warforged | sometimes you can't make it

Entry tags:

sometimes you can't make it

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!]

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"Oh yes, I've met humans befur! Sort of. See there were some we managed to speak to across universes, but we never actually met in purrson befur I got brought here."

And in her case, she'd never get the chance now. Outside of the dream bubbles at least. Unless this place... well, she'd do her best not to think about that.

Speak across the uni-

...

That is... a feat.

"Well, there are many humans here now, myself included." Only one Troll, though. Perhaps the worlds where trolls exists are less in quantity than humans? Same for whatever species Vas was, right?

"Alternia... I assume that is your home world. Magic isn't limited to demons, however- perhaps in my world, but with how the universes work, there's no telling," Hm. "For all I know, what you may consider normal may perhaps be 'magic' to my perception."

"There are! Unfurtunately I haven't seen any of the ones I recognize."

Really disappointing, in her opinion. They were all pretty great and it'd be nice to have them here.

"Hmmmm, I suppurrse. I don't think humans have psionics or that sort of thing." She didn't think Sollux would appreciate being called a magician though.

She knows what 'psionics' mean, though- technically, 'psionic'. Demons possessed that power, and it wasn't uncommon to find them reading your thoughts- especially the stronger ones.

"What abilities do you have? If you don't mind me asking, of course." She currently has... healing powers, that's all she knows. So, any other kind of help...

"Well, back home I was just a really good hand-to-hand fighter. I could use my claws with the best of them and I was really agile, but nothing really that amazing."

She clawed the heads off of giant monsters without breaking a sweat, so this isn't entirely accurate... but her entire group was so incredibly powerful that to her this doesn't even seem worth mentioning.

"Here, though, I can sort of teleport? I can warp behind enemies, someone called it Shadowstep. I can also make myself... not invisible, but unnoticeable. And my reflexes are better than efur. So basically if there's an enemy that has to fight at a distance, I'm the purrfect one to deal with them."

Claws... like a cat prowling in the dark, waiting to pounce on prey. Nepeta could prove to be a very good fighter indeed.

"That in itself is already very impressive. I've never excelled in physical combat myself, and sometimes the reliability of your own body is worth far more than the diversity of magic." For one! Restoring health is easy, but once mana is gone, unless you have the Blood Wine racial skill in her world, you're basically fucked if you're a magic user.

"Shadowstep... I haven't heard of that term before. But in any fight, there should always be those who can sneak past the eyes of others," she says. Amane is still wary, since Nepeta isn't... well, human, but also grateful someone has such useful skills. "If anything, I'd think you'd be a ferocious hunter if we need food."

"Oh I've been a hunter almost since I could walk, my Lusus taught me well. So if we need food, there's no need to worry, no matter how tough the purrey around here is."

She gives a grin that's far more feral in nature, showing off her pointed canines and narrowing her eyes in glee at the prospect of a good hunt. It's been far too long since she's had one, by her way of thinking.

"It's fighting things like those demons that I'm more concerned with."

...The change is a bit alarming, and while humans are just as capable of those sudden swings in mood, her mind default to dealing with demons mode instead of trying to talk to a human. The canine teeth, natural and not possibly filed, just add onto that mindset. Not a human... a predator, out for the hunt. A valuable ally, if convinced well... just like a demon.

"Your Lusus...? I assume that is your guardian or teacher figure, then?" An odd term. She can't seem to connect it to anything. "I can understand that... even in my previous world, demons were unpredictable beings of varying skills and intellect. It's not too far off to assume that most, if not all, are very viable threats, however."

Nope, that wasn't comforting at all. "Their name 'demons' always seem to carry negative context, and for good reason. That the world be pushed to such lengths as to seek help from others is indicative enough."

"I just wish we knew more about these ones in purrticular."

The discussion moving back to the demons has her going back to thoughtful and worried from that brief burst of hunting enthusiasm. She folds her arms and frowns in concentration.

"I fought some little ones that threw fireballs and used their claws to fight, they didn't seem all that dangerous except in numbers. There was one that was beastlike, it ran on all fours and had huge horns and a couple of tentacles growing out of its back. It wasn't much of a challenge either, but it was alone. Then there was a group of ones that walked upright and carried axes... they were a bit more of a challenge, but not exactly special. A bit slow, but they seemed purrty strong. That's all I've fought so fur."

Her frown deepens in concern as she thinks about the last one she got a good look at. "But there was a last one I just saw. It was huge, with four legs, wings, and really powerful looking arms. It had a huge weapon and its mouth looked like almost entirely teeth. I wouldn't want to take something like that on alone, and if there are a lot of them, I think I know why the dragons are having such trouble."

God. This is exactly like demon negotiation. Off one moment, and on the next.

Her information is pretty valuable, though. Since Amane didn't have any offensive magic on her arsenal, she was forced to sneak around and heal silently; surprisingly, while not at Rogue level, she was pretty good at slinking. She took care to stay far far away from any potential threat, though... so she knows very little about these demons.

"I see... so there are multiple types of demons here, as well." Something to take into account. The last one... wings, and the intelligence to use a weapon? As well as the strength to wield it... if she trusts Nepeta (she is trying), that certainly sounds like a viable threat.

Taking those down in melee combat is possible, but most likely incurring major losses as well. Which only gives her more reason to get her offensive magic back... goddammit. "It seems that it would be highly beneficial to train long-range battle skills into everyone. That would leave them out of the demon's grasp, assuming they don't have other skills we do not know about."

Something that can take down those massive dragons... Amane has killed beasts before, but the 'dragons' in her world were easily susceptible to her spells, and nowhere as large. "While we are strangers to this world, it is clear those in charge are having trouble dealing with their fair share of troubles... perhaps we should step up and begin training? When everyone is rested, of course."

"Hmmm, that's a good idea. I'm not really any good at range though. Even now these are my only weapons."

She brings out her claws for a moment before putting them back in, not wanting to seem like she's threatening Amane.

"I suppurrse I could try to stay behind them, or on their back. The one I saw didn't really look like it'd be able to handle that very well. As fur training, I'm all fur it! I need to figure out how to do all these new things when it's best to, rather than just... randomly."

Those look fucking sharp.

"Sneak attacks should be available, but they're much riskier than using a ranged weapon. Perhaps we could find a bow, or other weapons here." Guns probably aren't available.

"If we were to train together, we could brainstorm and find out the extent of our skills." THAT'S IT. IT'S DECIDED. SHE'S GONNA MAKE EVERYONE TRAIN TOGETHER.

"A bow?" She thinks about that a bit, then a kind of dopey smile flickers across her face for a second. She can't really think about bows without the mental image of her moirail trying, yet again, to string one of the blasted things without snapping it in two.

"Well, maybe. Getting us all together would be a good idea, though. Are you going to do that then? Would that make you our leader?"

...Leader? At most, secretary or vessel. Even at part of the Shomonkai, it really was only her father that was in charge. It's a bit of an unfamiliar feeling.

"Leader... no, I wouldn't think so. Initiator, perhaps?" Because she's still under the control and persuasion of the natives, after all. This is all happening from her trusting the Red Dragonflight.

"We should get rest now, of course. I'll look around to see if anyone has knowledge of weapon-making." Hm. "Does your species require sleep? If so, we should both do that soon."

That question gets a giggle out of her. "I think efurryone needs to sleep sometimes. It's been a while, fur me."

And her body appears to be fully aware of that fact, and ready to remind her by forcing a huge yawn.

"I think you're right, now's the time to rest." Glancing over at the tree she jumped out of not too long ago, she walks over and goes down to all fours, beginning to walk around in circles to make a nest out of the fallen leaves at its base. It's not perfect, but she looks pretty comfortable when she finally lays down.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

sometimes you can't make it

/shoosh-pap

sobbing

pap pap pap

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