Event: Day 301 [OPEN]

[bastionpc]

Who: Everyone who wants to be involved, plus a ~*~surprise guest~*~
Open: Open
When: Day 301
Where: Roathus Lagoon
What: oh look it's time for a core
Format: action
Warnings: none yet

[When Nathaniel calls for one of the all-too familiar meetings regarding cores, he looks pretty unhappy. In fact, he looks like he has some bad news to give. Whatever it is, everyone should come listen, because it's pretty important!]

Comments

[daughterofursa]

[Look, Ghaleon, they can be responsible adult-like people. Zuko isn't about to charge on through those suspicious clouds of smoke either.

At least, not without testing first by pressing a gas mask to her face and edging into the thinning haze. These things are supposed to keep them safe, right?]

[twinked_witch]

Best to take our time. Take a drink while the air's fresh...

[bakegarasu]

[Otoha inches forward, frowning at the gas masks. Does he need one?]

Should I test it?

[four_quarts]

[Thank you for being sensible, Meg. You are earning many respect points with Ghaleon for that.]

...Only test it if you put on one of the gas masks. At this point it would be an unnecessary risk to do otherwise.

[Please no repeats of the pooping and yelling incident or even anything similar...]

[bastionpc]

[There will be no yelling and pooping this time.

However, anyone who touches that cloud of spores with bare skin will find that their skin goes tingly. Things like fingers, elbows, and such will be a bit sluggish in response for the next fifteen minutes or so.

Anyone unfortunate enough to inhale the spores will find their lungs going numb and their breaths difficult and shallow.]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko listened well enough that she's actually wearing long sleeves for once, but it looks like her fingers are going a little numb. She tries to shake out her free hand once she's past the cloud.]

...it still does something even if you don't breathe it in. We'd better just avoid it.

[Which means they'll have to keep moving slowly, ugh. At least no monsters are bothering them, yet.. She expects that'll change once they reach the core.]

[bakegarasu]

[He pulls back a little bit. He can't afford to slow down. He tucks his hands into his pockets to keep them safe.]

[amphibian]

What'd it do? Are you okay? [Worry worry fret!! it takes her a second to quit worrying about Zuko long enough to notice Otoha trudging along.] Hey, were you listening?! It's not safe, come back and wait a minute for it to clear!

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

If they all make clouds of spores when they're destroyed that'll make things harder.

[His wound is closing nicely, but this does leave a gap where the long-sleeved shirt he's wearing doesn't protect him. Hopefully this won't pose a problem later.]

[daughterofursa]

I'm fine. Just lost a little feeling.

[But thanks for worrying. She frowns ahead at Otoha.]

Hey. What good is it going to do you to get there ahead of everyone?

[If the rest of them are taking their time, he'll just wind up facing some giant plant monster on his own and dying.]

WARNING: Your characters have a very real chance of permanently dying from this point on

[bastionpc]

[We're about to find out if it will cause a problem!

The cloud of spores takes another 3-ish minutes to disperse, after which it is clear to walk and continue through the swamp.

Surprisingly clear, actually.

In fact, this entire area looks as though it has been recently cleared out and made safe for living in.

Weird.]

[legendary_can_opener]

[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.

[twinked_witch]

[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.]

[daughterofursa]

[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.]

[four_quarts]

[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?

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[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.]

[legendary_can_opener]

[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...]

[bakegarasu]

[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.

[twinked_witch]

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.

[legendary_can_opener]

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]

[four_quarts]

[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.]

[daughterofursa]

[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.

[legendary_can_opener]

[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']

[four_quarts]

[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.

[amphibian]

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!