictus let out a shout as, just before impact, he swung his arm down. The flash of dagger’s steel caught the line, the metal shining as it-

-bounced.

Rictus would have let out a curse if he hadn’t already been tumbling against the drake’s back. He had missed the spot, and his dagger, despite the extra momentum, hadn’t cut through to the drake’s flesh. All he’d achieved was causing an ugly chip in his dagger’s edge.

The goblin, quick as he could, jumped off the drake’s back. He wouldn’t risk trying to rodeo an angry lizard the size of a cart. However, he now needed a new plan.

Luckily, the drake speaking aloud had just given him one.

As Rictus dashed a short distance, just to put some feet between him and the monster, he felt himself panting. He had been more or less sprinting this entire time, and he needed to give his lungs a breath. Unfortunately, his new plan meant he was going to need all the breath he could get.

Sliding on his heel, on hand on the ground to steer his direction, Rictus about faced. Now facing the great drake, Rictus did the only thing a goblin like him could do in a situation.

Lie.

“Wait!” Rictus strained his voice to shout. “Great scaled one, there has been a misunderstanding!”

Rictus threw his hands outwards, despite the gesture being wasted on a blind animal.

“Please, show mercy to this humble messenger, and allow me to explain myself!”

Rictus was going to now try to talk down a drake he had just, very obviously, tried to stab.

Forget climbing trees, this was a stupid plan.

In truth, Rictus doubted this was going to work. He was counting on the beast to maybe give him a few seconds-presumably however long it took to threaten to tear his limbs off-to try and catch his breath, and to hopefully come up with a better plan.

Rictus, fighting against every flight instinct in his body, never the less adopted a proper kneel, and kept his hands held up for mercy.
 
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In all honesty, she empathized with the poor crocolisk. Poor thing, you're just hungry aren't you? I could eat too... Lula mused while watching Jojin chew out her beloved pet. How many times had she been scolded for putting things that weren't food in mouth? Yes, they were kindred spirits, Hokum and she. Not to mention the air in this place really did make her peckish, which was strange because the scents were not bitter at all.

There was a sweetness to the humidity, not unlike a ripe fruit or freshly opened blossom in the Spring time all brightness and sucre. It couldn't have been the eggs that emitted such a scent right? That would have meant that it was a pheromone of some kind, which actually could have been a possibility as she pondered.

Something sweet smelling, eh.... Not an aphrodisiac, there are already eggs everywhere, so that stage is passed. The only other possibility is attracting pollinators? No... This is a cave. You can't fertilize a rock. Then food? Attract... food... Her wings were doing that cricket thing again, which was to be expected as the fairy quickly grew alarmed. The intensity of her bioluminescence would even respond to her crescendoing anxiety levels. This was way worse than birds!

Sure it was obvious that they were in a nest. Any dunderhead could see that, but the only reason that the correct instinctual response of an angry mother-something coming to kill them all hadn't happened was that that mother-something wanted them there! Still to kill them all... But certainly the horrific nature of that particular type of death was an even bigger incentive to high tail it!

Because Liika was the closest to her at the moment, the taur would be the first to know her deductions, but after imparting the information to the other female Ermina was quick to flit about the entire group spastically warning, "We need to go! Go, go, go! Or we're going to get eaten! By something big! Very big!"
 
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[Jojin & Hokum, Duras, Liika, and Lula]

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After a stern talking to - rather, bouts of snarling and primal growls - Hokum backed down. It was a good thing, too, in Jojin's opinion; she didn't know what was happening to her crocolisk and, had he stayed defiant, she wasn't sure she'd be able to deter him from taking a bite out of the orc who snarled at him. Granted, she could lift Hokum when high off of adrenaline, which she was at that very moment, but she knew the dangers of feral animals.

Not that Hokum was feral, which... really made the whole thing quite confusing. He'd never behaved so badly before. To say it was a little embarrassing on her part would be an understatement. Had her fellow hunters back in Zandalur seen such a display, she'd be the talk of the town for being unable to keep her animal companion under control.

Despite the growing concern, however, Jojin knew there were bigger things at hand. Namely, a dragon's nest. She didn't particularly appreciate Duras' snarling at Hokum but there wasn't much she could do about it - especially when her skin crawled with impending danger. A dragon's nest, as far as Jojin was concerned, was the last place she wanted to be.

Even if, for some reason, the atmosphere was incredibly inviting.

"Leave now," Jojin echoed the orc with a nod. "Yes." She clicked her tongue to get Hokum to listen, to back up, but he'd seemed to have fallen into a trance again. Groaning, Jojin felt a surge of anger roar through her. It didn't help when the fairy, Ermina Luliope - Jojin wondered if there was an easier way to say her name - started panicking. What was she saying? Being eaten? Jojin had no doubt about that; she'd sensed danger the second she saw the eggs, but her stupid crocolisk had acted up.

"Hokum!" Jojin yanked on one of his scaly whiskers, effectively pulling his attention from the eggs beyond. She was too late, though: Within seconds, the cavern began to rumble.
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Hokum hissed at having his whiskers pulled. Mother only ever did that when she was furious, but why was she so angry now? Surely she could-... Hokum stopped. Sniffed the air. Felt the rumble between his toes. The sweet scent still lingered, but sulfur and ash had layered itself on top and suddenly, the crocolisk felt very, very scared.

Something was coming. No, something was already there, staring at them through the back end of the cavern with curling claws and dripping fangs.

"DRAGON!"
[Lusca and Ricky]
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With a jolt Lusca's world went from black to white in but seconds. He gasped, clawing at his eyes. In the chaos he'd forgotten to clock himself, forgotten to close his eyes and let a world of color return to him slowly. Groaning pitifully, the merman hunched over, a myriad of different shaded sparkles dripping to the floor more like melting liquid than dust. "Goblin!" He yelled, figuring there to be no point left in hiding his location. If the beast could see, Rictus needed to know. "It can see you!"

In the field, the drake had a similar reaction. Its eyes blew wide and then slammed shut, the colors of magic seeping out of its sockets like tears. Vigorously, the creature shook its head with a yowl before blinking blearily at Rictus. Rictus who had just so happened to kneel. Scowling behind its beak, the drake narrowed its gaze on the goblin. It had felt the telltale thump of something against its scales and could only presume it to have been an attack - albeit a failed one - yet for the goblin to kneel so humbly, perhaps the drake was mistaken.

It did not know.

"You stole my eyes," it hissed, circling the goblin. "You stole my eyes and are on my territory! What is there to explain?"

From the bushes, Lusca tried calming his rapidly beating heart. The drake could see. It could see Rictus and would rip into him at any second, leaving Lusca defenseless as a tadpole. A fish out of water. He still had a little magic left - not much, but enough to maybe sway the beast's mood just enough for Rictus to be successful - but Lusca would drop like a rock afterwards. If Rictus failed, he'd die, too - and Lusca did not want to die.

So he ran away.
 
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Liika merely smiled at Duras's displeased look. "Of course. Now that we've all seen what's here." She was certain in her actions, and would have done it again even if there hadn't been a crocolisk-nearly-eating-an-egg issue to prevent at the end of it. Ermina was, even more than Duras, in the leave immediately camp. But as Liika saw it, there was no need to be so spooked or gruff. The cavern was rather nice for all that it was a dragon's nest. "Just as soon as I collect my javelin."

The javelin was a little grosser for having been a chew toy, chucked carelessly aside. She tried to wipe it off as best she could. Teeth marks weren't going to change how it flew too much, but the extra gunk might. It was weird to think just a few months ago she'd just as likely be the first one to smash the eggs. Sure, she'd reacted more on the troll's word -- delaying what was about to happen -- than really assessing the entire situation. But, for once, her mission was not to eliminate all the dragons in sight. That, more than Duras's look or Jojin and Hokum's disagreement or Ermina's rising panic got to her.

Or. Maybe the panic was warranted. She glanced up at the dragon that had appeared, then back at the troll with a rather unwelcome look. Sure, they probably all smelled tasty to a dragon, but the loud disagreement could not possibly have helped. Liika looked around her. Jojin was clearly not keeping her cool. Ermina was already frantic. Duras was, well, somewhat stoic, though she didn't have a real good read on the military type -- whether he was the shoot first ask questions later type or not.

Liika raised her hands, slowly, weapons loose in her grip, their heads heavy, pointed downwards. It was about as non-threatening as she could be short of stashing or dropping her weapons, which she was rather disinclined to do. "Your eggs are all present," she said, more to be a soothing voice, a sign of non-aggression, than it was to really speak to the creature. Liika wasn't really betting on it understanding, but same as one could talk down an animal, it was worth a try.

"We are heading out," Liika took a test step backwards, carefully, really assessing her footing before putting any weight. She hated the idea that she would have to turn her back on a dragon, but the reality of walking backwards in a place like this was practically untenable. Not that turning tail was a particularly favorable option either between the bad footing and having to hunch over. Which meant the only viable option if the claws came out was to attack forward, maybe manage to draw her shield if it decided on the fiery approach... Did eggs burn?

"Apologies for the intrusion. Simply here to save your eggs of an unwelcome trespasser." Seriously, though, Jojin was keeping around an animal that wanted to eat dragon eggs? What sort of mission did she think they were on? Though, to be fair, Liika would probably be most comfortable if the dragon just attacked. That was a situation she was familiar with handling.
 
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Part of him wondered if his commander had sent him on this mission knowing exactly how foolish it would be. His absence would certainly leave opportunity in the vacuum of his absence. A possibility that became more and more likely as he traveled with this group. That possibility also suddenly took a sharp increase when a dragon slowly came into view. Given their current position and what it looked like they were just doing, it seemed unlikely mere words would be enough.

Their deaths were probably warranted at this point for how foolish they were all being and for him as well for having followed them in. Things would have to very much change when they all met back. If they got out of this alive, that is.

"Bow." He sounded as loud as he could in a whispered tone to the group. "Slowly."
 
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Layana held steadily atop that of her horse as he shifted on his hooves to steady himself with a small lower of his head to nibble down upon the grass. She felt her own look carry over to the hut as the Dwarf and Malak entered and her own look held a guarded expression over him as she knew this was like giving a puppy length on its leash to move as she held the reminder that her father had implored her to keep a watchful eye on the elf himself and to ensure that he did not stray from the limits he was bound to through all of this. Her gaze flitted away in parting from that of Malak as she noted the way Tyrian's body had begun to tense upon his horse as she watched the glow of fire streak in a twine around his arm as her gaze slowly steeled to where his laid only to widen in shock to the sight of the Wyrm raising from the depths of the water as Tyrian yelled at her as he sent the fire barricading into the beast as it writhed in reaction. Her own horse reared upwards in reaction as she pulled heavily back on the reins in the hopes of calming him as he shuffled back repeatedly , whipping his head back and forth. With nimble ease , she quickly dismounted and sent her horse with a smack to the arse riding off into the length of the trees where she knew he'd not wander far. She could witness the sight of Tyrian engaging immediately as Malak came sprinting forth and raising forth the ice barriers and paths over the landscape and the slush of the swamp itself. The water began to splash and raise and even so easily froze as Malak himself took streaking over the ice paths he had created. Without hesitation , he took action and claimed hold of the creature as he spoke angrily through the heat of battle itself in sly words to her and the reminder of her own capabilities that she rarely every divulged into. Her pale gaze fitted over Malak as she growled lowly in frustration and began to edge forward towards the bank and past Tyrian as her hands began to glow in a radiant gold sparks. Loudly , her voice rang clearly out to the Dark Elf."You best let go of that bloody dragon or you will be feeling quite the shock that he will be.. Now or Never.. Do you damn well understand me?" Layana called out loudly to him as she began to enter the water as her feet carried her onto one of the vast ice paths as the thrashing of the creature created a breeze about the area as her darkened tresses lifted whilst her eyes began to glow as golden as that of her hands itself as she prepped to take immediate action.
 




The Dragon Malak had killed in his youth was unlike the Wyrm before them, although very much the same in terms of their vicious nature. While the Wyvern took to the skies, this Wyrm had begun to do the opposite, and the Dark Elf found himself in the heart of this danger. Much like the Dragon in his youth, this one knew not the meaning of kindness. As the Wyrm bobbed its head to and fro, the Dark Elf sensed the upcoming danger. Its scales had twitched erratically, and suddenly Malak’s light ornate armor turned to paper with each blow. He knew that the longer he stayed atop the Wyrm’s head, its jagged scales would tear the prisoner asunder. Malak’s energy reserves were heavily depleted and the frost couldn’t save him now. His final act was foolhardy—he had plunged the blade of his sword-staff upon the Wyrm’s fleshy parts between its twitching scales and leaped northward, away from the danger. Malak crashed upon his frozen pathway towards the hut and managed to get a few painful tumbles before driving his claws and regaining his composure. Bruised but far from broken, Malak erected himself from his now cracking pathway. Stuck upon the Wyrm’s soft under-flesh, Malak’s Elven weapon was a steel splinter and, to Layana, a lightning rod.

“NOW!”
 
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How on all of the wide world did she end up with comrades that had no sense of inherent danger?! Could they not process the chemical nature of the effluvium in the cavern? This tactic was of the most basic hunting strategies! You catch more flies with honey than vinegar after all... Not to mention the eggs! Where there were eggs there were mothers and mothers got hungry making milk for their children. Very, very hungry! In the case of dragons-- non-mammalian as they were, they had the slightly simpler option of catching food for said babies, cutting out the middle obstacle of female biological processes.

Highly efficient actually... the egg-laying and such oviparous natures in creatures. Only the marsupials compare in child-rearing efficiency with their built-in carrying cases! And she was becoming distracted. Not such a good idea when having to deal with the perils of encroaching on a dragon's nest. The only good news was that the dragon didn't seem to be home at the moment, and her eggs seemed to be still developing for the most part so there was no immediate swarm of gnashing teeth problems in their near futures... hopefully. What exactly are the gestational periods for dragons? I don't have this data... I don't think anyone does. It would be very enlightening.

Lula was almost tempted to take an up close and personal look at one of the pulsing eggs, when the worst happened. The mother made herself known and all grew still in abject fear. The apprehension of the squad was near as palpable as the now sickeningly sweet atmosphere. Like fire and brimstone... sulfur... this dragon breathes fire... She struggled not to tremble or worse yet flicker with her own trepidation. She'd be like a flare in the dimness of the cavern. Already more like a beacon than she was comfortable with being, the fairy calmed her magical aura, suppressing her light giving abilities in order to make herself less of a target.

Can dragons see in the dark? Surely some can? She didn't want to take the chance of being spotted either way. If for no other reason than luck, she should be able to move amongst the eggs at her current size. And surely the mother would not risk crushing her own spawn for the sake of one fairy? Noisome or otherwise. For the time being the gently glowing female would lower her position at Duras' muttering, not daring to respond despite the natural quietness of her voice from her sizing. It was better than risking ticking off something with teeth bigger than she was.
 
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[Jojin & Hokum, Duras, Liika, and Lula]

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Breath caught in her throat, Jojin stared up at the dragon peeking through the back of the cavern. Instinctively, she reached for her bow, only to stop mid-reach when Liika and Duras did all but start a confrontation. The centaur talked in smooth words that Jojin couldn't quite comprehend at the moment, but Duras' hushed command was easily translatable.

Bow.

Swallowing thickly, Jojin slowly dropped to her knee. As she did, she reached out and grasped one of Hokum's whiskers gently. Not enough to hurt, but a warning to stay quiet. Primal sounds rumbled low in her throat, barely audible, but she knew the crocolisk heard. On a typical day she would trust him to mimic her without question, but today was not typical.

The mother dragon tilted her head. Her eyes blinked quickly, darting to and from each of her eggs. All were present. All were safe.

But that was not the issue, here.

She leaned further into the nest until her natural breath, hot and sulfuric, blasted against Liika's skin. The dragon's head was twice, if not three times the size of Liika's entire body. Jojin held her breath, fingers itching for her bow.

"What do you bring us?" The dragon's voice was surprisingly smooth, though it still rumbled like any other. She unhinged her jaw slightly and inhaled, pupils turning to slits.

Jojin did not know what she was asking, much less how to answer, but had a feeling it was not good.

Anything with dragons was never good.
[Dodrelda, Layana, Tyrian, and Malak]
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The wyrm crashed into the ice, sending chunks erupting into the air that pushed both Layana and Tyrian back into the trees. Dodrelda scrambled away as cracks splintered from the source of impact, all the way to her feet. In the distance, she saw Layana's fingertips crackle with lightning. Her eyes widened. "Shite!"

She needed to get off the ice. Out of the water!

Turning over her shoulder, Dodrelda broke into a slippery sprint. "Wait!" She called, but Layana was too far across the water for the dwarf to be heard. "WAIT, THE ICE-!" Her feet fell out from under her as a massive crack split the ice beneath her. Ysolda flew out of her hands, sliding across the breaking platform, and in seconds cold water rushed over Dodrelda's head.

Lightning shot through the sky.

Dodrelda broke the surface with a gasp, gloved fingers desperately grasping for purchase. She was halfway up when she felt it: The jolt, the sting, the body-wracking shock of lightning in her veins. Dodrelda and the wyrm both let out screams of agony. Her skin sizzled, but the smell of burning flesh that soaked into the air came not from her. The wyrm thrashed left and right, Malak's weapon eventually dislodging from its scales, flung into the trees. Tendrils of smoke rose from its scales.

The wyrm looked at Layana - rather, through her - before going limp in the water. Its massive body twitched here and there, small sparks flying. Its eyes stared unblinkingly forward. The wyrm, for all intents and purposes, was dead.

On a floating chunk of ice, Dodrelda lay still.
[Lusca]
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Faster. He needed to go faster. He needed to run until his legs screamed and lungs burned. For all Lusca knew, the drake had already gobbled up Rictus and was on its way to devour him, too. Running through the swamp, Lusca didn't care how the water slapped against the fine trousers of his uniform. The silk would undoubtedly stain, but he'd rather deal with swamp water than blood. Would rather live to see another day, even if it meant Rictus did not.

It was a coward's move, but Lusca never said he was a brave man, now did he?

Overhead, coming from the Southeast, lightning crackled in the sky. Lusca slowed to a stop, staring. There was no storm, so that had to mean... What was her name? Layari? Lanara? Layana? Regardless of what her name was, he remembered the half-elf was a lightning mage. If that was her - which he had no doubt it was - that meant their group found trouble.

He would not go that direction. Looking to the West, into the deep forests that the troll lead charge into, he frowned. Lusca was not a skilled tracker, so he had no hope of finding them. With Rictus left behind and most likely eaten, Lusca was all alone.

The thought terrified him.

"The mounts," he breathed. "I can get the mounts and ride back to Zandalur."

With that plan in mind, Lusca set off running again towards the spot he and the goblin had left their mounts. However, upon arriving, his blood turned cold.

Tied to the tree were the reins of Rictus' ram and Lusca's horse, but the mounts themselves were nowhere to be found. An ungodly amount of blood stained the trunk red. Slowly, scarlet swamp water drifted closer to him. Seeped into his pant legs.

The mounts were gone - likely eaten - and whatever did it might still be lurking nearby.
 
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Duras took in what the dragon spoke before coming to the only conclusion he could think of. He took slow, careful steps forward before coming beside Liika. He slowly bent down onto one knee before pulling out a pouch from his side and pouring the contents on his hand before cupping them with both hands and holding them out above his head towards the dragon.

"Though it will not make even a dent in your no doubt vast collection, take these coins high praised, at least in orc standers, coins in that it may please you." It practically went without saying the dragons hoarded treasures. No matter how smart or clever, it was in their nature to collect vast hordes of treasures and bright things. Hopefully, the others would be able to follow his lead.