I want to start a RPG so, here goes...

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

Upon my eyrie, far from mortal eyes, I awake and stretch within my cave. It is cramped and my stony bed if too small. With one leaping step upon my clawed paws, I am out on a ledge, gazing down at the world, still peacefully sleeping. Dawn creeps over the moutains ahead of me, glinting on my obsidian scales. Leathery wings creak on my shoulders as muscles ripple, warming the numb nerves. My wings span at about 50 feet or so and I lash my tail a few times. It lacks a weapon being that some females of my kind do not need them; but my breath weapons are far more than adiquate when dealing with foes. I stretch as a cat; reaching out my forelegs while bending the hind. With wings outstretched and glittering and claws dredging up rock as I pull back; I yawn, my mouth gaping showing my rows of silver fangs. Now recoiling, I shut my eyes against the bright rays of the orange-red sun. Their blood-reds hues brighten slightly and flash about the forest, scanning for breakfast.

 

With one great heave of my hind legs, I am sent wheeling into the air. Black leather sails that reach out from my back catch the air warm air currents and I lazily circle above the forest. Something catches in my keen vision and I find a white mountain goat daring to climb to my ledge. Unlucky day for him. Swooping down, careening to the rocky terrain, I catch him up, unsuspecting in my large paw. He bleats uselessly and I soon devour him heedless of my flight. Landing at the base of the mountain peaks, I fold my wings in close to my lithe, sinuous body. My eyes glitter a deadly red as I focuss their piercing gaze upon an intruder. A small mortal. I cannot tell which just yet for it is out of my view, as it walked behind a rock. I do not believe it has seen me in my ultimate form just yet and I use my shape-shifting abilities to mask it.

 

I now walk out as a sort of Half-elf. Or so the mortals would deem me. My ears are long and pointed and my hair flows down my back, a golden brown wave of curls. About 5 ft 7 inches in height and lithe and slender in build, I approach this mortal. My eyes are a deep amber, brown over red to keep my true identity hidden. I pad softly across the land, making sure not to make an startling sounds. For I am not like any human or true elf I suppose and I belive I might frighten whatever is behind the rock. How can a dragon pull off a stunt as a mortal? I can nevr blend in perfectly, but that is my only folly. My shape-shifting abilities are far advanced beyond those of other Great Wyrms and for that I am named Kokuryuu Flameshifter; Black Shifter of the Conclave of Great Wyrms. But I do not expect any mortals to know this. I come from a continent out of their bounds called Lut Dracones, only known to magical creatures who know that one cannot find it; its find them.

 

Rounding the boulder, I spot the intruder and call out.

 

"Who goes there, upon my land?" I sound to gruff and mighty being that I want to be subtle and homely so I soften my tone and stomp down my pride. " I wish to know whom I must approach." I add in mullified tones. Maybe I shall be able to fight with this being, for long has it been that I've had a good battle. But I doubt a mortal can challenge the likes of me.~

 

 

 

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I guess that introduces what and who I am. Please, I'd like to continue this if someone would with me. Or i shall move it to wherever RPG's are allowed. Thank you.

 

 

 

¤Kokuryuu Flameshifter

 

Black Shifter of the Conclave of Great Wyrms;

 

Lut Dracones, Krynn

 

[Guest Tamaranis]

OOC: I'll introduce a character I've used elsewhere...

 

 

 

IC: Robby felt something odd ripple through the magic, the tiniest twitch. Just as he "inhaled" there was a slight variance in the energy flowing into him. He paused, paying close attention, trying to detect again whatever it had been.

 

 

 

No nothing, he must have imagined it. Just as he resumed walking however, a gruff voice challenged him, "Who goes there, upon my land?" Maybe he hadn't imagined it after all.

 

 

 

Robby turned to face what appeared to be a half elven woman. She was not particularly tall, perhaps as little as an inch taller than Robby. Not only that, but she was quite slim. The gruff and challenging voice coming from such a little thing was almost absurd.

 

 

 

"I wish to know whom I must approach." She added tamely, in a complete reversal of her tone. The sight of the tresspasser certainly hadn't been what caused the change in manner. Robby was completely unarmed, unless there were knives hidden on his person. He was slightly short and rather thin-boned, making him look elven, but he obviously wasn't elven, as he lacked the pointed ears. His appearance was far from intimidating.

 

 

 

Something odd was afoot no doubt, something involving a magic strong enough for Robby to detect it. Still, for Robby to distrust some one on the grounds that they possessed magic would have been absurd.

 

 

 

"Just a traveler," Robby answered, his manner quite calm, friendly even. "I'm sorry, but I didn't realize I was on private property. Perhaps if you marked the borders a little more clearly..." Edited by: Tamaranis at: 12/19/02 3:48:06 pm

[Guest Tamaranis]

The woman's behaviour was a little bit unsettling. Alternately she was going from enraged to some forced mannerism, such as meek, curious... and now she seemed to be flirting. If he had to hazard a guess, which he did, Robby would have said that she wasn't polar, but instead was deeply enraged and unsucessfully trying to mask that rage.

 

 

 

Robby realized that he'd made the mistake of assuming a pretty face went along with a similar personality, and in this case it clearly did not. It was difficult to say if this woman was dangerous, but if he had to hazard a guess, and again he did, Robby would have said she was. The magic he'd detected just before her appearance could indicate a lot of things, and most of them included the woman being a threat to his personal well being. It would be best to try and placate her, and if he failed in that, get some distance between the two of them.

 

 

 

"Again I apologize for trespassing," Robby said, going from friendly, which implied equality, to humble, which implied that he was lesser, "You certainly have a right to know the name of those who violate your borders, my name is Robby."

 

 

 

What else to reveal about himself? If this woman decided to make an attempt on his life it would probably be best to keep up the illusion of being a living thing, it had saved him more than once. Reveal his purpose? That might not be a good idea, some people seemed to get certain "notions" when they were fully aware of his purpose. How to answer her question then? A believable lie would be hard to construct, an almost-truth then.

 

 

 

"I came here seeking only knowledge." Robby said, "Hazardous places tend to be rife with knowledge, but I have offended. I will leave your lands with all possible haste. Is there some route you prefer I take?"

 

 

 

Sucessfully, Robby resisted the urge to comment he was probably facing danger beyond his imagining because, being beyond his imagining, he couldn't understand or comprehend it. Overall, he'd been fairly diplomatic...

[The Big Pointy One]

It was the last hour before dawn and Deleo was growing weary. He hated having to watch over a border to some country that didn't really exist. At least, not in his mind. But still, he had to do what he was told. Ruffling the feathers of his current form- a rather large golden eagle, Deleo scanned the horizon. There was nothing, absolutely nothing going on, as usual. Deleo blinked again, then noticed something approaching from air. Using his keen eagle-eyes, he saw that the form approaching was white. And large. And a lizard.

 

 

 

"By the great scales! A white!?! What would a white be doing around here!?" Deleo screeched in a rough bird. Screeching louder this time, Deleo's golden eagle form shimmered, and within a moment his wingspan grew twenty feet in length, and grew scales. His body pulsated and was suddenly a shimmering gold-bronze metallic colour. His head turned into that of a great lizard as his neck sinewed out of his torso. Deleo was in fact a hybrid between a gold and a bronze dragon, a not-so-common race of dragon. This time giving more of a roar than a screech Deleo gave his mighty wings a slow flap, taking to the air.

 

 

 

Without even giving time for a verbal confrontation Deleo took straight up, hoping that the white wouldn't notice him. As soon as he gained a decent height advantage, he tucked his wings in and dived at the intruding dragon. Claws forward and flames tickling the back of his teeth, Deleo was ready for a battle. Unfortunately, so was his opponent. Ready for the clumsy dive, apparently, the white easily flew to the side slightly enough to dodge the bulk of Deleo's form. Claws were raked on both sides, sending gold-bronze and white scales floating to the ground. Deleo looped around, making a pass from below while the white flapped strongly, turning himself around, and sending a blast of bitterly cold air before it actually saw where Deleo was heading from. This time, the young metallic dragon was a bit more prepared and sent a mouthfull of fire toward his adversary. The two breaths cancelled each other out, leaving a steamy cloud in its wake. Deleo followed his first fireball with a second that pelted the white beneath its foreleg; this was followed up with a grapple that sent both dragons hurtling towards the ground. Both combatants clawed and bit, leaving bloody rips in each other, but eventually, the white proved to be the better fighter as it broke free, leaving Deleo with a split second to pull himself upwards before slamming into the ground. Of course, this didn't happenned, and Deleo felt the bitter force of gravity.

 

 

 

Satisfied with the results of the whole experience, the white took off back in the way which he came, leaving Deleo bruised and bloody at the floor of the forest. The sun was coming up now, and the young dragon grunted in pain as he wove a simple spell to hasten the healing process. He morphed into a wolf, but retained the golden-bronze colour in his fur. He really didn't want to explain this to Kokuryuu. It was a shame that he lived, almost.

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

I cocked one eyebrow and glared at him shrewdly. Was he for real... Yeah rihgt. I couldn't trust him as far as I could throw him... Well at least not as far as I could throw him in this form. I decide that the best course of action, and the one that would not let him find out more about my humble dragon coutry, was to ecort him away myself. I have the impulse just to turn into a Half Dragon half human and fly him out but that might pique his curiousity further... I gnash my human teeth, but it is a stupid action considering its not a humanly thing...

 

 

 

"Well, Sir Robby... What might you be doing exactly to find this knowledge? I mean to say, how might you go about it?" He actually has captured my curiosity and i wish to know more about him. Much like he claims, I am in constant searches for knowledge. "What race might you be, traveller?"

 

 

 

I quirk my eyebrow again, higher, studying his features...

[Guest Tamaranis]

No of course not, she wouldn't let him just wander off, that would be simple, and simple just didn't seem to happen anymore, Robby reflected. Though he knew it would come to no conclusions just yet, a part of Robby's brain was furiously working at trying to figure out just what he'd trapped himself into here. Between this woman's suspicious sudden appearance and generaly strange behaviour, he was certain she wasn't just a harmless half-elven land owner. He didn't have any solid evidence to back it up, but he was getting a sneaking suspicioun that coming here had been a mistake.

 

 

 

How to answer her questions now? It still seemed a bad idea to say outright what he was seeking, but being cryptic wasn't getting him anywhere, and a boldfaced lie might turn up to haunt him in the future. And what race to say he was of? He didn't trust this woman, and didn't want to reveal that just yet. He could claim to be human, often races other than humans and ksol couldn't tell the difference between the two. He could claim to be ksol, it would be quite difficult, if not impossible, for most to determine that was a falsehood. It would probably work until the issue of magic came up.

 

 

 

Whatever the more plausible answer would be, it would be worthless if it was delayed. Robby decided that all other things equal, and as far as he could tell they were, it would be better to stay closer to the truth, "I'm of the ksol, but I doubt you've heard of us, our lands are quite far from here."

 

 

 

The woman's eyebrow rose up even further, skepticism incarnate. It occured to Robby that maybe trying to stay close to the truth was a bad idea, considering that it was a bit unbelievable. Inwardly he chuckled at the thought that he should lie outright if he wanted to be believed at all.

 

 

 

"My people have some number of enemies, and try as I might to think otherwise, I find I place a higher value on the welfare of my own kind than I do on that of others. Its a common trait among us, I'm afraid. I seek any knowledge that I could return home with and use to increase the safety of my people."

 

 

 

That should go over fairly well, he hadn't even directly implied the ksol affinity for magic. Hopefully whatever she knew about the ksol, if anything, was little enough that she wouldn't expect to see any magic from him in the near future.

 

 

 

Robby considered asking her name, but realized that she would be offended if he simply asked, and that any more borderline chivalry wouldn't do any good either...

 

 

 

Damn the spectral for landing him here! And damn his own stupidity for letting it happen!

[Gyrfalcon]

The dragon roared again, closer, and Gyrfalcon pressed himself a little closer to the tree. He knew the dragon wouldn’t be able to see him- would have no interest in looking for him, but some actions were just instinctive, like trying to hide a little better when an angry dragon was flying by overhead.

 

 

 

Something pattered down beside Gyrfalcon, but he didn’t move a muscle until several moments later, when the dragon roared again, off in the distance. Turning his head, he saw a steaming black liquid slowly eat through the leaves and fall silently away from the tree. Gyrfalcon raised an eyebrow at that, as it said that the dragon had seen battle, and even if it had won, the victory had been Pyrrhic in nature, since the dragon was screaming back north to the cold lands where its home would be located.

 

 

 

Shrugging, the half-elf jumped from the branch he had been perched on, landing in an easy roll and returning to his feet in one motion. He spent a moment to brush dead grass from his cloak before picking up his bow from where he had leaned it against the tree he had climbed.

 

 

 

Continuing down the mostly overgrown path, Gyrfalcon could sense the vibrancy of the woods. No monsters despoiled the trees with fire or ax, no hunters used iron-jaw traps, and so Gyrfalcon was on his way out of the forest.

 

 

 

Jogging swiftly down the trail, Gyrfalcon stopped as he came across a wide scale, a strange two-toned color that could be gold or bronze. Gyrfalcon knelt and picked up the scale, knowing from the shape and size that it could only come from a dragon. What surprised him was the fact the white dragon had survived tangling with a gold or a bronze dragon. The white must have tangled with a young dragon. Gyrfalcon thought to himself, shaking his head. He placed the scale in his backpack and continued on his way.

 

 

 

Less then an hour later, Gyrfalcon was startled to come across a strangely colored wolf sitting on a rock, staring out at the view. Several things struck the half-elf as odd as he cautiously approached- not least the animal’s size and strange color. The animal had been severely injured, and most wolves would retreat to a den to heal. Instead, this wolf was sitting out in the open, where other predators could smell it’s weakness by the scent of its blood in the air.

 

 

 

Taking a chance, Gyrfalcon called out politely in Wolfish (learned from Canid) “How fare you?”

 

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

"Look, whatever you are, just come with me." I stated shortly, pivoting on one heel and starting in a sort of march in one direction. I'd have to get to the bottom of this some other time, I need to talk with that blasted Deleo... I smiled a secretive smile thinking of how I might reprimand him. I chuckled softly to the confusion of my companion. I had started at an alarmingly fast stride and he was hurrying after.

 

 

 

After a solid half hour of bumbling through brush and thorns, which cut my arms slightly- like I cared... I came to a clearing and my ears pricked. I heard talking.

 

 

 

I held out my arm to stop the one I was leading and I crouched down. I sniffed the air, hair over my face so he didn't notice what I was doing... The strong scent of sulfer and fur came to me... Strange scent I noted. Lifting myself and looking sternly at Robby, who was calmly standing beside me, I furrowed my brow and looked into the direction the scent was wafting from.

 

 

 

I let out a small growl, deep within my throat. Then in larger strides, I went for a large rock somewhat in the distance.

 

 

 

getting closer, i knew who it was...

 

 

 

DELEO! I called out in draconic, not heeding the fact that there was someone by him and Robby had no clue what we were. What have you done? I thought the Coclave could trust you in this position! What will Omegus, the Great Platnuim say? He looks at me and lowers his head, realizing who I am.

 

 

 

His tail tucks between his legs and his ear droop. I think of a long and descriptive death I could deal to him when I notice his wounds. Coming parallel to him I stare and the silver part of me takes hold.

 

 

 

"What did you do to yourself..." I ask lamly and walk over to him. I place my hand on the blood-caked golden-bronze fur and mutter a few spidery words of magic. Soft blue light radiated from my arm and wroked its way down to his wounds, closing them slowly and somewhat painfully. He yelps... Serves him right though... I now notice the other fellow. TWO! Two strangers he let into our land! oh, I'd definately have to report this to Omegus...

 

 

 

"Who are you?" I ask gruffly. He looks like a Half-elf... Great, this might not bode well, for he may ask of what race of elf I am... HN....

 

 

 

Robby comes up behind me, a glint of intrigue shines in his eye after hearing the strange language come from my mouth. I look away from questioning faces and turn back to the Deleo wolf. I search his eyes for answers but he only shows fear of what I might do to him.

[Gyrfalcon]

Gyrfalcon raised an eyebrow at the woman’s gruff tone. Perhaps she thought he had had something to do with the wolf’s injuries?

 

 

 

Bowing slightly, he said “I am Gyrfalcon No’Dessu, a ranger in the service of the nearby communities. I was inspecting these woods to make sure that there were no infestations of monsters or trappers operating illegally.”

 

 

 

He gestured to the wolf “I found this wolf a few minutes ago, injured as you saw him before you intervened.”

 

 

 

He eyed the woman carefully, noting her half-elven appearance and the way her hand rested familiarly on the head of the wolf. A mage or druid and her familiar, perhaps?

 

 

 

“May I know who you are, m’lady?” He asked, careful not to ask what she was doing out here- for all he knew, her home was nearby, and of course, since the forest were unclaimed by any group that Gyrfalcon knew of, she had every right to be standing where she was. Thinking of the possibility that she may live around here, he spoke on.

 

 

 

“If your home is nearby, you should be aware that there was a white dragon that was around the area earlier. It flew north a while ago, severely wounded, but it might choose to return south at some later time. If so, your home could be in danger.”

 

 

 

The half-elf inspected the man standing behind the woman with a slight frown. If she was a wizard, he certainly wasn’t her bodyguard- the man was unarmored and seemed to be unarmed. While the man could be an assassin or one of those strange monks that appeared in the west every once in a while, Gyrfalcon doubted that possibility.

 

 

 

Maybe he’s a golem. Gyrfalcon thought to himself, returning his gaze to the woman. He carefully didn’t mention the fact that he had understood every word she had said in Draconic, as mages learned that language and often wrote their spellbooks in it... as well as talked to their familiars in it. He carefully filed the phrases ‘The Conclave’, and ‘The Great Platinum’ and the name ‘Omegus’ in his head, intending to look them up when he returned home.

 

[Gyrfalcon]

Gyrfalcon raised an eyebrow at the woman’s strange name. Ryuu... where have I heard that word before? he thought to himself.

 

 

 

He remained silent as the woman alternated between demanding he leave with a strong undertone of ‘or face the consequences’ and a softer but still firm desire to escort him to the borders of whatever lands she (or with the way she threw around that ‘we’, the town or colony she represented) claimed.

 

 

 

His carefully controlled expression cracked with a raised eyebrow, however, when a wisp of smoke drifted from her nose. Whoever she was, whatever she was, she may be half-elf, but she obviously wasn’t half-human. The content of her discussion with her familiar however, strained his bearing the utmost as he tried to control his expression. Despite his best efforts, however, he raised an eyebrow.

 

 

 

Chromes... Metallics... She talks of the white dragon as if she knew him... and she spoke of the wolf fighting the white dragon...

 

 

 

"Gyrfalcon," the woman said, turn to the half-elf. "You said there was a community nearby? You will have to move them. Dark times approach this land... " She added with a grave look on her face before turning back to the so-called wolf.

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon considered her statement, then shook his head. He would most likely warn the leaders of the communities, but they wouldn’t listen to his warnings. Their lives and the lives of their people were rooted in the lands around them. They would discount any warnings not accompanied by more evidence then Gyrfalcon could ever supply.

 

 

 

Her next statements, speaking of blotting out his and Robby’s memories, and then of killing them, caused Gyrfalcon to grasp the hilt of a knife unobtrusively, the ranger prepared to throw it at her at the first sign of spell casting. He was somewhat surprised at the lack of her knowledge of the frontier. Perhaps her own community was much more closely linked then that of the human towns nearby, but Gyrfalcon knew that should he and Robby die, there would be no mourning, no searches. Only a few shrugs and life would continue. Gyrfalcon didn’t see fit to enlighten the woman of this, however- he valued his continued breathing too much for that.

 

 

 

As the woman took the lead, dragging her ‘familiar’ from the rocks, Gyrfalcon stood still, a slightly sardonic smile on his face.

 

 

 

“No offense to you, m’lady, but the closest edge of the forest is in that direction.” he said, pointing almost directly away from the mountains.

 

 

 

As he did so, his mind put together her earlier statements- of the Great Platinum, the Metallics and Chromatics. Why she seemed to know the white dragon who had flown overhead, and how the wolf could have fought that dragon.

 

 

 

Gods help me... they’re dragons too. the half-elf thought to himself, his face impassive.

 

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

I eyed the half-elf cautiously... There was something about him that wasn't right.

 

 

 

"My name... Is Ryuu. Nothing more, nothing less." I lyed. Now for Deleo. I wasn't going to risk exposing either of us so i sent him a telepathic message only receivable by dragons.

 

 

 

¤Stay how you are until i give the word. I want to know what went on and why these two were allowed into our lands. then i'll deal with you... But for now, stay as a wolf and I'll cover up for you.¤

 

 

 

"This is Leo. He is a wolf, obviously, but not just any. I've endowed him with magic. I do hate having to make a familiar so i just got a wolf from the local pack and made him my own." hard to believe considering there was no real local pack... But how would he know? "As for your scouting," I continue;"it is not appreciated... leave this land at once, for you are under greater peril than woodland monsters or trappers. As for the White... Do not bother yourself with him, he's just... Uh... Nothing, he's nothing. we can arm ourselves against him well enough. So, Gyrfalcon, as you can see, you must leave... uh, these lands are not safe. I will gladly escort you away to safer places as I am doing with Robby here."

 

 

 

I motioned to the "ksol" behind me. I hate this... its alway me who has to clean up for the young ones... I sighed heavily and turned to glare at Deleo. Why me? I know I don't belong to either side, Chromatic or Metallic, but that doesn't mean my neutral brethren and i have to clean messes for both sides! A wisp of smoke issues from my nostril but I snuff it back in, coughing...

 

 

 

Deleo, you are lucky to be alive, but luck may not save us now. We risk exposure with these two... Not to mention attacks... I beleive the Chroms. are breaking away and waging war on the Metals. or er.... you. That was Cariose Cirruscloud, no ordinary white. He is their representative in the Conclave. He's also smarter than the rest of them, thats how he got his position. He came deliberately to test our defenses I'll warrant. He is one ofthe fastest of his kind, and that makes him trully fast considering whites are the fastest class... But they are also the least intelligent so I'm guessing thats why you won.... Don't let it go to your head... I am assuming of course, that you fought with him and thats why he left, no?

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon raises and eyebrow on at my saying this... Kuso.... Can he hear me, understand me? Maybe once again I've underestimated a mortal. Great...

 

 

 

"Gyrfalcon," I turn to him. "You said there was a community nearby? You will have to move them. Dark times approach this land... " I add the latter with a trully grave look. I turn to Deleo again but I forget not to use Draconic...

 

 

 

We need to go to Omegus. As soon as possible... We could dispose of them with a memory spell but it may be too messy with the 'where am I? Who are you?' Junk. We could kill them... Nay, even more messy with the "search parties" and "missing persons." But if we take them with us... Omegus can rule on what to do with them I suppose. That will be our course of action.

 

 

 

"Alright then, let us go. Follow me." I demand, taking Deleo by the scruff of his neck and dragging him from the rock. I motion for both "travelers" to follow and I start off towards the mountains.~

 

 

 

 

 

¤Kokuryuu Flameshifter

 

Black Flameshifter of the Conclave of Great Wyrms;

 

Lut Dracones, Krynn¤ Edited by: Kokuryuu Flameshifter at: 12/23/02 12:28:25 pm

[The Big Pointy One]

Deleo responded to Kokuryuu telepathically. As young and foolish as he was, he wasn't completely stupid, and wasn't about to give his identity away. So THAT'S who that was. No wonder I had such a hard time. Y'know... normally I'd be able... Deleo was cut off by a glare from Kokuryuu, and then whimpered, getting odd looks from Gyrfalcon and Robby. It was a bit too weak for a wolf, although Deleo obviously didn't know that. In fact, he almost saw a smirk on Gyrfalcon's face. He shrugged it off and continued on his reply to Kokuryuu.

 

 

 

So you think Cirrius was testing our defenses, eh? But that wouldn't make sense... that could only mean the chromatics are about to start on all out war! It's... proposterous

 

 

 

Kokuryuu only grunted in annoyance. Today was not as good a day as she had hoped for.

 

 

 

 

 

OOC: Sorry about lack of substance there... Edited by: The Big Pointy One at: 12/24/02 10:37:21 pm

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

Silly metallic. Chromatics are nothing for your kind! When will you understand that? They trully care only for themselves and their hoards and glory, young one. I sigh heavily... This is going to be a long day...a long day.

 

 

 

"Gyrfalcon..." I start to ask something. He seems on edge now... He knows.... he knows.............. I swallow again, blood churning... This is it, maybe I'll have to fight. He better not say anything or we'll all be exposed. Not that I mind now! If the dragons are trully going to go to war, I'll be caught in the middle...wanted on both sides but not trully fitting. i give a sharp glance to Deleo. I think the half-elf knows............................... He whimpers again.....

[Guest Tamaranis]

What kind of mage or creature might let smoke escape from their nostrils? Robby asked himself. He tried to think of creatures which might have flames in their airways to produce smoke. Infernals came up as a possibility, but given the history between the ksol and the infernals, he would most probably be dead by this point if that's what this woman was. The saviour race perhaps? They'd been hidden for several decades and he very much doubted it would be possible for him to accidently stumble across one of them.

 

 

 

He'd met a half dragon that could change its shape to resemble either side of its lineage once, and that half dragon had been able to make use of its deadly breath in all three forms. The half dragon had hardly admitted that he could shapeshift, however, and would never have hid his nature to deal with intruders. Robby filed that possibility away, perhaps all half dragons didn't share the attitude.

 

 

 

Full blooded dragons perhaps? After their last conflict with the empire all the dragons involved had disappeared, and some had theorized that it might have been accomplished through shapeshifting. That seemed far too fantastic though, like a fairy-tale. Robby discounted the possibility.

 

 

 

What else then, another spectral? Certainly a spectral could emit smoke from its nose if it desired to do so, but judging from her cough, Ryuu had done it accidently. It was beyond Robby's imagining that a spectral would accidently put smoke in its own airway...

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon seemed to be struggling with something... shock? Had he figured out what was going on? Robby very much wanted to ask him, as not knowing who or what this strange woman was was frustrating. But just openly saying, "hey did you figure out what she is?" could be unwise.

 

 

 

Ryuu, though Robby very much doubted it was her real name at this point, asked that they follow her. No, she demanded. It was hard to tell considering her erratic behaviour, but it seemed like she might be making less of an effort to keep up the charade of hospitality.

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon didn't move to comply, and Robby was tempted for a moment to follow his lead, as the ranger seemed to know what was happening. However the genral attitude and mannerisms of Ryuu suggested that she would become very angry indeed if they didn't do as she said. Robby decided it would be best to avoid angering the unknown magical entity, and began to follow her, hopefully Gyrfalcon would either do the same, or say so if following her was some horrible mistake. It was possible that they were being led into some sort of trap, but it couldn't be helped. Robby just made a mental note to keep his eyes open. Hopefully if they did walk into some sort of trap or magical assult it would mostly involve things like poison or asphyxiation and he'd take the brunt of it...

[Gyrfalcon]

The woman and the wolf exchanged glances, and the wolf whimpered a second time. Gyrfalcon’s eyes narrowed slightly. Do they know that I know that they’re dragons? he thought to himself.

 

 

 

Forcing himself to look relaxed, (though in fact he was slightly crouched in a fighting position, prepared to move should either one attack) Gyrfalcon pointed away from the mountains. “As I asked, the closest edge of the forest is in that direction, is it not?”

 

 

 

His eyes flicked to Robby, standing behind the woman and the wolf. He looked slightly pale and worried, obviously not wanting fighting to break out among his companions. I hope you get your wish. Gyrfalcon thought to the man as he returned his eyes to the woman.

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon had no desire to fight one dragon, much less two, but if they gave him no choice...

 

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

I have to tell him....Its the only way he'll go... but not yet.....

 

 

 

"Gyrfalcon, you are right but as I've said and you can see, these lands are not safe and I am taking you to where they are- in the moutains...."

 

 

 

I start off again, hoping against hope he'll follow.

[Gyrfalcon]

Gyrfalcon's eyes flicked to Robby, then returned to stare into Ryuu's own. Relaxing slightly, he smiled sardonically and gave her a small bow.

 

 

 

"Lead on, fair lady." he said with a slight wave of his hand, inwardly cursing himself. One of the responsabilities of a ranger lay in defending the innocent, and Gyrfalcon couldn't in good conscious allow Robby to go into the mountains with a pair of dragons alone.

 

 

 

Of course, what Gyrfalcon could do to defend Robby from dragons should it prove neccessary, the half-elf didn't know.

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

Ah, he doesn't trust us... Oh well, I don't blame him... I have been a tad bit rude. Ok maybe I was real rude. O well, I'm a dragon for gods sake! I don't need to be polite. I start to walk and the others fall into step behind me, Deleo at my heels. I struggle within my mind how I'll tell them... Ok I have it! A silver, I'll come as a silver- humans and elves do not trully fear the "good" silvers! But then again... the thought of a dragon of any class popping out of nowhere can make ANYTHING run off... I will have to introduce myself then. Alright fine.

 

 

 

We come into view of the mountain foot-hills. There is no time better than the present I suppose. I'm telling them now, Deleo. He whimpers...

 

 

 

I stop and pivot on one heel again, startling my followers. I hold up my hands as is a human gesture of surrender or calmness. I put my hands together at my waist and wring them. how are they going to take this.. what do I do if they run for it... These questions keep running through my mind. I hold onto Gyrfalcon's arm to make sure he doesn't run for it right then and Deleo positions his over-large wolf body in back of Robby.

 

 

 

"Alright. I have something to tell the two of you..." Gyrfalcon's eyes widen. he must know what we are and now he knows whats going to happen... He probably thinks we'll try to kill him... Mortals amuse me.

 

 

 

"I have not been entirely truthful as to what I am and why I am here..." This is it... I can feel Gyrfalcon's muscles tense and his hand flex towards his weapon. I swallow hard and tighten my grip. " My name is Kokuryuu Flameshifter..."

 

 

 

That's it, he grabs a weapon from his side (OOC:I'm just saying wear he might have someblade of some sort...) and it flashes in the sunlight. He lashes it towards my hand but I recoil it swiftly, avoiding the attack. Out of the corner of my eye I see Robby back up, obviously starlted at the breakout of fighting. Deleo presses his bulk against Robby's knees, knocking him over and putting his forepaws on top of him. He wheezes and Deleo lets up some of his weight.

 

 

 

Gyrflacon readies himself for battle; but I pouch on him with catlike agility, knocking the weapon from his hand.

 

 

 

"Look, I don't want to fight with you! I may be a dragon"- Robby's face is now alight with shock-"But i don't have any right to hurt you, yet..."

 

 

 

I get off of him and help him up...

 

 

 

"Now I'm going to shift into my true form... Don't be alarmed!"

 

 

 

I step back... "Oh, and I am a black...."

 

 

 

Wings sprout from my back, skin hardens to scales of obsidian color and a tail sinews from my backside. Fingers to claws, teeth to fangs, hand and feet to paws... I towers above them as a dragon, black and terrifying...

 

[The Big Pointy One]

Deleo blinked himself out of a daze as Kokuryuu revelealed her truest form. Even for a dragon like himself, it was kinda awe-inspiring to be in her presence. He didn't fully realise what was happenning until Gyrfalcon and Robby had taken flight into the woods. Grinning sardonically he turned on and chased after them. Within heartbeats his wolf body carried him between the two as they were about to split up. Mutterring a minor cantrip which emitted a flash of light, Deleo too morphed into his dragon form. As he did so, he took careful measure to block Gyrfalcon's path with his forelegs and Robby's with his flank. In the meanwhile, his tail snapped around the surprised pair, encircling them rather precariously. Venting sulfurous fumes from his nose, Deleo did his best to calm them in common tongue.

 

 

 

"Look. We're not trying to harm you, *quite* the opposite, in fact. I know it's hard for you little ones not to run away every time you see one of our kind, but you'll have to get over it for the time being!" he emphasized that last bit by slamming one of his front claws to the ground, causing a minor quake that shook the ground slightly beneath Gyrfalcon and Robby's feet.

 

 

 

By this time Kokuryuu had noticed the sudden transformation of Deleo, not to mention the clearing of a small section of forest. She floated over to the group, annoyance clear, even through her draconic features.

[Gyrfalcon]

The strange party had reached the mountains in record time, Ryuu guiding them along clear trails through the forest to the foothills. They had reached the crest of one of the sear, windswept hills when Ryuu stopped. She glanced at the wolf for a moment, then she turned and held her hands out before folding them at the waist.

 

 

 

Suddenly, she stepped forward and gripped the half-elf ranger’s forearm tightly. Gyrfalcon grimaced slightly, as the dragoness didn’t seem to realize her own strength.

 

 

 

“Alright. I have something to tell the two of you.” she said. Gyrfalcon knew that she was a dragon... but then realized he had no way of knowing what type of dragon she was. He tensed and began to twist his arm out of Ryuu’s grip. Before he could complete the movement, Ryuu tightened her grip even further, drawing a faint gasp of pain from Gyrfalcon as he felt the bones in his wrist press together in her grasp.

 

 

 

Driven by her nervousness, Ryuu unconsciously continued to increase the strength of her grip on Gyrfalcon’s arm as she spoke. “My name is Kokuryuu Flameshifter...”

 

 

 

the dragoness got no further, as Gyrfalcon drew a knife with his right hand and struck at her hand to force her to let go before she smashed his wrist in her grip. She released her hand and backed off, but before Gyrfalcon could speak, Kokuryuu sprang at him. Gyrfalcon tried to dodge back, but barely began to move before Kokuryuu landed on him, smashing his knife from his hand as she drove him to the ground. Landing on the ground hard, Gyrfalcon looked up at her, surprise clear in his eyes.

 

 

 

“Look, I don't want to fight with you! I may be a dragon, but I don't have any right to hurt you, yet...” she said, looking down at Gyrfalcon, then looking over at Robby. She almost seemed to be pleading with them for understanding.

 

 

 

Getting up off of Gyrfalcon, she smoothed her skirts for a moment, then reached out and without apparent effort, hauled the half-elf to his feet. She released her grip this time, and Gyrfalcon backed up several steps, massaging his wounded hand.

 

 

 

"Now I'm going to shift into my true form... Don't be alarmed!" Kokuryuu said. She took a few steps back, then smiled for the first time, almost mischievously. “Oh, and I am black.”

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon scrambled to his feet and drew his katana, glad that he was left-handed, as his right hand was still numb and wouldn’t be up to grasping anything. Gulping as he looked up... and up... and up at bulk of the black dragon that was Kokuryuu, Gyrfalcon suddenly turned and charged the wolf, forcing him to scramble away from Robby. Dragging Robby up, Gyrfalcon pushed him off the path towards the trees. “RUN!” the half-elf shouted before turning and running the other direction, knowing that if Kokuryuu chased him, it would be a close race if he could get into the trees before she got to him... or bathed him in her acid breath.

 

[Guest Tamaranis]

Quite suddenly, violence errupts between Gyrfalcon and Ryuu. As Robby had suspected she would, Ryuu handles herself much better in combat then her appearance would indicate. Not quite sure who he should be supporting, Robby takes a step back...

 

 

 

And finds the wolf pressing against the back of his knees. Robby finds his center of mass is not even remotely above his feet, and quite embarassingly, falls backward. With further violence imminent, Robby tries to roll with the momentum of his fall and come back to his feet. He finds, however, that Deleo moves very quickly, even for a wild animal, and the wolf plants its forepaws squarely in the center of his chest before he can regain his feet.

 

 

 

The wolf is surprisingly heavy, and Robby finds the air forced out of his lungs in a wheeze. It would have been a rather unpleasent experience had he needed that air. Fully intending retaliation, Robby finds that the wolf shifts its weight off of his chest so that he can breath. Unsure of wether Deleo sensed his intention, or simply didn't want to harm him, Robby waited to see what would happen next rather than striking.

 

 

 

What happens next surprises him indeed. Caught up in a staring contest with Deleo, Robby hadn't been paying attention to the dialogue between Gyrfalcon and Ryuu. What he did notice was a "twitch" in the magic very similar to the one he had detected just before meeting Ryuu. Breaking the stare, Robby turns and sees the woman transform into a rather large dragon.

 

 

 

Dragon fear assails Robby's mind, but he keeps a firm reign on his thoughts. Had Ryuu simply wanted to destroy him she could have done so easily enough earlier, and it would have spared her the trouble of concocting a story. Another part of his mind resumes focus on the wolf standing on him. Had he just been considering attempting to beat a dragon to death?

 

 

 

"Umm... Alright." He finally manages to say, verbally echoing his slow mental acceptance of the fact that Ryuu is a dragon.

 

 

 

With a small degree of effort Robby pulls more air into his lungs against the weight of the wolf, and then adresses it, "Would you mind getting off?"

 

 

 

EDIT: Gyrfalcon posted while I wrote this.

 

 

 

Before Deleo can comply with or refuse Robby's request Gyrfalcon charges the wolf, brandishing a Katana. The wolf retreats slightly, getting off Robby in the process. While Robby was constructed or materials other than flesh and bone, they were approximately as dense, and Gyrfalcon easily hauled him to his feet in the same instant Deleo retreated.

 

 

 

Considering that the ranger probably had more dealings with dragons than Robby had, which happened to be exactly none, and considering that the dragon didn't seem at all pleased, Gyrfalcon's advice of "RUN!" seemed very sage indeed. The continous mental assult of dragonfear played a role as well. Robby ran. Heading for the only nearby cover also seemed a good idea, though Robby found himself wondering as he ran if trees would make any difference against dragons.

 

 

 

Despite the disparity in height between the ranger and the golem, Robby managed to keep up. The effect of Robby's shorter stride was cancelled out by a considerably quicker pace. As he ran a thought occured to Robby, or rather, one of his false memories came up. Dragon breath was an area weapon, and the dragon might well kill both of them with a single attack.

 

 

 

Robby veered away from Gyrfalcon, picking a new point on the treeline to run to. It might improve their overall odds of surviving this a bit if "Ryuu" would have to kill them seperately. Of course, once the wolf and the fact it was probably a dragon as well were taken into consideration the tactic seemed more than a little futile.

 

 

 

OOC: Bah! I'm mixing tenses! Damnit! Edited by: Tamaranis at: 12/28/02 1:12:58 am

[Falcon2001]

From the shadow of a tree, two silver eyes stare out at the ensuing battle.

 

 

 

A black dragon, hmm...I can use this to my advantage.

 

 

 

Cioden Darkeye, Lord of the Shadowplane, closed his eyes and stepped out of the shadow. The shadowplane oozed off of him and back into the shadow, and he grinned.

 

 

 

His figure started to shimmer and fade like a mirage until all that was there was his eyes, silver with the power, and then they blinked and were gone. Cioden Darkeye<BR>

 

<img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~gyrfalcon/images/SilverSig.jpg"><BR>

 

<BR>

 

Quill-Bearer - The Pen is Mightier than the Sword<BR>

 

Owner of the Reply Raven - Enemy to all those who never post responses<BR>

 

"Oh my God, <b>I'm LEAKING POETRY!</b>"

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

Growling a curse under my breath I land lightly infront of Deleo. As my claws hit the ground they shrink into feline paws, claws out. Now firmly on the ground as an obviously annoyed black panther I pace infront of them.

 

 

 

"Now I said that I didn't want to hurt you! I know that even your worm minds can comprehend that!"

 

 

 

I pad softly infront of Gyrfalcon.

 

 

 

"And if you'd let me finish"- I spit slightly-" I would have informed you that these lands sworm with dragons of all kinds! I am taking you to our superior and thats final!"

[Gyrfalcon]

Gyrfalcon considered the massive bulk of the dragon curled between Robby, himself and the forest, and then turned the katana in his hands and plunged it point first into the ground before stepping away from it, holding his hands out to the sides in surrender.

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon looked at the pacing black panther that was Kokuryuu’s current form and smirked sardonically. “And I am to believe you, wyrm? Dragons in general and the dragons of the colors in particular aren’t known for keeping their word except when it suits them to.”

 

 

 

Before Kokuryuu could respond, the half-elf shook his head. “Well, whatever you choose to do with us, I doubt we can get away, so lead on.” His expression was sour, the half-elf obviously not enjoying his helpless state.

 

 

 

Kokuryuu growled at him, then seemed to forcibly calm herself. “You can keep your sword with you- as you seem to have realized, it will be of no use against us.”

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon studied the panther, then slid his sword from the ground and wiped the blade on his cloak before returning it to the sheath on his back. As he cleaned his blade, he studied the wolf turned dragon. Hm... he’s either a gold or a bronze... but I can’t tell which. Whatever he is, its strange that he’s willing to work with a chromatic dragon.

 

[Guest Kokuryuu Flameshifter]

I lick my jowls and sigh heavily.

 

 

 

"Well, gods willing, we won't run into any chromatics or anymore metallics. Now I think..." I sat, tail twiching behind me and pondered. " I think the quickest way would be by flight. Yes, yes it would. I don't want to have to carry you up the moutains peaks when you get tired... Now, you can pick which of us you'd rather fly on. I wouldn't want to have either of you dropped, so one to each dragon I guess..."

 

 

 

More form began to shift now into the 50 foot dragon. The sun was high in the sky and its radiant brilliance shown down upon them through the cleared trees. Once again, my soft human body hardened into the scaly reptilian one of a great wyrm. This time, when the sun hit me, the metallic quality of my scaes shown through. All the black of night was silver, glowing in the metallic silver of my mother. I was still black, but in the sun, to the untrained eye, I was silver. My eyes shown with a orange-red light and I dropped one wing to the ground.

 

 

 

"One of you get on."