On These Wings: The Remake

[En'K'Haral]

Malice roared with delight at his orders to do as much damage as possible he maintained formation while carrying out his orders.. He had dragged the clouds from Rythos with them and it was quickly turned into a storm. Although Gelltor made sure that Malice kept the rain light since they didn't want to hinder the sight of their own troops. Lightening flashed down from the sky striking at the flotilla repeatedly.

"Malice, focus on those things they got on the decks. Aim for the supposrt that keep them up, if they are nocked over it will be more difficult to use them. That should help keep casualties down."

"Whatever."

Lightning struck down at the cannons and blow out their supports and carriages causing them to fall over and be more or less useless several cannons were disabled in this manner before Malice returned to general destruction for a bit until Ryoka came flying forward towards Garen.

"That better not be who I think it is."

"She did just up and go missing, it would make sense."

Malice growled and set three lightning bolts down from the sky to strike down the Alt Black and it's rider.

 

--------------------------------------------------

 

Rio was skeptical about moving Taja. Drac had said specifically to not touch her or cirrus at all.

"Drac said to not touch her or Cirrus."

Ayos landed beside Cirrus and used a telekinesis spell to lift her.

"Now isn't the time to second guess things Rio. Move Taja below decks."

She nodded and putting her marbles away grabbed hold of Taja's legs.

"Come on Matt help me get her below, it's to dangerous up here."

Edited November 18, 2010 by En'K'Haral

[Kjakings]

(('Cage' is a term I used because I don't know the real one. The 'cage' is actually just a couple wooden rails a few feet long so the cannon doesn't go crazy and kill everyone nearby when it fires.))

[En'K'Haral]

((Oh...well better fix that. Please read it over again and see of that is ok.))

Edited November 18, 2010 by En'K'Haral

[Red Dragonette]

Once Malice and Gelltor were out of sight, Mordred went back to the stables and unlocked the door that was keeping Ghidorah in. The split dragon stepped out of the stables and gave out a roar. Mordred shushed him and said, "Shhh, don't make a sound, boy. We're trying to get out of here quietly." Then he put the saddle on Ghidorah's back and climbed up to sit on him. "Alright boy, let's bust out of here, while the others are too busy fighting those New Dragon Dirts," Mordred said. Then the split dragon took off into the air and flew away from the castle via route where none of Hyro's soldiers could see them. Once they were far from the castle, Mordred and Ghidorah arrived at the woods and said, "Alright, we're free now! Free to do whatever we want. Now let's say we celebrate our jail break by looting the first village we see." Since Hyro wasn't going to pay him anymore, Mordred would have to steal money from villagers and travelers alike. Ghidorah landed beneath the tree tops and started walking through the woods.

[Kjakings]

The dracolich burst from the pristine surface of the ocean mere inches from the edge of the flotilla, its tail shattering large sections as it whipped about causing cannon to ignite and fly everywhere, dislodging piles of cannonballs which rolled about crushing the elves and ripping off limbs.

Drac and Hyro were duelling across its massive back, the dracolich visibly growing in size and power as it fed off of the excess magic dispelled as their massive combat spells dissolved against each other, neither of them being able to take advantage. Eventually the Dracolich grew bored of the sport and bucked them off, going back to hunting groups of elves on the flotilla.

Drac and his father flew through the air, still fighting, and hit the deck. Hyro recovered first, rolling and summoning a spear of deepest obsidian and trying to plunge it through Drac. He recovered though and created a disk of defensive magic to dispel the attack.

Then they were back to flurries of raw magic that smashed against each other and disintegrated, doing no damage but creating such a furious maelstrom of magical power that nobody could approach to assist either side. The air swirled around them in the vacuums left by the shattering meetings of power and the deck splintered, water being thrown into the air and adding to the hectic energy of the scene.

Eventually they both simply ran out of magic. The air returned to normal and the water dropped to the deck, the tension in the atmosphere lowering. This time Drac recovered first, grabbing a fallen dagger and driving it deep into the joint of his father’s right shoulder, twisting it to maximise the damage.

Hyro growled in rage and ripped the minds out of every elf nearby, harnessing the combined force to push Drac back and teleport himself to the back of the Dracolich, pulling it just out of the range of the cannons. Night was exhausted so Drac grabbed one of Bramble’s stronger scales as the black flew by, building up speed to gore a magi building up a massive solar spell.

They flew up to just two feet away from the hovering dracolich. If either of them moved so much as six inches forward, they wouldn’t come back again.

“When two equal forces meet both are destroyed. It seems neither of us can win this conflict, son.” Hyro sneered, trying to restrain the dracolich as the remains of the aerial forces limped to form up behind Hyro.

“Equal today, old man. In eight months, the odds will be tilted slightly more in our favour. In eight months I’ll have assembled the greatest coalition of armies the world has ever seen. I’ll raise the entire ****ing horde of the world and slam down on you from all directions. Three hundred thousand soldiers and twenty five hundred dragons. In eight months we will march upon Chicias and rip you from your ivory towers and dash you upon the cobblestones of your own ill-begot city. You can spout your equal forces bull**** but you’ve lost today. This is the first blow to your empire of death of many. Drac Stormwind is coming. Join me or run.” Bramble gracefully turned and dived away, letting any response fall on thin air.

[BlackScorpion7]

Katelyn had kept giving out commands and conversing with the leaders of the squadrons through their dragons. The small horse hatchling which had flown up to them, had been no match for Sleet. But it had been a narrow miss and if the hatchling had been any bigger, she would have hit him straight on against his wounds. But now, Sleet had been able to angle enough to let her skimp of against his side. It had been a hard hit and it had felt as if a rib or two had broken of shattered, but nothing Sleet could not handle. As the hatchling had flown past, the ice dragon had flung his tail upwards, hitting her. Questra had been slammed down into the water and had nearly drowned, were it not for a net thrown out by one of the elves. Having been pulled in, the horse hatchling had hidden out of sight to try and recuperate. She had several wounds from both the hit as well as the force of hitting the water and she had troubles focussing.

 

Questra!

I'll be okay.

Stay hidden!

No problem. Can't even see what's up or down...

Ques...

Stop worrying and focus!

 

Matthew helped Rio and Ayos getting Taja away from the scene, making sure she was protected enough. Rio or Ayos would have to take care of possible magical attacks, while he took care of the physical fights. Unable to see what was happening up on deck though, made him feel anxious, nervous and agitated. He couldn't wait until Questra would be big enough to carry him into battle, so he would finally be able to give some more help and no longer feel so useless.

 

Katelyn didn't feel too sure either. It was not that she doubted the power and strength of her Lord, but Drac was his son after all. What would happen to them all in case they would be defeated? What would happen if Hyro was defeated? She didn't dare think about it and kept shouting orders. Her feelings of it all seemed mixed. Part of her watched with glee as whole parts of the flotilla disappeared in fire. But another part of her shivered to think how much of a pity it was for such amazing structures to be destroyed and so many innocents to die without getting a fair fight. Alass the part intent on destruction was stronger, agidly pushing her softer part to the back.

 

Sleet, tell the water division to focus on the middle part of the flotilla now. We have to try to make breaks so it'll flood from the bottom up. Enough holes and destruction they won't be able to patch it up fast enough. We're going to let them burn and drown!

 

Sleet felt a little agitated by the strange tone of voice she used. Katelyn had never been this intent on destruction. She hadn't been the most soft person either, but she always had preferred a fair fight above anything else. Nevertheless, he passed on the commands. Not long after she had given the command, Hyro and Drac reappeared. The sheer strength of the fight stunned her and it was pure instinct and automatism which kept her proceeding, while her eyes grew.

 

When father and son seemed emptied of magic, Katelyn wanted to dive down and go help her Lord. But she was not fast enough and saw Drac push the dagger in his shoulder. A sharp sting went through her as well at the memory of the cleaver hacking of her own arm. As she was gasping for breath as the memory threatened to make her faint, Sleet stopped their descend. Hovering in the air, he brought them up to the others. The wind in her face made her recover and Katelyn started breathing again. Taking a quick look around and assessing the situation, she joined the others, both aerial divisions forming up behind them. They were no longer in their first formations, but had switched in a tighter formation the moment too many of them had fallen.

 

Eyes locked up the flotilla down below, Katelyn sneered and ordered Sleet to let hail and icicles rain down. The water division had less losses than the aerial force and came up to the air right below them, changing into their original formation of 1 force. They had been able to wreack quite a havoc on the bottom of the flotilla, leaving many gaping holes and broken apparatus.

[Kjakings]

Drac's eyes narrowed at Katelyn as the hail and foot-long icicles coalesced in the sky. Most of the dangerous ones were shattered by cannister shot hastily loaded into the elven cannons, and the hail was swiftly melting into cold water and assisting the attempts to put out the flames. But the look of glee on Katelyn's face worried Drac.

What was more worrying was that thing sprouting from her shoulder. Drac was sure the two were connected: she must have done something to piss Hyro off and that arm was her punishment. But it was doing something to her mind. Drac knew that without Katelyn Hyro would have to appoint somebody infinitely less qualified, possibly even Gelltor or Kiara, and his father must know that too.

Drac drew a handful of powder from one of the pouches on his belt and condensed it into a gem, drawing back his arm and hurling it at Katelyn, trusting her reflexes to catch it. He doubted she would take it, but if she did he may yet be able to turn her to his side and against his father.

"A gift. You are skilled, Katelyn. Don't get yourself killed in a pointless war on the losing side working for an evil tyrant." He sent to her as the gem sailed through the air towards Sleet.

 

Kiara's eyes narrowed as she saw Drac hurl something towards Katelyn. It looked to be a magical gem of some sort. Ah; that was it. He was trying to turn her. Kiara loaded her last arrow and took aim, trying to destroy the gem before it reached Katelyn. She fired, but missed. The irritating dragon she was riding on had an irregular wingbeat, something its rider had refused to acknowledge. She had killed him in the battle and claimed it was the elves, and the stupid reptile had believed her.

 

The Arbiter sunk back into a corner as yet another patrol walked past, far too many. Lord Hyro had been increasing patrols and recruiting by the dozens since that Taja woman had nearly killed him. Working as King's Assassin, he technically did not exist. If a guard saw him, then by law he would have to arrest The Arbiter. By his orders, he would then die along with everyone who saw him, their bodies never being found.

He was hunting a rebel sympathizer within the castle's walls. Gelltor's smear campaign, while rather helpful, lacked any sort of subtlety or grace. Anyone with the inclination could connect the dots and have them make an arrow, pointing straight at Lord Hyro.

Somebody was attempting to do just that.

Posters were appearing all over the city decrying these supposed 'rampages' by the NDK, providing known locations as evidence and the numbers of the NDK. Notes were disappearing from planned ransack places, replaced with the location of where all the stolen goods were being held, which was a known warehouse used by the King. So far, The Arbiter had kept abreast of the would-be saboteur but one mistake, one missed clue would bring it all crashing down. There would be a civilian uprising. The guard would revolt. Blood would run through the streets and the NDK would strike, ready or not.

The Arbiter wasn't King's Assassin for no reason. As well as keeping abreast with the saboteur - regardless of evidence showing it to be a group, The Arbiter knew what one skilled individual with a purpose could do - he had been narrowing down who the suspects were. A week or so, and their head would join the King's usual breakfast.

[BlackScorpion7]

The flash of light being reflected of the gem attracted Katelyn's eyes and she turned just in time to see it come from Drac. At the same time, his voice reached her. Part of her recoiled from his voice, anger showing on her face. This was the man they were fighting against, how dare he speak to her! But the part which was still true to herself and seemed to be fighting a losing battle, heard his words. She did not want to acknowledge them though. Because despite having been forced into Hyro's force, she was loyal. Would she not have been forced as a child and had the freedom of choice, she would probably have joined the NDK if given the chance. But faith had decided different and she was not one who would just jump sides according to which direction the wind was blowing from. Seeing the gem fly towards her, the tentacle shot out to catch it, becoming thinner and longer. But the moment it touched the gem, a fierce pain shot up it and into her body, making her double over and let go of it. Despite feeling the pain as well, Sleet's head swivelled around and he caught the gem in his muzzle, hiding it from sight.

 

Let go of it, Sleet!

It hurts you, not me.

 

The tentacle had moved back, currently laying near limpless in her lap. Occasionally twitches ran through it, short stings of pain running through it. Her face once against setting into a look of determination, she ignored Drac and focussed on Hyro instead, ready to do his every bidding.

[talyhawk]

((>_< Crummy fast post. Also depending on what Malice throws at Revy and Ryoka treat it as if the attack connected. I want them hurting not dead.))

 

Revy banked hard weaving between two bolts with the third hitting a magical barrior that the dragon had placed around them in a hurried fashion. With the lightning bolts out of the way Revy changed her course and with the help of Ryoka flew faster than she should've been able to towards Malice and Gelltor with the intent of ramming into the pair. Revy's green eyes flickered with the hint of magic flickering behind them. "Malice that's you isn't it!"

 

Don't provoke them!

 

The warning was useless Revy was in battle mode and had picked herself a lovely target. If it really was Gelltor and Malice this would be one hell of a battle. The two hadn't even paid attention to what was happening with Hyro and Drac.

 

+++++

 

Katarina glared at Malice and Gelltor for taking her target away then shrugged ordering Garen to burn anything within reach. The red obliged his jaws opening spitting fireballs down to the flotilla. While Garen was having his fun Katarina's gaze was focused on the intense fight happening between Drac and their Lord Hyro. Their display of magic was one very good reason why she didn't dare oppose Lord Hyro. Seeing the dagger plunge into Hyro's shoulder changed her interest in the fight to a seething rage towards Drac that she wanted to act on. It was then she remembered she had permission to kill Rio and the annoying magi she had from Gelltor. Garen didn't miss a beat and fired a fireball towards where he had last seen Rio, which was near Taja.

Edited November 20, 2010 by talyhawk

[En'K'Haral]

Malice gave a malicious grin as Revy charged them. Gelltor sheathed his weapon and armed himself with his shield.

"Come on then!"

Malice reared allowing Gelltor to slide down to his tail and griped it with his free hand a moment before Revy collided with them. Malice had angled himself to take the tackle and his body curled around Revy's causing his tail to whip up and over Revy's back from behind. This technique delivered Gelltor right onto Revy's back quite solidly.

"Good day Ryoka."

Gelltor said as he drew his sword in a crouched stance and jabbed it into Revy's back to keep himself from being flung off by the falling dragons. The folded steel blade cut right into and through the dragon's scales. He too had a very vile grin on his face that said with a kind of sly twist, 'Got you'. The fight that went on between Drac and Hyro was all but forgotten.

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

Rio had allowed Matthew to go first down the stairs and they had just reached the bottom of the stair case when a fire ball chased them in. They had only set Taja down when it exploded on the stairs burning Rio's back and filling it with searing splinters, she screamed in sudden pain as she was flung forward a few feet to land just beyond Matthew. Ayos had gone down a different path but suddenly lost concentration as he got the full blast of Rio's pain and dropped Cirrus down the stairs as he tried to clutch his back.

[BlackScorpion7]

Though he had not been hit by the full blast, Matthew got thrown forwards as well, hitting his head against the floor boards. Blinking, he looked around. But his sight was obstructed with blood dripping from a gash along his eyebrow and the general hazy sight of what might very well be a concussion. Trying to focus his eyes, he saw Rio laying a few feet further, not moving. Pushing himself up from the floor, he crawled over to where she was laying and pushed against her shoulder.

 

"Rio! Wake up!" As his eyes started to focus better, he saw the wound at her back. Cursing, he looked around for help. A healer would have come in handy, but almost everybody was upstairs. Looking at the splinters, he wasn't sure what would be best. Trying to take them out and risk too much loss of blood, or leave them in until a healer could look at it and risk infection?

 

Questra, where are you?

Deck. It's looking ug- woow!

What!

I think... I think it's nearly over.

What?

Seems like Drac and Hyro have reached an impasse.

What!

Do you know another word?

Whatever, I need your help.

What happened?

Rio's hurt and we need a healer.

Consider it done.

 

Questra bounded out of her hiding place and down some paths. There were too many victims laying around and those healers available seemed to be too busy. Using her good sense of smell, she tracked Ayos. Finding him, Questra bounded up to him.

 

Ayos, stop fidgetting, you're not hurt. Bite through it! Rio is hurt, we need a healer!

 

Matthew plucked out a splinter which had gotten stuck in the fabric of her shirt, it pulled at her burned skin and broke it. A sickly oozing color of blood started welling up and he cursed colorfully. His heart beat fast and in his haste and anxiety, he put his bare hand against her skin in a try to stop the blood. Almost as if seeing the wound beneath his hand, he just had a feeling of the living tissue around the wound. A shiver ran through him and just as he closed his eyes, his back started burning fiercly. Letting out a gasp, his free hand tried to reach his back, clawing at it, while a very soft shimmer came from beneath his hand. The burning in his back subsided slowly, but his eyelids fluttered and he fell backwards on the floor, exhausted. The flesh on Rio's back looked tender and fragile, but the splinters were gone and the heaviest burns had faded to just a bright red color instead of crisply burned skin.

 

+++++++

 

((I hope it's okay for Matthew to suddenly discover his magic spark and that it is a healing spark? it is about time he discovers some kind of magic. He won't be able to revive anybody, nor fully heal everybody. But *shrug*. If it would be best he did not have any magic healing in him, just say so and I'll change the post!! Of the record, if he is allowed to keep it: it will take him some time to strengthened his gift. More or less healing the burn exhausted him now, while in time it will hardly use some of his strength.))

Edited November 23, 2010 by BlackScorpion7

[Kjakings]

((Nah. He's your character. Short of making him a demi-god, is cool.))

[BlackScorpion7]

((Okay, demi-god he- oh you mean DON'T make him a demi-god. Right! Naw, he'll be able to heal your average cut and bruise without a problem, but will need a lot of practise and time before he'll stop passing out with the bigger jobs... He'll always feel a bit of the pain of the patient, took the idea of one of the books I've read. Aaaanyhow, shutting up now!))

[En'K'Haral]

Ayos tried to focus to shut out the pain and at first was unsuccessful but at a second attempt managed to numb it to a dull ache.

"I know I know it's just it always hits so hard and suddenly, I have never really gotten used to it."

He grumbled before he jumped into the air and began looking for a healer that was available until he felt a slight cooling feeling on his back. He turned around and started to fly back to Rio. Rio groaned at the pain f having one of the splinters pulled out, she wasn't out but she was too hurt to want to even move. Then suddenly she felt her back starting to cool off as though it were being healed and when she finally opened her eyes she saw Matthew laying on his back exhausted. She carefully sat up and pulled herself next to him.

"Matt are you ok?"

She asked all concern for herself gone for the moment.

[BlackScorpion7]

But Matthew was not the one to answer, instead Questra talked to Ayos, who had to relay it to Rio. It wasn't the easiest conversation, though it was more like a monologue. But talking to another human was just still a step too far for the horse hatchling. It was probably even the first time she spoke so much to another besides Matthew.

 

"He's okay, just knocked out cold. I guess he finally found something to do with that spark in him. Too bad it hit him so hard. You rider feeling more or less okay? I'm afraid he won't be up to much help until he regains enough energy again. Ayos, do you still have enough strength to get them all out of her and to a safe spot? I'm going to check what's going on upstairs."

[Kjakings]

Drac ripped open the hatch, revealing Matthew, Questra, Rio and Ayos. He jumped down, feeling Matthew's pulse and sending a small jolt of magic into him to revive him.

"It's over, but the city is still burning. You need to get up there and help the elves put them out. Join a bucket line if you can't do anything more. Where is Taja? Cirrus has regained consciousness and is flipping out."

 

Hyro stormed through his fortress, the walls, floors and roof splintering as he went. He went to his lab, picking up his current test subject and throwing them through the sixty-story high wall. Eventually he calmed, helpfully before the room collapsed in on itself. He summoned Carlyle, who prudently supported himself with magic before he walked into the room.

"Carlyle. Summon Katelyn, Octavius and Amelia. Have them meet me in the war room. Drac wants a war, he's going to have to fight his way through through hell and beyond."

[En'K'Haral]

Gelltor had bailed out of the fight with Ryoka with hardly any fight at all since Hyro had started retreating. He rejoined his squadron and returned to the castle. It was obvious that Hyro was pissed and Gelltor was more then happy to stay out of the line of fire. He had done his job just fine. Heck up until he was attacked by Ryoka he didn't even break formation. He sat in the stables with Malice waiting for things in the castle to cool down. After he reported to Katelyn the day's activities, which had been numerous, he would meet with his contact to check up on the campaign as well as listen to his unknowing ears in the streets for their opinions.

 

Rio pointed to Taja on the ground.

"She is right over there. Matt wake up let's go help out."

She said to the boy on the ground. Ayos didn't need to be told twice, he flew off to help put out the fires.

[BlackScorpion7]

Matthew woke up from the jolt given by Drac. Opening his eyes, he looked around a little confused, but jumped into action. Running upstairs along with Rio, he cast a questioning look in her direction.

 

"What the hell happened? I remember you getting hit from a blast and then... nothing. Questra, go help fly buckets of water back and forth!" The horse hatchling whinied in reply and flew away, seeking the best place to help. With her size and ability of flying, she was able to carry either a lot of buckets at once or something larger which could be filled with water. Then she could fly right above the flames and let the water pour out. Matthew grabbed hold of a thick and large cloth, soaking it in water and running around to extinguish those small patches of fire that could still grow into a blaze.

 

+++++++

 

As they retreated, Katelyn was brooding. They had such an advantage and still they had been forced to retreat. Where was the problem? As far as she knew, the NDK only had a few assets, these being Drac himself, the technology of the elves and three adult dragons with two riders. Well... that was not counting Taja who she had no clue what had happened to the woman and Cirrus. If Drac was abl to convert Taja back from puppet to living person and she would join them, their force would be one more. And having gotten a look at the hatchlings, she was sure that as more time passed, they would soon have more adult dragons in their force. Sleet felt het agitation, but kept silent. He was brooding over something else entirely. His rider didn't fully feel like herself anymore and it was worrying him.

 

Arriving at the castle grounds, Katelyn ordered for a medic to come and check upon Sleet's wounds. Some had cracked open again, oozing a bit of filthy blood. Taking of the saddle, she patted him absentmindedly and ordered one of the slaves to bring fresh meat for the ice dragon. Getting the summons of Hyro, she walked briskly over to the castle and up to the war room. Getting let in by one of the servants, she entered the room and bowed to Hyro.

 

+++++++

 

((In completely different news: I just won this years NaNoWriMo with the novel 'Lady in name, Knight at heart', existing out of 52.766 words! Kudos to me! Just so happy, I want to yell it at everybody. Won the 2009 too. Up to 2011!))

Edited November 27, 2010 by BlackScorpion7

[talyhawk]

((Sorry for not replying sooner Thanksgiving was spent out of town and away from a computer. Congrats on the win Scorpion.))

 

Ryoka had been taken aback by Gelltor's actions and was amazed to say the least that he hadn't cut her down then and there. She hadn't even had time to draw her weapons when he suddenly bailed and joined the retreat lead by Hyro. To make matters worse the pair had hit the water hard and it had taken a few minutes to surface with Ryoka coughing as soon as they broke the surface.

 

The adrenaline that had kept them going was starting to wear off causing the injuries they had taken to start becoming much more noticeable, especially the one on Revy's back. Wanting to get out of the water as fast as possible the dragon swam back to the city pulling herself up onto a patch that wasn't burning where Ryoka dismounted and pulled the wet saddle off the dragon. Free of the saddle Revy shook herself off spraying water in every direction putting some of the fires out in the process while her rider looked around taking in the damage that Hyro's forces had done.

 

+++++

 

Katarina was rather annoyed with the fact that they had retreated, but she wasn't one to question Hyro's orders. Upon returning to the castle she dismounted and checked the wound on the red's leg, which thankfully hadn't opened back up. Following her dragon inside the stables she ignored Gelltor and Malice as she passed them and took the saddle off Garen allowing the dragon to settle down and rest. With a sigh she checked up on Malphite who was sleeping soundly before heading to her own quarters to prepare for her father's upcoming visit.

[Kjakings]

((I will post eventually, honest. Just been rather ill recently.

 

I will post before the weekend, 'cos I'm going away for the weekend to Aachen.

 

35 hours on the coach. D: ))

[En'K'Haral]

Rio got up and went after Questra and grabbed a collection of buckets.

"Questra, when you run out of water come back here, I will have more buckets ready for you."

She yelled after the hatchling, by chance her quick filling of buckets ended up forming another bucket line she had some buckets set aside for Questra and filled the rest to feed down the line. While Ayos was using his magic to create vast amounts of water to help put out some of the larger fires Rio could not draw on his power without risking mental injury to herself or Ayos. Ayos flew into a house to fetch a child that had been trapped inside, he used his magic to dose the flames room after room but from inside he couldn't to much else other then temporarily put out the fires. Finally he found the young elven boy and grabbing hold of him used his magic to knock down a wall and bail out just before the house collapsed.

 

---------------------------------

 

Gelltor watched from his spot in the stables as slaves and knights dashed about doing their business.

"If all goes well, I am sure that their lives will be quite disrupted."

"Did you here back form that spy yet?"

"No, he is probably busy with the fires. Besides he isn't due to report in until after they touch down on mainland."

 

The spy that they spoke of was currently in the middle of a bucket line, he had survived by being conveniently protecting a few young elves in a relatively well sheltered area, just in case they tried to board. His dragon who was very resistant to heat was searching building after building for people trapped in fires, he acted as a guide to the elves so that they could act quickly to minimize casualties caused by the fires.

[BlackScorpion7]

((Just as a note: I'll be gone until Saturday 11th. Feel free to play my characters if you want, though it's only one week. Katelyn is in the war room waiting for the orders of Hyro, Sleet is getting his wounds treated by a medic, Matthew is helping dousing the fire by using wet blankets and Questra is flying back and forth with buckets of water, pouring them out above the fire.))

[Kjakings]

((Here's my make-up for not posting. It adds lots of tension.))

 

Hyro looked around the war room. Octavius, the army commander sat in the corner. He was a slight man, but a born killer. A hundred or so scars were his medals of honour from having clawed his way up from a front line soldier to commander of the army. A brilliant tactician, there was no equal. Amelia his devious Navy admiral was looking over the various maps assembled. A daughter of an old noble, but one of those very few who know what the hell they’re doing. He kept her on and periodically revelled and lamented that decision. A deadly fighter, fleet commander and slaughterer, she was also horrible for PR. No quarter given. Katelyn sat there looking annoyed. The odd one out, thrust upon him. The tentacle was the first part of making her great.

Also there was Grandmaster Maddox, who had decided he was to be included in these discussions. A brilliant man, he was also completely devoted to the science of magic and refused to do anything that would jeopardise that. A very irritating quality. A quick scan of the opposite wall showed Hyro that his assassin was in close attendance.

“My son has given me eight months before he marches on this fair city. I want it, and the surrounding countryside, impenetrable in six.”

 

The Arbiter was, in fact, striding through the city centre. He had left one of his apprentices at the wall. A raid had recently been made against a warehouse and he wanted to set a trap for this sabotage saboteur. If he was too late for a trap, a knife would suffice.

 

Kiara was faster however. She was in the warehouse and had the suspect cornered putting up directions. The light was poor and Kiara could only see that the saboteur was a woman. She tried to decide what to do next.

“Trying to point the finger of blame at the good king Hyro. Tut tut. Punishable by torture and death, certainly. If you get caught.” No response. This woman was probably better than Kiara thought. “I don’t intend to catch you. I’ve become a bit of an anarchist since I died. I’ve come here because I decided to help you. Rumour has it the King’s Assassin is gunning for you. No doubt he’ll be here shortly.” Kiara’s magically-tuned senses picked up a soft noise. The woman twitched, which meant she had magic worth talking about.

“That will be him now. That was a freebie. If you want more, leave a note at my door. Sign it with a blue S.” No reaction. Maybe Kiara was wrong about who it was. Regardless, she was gone and Kiara had best leave too.

 

Katelyn twirled the gem in the fingers of her non-mutilated hand. It didn’t hurt in that hand, there was only a dull pressure. But the tentacle screamed in agony whenever it came within half an inch of the magic gem. So either Drac wanted to destroy it, or something… else. She didn’t think he wanted to destroy the tentacle, but what else could it be?

She came to attention as Hyro clutched his forehead and a massive telepathic force came out, followed by a message. Almost like an afterthought.

 

Kill them all! Slaughter Everyone!

 

That was… interesting. Grandmaster Maddox was the only one to remain standing during the onslaught and noticed that even Octavius, so magically null his presence actually cancelled out smaller spells, had heard it. His ears were bleeding. That sending had hit everyone hard, and the panic slowly spreading outside meant it wasn’t contained to this room.

Maybe it had nothing to do with Chicias. Maybe it was some foreign power. Whatever it was had been massive enough that it could transmit that far.

But Leander doubted it.

 

Drac looked up as he heard something. Both faint and incredibly powerful. There was some kind of message. Taja definitely heard it. She bent double, covering her ears. Drac helped her back up and resisted the urge to sedate Bramble.

“Did you not hear that?” Taja asked, Drac noticing a trickle of new blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. She had definitely heard it much louder than him. Possibly some kind of residual connection to Hyro. That was probably not good.

“I did. I think the fires are all out now. Let’s go outside. Bramble has completely flipped out. He’s been projecting his thoughts out all over the place.” The fight had been tough on her and she needed help up the stairs. When they reached the top ash was falling from the sky, still burning hot. Taja looked around and realised this devastation was all her fault.

Several elves realised it too.

The advanced on Taja and Drac, who let her go and undid the clasp on his sword, letting his hand rest on the grip. Bramble landed behind them and began hissing, Cirrus and Night assuming rather more dignified positions. The NDK formed up behind Drac and Taja, slightly unsure of what was about to happen.

“She’s with us now.” Drac said simply. The elves had seen his fight with Hyro and the new look in his eyes. He had lost Aoi and four others since. Drac wasn’t going to lose anybody else.

“Pack your things. We’re leaving tomorrow after clean up here.” Drac told the rest of the NDK. Tommorow, they set out for the mainland and the dwarves.

 

Hyro Stormwind liked to think over the years he had gotten quite intelligent. He knew that what had just happened was not good.

Edited December 8, 2010 by Kjakings

[En'K'Haral]

Rio had dropped to her knees when the psychic message had slammed her and just about everyone else. Blood trickled out of her tear ducts, Ayos had been slammed just as strongly and it had taken everything he had just to keep standing. He had rejoined Rio and Matt after the shock was over.

"What was that?"

"I...don't know. Oh no looks like we have trouble."

Rio said pointing to the Elves that were closing in on Drac and Taja. She and Ayos dashed to Bramble's side, niether of them really trusted Taja just yet but they trusted Bramble.

 

---------------------------

 

Gelltor was still sitting idly in the stable wiating for the meeting to be over, when he got blasted with the message as well. Blood dripped out his nose and the same held true for Malice.

"That sound's like a potential problem."

"Only if it can stop Drac. Then it is a problem."

"Drac is getting pretty strong. Can we really rely on a simple trick anymore?"

"Hmm...you may be right. If we can start sweeping the other NDk members out from under his feet then maybe he will stand less of a chance against hyro's full force, however we need to lessen them before they get here."

"You have a plan."

"Not this time. However if we can't knock out at least half of his forces out from under his feet within seven months then we may as well slip away before the fight is over and start moving outside elements against him. Chicais isn't the only country in the world after all."

"I hope that wasn't as nasty as it sounded."

"Mmmhmmm..."

Gelltor used a bunch of hay to clean up the blood from both him and Malice.

"I wonder what Mordred is up too. If Katelyn comes looking for me I am in the cells."

Malice nodded his understanding and looked over to the others to see if they had been effected by the blast as well.

[Red Dragonette]

((Going to give this RP a break again, because I don't have the feel to RP there right now. So I'll make this post before I'm gone for good. Maybe I'll RP again next time.))

 

Mordred and Ghidorah traveled through the woods until they found a small elven village. "Oh look Ghidorah, it's a village of elves. Let's blow this place and loot everything they have," he said to his dragon. The split dragon roared before he charged into the village. Once inside, Mordred started to terrorize the people by casting fireballs at the random buildings and every village he saw. Ghidorah's two heads spat fireballs and chomped at the elves who came near him. The villagers screamed in fear and panic as they tried to escape before they end up dead. Some went into their houses and some went out of the village. The fighters of the village tried to fight the rider and his dragon, but Mordred cast a barrier to protect himself and Ghidorah followed up the defense with breaths of fire to burn them down. Once the elves outside were dead, Ghidorah smashed the housed and they killed the hiding elves inside. A while later, all the elven villagers were dead and Mordred took all their money and valuable treasures and weapons with him. Then they left the village.

 

((I rushed on the last part, but what the heck.))