thebastion | Event: Day 301 [OPEN]

[Is that the corpse of an anklegator? Is that a huge black dragon that is feasting on its corpse? The answer to both of these questions is yes.]

[Behind the creature, glowing brightly is the core that the party has been searching for; nestled in a large pile of shards]

[The dragon is an alert creature, unfortunately, and raises its crimson eyes as it takes in the newcomers. It flairs its massive wings, eyes narrowing, before her (yes her) voice booms out]

Take not a step further, trespassers.

Edited (I'm sorry for all the editings) 2015-04-27 02:02 (UTC)

[There was Megaera being uneasy at the quiet... And then there was Megaera being very visibly uneasy at the presence of what she instantaneously recognizes as a Black Dragon, possibly one from her world or one much like it.

If she was correct about this, then she was very, very much in trouble if she got at all angry. A mature black dragon's breath... Would kill anyone here besides Megaera in one shot, and leave Megaera weak enough that her fate would be as a rather foul-tasting snack.

This was, to put it lightly, a delicate situation.]

... We apologize for the trespass. We were merely seeking something we believe to be near this place.

[Good news was, she was dealing with a highly intelligent being. That meant that communication was an option - and their best hope of getting everyone out of here alive with the core in tow.]

[That is in fact a dragon. Zuko's eyes widen in surprise, but she immediately sheathes her sword. Dragons are not for fighting--partly because that's disrespectful and partly because it's just a Really Bad Idea.]

We had no idea we'd find a dragon here. We didn't mean to disturb you.

[Although that sure looks like she's hoarding the core they need. That could be a problem.]

[For a moment, Ghaleon laments that there are so many people here, and many of them still terribly young. Overall, dragons were generally rather reasonable people in his experience, but if this one decided to take offense, the rest of the group would be in terrible danger.

...Well, time to be as charming as possible.]

It is an object necessary to the survival of our small community. We would greatly appreciate it if you were to grant us the time to locate it, after which we are willing to leave you in peace if you wish.

[Noting the pile of shards, since it's a tad hard to miss, he adds:] If it happens to be in your possession, I'm sure we could come to some arrangement. A trade, perhaps?

[Rob knows very well that he's not the best at engaging in negotiations. It's for that reason that he remains silent, sheathes his sword, and does his best to look non-threatening and not like he's thinking of trying anything. Because he isn't. He's not stupid.

He is thinking about the fact that this world apparently contains a male and a female dragon, and wondering if, assuming they don't incite this one's ire, there might not be adorable baby dragons in the future.]

[The dragon's nostrils flared slightly as she took in their scents. Most of them were human, it appeared, but the last one that spoke... it was unsettling. Not an elf, nor a drow...]

[But the second female that spoke, it only cemented her suspicions from when she had first arrived in this wretched land. This was not her world]

[Did they know something? Could she even trust them?]

What would you have to offer me, then, and what is it that you seek?

[Her voice was mostly neutral, though perhaps a little cold...]

[Otoha speaks up from behind the people who have already stepped forward. He knows he's not the best at negotiations, but he has to at least try.]

A steady supply of food, the ability to make a safer territory, and relatively decent people. You wouldn't have to fight off other things to keep your borders safe.

Those shards you have... Without boring you with the details, the shards can be used at the monument to empower the Bastion, allowing it to provide buildings, natural structures, magic items - really, you name it. The cores - like that large one - do much larger things.

Beyond the value of using them, there's the fact that you'd have a large number of people of various experiences backing you up, giving you a safe lair from which to go out into the Skyway and hunt without needing worry for your base. As far as we know, we're almost all that remains of our worlds - banding together really is our best hope of survival, as a result.

Remains of...!?

[The dragon had her suspicions... that something terrible had happened. That this was more than a mere interdimensional displacement]

[She distrusted this group, as she did all that wore a human shape, but there was no reason to lie about the destruction of so many worlds, was there?]

[She slams a claw into the swampy ground, a sort of rage clear in her eyes. After all that time, after everything she'd been through, and for it to just disappear in the blink of an eye?!]

[But... what if this was some elaborate deception? How could something cause so much destruction? But then... no, there were too many uncertainties here. Too many possibilities...]

... banding together. Decent people...

[She forced herself to calm down, focusing on the subject that was immediately relevant. She had lived out here for some time already, and the dragon was hardly unfamiliar with the concept of surviving on her own... and yet, there was something wrong with this land. It felt... unstable..]

[But these were humanoids she was dealing with]

Why should I trust any of you?

[It was an unfair question to ask, to be sure, but at the same time they could just as easily be waiting until they get back to their 'community' so that they would have the numbers to tear her apart]

[The pleasant smile Ghaleon had plastered on his face drops, replaced with a carefully neutral expression.]

Why indeed? We are strangers whom trespassed in your territory, spouting tales of the destruction of our worlds and the heartwarming way we have formed a community to stave off the dangers of the Skyway; what reason do you have to trust us?

Of course, the same could be asked of you: why reason do we have to trust you?

[He calmly stares her dead in the eyes, arms crossed over his chest as if this were a casual conversation with a normal person.]

Personally, I choose to believe you are the reasonable woman you seem, and would rather avoid unnecessary confrontation. I feel the same.

My only goals are to retrieve the Core and to keep this group relatively intact. Fighting you would likely be detrimental to both of these. It's true, the Bastion does provide a measure of safety, but I imagine that if you do not wish to return with us, an offering of food would be a more agreeable price for the Core.

[Honestly, he's largely assuming presenting bartering as a third option will go over well since it gives another option where everyone may profit.]

[Zuko shoots Ghaleon a look. What are you doing disrespecting the dragon by throwing that question back at her? Sure, she might eat them, but that doesn't make her untrustworthy.]

There are other dragons who share our home and call us friends. I for one consider that a great honor. [Ghaleon might not who knows.]

We can tell you what we know of what's happened. And I think you'd be entitled to use the Bastion's power, even if you decide not to join us there.

[The dragon fell silent for a short time, staring at both Zuko and Ghaleon as she weighed their words. The idea of a dragon referring to any humanoids as friend would have been laughable to her only decades ago, but...]

Tell me their names. These dragons that you claim to hold a bond of friendship with.

[Maybe, just maybe, one of her children would be safe and sound at this 'Bastion']

Edited 2015-04-27 16:34 (UTC)

[Rest assured, dear Zuko, everything he's doing is very, very deliberate.]

Paarthurnax is considered a vital source of wisdom, and I believe many consider him something of a surrogate grandfather. Ryu is... a rather different sort of dragon than Paarthurnax or you, but he is a good boy. I imagine they both will be pleased to hear of your existence.

Paarthurnax is the best! He's probably one of the nicest...anythings [not people, he is not a person] I've ever met. And yeah, there's Ryu, and he's...part dragon, I guess? He's a really good friend. There's Kizuna, too, right, Zuko? She's still just a baby but she's adorable!

~~[Wow excuse you Aoi, dragons are people too]~~

[The dragon seems to relax a bit as Ghaleon spoke... but then Aoi... oh Aoi...]

[She unconsciously digs her claws into the muddy ground as the tanned human starts speaking in such a... sickeningly cheerful fashion ~~(good thing Ibuki isn't there too-)~~. It was as if she didn't understand the situation she was in. The human was either very brave, or very foolish. Mitellux wasn't about to jump to conclusions either way about it.]

[Though, yes, the black dragon does agree that cute little babbu dragons are cute-]

[but wait, no, she realizes what bothered her so much about Aoi... or rather, what she represented in this group. This party had the cool and charismatic one, the 'honorable' one, the stupidly energetic and cheerful one... though the dragon couldn't pin down the personalities of the rest, all current evidence pointed to this being a ragtag group of dreaded adventurers]

[The dragon tenses further as old memories began to bubble up, but she forced herself to calm down and pay attention to what they had told her: A baby dragon, and two others that were referred to with large amount of respect.]

... I will see this Bastion, then. I assume there will be no objections that I will hold onto this core you seek until my suspicions are truly put to rest.

Edited 2015-04-28 08:34 (UTC)

[Mitellux might also notice a slight smile cross Zuko's face at the mention of Kizuna because yes she is very proud of her baby dragon daughter.

But no, this is a serious situation, and the dragon actually doesn't seem too fond of Aoi's exuberance. That sobers her up again, and she takes a step closer to Aoi.]

Of course. I don't see any problem with that.

[After all, they're being completely honest about how much they love their dragons, so she should have nothing to be suspicious about after she sees the Bastion, right?]

I see nothing wrong with this... Other than the polite advisement that you'll want to bring the core with you so other creatures do not try to claim it as soon as you leave, and that as soon as you start moving it, we're going to have a lot of monsters coming this way. They seem to react to it being moved.

[Megaera had managed to cheat that last time by just teleporting the core back, but... Somehow, she didn't think that'd work here.]

[Ghaleon drops his arms, one at his side and the other with hand on his hip.]

We will, of course, help you fend the pests off along the way. It's only fair.

[the dragon let out a low rumbling breath, her wings relaxing to a more neutral position finally]

I am well aware of the attention the core attracts.

[She had been there for some time, after all]

Then we have an accord. I will transport the core and the... shards. Should you require it, I will lend what aid I can as well.

[She slowly backs away, off of the half-eaten corpse of the anklegator, before turning towards her small hoard to gather it up]

Edited (I can grammar I swear) 2015-04-29 08:38 (UTC)

Thank you.

[Zuko relaxes, too, and glances at the others. Chances seem good they're not going to be eaten by a dragon today.

Plus they even seem to be getting her help taking the Core back.

...

Something is going to go horribly wrong, isn't it? She never has this kind of luck.]

[Yeah, about that....

Remember how Mitellux was nomming on an anklegator?

Yeah it had a mate, and said mate happens to be tunneling right towards the group now. It's not close enough to immediately reach them, but it's coming, and it's mad. Oh, how it is mad.]

... Ground rumbling. Loudly. We've got something approaching.

Probably another Anklegator. If we don't coordinate a bit... Well, I'd prefer not to be in the way of a dragon's breath if that's how we're gonna deal with this thing. Just saying.

[Rob's been standing there quietly, but unfortunately he's been focusing on the dragon and not their surroundings, so it's only after Megaera speaks up that he notices the approaching threat. He draws his sword and brings it to the ready, facing the approaching Anklegator.]

I'd rather not experience dragon breath firsthand either. I'm not sure it'll do much until whatever that is surfaces anyways, but coordination would still be a good idea.

[Mitellux let out an annoyed snort, turning away from the pile of shards and a core to face the incoming threat. Her senses were keen, so she didn't need Megaera's warning to hear the incoming anklegator. She normally worked alone, and certainly not with humanoids.]

These things are not worth wasting a use of my breath weapon. I dispatched the first without, and unless I am mistaken these beasts have no intelligence to differ their strategy.

[She flexed her wings again, eyes narrowing slightly. If the anklegator was coming for her... so be it. She planned to launch herself in the air just as the thing would come out of the ground at her, and then forcibly drag it out into the open; just like she had done to 'lunch']

[This shouldn't be too difficult... unless the others decided to take advantage and attack her]

Edited 2015-04-30 07:52 (UTC)

[For his part, Ghaleon looks utterly unsurprised at the prospect of needing to fight a giant monster. A bit irritated at the timing, yes, but not surprised.

Sighing, he draws his sword.]

I suppose I shall refrain from casting any spells for the time being. All of the most effective ones are liable to catch someone aside from the anklegator in its radius, and I'm sure we would all rather avoid that.

[Not that he couldn't exclude them from taking damage, but that requires rather more time with a group this large than he'd like to take.]

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