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

[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."

[misterbrief]

He can't help but laugh quietly to himself over the idea of the Malnosso shifting the Burning Legion into a new enclosure. If they're getting into that realm, that means there's an entranceway- which means the Malnosso would have a way to this world too. He's not too sure if he likes that idea, but at least their loved ones would be safe, to a certain extent.

"Well, we're not going to know exactly what we're up against until we find out more about this Legion of theirs. I'll play along for now, until I find out what's going on. Listen, those guys I awoke next to, they've got some kind of shield that's keeping those of us here safe from the attacks from those demons. We should probably make our way to one to get some answers."

[windandrain]

Frowning, she closes her eyes, suddenly thoughtful. Could they trust these dragons? Did they dare? "Should we? Do you really think that's a good idea? I mean, the mage I woke up near said nothing. The thought of being used for someone else's war again bothers me, you know. What if it's a trick?"

[misterbrief]

"Do you have a better plan?" He doesn't like it either, but he doesn't know what else to do. He stands, brushing the dirt from him and looking around, trying to decide which way to go. He knew which way he wasn't going, and that was back where that demon came from.

"And if you do have a plan, hopefully part of it is getting us back to civilization." He's completely turned around, and he has no idea where he is. And if she doesn't stop him, he's marching in the direction that he thinks is west. And hopefully that's not a bad decision.

[windandrain]

"My plan is to use some caution, and not get dragged into a conflict that's not mine," she replies as she stands up, following him. He still has her sword, after all.

"And to avoid getting killed, used, or anything of the sort. If that means a long trek, then so be it."

[misterbrief]

"From what it seems, it doesn't matter where we go, all of it seems like it would point to death. It's just when is the question." His pessimism is creeping up on him. Trapped in a world without his normal power, replaced with something else that he can't even begin to understand, he hates it and it's overwhelming and stupid. He felt safer in Luceti, he knew what to expect there. He had plans to make himself ready there. Now he's in the middle of a battleground with no plan and almost no resources.

"But I'm not going down without a fight. Going off on our own brings more unknown possibilities to us, or we can seek refuge with those who claim to be our allies. And the only way we know how to leave this place is with those wizards we saw when we arrived here. So why don't you tell me."

Maybe he'll try to wring the neck of the dragon mage he met until he sends him home or back to Luceti. That's what he'd like to do.

[windandrain]

She shivers, trotting to catch up and avoid being left alone. Death. That was definitely a possibility here, she was realizing. And being left alone, with no power to protect herself, was certainly a way to accelerate that process. In Luceti, even against the Third Party's Shifters, she still had her skill. Here, as evidenced by the fact that she'd dropped her weapon, something had been done to take that way. That'd never happened before. And the more she thought about it, the weaker her limbs felt.

"I...you may...be right. But I don't trust them. Something about this...all of it...points to these dragons being as bad as the Malnosso. If not worse."

Her voice is unsteady, and if he looks at her he'll find her hunched over, arms wrapped around herself as she walks. Suddenly becoming powerless...even with this unknown, erratic energy...it's enough to really cause her nerve to fail. Death here was probably unlike Luceti, and even a week's death was enough to cause her worry. But ceasing in another world? Where she may not reform...? That was something unimaginably terrifying.

[misterbrief]

"We don't have a lead on anything otherwise," he says as he glances back at her, "and think about it. They let us leave just now. We could run off. That wasn't something that was allowed in Luceti. I don't trust them either but they did not confine us. But the question is, why. That's something I'd like to know."

He can tell she's upset, but he doesn't do anything to comfort her. She'd have to face whatever reality that had struck her so, so he continues on, walking and weaving through the wood to their destination.

[windandrain]

"Maybe these dragons don't have the ability to do so, like the Malnosso did." Saori moves along, catching up to him and not straying far from his side, her expression wary. "They didn't seem as organized. I just...I have a bad feeling about all this, Chewie Vegeta."

[misterbrief]

"It is what it is. We've just got to find out what to do from here. What you say is more than likely what's happening, but I also don't like the idea of some demons ravaging the universe either. Who gave them the right." Ravaging the universe is Vegeta's birthright anyway, as far as he's concerned, he just doesn't want to anymore.

"I don't get the feeling we're going to be winning anything no matter what we choose. If you want to go, then go. I'm going to get more information. Besides, if they're as disorganized as you think they are, escaping will be a piece of cake."

[windandrain]

"What to do?" She shakes her head, as if the answer is obvious. "Kill them all, of course. You're right...though, we do need more information to do that. And I'm not leaving you, you know that."

[misterbrief]

"Then keep up." His answer may be gruff, but he's happy she's sticking with him, even though he wouldn't admit to it. He keeps headed back toward where he thought they'd woken up next to the mages, silent so he could listen for any more enemies.

[windandrain]

And she follows along, allowing him to keep her sword for the moment. He may be a jerk...but he's her jerk...and the one familiar thing on this rock. Her eyes are watchful and wary, hands ready to channel the strange shadowy power she'd found. Hopefully they won't need it.