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Post by Moondust on Oct 1, 2010 16:32:37 GMT -5
"That.... Was confusing..." Shikahn mumbled, as the shadow creature lay dead on the floor. "Well, Nightwing now knows how we fight. That's not good..."
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Post by Forlin-Langor-Chulain on Oct 1, 2010 21:20:11 GMT -5
Leopold was pretty sure he knew why it hadn’t spoken to Reyx; the golden-coloured dragon seemed to be Nightwing’s nemesis, seeing as it was he that Nightwing had sought. “It just means we will have to make a new strategy,” he said. “Or fight harder. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” He looked to Reyx, unsure of what they should do now. He would follow his, and Shikahn’s, lead. They knew more about the realm, and about this conflict, and things in general. He just simply happened to be there.
He hoped though, that there were a chance that they would get to know each other. These were the first other dragons that he'd met...that didn't want to kill him, that is.
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Post by Moondust on Oct 5, 2010 1:19:28 GMT -5
(Changing the colour because Maroon looks horrible on the Andalite skin) Shikahn slowly replayed the events that had just happened. "Leopold, I thank you for interefring when you did. You too Reyx. I was hesitant on Nightwing's offer. I hate to think there's something inside me telling me to join him." She kneeded the ground beneath her, in her silent frustraition, trying to understand why she'd even pondered of the thought of joining the Darkness that had destroyed her fammily.
"Those Shadow creatures were actually quite strong. And I don't think that they're the strongest ones out there. We need to prepare for this War that is coming. We need to sharpen our magic skills, and perfect our techniques on destroying the Darkness." Shikahn suggested.
But then she pondered over what had happened to the Liwosy, that were touched by the Dark Water. "And what was that, when Nighting founded hatred and evil in those innocent people?" Shikahn found it rather disstressing, to say the least. She snorted, billowing white smoke from her nostrils. "But another thing.. When the tree turned them back... Is there a way we could do it too?"
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Post by Galanor Rosewind on Oct 5, 2010 13:34:03 GMT -5
"I don't know," Reyx said, pondering. "According to legend... this is the very source of all good magic in this world. The very heart of all good, and all purity. The Great Tree is spawned directly from the source of all positive energy. So it is no wonder that it was able to purify the taint that Nightwing had let loose." He fell silent, pondering.
"Also according to legend," he said darkly, "Nightwing was spawned in an opposite fashion. He was born at the source of the negative energy on Knoldrin. And just as the Tree has absorbed huge amounts of the good energy that flows from this place... Nightwing has done the same, with the taint that poisoned whatever land from which he came. In essence... he is the very incarnation of evil."
And I fear that he shall never be stopped, for evil is never completely vanquished, he thought to himself, but didn't let on to them.
"Tonight, we need to get some rest. Nightwing tested us. He was merely testing our strength. And he made it seem as though we had nearly defeated him... but I fear that it was a ploy. He is much stronger than what he displayed on this night."
"Come," an Iisowy Sage said. "The feast has been prepared. The three of you shall stay in the Great Tree tonight, in one of the dragon-keeps. Tomorrow, you should set off on your journey." She looked up to Reyx. "You know where you should go. Contact the Knights. They must prepare."
Reyx bowed his massive, scaled head. "Agreed. The Knights must be warned."
"Follow me," the Iisowy said, turning and walking toward the forest, away from the river and the Great Tree. They were expected to follow. Reyx caught the scent of roasting meat and vegetables, which was carried toward them on the wind. It made Reyx salivate to think about it. Dragons didn't have to eat much, but he had not eaten since he had awakened.
"Come on," he said to the others.
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Post by Moondust on Oct 6, 2010 12:15:41 GMT -5
Shikahn could smell all the wonderous foods being set out for a feast. But Shikahn has no appitite, she did not hunger for roasted meats and countless flawless fruits and vegetables. She seeked only the simple berry, ocasionally a well earned rabbit, roasted on a spit with a few herbs. But she had no appitite for this either. Shikahn had just been in the face of true evil, and hesitated on the fact of joining it.
Not one for the crowds and the hustle bustle of a feast, Shikahn padded off, as quiet as a ghost, and she slipped away unoticed like a shadow.
Shikahn wandered into the forest, scenting the air. Wild animals scurried in the night around her. They normally swarmed around Syah, but not Shikahn. Seeing a rather tall tree, she scaled it effortlessly.
She was up on the canopy of the forest. "I'm on top of the world." Shikahn said into the nightly winds. Shikahn sighed. "Who are you? Who is my mother?" Shikahn shouted to the wind.
She closed her eyes, and her feathery ears flattened. But then, a sound riding on the wind came to her. "Sierra..."
Shikahn started with fright. She scanned the area. All she could see was endless forest, and a hearty golden glow from the area of the banquet. "Sierra... Follow your heart..." Shikahn did this. She followed her trust down the tree, as if something was guiding her. After a while of a few crisscrossing paths, Shikahn stumbled across something...
Two skeletons... Of dragons...
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Post by Forlin-Langor-Chulain on Oct 6, 2010 16:29:11 GMT -5
“Leopold. I think you for interfering when you did. [...] I hate to think there’s something inside telling me to join him.”
“I have to admit, a dark side of me was drawn to the offer,” he said. “Or rather, I stopped myself before I could let it even consider joining Nightwing. The innocent must be protected, and never would joining Nightwing help those innocent people I want to protect.” He sighed through his nostrils, but then smiled. “It takes true strength to admit you were tempted,” he told her.
Then she spoke of how they needed to prepare for the world, and started asking about things that were pretty much over Leopold’s head. She and Reyx, speaking about the tree. Leopold listened with interest, although the scent of fresh meat was rather distracting. He would likely go on an eating spree; after all, he had just been through a lot. Nothing better to distract the mind than good tasting food.
As Shikahn wandered off, he remained with Reyx. The girl probably needed some alone time, and that’s why she had padded off. He looked to Reyx. “I never exactly had a chance to get out much,” he said. “Meaning, I don’t really know much about this place except for the village where I lived. So...anything you could tell me about this place, anything you could teach me would be great.”
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Post by Galanor Rosewind on Oct 8, 2010 3:44:34 GMT -5
When Syrah began to turn away from them, leaving the procession, he was turned back by a Xyxx Sage. He shook his head. “She is finding herself. Leaver her be; she will return to us. She is seeking her own answers.” Reyx had faith in the Sages. They had never failed him – or to his knowledge, anyone else – before. Reluctantly, he returned his steps to follow Leopold deeper into the forest. He listened well to his questions, nodding.
“This is Ninevale, this particular city,” Reyx began to explain. “It is the very heart of the great forest nation of Derinth. The crater-lake in the center of the city where the Great Tree grows is said to be the very source of all the positive energy on our planet. As you may know, the asteroid that killed the humans so long ago, the space-rock, is the thing responsible for carrying the force of Magic to this world. It is also said that when the space-rock struck one of our moons, as there once were three, you know, that the space-rock cracked cleanly in half. And when it was cleaved in half as such, so was the magic force that it carried. The tiniest fracture on its surface in the right spot was enough for the warring polarity of the asteroid to force itself apart. The two halves fell, infusing the planet with their power. And this Tree spawns from the very source of the energy of Order. It is said – and feared – that Nightwing is the exact opposite of this claim.”
“Ninevale,” he continued, “Is the place where the Sage Council resides. The Sages are a group of people, made up of all the races, that possess wisdom and magical prowess, beyond that of their age, or their race. The rest of the people of Prox, when they need spiritual guidance, come here for help. And though the Sages do answer most questions that they are asked, often they raise more questions than they answer.”
Before them, a massive building rose up. Reyx remembered it well, and it stood out primarily because it was not made of the living trees, like everything else in the city. It was seemingly an ancient building, presumably older even than the Sages themselves, made of cracked, aged stone. Its intricately craved surface, however, had lost none of its beauty; the strong enchantments upon the stone has lost none of their potency, and the building was still in good repair. Its massive marble doors were large enough to allow passage to the largest of Dragons. Indeed, for the Dragons were the creatures that had created this place. The doors were carved with flowing designs of animals and trees and other plants. The nature-art raced around the outer walls of the whole building. Inside, the place was ablaze with fire. Huge, long marble tables were laid out with food. Many of the chairs were large, and shaped for Dragon use. More recent additions were the chairs that most other races used for their comfort, and at the head of the giant, open room, there was a magnificent black marble table. Two chairs of each kind were lined up behind the table – the places where the Sage Council would sit.
The two Dragons were gestured to sit, near the front of the room before the Council. Before they would eat, one of the Council members were to address the pair.
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Post by Moondust on Oct 8, 2010 11:25:53 GMT -5
Next to the skeletons, lay a mesage, engraved geep into the earth. It was almost illegable, but Shikahn somehow knew the words. "Here we lie, side by side. When good and bad collide. Not from war, but from love, we came from the above, each fallen into his trap, river of blood he laps. He lies the heratige of two, ones who never knew. One is a half and one is a wild, kindeness to them has been mild. Never shall he see his kin, only in his own sin, guarded by the one he hates, this is the punishment that is great." This confused Shikahn immensly. "I wonder what that was about?" Shikahn asked herself. She decided she would tell the others about her find, after she had gathered as much of the goodness around this place as she could. Striding through the wonderous beauty of the forest, but her mind could not come off the fact about the skeletons. So, Shikahn returned to site of the skeletons. The tree behind them looked old and worn, with splotches of darkness on it. She looked closer at the tangle of roots, until she noticed something. "There's a nest in here!" Shikahn exclaimed. After giving a quick squeak of excitement, she put her nose to the floor, and found many a tangle of old smells. She could smell many a thing... Like four... No five dragons. Interested, she smelled around the nest. One of the egg's smell reminded her of Leopold. Another reminded her of herself. "Strange..." Shikahn mumbled to herself.
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Post by Forlin-Langor-Chulain on Oct 12, 2010 3:36:40 GMT -5
Leopold, of course, understood; he wouldn’t himself have pursued. He hoped that she would be alright. He was hoping to get to meet her, but in her current state...well, that was just too depressing to think about. Instead, he had time to spend with Reyx. He listened as the bronze dragon told him of the legends surrounding Ninevale. He listened silently, nodding his head, focusing his gaze mostly on Reyx, to show his understanding, and that he was listening. He liked knowing things, and of course, learning new things.
He gazed upon the ancient building, marveling at it. He loved old things, really, and hoped that someday he could travel the land and see all kinds of things, old and new. But as for old things, there was just some sort of serene feel that he couldn’t quite describe, but that he liked. And the size...well, he certainly wasn’t going to feel claustrophobic in here.
He took a seat, waiting for the Council member to address them; he wondered what they were going to talk about. Probably more praise. Leopold wasn’t used to that, having been a recluse of sorts. It was probably apparent, in that he wasn’t very socially inept.
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Post by Galanor Rosewind on Oct 13, 2010 1:57:16 GMT -5
The interior of the grand building was lined with tall pillars, all in the shape of great dragons. Each dragon had distinct features; no two were the same. It could be guessed, by the sheer size and power of this building, in addition to its architecture and the way it was hewn - claw-and-tooth marks were evident if one looked closely enough - that this ancient structure had been built long ago by Dragons. And now, a Sleii Sage rose to address the people that filled the mighty room.
"Guests, welcome," she spoke. "Welcome to the mighty Dragon Hall. It was built eons ago by the claws and flame of our oldest brothers, and it still stands to this day in their memory." She gazed with all three eyes open at the assembly before sitting back in her chair.
A male Iisowy rose to address them. "We gather here, not to honor Reyx Greatwind's arrival.... but to acknowledge it. His awakening bids ill, not good. It is not a thing to be celebrated. Instead, it is a thing to be taken into caution."
"His arrival can mean only one thing: Evil shall again arise, and soon. We have little time to prepare."
Reyx rose from his seat. "Then, wise Sage Council, what should we do? Where to we seek to go now? The secret cannot be kept from them now. Every creature with the will to fight must be prepared to do so. We have to--"
"Patience, my friend," a male Ankylian Sleii said, raising his tough-nailed hand. "We shall guide you, but the descision is yours alone."
"You shall journey to Viistrom Dji," a large female dragon came. Her green scales sparkled in the mystic light. "You shall seek out the Knights. They will guide you from there."
Reyx nodded, and sat. And then the large dishes that were already laid before the people opened, their lids melting away to reveal their contents. There was nearly any food one could imagine on any given table, to be taken at leasure. And Reyx's favorites: roasted leg of Derinthian giant deer, with roasted jung squash and grilled kethla stalks, and a large tankard of fentarn-fruit juice with just a dash of sweet fek honey-wine.
But Reyx was not hungry. Well, he was - in fact, he was starving. But his thoughts were on Syrah. He excused himself from the table - no one stopped him from getting up, and he left the building after telling Leopold that he was going to be right back. He waqs sure he'd return in time to taste that wonderfully prepared meat...
---
A few minutes later, he was deep in the forest, tracking the footprints of his small friend. The trail was not hard to follow through the soft earth, and with his longer strides, he could catch up to her easily. The trail dissapeared up a tree, but then returned. He found his small friend upon the site of a grave. He quickly read the inscription. It was a prophecy, of that much he was sure. And the two dead dragons... the nest... what did it mean?
"Shikahn?" he asked softly.
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Post by Moondust on Oct 13, 2010 11:40:31 GMT -5
Shikahn jumped into the air like a startled cat. But as soon as she realised it was Reyx, she calmed again.
"Hey Reyx...." She said, kinda creeped out by what she had found. She guessed he was going to ask what she had found, so she began to tell him anyway.
"Well, yeah... You can see what I found. A nest, with two dead adult dragons beside it. And by my judgement, they both look like female dragon skeletons." Shikahn explained. She pondered for a moment.
"This place feels fammiliar..."
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Post by Forlin-Langor-Chulain on Oct 14, 2010 1:57:18 GMT -5
Leopold, albeit hungry, had been taking in the sights with great fascination. Fascinating especially were the statues of the dragons. It was interesting, seeing how different they were to what he looked like.
He listened to the people who spoke. He was especially fascinated by the female dragon. He was quiet, though; he really didn't have anything to say, other than what he said: "I will accompany you, Reyx," he said. Something inside him compelled him to go. And he was somewhat excited. This was all a brand new experience to him.
He took a little bit of everything, eager to try new foods. Still, he wondered about Syrah. "I understand," he told Reyx. He couldn't help but feed himself, though--he was hungry.
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Post by Galanor Rosewind on Oct 14, 2010 11:52:58 GMT -5
"Familiar," he said, words drifting off. "Do you remember this place?"
These bones were old. At least, they were old enough to potentially be Syrah's parents - except they were both female dragons. Two females presiding over one nest? That was unusual to begin with. But what had killed them? Why were they laying unburied and unhonored? Why had they carved the message into the earth.... a prophecy? It was strange. He too investigated the nest. But time had long since faded the once colorful eggshells and swept away the scents. They were faint, but he couldn't make sense of them.
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Post by Moondust on Oct 15, 2010 1:50:11 GMT -5
Shikahn sniffed round... She could smell a scent, a scent of Darkness.... And a Liwosy. She continued round the nest, nose to the ground. Then she found a flower... The most beautiful looking one ever. It had been uprooted and planted in that spot, and it seemed relativly new. The scent of the liwosy was all over it, and realtivly fresh too.
"Strange..." Shikahn mumbled.
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Post by Galanor Rosewind on Oct 15, 2010 8:38:40 GMT -5
Reyx caught sight of the flower that Shikahn had found. He walked carefully around the massive bones, and stopped to rest beside her. He nodded, looking at the blossom, which was full of beauty and magnificence.
He nodded to himself. "So," he said softly. "Perhaps they do not lie unhonored after all."
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