your hands protect the flames

[modforged]

Who: The Dragonsworn
What: The first arrival of the Dragonsworn goes a bit...awry.
Where: Scattered around the perimeter of Suramar.
When: Dawn on March 21st
Warnings: Please PM the mods if any warnings are needed

It is almost as if you've woken from a daydream when the ground meets your feet. The stench of fire is overpowering, and though dawn is just approaching in the canopies of Kalimdor, bright flashes of green can be seen between the branches of impossibly tall trees. If that doesn't snap you out of your surprise, then the sound of nearby spitting in demonic tongue may persuade you to get a grip and notice your surroundings -- you are not alone. There are others like you, huddled just a bit too close, with a somewhat familiar face keeping you from advancing further. Looking down at your hands may briefly reveal a momentary flash of color, but nothing lasting more than a few seconds.

The mages of each flight take the helm of their charges, and they are quick to notice any movement from their groups despite channeling some sort of spell to keep you protected. Stray fire will bounce off an invisible shield that ripples when anything make contact with it. There seems to be nothing in sight but your new comrades, and your guardian -- at least not on the ground. The sky has flying demons swarming a pack of dragons -- and the dragons are very clearly losing. Look just a bit farther, and you might find more dragons, though these clearly have different colored scales than the ones above your head.

While distracted, you may hear your guardian speak to you. "There may yet be wounded nearby -- if you care to, bring them here, and we will tend to them from the Sanctum." Briefly, they gesture skyward, toward the dragons flying overhead. "Do not bring to us any that are not our own, lest you invite their demise!"

But the mage is focused on casting -- they are in no position to halt your advance, and they know it. They speak with concern -- concern for you, concern for the dire situation at hand. The demonic cackling is drawing near. The forests are rapidly becoming overrun, and there are already a few dragons slain on the forest floor.

"Take care, Dragonsworn -- I am bringing us to safety, but it will take time. To wander far is to invite your ruin, and we cannot afford the loss of your life."

[OOC: You are free to mingle on this post as you choose, despite the flight groups being scattered through the forests around Suramar -- after this log, you will be separated into your sanctums, and your interactions will be watched much more closely. Attempting to enter the city itself will result in a vicious attack from demons that will kill. The Dragon Mages will be tagging sporadically to heroes of their matching flight, and the conclusion of this log will lead Dragonsworn through portals to their Sanctums.]

Comments

[windandrain]

She gives him a warning look, her hand on his wrist tightening. It's not that she wants to keep him there, or that she wants to stay here herself, but there's more to tell. Something important.

"Wait," she says, her words sharp. "You're not going alone, you know. I have a sword and magic. You have nothing right now. We're going together, you great lump. We're partners in this, you know. But before that, I need you to listen to me. The locket, Vegeta. If something happens, and we get separated. When you touch-"

At that exact moment, a loud shriek comes from close by, and a daemonette comes barreling at the two of them! It'd clearly managed to slip by enemy lines and it's heading right for them!

[misterbrief]

If she hadn't let go of his wrist already, he's ripping it from her grasp now, readying himself.

"Son of a Namek, what is that?!" It's unlike anything he'd ever seen, in the mortal realm or Other World, and all he's got is his reflexes and natural strength now. It hears him yell, taking him as its first target and slashes viciously at his face. He barely manages to get out of the way, the scythe coming too close to his face for comfort.

[windandrain]

She has definitely let go of him, her hand flying down to her sword. Only, her motions aren't as quick as they ought to be, even with the adrenaline pumping. The weapon clears it's sheath, but she fumbles it due to the weight and it clatters to the ground at Vegeta's feet. In her surprise, she stumbles as well, trying to reach for it and missing.

The hideous creature cackles and brings it's scythe down at Vegeta, malicious glee in it's eyes! Saori's hand flies out on reflex, reaching within herself for the storm that's no longer there. She has to protect him, somehow!

"Vegeta!"

The wickedly sharp weapon comes crashing down onto the Saiyan, perfectly aimed to slice him completely in half...and is met with a shower of golden sparks! A golden barrier of light, shimmering in the Azerothian sun, stands between them two.

Is it enough to keep him safe? Find out next time on Warcraft Ball Z!

[misterbrief]

Right as the scythe begins to come down, he instinctively raises both his arms to block, forgetting that his power wouldn't be there now to stop the blow as it would have easily done in the past...

...and then he hears the scythe hit something. Something that wasn't his arms. There was a barrier around him, of which he casts a look around it in awe. Where it came from, he didn't know, but he doesn't have time to worry about that now.

He quickly picks up the sword, the weight of it not causing him any problems as he draws and swings at a minus 2 on his roll to hit at the creature's midsection, yelling loudly to make sure he kept its attention on him. She was defenseless and that magic of hers was better used without interruption.

[windandrain]

The sword connects, biting into the demon's torso. Black blood sprays out, splattering across the gleaming shield as Saori watches, baffled. Where had...how had...what was that?!

The daemonette, however, recovers quickly from the strike, pulling back its enormous scythe and sweeping it in an arc. This time not at Vegeta, oh no! But at Saori, who's definitely not ready for it, stunned as she is!

[misterbrief]

No. That's exactly what he was trying to avoid happening, panicking slightly as the blade came down at Saori. His hand goes out, with what would have normally been a blast, reaching for something, anything to save her from being sliced in half.

Instead, there's a small flash of light and the creature's blade stops as its face twists up in fear, taking quite a few steps back from the two of them and covering its eyes. It shrieks again, shaking from the holy light that came from him, unable to move for the moment.

Vegeta however, looks stunned and is trying to figure out exactly what he did. He quickly shakes it off, raising the sword in front of him. This is why he started to learn to use a sword, isn't it? For this exactly situation? He hopes the time he took to practice would pay off, charging at the beast.

[windandrain]

Her eyes go white when she realizes what's happening, and where that strike is aimed. She tries to step back, but in her shock she stumbles backwards and falls. Closing her eyes, she tries to set herself for the strike, call up whatever she did to Vegeta for aid. But she's too afraid...and a little too angry.

Whatever it is that Vegeta does, it barely registers when she opens her eyes to see her friend charging in. At a creature that's obviously terrified. And as always, her malicious side takes over. It tried to kill us. But now it's afraid... she grins, extending her right hand on reflex.

"Die, fiend!" she snarls, and more of that shadowy power explodes out of her fingertips, striking the demon. It shrieks in agony, paralyzed for a moment as Vegeta closes in!

[misterbrief]

He has no idea what she just did, but he doesn't care- he sees the opportunity presented to him, and takes full advantage of it. He puts the sword right through its belly with a giant spark of light, twisting and pulling up just as Souji had showed him, aided by the holy energy given off from the blade. But he doesn't stop there, the blade is removed quickly and he parries the scythe off to the side, slicing upwards cleanly into the arm socket, separating its arm from its body.

The creature wails, careening backward, blood spurting out and landing on the Saiyan as it catches its balance. It's not through with him, lunging out now with the claw of its other hand at his neck.

[windandrain]

During the exchange, Saori's making her way to her feet. It's clumsier than she'd like, but some of her reflexes remain, so it's not hampered by her gown. Watching Vegeta, she can't help but be glad she'd taught him what she could. His movements may not be right, but he does at least look like he's trying to use her training. With perhaps a bit of Shinsengumi flair.

When it lunges, Saori's hand flies out again, and a blast of shadow rips through the demon's chest. Consumed by the tenebrous energy, it lets out a shrill death rattle and collapses to the ground limply. Looking down at her fingers in amazement, it's all Saori can do to to keep her jaw off the floor.

[misterbrief]

The shadowy force rips through the air, hitting the creature, and he jumps back in surprise. He knows where it came from, but still it's an unfamiliar power and he's not quite used to it. Breathing heavily, he makes sure the thing is dead by thrusting the end of the sword through its skull, for good measure, removing it and taking a step back to look upon the beast. It was ugly and disgusting alright, not something he wants to tangle with again anytime soon.

He doesn't take his eyes from it, just in case it somehow managed to get back up again. It wouldn't be the first time, so he backs up slowly towards her, finally joining her at her side, eyes darting back and forth to her and back to the deamonette.

"Let's get out of here." He speaks quickly, looking in a direction where he's sure he doesn't hear anything creeping about. "Come on." And he starts to move quickly, expecting her to follow.

[windandrain]

Saori adds her own 'death-check' to his own, sending out more of that shadowy power and setting the horrible beast aflame with dark energy. It burns, collapsing in on itself, consumed wholly by the darkness.

When he speaks, she's quick to follow, her wits returning despite her anger. "Right..."

She had something to tell him, and she'd want her sword back all the same. But there was time enough for that when she's collected herself.

[misterbrief]

He doesn't waste any time, not looking back now, making his way through the trees a good distance away from any dangerous cries and wails he heard. When he's lead them to a point where he believed they'd be safe for the time being, he slows down, checking all around them just in case.

"There, I think we'll be able to rest here." He turns to face her now, a quizzical look on his face. "What was it that you did back there? That is nothing like I've ever seen, and certainly nothing I'd expect coming from you, of all beings around here!"

[windandrain]

She follows, moving into the secluded little copse of trees and taking a seat on a rock, facing towards the battle. Looking up at him, she cants her head to the right, shaking her head.

"I...have no idea. It's some sort of shadow, and...it seems they come when I'm angry. Like...when we were talking. I've seen things like it before...but..." She trails off, expression pensive. "It's odd. A kind of cold power, nothing like my Anima."

Pausing, she eyes him. "You did something, yourself. I saw it."

[misterbrief]

"Yes, I..." His voice trails off into silence, thinking of his own feat. He hadn't a clue what he did, it came to him in a time of need, without any clue how he'd found it.

"I don't know. That blasted beast was about to cut you down, and I tried to blast her arm off, but whatever that was," face contorting and head shaking with the memory, "it saved you, but not how I had intended. The only way I could describe it is that it was a positive energy, very different from my own."

"I don't even know how to call it up again. But I can feel it there now, unlike before." He turns his hand over, looking at it. "What's happened to us...?"

One of many questions he had. He looks over at her, confused, making his way to her and sitting down beside her, resting his forehead in his hand.

[windandrain]

Saori closes her eyes, trying to concentrate on her Anima but it was just...gone. In it's place, she felt something else. A yin and yang. Shadow and Light.

"I...feel different too. I don't know what's happened, but it's...well, it's not so bad, at least."

She crosses her legs, leaning back on her hands and looking up at the sky. A small smile begins to form as she thinks on that spiraling energy.

"Maybe it's something native to this...Azeroth? It doesn't feel wrong, to me. Just different. There's this sense inside me of...well, Shadow. But also Light. Two halves spinning in a wheel, like night and day. Do you feel anything like that?"

[misterbrief]

"Not exactly." He also focuses on his new energy. "I haven't the slightest idea how to accurately describe it. It feels almost...divine." But not quite. He doesn't feel like a god, but it's similar.

"Perhaps that's why I was able to repel the beast. Because it was a demon and whatever this new power is smote it...or something." It's a lot to consider, face crinkled up in thought. "Hey, what was it that you were saying about this locket before. We were rudely interrupted before you had the chance to explain yourself."

[windandrain]

"Maybe...it's drawing on me? I do feel there's a bond there. Between us. And whatever is in me now is most definitely divine in nature, it...not what I'm used to."

She looks over at him, tearing her eyes off the alien sky, and gives him a very serious look. The locket. Right, that was important.

"If we're separated, somehow, can I...would...you touch the mirror? So I know you're alright?" She's not sure how that might happen, but in a place like this? A new world? She'd rather hedge her bets.

[misterbrief]

"Hmmm...." He looks down at his locket, thinking on it. He doesn't want to touch it, considering what he had just used it for. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. If that happens, I'll find you."

[windandrain]

She gives him a serious look, eyes full of melancholy. She understands his reticence, but practicality comes first. Mental health comes first. "I just want to know you're alright. Humor me. It'll be better for me, having no doubts. This place has already given me enough of those."

[misterbrief]

"...Fine." He answers reluctantly, but he'll do it, if she really wishes it. "Is that all I can do is just touch it to let you know I'm alive, or is there a way of communicating with it that you haven't mentioned yet? Now would be a good time if any."

Secrets right now won't help them. Especially if they were to make it out alive.

[windandrain]

She shakes her head glumly. "No. I'll feel the emotions you wish me to feel when you touch it, but it's nothing like the journals in Luceti or a telephone. It is simply a mirror connected to me."

A good idea, though. Maybe she could find a way, in time? "But we shouldn't be separated. It's not like we've any reason to be apart."

[misterbrief]

"You're probably right." He shakes off the uncertainty. "We should find a way out of here. Those dragons might say they want to fight with us, but I don't know if I believe it. And where they may have the power to send us home, I doubt they will. They'd of done so if they planned on it. It smells a lot like the same song and dance we went through already."

[windandrain]

"Oh, I'm certain of that much. They want our help with this Legion of theirs. Earlier, I met a man who called himself the Doctor and he told me that much. Apparently one of the dragons talked to him more. Still, it...doesn't really make sense for them to call us here, change our powers, and then demand we fight for them."

She rubs her nose, irritably. "This definitely is the same song and dance. But hopefully we'll be spared experiments. And trips to...Dragon-World theme parks."

[misterbrief]

"Don't remind me." He doesn't want to ever think of that theme park ever again. "The one I spoke with made no demands of me. He only spoke that this Legion either is or will be attacking our home worlds, and possibly Luceti, I'm not sure. And even if they do, there's plenty of strong fighters that will dispatch them."

Vegeta isn't too worried, but he doesn't have all the details yet. Hopefully he can get more later.

"But I won't be surprised if we still have to do their dirty work. I was assured we wouldn't be but I don't buy it."

[windandrain]

"Well if they attack our homes, they're in for a real surprise. My family and yours? They'll break this Legion's back without a problem." She shakes her head. "And Luceti? The Malnosso will probably Shift them into an enclosure of their very own." She sniffs, feeling a little bit odd at the thought of being so smug about the Malnosso's doings.

"It's probably just a means to get us to cooperate. Motivation. I mean, I'm sure even the human military in my world could deal with...whatever that was."