Fantasy CLOSED The Saga of the Ryujin

OOC: A solo post intertwined with two separate combos. One with my apprentice, Kurisan, which will be showcased between the green lines.

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And one with the great and nigh-mythical Vagabond, which will be shown between the red lines.

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Parts sandwiching these two sections are purely by me. Enjoy!


Cretaus IC (Ft. Taella & Rebecca):
~Before the feast, on the mountain pass by the bridge to Zalzabar’s Castle…Then entering Zalzabar’s Castle….FINALLY!~

Cretaus walked back, that terrible limp readily apparent, back toward the the bridge they had all been waiting to reach. Dominus had walked with him.

They were not speaking at the moment, they didn’t need to. All that had been needed to be said, at least in that moment, had been said. It was now left for the two of them to reflect upon their inner most thoughts and memories of the encounter. To glean what they could from it.

Cretaus, taking in another shuddering breath, his throat still burning from the heat of Anaxagore’s attack earlier; watched as Dominus continued on so he could be reabsorbed by the true Knight of Power. It appeared the Dragon Dominus that had been stuck inside the pit managed to appear as well, and get absorbed back too.

Dominus was whole again, in a sense. And Cretaus found himself conflicted on his thoughts on the man. He now saw there was more to him than had initially appeared, that perhaps he was not what he first had thought. Indeed, they had likely shown that to each other simultaneously. Their final exchange continued to resound in his head, giving him much to consider.

They would for many days to come.

As the Knights began whispering one final exchange to one another, he let out a quiet involuntary groan of pain and a shiver as the cold began its assault anew. The magic from before, which he now suspected was magic, evidently weakening.

All of the various injuries he had sustained from the Trial of Power, illusion or not, were very much real and were taking a toll on him.

The bruise. The slash on his chest. The ache in his stomach from where Dominus had kicked him with all of his empowered strength. His back nearly feeling like it was to shatter apart like a window stressed too far, from when he had slammed into the orc ryujin. The blood on his mouth that had come out from the impact force was still there. Shakily, he brought up his left hand and wiped it away, leaving a red smear. The blisters on his right forearm he was being careful of. Oh, yeah. There were some on his back too. Those were worse. His throat that had been parched and now painfully dry just from the sheer heat he had been too close to. And of course his right foot especially. He wasn’t sure what exactly, but there was something wrong with it. The pain was worse in the ankle. Perhaps that was what had popped? Granted, all of his hands and feet hurt especially after pushing the pit walls during his fall. So who knows.

Feeling something brushing against his legs, he turned to look behind him and saw the bear skin cloak having blown up against him due to the wind. He blinked. That hurt too. Damn dryness.

“Oh yeah,” he croaked to himself, “I forgot about you.”

Slowly, swaying as if he was going to fall over but managing to just barely catch himself, he then grasped the cloak and picked it up with both hands. He stared at it.

It had fallen off sometime during the Test of Integrity or right after it had finished, but he couldn’t recall just how he had gotten it. Someone gave it to him. Well, loaned anyway. His mind searched, but came up blank for now. When he remembered, he’d give it back. No need to be in anyone’s debt.

Glancing back at the knights, who seemed to be still whispering, he sighed. Swaying again despite his best attempts not to. They better hurry up.

A movement to his side then caught his attention and he turned his head to look to see someone approaching…

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Taella skipped along, clinging to the arm of Anaxagore and grinning ear to ear, in her own little daydream.

They reached the rest of the party and it seemed everyone had passed their trials. Taella rocked; that was really quite something. The assembled travelers must indeed be a special group.

Anaxagore halted, and so did Taella, when they saw the human boy standing over one of the mirror-images of Dominus, holding his own sword against the neck of the mighty Knight of Power.

Taella blinked in amazement. Cretaus has defeated Dominus? That seemed unthinkable. She remembered her own trial. She could not get a scratch on him... he was so powerful and skilled, and of course she had stood no chance when he took dragonform. She looked up to Anaxagore, who was similarly astonished.

Words passed between the boy and the knight, and he did not kill him. Taella watched. He had shown mercy. That was indeed a test of power, courage, and integrity all together in one. She was not sure she could have done that, either.

They walked back towards the bridge to Zalzabar's castle. As Taella studied the boy she saw him limping, his clothes reduced to rags by his ordeals, the scars and bruises.

She blinked back a tear. She had thought her own trails and tortures a terrible burden, but in the end she had escaped unscathed. This boy must have been through much worse!

She remembered her first trial - perhaps the worst of the three for her - and how he had become part of the illusion. His apparition had done a terrible thing to her, but also it was her realisation that it was not really him that had broken the spell for her. What had Audacia said? His innocence and purity saved you.

He had also predicted that before the quest ended, Cretaus would be her saviour again. How could that be? It seemed impossible. But then, so was the idea he could defeat Dominus.

These thoughts swirled in her mind. Then she saw him collapse into the snow.

Taella was compelled by the moment. She detached from Anaxagore's arm and rushed to the boy. She fell to her knees beside him. He was groaning.

Up close, his various wounds and burns looked even worse. He must have been staggering on through sheer willpower. He was shaking with spasms now. Taella recognised the symptoms - after the combat has ended and the power that rushes through your veins subsides, the delayed shock and pain overpowers you.

"Let me help you," she said, reaching for her pouch. She produced another two balm leaves and rubbed them into the snow. She needed to place them onto his skin. She gently lifted the torn rags and placed one on his flank and another across a gash in his chest.

He moaned.

"It will pass, it will pass," she soothed. "Let the coolness wash away the fire."

She saw a wound in his neck leaking blood and frowned. That needed something special or it would scar permanently. She had some herb for deep cuts like that. She took it out and put it into her mouth. She chewed to soften it into a paste.

He was still in pain, moaning, and her heart softened. She held out a hand and let him take it in his. His grip immediately tightened and he stared into her eyes. It was a pure, innocent, look. He seemed astonished, like no-one had ever shown him kindness in his life.

The paste in Taella’s mouth was now ready for application. It would disintegrate if she did not handle it carefully. She needed to dry and cool it quickly. He was gripping her hand like it was a lifeline and would never let go. It was starting to hurt her, to be honest, and she was surprised by the wiry strength there. But she let him do it, knowing it helped him release the pain.

Taella decided to do what needed to be done. She leant across him, her long, raven dark hair spilling across his chest, and brought her face close to his neck.

She took the paste from her mouth with her free hand and applied to his wounded neck, until a neat line smothered the gash. She leaned closer, blowing hard to dry it. Once or twice, she touched it with her tongue, just to test its consistency. Then she moved her head away a little to inspect her work. It looked set.

She turned her head and found she was almost nose-to-nose with Cretaus.

* * *

Cretaus had his eyes closed the moment she pulled herself to face him, nearly nose to nose, just enjoying the soothing sensations of the likely magical elven medicine. The coolness washing away the fire, just as she had whispered a few moments previous. She had been paying special attention to his back, sides, chest, and neck.

His feeble moans of agony and relief were a source of embarrassment to him, but it was outside his control, there was no way to stop them from happening. Not at this point. Just as he couldn't help himself from reaching out to her, his hand taking her delicate yet strong wrist. The pain forced him to tighten his grip. In the back of his mind, he hoped he didn't hurt her, though he supposed that was unlikely. She had passed the Test of Power too.

His eyes had stared into her own dark ones, searching for any meaning or reason as to her actions. Cretaus was grateful, beyond grateful for what she was doing, this healing. But why? Why did she care? Esenma had also helped earlier too and that other guy who had done the fire blast during his test, he had a feeling he tried to help as well though his memory was a little fuzzy in that regard. Why?

What was he to them? Nothing. He couldn't wrap his mind around it, it just didn't make any sense. Especially this tenderness, that genuine show of caring. He had never seen them before. That look in her eyes and directed at him of all people.

Cretaus realized he couldn't get enough of it, but the pain due to its gradual passing, forced him to close his eyes again and endure it. He was like this when he felt more medicine on his neck, felt her intoxicating closeness. If only he hadn't been in his condition, he could revel in this moment!

Cretaus felt more than just the medicine on his neck. That...that was undeniably her blowing on him. And was that her tongue for just a second? If it hadn't felt so soothing for his cut there, his eyes would have flown open! He had no idea what she was doing, but it was working and doing so quite fast. Another groan of relief escaped him.

I have no idea what you're doing, but don't stop please.

His eyes finally opened to look into her own, almost startling him with her closeness. Their breath mingling together in the air as they studied one another, his hand still unconsciously clasped in her own if no longer squeezing as hard.

"....thank you...." it was the only thing he could bring himself to say. His voice was almost breathless, coming out as honest and betraying his surprise as to her actions. He had no experience here, none at all. Just what did one say in this situation?

She was...genuinely, truly helping him. And a slight blush finally made itself known, if obscured a bit due to the bruise on his right cheek; she was absolutely gorgeous. Having this elven woman this close just made that simple fact.

* * *

Taella looked into the eyes of Cretaus and saw the relief and gratitude. She sighed, pleased that she had helped him. His hand remained clasping hers, but the grip had lessened, now it was… almost affectionate.

She saw him blush as their mouths were so close their breaths mingled.

“Thank you…” he whispered.

She felt the simple sincerity of his soul. Be gentle with his heart, as you have others do so with yours, the words of Audacia echoed in her mind. She shook her head slightly, wondering why it had felt so… nice to have her hand held by him.

Odd.

The moment passed and she pulled away. The healing balms were indeed working quickly. He was resilient. She gently pulled him to his feet. Then they both looked at the bridge. The party were making their way across the bridge!

“You are welcome, Cretaus. I am Taella Sparrowswift, and I am glad to meet you. The knights told me your name.”

She watched the party moving ahead, her brow furrowing at how Anaxagore had so quickly lost interest in her upon their return to the others.

“Come on,” she said to Cretaus. “Let us see what Zalzabar’s Castle is like.”

The teen blinked in surprise. The knights had known his name? Now that she mentioned it...Dominus had mentioned his name too. He had never given it and he had not been invited to the castle like everyone else. Just how did they know?

Magic. It was the only explanation. He had already had ample experience with it just now. Enough for a normal person's lifetime quite likely.

"I...I see," he said cautiously, "Thank you again, Taella."

He didn't dare say anything else. Cretaus was certainly glad to see her. She had healed him after all! And, again, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Weren't all elves though? He couldn't decide. But, it was too soon to really say he was glad to meet her.

It was likely true. But...all habits die hard. It's not like he usually had conversations with people and those he did were people like himself. On their own and looking to do whatever they needed to, to survive. You couldn't inherently trust them.

But he was brought back to her selfless act just a moment ago. That had never happened before. Even if one of the others back home had the ability, no way they would have done so to him.

Cretaus shook his head at himself as she mentioned about going to see what the Castle was like. He nodded his head.

"Right!"

Then jogged to catch up, quickly establishing a place near the front of the group due to his old survivor's instincts still kicking in. On the way, he briefly looked down at his feet as he moved.

The limp was already gone. Was she magical too then?

I'm so...unlike them...in every way.

Despite his rising excitement as the castle doors opened, it was a somber thought.

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As the large bronze doors just began to creak open before the grand castle of Zalzabar, Cretaus stood ready with the others and not far from the front of the group. He had been recently healed up, at least mostly, by Taella now and was still marveling at her work. Besides the elven medicine used, clearly there was some level of magic involved. His limp was even gone, he was thankful to note.

It was something he was having trouble coming to terms with. No one ever showed him such kindness before and now to heal him like this?

Before his thoughts could dwell on before and the group started moving on further, he noticed the woman standing next to him. The warrior who had been the first to help him, if unwittingly, during the final trial. She was looking at him now. It was a neutral gaze, but it left him inwardly flustered all the same. Blood adorned her face, like some kind of savage painting honoring her handiwork of death. But that was nothing. They had just been fighting after all and plus, he had seen similar looks (if not quite to her degree) back home in Essatia.

All he saw was a powerful woman notice him. Indeed, yet another attractive woman. Blood be damned, the truth was plain to see, wasn't it?

Before his own blood could rush to his face, his youth taking over his general mindset again, her sudden tone froze it in its tracks. But it was her words that really got his undivided attention. He blinked.

Good...work...?

Did she just congratulate him? Him? His mouth began to gape, just slightly, but he closed it quickly enough. As the group finally began to move, he looked ahead in thought. Yes. A lighter sword, he had learned that due to the fake goblins. There was no doubt about it, the Laughing Butcher was right.

"...Yeah," he finally spoke up not long after they crossed the threshold, his eyes taking in everything around them before settling back on her, "You're right. And..uh...thanks."

A small pause. He had been complimented in a fashion and congratulated even further. Cretaus' mind was still processing this surreal fact. He needed to repay that, right?

"Good job to you too, though I guess it was just another fight for you, huh?" he shook his head, "You're really amazing, you know that?"

The warrior's eyes narrowed at the boy as he spoke to her. Few spoke to her while she wore her crimson mask, much less a child. She was just speaking fact, for a boy to survive he must had done something right. In his eyes was something she hadn't seen in a long time, wonder. It was that wide eyed look that brought to mind young soldiers as they marched to the front. Many of them did not last and those that did quickly lost that spark. He hadn't not yet.

"I cannot become a dragon on command," She stated, attempting to dampen his praise. In a camp of other mercenaries sure she was stronger than most. In a party that contained more Ryujin than not, she was just another soldier. "I do my job, and my job is killing."

Cretaus pondered these words as he glanced at some of the suits of armor they passed, the cold finally starting to recede, causing him to absent-mindedly rub his arms almost in an attempt to speed up the process. Wearing only pants that were destroyed as it was was not very conducive to the outside environment here. He was rather desperate for the warmth of the interior.

About time they made it inside!

He glanced back at the woman, "So what? I've never seen someone whip a sword around that fast. I sure as hell can't."

There was a slight sound, a kind of single derisive laugh at himself, but it was true. Even with the others he had managed to visually take in during his test (though it had been done quickly he would have to confess), in his opinion, this warrior woman had one of the fastest swings among them. Though maybe he'd keep a watch on all of them and see if he could figure that out for sure someday.

If they even stayed together long enough.

"Do you, uh, like your job?" he asked without any sarcasm or derision. It was an actual, honest question, one that had him glancing at her with an eyebrow raised. His eyes betrayed the fact that he was listening rather intently, no words wasted on his ears. Now that she commanded their attention.

It was almost like he was devouring her words.

"It's all training, I'm sure pretty boy could teach you." She said continuing to walk, the boy was an odd one, seemingly hanging on her every word. It was strange. As a mercenary she was a suit of armor, a sword on the battlefield interchangeable with anyone else, at least to the paymasters. No one wanted to listen to her, and she didn't need anyone to hear her, unless she was shouting orders or warning of an ambush. That she would be heard on. Everything else, no one seemed to care so she didn't either.

"It's not about liking the job..." No it wasn't, she loved her job, lived for her job, combat was her only true love in the world. She didn't need to speak sweet nothings into someone's ear didn't have to delicately dance around or flirt. She could be direct lashing out with her sword feeling the reberations of her blade hitting armor, or another weapon. Those vibrations reached to her very soul and made her toes curl. But she couldn't tell that to a boy, he wouldn't understand. "It is something I do well, and it pays. My hands were not made for housework."

Cretaus let out a small chuckle at the 'pretty boy' comment, though he wasn't entirely certain who she meant by that. If he had to hazard a guess though, she probably meant the one with the black hair. The one that had been close to him when his mind had become more alert at the beginning of all this madness.

Dominus had been the one to offer to train him, which still surprised him, but somehow he heavily doubted she meant him.

He listened some more at her comments about the job of fighting itself. Cretaus adopted a thoughtful look at this and looked down at his hands, flexing them open and close for a second. Just what were his hands made for? Petty theft? He wanted to scoff at that.

"I have no idea what I'm made for. I barely believe I even made it here still," he confessed as the hallway began a small upward slope. Cretaus glanced at the redhead again, latching onto this offered conversation for a bit longer. For some reason...she hadn't rebuffed him yet. He had expected her to tell him off when he spoke up, that or just plain ignore him.

"How long did you train for? I imagine it was pretty tough if you're as good as you are."

"You'd better hope you figure it out quick." She said regarding his question of what he was made for, "And hope it's useful in this." Her dark eyes looked to him. "We don't need dead weight." She let that sentence hang over him, motivation for him to do better. She wasn't mean or telling him off. But she didn't really talk much, and only giving a few words and not exactly warm.

"Five years." The warrior said simply, "Everyday for five years."

Cretaus thought about that as well, giving a small nod to her statement. It hadn't mattered how she said it, he knew simple truth when it was spoken. You'd better hope you figure it out quick.

Yeah, he better for sure. She had said this was just the beginning, right? If he didn't learn and improve somehow, there was no way he'd last long. Just another pitiful death in the end. Not much different from living on the streets then. Might have a day where he learned some clever trick or another, kept him alive, but spend too long privately gloating about it and the trick doesn't work anymore and there you are stuck at a dead end with guards or worse about snatch you.

Learn, keep learning. Figure out as many tricks as possible. Some will work, some won't. But do it, do it fast, and survive. Yeah, this was something he understood. Almost comforting in a way.

"Five years," he echoed. In the mean time he'd have to survive. Still, if she could do five years and be this good, what if he went longer? Could he be 'better'? Probably not, but the alternative to trying was already plainly stated.

The doors began to open to the room where Zalzabar waited within.

"Ten years," he spoke up suddenly, "I'll go every day for ten years then. Well, once I figure out what I'm good at."

He had been saying it aloud to her, but mostly it was more for himself. A vocal promise to himself, so it was harder to go back on.

As they made their way inside, he gave her one last look, "Thanks again. You're..." he hesitated with a small fidget, "Actually kind of nice."

Nice. Not a concept he thought he'd see in anyone when dealing with himself. But now he'd had a few examples of it and it was something he was definitely going to have to get used to.

Wanted to get used to. If the Three allowed.

"Good luck with that." Rebecca said simply. At least he was determined.

At this point, the movement of everyone dispersing and heading for the table up ahead along with the three Knights of Illusion also moving among them, probably to greet their lord, had him temporarily lose the warrior woman as well as Taella who had been nearby too. Perhaps he should have paid her more attention on the walk over as well, he had meant to, but when the redhead had spoken to him, he had been completely caught off guard. Once inside the chamber, he had been distracted by the posh furnishings all around him. Wealth of any kind, let alone this level, was something he had never seen before. Not from the inside!

Now he was, for a moment, alone again in the crowd. It was too bad. He didn't even manage to get her name.

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Sighing again as Cretaus forced himself to move on from the conversation, he allowed himself to peer around a second time at the impressive room he now found himself in. However, this time he mostly ignored the two levels, the ornate railing, the doors grooved into the walls, and much else.

His eyes centered on the feast set on the table. Cretaus’ stomach rumbled, probably quite audible. At least for those of heightened hearing.

There was just. So. Much. FOOD!!!!

Meat. Fruit. Vegetables. Bread. Fish. All kinds of drinks. Desserts.

Just looking at it, he suddenly realized the whole trip. All of it. Was worth it just for this! Never in his life had he ever seen so much food on one table.

Or be allowed to partake in it.

He hesitated after a couple of steps toward it, his mouth watering and his arm absently brushing across his mouth to try to stop it. Despite the tests he earned his way through, the very fact that he still hadn’t been invited roared in his head again.

Was he truly allowed to even look at this feast?

As he stood there wondering, while the others all moved ahead and ambled near the table, the fireplace was the next thing that caught his attention. The fire was warm and inviting. After all the cold he had endured, that would be the next place he’d go to. Yes.

If…if he was allowed, he’d just curl up right in front of it and go to sleep. Like a cat or dog. He knew the comparison fit and didn’t care. Cretaus was as much a stray as they.

Nevertheless, there was a chair in front of it, and someone sitting in it. The presence the man had, just by turning his head to look back at them all as they entered, told him who it was. That Zalzabar guy. From the letter. Veritas had shouted something in greeting, but he didn’t remember what since he had been in his own conversation at the time, and next thing they knew…The guy was standing in front of them!

Cretaus had blinked and somehow missed it! The only one he had ever seen move that fast, was just a little while ago. That elf woman with the long black hair. When she did…uh, something, and had appeared next to Dominus in the middle of the Test of Power.

Magic. Obviously. But he still couldn’t quite figure out how they did that. If he only he could learn something like that…

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my old friend Esenma…you don’t write, you don’t send a bird, seems you only feel like visiting me when the world is about to end…”

Cretaus just watched the exchange. He idly wondered how long the two people knew each other for. He also idly wondered how it felt to write.

Still Zalzabar was already moving on, toward Anaxagore.

“Ooo I like this one, got a handsome face doesn’t he?”

Cretaus made a very slight face. What was up with them and that? His eyebrow raised at the kissy face. He’d normally find that funny, but for “unknown” reasons he just attributed it more to the man’s handsomeness and thus found it not.

No, he wasn’t jealous at all. Why would you even suggest such a thing? Please, just don’t look at my face right now.

“I trust you have spoken to him about the importance of finding a good mate?”

Seriously? They really were still going on about that! …Cretaus frowned. Was it truly that important? His mind began to race irrationally as Esenma clapped her hands and someone politely coughed. He took some comfort in the fact that the object of their indirect desires was turning as red as those tomatoes that were also calling to Cretaus from their bowl. At least he wasn’t entirely comfortable in the spotlight.

“I DID! He should be mating and spreading his love all over Regnum. But I think he might be a lover! He may be waiting for his true love!!”

Mates. Love. Whether of the kind in stories or the more…physical kind. Yes, he was young, but he was not that young. He knew all about it! And um, well. The city back home had plenty of brothels, so he was no stranger to seeing the employees ply their trade on the corners, trying to woo and beckon customers into their doors.

Often quite successfully.

Still. This only made him fret more. If this was truly so important that these two obviously important people were talking so much about it…what were his chances? Could Cretaus attract anyone? At all? Ever?

….Who, by the Three, was he kidding. Any woman, his eye quietly roamed over each in the room at that moment, whether here or not would likely scoff at his very presence. The idea of mating with him? Or, Tellus preserve us, being in love with him?

There was not a chance in the world.

Cretaus’ mood plummeted sharply. His eyes went back to the feast. Yes. That would take his mind off the whole affair. His belly grumbled painfully in agreement.

Once again, he had been distracted and barely noticed Zalzabar coming to him.

“My boy!”

Cretaus' head was just barely beginning to turn as Zalzabar began to scoop him up like a fair maiden in one of those traveling bard songs.

….Huh....?

“You are in desperate need of clothing!”

And before he could even voice his protest, or do anything for that matter, he was tossed in the air. Like a toddler. His eyes widened comically as he was barely registering what was going on or why. The bear cloak he had been holding now left his hands and was also tossed higher into the air.

When he came down, back into Zalzabar’s arms, he was suddenly…in leather armor? In the blink of an eye, less than, he was a tried and true adventurer! At least in appearance.



Zalzabar set him down with a grin, ruffled his hair like some little kid, and then moved on. Cretaus just numbly held out his hands and re-caught the bear cloak as it came back down. He blinked once. Slowly. Just staring straight ahead.

What had just happened?

“Ah sorry, sorry I got ahead of myself again. I am Zalzabar, although if you haven’t figured that out already…”

Cretaus was listening, but his neck was craned downwards so he could look at himself. His eyes remained wide.

“Anyway, anyway…ah there is so much to tell you all I don’t know where to begin…”

This clothing…this armor. Cretaus still couldn’t get over it. He had to steal new clothes as he got bigger over the years and that was harder than it sounded. So he was often grossly overgrown in his old garb by the time he replaced it. And even then, it was clothes that always plainly showed his station in life. Anything nicer was too hard to grab without getting caught. Too many urchins like himself got themselves disappeared trying to do that.

But this. THIS! This was by far the nicest thing he had ever had in his life and it fit perfectly! Tears threatened at the corners of his eyes, but he managed to keep them down. How much more in debt was he going to be to these people?

He was being loaned too much. Way, way too much! Just what were they going to ask of him? To be given such things and then only know he’d have to give them all back in the end was already making his gut writhe in guilt and barely restrained greed.

Cretaus allowed his head to come up and look at their host, somehow still not being turned away, realizing he should really pay attention now.

With all this stuff. The cloak. The help with the magic from Esenma earlier. The healing. This leather gear. Even encouraging words from the warrior woman. (And how had he deserved that? How did you go and repay that?)

He had to pay attention. That was the first step. Find out what he was going to be doing.

“I suppose introductions, Audacia, you did a terrible job of getting everyone acquainted, now I have to do it, don’t you know time is of the essence!”

Wasn’t it always, Cretaus wondered.

“With each passing second Gelida keeps getting stronger…then there is the matter of the three artifacts…and the rising revolts and kingdoms…and where they could be oh and Malum might be making a move soon…”

Zalzabar descended into incomprehensible muttering as he paced back and forth. Cretaus wasn’t sure what to make of it, though he kept trying to make heads or tails of the quiet gibberish being put forth. Nope. Nothing. Too hard. The man’s mind was going too fast for him.

And the most he got from that spiel was that they were going to fight the revolts? Or go into war against other kingdoms? Some person named Gelida. Another named Malum. Something about artifacts, old stuff that only historians cared about. Yeah, this was over his head.

So his mind made quick logical re-working of it. The others were to fight. He was going to care for their equipment and such. Yes, that was the only possible conclusion. Dominus did offer to train him…so maybe there was that, but that wasn’t likely to bear fruit for ages. Ten years. He remembered his vow to the redhead.

He would have to train for ten years. Until then, here he was, the glorified pack mule.

Cretaus almost smiled. He was on his way up!

“Err…Sir..you are doing it again…”

So he went into gibberish a lot, hm? Aside from the toddler tossing, he decided he liked this Ole Zalzy guy. He seemed fun!

His eye caught Ne’tar…..wait. What was up with his head? He just caught the end of it…deflating? Shrinking? Something. It did something and now he looked like he always had. No. Not always. Clearly he had been so wrapped up in the conversations and tour earlier that he missed the orc having looked different. The other people had probably been in the way, also obscuring his view.

Probably had something to do with being a ryujin, Cretaus decided before refocusing yet again. As he was thinking before, Zalzabar seemed fun. Like Ne’tar. Not sure why he thought that about the orc, just a general sense he got from him.

Not that he’d normally even bother testing the theory. There had been a number of times he had been pummeled by orcs in the past. Granted, he had also been humiliated by an elf once. Mocked and teased by fellow humans. Etc etc. In the end, race clearly didn’t matter.

It was just simple fact that there was an overarching theme he could not allow himself to forget. The Golden Rule.

People were not to be fully trusted.

But he sorely wanted to.

“Oh do forgive me, I tend to go down rabbit holes a lot, not really used to talking to other people…”

Something they had in common.

“Regardless, come eat some food, warm yourselves you could all certainly use it…oh and because Audacia did such a terrible job of introducing people please all introduce yourselves. Yes, yes in time I’ll explain everything but first introductions…”

His eyes lit up despite himself. His head perking up, back straightening. The pain that still remained was suddenly ignored completely. He was being allowed to eat after all?

Cretaus subconsciously glanced over toward another as if for confirmation. His eyes happened to find Audacia, who caught his gaze and nodded slightly. A silent ‘go ahead.’

He couldn’t hide it any more. Cretaus was grinning. His mood yet again flipped just like that. Not that he was prone to that, but there were just too many firsts going on here!

The only thing holding him back from bolting to the table ahead of everyone, was that moment of hesitation. Now everyone was already moving by the table, Zalzabar naturally taking the head chair, and he no longer knew where to sit.

He also noticed Taella nearby, hesitating for some reason to. Cretaus’ brow rose. She seemed…disconcerted by something. Irritated even. What had happened?

His blue eyes darted between the table and her, his feet slowly inching him closer and closer to it. He was waiting to see where she would claim so he could just take the last spot and begin devouring already.

But in the end, her hesitation was greater than his own, and so he just darted forward after a quick survey. Cretaus would have loved to sit next to the woman who had healed him, but the remaining spots made that impossible. So it was based on who else would be next to him.

The spot that jumped out to him was the one next to the warrior woman who had been kind enough to speak to him. Of course, that put him next to that guy, who had an ego as big as the mountain.

Whatever! Nothing was perfect!

Dashing forward, he practically flung himself into the seat next to Rebecca, still not yet knowing her name. Guess he’d get to ask soon finally! He briefly eyed Kaynus, but then just folded his bear skin cloak haphazardly and then shoved it under his seat temporarily.

He gave an involuntary, sharp intake of breath as he was assaulted by the aroma of the food. The sights dazzling him this close to them. The redhead had taken her gauntlets off and set them aside and was beginning to clean off her face. Cretaus took no notice.

Where he had been catching up to the others, now he took the lead.

There was no manners. (What were those? Did they taste good?) There was no rhyme. (He was no bard.) There was no reason. (Not at this point!)

He just began to grab whatever food was nearby to him. Anything. EVERYTHING. He made sure to leave plenty for the others, naturally, he did not wish to make them angry. But he still grabbed a ton. If his upbringing was an unknown before, his current actions probably revealed the truth of his past now just by this.

Cretaus wasn’t thinking of this at the moment though. He didn’t care. FOOD!

Ripping into a leg of lamb, pouring some ale into his glass as he did so (not knowing what it was), he basically forgot everything around him.

There was only the feast.

Well. Until the boot came slamming down onto the table and smashed the cream bowl right next to him. That finally earned a pause, as he glanced upward to the smug guy. His mouth stuffed full of mashed potatoes that he'd been in the process of mowing through.

He chewed twice, slowly, uncertain.

“All of you know who I am! I am Kaynus Allbright. Though you may not have heard of me in this reality, surely my presence was noted in a dream, or a vision. For I, I am the heir to the three! The Saviour of Regnum!”

Cretaus raised his eyebrow. He was? Sounded pretty important. Also sounded pretty fake, even to him.

He swallowed loudly.

“Let it be known, that anyone who realizes my power and magnificence will be rewarded when I rule over Regnum, and those opposing me shall be forgotten with the dust!”

Ok. Yeah. He was exactly as he thought of him. He caught the sneer too. Sigh. Just like back home after all…

Quickly averting his eyes, he just went back to his food with gusto. Might as well fit in what he could before this ‘saviour’ tried to get him kicked out. Chances of happening? High.

“I expect you have prepared my room? Would only be natural, considering you were expecting me.”

Well, yeah. He agreed with this one. All of the others were invited after all. Had he been allowed to stay, his outlook grim now because of that sneer, he was perfectly content by the fireplace for himself.

“Ok, that’s it!”

Another pause. Cretaus’ mouth was full of salad as he looked again, soaked to the brim with way too many dressings, and things probably not meant to go with it. Not his problem. (Though his stomach may disagree later)

This time it was pretty boy who spoke. Aha! Yeah, he saw what the warrior woman was meaning now.

“I, Anaxagore, Protector of Regnum, would like to know why young Kaynus keeps talking out of his ‘ayn…”

Snort. A near choke narrowly avoided. He swallowed his food again to mumble a quiet, “Kaynus the Anus…” to himself.

He didn’t dare make it loud enough for the guy standing next to him to hear, he was no fool. He knew what would likely happen otherwise. Thankfully, he was busy being surprised by this Anaxagore’s counter.

Still. Now Cretaus had NO idea what was going on. Except that Kaynus was being annoying and Anaxagore was calling him out on it. Oh. Maybe that was what was going on. Huh. Good keeping up, Cretaus.

“Ah, never mind. That’s probably why you show no respect or manners to your Elders….your name says it all, doesn’t it?”

Oh damn. Another snort, then Cretaus wisely stifled any other sounds. The stare down between the two ryujin was intense enough to make the humor in the air evaporate pretty quickly too.

He glanced at the woman next to him, and saw her posture as she continued to eat. Right. Best be ready…and keep eating! He went back to it, though perhaps not quite as savagely, so he could run away if need be.

Still his eye caught the way she moved one of her arms a little awkwardly. She was injured too? He frowned. Once this situation passed, he’d have to offer help to her. Only the logical thing to do.

Then a loud laugh sounded from the other end of the table, Cretaus leaned forward to see it was Esenma again. What was she so happy about?

“We have a young handsome protector and young loud savior! Amazing company you have assembled here, Zalzy! Now, now boys, let’s let our bellies speak now and settle down. Zalzy prepared a wonderful feast for us and you two would not want to be the cause of disrupting it…would you?”

Cretaus nodded at this. Yes, she was smart! And pretty. Hopefully Anaxagore and Kaynus listened to her. (Seriously, how were all the girls here so good looking…Oh good, looked like Taella had finally taken a seat at the end of the other side of the table. That’s good.)

As he went to grasp a bread roll, it suddenly lifted in the air and calmly floated toward the dark haired elven woman next to Taella. Along with a few other things. She was also the next to speak, moving the conversation along and hopefully diffusing the situation.

“Greetings, Zalzabar. I am Delsanra. Delsanra Helestina. It is quite a thing to finally meet you.”

Cretaus eyed her a moment as she sipped her wine. Delsanra, huh. A few ideas began to appear in his mind as he finally did grab an unclaimed bread roll, no magic interfering this time.

He’d have to speak to that one later. If she…you know, even allowed him to approach her at all. Hm..

A thoughtful bite of bread and now his mind was starting to click as he looked at everyone at the table now. Thoughts were whirring ten miles a second.

An ‘ahhh’ sound from one taking a big, filling gulp of their drink and then it was the orc speaking up. As if emboldened by Delsanra next to him.

“Ne’tar! Though if others teach, Ne’tar get new name.”

So, Ne’tar was it? And new name? What was that about? Did…did Cretaus have to get a new name now too? It was the only thing he had from…before. He would be loathe to give it up.

Plus he said it. That word. Teach.

Was the orc thinking the same things as him? Could they help each other?

Or was he an obstacle now?

He went back to devouring his food with energy again as he remembered that there was a chance he could be kicked out soon instead of anything loftier.

Life was to be lived now after all!

Tag: Everyone @Kurisan @galactic-vagabond422 @Shadowsun @The Jedi in the Pumas @Master Vo'Un'Var @greyjedi125 @Ktala @Mitth_Fisto

 

Taella
Zalzabar's Castle

Taella watched the boy, Cretaus, walking. He looked much better already. The coolness of the balms were spreading through his body so that even his limp had gone. She smiled and shook her head again at the moment of intimacy. There was something about this boy. And to be fair, in relative terms, she was a similar age as an Elf.

The party set off across the bridge and Taella looked around for Anaxagore.

He had already moved ahead. Without her. She rose and stamped her foot and scowled at his back.

They entered the castle and passed through the luxurious interior. The others marvelled, but Taella did not see the value in such things. She felt a little enclosed by the roof, to be honest. This was unlike the truly glorious Elven halls sung from the living forests.

The great wooden doors looked as if they were made from Ziapoah Oak. Taella narrowed her eyes just a little at that. But Zalzabar was a Dragonkin Lord, he had this right, and she was sure the correct prayers had been offered to the great forest.

Again the party was moving and she could not get close to Anaxagore.

The great Zalzabar appeared, as flamboyant and impressive as the old tales described him.

Anaxagore became the centre of attention again as Zalzabar pinched his face and made those horrible coarse jokes with Esenma. Taella was quiet and watchful, remaining at the periphery of the group.

They entered the great feasting hall and she saw her chance as Anaxagore took his place nearest to the Dragonkin Lord. But as Taella approached, Ne’tar took her seat!

She stamped again. Anaxagore did not even try to stop the orc for a moment!

The others sat and began to devour. No-one seemed to care about Taella at all.

She saw an open seat but did not want to sit between Delsanra and Esenma. She approached quickly and picked up a large roasted pheasant leg, and an apple.

Then she slipped out of the hall, unnoticed by anyone. This was indeed one of her skills.

Taella skipped through the castle, dodging the noisy clattering knights long before they could spot her. Eventually she found her way to a parapet at its top. She snuggled in a crenel between battlements and viewed the breathtaking scene of the mountain valley spreading away below.

She made a distinctive bird whistle, and some moments later Gwythen dived down and alighted next to her. He landed on the battlement and clicked his beak.

“I’m sorry about before,” she said. “Here, a peace offering.”

She held out the pheasant leg. The hawk regarded it suspiciously for some moments. Taella laid it down for him and he soon began ripping away the meat with his sharp beak.

Taella munched into her apple.

Gwythen paused between gulps of meat and squawked an enquiry.

“I’m suddenly not so hungry,” she said. “Someone will come find me if they want me.”

They ate together in silence looking down at the wintry valley for some time. It was a ruggedly beautiful scene. Taella finished the apple and carefully placed the seeds in a fold in her pouch. The forest gives, and we must give back.

Gwythen was still eating, so Taella decided to sing as she let the cold wind soothe the fire in her heart.

She knew was able to fly, because when she came down

She had dust on her hands from the sky. She said, “I touched a cloud”

She felt so high, the dust made her cry.

She knew she could fly like a bird, but when she said “Please

raise the roof higher,” nobody heard. They never noticed a word.

The torches burn. Her fingers will learn.

She stopped and looked at Gwythen. The hawk looked back.

Taella said, “I don’t care what the knights say, I really hate that stupid orc...”


(it takes a while to get going, but... try to listen to it all)

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @Shadowsun @The Jedi in the Pumas @Master Vo'Un'Var @greyjedi125 @Ktala @Mitth_Fisto @Darth_Elu

 

IC: Anaxagore
Feast at Zalzabar’s

"We have a young handsome protector and young loud savior! Amazing company you have assembled here, Zalzy! Now, now boys, let's let our bellies speak now and settle down. Zalzy prepared a wonderful feast for us and you two would not want to be the cause of disrupting it...would you?"

Of course, he heard Lady Esnma’s words, and of course, she was right. Again.He had reacted without much thought and was equally to blame for disrespecting Great Zalzabar’s hospitality.

Still, he could not help but glare at the creature that leered back at him from across the table. Kaynus Allbright.

Anaxagore’s steely grey gaze squinted in a show of his displeasure, even as a memory played in his mind.

In his travels to the northern regions, he’d happened on a frozen island, a forgotten island, not unlike this place. Had it been West of the Teltos Sea? He couldn’t quite recall due to his present ire. There was a King there, one who had enslaved the local population. He was a haughty and cruel man who visited unspeakable suffering on his subjects. Such perverse pleasures delighted the man, but he was no man. He had claimed to be a ryujin.

Anaxagore had been helping with the runaway slaves, but they were eventually discovered. After killing several of the King’s warriors and trusted lieutenants, the final confrontation against the King became inevitable.

The King had boasted of his power and his heritage in a despicably grandiloquent manner. The two crossed swords and in so doing, the truth was revealed.

Not being able to best the dark haired ryujin with his sword or his spear skills, in desperation, the King turned to his last resort: He transformed into a ryujin. It was then that Anaxagore saw what he had suspected.

The King was no ryujin after all. He was merely a changeling who mimicked what he could never be. He was false, a fake, a charlatan most cruel. He desecrated the name of the ryujin for selfish gain. No, Anaxagore had no regrets in destroying that pretender, or his castle and his men. Dark fire illuminated the night on that evening.

But the damage was already done. Anaxogore’s help was ‘no longer needed’, for he was no longer trusted by the people he had helped. They could not afford to make that same mistake again, despite what he had done for them previously.

This…Allbright…reminded him of that cruel and boastful King he had destroyed so long ago. The difference now, was that Allbright was a Ryujin in truth. A fact that displeased him more than he allowed himself to admit; for if such a creature set himself up as a cruel tyrant, he would need to be brought low.

A confrontation with Allbright was not likely to play out the same way the battle with the cruel king had gone. No, it certainly would not, he could see that, but a confrontation did seem inevitable.

Anaxagore gave a long exhale through his nose, which expelled sparks of purple flame.

For some reason, he was not feeling hungry anymore.

“You are right Lady Esenma, please excuse me.” He said offering a respectful nod to the Elder Ryujin, then turned to Zalzabar.

“Lord Elder, do send for me when the meeting begins.”

With that, Anaxagore turned from the feast and set himself to find a practice area somewhere in the castle. It was unfortunate he could not have one of Dominus’ clones to spar against. He sorely needed to let off some steam.



@Shadowsun, @Ktala, @Mitth_Fisto, @The Jedi in the Pumas, @Kurisan, @Darth_Elu, @Master Vo'Un'Var

 

Esenma
-Zalzy's Castle

The Elder hopped up from the table. Ne'tar and Anaxagore had attracted her attention and she was excited now.

She quickly shuffled around, the kind of shuffle a grandma would make should the town courier come knocking at her door early in the morning. Albeit, with a much nicer body. Speaking of bodies, Ne'tar's body was hard. His muscles firm and full of blood. Orcs were never her particular taste, but she could appreciate a hard body. And appreciate Ne'tar's she was doing; without his permission. Her hands rubbed his shoulders, triceps, and then back up to his neck and cheeks. She murmured something before it became audible.

"Yes, yes.... Zalzy, he's so strong and youthful." She inhaled deeply through her nose, taking all of the orc's smell in. Her exhale would cascade the smell over to Zalzy and the exiting Anaxagore and the still standing on the table Kaynus. "A newborn's smell is so refreshing. Tell me, Ne'TAR, the mighty!" She flexed her small muscles in a grandiose attempt to do justice to the orc's name. "No...no...words will not do it justice...Zalzy, do you remember the test of breath?" The test of breath was an old ryujin show of ability and strength and experience. It involved a ryujin, in their base form, attempting to breathe fire, but instead releasing smoke. The smoke could vary in temperature and density. Experienced ryujin could do what Anaxagore had done at the table before he stormed off: Release sparks of the controlled variety which Esenma had noticed and noted. Anaxagore was experienced and trained. She wanted to see his strength as well...

She clapped her hands together excitedly. Zalzy would stop her before she got too involved...or maybe he would join in. Talk of Malum and the great threats that awaited these young adventurers could wait, couldn't it? Telling them the odds stacked against them so early...It could set their confidence back...But for the ones like Anaxagore and Delsanra...Those two were experienced enough to know what was before them and raise themselves, hopefully, to meet the challenge. But Cretaus and the others...One could never tell.

Which is what made the test of breath so exciting! More than just power and potential could be deciphered from the test if the one conducting the test knew what to look for.

"Oh, Ne'Tar... Would you care to partake in the Test of Breath with me, love? You must be enjoying your food, which you have rightfully earned. But I would just love for you to blow your fire on me! Delsanra, Kaynus, Cretaus...All of you! We can make this a family event. Nothing gives a clearer introduction than a test of breath!"

Tag: @Mitth_Fisto @greyjedi125 @Ktala @Darth_Elu @Master Vo'Un'Var @Kurisan @Shadowsun

 

Zalzabar
A Most Peculiar Gathering...

Zalzabar leaned back in his chair, not touching any of food laid before him. He eyes glistening amused by the gathering and the reactions of everyone given. His eyes widened as Kaynus leapt up on the table, pronouncing his bold proclamations.

"I expect you have prepared my room? Would only be natural, considering you were expecting me."

He lifted his hand about to cast his magic before Anaxagore spoke, taking great offense to Kaynus' actions and rightly so. Zalzabar liked to think of himself as a kind soul, but this kind of arrogance he could not abide. Esenma spoke to the two of them, asking them to stand down. She was so kind, always playing the part of mother hen. Zalzabar had nothing but the deepest respect for her, but this, this he could not abide. As Anaxagore got down from the table Zalzabar opened his palm, a crackling noise could be heard as five lightning chains released themselves from his hand and leapt toward Kaynus.

Two went from for his legs, two for his arms and the final one went around his neck. They then hurled him down from the table and back into his seat. Zalzabar then spoke his tone now steely and stern, an certain intensity ignited in his eyes.

"I lived over twenty of your lives boy, if you wish to act like a child so be it but you will be treated as such." He then motioned for Audacia to come over. "For the remainder of the evening you will be fed by Audacia. If you can learn to control yourself I'll release you from you bonds." He nodded to the Knight of Courage who then took a comically small spoon and began force feeding Kaynus. "And don't even think about turning into a dragon." Zalzabar then turned back round his focus lifted off Kaynus. It seemed Anaxagore and Taella had left, although for different reasons.

He then turned to the dark haired snow elf, who had introduced himself while he had been distracted. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Delsanra Helestina, if I had to guess you are also an avid admirer of knowledge" He nodded to himself, a bright smile forming over his face. The snow elves their kind often aloof and withdrawn, much of their knowledge had been sealed off to him. Zalzabar then turned his head to the half-orc.

"Though if others teach, Ne'tar get new name."

"A new name Ne'tar?" He paused wondering to himself... "Ah of course because tar means halfbreed! Of course, of course in time you will become Ne'jin perhaps even Ne'jin'wa!" He had always had an appreciation for the honor culture of the Orcs of Xan, so often dismissed as brutish.

Esenma then approached the half-orc beginning to speak of the ancient ritual of the test of breath. The lightning ryujin brought his head to his fist, resting it there. A bemused look on his face. Oh Esenma, how little you have changed.

"Oh come, come now Esenma, the time for tests is over, relax, enjoy yourself, would you like another cup of my signature lightning mead?" He waved his hand, a cup filled with a blue liquid floated itself toward the wind ryujin. He chuckled, knowing all too well that Esenma would likely proceed anyway. He have a brief look of I'm sorry to Ne'tar. His eyes then shifted slightly across the table to the largely silent human warrior, who had not yet introduced herself, although she had earlier outside in the cold to Audacia.

He tilted his head, his eyes squinting slightly trying to read the Laughing Butcher. "I expect Anaxagore could use a sparring companion, he looked like he needed to work out some angst....and you, Rebecca, certainly didn't have you fill against Dominus, there is a training chamber off to the left, you'll find it easily enough" He nodded knowingly to her, giving a small smirk.

He then got up from his chair, walking over to the young human boy. Leaning over him, whispering into his ear. "I think Taella could use a friend, young Cretaus" Standing tall he ruffled the boy's hair before walking back to his seat and finally beginning to eat for himself.

TAG: @Master Vo'Un'Var @galactic-vagabond422 @Darth_Elu @The Jedi in the Pumas @Mitth_Fisto @Ktala @Kurisan @greyjedi125

 

IC: Ne'tar
Zalzabar's Dining Table - Where eating has never been so hard

Ne'tar nod in respect as he grab a meat Ne'tar no know name of. Taste good, soft meat. Zalzy take care of bossy disrespect one, but Ne'tar see Ana-Gore leave table and Ne'tar notice other elf woman not here. Why she not here? Ne'tar sure he saw her pass test, enter with rest. Ne'tar pick tusk in confusion but Ne'tar no get to think much thinkin' on that. No Ne'tar interrupted by hands on back and neck and arms and body and . . .Ne'tar not sure ever turn that shade of green before!

Ne'tar no know what she talk of, but Zalzy seem to try and rescue, still Ne'tar need say own words lest Ne'tar loose own tongue over this. Ne'tar already had a tough swallow of meat that sit too long in mouth. "Ne'tar no know test. Ne'tar never breath fire before, let alone smoke. Ne'tar willing but Ne'tar need taught things first." Whew! Ne'tar use many words and barely say anything! Ne'tar wait anxiously for hands to leave Ne'tar body.

Looking around Ne'tar notice table becoming more empty, but what keeps Ne'tar smiling is tiny spoon feed loud one! Ne'tar forget own nerves when Ne'tar sees that one such situation! Ne'tar wanna laugh out, but Ne'tar know that be bad taste. Zalzy already deal, best to leave as such. . .and if free grab blue mead. Ne'tar curious what that be.

TAG: @Master Vo'Un'Var @galactic-vagabond422 @Darth_Elu @The Jedi in the Pumas @Shadowsun @Ktala @Kurisan @greyjedi125

 

Rebecca Dragon
Zalzabar's Castle

As tempers cooled Rebecca loosened her grip on her blade, though she fought through the pain in her shoulder to grab a handful for grapes. She scrafed them down as she watched Pretty Boy stomp away from the table. The expression on his face seemed etched in stone. An expression she'd seen before, anger and the need to hit something, hard. Her heart stirred a little, her blood, for now was sated, though it still burned like an ember just waiting for some tinder to spark the fire anew. That was the trick with her blood, it never went away, it just varied in intensity.

As Anaxagore stalked away the warrior grabbed the rest of the roasted fowl and tore what pieces she could off of it, wolfing down the food without regard. She would join him but she wanted some food first.

His Majesty was put into his place with chains of lightning from their host. Seems he took the impropriety as a slight, and dealt with it. It was surprising the amount of power Zalzabar wielded, though to be expected of someone of his standing, and acclaim. Rebecca returned to devouring her meal when their host spoke again drawing her attention. Looked like he could read her mind, or knew her intent at the very least. There was a temptation to not follow his direction just to spite him, or punish him for using his powers on someone that couldn't defend themselves against it.

However she didn't wish to stick around for the dragon kin playing a game only they could play. She could not belch fire or smoke, it seemed a place not meant for her. Getting up she put on her gauntlets and marched to follow the other warrior.

"To the Left." She called out as she closed in on him. "Training room...Want a sparring partner?" Rolling her bloody shoulder she snarled a little. "I'm not at my best but that might make it fair for you…" With her even tone it was hard to tell if she was joking or serious.

TAG: @Master Vo'Un'Var @Mitth_Fisto @Darth_Elu @The Jedi in the Pumas @Shadowsun @Ktala @Kurisan @greyjedi125

 

OOC: Apologies if this isn't perfect, but did the best I could! As time goes on, it should get easier for me to get into the young ryujin's mind.

Kaynus Allbright IC:
~Dining Chamber, Zalzabar’s Castle~

His pronouncement made, Kaynus waited for the proper response he fully believed was coming. This was the moment! The moment that the first people in the world would begin to pledge themselves to him and his gloriousness that was his by rights!

“Ok, that’s it!”

The man with the long black hair had stood up directly across from him, a tight smile put on his face. His eyes ablaze as if with some grave offense. What was he so worked up for? Did he not notice who he was right before his very eyes?

“I, Anaxagore, Protector of Regnum, would like to know why Kaynus keeps talking out of his ‘ayn…”

One would have expected extreme rage and intense rebuttal, a slap to the face even in immediate response to such drivel being poured from this man’s mouth! But no. There was no such thing.

Kaynus’ face instead revealed only surprise. Shock even. His eyes wide, barely comprehending what was being to said about him. To him! Just…what on Regnum…!?

An impish chuckle came from this man that Kaynus was almost to shocked to respond to right away and then he continued, having so surprised him he also didn’t notice Zalzabar’s hand raising up.

“Ah, never mind. That’s probably why you show no respect or manners to your Elders….your name says it all, doesn’t it?”

His mind seemed to make some semblance of connections once again, that expression of disgust and indignity that had been initially expected now starting to materialize at last.

“H-How dare—” he started before being cut off by a laugh of all things.

Another look of incredulity held as he turned to look at the woman at the end of the table, chuckling over the whole thing. As if making mockery of this slight given unto him! She was Lady Esenma, and yes, he had heard the name a time or two, but she was nothing special. The world did not know anything else yet.

It did not know its prophesized saviour!

“We have a handsome young protector and loud young savior! Amazing company you have assembled here, Zalzy! Now, now boys, let’s let our bellies speak now and settle down. Zalzy prepared a wonderful feast for us and you two would not want to be the cause of disrupting it…would you?”

Hmph! Unfortunately the woman had a point. The feast had been set up in his honor, so perhaps it had been a little hasty of him to demand such things right away. She also noted him as the saviour, so perhaps there was some hope for that one. However, his surprise at how everyone was not immediately bowing down and thanking him for his mere presence (minus the two…leftovers…he barely understand why were present, of course they would not comprehend) as well as this little ‘conversation’ had distracted him for a little too long. He didn’t see the danger coming in time.

But he heard the crackle right before the lightning chains wrapped around his arms, legs, and neck; forcibly throwing him off the table and into his seat. He struggled immediately against these binds now holding him firmly. No give. His eyes widened and turned to glare over at Zalzabar. What was he doing? Did he forget who he was?

“I lived over twenty of your lives boy, if you wish to act like a child so be it but you will be treated as such.”

Kaynus was breathing hard in anger now, positively fuming. What brand of treachery was this!? A child? He deigned to call him a child? Kaynus understood that Zalzabar was much older, there was no reason to rub it into him like this!

And to be young didn’t matter when he was the very Heir to the Three! How could someone like Zalzabar not know this? None of this evening was adding up. The tests from earlier did not add up, even if he had passed.

This was not the glorious reception he had been led to believe was waiting for him!

“For the remainder of the evening you will be fed by Audacia. If you can learn to control yourself I’ll release you from your bonds.”

There was the Knight of Courage coming with a comically small spoon. Kaynus just could not believe this. He refused this ridiculous reality vehemently!

The Knight actually had the--audacity--to begin force feeding him, which Kaynus began to spit out the spoon anytime it came near him. He turned his gaze upon the master of the castle once more, his outrage no less.

“And don’t even think about turning into a dragon.”

If Zalzabar was lucky, he’d just burn him down to embers and take this castle for his own!! At least, that’s what he wanted to say. He forced himself to glare at Audacia, having him pause the force feeding at the least, and composed his words carefully while waiting for an opening to speak.

It came after Zalzabar finally sat down to begin eating himself. He spoke low with emotion, but still clearly audible.

“I understand that I might have been hasty, Zalzabar, but this! This is far too much, I refuse to be treated like this!”

There was also that other one. That Anaxagore. He wouldn’t forget his appalling behavior either, but first things first. Lady Esenma was also speaking about something called the Test of Breath, but right now, he had no time for that.

He had to get out of these disgraceful chains!

Tag: Anaxagore, Esenma, Zalzabar, Audacia, Cretaus, Rebecca, Ne’tar, Delsanra, & Veritas

@greyjedi125 @The Jedi in the Pumas @Shadowsun @galactic-vagabond422 @Mitth_Fisto @Ktala @Master Vo'Un'Var (if he wants to pop in to see how Kaynus is doing)

 

Delsanra Taenya Helestina
Zalzabar's Dining Room

Hmmm. So, this is what happens when you bring eight unknown people together. They were supposed to be working together for a reason. A powerful purpose. The start of a glorious adventure. But instead:

Taella had disappeared. Slipped out. Possibly upset that she could not drape herself over Anaxagore. Delsanra was not blind. But not a reason to disappear. Then again, she would have had taken a seat next to either Kaynus or Esenma, and Delsanra would not want to sit next to Kaynus either. Then Anaxagore left, after the spiff between himself and the juvenile savor of all, Kaynus, who now found himself chained up and spoon-feed, because he could not see beyond his own importance. Which was a rather dangerious thing with at least two elder ryujin nearby. That was an impressive bit of magic. Perhaps something Delsanra could learn. After making sure that Kaynus was properly seated, Zalzabar then turned to the Delsanra. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Delsanra Helestina, if I had to guess you are also an avid admirer of knowledge." He smiled, and Delsanra responded in kind. It was a true enough fact.

Then there was Esenma, who seemed to be dottering on senility, as she suddenly began rubbing and stroking all over the poor orc Ne'tar..who was turning a glorious shade of deep green. And she kept talking about wanting to do the 'Test of Breath.' Oh for the love of the three....

Ne'tar seemed to be quite civil on the other hand, taking it in stride. When Delsanra had pulled out a napkin, he did likewise. And talked he about earning a name, which Zalzy..uh Zalzabar explained. But for most parts, he was rather civil. And then the young human boy Cretaus. Not only had he done much by simply making it here, but he also somehow managed to past the tests as well. With no magic, no armor, no weapons. A very impressive feat indeed. And now the young boy was doing an impressive trick to try and make the food disappear from the table as best as he could. She offered another smile. Hunger was indeed a powerful motivator.

Then, Zalzabar gave a cryptic statement to Rebecca, the female sword-arm. "I expect Anaxagore could use a sparring companion, he looked like he needed to work out some angst....and you, Rebecca, certainly didn't have you fill against Dominus, there is a training chamber off to the left, you'll find it easily enough". A curious statement. How would he know that she needed to blow off any more steam? She seemed rather calm to Delsanra. Rebecca soon left the table. Zalzabar then spoke to Cretaus about Taella. They were pretty close in age, so to speak. In youth, more than actual numbers. At this rate, the guests at the table quickly grew less.

Delsanra looked over at Ne'tar, looked around the table, and then shrugged her shoulders. As she reached over to pour herself more wine, she heard the noisy one squeak.

“I understand that I might have been hasty, Zalzabar, but this! This is far too much, I refuse to be treated like this!”

Delsanra paused from her drink and cast a look in his direction. "Refuse? A poor choice of words, perhaps, since I think you have no choice at the moment. Perhaps a moment of silent reflection then?" Deslanra stated as she then took another sip of her drink. She looked over at Cretaus and Ne'tar and offered another smile and wink. As Zalzabar was now eating, she simply looked about the great hall, as Audacia was busy trying to feed Kaynus, even as Lord Arse spit out the food being feed to him.

"Well, Zalzabar. This is a most .. interesting start of things. There is so much here, that I'm sure I could lose myself within your libraries. But that is a different matter. Will we rest first, before we come to the reason for this gathering?" she asked with a smile. Delsanra was enjoying the food and drink. After their long journey to reach this place, the warmth and good food was indeed a welcomed sight. Too bad the others had not agreed. Delsanra gave a soft sigh, as she now reached for something fruity to drink.


TAG: @galactic-vagabond422, @Shadowsun, @greyjedi125, @Darth_Elu, @Kurisan, @Mitth_Fisto, @The Jedi in the Pumas, (@Master Vo'Un'Var)

 

(A combo Post between the amazing @greyjedi125 and Myself, thanks for collaborating on this.)

IC: Anaxagore & Rebecca
Zalzabar’s Castle, Training Room

He'd just entered the hallway, musing darker thoughts than he normally would, as he looked around for the proper place to ‘unwind’, when a strong and firm voice caught his attention.

"To the Left." Rebecca called out as she closed in on him. "Training room...Want a sparring partner?" Rolling her bloody shoulder she snarled a little. "I'm not at my best but that might make it fair for you…"

With her even tone it was hard to tell if she was joking or serious.

Anaxagore paused, then turned, a curious gaze coming upon his face. Had someone been reading his mind? He did wonder how he would fare against the Laughing Butcher, but this…this was a gift.

An impish grin began to form across his face as he watched Rebecca's imposing armored form approach. He could feel a thrill, a sensation of excitement tingling inside himself. His hands and fingers began to itch. They were both warriors and they could well anticipate what was to come.

“No handicaps.” He said sternly, eyeing her carefully. Anaxagore’s eyes flashed with a purple spark, and Rebecca would feel a flash of soothing heat wash over her wounded arm, restoring it to its normal resilience. The dark haired ryujin knew she had not asked for it, but he was actually being selfish in a way. He wished to face a fully capable Rebecca Dragon, not a warrior in a ‘diminished’ state.

If she objected to his ministration, he would make a note of it.

As an Adept Ryujin, Anaxagore had learned to share his abundant energy with allies for a variety of useful effects. Doing so was a much needed skill for his long term plans.

Listening to anything that might be said, or not, the pair arrived to the Training Room, which was far larger than any training room Anaxagore had ever seen before. Then he realized why? Because it could house a dragon, though a bit cramped by his estimation. Not that he would need to do so.

Wow.

Anaxagore turned his head again, eyeing Rebecca. Was she as excited as he was?

“This is going to be good.” He found himself exclaiming. It had been a while since he’d had a worthy sparring partner, and he was very confident that Rebecca Dragon was the Real Deal. One to be counted worthy, even among the many warriors he had faced during his travels through the lands of Regnum.

She took in a sharp breath feeling a warmth run down her arm. The warrior would not reject magical healing, it was speeding up a process that would take a night for her. The same smile bloomed over her face, good she didn't want to face him with an impediment, thought she would have if it came to it. The fight never waited for you to be ready, you must be ready for it at any moment.

Clenching her fist and rolling her shoulder the last stings of pain faded away leaving her at her most complete. Her heart beat just a little harder. It was always this way before a fight, sparring or no, the feeling of steel against steel was a song that reached her soul.

Looking around the space she saw racks of training weapons blunted so they didn't cause irreparable harm to those training. Walking carefully she ran her hand over the swords until she found one just the right length. Picking it up she turned to face him, her hair a little loose from her bun, and her face clear of the red pigment that made her so distinctive, leaving only a pale face and brilliant red hair.

Her hands gripped the hilt tightly hearing the leather creak under her hands. With two heavy steps she took up her stance, her left leg forward her right leg back her foot bent, her body was turned her left shoulder recently repaired, faced her opponent, the flat of the blade rested on her right shoulder. Her body was tensed, ready to move and to lash out with all the power hidden in her muscles.

This was the Right Guard of the Lady, her favored guard in the Flower of Battle. The smile never left her face as her dark eyes watched the Protector of Regnum, analyzing his stance.

Watching Rebecca, he took in how she moved. Her warrior’s confidence was displayed in every single move, in her posture, in her eyes. He couldn’t help but smile at that. His own grey eyes tracked the red-haired warrior as she selected a practice weapon from the training weapons rack. Anaxagore nodded to himself in understanding.

It was the small details like that which made the deepest impressions.

Rebecca seemed to have a code of honor. That was something he could respect.

Grinning, he smoothly walked over to a nearby weapon’s rack himself. He inspected it and selected a well balanced weapon, one that reminded him of his old spatha. He twirled it in his hand then performed several flourishes. The weapon whistled as it sliced air.

Hmmm. Not bad.

Satisfied with his choice, Aanxagore then turned his head and found her, already sizing him up. His smile widened then. AS was his custom, he offered a respectful nod as he began to move around her, counter clockwise; the sword spun in a controlled manner in his hand, forward grip, back handed grip, forward, back and forth, again and again it spun with a fluid rhythm.

Anaxagore cooly looked at the entirety of her form, regarding the effectiveness of her stance. Hmmm. Left forward leaning stance. How interesting. Was she rooted on the spot? Would she allow him to get into flanking position? Good questions. She was coiled and ready to strike. It was beautiful stance. It was art.

If she were a statue, he could admire the impeccable artistry for hours, but there was another art form he wished to engage in at the moment.

Anaxagore suddenly dashed in diagonally to her left, he thrusted with a jab to her torso, his sword held in a forward grip. His attack was really a feint. He expected her to swing either horizontally or at an angle, which would in theory leave her momentarily open, as he planned to pivot right while ducking under her likely attack and slice at her lats as he shot past. His footwork was light and fast, even as he kept alert for her counter or a change in her ‘projected’ attack.

The one thing Anaxagore knew from the many battles he had experienced, was never to underestimate an opponent, no matter who he or she might be.

Her eye never left her opponent, her father had taught her better than to give her back to a foe. She turned on her lead left leg always keeping her upper body leaned forward hands held tight to her blade. His one handed blade swirled in the air cutting through with a whistle. There was a tension in the air, that moment before one of them stuck. He was waiting for his moment and she was waiting for hers. The fluidity of his movements spoke to his coordination and speed. Already she could tell he wouldn't stand and fight her in a traditional duel.

She watched his muscles, corded and lithe stretch and move. It was almost like poetry, each line blending perfectly into the next, the rhyme unbroken and flowing like water. Her heart was beating faster waiting for the moment she could strike.

Just as she saw it, he rushed forward his point trusted at her chest. There was a reason she favored this guard. With movements like lightning she swept her blade across her form looking to knock the point to the outside of her body. When her blade didn't meet steel she saw though his feint. Watching him pivot to the right, she moved with him denying him a free strike at her back. While she couldn't lunge and fade like he could but she wasn't a statue, she could wheel around and strike like a coiled snake.

Her feet were planted as she brought her blade down in a vertical chop that would split the man's head, all her considerable strength behind it.

The feint had been successful. Anaxagore saw his opening, and much more. Rebecca was also moving, practically extinguishing his attack window with the rotation of her body, even as she brought her blade in a downward chop - a whole lot faster than he thought her capable of. There was no blocking or deflecting such a powerful blow, she had timed the 'helmet splitter' almost perfectly, except for the fact that he was not a static opponent.

Anaxagore immediately aborted his gambit and performed the only real option left, beside calling on his power. Emergency footwork saw him step-out of range with a turn of his foot. His reaction time had been reflexive and lightning fast, to the point that only his right pauldron had been cleanly split by Rebecca's powerful blow, instead of him losing an arm, or possibly having his core split open.

All this was done with a practice sword.

Anaxagore grinned so happily he hardly realized he was expressing it.

Rebecca possessed both speed and power, good, good. He noticed joyously. His last move had taken him out of range so he could not counter with a maiming strike, even though the movement of her strike brought her hands downward. Had he been wearing his 'Dark Armor', the scene would have played differently. That made him smile more. He would like their 'nascent' warrior relationship to grow to that point, but he was getting ahead of himself. Again.

The dark haired warrior dashed forward 'suddenly', in an attempt to exploit Rebecca's current position. His intention now was to run in once again and get close, before she could swing her weapon, then slide on the ground on his left side while delivering a mighty slice to her right leg. If he could get her support leg from under her, she would be unbalance and vulnerable to the reverse grip follow-up strike.

At least that's what he was visualizing, though he was more excited about how she would react. Suddenly, he was very glad Rebecca was here to spar with him. If this continued, she might push him to call on his abilities- now that was exciting!

She felt the her dull blade not so much cleave as shatter the armor of her opponent. Bits of metal bounced off her armor, before falling to the ground. He was far away too far for her to close the gap safely. Her blood was starting to catch fire. It wasn't burning yet, he hadn't quiet brought her to the place she needed to be to let her blood run rampant. He may have had the power of a dragon dwelling in him. But she had all the strength and fortitude of a monster in human form. Her blood made her more than what she was, more than he was expecting.

As he rushed forward her hands here out of place and she knew it. Quickly with a flick of her wrists she snapped the blade upwards looking to leave a mark from his hip to his opposite shoulder. But he'd already dropped into a slide. Using the momentum of her swing she lifted her right leg off the ground and turned on her left foot. As she completed her rotation she brought her balde down towards where he should be if his slide continued.

Wonders never ceased, both to his delight an amazement. Anaxagore now knew he was not the only one who was inventive during combat, one who had adopted the ‘at all angles’ philosophy. Rebecca performed a single leg raise in order to keep her balance and raise her right supporting leg from the award position she had been in- just in time for him to miss his attack!!

Anaxagore was in the moment, but promised himself to be impressed afterwards. From his position he could see what she was doing and as he slid. He kicked out with his right leg to throw off her weapon’s angle of descent and immediately kipped-up with such fluidity, that he practically looked as if he shot-up like an arrow.

In a smooth motion he threw his blade backwards at her, aiming at the core of her body as he dashed forward and away. At first, it appeared as if he were running away and his stunt with the sword was meant only to delay her. Well, that part was true.

Anaxagore grabbed a larger sword, one that matched the one Rebecca carried, as he grinned with undisguised delight. He couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Yami-Yoroi” He whispered. Immediately, a shimmer of purple luminescence shrouded him. In that blink, Anaxagore was covered in his Dark Armor. It was far better suited for what was to come next. The sword he held was still the practice sword he had snatched from the training rack.

Oh, it was time.

Anaxagore performed a single twirl of the sword, which now ended in a two handed grip ‘kasumi no kamae’ stance, one which was quite similar to Rebecca’s first sword stance.

“Shall we continue?” He uttered now, his face growing 'playfully serious' as he refocused on his formidable opponent.

Rebecca would be impressed if she wasn't so annoyed with him. He'd dodged most of her attacks, robbing her of the symphony of violence she so craved. As he shot into the air she turned to follow him. Again just out of the corner of her eye she saw him throw his sword. With a quick swipe of her blade she knocked it to the side. However it had given him the distance he needed. Granted him the time to summon his armor. There was a bit of a snarl on her face, calling upon his dragon given magic.

It felt unfair, that he be granted this boon and choose to use it against her. Though she thought she should be flattered. Her a normal, if well trained, warrior was enough to push him to call upon his power. She wasn't bereft of power either, she just learned not to use it in a sparring match.

But did the rules really matter when her opponent was summoning magic armor to defend himself.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You might not like where this goes." She said giving the man fair warning before rushing him. She was not as fast as him but her power came rumbling down like an avalanche. Her blood began to warm, to start that familiar burn that resided in her veins.

If he called upon his dragon, she would call upon her blood. They would see which was more powerful.

Yesssss...this is exactly what I want. He thought in his mind, feeling her power radiating from her. She was indeed a worthy opponent and that made him tingle. He saw the slight look of annoyance she had given him, but his 'base form' was not enough, not in his estimation. As soon as she came at him, he rushed her in turn and swung his sword with the intention to catch hers!!

The resulting clang of weapons resounded quite loudly and echoed through the training chamber.

"Ooooooff!!"

Anaxagore's eyes went wide at the marked difference in their strength. He had buckled under the sheer force of her blow and had almost lost his footing if it weren't for some quick adjustments. He grinned up at her as he corrected his stance to brace himself against the downward pressure, then chuckled. Rebecca was freakishly strong. He in turn was trying to gauge just what percentage of his own potential draconic strength would he need to simply 'match' hers. He was not going to go 'all out', because that was not the intended purpose of this exercise. Taking an initial measure of the mighty Rebecca was important for Anaxagore; granted he only knew the stories, not the warrior herself. This was both a great honor and a complete mystery, hopefully not so much of one by the end of the encounter.

Gritting his teeth for a moment, he pivoted to the side and forcefully guided the their weapons down and stepped back, already raising a guard as he expected a slashing counter attack.

Hmmm. 15 to 20% strength maybe....more probably. Because, in his mind, she was just getting started. Indeed, he had heard the stories...but this was not 'that' kind of encounter.

Their swords rang out in the training room and her heart nearly battered itself against her ribs. Yes, this, this feeling was what she needed. Was the vibrations resonated though her she felt her toes curl and her hands shake just a little. She was starting to lose herself in the moment, to forget this was only a training spar. He resisted her power, but she still caught him by surprise made his knees buckle. There was a feeling that she could do it, she could claim victory over a Ryujin. The prospect was enticing. Could her tainted blood be a match for a dragon?

She never had the opportunity, the chance to face one in battle. Now was that moment and her heart sang witnessing his strength and ingenuity. He was a challenge, a foe that could push her to her limits. It was a dangerous thing, playing with the fire in her blood, a step too far and she could go beyond just a friendly match.

But she didn't care.

As her blade was brought to the side she rolled her wrists bringing a quick fast chop to his shoulder, that would be quickly followed up with a thrust to his chest and a slash to his leg. She would keep up the assault her veins burning hotter and hotter. Her breathing was steady rhythmic, but it was getting deeper her passion was being awakened.

Woe unto thee that dare stir her heated blood.

The blades ring out again, her soul rattling with each hit. Her strength was increasing, her power going well beyond that of a normal human. The question was, how would that compare to one that carried the blood of the creators?

Anaxagore was in the moment, gauging. He watched her eyes, studied nuances, and was continually surprised.

Rebecca’s strength and speed were increasing. He had blocked he shoulder strike and had meant for turn his block into a parry at the last possible second, but he’d miscalculated her rising speed and power. Rebecca had effectively battered his defense to the side! Anaxagore attempted to correct this, but was a millisecond too late to prevent the ‘thrust’ to his chest. Thankfully, his Dark Armor was a literal bulwark against such attacks, but he could feel the power of that strike as it caused him to take a step back, rather than be skewed and impaled upon her sword.

Wow. Technically, she had scored a ‘critical blow’.

Tch!

It was as he suspected. In a 'real encounter', he would need his powers against her, without a doubt.

The slash to his retreating leg was caught by his quick and timely reaction. He'd matched her finally, or rather, for the moment. Sparks flew as another resounding blow of metal against metal rang out and echoed once again through the chamber. Here he tested her, with a question.

“Why do you fight…?” He asked in all seriousness. He didn’t know if she would answer with words or would just continue with the encounter. Doing either would be an answer, regardless. He would accept whatever was offered.

Anaxagore noted that he was above the 20% mark, much to his surprise. His own sensitivity training for over a century had allowed him to gauge his strength by degrees. At this particular point, he could cleave through flesh and bone with contemptuous ease, leather armor would not serve as protection, even with training swords.

This opportunity was more than he could have hoped for, and he silently thanked The Three. As was his nature, he did wonder if he could somehow find a way to help Rebecca master her Blood, turn the curse into a boon, bring her to a place of self-mastery where she would have absolute control of her 'power'.

The Protector of Regnum shoved hard as he disengaged and took another step back. He was ready for more, of course. Facing Rebecca had been a long awaited opportunity, but not for the reason of glory. He needed too know who she was, if she could be an ally….if there was any hope. He understood there would be no easy answers, but had to gauge for himself what could be possible, especially if they were to do battle against Sapientis.

So, 25%strength it is.

The fact that he was raising his power this much against a ‘non-ryujin’ was astounding and revealing. What was the True story of Rebecca Dragon, he wondered. How did she fit in the grand design against Sapientis? How powerful was she when she lost control.

A smile bloomed over her face the feeling of her blade crashing into his chest traveled up her arm and into her heart. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths not from exhaustion, far from. This was excitement, as her strength increased so did his, he was matching her. He war prolonging this fight, keeping it going. Normally she would have torn through her first opponent and moved on to the second, possibly the third by this point. Her face would be stained with their blood. This time she was made to wait for it, made to work for it. And it only made her grin deeper.

Sparks flew as their blades met again and he would see the fire burning in her eyes, the fire of combat, the need for violence. He shoved off her making her take half a step back giving him distance. Distance that she didn't leave. Seeing that his armor was strong she gripped her balde half swording. It limited her range but gave her the leverage and accuracy to strike at his weak points, the hip joint, under his arms.

While her blood was getting louder in her head she didn't forget her training, everything her father had taught her.

She slammed her shoulder into the flat of his blade giving him no room to breathe, with a short quick strike she rammed the point of her blade down at the inside of this thigh, at the weaker mail armor cover that area.

That was her answer.

Anaxagore smiled outwardly, but nodded inwardly, accepting what was given.

Rebecca was both formidable and relentless, there was no doubting that. He understood her answer. She existed for combat, because that is what she loved. Her allegiance was to her experience. Did he have any right to try to 'alter it' in anyway, just because he thought his way was 'better'?

In the moment, he had no answer.

In that same instance, however, she too would get an answer as well.

Rebecca would be able to see a purple sheen beneath Anaxagore's armor plate, a layer of protective energy that rejected the otherwise critical strike, though excellently executed. This was another 'critical hit' on her part. He was learning how lethal, how effective Rebecca Dragon could be, why she was a living Legend in her own time, feared by most, yet admired by others.

After so many years of combat, Anaxagore knew that such 'weak points' were bait. That was a lesson he had learned from a Battlemaster so long ago, when he had executed a similar attack, with the same calculated efficiency, to the same end result.

Anaxagore reacted quickly to the opening, by reaching out and holding Rebecca's sword arm in place with his freehand, then executed a strike to her neck area with a quick 'chop', not landing the blow, but just marking the point of contact with utmost control and finesse.

He'd vowed to be a Protector of Regnum, against any and all who would place themselves as enemies to the ideals of The Three. That meant he had to pit himself against both the best and the worst, to test himself, and push himself beyond limits he did not know existed. That also meant he had to be able to survive such encounters, both real and imagined.

In truth, Rebecca had scored 'two critical' hits on him first. He was already dead. Not only that, it was necessary for him to summon 25% of his power to match hers, and she was just getting started. If their encounter continued, there was no guarantee that Zalzabar's training room would remain unscathed. As it was, Anaxagore was more than satisfied with the sparring session.

"I yield." He said, stepping back and dispelling his armor. A wise combatant knew to read the flow of combat, and how to heed it.

"You are a warrior without equal Rebecca Dragon, you do me honor."

Anaxagore found himself grinning again, as he clasped a hand over his fist and made a gesture of respect towards Rebecca.

In his mind, he decided he would do what he could to win her trust and hoped to inspire her to love something enough to protect, just as he had.

Rebecca was fuming, her blood was boiling...no, no he doesn't get to end it, no one of them should be bleeding on the floor. She looked up at him her red hair falling over half her face looking like half her face was covered in blood, blood she so desperately wanted on her face. Her blows were fatal, she knew that and now her blood was beginning to hurt, to burn in her veins. She was denied the ending she wanted, the ending she needed.

Her blood screamed for her to continue, to attack him, to spill this man's blood. Gripping her sword tightly she raised it up, almost threatening to strike him even as he was unarmed, and exposed. Brining it down she stuck nothing but air, and that was intentional. Violence needed to be given, and she most certainly wasn't going to commit it upon a foe that had yielded.

She made a promise.

With a loud shout she slammed the blunted blade on the stone floor feeling it bend, and then snap into three pieces. The sound resounded through the space, louder than her shout.

Looking up at him he could see the fire in her eyes, a fire that she was barely containing.

"Be careful when you play with fire..." It was a warning, not to test her again, things might go too far next time. With a snarl she tossed the hilt of the broken sword to the side and stormed out. The urge to kill was now even stronger but it would have to wait.

She marched her way to a balcony, none of the guards wishing to challenge the Bloodstained Killer as she marched with purpose. Her skin felt hot, her armor stifling. She did not see herself getting relief in the way she needed soon, there had to be a stop gap. Finding an exit to the outside the warrior stripped off her paludrons, vambraces and gauntlets, her motions were quick and desperate, she needed to feel cold. Pulling at the clasps that held her breastplate she removed it leaving it with the other pieces of armor. Removing her arming doublet she marched into the cold in only her thin shirt that clung to her chiseled frame.

Dropping to her knees on the snow covered stone she dug her hands into the cold white powder and scooped it up. Pressing it against her chest she let out a long deep breath feeling the shock of cold against her hot skin. One could almost see the steam rising off her as the snow melted on her. The pain radiated through her, the cold chilled her veins if only for a moment. Hanging her head her brilliant red hair spilled over her shoulders hiding her face, hiding her tears of frustration. She would need a release soon. She would need to kill something...or someone...

Falling back on her haunches she looked up as the sky, feeling a few flakes fall on her cheeks.

This would have to be enough for now.

TAG: @Ktala @Shadowsun @greyjedi125 @Darth_Elu @Kurisan @Mitth_Fisto @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

OOC: Apologies for the delay!

Cretaus (and briefly Kaynus) IC:
~Stumbling throughout a Castle~

He continued eating, his spirits lifted higher than they had been in a long time, despite the lingering pain from some injuries and from the tension of the situation between Anaxagore and Kaynus. As he did so, he noticed that Taella had seemingly vanished from the room entirely.

Cretaus frowned for a moment. Why had she left? That was strange. Wasn’t this supposed to be some kind of meeting for all of them? Mentally shrugging it off, he refocused on Anaxagore while he ate. The man was finally letting out a long exhale and stepping away from the table.

“You are right Lady Esenma, please excuse me. Lord Elder, do send for me when the meeting begins.”

Lord Elder? Is that what Zalzabar’s title was? Strange one if so. Also, now Anaxagore was also leaving the room. The meeting hadn’t even begun yet and Zalzabar had said there was ‘so much’ to go over! Well, whatever. Maybe this sort of thing was normal?

No way he’d know.

As this occurred, Esenma seemed to hop up all excitedly. Shuffling around the table, which had Cretaus watching her with an eyebrow raised. She was breathing deeply, but in a way that told him it wasn’t quite normal. A ryujin thing maybe?

“Yes, yes….Zalzy, he’s so strong and youthful. A newborn’s smell is so refreshing. Tell me, Ne’TAR, the mighty!”

She seemed to flex jokingly. Was she complimenting the orc or mocking him? He couldn’t tell from where he sat, confused. And what was that about a newborn? Ne’tar was obviously not a baby. Somehow this whole conversation had just gone from one end of puzzling to the other side of baffling. Cretaus couldn’t keep up.

“No…no…words will not do it justice…Zalzy, do you remember the test of breath?”

The attractive, dark-skinned woman clapped her hands excitedly while Cretaus inwardly groaned. Another test? What more could they possibly be put through?

“Oh, Ne’tar…would you care to partake in the Test of Breath with me, love? You must be enjoying your food, which you have rightfully earned. But I would just love for you to blow your fire on me!”

Cretaus was almost blushing now again and he still wasn’t even the one being talked to like that! Though the fuzzy memory of the woman blowing intimately toward him on the mountain wasn’t helping matters…

“Ne’tar no know test. Ne’tar never breathe fire before, let alone smoke. Ne’tar willing but Ne’tar need taught things first.”

At least some ryujin didn’t know how to breathe fire at least!

“Delsanra, Kaynus, Cretaus…All of you! We can make this a family event. Nothing gives a clearer introduction than a test of breath!”

Cretaus blinked. Did everyone here somehow know his name? He hadn’t once given it. Yet Dominus, Audacia, Taella, and apparently now Esenma even knew it! ...And what was that about family? How and when did they become family? Was this...no, no. This was definitely not how families were formed! What was she talking about? His mind was sent reeling just from the one word.

He decided to quickly distract himself as he noticed the warrior woman next to him moving for some grapes. Remembering her injury that he had spotted, but noting that she’d likely not appreciate his help, he just subtly nudged the grape bowl closer toward her while “happening” to be reaching for some green peas nearby. He only briefly made eye contact with her as she got the grapes successfully afterward.

Even though Cretaus quickly averted his gaze, partially due to embarrassment at being caught, he found himself watching a new spectacle.

Zalzabar was wrapping magical chains of lightning all around Kaynus and hurtling him back into his seat right next to him. Even Cretaus jumped a little and leaned away, as if he too would be caught.

“I lived over twenty of your lives boy, if you wish to act like a child so be it but you will be treated as such. For the remainder of the evening you will be fed by Audacia. If you can learn to control yourself, I’ll release you from your bonds. And don’t even think about turning into a dragon.”

Wow….that was…Cretaus gulped. He did not want get in the middle of that. It had been tense enough when Kaynus was nearly face to face with Anaxagore, now that their host had jumped in with a strong magical display…and was even humiliating Kaynus with Audacia force feeding him.

Note to self. Don’t mess with Zalzabar and the Knights.

From there, he returned to eating but more slowly; trying to ignore the man next to him and his plight. He might have been more sympathetic, but Kaynus’ personality made that more than a little difficult. There was some small talk after that between Zalzabar, Delsanra, and Ne’tar. He only partially paid attention.

Sipping his ale, still not knowing what it was, he made a small face. Not bad, but much stronger than he was expecting…Of course. What was he expecting? He wasn’t sure. He took another sip, shook his head as if to clear it, then set his mug back down.

Finally Zalzabar seemed to be addressing the Test of Breath, which caught his attention.

“Oh come, come now Esenma, the time for tests is over, relax, enjoy yourself, would you like another cup of my signature lightning mead?”

Cretaus let out a small breath of relief. No more tests! He could rest a little easier then. That lightning mead also sounded good…Too bad he likely wasn’t going to be offered any of it.

“I expect Anaxagore could use a sparring companion, he looked like he needed to work out some angst….and you, Rebecca, certainly didn’t have your fill against Dominus; there is a training chamber off to the left, you’ll find it easily enough.”

Rebecca?

Cretaus shyly glanced to the woman next to him, who seemed to be considering the man’s words carefully. So her name was Rebecca. That was a nice normal name for a woman. He had expected something truly powerful and over the top or something.

He much preferred Rebecca.

Then suddenly Zalzabar was walking over as Rebecca got up to leave as well after all, the enigmatic man leaning in toward him of all people now. Cretaus looked back at him warily. Not sure what he’d want with him. It was going to take a while before he could trust them completely.

“I think Taella could use a friend, young Cretaus.”

As Zalzabar retreated back to his seat, the teenager blinked. Wait. So, basically, he wanted him to go get Taella? And comfort her…about….something.

Uh….

Why him?

I mean, she was really nice, had healed him, took the time out to briefly speak with him, was utterly and breathtakingly gorgeous….but he had no idea why him even so! They still didn’t really know each other and, and…

She smelled nice too.

Sighing, more mentally than anything, he began to stand up from his chair while Zalzabar finally began to gather his own food to eat.

“I understand that I might have been hasty, Zalzabar, but this! This is far too much, I refuse to be treated like this!”

“Refuse? A poor choice of words, perhaps, since I think you have no choice at the moment. Perhaps a moment of silent reflection then?”

Kaynus stared at Delsanra from where he was chained up in his seat, nostrils flaring still. Another one who spoke to him so!

“I am a guest!! And Heir to the Three! I will not be treated this way, it is simple fact! How you all can act so offensive is beyond me. I was merely stating things known to be true and inquiring about my room!”

Cretaus glanced over as he began to move from the table. Yep. That was the signal to get out of here. Perhaps Zalzabar’s suggestion was a timely one. And with that, he moved out of the room and closed the door behind him with a small grunt of effort.

As he began to move down the hall, it was at this time, he suddenly realized a very important thing.

He had no idea of the castle’s layout, let alone where the elven woman he had been asked to fetch went…

“This is going to take a while…” he murmured to himself.

Tag: Zalzabar, Delsanra, Audacia, Esenma, Ne’tar, Rebecca, & Veritas @Shadowsun @Ktala @The Jedi in the Pumas @Mitth_Fisto @galactic-vagabond422

 

IC: Anaxagore
Staying the Course

He stood there for a moment longer, after she had gone from the training room. Rebecca Dragon. She’d shown him something he hadn’t seen for a long time. The road to self-mastery was the hardest road of all. She was struggling with powerful forces within herself, greater than any mere mortal contended with on a daily basis.

It was as if a bit of Sapientis’ Fire were inside of her, threatening to consume her and leave only 'The Beast' to be set free, to run rampant, unbridled, unleashed. But thankfully, that was not the case.

He didn’t know if she was winning, but was glad to see she wasn’t losing either.

Rebecca hadn’t struck him down, hadn’t given in, which meant she could exercise her will over her near overwhelming impulse, there was hope for self-mastery. Anaxagore looked down at the broken practice sword, and understood that such a road would lead to a long journey, filled with things that would be broken, and many that would be slain. Blood would follow blood.

He didn’t know where she had gone just now, but had enough wisdom not to follow. Now it was she who was dissatisfied, displeased, pent up and filled with a need for release. Where she had been placid, she had now taken his frustration onto herself, traded places with him. He was the one who was placid now, and she was worst of for it.

There was honor in that, and he recognized it.

Internally, he understood that Rebecca didn’t wish to be lost to the ‘Monster’ that lived inside her. She wished to control it to her purpose, but that would be no easy task. He could totally relate. Anaxagore smiled thinly as he began to clean up the training room.

His former Masters had all helped him to remain grounded, to Master the 'Ryujin Rush', the absolute euphoria, the undeniable Pulse of Power his kind experienced. In his mind, ‘Allbright’ had failed to Master his intoxication and was completely addicted to it, that’s why he acted the way he did. It was exceedingly easy to feel superior and to act on it- to lose all vestige of empathy towards others and fall to the slavery of a tyrant mind.

Serving and Protecting was Anaxagore’s continual balancing act. Grandmaster Nin had taught him as much. How to regulate his overabundant energy, how to share it with others. How to remain sensitive.

And how to finally best Grandmaster Namek. He thought with a touch of impish amusement and chuckled at a memory.

All his travels, all his years of training, everything that he’d experienced in his journeys, all pointed towards this moment. Anaxagore felt he was ready to take up Great Zalzabar’s Quest.

In addition, he had seen it with is own eyes. The perfect blank slate. One who was possibly worthy of The Mark. It was a sign given by The Three, he could feel it.

Indeed, he had learned how to ‘play with fire’ - very carefully. Rebecca’s warning did not deter him, it actually encouraged him. Everything about this adventure did. There was technically a Ryujin Pentacle here, one that included both an Elder and a newborn. He wasn’t blind to the deeper meanings. There was the Triad of non-ryujin which covered the full range as well. No, he wasn’t blind at all.

All eight: Together, they formed the perfect ‘symbol’. Surely Zalzabar could see this. The potential was there and it was very exciting.

“Perhaps I studied ‘The Book of Mysteries’ a bit too much.” Anaxagore said and chuckled aloud. He had enjoyed that almost as much as ‘Advanced Combat Training’.

Within moments, everything was neatly put pack in place. The broken weapon was placed in the designated disposal area, seeing how such occurrences were a constant in training rooms all over Regnum.

It was with these thoughts in mind that the Adept Ryujin made his way back to the ‘Feast Hall’. Absently, he made a mental note to replace his now missing pauldron later. His mood would be so much lighter upon his return than it had been when he'd left.

Upon entering the Feast Hall, the first thing to draw his attention would be the sight of Kaynus Allbright being restrained by chains of lightning and Knight Audacia standing next to him. A dark eyebrow would be raised, but no comment would be made.

A nod would be given to Lord Elder Zalzabar, Lady Esenma, Delsanra and Ne’tar. At a glance he would see that Taella was still missing and now Cretaus. A pang of regret would be felt as a thought of Rebecca storming off came to mind.

Not the best beginning, but at least it was one.

Silently, Anaxagore would return to his former sitting place and calmly begin to eat.


Tag: @Shadowsun , @Ktala , @Mitth_Fisto , @The Jedi in the Pumas , @galactic-vagabond422 ,@Kurisan, @Darth_Elu

 

The Beginning of the Saga
​

Zalzabar contemplated to himself as he consumed his food. They did not know it, well expect maybe Esenma, but he had been observing them all as they partook of their tests. Several lifetimes of existence had allowed him to gain a wide range of magically abilities, a form of clairvoyance was little trouble for him. He had to admit he was very pleased with what the group had to offer, a wide range of capabilities, races, knowledge, interests and power. He glanced back over to Kaynus, he took another sip of his lightning mead, a familiar feeling of his throat being zapped as it traveled to his liver. As he did so he floated over a cup of the blue mead to Ne'tar, who he had noticed had been eyeing the blue liquid. He gave the half-orc a friendly little wink.

“I understand that I might have been hasty, Zalzabar, but this! This is far too much, I refuse to be treated like this!”

“Refuse? A poor choice of words, perhaps, since I think you have no choice at the moment. Perhaps a moment of silent reflection then?”

“I am a guest!! And Heir to the Three! I will not be treated this way, it is simple fact! How you all can act so offensive is beyond me. I was merely stating things known to be true and inquiring about my room!”

Zalzabar's eyes flashed, the nerve of this boy. He tilted his head, speaking much more calmly then before, but it carried a deep sense of caution.

"Do you know who else saw themselves as the Heir to the Three? Sapientis. I would choose your words carefully, and take Delsanra's advice. But to answer your question, yes your room, along with everyone else's is prepared."

Zalzabar made a motion with his hands, the lightning restraints disappearing.

"You have much left to learn my boy, particularly in biding your tongue. But I must admit you did show exceptional strength out there, I have never quite seen a breath like yours. Do not speak out of line again." Zalzabar smiled, hoping the compliment would not go straight to the adept ryujin's head. Oh who was he kidding of course it would. He then turned to face back Delsanra who had a question of her own.

"Well, Zalzabar. This is a most .. interesting start of things. There is so much here, that I'm sure I could lose myself within your libraries. But that is a different matter. Will we rest first, before we come to the reason for this gathering?

Zalzabar gazed into the snow elf's face. His eyes warming after having spoken to Kaynus. He smiled as he spoke.

"There will be time for rest, and I understand your journey must of been a long and hard one, but I hope you don't mind indulging a old man's rambles for a little bit?" He laughed to himself, his hair crackling slightly.

Zalzabar made a note as only Anaxagore returned from the spar he had sent them off to. He made a motion to Veritas, whispering to him to go find Rebecca, make sure she was okay.

He then turned to the rest of the group, at least those gathered.
​

-------------------------------------------------
​

Veritas nodded as Zalzabar commanded him to find the human warrior. He had taken special note after his observations during the test of integrity. Her bloodlust, it reminded him of someone he had heard rumors of. Roger the Red. A man with cursed blood that enhanced his physical capabilities to that far above that of even the most fit humans.

The Knight of Integrity found himself in the empty training room, and the wandered around looking to see if he could spot her. If only she were a ryujin or gave off a magical aura, it would be much easier to find her that way. Eventually he stumbled on the balcony Rebecca had rushed off to, her armor laid on the ground. He looked down at the warrior, down her knees, snow to her chest. The bloodlust must of been consuming her during the spar with Anaxagore. What was the master thinking? As if that had been a good idea. He knelt down as he began to speak softly to the mercenary.

"Surely you must be getting a little cold" He paused briefly, thinking to himself on how to proceed. "Zalzy would like to speak to you, I'm afraid it is rather important. Then you can rest, and cover yourself in as much snow as you want" He chuckled to himself, before standing back up, waiting for her to don her armor and then motion for Rebecca to follow.

-------------------------------------------------
​

The lightning ryujin leaned back in his chair, thinking to himself. He turned as he spotted Veritas return, he wondered if he should wait to see if Taella and Cretaus came back. He made a motion with his hands, strings of lightning forming between his finger tips as he began to weave a ball of electricty. He then tossed it to the side, from it formed a copy for Zalzabar, one made from electricty.

"Dominus really needs to get around to teaching me to make an actual clone." he muttered to himself. The electric clone then went through the door that Cretaus had previously closed, off to find Taella and Cretaus. It did not take long for the lightning elemental to find them, being able to pass though walls was a benefit. It appeared Cretaus had indeed found the wood elf, and they had been conversing about, something. The electric Zalzabar spoke to them both.

"Are there you are my children! Come, come now the real Zalzabar would like to speak with you both!" The clone then whizzed ahead, gesturing for them to follow.

The actual Zalzabar continued to consume food, taking small sips from his goblet. He nodded as his clone passed through the door and then disappeared with a large popping noise.

"Alright, alright, time to actually explain why you are all hear" He put down his goblet, inhaling and then exhaling loudly before continuing. "Some of you may of heard the rumors that Sapientis has returned. This, well this is half true. The ice half of Sapientis has awakened. Her name is Gelida. From what I've been able to gather from various reports is she was sealed deep underneath the Xan desert, before being distubred by something." Zalzabar then paused, looking round the room, letting this initially information sink in.

"Some of the local orc tribes said then had seen red ryujin in the area, and a large patch of ice just appeared out of nowhere one day. Naturally this doesn't help Xoth'ug'wajin's disdain for ryujin." He trailed off for a moment, and then lurched back up realizing that he was mumbling to himself again.

"Gelida fled no one has any idea where she is. The other half, Ignis, is still sealed away, although I was not able to find any record of where he is being held. Should he also escape and the two be reunited, Sapientis would be reborn, and he would quite literally destroy everything, bending everything to his will.

When Sapientis fought against the Three eons ago, they forged three artifacts in case he was ever able to escape. The Crown of Caelum, The Trident of Pelagus and The Sword of Tellus. These three weapons allow one to harness the power of the dragon gods themselves, and if we want to stop Sapientis these are our best bet at doing so."

He looked back up, his eyes filled with a somber determination "Which is where you all come in. I needed more than just three Knights to find these weapons, I have no idea where they are and...I...I am much weaker than I used to be..." He looked down back down, the more observant ones of the group would be able to tell he was withholding something in that statement. "The history of Sapientis is rather spotty to say the least, so finding more about him and his origins would also be invaluable. It is a dangerous and cruel world out there and I don't expect you all to do this for free, their will be just compensation, and as impressive as you all were out there against Dominus you all need to get a lot stronger if we even want to have a chance against Sapientis and his minions"

Zalzabar stood dramatically, a twinkle in his eye and large smile formed on his face.

"So what do you all say, will you help me save the world?"

TAG: @greyjedi125 @Ktala @galactic-vagabond422 @Mitth_Fisto @The Jedi in the Pumas (@Kurisan @Darth_Elu If you two wanna do a combo first of your talk that is fine, didn't want to split into two updates. )

​

 

Rebecca Dragon
Zalzabar’s Castle, Balcony

She didn't know how long she was knelt there, letting the cold wind whip across her chest sending shivers down her spine. Her extremities were cold, her fingers hurting and turning red but her chest still felt warm, her veins still burning away inside her. She would need to fight, to kill something soon, it didn't have to be another humanoid, it could be as small as a rabbit, or an eagle. Just something that lived so that her blood could be sated. Curling her fingers into a fist she hissed against the pain letting it distract her from the flames scorching her heart. Hearing a voice from behind her she whipped her head around, her hand already on her blade.

"Surely you must be getting a little cold" Veritas said taking a moment to collect himself. Rebecca took a few deep breaths of the cold air to steady herself. Her blood was crying out for her to attack, to put this knight to the test. But she resisted, she wouldn't let her blood consume her. "Zalzy would like to speak to you, I'm afraid it is rather important. Then you can rest, and cover yourself in as much snow as you want."

"It is not snow I need…" she hissed, getting to her feet. Slowly, with tingling fingers she put on her armor again, snapping the clasps and tightening the belts that kept everything snug, that left few gaps in her protection. As she walked with Veritas she could feel the heat return to her hands, feel them clench without pain as feeling came back to them. The cold had done what it could, now it was only her will keeping her blood at bay. Part of her prayed to the Three that she would be granted a battle to the death to sate her need.

Back at the table she took her place next to the older woman, the most senior of the Ryujin, Esenma. The tips of the warrior's hair were wet, and her scalp looked darkened with sweat. Her brilliant red hair was askew fully loose from the bun in which she usually kept it. It would look as though it was a very vigorous training session between herself and Anaxagore.

Their host began to speak again, being rather verbose as it seemed his want. One half of the great, Sapientis had awoken in Xan, and could be anywhere in the world. A sign on the end times no doubt.

Lucky for the heroes that the Three planned for this and left artifacts to lock the beast away again. How fortunate. As it became clear that Zalzabar was going to be coming with them, Rebecca questioned the need for such a group since clearly with his knights and himself he could surely handle anything the quest could throw at him.

Then he revealed that he was weakened and didn't have the strength to continue. Though that left another question, if this was all about the dragons, why had non-Ryujin been selected, how could they pass if this was clearly a mission for them? Sure the world ending would be bad for all involved but were a blood cursed warrior, a young elf archer, and a human boy really going to help?

Their host made his offer, this would be a long contract, they would have to get stronger, would have to find their targets, it would not be over in a week, or even a month. Her ears perked up at the mention of compensation, just compensation. Mercenaries of her skill and reputation didn't come cheap, and if there was one thing she learned it wasn't to kill for free.

"As long as I get paid, and paid well, I'm in." Rebecca said, playing the part of the heartless mercenary. Though under her armor her blood flared inside her. A long job, meant many chances to sate her need, to spill much blood on the battlefield. Good pay and the chance to fight, that was all she needed.

TAG: @greyjedi125 @Ktala @Shadowsun @Mitth_Fisto @The Jedi in the Pumas @Kurisan @Darth_Elu

 

IC: Anaxagore
Zalzabar’s Banquet Hall

The food was as expected, a feast worthy of kings. Flavorful, varied and rich with excellent texture and delicacies. He honestly had to admit, he could not recall the last time he had this exquisite a meal. So satisfied was Anaxagore with the meal, that he even availed himself of a flagon of Lightning Mead, which was offered to the honored guests. To say that this libation packed a welcomed ‘punch’ would be an understatement.

With silent wonder, he observed Zalzabar create a Lightning Clone. Well, that was certainly a remarkable thing to see; quite impressive looking. Curiously enough, after a gulp or two, Anaxagore looked at his cup with some amusement. It seemed the taste of the mead was slightly reminiscent of the flavor he perceived when ionizing his breath weapon with the elemental power of the storm. How about that?

It was at this point that his eyes spied Rebecca as she returned to the hall with Knight Veritas. The female warrior seemed like she had taken a shower in her armor, in addition, he could sense that she was still…unsettled….even after their sparring match had been long over. Hmmm. The Laughing Butcher was no easy mystery by any means. He would know more, but would also take great care in doing so.

Moments later, Zalzabar's Lightning Clone returned with both Taella and Cretaus. Had they been sparring as well? The dark haired Ryujin did wonder.

Before he could give the matter any further consideration, Zalzabar began his presentation.

It was soon revealed that only one-half of Sapientis had returned, Gelida, his frozen half to be more specific. If he was understanding things correctly, it would appear the group would have to go to Xan, to better investigate this mystery.

Of course, going to Xan meant Orcs and their current Chief did not like Ryujin, so that was bound to make things interesting, perhaps more so for Ne’tar than anyone else in particular. And what was this? Red Ryujin as well? That could prove…problematic to say the least.

Thankfully, the other half of Sapientis, that being Ignis, was still sealed away. If he weren't, Anaxagore was certain Ignis would have made his presence known; but how long did they have before that happened?

News of Zalzabar’s waning powers was admittedly, alarming, yet, news of the Three Artifacts created by The Three to combat Sapientis was very welcomed- especially as a counter point. Now the trick would be finding them, assuming no one else was doing the same. To harness the power of ‘The Three’ was unimaginable, but likely the only real chance anyone had against this unassailable foe.

But if no one knew were to find the artifacts, then finding them would be a real challenge. Hmmmm. The basic issue here was a lack knowledge….hmmmm. An idea was coming to mind.

Anaxagore was not really surprised to hear that the group would need to get stronger. Did Zalzabar mean, everyone? Including Lady Esenma? Probably. This was Sapients they were talking about. The existence of Regnum itself and everyone that lived in it hung in the balance. It was all or nothing. Winner takes all.

At the mention of compensation, Rebecca spoke up.

"As long as I get paid, and paid well, I'm in." Her tone was typical to that of a mercenary who’s only interest was the reward.

Anaxagore’s grey eyes glanced at her for a moment, studying her, but could get nothing. He wondered if Sapientis offered her a ‘greater’ reward, would she turn on her companions, even knowing that the world as she knew it was coming to an end? And what of Kaynus?

There was no way to know any answers at that moment.

"So what do you all say, will you help me save the world?" Zalzabar asked in a sort of poetic fashion, or maybe it was the effects of the mead that made it sound that way.

“Aye, you can count me in.” Anaxagore added, already thinking about the mission and the many possibilities everyone would have to contend with.


Tag: @Shadowsun, @galactic-vagabond422, @Ktala, @Darth_Elu, @Mitth_Fisto, @Kurisan, @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

Delsanra Taenya Helestina
Zalzabar's Dinning Room

Zalzabar's eyes flashed, as he spoke to the loud one. She watched with bemused interest as the lighting chains were removed from the loud one. But his warning to the man was of particular interest. "Do you know who else saw themselves as the Heir to the Three? Sapientis. I would choose your words carefully, and take Delsanra's advice. But to answer your question, yes your room, along with everyone else's is prepared."

When Delsanra had spoken to Zalzabar, Zalzabar gazed at her. His eyes warming after having spoken to Kaynus. He smiled as he spoke.

"There will be time for rest, and I understand your journey must of been a long and hard one, but I hope you don't mind indulging a old man's rambles for a little bit?" He laughed to himself, his hair crackling slightly.

Delsanra nodded, and offered her own light laughter as she smiled, and nodded. "Of course." she replied, as she now enjoyed the desert and drinks available to her. Slowly but surely others returned back to the table, some looking worse for wear than others. Delsanra was now finished with her meal and merely sipped on her juice drink. She felt better now and listened as Zalzabar spoke to the group.

"Alright, alright, time to actually explain why you are all hear" .He put down his goblet, inhaling and then exhaling loudly before continuing. "Some of you may of heard the rumors that Sapientis has returned. This, well this is half true. The ice half of Sapientis has awakened. Her name is Gelida. From what I've been able to gather from various reports is she was sealed deep underneath the Xan desert, before being distubred by something." Zalzabar then paused, looking round the room. Delsanra pursed her lips as she thought. Indeed a desert would be an interesting place to seal up a being of ice. But what could have awakened her? Zalzabar finished the comment. "Some of the local orc tribes said then had seen red ryujin in the area, and a large patch of ice just appeared out of nowhere one day." Gone. Well, if she was a creature of ice, then she would head for the closest area of coldness. At least Delsanra would think so.
And then Zalzabar spoke of the weapons of the three. The Crown of Caelum, The Trident of Pelagus and The Sword of Tellus. Delsanra eyes shined. These she had heard of before. Some of the ancient lore she had studied. Indeed, they were rumored to be very powerful artifacts. Too powerful. Which is why they have split apart and hidden away. To actually see those weapons...

Zalzabar then looked up at them. "Which is where you all come in. I needed more than just three Knights to find these weapons, I have no idea where they are and...I...I am much weaker than I used to be..." He then looked away, and suddenly Delsanra felt something was off. She thought of Esenma. They were both ancients. Perhaps they foresaw something else they were not choosing to share at this time. Delsanra folded her hands in her lap as Zalzabar continued. "It is a dangerous and cruel world out there and I don't expect you all to do this for free, their will be just compensation, and as impressive as you all were out there against Dominus you all need to get a lot stronger if we even want to have a chance against Sapientis and his minions." Zalzabar stood dramatically, a twinkle in his eye and a large smile formed on his face.

"So what do you all say, will you help me save the world?"

Rebecca was quick to respond. "As long as I get paid, and paid well, I'm in." she replied. An interesting warrior, that one. “Aye, you can count me in.” Anaxagore added his voice to the count. Delsanra smiled. "Sure, I have nothing better to do..." She gave Zalzabar a wink.

Indeed, this would be a learning experience. Artifacts and saving the world. What could be a better combination?


TAG: @galactic-vagabond422, @Shadowsun, @greyjedi125, @Darth_Elu, @Kurisan, @Mitth_Fisto, @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

OOC: Combo between Taella and Cretaus showing how they arrived back at the dining room and their private conversation will be coming soon.

Cretaus IC:
~The Beginning of a Grand Adventure~

As Cretaus entered with Taella beside him, he could only blink in surprise as Zalzabar just popped out of existence and yet revealed he had never left where he had been sitting. Another type of magic clone then? He shook his head at himself. It was going to be some time before he got used to such things.

Glancing over at the elf woman next to him, he could only offer a quiet shrug, but then turned to look at the true Zalzabar once again as he began to speak up.

“Alright, alright, time to actually explain why you are all here.”

Or rather, why the others were there. Cretaus was still ever the intruder on this venture, but they had decided not to expel him for some reason, so he would listen all the same.

“Some of you may of heard the rumors that Sapientis has returned. This, well, this is half true. The ice half of Sapientis has awakened. Her name is Gelida. From what I’ve been able to gather from various reports is she was sealed deep underneath the Xan desert, before being disturbed by something.”

Cretaus could only furrow his brow and shift his weight around a bit nervously. Sapientis had partially awoken? The boogey man everyone everywhere talked about in whispers? But then he said her, not his, name was Gelida. Ok. Now he was just plain confused.

Was it Sapientis or Gelida? Partially awoken? Like half asleep? Questions he’d ask…someone…later. For the time being, the teen opted to stay silent as he wished not to expose how much he didn’t know.

“Some of the local orc tribes said they had seen red ryujin in the area, and a large patch of ice just appeared out of nowhere one day. Naturally this doesn’t help Xoth’ug’wajin’s disdain for ryujin.”

Red ryujin? Was that something special? Judging by the way he said it, it must be a bad thing. The long word must have been a name…orcish by the sound of it. Yep, definitely orc. He had just been talking about the tribes.

Keep up, Cretaus.

Zalzabar continued.

“Gelida fled, no one has any idea where she is. The other half, Ignis, is still sealed away, although I was not able to find any record of where he is being held. Should he also escape and the two be reunited, Sapientis would be reborn, and he would quite literally destroy everything, bending everything to his will.”

Who was Ignis? Either way, Sapientis being reborn and destroying everything needed no explanation. That much was crystal clear. Cretaus gulped quietly.

“When Sapientis fought against the Three eons ago, they forged three artifacts incase he was ever able to escape. The Crown of Caelum, The Tridgent of Pelagus, and The Sword of Tellus. These three weapons allow one to harness the power of the dragon gods themselves, and if we want to stop Sapientis, these are our best bet at doing so.”

So The Three actually forged some super powerful weapons? That was cool! Cretaus idly wondered what it would be like to wield the power of a God. To be able to do anything you wanted…

“Which is where you all come in.”

Cretaus stopped the line of thinking he was on, fantasy or not, and again brought himself into the conversation fully. Right. Sapientis needed to be stopped. He sure hoped these artifacts he was talking about were as powerful as claimed!

“I needed more than just three Knights to find these weapons, I have no idea where they are and…I…I am much weaker than I used to be…”’

The boy’s eyebrows rose. Much weaker!? How strong was he before?

“The history of Sapientis is rather spotty to say the least, so finding more about him and his origins would also be invaluable. It is a dangerous and cruel world out there and I don’t expect you all to do this for free, there will be just compensation, and as impressive as you all were out there against Dominus, you all need to get a lot stronger if we even want to have a chance against Sapientis and his minions.”

If Cretaus was truly being included this, nothing held back in relation to him, then Zalzabar had basically given the official okay to what he had been wanting to do. First suggested by Dominus and then thought up at the feast, echoed by Ne’tar.

Training. Getting stronger. Cretaus allowed himself a small little smile. Could this really be happening? A boy of nothing now suddenly unleashed into this?

“So what do you all say, will you help me save the world?”

Yes. He was being included in saving the world. The world! Talking about a dream coming to life…though, his mind flashed back to the three tests earlier; this dream was going to be a lot rougher in reality than he ever imagined it could be. That was for sure!

“As long as I get paid, and paid well, I’m in.”

“Aye, you can count me in.”

“Sure, I have nothing better to do…”

It looked like everyone was starting to give their formal agreement in joining the cause. Looking at everyone else in the room, he could only allow a small grin to form. What did he have to lose exactly? If they weren’t barring him, then…

“Yeah!” he expressed with perhaps more enthusiasm than he had meant to show, “I mean…if you’d be fine with me tagging along. I’m sure I can do something to help. Eventually.”

His embarrassment now showed, his inexperience with speaking in a group plain, but it was done. The teenager had spoken up despite himself.

Cretaus was in.

Tag: Zalzabar, Taella, Veritas, Delsanra, Rebecca, Esenma, Ne’tar, Audacia, Kaynus, & Anaxagore

@Shadowsun @Kurisan @Ktala @galactic-vagabond422 @The Jedi in the Pumas @Mitth_Fisto @Master Vo'Un'Var (For story purposes) @greyjedi125

 

Taella and Cretaus
Rendezvous in Zalzabar's Castle

Taella, atop the battlements…

In time, Gwythen finished his feast and squawked his gratitude.

Taella nodded. "You're welcome. It's pheasant. Maybe if you see my home one day I can show you."

The bird of prey took off with the bones, perhaps to add to his nest. Taella was alone again. She wondered what was happening at the feast. Her anger at Ne'tar for taking her place cooled by the wind and release of her song, she thought of returning. But, she was not really needed there. Once they set off she would find the paths as she always did.

She was curious about the castle though. What secrets did a Dragonkin Lord keep in his many rooms? There could not be many opportunities to find out in a lifetime.

Taella scooped up her bow and slung it over her shoulder, checked her longdagger in its sheath, then stood and stretched, like a cat waking from a nap.

She scampered down the stairs and began a surreptitious search along the stone corridors, trying each door at a time to see if any were unlocked.

Meanwhile…

Cretaus had begun to move cautiously through the castle in search of Taella, without the slightest clue of where he should be looking. He might have paused to consider where the woman would have gone, except he didn't know her well enough to even begin guessing at that.

He went down one hallway. Then another corridor. Another corridor. Yet another hallway. He checked doors along the length of each one. Nothing. At least not what he was looking for. Each room definitely had plenty within! Honestly, it was almost mesmerizing to see the amount of wealth this Zalzabar guy had on display. If this had been back at the city, he'd probably be considering stealing a few things...

Only the stuff that would help him survive of course! Like food! Or maybe a nice knife or something...Anything else always just led to trouble. There was some really expensive looking items, but if he took any of that, Zalzabar would likely have his guards hunt him down. Or if Cretaus tried to pawn the things off for money, they'd just take it, not trusting where he had gotten them in the first place.

He'd seen some other orphans get themselves ultimately killed trying to do things like that too. More than he'd care to admit to seeing. A little bit of restraint went a long way...

Kept you alive.

Noticing some stairs, he wondered if perhaps the elf had gone up to a higher level of the castle? Well, he hadn't run into her yet, so why not try.

With a hand on the polished railing, smooth and immaculate to the touch, he began to take each step one at a time. Marveling at the feeling of that railing the whole way.

"H-Hello?" he called out, realizing that just may help. He cleared his throat. "Um...Taella? Are you here? At all?"

Cretaus looked about the landing as he reached it.

"Taella...! You here?"

* * *​

Taella had found most rooms to be locked, which only excited her curiosity even more. But more than iron bolts guarded these places, and merely a touch to the heavy wooden doors warned her there were complicated magical wards wrought by advanced sorcerers. She was not a mage, but she knew to avoid.

Then again, certain other rooms had been unlocked, and she found a wealth of interesting items within. Mundane treasures held little interest for her - she did not understand why other races held trinkets boiled and formed from melted gold in such high value. But there were also artefacts, from right across Regnum; weapons, rings of power, enchanted gems.

Zalzabar was truly a king. She did not touch a thing that belonged to the Dragonkin Lord.

Taella paused between rooms. A sound had tickled her elven ears. Someone else was about the castle.

It was not one of the clattering knights. His steps were much lighter. But he was not trying to hide his progress. He was on the floor below her.

She heard him ascend the staircase, and withdrew into a shadowed corner. When he reached the landing her eyes widened. It was Cretaus! He was calling for her!

Taella spied upon the boy. A suit of leather armour now wrapped his lean form. It looked splendid. He looked... older.

The elf wondered why he might be searching for her, which was clearly the case - why else did he call her name? Either he had come of his own accord, noticing her absence from the feast. Or, someone had sent him.

She decided each of these possibilities was interesting. She stepped out of hiding.

"I am here, Cretaus!"

Swiveling at the sudden statement, honestly not expecting her to reply, he saw her stepping toward her from the direction of one of this floor's corners. Cretaus nearly heaved a giant sigh of relief. He had expected to be covering every nook and cranny of the entire fortress looking for the woman, possibly even failing. So though it had taken some time, it was nowhere near what he had expected!

He gave the elf a smile, enhanced by that relief more than anything.

"Hey...um, Zalzabar..."

Said you needed a friend, his mind reminded him. It wasn't just to fetch her. Of course, it was also that part that had him the most stumped. And scared.

Just what was a friend exactly? He knew of course, but he had never really experienced it for himself, so it was hard to grasp the full meaning.

He scratched the top of his head for a moment, looking a way as if embarrassed, "...Zalzabar wanted me to come find you. Is..."

Think, Cretaus, think! First thing about fixing a problem, any problem, was to know the problem. Right? Ok, let's start with that.

He turned his gaze on the woman, trying to smile again but in the end too nervous to, his words stumbling over themselves. "Is alright? Everything, I mean."

Cretaus winced, a look of almost panic coming through him. How had he managed to strike up that conversation with Rebecca earlier? Probably because he wasn't forced into it. And had just come off of a gigantic beating. Also probably had something to do with it.

"I mean," he tried again, "Is everything alright?"

The boy let out a breath as he finally managed to speak coherently.

* * *​

Taella listened as Cretaus tried to tell her what he had come for. He seemed to have trouble talking. She wondered if he had inadvertently triggered a hex on one of the locked doors.

Taella nodded sheepishly as he told her Zalzabar had sent for her, reminded of her reason for being here, her duty to the dragonkin. If Zalzabar called for her presence, she was unable to refuse.

But Cretaus was not finished. With great effort he coughed up more words.

"Is... Is alright. Everything, I mean?"

Taella cocked her head to one side, confused. He winced and tried again.

"I mean, is everything alright?"

Again, Taella was confused, though this time the question had meaning. What was he really asking her, and why? Realisation came. She had abandoned the feast, he knew something must be wrong. He was showing concern for her? A shy smile turned the corners of her mouth. Oh, if you only knew... and how could you possible make it better?

"I'm fine," she said with a sigh and perhaps a little more impatience than she had intended. Her expression softened. He had showed her kindness.

"Really, I'm alright, thank you. We should return. I must apologise to Lord Zalzabar."

She gestured for him to lead the way.

Cretaus watched as Taella seemed to attempt to deflect him. Her initial dismissal made that obvious, even to him. Her second statement saying she was alright felt more natural and he nodded about her remark about needing to return. That was why he was here after all. He found himself relieved he didn't need to convince her to return or anything. Honestly, Cretaus wasn't sure how he would have otherwise.

Nodding as she gestured for him to lead the way, he did so back down the stairs on their return trip. Granted, he only partially remembered how he got to where they were in the first place, but that only allowed him to have more time with her. So that was something!

And while he didn't need to convince her now, there was still a topic he wanted to speak to her about. It had been nagging at the back of his mind for a little while now. Her Test of Power had felt a little different from the others, more in depth or something. He felt the need to inquire about it. So he did.

"Um...Taella?" he began as they walked, "Mind if I ask you something else? I've been a little curious about it."

At the elf's sign of allowance, he asked with an expression of genuine curiosity.

"What exactly happened during your Test of Power? Yours felt different from the others for some reason."

Taella halted abruptly and regarded Cretaus suspiciously. The three tests had been very... difficult for the wood elf. She had no intention of sharing what had happened to her with anyone, ever. That the other members of the party - including Cretaus - had been there, in the first test, witnessing her torment and humiliation, was still difficult for her to come to terms with. Yes, she knew it was all illusion, but it had been so terribly real. So when she looked into Cretaus' eyes...

... she remembered the boy that had grasped her roughly and participated so gleefully in her torture... was not this Cretaus.

They do not know. None of them saw it. She had to keep reminding herself of it.

So she considered his question again. The third test, the Test of Power, had been different. She had been set free and given her weapons. But she could not best Dominus, not in a face to face fight.

She remembered the boy standing over him, his sword pointing at the knight's throat. The truth was, she was burning to know how he had managed that. It was only fair that she shared herself first, a little.

Taella took a deep breath. "It did not go well for me. The knight is powerful, and he summoned many creatures to aid him. I had to run away."

She shrugged. "I'm good at that, at least."

She shot him a look then. "I saw you standing over him. You defeated him. How did you do that?"

* * *​

Cretaus stopped the moment he noticed Taella had done so, though it took him a few seconds to realize. He turned to face her, his brow raising. Should he not have asked? Gauging by the way she was looking at him, suspiciously, it was likely he had done so.

His stomach dropped. It churned and tied itself into a knot within that instant. He knew that look. One of the most common expressions ever thrown his way in his life. And here Cretaus was, given an opportunity to be different. To be literally anything else than what he was and now alone with one of the most beautiful ladies he had ever seen and what did he do?

Cretaus had made even Taella look at him like that. Of course he did.

He almost turned around again and just trudged off at that realization, his eyes almost darkening as pessimism set in. It was like his whole face betrayed the fact that his spirit was beginning to retreat. He'd probably get lost again on his own, but who cared right then. What stopped him from doing so was her deep breath and steady response, that retreating expression pausing, coming back to focus again. Whatever reason made her suspicious of him, she had decided to answer after all. Honestly, he was surprised but listened.

Cretaus nodded slowly, remembering what bits he had seen of the area Taella had fought in before his own arrival there. Not understanding that he normally would not have been able to even see such things.

"Right...I remember. The orcs and goblins and things..." his face scrunched up in thought, "I think I saw a dead troll too. That was pretty awesome. Arrow right in the head! ...Smelled terrible though."

He gave a rueful smile at her shrugged comment and shot look, almost taken aback by the suddenness of the eyeing.

"Well, we're pretty similar I guess...I just kind of ran...got lucky. No way can I actually beat that guy. That's obvious."

It would appear he was just as equally evasive as to what truly happened as she was. Perhaps they were even more alike than they both knew. A thought struck him at that moment, letting him dare another smile at her. This one as warm and as genuine at it got, because she had literally saved his life. They all had.

"Oh! And um...thanks. For the silver rope," he gave a sheepish look as he turned to keep walking, "Saved my life, you know."

* * *​

Taella listened as he described the foes she had been fighting. Even the troll! That did not seem to make sense. Their illusions had somehow become intertwined. A moment of panic passed as she thought he might have also been in her first illusion. Stop it, she told herself. If he knew about that he would have betrayed it by now.

She grinned as he spoke of the smelly troll.

"Yes," she said. "Their stink is quite unbearable."

Then he said he had got lucky. She frowned at that, but before she could retort he had one more thing to say, about a silver rope? Taella laid a hand gently on his shoulder as he turned to walk away.

"Wait. I do not believe that," she said. "It is not just luck. You must have shown amazing resolve. You must have turned and faced him at some point. I don't know why, Cretaus, but fate is watching you. There are ancient magics in this world no-one understands. If you were not worthy, you would never have put Dominus on his back. You found a way."

She was surprised at her own words then. That was what Dominus had said to her, too. Maybe Cretaus was right. Maybe they were alike. She shook her head and remembered her other question.

She put her hands on her hips, "And what silver rope are you talking about?"

Cretaus paused as the woman laid a hand on his shoulder. He almost wanted to shiver from the touch. Granted, the leather armor got in the way, but nevertheless he wasn't used to such actions. His eyes may or may not have instinctively darted to her hand before going back to her face.

He thought about the words she gave him, offering a slight shrug in the end. "I...guess. You would know more about magic than me. Today was the first time I really experienced any of it first hand. I don't feel like I ever faced him though, just kind of...took advantage of an opening at the end. Made him tired and wore him down. Kind of had to at the end anyway, I mean...there wasn't anywhere left to run at that point. If he wasn't tired, I was done for..."

Cretaus did shiver then, shaking his head at the thought, but looking back at the woman as she asked her question. He blinked, slightly surprised. He figured she would know what he was talking about, maybe forgot due to everything going on.

"Um, I assumed it was yours anyway. Looked like it was connected to an arrow," he eyed her carefully, "You know...in the pit wall? On the way down."

Cretaus was quiet a moment before he put a hand on the back of his neck, a little embarrassed at his own weakness.

"Yeah, I was...falling. No way out, was completely dead for sure. Either I was going to hit the ground or Dominus was going to eat me," he looked up with a slight humorless chuckle and offered some clarification, "He had changed into his dragon form at that point. Why is beyond me, not like I could do anything to him as it was. Anyway, at the last second, I caught sight of that silver rope and managed to catch on. Stopped my fall and surprised Dominus, he went flying right past me. He thought I was dead too, no doubt about it."

Dropping his hand, he gave another half shrug, trying to look up into her face but having trouble. He was a guy, he needed to have been able to fight the Knight off. So admitting this running away and barely living stuff hurt. Stung even. But truth was truth and he wouldn't hide it since she asked.

"Anyway, from there I was able to drop to the bottom without dying, even though I was stuck between Dominus and the other dragon Dominus," he managed to a quick glance at her for another clarification, "The one that had chased you into that crack in the wall. It was still trying to push through. Blocked my escape, but somehow...here I am."

Taella listened and admired Cretaus’ self-deprecating manner. That was a refreshing change to some of the other members of the party. Then he described the silver rope attached… to her arrow!

“Oh, yes!” she grinned. “That is the gossamer bolt! You really are lucky, then. The magic fades with those after only a short time.”

She giggled as she realised she had contradicted her own statement about luck. Then she remembered the pit wall and her own descent, the dragon chasing her down. She eyed the boy with ever more respect. Next, he told her Dominus had changed into a dragon to fight him, too. The Ryujin only did that when extremely provoked.

Taella exhaled. The more she found out about Cretaus, the more amazed and respectful she became. He did not yet realise his own feats.

“Here we are…” she echoed his last words.

Taella stepped closer to him. “Cretaus, you are a great Lord. You just do not realise it yet. Consider me at your service.”

She bowed low before him.

Cretaus allowed another smile as Taella grinned. Gossamer bolt, huh? He took in the elf's words about how the magic fades after a short time and that he was indeed, truly lucky. The slight contradiction there was amusing, but he agreed with her readily. She'd hear no arguments from him. Fading magic or not, he was lucky to have even grabbed onto it in the first place!

Her following giggle was cute. It made his smile turn into a little grin of his own. This woman....Taella. She was nothing like he had expected her to be. It was almost like she was of similar age to him, not quite, but closer than it outwardly appeared. It was truly a revolutionary experience to have someone giggle because of him and not, well, the usual.

At her last words, his grin faded into a look of confusion. When she bowed, he just stood there staring at her like a great fool. Uh, what was he supposed to do in this situation? And great lord? Was she out of her mind?

'I would think I am at your service..."

But before he could get any further, Zalzabar suddenly appeared out of nowhere!

"Are there you are my children! Come, come now the real Zalzabar would like to speak with you both!"

He then whizzed ahead somehow, gesturing them to follow behind. At least he no longer needed to worry about finding his way back. Letting out a small sigh, he turned and began following Zalzabar back to the Dining Hall with Taella. His mind was a little muddled on the return and he wasn't quite sure what else he wanted to say. Well, except for one thing.

"Taella?" he waited till she looked at him as they walked through the castle, "I...thanks again. For...For talking with me. Aside from the Knights during the tests, which don't count, you and Rebecca are really the only ones to ever do that. So. Thank you."

Cretaus mumbled quieter and quieter as he talked on, nervous and yet again embarrassed over himself. By the time he was finished, his mouth was finally shut up tight. He wasn't sure what more could be said and he didn't really trust himself to say anything more. Not at this time.

Taella glanced at Cretaus as he thanked her, his voice falling almost into a whisper. She wondered why he was so nervous. He had wrestled dragons and defeated the Knight of Power! In truth, she felt like thanking him. The talk had been good for her too, to remind her of what had been achieved in passing the trials, and what lay ahead of them. Her heart softened as he admitted to her he was in need of friends.

Well, I will certainly change that, she decided, and smiled back at him.

Up ahead, the doors to the Dining Hall once again loomed. They entered together.

@Darth_Elu @Shadowsun

 

[OOC: Apologies for double post - catching up!]

Taella
The Great Hall

Taella offered Cretaus a last meaningful glance as they entered the hall then went their different ways to their places.

The wood elf slinked to her seat largely unnoticed. She brought up her knees to her chest and rested her chin upon them. Her delicately pointed elven eyes darted about the hall, taking in the situation and countenance of the others.

Kaynus looked furious about something. She quailed at the rage simmering there. The warrioress with the blood-stained face looked dishevelled, like she had been fighting someone. The scowl she wore told Taella that fight was not yet over.

Taella made careful surveys of Delsanra and Esenma, the dragonkin sitting either side of her. The beautiful, powerful beings seemed to be highly amused and enjoying the feast. She dared not look at these mages too long, for fear of attracting their attention.

She did not spare a glance for the stupid orc.

Finally, she let her gaze wander to Anaxagore. She sighed, admiring him from afar for a moment. Then Zalzabar spoke.

As he described the rise of Gelida, Taella worried for a moment they were meant to travel to middle of Xan - orc country! But then the Dragonkin Lord described the three treasures they would need to find. The Crown of Caelum, The Tridgent of Pelagus, and The Sword of Tellus. Zalzabar also admitted he did not know where to find them.

Taella considered this. She wondered if the dragonkin would have some ideas of where to look. She personally suspected Xan was (unfortunately) a good place to start. Some of the ancient Treekin of Loreth may have memories going back far enough to recall something useful...

But the Treekin were not the kind to allow introductions to outsiders.

Taella picked at a bunch of grapes as Zalzabar continued. He was a strange one; so powerful and majestic one moment, then rambling like a halfling the next.

He ended with the exhortation, "So what do you all say, will you help me save the world?”

One by one, the others affirmed their allegiance. Taella watched Cretaus do the same. She was quietly pleased by that.

When Zalzabar's gaze rested upon her, she sat up properly and nodded.

"I am at your service, My Lord."

TAG: @Shadowsun @Ktala @galactic-vagabond422 @The Jedi in the Pumas @Mitth_Fisto @greyjedi125

 

Kaynus Allbright IC:
~Dining Room, Zalzabar’s Castle~

He continued to sit, restrained by lightning, in his chair as he stared at Delsanra for her recent comment. Though the tilting of Zalzabar’s head in his direction and the feeling of his renewed gaze caused Kaynus to look back at him instead.

The man’s eyes flashed and his calm words, with their undercurrent of caution, forced even he to close his mouth and have his lips thin. He was powerful, he knew this to be true, but even he knew Zalzabar was still stronger than him.

For now at least.

“Do you know who else saw themselves as the Heir to the Three?”

Another who dared claim his title? His eyes held onto Zalzabar’s own in anticipation of this charlatan.

“Sapientis.”

Kaynus blinked. That…was not the name he had expected. The implications in the meaning of this bit of trivia did not escape him. A slight (Slight!) gulp in his throat was made.

“I would choose your words carefully, and take Delsanra’s advice. But to answer your question, yes your room, along with everyone else’s is prepared.”

Kaynus, while still simmering, decided perhaps it was wise after all to remain silent for the time being. He could always bring up his reservations to Zalzabar privately later, perhaps then he would listen to some reason?

Still that fact about Sapientis unnerved him.

Deeply.

“You have much left to learn my boy, particularly in biding your tongue. But I must admit you did show exceptional strength out there, I have never quite seen a breath like yours. Do not speak out of line again.”

Despite his irritation at everything going on, the sudden compliment and the banishing of the restraints, caused a smile to appear on his face. He wanted to boast about exactly what his breath could do, but decided perhaps he should keep to that idea of silence.

Mainly because of Zalzabar. The woman was lucky he was there in his own estimations.

He idly rubbed his arms at the feeling of the now gone chains, before remembering his Test of Power and the attack he had made on Dominus. A little smirk appeared again as he simply forced himself to begin finally eating at last. Yes. His dragon form and all the power it contained truly were something to behold! They were blessed to have born witness to it at all.

“Well, Zalzabar. This is a most .. interesting start of things. There is so much here, that I’m sure I could lose myself within your libraries. But that is a different matter. Will we rest first, before we come to the reason for this gathering?”

Hmph. Who cared for books? Strength was all that mattered. Kaynus ignored the woman as he continued eating.

“There will be time for rest, and I understand your journey must of been a long and hard one, but I hope you don’t mind indulging a old man’s rambles for a little bit?”

The man laughed and allowed more lightning to crackle in his hair. The display was impressive, but Kaynus did have to wonder about the man a bit. He was far more eccentric than he had realized. Could he really be any help at all?

His thoughts dwelled on the chains again, a slight sour look on his face again as his pride felt a pang once more. There was power with the oddity, so for now he would be tolerated.

That was when Anaxagore returned and began to quietly eat as well across from him. Kaynus’ eyes narrowed at the man, but said nothing. In his mind, that one was already marked. He had dared to stand up to him for no good reason and Kaynus’ memory was not poor. He would remember and when the time came…

He would regret having done so.

Kaynus kept eating, averting his gaze from the two he currently despised, while he ruminated upon the fact that Sapientis had also considered him the Heir to the Three. Clearly he was wrong and Kaynus was the rightful heir.

He had been told he was the Heir. It wasn’t like he had just summoned up the opinion himself! So this made it obviously true.

More thoughts and memories dwelled in the recesses of his mind and a look too fast for anyone to fully catch came and went on his face.

It was true, right?

His stomach seemed to clench uncomfortably and he set down his fork, just staring off to the side now. In time everyone else that had left seemed to return and Zalzbar made a motion as if to start speaking.

Kaynus finally looked back at him, focusing solely on him. He wasn’t sure what to think if he looked at the others again currently.

“Alright, alright, time to actually explain why you are all here. Some of may have heard the rumors that Sapientis has returned. This, well this is half true. The ice half of Sapientis has awakened. Her name is Gelida. From what I’ve been able to gather from various reports is she was sealed deep underneath the Xan desert, before being disturbed by something.”

Kaynus’ eyes widened. Sapientis was beginning to stir, or rather half? He had heard some rumors, but to actually hear of it…Then that meant…

“Some of the local orc tribes said they had seen red ryujin in the area, and a large patch of ice just appeared out of nowhere one day. Naturally this doesn’t help Xoth’ug’wajin’s disdain for ryujin.”

He couldn’t care less about the orc and his foolish disdain. It wouldn’t matter when a Ryujin’s foot was stomped over his face. Specifically, his. Still. The red ryujin. They had done it. They…

Kaynus’ face seemed to brood further.

“Gelida fled no one has any idea where she is. The other half, Ignis, is still sealed away, although I was not able to find any record of where he is being held. Should he also escape and the two be reunited, Sapientis would be reborn, and he would quite literally destroy everything, bending everything to his will.”

This could not be allowed to happen. If he was going to rule over Regnum, Sapientis must be prevented from being reborn! That or he would have to prove himself even more powerful than him…To do so meant getting stronger. Much stronger.

“When Sapientis fought against the Three eons ago, they forged three artifacts in case he was ever able to escape. The Crown of Caelum, The Trident of Pelagus, and The Sword of Tellus. These three weapons allow one to harness the power of the dragon gods themselves, and if we want to stop Sapientis these are our best bet at doing so.”

There it was! The path to defeating Sapientis after all! He would train, of course, but ultimately his Fate would be realized when they completed the search for these artifacts. And they would succeed, he had no doubt.

The moment he wore the Crown of Caelum, with the Trident of Pelagus clutched in his left hand and the Sword of Tellus in his right, Sapientis slain at his feet; all would know the truth. And all would bow before him!

“Which is where you all come in. I needed more than just three Knights to find these weapons, I have no idea where they are and…I…I am much weaker than I used to be…”

Hard to believe considering a few moments ago.

“The history of Sapientis is rather spotty to say the least, so finding more about him and his origins would also be invaluable. It is a dangerous and cruel world out there and I don’t expect you all to do this for free, there will be just compensation, and as impressive as you all were out there against Dominus, you all need to get a lot stronger if we even want to have a chance against Sapientis and his minions.”

The Throne of Regnum would be just compensation. Everything else was merely an echoing of where his mind had already gone, so he nodded along at Zalzabar’s words.

“So what do you all say, will you help me save the world?”

Some of the others responded, he barely listened to who or what they said. They didn’t matter in the end, they would serve their purpose. His grin was back in place as he himself stood up, matching Zalzabar’s dramatic posture.

“Naturally! You have unveiled my path to realize my destiny, Zalzabar. I thank you for this!”

His Fate was now starting to click into place at last. How he had longed for this moment! Oh, how the others would tremble in awe…

Tag: Zalzabar, Delsanra, Anaxagore, Audacia, Ne’tar, Esenma, Veritas, Rebecca, Cretaus, & Taella @Shadowsun @Ktala @greyjedi125 @Mitth_Fisto @The Jedi in the Pumas @galactic-vagabond422 @Kurisan @Master Vo'Un'Var (For storytelling purposes)

 

Chapter II
The Crimson Knights
​

Zalzabar smiled noting those that had responded thus far. He even gave a smirk when Kaynus gave his own agreement to join him, a little ostentatious perhaps but welcome nonetheless. He nodded along as each individual agreed to come along. He turned toward Esenma and Ne'tar his eyes sparkling with a boyish intensity as he awaited their response. But their would be no time for such things.

A wild fire lit itself in the hearts of the eleven that were gathered in the dining hall. They were all overcome by an intense, passionate aura. As if their blood was beginning to boil...the twin doors they had all entered through erupted into flame, the doors quickly turning to ash. Two figures emerged from the smoke a male and female both clad in red. As they entered the ceiling began to moan on the opposite side of the hall, above the fireplace. It then crashed down a large red mass descending with the rubble. A gaping maw protruded from the rubble, could this thing be a ryujin?

​

It looked more like a demon then a dragon, its red hue covered further in what only could be blood. A leg covered in yellow cloth could be seen hanging out of its mouth as it bellowed a short screech. The other two stood tall and firm, carrying themselves with an air of supreme confidence. Their eyes glazed over with a bored look.

"I have to admit I was certainly hoping it would be at least some trouble to get in here" spoke the male that had entered. He was tall, standing at almost seven feet, his features that of a man. From head to toe he was covered in a red garment. In his left hand he held a large sword, far larger than any normal human should be able to wield. How could such a weapon even be remotely practical? In his right he held a decapitated head, that of Dominus. He held it aloft gripping the severed snow elf's head by the signature white hair.

​

"I expected more of fight from the Captain of the Knights of Illusion, but perhaps to be expected from a meager clone..." He tossed the head over the dining table it landing squarely in the center. His tone was filled with bloodlust, a hunger to rip them all apart and suck the blood out of them all. The female moved closer to him, patting him on the back as she replied with an almost mocking tone.

"Come, come now dear Roger, plenty of blood here for you to spill."

​

Veritas eyes would widened at this point...could it be...no these were the Crimson Knights... he glanced back over to Audacia. They both knew all too well their capabilities. Audacia and Veritas having faced off with one of them in years past, although he was not one of the ones gathered here. They were the elite of Haugun's military a fact that some of those gathered would certainly know. Although perhaps they had thought of them more as a legend then real beings.

"Yes...blood... time to die..."
​

After this statement many things all happened at once.

The demon ryujin let out another blood curdling screech, it brought those at the table to their knees, a strong desire to clasp their hands over their ears overcoming them all, preventing them from reacting to Roger's or the unnamed female Crimson Knight's initially movements.

​

Roger's eyes shined red, in an instance he flashed to the table his sword making its way toward Cretaus, an over head swing that would cleave the boy in two. The sword came crashing down, demolishing the wooden chair that Cretaus, a millisecond ago, had been sitting in. He appeared next to Veritas who had used his magic to teleport the boy to his side. Roger looked up snarling at the Knight of Integrity. He then swung his sword over to Rebecca, who by this point would of had plenty of time to react.

While this was happening the female red knight let out a maddening laugh.

"Oh boys, so eager to rush into things" She withdrew her own sword, as she did so it ignited in a bright red flame. Then she flickered out of existence, turning into a brilliant flame. She then reappeared behind Audacia. Plunging her sword through his chest, his back arched upward in pain as he let out a groan of misery. The blood flowed down as she removed her sword, swinging it in a horizontal motion. The Knight of Courage's head fell cleanly to the floor, the rest of his corpse falling face first into the ground.

"No more illusions..."

Zalzabar winced still having not fully processed what had happened to Dominus or Audacia. In the name of the Three how had these 'knights' been able to bypass all their defenses. It did not matter, they had little interest in dispensing information.

Slowly he let out a yell, arching his body to unleash a large bolt of lightning towards the red ryujin. Lightning crackled around him in a seemingly random display. The screech of the ryujin stopped as lightning pierced into it creating several large burn marks into it, lightning coursing throughout its body. He continued this barrage as he yelled to Esenma.

​

"Esenma, Veritas! Hold off the other two! Everyone else exit through the door behind me!"

It was a rather desperate order as it was quite likely they would not be able to all get to the door in time for them all to escape. Not to mention the likely hood that they would just calmly walk out to let those three do all the fighting was highly unlikely.

TAG: @Darth_Elu @The Jedi in the Pumas @greyjedi125 @galactic-vagabond422 @Kurisan @Ktala @Mitth_Fisto

 

Esenma
-Zalzabar's Castle

Ne'tar would feel a blast a wind send him flying back forcefully to a wall near the door that Zalzabar had indicated. She could not help it. It was instinct. She had never encountered Haugun's elite, though she was familiar with their escapades and knew them to not be mere legend. They were real and they were a powerful young bunch of ryujin and more than a match for a few adepts, even individually, if the stories she heard were true. From their assault, the nerve to attack Zalzabar (even in his reduced state), and the Knights of Illusion, they were more than capable of killing most of the attendees. The instinct. The protective instinct launched her into action. She quickly spoke the words she had spoken on the bridge

"...Long last the winds of old...
And forever rest your eternal soul."

She was a step behind the female ryujin, but she flew from the table to where Audacia had once stood, two stones from her bag dropping to the ground behind her. Both of them sprung to life, their winds more aggressive than the one that was summoned on the bridge.



Her ryujin blood surged. Combat...high level combat. Her old bones cracked and popped now, but they remembered. The muscle memory, the saliva growing in her mouth, it was one of the long forgotten feelings of her youth: The taste of devouring an enemy whole. Without words or a motion, the air around her right hand began to spin at a ferocious velocity, forming a blade of wind and her elementals arms followed suit. She met the female ryujin's blade and her elementals grew in size and began to swing their blade arms at the female.

"I wish you had met me a hundred or so years ago, dear. Please don't be selfish with your elders, give me all you got now."

Tag: @greyjedi125 @Mitth_Fisto @Ktala @Darth_Elu @Kurisan @galactic-vagabond422 @Shadowsun

 

IC: Anaxagore
Seeing Red, Zalzabar’s Castle



He did not care who this 'creature' was, a name would make no difference at all. Seeing Dominus beheaded, the real Dominus, and not just a clone…sent him over the edge.

The man and the woman.

They would pay.

Anaxagore let out his own deafening dragon’s roar to cancel out the effects of the screeching demon ryujin. He called all his power, all his anger, all his anguish, all his focus, everything, he would use it all against these base creatures.

Immediately he was covered in his Dark Armor, his Great Sword flashing into existence. Three of his clones, his 'ryukin' would appear then, and they, including himself, would be wreathed in purple flames of power, augmented by his will.

Zalzabar had engaged the demon. One of his clones immediately rushed the unidentified woman, coming at her with six empowered slashes with enough power to cleave a meter deep gash within the castle walls. It meant to slice her from both shoulders to hip and from head to tailbone, right down the spine. Combined with Lady Esenma's powerful Wind Elemental, he doubted the odious woman would have any chance of achieving her scheme, other than paying for what she'd done to Audacia.

At that same instant, Anaxagore and another clone engaged the male, assaulting him with furious empowered flurries, their swords moving at such high speeds that only trails of purple luminescence could be seen. One tying him up with powerful attacks, forcing him to defend, while the other attacked through the openings created by the counterpart.

It was a vicious tag team that only two individuals in as many centuries had been able to contend with - and just barely.

The third clone vaulted over the table, smoothly landing next to Veritas and Cretaus, even as it looked to Taella, Ne’tar and Delsanra, its armored head swiveling to see if there were any other dangers unaccounted for, its flame imbued Dark Sword held in a guarding position.

“To the exit.” He declared in no uncertain terms. “I will guard the rear.” Zalzabar had commanded as much.

Indeed, he would defend them, to the last if necessary.

The real Anaxagore turned a flurry pass into powerful frontal chop, the attack fully imbued with purple fire and his dragon strength. He was fully intent on locking swords with the murderous intruder and have his clone run his sword him, in through his kidneys and out his throat.

Blood would follow blood.

A Protector did not flee or abandon his host irresponsibly. Holding these foul attackers and seeing the others to safety was a feat he could attempt to accomplish, at least in his mind, even if these two were indeed Red Ryujin.

“You will pay for that….” He hissed vehemently through his armor. There was no holding back.

So much for a moment of rest.


Tag: @Shadowsun, @Kurisan, @Mitth_Fisto, @Darth_Elu, @Ktala , @galactic-vagabond422 , @The Jedi in the Pumas

OOC: Edited to include Esenma's actions

 

OOC: I don't consider this a 'true' update, just acting as if I were a player if that makes sense...

IC: Roger the Red
Zalzabar's castle

Roger snarled as his blow towards Rebecca was blocked by one of Anaxagore's clones. His eyes glowing red. Blood, he needed blood, to bathe in it, consume it, be one with it.

Anaxagore had severely underestimated his opponent's capabilities, he would soon come to realize he had never fought an opponent like this. Roger spent a few moments deflecting both the blows from the clone and the original. A bored dissatisfaction on his face as he did so. He then pulled out a small sword breaker from his side, catching the clone of Anaxagore's blade in the teeth, a sharp twist leading to the adept ryujin's blade breaking. With his left he continued to deflect the real Anaxagore blows.

​

Roger dropped the dagger, flipping the large sword to his right and cleaving it through the now defenseless clone, dispelling it. The lack of blood was infurating. The heat was rising, his blood was boiling. His eyes flashed again. He let out a terrible roar as he back handed the real Anaxagore, sending him hurtling across the room and crashing agasint the far wall, the opposite side of the exit.

Roger then brought his bloodshot gaze down upon Rebecca bring his sword down with a thunderous slash as he did so.

"I want to see you bleed little one"

TAG: @greyjedi125 @galactic-vagabond422 @anyone

IC: Elizabeth the Fire Witch
Zalzabar's Castle

The Fire Witch cackled as Esenma launched herself in her direction. She brought up her fire blade matching it against the wind blade bearing down in her direction.

"My, my it is a pleasure to meet you Esenma, Daughter of Caelum. Derius sends his regards!" She let out another cackle, her sneer sure to leave the wind mage frazzled. The wind swords of the elementals quickly bearing down themselves. She gave Esenma a wink as she phased out of existence.

She appeared behind clone Anaxagore had summoned bring her blade in quick swipe down slicing through the illusion. She then laughed as one of the elementals came crashing down on her once more. Again she blinked out of existence. This time appearing above Esenma and the Elemental's.

"Bullseye" She brought her thumb flexing against her fingers, as if building up energy and then unleashed a torment of fire, cascading down in a large enough area to envelop the two elementals and Esenma. The winds that made up the two elementals would be blasted away, but Esenma was far more crafty.

The Fire Witch dropped down, scanning to see where her opponent had gone off to.

TAG: @greyjedi125 @The Jedi in the Pumas @ anyone else

 

IC: Ne'tar
Zalzabar's Castle - Where we did not start the fight. . . or the fire

Ne'tar look at others as they accept this. They accept it all in stride to pledge themselves. Ne'tar wonder, do they know what mean to do such a thing? Ne'tar not sure they do, this is generational quest task. Not to mention Ne'tar had to fight no spit take at Seri-Seri. . .that devil of a being being back. Even in part. Ne'tar leave desert Xan for a couple years and whole thing goes to ICE! Like cold and snow and ICE! Ne'tar shudder at thought of such a thing in the desert in mid-day. Night frost was one thing, but ICE?!? Ne'tar know when no good be happen. Ne'tar not sure he enough for such a thing, no matter if not-gnome with new spiffy armor jump at chance.

Ne'tar was still young, he had prospects!

Ne'tar no get to finish own thought battle as rude couple in red burst in with clone head. Very rude couple bring pet monster down chimney. Red as well. Ne'tar think this theme for them when they confirm it. Ne'tar also recognize name for theme group whilst clutching head as if by Noise Shaman during bad time. Ne'tar glad not have too much drink yet, for Ne'tar not sure if Ne'tar could of held it at that moment. Ne'tar not too proud to say so, though no one was asking and Ne'tar at moment unsure of voice when others talk and battle start.

Ne'tar make just reaching weapon when Ne'tar blown away. . .no Ne'tar not blown away, Ne'tar blown by door by Touchy Elder. Righteous Knight became four and one was there by him telling Ne'tar to go through Zalzy door. Ne'tar reach for handle when Ne'tar feel heavy. Heavy in the core. Ne'tar heavy in heart. Turning back Ne'tar roll shoulders and head atop them. "Ne'tar knew no live forever." he stated softly as he looked left. Way outta Ne'tar league. Down? Ne'tar see sword breaker glisten. Not Ne'tar league either. Ne'tar figure that leave pretty puppy lizard. Still, Ne'tar no do nothing.

Humming an Orc battle chant Ne'tar charge forward. Leap on table like Proud Zealot. Throw pudding bowl at reappearing fire lady. Throw plate with large bird carcass at Sword Breaker. Then Ne'tar where Ne'tar want to be, Ne'tar grab drink bowl and Ne'tar hurl at pretty lizard puppy! Ne'tar throw flaggons of ale for good measure. Ne'tar no know do any good, but Ne'tar figure Ne'tar do something. Ne'tar only hope not turn back into Ryujin form now, Ne'tar not so good throw things or grab things that way.

TAG: @Shadowsun , @greyjedi125 , @The Jedi in the Pumas , @Darth_Elu , @galactic-vagabond422 @Kurisan @Ktala