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

[wilder]

And suddenly she's back! He blinks in a bit of surprise. He's seen the ninjas of Mizuho be very subtle and sneaky, heck he wasn't too bad at it himself when he tried for spying. But...not disappear like that.

"Huh, maybe." They did say something about potential unlocking. Is that what it meant? "If so, you got pretty lucky there!"

[bloodpainter]

"Only if I can control it. I guess that's what purractice is fur. But I'd rather you know where I am..."

Conundrum.

"Maybe I can make it so you can see me and not the enemy, if I concentrate."

Thinking hard of hiding from the demons, but not the red-haired human, she attempts to start moving toward the dragon again. Once again she starts to blur, but now Zelos should be able to see her, she'll just look a bit... ghostly.

[wilder]

"Yeah. Try it out."

He watches her carefully. Even with his weaker vision, he can still make her ghostly shape out as he moves towards the dragon, doing his best not to be noticed while not being able to do...that thingy.

"Hey, you did it! I can see you just fine."

[bloodpainter]

"Pawesome!"

She giggles triumphantly as she makes her way towards the dragon. "I guess all I had to do was think of you as a furriend while I did it. By the way, I'm Nepeta Leijon."

Nepeta has joined Zelos's purrty!

[wilder]

Nepeta earns the title "Purrty Rogue"!

A friend, huh...

[Uh. Yeah. Friends. He'll try not to dwell on that thought.]

I'm Kaneis Major. [The lie comes without a second thought now] Looks like we're almost there!

[Sure enough, the dragon is now just a couple yards away. And so far, it doesn't look like any demons have noticed it just yet]

[bloodpainter]

Okay, I'll stand guard while you try to heal it.

[She's already moving into position to do just that, though given how much dragon there is to defend that's a bit of a tall order.]

Hopefurry nothing comes-

[A slavering, snarling Felhound chooses this moment to come barreling out of the woods. Nepeta growls under her breath.]

After us. Grrr... focus on the dragon, I can handle this!

[And in one fluid motion, her claws are out and she's lunging at the beast.]

WHOOPS sorry about the prose switch

[wilder]

[WOW WAY TO JYNX US NEPETA. But he's dealt with monsters before, so he just gives a nod to Nepeta as he heads to the dragon.]

Okay!

[He's hoping she can handle it. Kneeling down near the dragon's head, he scans the injuries and the dragon's condition, assessing what he should do. Once he does that, he takes in a deep breath and concentrates on a healing spell he's done a hundred times before]

[It's about ten seconds later, he realizes that absolutely nothing is happening. He tries again, but again he can't even feel that familiar flow of magic. He pulls back his hands and looks at them in shock.]

What the-?!

It's not the first time I've had that happen!

[bloodpainter]

[Unfortunately Nepeta has no idea what's going on with him, being distracted as she is by the demonic dog attempting to rip her face off. Her claws flash through the air, gouging it and forcing it back, but the beast doesn't give up easy and it's furiously slashing and biting at her every chance it gets.

Still, she's able to sidestep every counterattack the beast launches at her, even when it lunges out with those tentacles on its shoulders. It's as if her reflexes, already incredibly high, have shot up to all new heights. Trusting in these new powers, she lunges forward...

And her claws bite into the dog's tender neck flesh. It gives out a strangled bark in surprise, then gurgles. She pulls back and leaps away from the body lest it bite her in its death throes.]

How's it going? I think I'm still getting the hang of these new powers!

Sob just shows I shouldn't tag when sleepy

[wilder]

[He isn't too aware of Nepeta's awesome moves, beyond the occasional glance behind his shoulder to make sure there's no felhound behind him. Instead mostly, he's focusing on healing - or rather- getting his healing to work]

C'mon, c'mon...

[He tries again, focusing as hard as he can.]

O Sacred Powers...[But there was no power. It wasn't like when he was too low on power to use it, it just wasn't there. The only thing focusing is doing is giving him a headache. He gives up and looks outright frustrated when Nepeta calls out]

It's not working! I don't get it!

[bloodpainter]

What? Why wouldn't it work?

[She's rushing back over, glancing at the forest behind her nervously. Nothing else is coming out just yet but there are some nasty sounding growls coming out of it.]

Well... Look, if you can't heal it, maybe we should have to try and move it?

1/2

[wilder]

I don't know! I've done this spell a thousand times and it's always worked before!

[It made no sense why it wouldn't work now, when he actually needed it! Was he really this much a screw up?!]

Move it? This guy's gotta weigh a ton! No way we can- [They were going to fail and it was all his fault because he couldn't do a simple spell. He gives a very frustrated sound, the feeling's are strong enough that his breath ignites into a quick burst of flames]

[wilder]

[Which okay, that's enough to get him off his self-berating train and look dumbstruck because SERIOUSLY. WHAT WAS THAT?]

Uh-

Was that fire?

[bloodpainter]

[She's about to point out that they don't really have any other options, and at least they could try, when suddenly, fire. She blinks in utter confusion and just kind of looks at where the fire was, then back to him.]

I... yes? You aren't part dragon or something are you?

[Not that that made any sense whatsoever, but still.]

[wilder]

[No sense what so ever! It even makes Zelos look at her and blink a couple times. Because man, he's been called a lot of weird things as a Chosen. But dragon? Dragon was new.]

Uh...no? That'd be...really weird.

[Weirder than wtfever he is! Or was. Or- you know, let's save that discussion for another time! Fire, right. He just breathed some fire. He's used fire pretty frequently in his artes, but nothing like that. But if he could do that, then maybe...]

[He tries snapping his fingers, focusing on conjuring fire. Sure enough, a little flame appears above his hand. He lets it burn for a few seconds before making it go out]

It comes easier than my fire. Maybe that's my new power? [But..how the hell would that be useful? Could he try using it to seal wounds? He glances back the dragon for ideas]

[bloodpainter]

Right, it really would...

[His explanation makes more sense anyway, particularly after he shows off his apparent new ability to create flame. She blinks a bit at it for a moment, then beams widely.]

That's purrific! But... [She frowns at the dragon.] I don't really think it's going to help us much right now.

[Another growl echoes from the forest. Closer now. She hisses and moves back into a defensive position in front of the dragon.] And we might be running out of time!

[wilder]

[He turns to look at where the growl came from] Damn..!

[Turning back. Okay uh-]

Uh- oh! I'll try to seal up some of his wounds while you try rouse him! Okay?

[bloodpainter]

Alright!

[She jumps across to the dragon's head and begins trying to shake it, gently.]

Please wake up, please... We're here to help you, but you need to wake or it'll be pointless.

[The dragon makes a pained noise in response, but doesn't seem to rouse. She puts a bit more strength into her shaking, but unless he can help with its wounds it really doesn't look like it's going anywhere under its own power.]

[wilder]

[Zelos all the while sets to work. He goes to the open wounds on the dragon and summons fire again. Trying to focus to keep it at a heat that will seal the wound, he starts moving his hands over the injury- sealing them up with burns]

[I'm sure the smell of burnt dragon flesh is a very pleasant aroma. But he keeps moving, trying to seal up any wounds he can]

C'mon big guy, rise and shine!

[bloodpainter]

[The number three seemed to be the magic one, because after the third wound he seals the dragon finally lifts its head with a growl of pain. Nepeta steps back, but only a little, relief lining her face.]

You're awake! Oh thank goodness, can you move?

[The dragon rumbled a bit in response, apparently not able to form words at the moment, but began to rise up on its legs to walk, distressingly slowly, towards the safe zone.]

Alright, wonderfur! Just keep going, we'll-

[Her attention is jerked towards the forest again as suddenly a group of three spike-covered, axe-carrying monsters marches out of the trees towards them.]

Purrtect you.

[Grimacing, she moves up besides Kaneis, claws at the ready, glaring down at the enemies coming towards them.]

Oh, purrfect.

[wilder]

[He was feeling relief at the dragon waking up! yes go big guy, go! Standing up, feeling hope-] Yeah, go!

[Annnd then Nepeta draws attention to the monsters that are approaching them. Crap]

[At least he's not completely useless. He stands by Nepeta, drawing his sword and shield. He can help fight this time now that the dragon is on the move]

Well what do you know? A gang.

[bloodpainter]

Well, at least there's only one more of them.

[She glares down at the group for a moment before whispering to Kaneis.]

Let's team up on the one on the left, see if we can take it down quick to even up the odds.

[That's about all the strategy she has time for before they're close enough that charging into battle is probably the best solution. She ducks down low to the ground and rushes forward, hoping to get the Felguard by the legs and cripple it quickly.

She finds herself moving much faster than she'd anticipated. It's like the whole world is blurring around her. The Felguards seem to have just enough time to register the burst of speed she's put on before she's ducking between the left one's legs and slashing at them to hamstring it. It bellows in anger and pain and swipes at her, but she's already behind it.]

[wilder]

[he just gives a nod to the strategy, it seems solid enough to him. He lets her run in first, chasing after her burst of speed. He's much slower, he feels like his reflexes have all been dulled down and weights attached to his limbs. He can already tell it's gonna take awhile to get used to not having the Cruxis Crystal enhancing his capabilities.]

[But even so, it wasn't like he was without skill. He still had years of sword training, of fighting, of time spent where he trained to fight while using as little as his power as possible.]

[And so while he's not nearly as fast as Nepeta- by the time the demon is swiping at her, Zelos is in range and delivers a deep slash at its stomach. It stumbles and roars at the injuries. Another felguard that was stepping near attacks to swipe at Zelos from the side, but with a simple turn the felguard instead collides with his shield.]

[At the very least, he seems to be holding himself well enough to work as a long enough distraction for Nepeta to finish the one on the left off]

[bloodpainter]

[Indeed, with the damage done to the demon a couple more good hits should be all it takes. Nepeta slams her claws into its back, causing it to reel, then slams her other set in and yanks apart, tearing its back open. The demon howls as collapses, the blood loss from the finishing move proving too much for it.

Wasting no time, Nepeta moves to the felguard attacking Zelos's shielded side, her left claw daring out to strike its unarmed arm. It roars and swipes at her, but she ducks at the last second, evading masterfully. The third and last one comes up on its friend's side to swing down at her, but just as it's about to bring its axe down, she's gone.

Only to reappear right behind it, snarling viciously as she slashes at its back.]

[wilder]

[She is really impressive with how well she moves, Zelos feels sluggish just looking at her out of the corner of his eye. But a corner of the eye glance is all he can spare, being in a fight like this right now. He'll take on that second one that was attacking his shield. While it's reeling from the pain of it's arm, he uses the distraction to cleave his sword into it's neck- cutting halfway through until his sword hits the bone.]

[It's those few seconds when he's prying that sword out of the dying demon that leave him open. When Nepeta slashes the last one in the back, it gives out a snarling roar and swings that axe out in front of him- hitting Zelos in the shoulder with with a blade. He makes a pained noise and stumbles back.]

[Ow. But at least he stays on his feet.]

[bloodpainter]

[Fortunately, though he might be injured the demons are down to one and the dragon is still lumbering away.

Ripping into the last one from behind, spurred on by seeing the others fall and angered by seeing her new ally get hurt, Nepeta jabs the beast in the side, getting in a kidney blow that causes it to stagger, dazed. She takes advantage of the moment to leap onto its back, avoiding the spikes, and brings both sets of claws up and over its throat.

One quick slash, and it's falling to the ground, collapsing in a gurgling rush of blood. She drops behind it, panting a little but grinning in victory.]

That's the last of them. How are you? I'm still unhurt, it's like I could see all of their moves befur they made them.