thebastion | Event: Day 301 [OPEN]

[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.]

[Zuko is only surprised by how prompt the response was to her thought that things were going too well.

She draws both her swords now, preparing to face the anklegator.]

Let's not underestimate it.

[True, they have a dragon on their side, but they chose to run from the last anklegator they ran into. Zuko doesn't know first-hand what it takes to bring one down.]

[Megaera quietly drew her sword, observing how Mitellux was tensing to, presumably, launch into the air.]

Well, we agree on that much for sure. Area magic isn't safe, for sure... Precision strikes are going to be the key. Beyond that... We're gonna have to call it as we see it.

If we get positionally separated-

[A fancy way of saying "Someone ends up inside the beast like happened the last time she joined a run"-]

I'm going to try and communicate telepathically...

Fine.

[Otoha draws his sword as well, letting his limbs fall a bit loose so he can dash in whatever direction he needs to. He doesn't sound too worried.]

I can make a distraction if we need to.

[Granted he... hasn't actually fought an anklegator before.]

[Hey, wait, no one told Aoi everyone was bringing swords? Everybody has a sword except Aoi and the dragon, this is awkward.

She looks no less prepared for it, though; she's gotten good enough with the magic abilities she's acquired that between them and her own strength, she can keep herself—and hopefully the others—safe.]

M-me too! But be careful, everyone!

[But Otoha, how can you make the distraction when the distraction is already you?

Faced with several opponents, the anklegator tunnels deep underground, leaving only a tiny bit of horn sticking out of the ground as it moves. Rob and Zuko just happen to be in the way of said horn, so unless they want to get speared somewhere on their person they will want to jump out of the way. Even if it's only the tip, it's still a good 3 feet up out of the ground.

But Otoha gets the brunt of its attack. Meaning it's going to burst out of the ground at Otoha's feet and try to swallow him whole.]

[If Zuko's instinct were solely for self-preservation, she could get out of the way easily, but a good leader also considers the safety of her team.

Between Otoha and Rob, Rob is closer, injured, and has a considerably slower reaction time. Zuko moves to try shoving him out of the anklegator's path, probably not getting herself completely out of harm's way in the process.]

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