sometimes you can't make it

[modforged]

Who: Alexstrasza, Krasus/Korialstrasz, and the Redsworn
What: Successful retreat into the Ruby Sanctum
Where: Ruby Sanctum
When: After a long, grueling battle near the borders of Suramar
Warnings: Please PM the mods if any warnings are needed

[The Ruby Sanctum is a flurry of activity. This becomes clear within two seconds of stepping through the portal. The wounded are guided over to a grassy clearing surrounded by saplings and adolescent trees, bade to lay down and receive healing from other dragonkin. Some of the trees are years old, while a few look to have shot up recently. If you watch, vines engulf one fallen warrior; the body sinks into the ground, and a tiny sapling appears in its place.

Despite the war going on outside, the sanctum is less of a cavern and more like a self-contained dimension. Ample sunlight drifts down through scarlet leaves, which are occasionally home to the crimson scales of a whelpling. There is life everywhere: insects on twigs, birds chirping overhead, flowers at your feet. Dragon eggs lay nestled in the nooks and crannies offered by the tranquil forest. There is a decently-sized spring filled with fresh, pure water, as well as some small rocky outcroppings to sleep in. It's warm and comfortable enough to rest out in the open, too.

The cloaked and ever-mysterious Krasus stands watching the dispersing redsworn, his back against the massive oak in the center of the sanctum.

Occasionally, one may glimpse a beautiful red-haired woman with copper skin winding through the copse.]

[ooc: Mingle log for redsworn!]

Comments

[mortalforged]

[The dragon-mage's long, thin fingers wind along the edges of his hood. He hesitates, then leaves it alone, turning his attention to the healer's clearing instead. He has a grave expression; even if his dark eyes aren't immediately visible, there is deep worry etched into his frown.]

[lifeforged]

It aches to see them strewn out in agony like so. [ It wasn't her intent to sneak up on him, but she stands a full step behind him. ] I almost wish to reach out...

[ She won't. ] Tell me please, what is the situation out there?

OTA!

[kingdomofsaints]

[...

Everything is just so out of place.

She does back out of helping, this time, because her ankles ache and everything she is and needs to survive is (her magic, her magic is) gone. After the chaos of that previous fight? It's almost hard to believe. She thinks she might accidentally get swallowed up by the vines, too.

...But the person was right, wasn't she? The mage got them out in time. That's... good.

Still, she's not going to plonk on the group and play dead yet. Now that they're out of danger and she makes sure there's nothing other than aches on her, she's going to see if those questions flooding her head can be answered. So, she approaches someone- anyone will do, anyone that doesn't look too busy or looks like they could use the time alone.]

Excuse me. Do you know about the Tokyo Lockdown?

[seesbosscrotch]

No, but if you hum a few bars, I can fake it!

[Mar flashes a brilliant grin and a bright thumbs-up, which lasts all of three seconds.]

...I apologize. That was a bad joke even by my standards.

[lifeforged]

[ What a strange question. Speaking with those who were humanoid in nature was an exercise of patience that many of her kin neglected, yet she made a promise herself to try her hand at it. If this was the first, then how was she expected to uphold a conversation of interest to them? ]

No, afraid not. [ Curiosity flickers in her lit up eyes as she gazes down intently into her own. ] Do you wish to tell me about it?

[misterbrief]

[He hears this question, as he's made his way out to explore the place a bit now. His arms fold as he glares back at her.]

I know of Tokyo, from another that traveled to this world with me. But what significance it has to you is something I wouldn't know about. There's no Tokyo here.

[crimsonpride]

[ Asch has just set aside his sword when Kuzuryu approaches him. He glances up at her when she speaks, and his green eyes narrow just slightly when she asks her question. Tokyo, Tokyo... Asch knows that name. That's a country on earth, isn't it? He's never been there himself, but studying the Initiative's maps had given him a pretty decent understanding of their world.

That doesn't mean he knows anything about Tokyo besides its name, of course. He shakes his head. ]

No. I don't think this is earth, in any case. [ Earth didn't have dragons, for one thing. ]

OTA

[guerriera]

The sanctuary was almost unnaturally peaceful, especially compared to the wartorn world she'd arrived in, and the red-haired woman had been quick to dismiss the offered aid. She hurt, yes. But not anywhere near as badly as others that had returned from Suramar (and seeing dead bodies being consumed by the earth had been unnerving, to say the least).

As it was, she was reluctant to let strangers at her injuries, few as they were - and that didn't feel right either - her neck was sore, and the ache in her head wasn't going away, but there was none of the sting that should accompany an open wound. Maybe she was in shock. It would certainly explain a few things.

Finding a place downstream from the spring's source had taken longer than Carolina liked, but once she was certain she was far enough away and unlikely to contaminate drinking water, she set down the few lumps of cloth she'd taken from the dragonkin and began to strip off her gauntlets, the heavy aqua coloured metal set down against a convenient boulder once they were finally free.

Cleaning her gloves of blood, ichor and dirt was a start; without proper armor processing facilities, she wouldn't be removing everything - that would leave her far too vunerable - but for the moment, it gave Carolina something to focus on, even as she cast an occasional glance over her shoulder.

[lifeforged]

She does everything in her power to not sneak up on this one, but she does tread lightly. There's just something uncertain about how she may react when she's gone so far out of her way to be away from the others.

"Pardon me, do you require any aid?"

[misterbrief]

[It's not until after his conversation with Alexstrasza that he finally ventures out. He makes his way back toward the spring when he notices this woman with what looked like advanced armor for this world sitting besides her. He can't imagine fighting in that kind of armor, so bulky and constricting to him, but that might mean she's from either his world or another that was similar.]

If I didn't know any better I'd say you were from a world at war, given what you're wearing. Is that right?

OTA!

[misterbrief]

[Glancing around, he takes note of the new world around him. The others dragged here as well, he scrutinizes them momentarily, weary from the battle now behind them. That elf was here too, the one against the oak tree, of which he shoots a look at but nothing more.

The first place he heads to is the spring, dipping his hands in it to wash his face, crouching and feeling the water wash away the dirt and soot as he looked down into his own reflection. The very sight of all the dragons, the eggs, it was overwhelming. He'd seen plenty of alien races but nothing quite like this.

He does eventually make his way over to one of the outcroppings to rest in, to recollect his thoughts and ask all the questions that had been popping into his mind, but not having the time to get the answers.]

[seesbosscrotch]

[Completely heedless of any potential transgression, an armored elf pokes his head around the outcropping, a bit too close to comfort.]

Ah-ha!

[He looks cheerful for half a second, then his expression falls.]

Damn. You're not the banker either. I'm starting to think there isn't one around here.

[lifeforged]

[ Interesting. Why does this one (unlike many of the others) peel away from the others and retreat to solitude? Every dragonsworn was chosen rightfully so in a way, so someone should approach him to get the answer themselves.

Perhaps if he's lucky, they can exchange answers with each other. Alexstrasza stands out in a way mostly due to her attire whereas many of the others are adorned in vestments fit for war. ]

Do you mind if I join you?

OTA for food

[wilder]

[The Sanctum was a drastic change of scenery, but it was one that Zelos didn't mind all that much. Sunlight, plant-life, life- he couldn't deny that it was beautiful in here. If this was where he was supposed to stay during this war, he could think of worse. A lot worse.]

[Without his magic, he isn't much help with the treating the wounded. He had his own injury on his shoulder, which he washed up and wrapped in bandages with little complaint. He had bigger problems than a flesh wound]

[Like the fact he was hungry. He's quickly decided hunger is awful.]

[And so while many others are reflecting about being in another war or whatever, Zelos looks for food. The hosts only have raw meat to provide along with the fruit in the trees, so very soon he's set up a cooking fire and people might smell the aroma cooking meat.]

[Or you know, whatever smell you get when you put bear in a fire. He's not really sure how you tell when bear is done, so he's settling for..when it's close to burnt]

Hey! Food's ready!

[Okay, so food looks flanks of over-done bear you hold onto with a stick or the bone- but hey it's food!! Come grab some, criticize his cooking, chat, help cook yourself- whatever]

[chosenfake]

[Luke is so hungry he could eat a whole... whatever that thing is.]

Whoa! You cooked for us?

[HE'S SO GRATEFUL HE MIGHT CRY...]

[kingdomofsaints]

[FOOD

oh yes, food. That thing.

Have Amane creep up to you, Zelos- because while it is over-done bear meat, having meat in the Lockdown basically consists of ripping demons apart and eating them. While the Shomonkai does have food stores, the deserters and thieves were... unplanned intrusions.]

Hello again, Kaneis. [:..okay but really what kind of food is that...] What animal is this?

Re: OTA for food

[guerriera]

[ Zelos' call carries far enough that even Carolina can hear it from where she's roaming cautiously around the spring.

Not that the smell of meat burning cooking burning isn't a lure all on its own - her stomach clenches, growls, and it occurs to the Freelancer that she genuinely can't remember when she ate last. Never mind that it's been almost a year since Carolina last ate something that wasn't artificial and/or heavily processed. The downside of ship-living during wartime IN SPAAAAACE really. ]

What is it?

[ Her voice is a little more gravelly than she'd like, and she's aware that there are dark shadows under her eyes, but hunger may be overruling her wish to keep her distance. ]

[telaari]

Even before she was pulled into this Azeroth, Vas couldn't recall when she last ate. Sure, it had to have been sometime in the last day or so, probably at the officer's commissary on the upper-tier of the Exodar, but damn it all if she can't remember if she was eating breakfast or lunch. At any rate, it had to have been hours ago.

The smell of cooking meat draws her to the campfire, and in spite of it being grilled bear, she finds it hard to not drool. "I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole cow," she says, swallowing in anticipation.

"Er, no, I mean... horse? That's the phrase, yes? 'Horse'?" she asks after a moment, looking to Zelos for an answer.

[lifeforged]

[ Strange... why is it cooked? ]

Oh, that is right. [ How could they forget? The younger ones enjoyed food in a variety of ways, most of said ways involving flame or the oven. ] Preparations should be made to better... serve our champions.

[ It's a good thing she doesn't appear a dragon right now or else the talk of 'serving' them might come off a bit hostile. ]

totally pinged for food

[misterbrief]

[He can smell that from miles away. Literally. So he make his way over because food is never unwelcome in the Saiyan's presence, even if it's uncooked.]

And...what exactly is this? [He doesn't care that much, he just wants to know. It's not raw alien, so it's probably fine given the circumstances.]

OTA

[bloodpainter]

The first thing Nepeta did when she finished adapting to the fact that she'd once again been warped to a new location was to climb a tree.

Not just any tree, either, she specifically sought out the tallest tree she could find. She needed to become familiar with her new surroundings, and quickly, and the best way she could think of to do that was to view things from as high a vantage point as she could find.

Once up in its branches she found herself surveying one of the most beautiful places she'd ever seen. Trees, young and old, covered the landscape. Birds flickered around, everything looked so... alive. Stark contrast to the brutal battle she'd just been through.

Sitting up in the tree Nepeta considered what she needed to do. One, she needed to figure out what exactly was going on here. Okay, war between dragons and demons, sure, but why? How? And how did they stop it? That lead to question two. What was she, and by extension the rest of the people who had been brought her, supposed to do about it? And question three, how did she properly use these new abilities she'd been given? Some of them came naturally, but others she didn't really understand, though she was certain they'd be very useful when she figured them out.

Her goals in place, she decided to go hunting for someone who could answer those questions for her. She climbed down the tree to about the halfway point before leaping out of it, landing unharmed at its base despite the probably inevitable concerns of anyone watching.

Well, at least her catlike grace hadn't been changed.

[kingdomofsaints]

...Nepeta, that leap was certainly graceful, but landing in front of someone's face is kinda rude.

"Goodness- ...where did you come from?" Not everyone looks up at the trees, you know! Okay, she can guess she came from the tree, and-

...Wait, there's something off about her. With the shock of her arrival thinning away, she can... make out her grey skin. Then the horns.. She backs up, considering if she should report to the dragons, a demon's broken in-

[seesbosscrotch]

Ah, the good old Ruby Sanctum. How many times has he been here, over the years? In utterly different circumstances, in utterly different times, but nevertheless, the paladin seemed perfectly at home here.

In fact, he was a downright flurry of activity, hustling around the dragonshrine with a seeming desire to talk to everyone. He had weak heals to spare, but plenty of them so long as he let himself recover between casts, so he sought out the other Dragonsworn who seemed like they might be injured in particular. But still, he looked like he belonged, which was more than most of them could say.

[lifeforged]

This one is of interest to her, so she watches him carefully from a distance for a while to take in all of his actions. An eagerness is within him that the others lack and while she's not entirely sure why this is, it does draw enough questions in her mind that she approaches him.

"Is this scenario familiar to you?"

OTA

[stonefaith]

All the beauty of the Ruby Sanctum is currently going unnoticed by Bariyan, which is uncharacteristic of him,. And he knows it. Normally he'd be frolicking at this point. Looking at birds and eggs and things. Maybe taking a (very much deserved, he feels!) nap in the sun.

But instead, he's sitting by the spring all alone, staring glumly at his hands. His armor is scattered on the ground all around him. A spark of Light occasionally comes to his fingers, only to quickly pale and then vanish completely. Eventually Bariyan grows fed up with his repeat performance and heaves a sigh before falling backwards, heavily, with absolutely no regard to who or what might be coming up behind him.

[lifeforged]

Most of them seem discouraged or upset, the Aspect of Life has discovered when watching the dragonsworn. She's not entirely sure what she can do to alleviate their concerns, but without that flame burning within them as bright as it can be, they are of little help to themselves, much less her children.

So when Krasus is elsewhere, she approaches them with a curious look in her eyes.

[telaari]

As per her oath to Krasus, Vas is the last to arrive through the portal. Each step she takes is labored; that was hardly her first fight, or even her most vicious, but for some reason or another it's sapped nearly all of her energy. It's as if using the Light exhausted her, but never before has that happened. The Light has always come to her easily, and has never worn her out like this.

She takes a few steps away from the portal before her legs give up on her. She gives up on fighting gravity any further, and sinks to the ground. Vas lays down her shield, then her gauntlets, her tabard, and then her belt and scabbard. She pauses for a moment to wipe the sweat off her brow, then resumes taking off her armor and stacking it in a tidy pile until she's left with just her undershirt and her cloth shorts. There isn't an inch of her that isn't covered in sweat, but by the Light, at least she isn't dying of heat in her own armor.

[kingdomofsaints]

It's a good thing Vas already introduced herself to Amane, because there's no chance of her mistaking the form on the ground as a stray demon. Which kinda makes the situation worse, because, oh shit.

"...Vastania?" Hey hey, why is she lying on the ground...? She's breathing and not being swallowed up by vines, so, that's good, but- "Are you alright?"

open; later in the evening

[lifeforged]

[ When everything and everyone begins to settle down after sunset, Alexstrasza herself returns to her true form. Having gleaned information from the Dragonsworn on their opinions and of their worlds, she feels as if she's taken a step in the right direction when it comes to opening up to others.

She's stationary for now, curled up in a bed of flowers that seem to still grow despite her added weight against them. They flourish around her claws and wrap around her tail as she rests though not entirely as she keeps an eye open for anyone who approaches. ]