Dragonsouls-The Sorrow of Tarasque (Open LSU's)

[Weasel Overlord]

Dragonsouls-The sorrow of Tarasque (It Starts! Limited LSU's only)

A mighty roar shook the earth and shattered the silence of the volcanoes around Tarasque’s lair.

~Gone!~ She howled ~He’s gone!~

And the fires burned brighter...


The riddle of the Fire-Children goes as such:

Dominatus Tarasque
Gemellus absque Chiono
Privatio per privatio
Infans ignigena
Accedo ubivis insum.

Passed down throughout the centuries, the riddle has been translated from its original Latin form into modern-day English.

The translation reads:

The power of Tarasque
Twinned with Chiono
Released through release
To the child of fire
It will belong.

It is suspected, however that vital aspects of the riddle have been lost in translation...


First born was Beowulf of the Earth, and the Earth was created upon his arrival. Next came Tiamat of the Air, and the sky above was created. Third was Sigurd of the Seas, fourth Marduk of the Storms, then Eurythion was born. Darkest of all, of the Darkness he came and the Darkness of our world did he create. For balance, Indra of the Light was born and her purity did compliment the Darkness of Eurythion. Last came Tarasque of the Fire, and Sastrugen of the Snow. Twins. Bonded, unlike the rest through their souls. This bond is unbreakable by normal means and powerful beyond all belief. Direct opposites are Tarasque and Sastrugen. Together they cannot be, but apart they cannot live.

Upon the births of the Dragons, a group of humans were created at various points in time to live with them.-The Wind Riders they are named. They share a telepathic bond with their Dragon and they are created with aspects of their Dragon’s natures. They are mostly permanent companions for the Dragons. The Wind Riders live in places easily reachable by their Dragons that corresponds with their element.

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Oo-kay...basically dudes, you can be one of three lots of characters; Fire-Children, Dragons, or Wind Riders, it’s your choice! I also could do with a player wanting to be someone important…if you want this part, then just say and I’ll tell you the details. One person only, though!
Sooo...here come the Dragon descriptions and feel free to use your creative licence, but try to use colours that correspond with the Dragon’s elements, ok? I’m not gonna go into too much detail on their appearances, it’s up to the player what they want them to look like!
Each Dragon can transform into an animal as camouflage from Human eyes. Suggestions for the animals are with the Dragon descriptions, creative licence is allowed but try to keep appropriate to the Dragon’s element. The animal is the Dragon’s choice. Each Dragon also has a gem which the Wind Riders can summon their Dragon forms with. Most of the time the Dragons stay in their animal forms, unless they are somewhere out of sight.

Dragon Descriptions.

Beowulf of the Earth-First born.

He commands the Earth. (As in rocks etc.)
He has a calm and steadfast nature and he is rather slow-thinking. Beowulf has a small wingspan, as he rarely leaves the ground. He is quite stocky and exceptionally hard to budge.
Animal suggestion-Wolf, naturally, chameleon, mole, etc.
Gem-Amber.

Tiamat of the Air-Second born.

She commands the air and the winds.
She is light-hearted, she has a kindly nature and she is extremely quick-thinking. The total opposite of her brother, Beowulf. She is fast and she has slender wings.
Animal suggestion-Bird, duh!
Gem-Sapphire.

Sigurd of the Seas-Third born.

She commands water.
She has a changeable nature, being sometimes calm and other times rough.
Animal suggestion-Marine animal of some sort, preferably land capable. Eg: seal, otter etc.
Gem-Aquamarine.

Marduk of the Storms-Fourth born.

He commands thunder and lightning.
He is tempestuous with a stormy temper and he is heavy but very fast in flight.
Animal suggestion-Bear, possibly. It fits with Marduk’s personality, anyway.
Gem-Obsidian.

Eurythion of the Darkness-Fifth born.

He has breath of pure darkness.
He has a huge wingspan with slender, sharp claws like black daggers. He is cruel and unpredictable and quite vengeful when it suits him.
Animal suggestion-er, something black? Possibly a panther...other ideas welcome.
Gem-Jet.

Indra of the Light-Sixth born.

She controls light.
She is small and lithe, very agile in flight with feathered wings and opal eyes. She is calm and loving with a peaceful nature.
Animal suggestion-Snowy owl.
Gem-Opal.

Tarasque of the Fire-Seventh born.

She controls fire.
She is fiery tempered but she has a warm heart.
Animal suggestion-Red fox.
Gem-Ruby.

Sastrugen of the Snow-Seventh born.

He controls ice and snow.
He has cold mannerisms and a quiet nature and he likes to live in seclusion.
He is sometimes known as Chiono.
(Tarasque and Sastrugen are twins, hence they are both Seventh born!)
Animal suggestion-Arctic fox, as he and Tarasque are twins, try to keep the animals similar, like different types of fox etc.
Gem-Diamond.

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The sect of the Fire-Children are worshippers of Tarasque of the Fire, and they follow a riddle passed down through generations. The riddle concerns the soul-bond between Tarasque and Chiono and its breaking. They believe that the severance of this bond will result in the Child of Fire, or the Fire-Children, obtaining ultimate power over humanity.
The Fire-Children sect is broken down into four different classes. These being; Bard, Warrior, Monk and Sorcerer. Each has it’s own abilities and specialities, weaknesses and strengths.
All of the members have an affinity with fire and certain abilities that are there because of this affinity, however there are also some so-called ‘rejects’ who haven’t any skill with the conjuring of fire, instead, they have a negative effect upon it. They act as sort of…fire extinguishers for want of a better word!

These are the class descriptions for the Fire-Children:

Bard.

Creates fire attacks when they play their music. Intensity and power varies upon talent, music type and threat. Because of this, all bards need an instrument, either a physical one or they can use their voices. The bards act as the recorders in the sect. They teach the Riddle to new members and record new information in the archives. The first bard of the Fire-Children is said to be the one who first recorded the Riddle.
For the ‘reject’ type characters, the bard can extinguish fire when they play. They have the opposite effect on it!

Warrior.

Has limited magic use, this being fire or other related magicks. Warriors rely upon their physical strength in battle and they tend to use various types of sword, axe or exotic weapon. They are extremely skilled in the usage of their chosen weapon. Usually having a fair few years of practice under their belts. The warriors carry out all the Fire-Childrens' various jobs or ‘dirty work’.

Monk.

Uses healing magic rather that offensive. Their healing is fire-based and they tend to dislike fighting, preferring to stay on the sidelines and looking after the wounded. The monks act as the seers of the sect, most of them having some form of psychic power which is usually used to obtain information which is of use to the sect.
Monk ‘rejects’ tend to use other means of healing besides fire, having no skill with it.

Sorcerer.

Uses all offensive, fire-based magicks and they have only limited healing powers.-Usually one spell, if that. The sorcerers form lines behind the warriors in battle, firing spells over their heads at the enemy.
There are very few ‘reject’ sorcerers, as their class means that they have to be powerful and proficient in their use of the fire magic.

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The Wind Riders are the soul mates of the Dragons. They aren’t with their Dragon from the beginning, however. Instead, they are born at various points in time, unpredictable in where and when, however, but the Dragons know when they have been born and they find them as soon as they can. When the Wind Riders have been Found by their Dragon, they undertake training by the Dragon in battle, lore, and various dangers of being a Wind Rider. The newly Found Wind Riders are given weapons which suit their abilities and the affinities of their Dragon.
The Wind Riders share a telepathic bond with their Dragons which allows then to communicate without the use of words.

Now, as there's only one Dragon left, I'll only post the Dragon form...Any takers for Sigurd?

Dragon form.

Name:
Sex: (Beowulf, Marduk, Eurythion and Sastrugen are male and Tiamat, Indra, Sigurd and Tarasque are female.)
Appearance: (See descriptions and use own ideas)
Personality: (Keep to character traits and use own ideas)
Element: (Beowulf-Earth
Tiamat-Air
Sigurd-Seas
Marduk-Storms
Eurythion-Darkness
Indra-Light
Tarasque-Fire
Sastrugen-Snow.)
Animal form:
Powers: (3 powers each, ratio of offensive:defensive
2:1
1:2
[3:0]-For the more, er, violent character.
[0:3]-For the more peaceful character. These two are for if you feel strongly one way or another!)
Gem: (Beowulf-Amber
Tiamat-Sapphire
Sigurd-Aquamarine
Marduk-Obsidian
Eurythion-Jet
Indra-Opal
Tarasque-Ruby
Sastrugen-Diamond.)
Other:


Fire-Children form.

Name:
Sex:
Age:
Class: (Choose from Bard, Warrior, Monk, or Sorcerer. Alter due to preference with one base rule for each class; Bard-Needs an instrument, whether voice or physical.
Warrior-Needs a weapon.
Monk-No offensive magicks at all.
Sorcerer-Needs staff, wand, implement for performing magic.)
Appearance:
Personality:
Weapon(s): (If any, must have a ruby incorporated somewhere, must be class-applicable)
Speciality: (Offensive or defensive. Also must state if the character is a ‘reject’.)
Powers: (If any, must be fire-based, class-applicable only. Include ‘reject’ powers.)
Relationships:
Other:

Character list.

Dragons: Sastrugen - Weasel Overlord
Tarasque - Bulbasaur4
Indra - Sakura12
Marduk - Bamm
Eurythion - Nabooru23
Beowulf - Emotional Faun chiko-sai
Tiamat - Ciaobat
Sigurd - Open...Anyone?

Wind Riders: Yxe (Sastrugen) - Weasel Overlord
Kalani O'Morain (Tiamat) - MarshmallowEgg
Seiryn Kerne Dashun (Indra) - Sakura12
Akingara Zamouto (Marduk) - Bamm
Siyann Eerie Tierney (Sigurd) - Vulpix.ck87
Stephan (Eurythion) - Nabooru23
Athanasius Pound (Beowulf) - Emotional Faun Chiko-sai
Minh Rho (Tarasque) - Ciaobat

Fire Children: Sairi Fiero (High Mage/Sorcerer) - Bulbasaur4
Malic (Warrior) - Weasel Overlord
Anoma (Warrior) - tiger_2007
Ignis Trucido (Sorcerer/Reject) - Djinn
Cen Meraera (Bard) - MarshmallowEgg
Oriyen (Bard) - Amdir Mallorn
-What! No monks? Whyever not?!?

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Dragon.

Name: Sastrugen of the snow. Sometimes known as Chiono.
Sex: Male.
Appearance: Sastrugen has pure white scales and a creamy underbelly. He's got silver talons at his elbows, at the back of his legs, and on the tips of his wings.
His wings are medium-sized and the membrane is a translucent silver colour. There is a line of silver spines all along his wing ridges which follows the line of his wing muscles and then down his back to the tip of his tail. His ail ends with two spiralling horns that twist around each other. These horns are very sharp and coated with small (and I mean tiny) triangular spines that lay overlapping across them. (Think like a monkey-puzzle tree). The scales on his body are the same apart from a space between his wings and head that is completely smooth for Yxe to sit on.
Sastrugen is quite a small dragon in comparison to his siblings, but he is no less fierce.
Personality: Sastrugen is cold in manner and he tends to dislike the company of anyone but Yxe. The only one of his siblings that he actually gets along with is Tiamat, who acts as the mother of the family. Obviously, he loves Tarasque but that goes without question as they are soul-twinned.
Sastrugen loves the peace of the snowy plains of his home and he hates being away from them, unless he is with Yxe.
He can get very angry and vicious when something he loves is threatened, such as Tarasque or Yxe, stopping at nothing until the threat is removed.
The only person he tends to talk to is Yxe, not because he’s anti-social, just because there’s not usually anyone else for him to talk to. None of his siblings enjoy staying in his lands, mainly because they are a little on the chilly side!
Element: Snow.
Animal form: Snow leopard.
Powers: Ice shield- Icicles stab up thorough the ground, surrounding Sastrugen like a shield. They are clear and anything that touches them is frozen instantly.
Blizzard touch- An icy wind surrounds Sastrugen’s claws, freezing on contact with an enemy.
Frostbite- A layer of ice and frost covers Sastrugen’s teeth and mouth, allowing him to breathe icicles and when he bites, his enemy becomes frozen, making the wounds heal a lot slower, if at all.
Ratio of offensive: defensive: 2:1
Gem: Diamond.
Other: He speaks telepathically with Yxe.
His snow-leopard form has white fur with dark brown leopard spots. His tail has a dark brown tip and he has blue eyes.

Wind Rider.

Name: Yxe.
Sex: Male.
Age: 18.
Steed: Sastrugen of the Snow.
Affinity: Snow arrow-The arrowheads frost over during flight, thus making the resulting wound heal much slower.
Ice blade-The blades of his throwing knives resemble icicles and are much harder for the wounded to remove.
Appearance: He has medium-length hair in a rich chestnut brown colour. Yxe usually has his fringe swept to one side, the left, and his hair is quite messy at the back. He has one long plait behind his ear that reaches to his shoulder, twined with pure white ribbons and feathers at the bottom. The ribbon is plaited in with his hair and he wears a single silver bead just above the feathers, holding them in place.
His eyes are a pale, frosty blue colour, mostly devoid of emotion unless he is in the company of his beloved Sastrugen.
Most of the time, Yxe wears simple riding gear in pure white-linen pants and a simple tunic, tied at the waist with a silver belt. The belt is lined with a set of throwing knives, all with identical diamond pommels and bleached bone, hiltless handles. Over his shoulder he carries a longbow and at his waist, attached to his belt is a quiver of arrows.
His clothes are fur-lined because of Sastrugen’s cold and he wears white, fur-topped riding boots.
Personality: Yxe doesn't really resemble Sastrugen in personality, in that he is slightly warmer in the company of others. He actually quite likes company, as long as people don't intrude upon Sastrugen's privacy. He loves the cold of his home and if he is anywhere else he feels too warm and quite ill at ease.
He is gentle but absolutely ferocious when roused. If anything threatens his Sastrugen the transformation is sudden and he gives no mercy.
He rarely laughs, but when he finds something funny, you can't shut him up. He has quite a strange sense of humour and he has a tendency of finding things funny which other people wouldn't even think of as being so.
He is very soft-spoken when he decides to talk, which isn’t often. Most of the time he is happy with his telepathic conversations with Sastrugen.
Weapon(s): Piercing throwing knives with diamond pommels and bleached bone handles. These knives are very sharp and quite long, in fact, they are almost dirks but for an inch of so. They have excellent balance and Yxe rarely misses with them.
Piercing longbow and arrows.
In addition to his knives, Yxe also carries a longbow. It is white carved ash, very supple and extremely well-strung. His arrows are long with white feathered fletching and diamond-tipped arrowheads. The diamond only covers a fraction of the arrowheads but it is enough to make them deadly. Yxe is highly accurate, even with a moving target, as he trained as a Deepwood Sniper as a child. He never usually misses his targets with both longbow and knife.
Relationships: Yxe is in love with Tarasque’s Wind Rider-it’s something to do with the soul-twin thing. They aren’t related, just the Dragons are. Don’t worry, it’s nothing sick...
Other: He grew up with Deepwood Snipers and learned all of their skills before being Found by Sastrugen. The Snipers, finding him alone and orphaned, took him in, gave him one of their names and accepted him into their order of the Elite after seeing his innate skills with a longbow.

Fire-Child.

Name: Malic.
Sex: Female.
Age: 17.
Class: Warrior.
Appearance: Malic has long red hair which she wears in plaits tied back with a dark, purpley-red bandanna. The front half of her hair (inc, fringe) is left loose and it flops over her bandanna and partially covers her right eye.
She has golden-green eyes and bold facial features with a long, white scar running from the centre of her forehead to the tip of her nose.
She wears a long, patchwork red skirt with bells on the waist ties. Surprisingly, this doesn’t interfere with her fighting at all, instead making her more graceful. She goes bare-footed and wears a Japanese-style top, which is red with gold embroidery, fitted at the waist with broad, short sleeves.
Malic is tall and graceful and a deadly warrior.
Personality: Malic has a fiery temper and an extremely stubborn nature. Once she has decided something, she is highly unlikely to change her mind afterwards, no matter how persuasive the argument. She likes the sound of bells and so she constantly wears some about her person. She is especially fond of her bangles, gold with tiny, tinkling bells dangling off them. In some parts, she is known as the Musical Warrior, as she is constantly tinkling during battle.
Weapon(s): Edged broadsword.
She carries a huge broadsword, completely unexpectedly. Malic is slight and the weapon looks exceedingly heavy but she wields it with incredible grace and skill. Her combat skills are unmatched. The sword has a ruby set into the pommel, round and smooth, it makes a good club when the sword is turned around.
Speciality: Offensive, physical.
Powers: Flame blade-A raging fire surrounds Malic’s broadsword and sears anything it comes into contact with.
Relationships: She doesn’t form close friendships usually, but she can have a relationship with another Fire-Child if there’s any offers?
Other: She has tiny bells in the ends of her plaits.
Malic acquired her scar due to an encounter with the Wind Rider Yxe and his steed, Chiono. She has sworn to slay the pair, hence her alliance with the Fire-Children.

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~He's Gone!~ The cry in the night. A plea for help to all who will listen...to the Sorrow of Tarasque.


~The Forests of Russia~

Yxe drew his longbow, a diamond-tipped arrow resting against his cheek, sighted on a far away bear. From his perch in a snow-topped fir, Yxe could not be detected by his unwary prey. He checked the tension of the bowstring, once, and then twice, and pulled back the arrow until the longbow creaked under the strain.
"Argh!" Yxe felt a blast of surprise and pain pulse through his brain as he jerked his arm upwards in defense. The arrow whipped off into the undergrowth, passing the bear on it's wayward path.
"Sastrugen!" He cried, slinging his longbow over his left shoulder and scrambling down the fir in an ungainly manner. He set off at a sprint towards the cave he was currently residing in. In the direction of Sastrugen's cry.

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~Sastrugen of the Snow~

Sastrugen, in his full dragon form, stretched out on the snow-capped plains of Russia. His wings spread out, he rested his great head on his foreleg and drifted into a peaceful mind-sleep. He exhaled, feeling content and safe in his surroundings.
Strange. He felt particularly sleepy this night - almost too sleepy.
Suddenly, the air was full of red mist and then people. Swarming all over him, subduing him with their fiery bonds.
Sastrugen had time to send a message through his mind-link with his Wind Rider, and his Soul Twin. Then he was gone, the air slightly warmer.

[Bulbasaur4]

Name: Sairi Fiero
Sex: Female
Age: 24
Class: Sorceror
Appearance: [Lookie HERE. She looks just like that... 'cept excuse the little exposure down below. lol... think Bikini. But anyway, she looks just like that and wears the same clothing except the black robe is fully tied about her body. Her skin is a bit more tan as well.]
Personality: Some... might call her a bit crazy. She tends to say things that 'apparently' do not make any sense. Occasionally talks to herself or things that 'aren't there' (or are they? mwhahaha.) Yet, she's very kind and always smiling. Rather cheerful and bright... but yet, she can be very dark and sadistic. So she's sorta bi-polar.. but not in the medical sense. That's just her personality... and it has a lot to do with her status and the power she weilds. Don't mistake her though... she's a bit crazy but she's very skilled and if you mess with her... well, her sanity might be lifted for a time.
Weapon- An intricate staff-like spear. It has a rod of silver, clearly embroidered with many ancient markings upon it. On the very end of it's handle is a red, spiraling jewel of red marble. In the center core, there is a ruby. Upon the opposite end, instead of a normal staff, is a three bladed-pronged spear made out of a diamond-clear jewel.
Speciality: She's the Leader of the Fire Children. Strange... because she's so young. But some how she has a tremendous amount of power and is smart. Seriously. So she's equally balanced.
Powers:
Crimson Strength- The power of fire bestows itself in a weapon. CAn be her staff... can be some one elses.
Warmth of Soul - A healing-based power. Needs a source of heat. The stronger the source, the better healing. If some one is terminally ill... the only way they can be cured is using the heat from Tarasque. Not easy to get or do... 'specially cuz she no likey them right now. ^^;
Fire Call - Manipulation of Fire. Usually consists of forming fireballs in the palm of her hand.
Mores de Fuego: A powerful defensive... slightly offensive attack that creates an almost wall-like creation. It can be formed to create cages or domes and has intense heat. Once she starts this, other Fire Children can add their powers to it willingly.
Relationships: She's friends with Affy! Even though they're not supposed to be friends...
Other: Nada. She might know a few more spells... but she doesn't use all of them. Oh, s he's got a Gyrfalcon named Shniier. He's kewelies.

Sairi Fiero
~ High Mage - Fire Child - F ~

"Shhh... quiet now, like little rabbits eating grass! We wouldn't want to alarm a blizzard... " Sairi whispered to a few of her kindred, as they slowly began to enter the cave of the Dragon of Ice. It had been a plan... not designed by Sairi, but of several others who were also high ranking in their tribe. It was designed, in whole, to kidnap or capture Sastrugen. Sairi knew that with this... they were supposed to gain more power. As soon as the bond between the twins of Ice and Fire were broken.

"Now!" Sairi called out, immediatly- like a beautiful dancer- she swung forth her staff-like spear. Instantly the jewel inside of it began to flush with red as the diamond knives upon the top began to flush with the color of blood. Sairi's own body was thrown into motion, and no longer was she the 'goofy little Fire Child'. No. Now... she was a force to be reckoned with, she was Sairi- the High Mage of the Fire Children.
"Fire Call!" She said and instantly her other hand which did not hold the spear began to burn with a driving power. Soon a sphere-like shape of fire formed in her hand, as she instantly thrusted a few of the gathered collected energy about the cave. The other Fire Children simply attacked the Ice Dragon head on... with various spells and other things. Sairi warmed the cave with her magic instead- using the power of heat to calm the creature and to eventually cause it to submit to their power.

It went very fast... swiftly like a summer's storm.
"Mores de Fuego..." Sairi softly changed, her eyes instantly swirling with a maddened color of crimson red. Her entire staff let off a humming aura of silver as she swirled it about her head... the aura growing, flickering like a hungry fire until eventually she smashed her staff's end into the ground. Like a chaotic chain of events, a bubbling, eye-splitting screen of semi-transparent red uprooted from the ground. Swifter than the eye could follow, it formed all around Sastrugen and over took him, sealing his body inside so that his powers could not free him. A few of the sorcerors added their own power to her spell, so that it grew stronger. Of course... the Ice Dragon was out, unconcious for now.
The battle was won and he was captured.
Sairi's form still radiated heat from her magic, but softly and slowly her eyes faded to normal and her normal personality overtook her.
"So... where and how shall we move this one? We should hurry... before his siblings notice some thing's wrong."





Name: Tarasque
Sex: Female
Appearance: [See HERE!]
Personality: Tarasque, although very kind and caring, has a fiery temper. If some thing goes wrong or some one messes with her emotions or allies, she tends to get pissed off fairly easily. When her temper reaches full 'anger', some times the fire from her body almost erupts from her body... which is when anyone who ticked her off should run. Although she's easy to anger, she does care deeply for those who are her allies and although she tends to be stubborn and bold, she tries her best.
Element: Fire
Animal form: Siberian Tiger (Her form has a definate reddish hue)
Powers: 2:1 (O-D)
Summon Red: Allows fire to be summoned from the closest source. (some times it must come from Tara's body.) It usually is gathered to form a wall... for defense. Occasionally however the wall must be summoned... in things... so then it destroys it. lol
Birth: Tara's body become inorganic and turns into some form of heat or fire. This can be anything from just a body of intense heat (you'd see her because the air would ripple) to a fire form of blazing flames.
Fuego en los Cielos: Only happens when Tara because extremely... and I mean extremely angry. Fire... just... comes from everywhere. Bah, you'll see if she gets that mad.
Gem: RUBY!
Other: Tarasque is probably the dragon with the best idea of humans. She can't speak their language, but she can read.

Tarasque
~ Dragon of Fire / F ~

Tarasque was sleeping, dreaming peacefully in the night in her slumber. Her cave radiating heat not only by her, but because it resided into a dormant volcanoe. It was warm, comforting and near her element... so Tarasque was at peace. Her wings were folded tightly and neatly along her strong back, so that they almost halved their size four times. Her long neck was wrapped about along with her tail so that she was curled up in the main cavern of her cave. However... suddenly a message, a horrible image of distraught came to her mind. It split her thoughts and her dreams like a knife stabbing into the flesh, and instantly her eyes opened. Strangely... Tarasque's eyes were normally blue, perhaps a symbolic showing of her bond between her brother. However now... they were red, glowing with red as if to foretell her inner rage.
"GONE!" She suddenly roared, her body's temperature rising so rapidly that it caused a few things to catch a flame. Swifter than imaginable for a creature of her size, she uncoiiled her tail and neck and rose to her clawed feet.
"He's GONE!"
The earth about her trembled, as her rage was rised. Her body's temperature and the fire sac which harbored with in her rapidly rose so much, that the air rippled about her from the immense wave of heat. She instantly charged to the mouth of her cave, and to release her anger and hatred she opened her gaping jaws. Her fire sac heaved, and instantly an immense, seering channel of heat spewed from her mouth into the air. Flames licked at the air, only seising when Tarasque closed her mouth. However... just as she closed her mouth, the volcanoe suddenly was no longer dormant. Her huge outburst of rage had awakened the fire that had resided deep with in the volcanoe. With a shake of the earth and a trembling before it's power, the volcanoe exploded into the sky. Magma spurted into the sky as large chunks of rock and magma flurished about, as lava began to dribble and flow down the sides of the volcanoe's mouth.

Tarasque's rage had been awakened.


( ^^;; I thinnk perhaps it'll take a while to calm her down... and probably only her own Wind Rider could do it. Oh... and the eruption of the volcanoe was rather... big, so I figure it'll catch the attention of others. )

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

OOC: I'm on my mom's realllyyyyyyyy slow office computer cos my home one blacked out for no good reason. Just to say my posting may be a bit sporadic for this week, until I get my stupid comp to a technician..

Muahaha. Sastrugen captured.

Dragon form.

Name: Beowulf
Sex: Male
Appearance: A very big dragon. Actually, the biggest one, since he's the oldest and everything. He's brown all over, muddy earthy earth brown, with greyish bits here and there, and the odd patch of lichen. If he isn't moving and closes his eyes (which are amber), he could qualify as a very big rock, or a small mountain range. Rather stocky, and obviously not built for quick movement. Beowulf has a single horn rising from his forehead, shaped like an obelisk. His tail ends in a club with very jagged-looking pieces of rocky spikes. His claws and teeth seem to be hewn out of solid rock; they're not particularly sharp, but meant more for crushing. His wingspan is immense, and his skin is very thick even by dragon standards, making him an effective siege weapon. When he rears up on his hind legs, he is exactly the kind of dragon kings would definitely not want to burn down their citadel.
Personality: Most of the time, he does everything slowly. Sarcasm, even in the bluntest form, doesn't work on Beowulf. He takes everything at face/word value. Rarely changes his mind about anything, and hard to convince. Relies heavily on others to make snap judgements for him, although he'll make his opinions heard if he does have any. Perfectly happy to hear his brothers and sisters squabbling in a loud manner; he figures it means they're all alive and functional. He likes living in secluded, uncivilised areas, where the only thing visible is the mountain range a couple of hundred miles away; it helps him think better and quicker - he literally derives his thought from the earth. To prove this, just lead him into a town, or any human settlement; you can actually see his eyeballs dimming as the brain cells evaporate away...
Element: Earth
Animal form: I thought, for a slow-blink-long-thought processor like Beowulf, something that looked equally slow but wouldn't cause too much comment... could he be a one-horned water-buffalo?? Or, by extension, any member of the bovine family..
Powers: Offense-defense ratio= 1:2
Earthquake~ Just what the name says. Magnitude is variable.
Club-everything-into-smithereens~ (Beowulf's really very slow) What the name says ^_^;
Wall~ A thick wall, of whatever earthy material is most plentiful in the area (ex. mud/clay in a farming village, shale/loose rock in mountainous places), piles up around the targets. A defensive tactic. it also helps Beowulf to think.
Gem: Amber.
Other: He's really, really stupi- er, slow when he's in a town. Especially a town full of people milling round and confusing his thoughts. And you may eat me if I in some way fail to post/satisfy/did a typo... >_<

Wind Rider form

Name: Athanasius Pound; most people, after attempts to remember his first name, eventually drift around to calling him 'oi, Pound' instead. The more creative prefer 'Affy'.
Sex: Male
Age: 24
Steed: Beowulf
Affinity: Earth. This does not apparently help him in fights, except that Affy always seems to have something rocky (or sand in the face, if he's in a sandy place, etc - it changes with the environment, though around buildings, it's almost always a brick) on hand to club them on the head with, even after they've very ostensibly taken away his sword. And when he actually hits someone with his crossbow, they always land on the ground. Hard.
Appearance: He's about 5'10", or 5'11", with a thin wiry build. He's generally scruffy and gives off the impression that he doesn't get enough hot meals. Complexion tends towards the tan side, with lots of scar tissue all over. His hair is a boring dull brown, straight and slightly too long to be called neat; he tries to comb it back with no visible results. Affy's eyes are nondescript brownish-green and his ears are a bit pointy, although he's certainly no elf. Often needs a shave.
He wears dusty, dark-coloured pants, held up with a belt and the regular cotton shirt, with sleeves rucked up to the elbow. Sometimes it's grubby white, sometimes it's pinstripe, or basically whatever he's got that's clean. He carries his sword on a wider belt of brown leather. His boots have seen better days. He's got a multipurpose long coat for when it's raining.
Personality: Of average intelligence, and can parse a few languages, though nothing too fancy. Athanasius usually picks up on things quickly, unless he's deliberately being stupid and wooden. He believes common sense is a necessity. Thinks and talks in straight lines, and it is very possible to piss him off. Has a bit of the philosophical cynic/pessimist in him. When he smiles, which is to say turns the corners of his mouth up, there's probably something bad happening.
Weapon(s): His rather ordinary-looking sword that is nonetheless sharp has an amber grip. And the crossbow (rarely in use) is a normal-enough one with an amber catch; it's mostly there for threatening people. If possible, he'd rather settle things with good old-fashioned dirty street-fighting, or, in desperate situations, just running away.
Relationships: Knows the other wind riders well enough to talk to them... except Stephan, whom he knows well enough not to talk to. 'Casual friends' with Sairi.
Other: Smokes. Tries not to drink. He likes the city, which gives him problems, what with Beowulf and all. He met Beowulf when he was eight, by accident - he ran into a rock while running away from street bullies, and the rock apologised. It turned out to be a buffalo, which turned out to be a dragon. He wasn't ever bullied since.
--------------

Compound Post - Beowulf and Athanasius Pound
Both Male|Earth Dragon|Its Wind Rider
"I'm dreaming of a whiiiiiite christmas..."
------------------------

On the street, or rather, in the gutter, Athanasius Pound stirred, whisky bottle in his hand.
Oh dear. He'd been trying so hard not to even take a treacherous whiff of the stuff, too. Because, as every alcoholic knows, just one whiff can mean just one bottle.
The extremely large gaur in front of him snorted, and stamped its hooves. Beowulf was at large, and Beowulf... Beowulf was worried. Athatnasius could feel it in the cobblestones of the pavement. The very silicates seemed to be trembling, either in anticipation, or in fear. He couldn't have told you how he'd know, even if he'd been inclined to. It was just one of those things he knew for certain.
Sastrugen, bellowed Beowulf. Beowulf didn't so much mind-speak as rumble; his voice sounded like different kinds of elements depending on his mood. Currently, it was as cold and hard as marble cliffs. Sastrugen is.. gone.
Oh dear oh dear. Beowulf was sounding alert, very alert. Normally, within city walls, he was dimmer than a dead bulb. He'd have trouble remembering his own name. He'd ask what a chilli was, then eat it, and have bowel movements. But here he was, sounding purposeful, vengeful, wrathful even. Sairi must have done something really stupid this time.
Even without the ruminations, even through the comforting golden haze of alcohol which made everything fuzzy round the edges, Affy himself could feel it: somehow, the world was a little bit warmer, a little bit more rouge, and a lot less crystalline. He was aware of Beowulf's gaze boring into him as if he expected him to say something apologetic, maybe, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have friends like these, I should've whacked her on the head when I had a chance and buried her alive. What he wanted to say was, I've known her for ages, she's cute, you don't just go and bop twenty-year-old friends and off them because they don't think like you, anyway they aren't doing anything apart from mildly irritating things, only now they aren't just mildly irritating but bordering on crisis-causing...
Instead, he said, "So what?"
The mastermind is, I presume, your ... acquaintance.
Beowulf was using words more than two syllables long. Bad, bad sign. "So what do you want me to do about it?"
Suddenly, Athanasius was mind-achingly, unwillingly stone-cold sober. Help. We have to go help.
"We can't help! Reason being, he's captured already! And I've gotten fireballed way too many times for me to keep count!"
Everybody will help. Beowulf said this with absolute conviction.
"We'll have to meet somewhere. And I am NOT going to that freezing place Yxe calls home."
You won't have a choice.
"We're going now?"
Yes.
"Do you remember how to fly? You haven't flown for absolute sodding ages. You sure you can keep in the air?"
At the sound of 'air', Beowulf winced, then steeled himself. For my kin.. anything.
"I get airsick, you know. Just so you won't comment if I throw up."
Yes.
"And we'll have to see all of them.. Even Steph- oh bugger."

[Weasel Overlord]

By-the-by, has anyone else noticed a distinct absence of those editing buttons on the reply page? i.e, centre, color, etc...it's very hard to remember all those codes!
---------------------------------------------

~Malic...Fire Child and Warrior~

Malic knew that she was only here for one purpose. She, like Anoma, was a bodyguard. Her strength was of no use in the magical-based capture of Sastrugen, as much as she would have liked it to be...she did hate that dragon...Almost as much as she hated his rider, Yxe. One day, she thought. One day, I will have my revenge. For now, however, she was satisfied with watching Sastrugen struggle under the dome of fire created by Sairi. She managed to tear her eyes away from his suffering and back to her task. Watching. For Yxe, or any other potential interferers. She turned her back on the struggle and scanned the frosty horizon. Nothing...yet. She tuned in to the words of her leader.
"So...where and how shall we move this one? We should hurry..before his siblings notice something's wrong." Malic turned back to the wonderful scene of a captured Sastrugen. He was bound tightly under a complex dome of fire magic, which was obviously causing him some pain. Good, she thought. Now to attend to the problem of getting him away from the cave...
"Can't you use some sort of dimension magic?" Piped up Anoma.
Malic thought about this and chuckled to herself. She didn't think that the Fire Children's magicks extended to such things.
"What about a helicopter?"

[Arnen]

Even though it is against my norm, I shall psot in third-person becase that's what everyone else is doing, and it seems it would be easier. And I, uh, decided to make Stephan a bit older.

~Name: Eurythion of the Darkness
~Gender: Male
~Appearance: He's a slender medium/large dragon with midnight-black scales and an indigo underbelly. A ridge of long, thin spines run down his black from just below the base of the neck, with a space at the base of the head where Stephan can sit. He has two large horns on his forehead above each eye, each of which is scorched black bone like the spines. His wings are large and sport several tears, giving them a battered appearance. His tail is long and ends in an arrow shape like a devil's tail. His claws are serrated except for the innermost opposable ones on the front paws. He has a deep scar across his left eye. Said eyes are a glaring white color with no visible pupil or iris. They turn a cloudy deep grey when he's angry or about to breathe darkness.
~Personality: Usually silent and calculating, with a great taste for vengeance. He is often snide and vulgar in his speech, and is the type to finish something off without mercy. He rarely speaks kindly of others and never admits to his faults, because in his opinion he has none. He is also a terrible brat and an eternal pessimist -- silver lining never appeals to him. The only person he doesn't feel contempt toward is Stephan. Eurythion has little respect for life and generally thinks human beings are worthless sacks of flesh. He has a very quick temper and sometimes gets angry over small things, and can hold a grudge for centuries. When he gets pissed off, it's a good idea to run for the bomb shelter and stay there for a very long time.
~Element: Darkness
~Animal form: Raven
~Powers:
Dark Breath: His breath is pure darkness. This can function like a smokescreen as well as a weak acid.
Shadow Meld: He can blend in with shadows and virtually disappear.
Astral Project: He has the ability to leave his body and see and hear things far away, as well as spirits and other souls also lingering outside their bodies.
~Offense : Defense Ratio: 2:1
~Gem: Jet
~Other: His powers all work best at night. He can also see perfectly in the dark... does that count as a power? Cuz I can change one if need be.

~Name: Stephan (pronounced Steff-ON')
~Gender: Male
~Age: 18
~Steed: Eurythion
~Affinity: Darkness - Darkstrike (which, yes, I stole from Final Fantasy... Shaddup! XD) His blade turns completely black and darkness swirls around it. An enemy stricken by it will be either be surrounded a smokescreen, or the wound with be laced with biting acid.
~Appearance: He's rather tall for his age, and thin but not skinny. He has an athletic build, sort of muscular but not a lot. His hair is blonde, very curly, and hangs about shoulder-length. His eyes are a stunning shade of violet and framed by golden lashes. His eyebrows are very fine and also a gold color. His skin is quite pale and with little to no flaw. He dresses in elaborate 18th-century clothes: a black velvet frock coat with gold cuffs, a white satin shirt with lace at the neck and cuffs, black wool pants, and sturdy black boots. The sheath for his rapier hangs at his side.
~Personality: He's a stuck-up spoiled-rotten brat. He knows he's gorgeous and flaunts this endlessly. He acts the gentleman, but is vicious and cunning at heart. He is easily frustrated and can't stand to be put down or bettered. He can turn around a conversation to insult almost anyone he's talking to. He is very intelligent. Often times he will badly wound someone emotionally and not know it.
~Weapon: He has an arm-length silver rapier with a large round jet stone at the base of the hilt, a teardrop-shaped jet in the middle of the hilt, and a pattern like > > [teardrop shape] in jet at the end of the blade to balance out the heavy hilt. The sheath is black leather.
~Relationships: Ha! *spits on relationships* Although he is rather, er, unfond (eh, I think I just made up a word) of Athanasius, who he likes to call "the dirty hobo".
~Other: *poke poke other with rapier* He has a lilting French accent.


+'~Eurythion of the Darkness and his Wind Rider, Stephan~'+

Stephan was content to hanging about his lavish hotel room. He was bored to say the least, and was presently lying back on the bed, his golden hair a halo spread bout his head, as he mutely stroked the large black raven that perched beside him on the bed. The lack of activity left him bitter, and as he sat up, intent on going outside for a bit of a walk, the raven froze, staring straight ahead. It positively emanated foreboding.

"Eurythion?" Stephan uttered as a sinking feeling overcame him. The bird, who was in actuality the dragon in animal guise, turned its head and eyed him with lucid white eyes.

Sastrugen is gone. Can you not feel Tarasque's rage, her grief? The question was not vocalized, of course; rather Stephan heard it within his mind as surely as if it had, in fact, been stated aloud.

Now that he realized it, the air did have a certain hotness to it that shouldn't have been there. The sharpness of objects seemed to have blurred somewhat, as if seen through a thin veil of heat. Stephan leapt lightly from the bed, his brow furrowed. Outside it was the dead of night, prime time for Eurythion to fly unnoticed. The dragon himself alighted onto Stephan's shoulder. The boy turned his head to the large picture window at the far end of the room. Sizing it up, he figured a large-winged dragon would not fit through even if he kept his wings half-furled.

"I suppose we must meet up with the others eventually, in the face of this tragedy..." he exhaled loudly, shaking his head. "Oh, parfait..." Eurythion knew what to do. He flew from Stephan's shoulder and perched momentarily atop an unlit lamp. Stephan backed up a few steps, thrust forward his shoulder, and ran towards the window with full force. The glass buckled and cracked, and he broke through with minimal damage to his expensive wardrobe.

He rolled as he hit the ground a few feet below the windowsill, going straight into a standing position. With a sneer, he brushed off the dusting of dirt, glass, and grass from his clothes. Eurythion passed into the night air, content to breathe it in, and transformed into his true form behind a tall hedge. Stephan sauntered over, in no hurry to see the other Wind Riders and their mounts. As he neared the huge black form before him, Eurythion bent his neck so Stephan could climb up into the hollow there.

Soundlessly rider and mount took off into the night.

Note: Parfait is not a food, it is actually French for "perfect"... My proofreader had issues with that XD

[Weasel Overlord]

What ho, they're back! Wonderful little shortcut buttons....*dances in a circle*
----------------------------

~Yxe, Wind Rider of Sastrugen~

Yxe ran as hard as his legs would carry him towards Sastrugen's cry of pain. He was in trouble, Yxe just knew it. If only he hadn't have gone hunting. If only they had chosen a less obvious place to stay. If only...Yxe slapped himself around the cheek.
"Snap out of it!" He cried to himself. "You can't help Sastrugen by blaming yourself..." He slid to a halt at the cave's entrance. He knew what he would find there, before he even went inside. Nothing. No Sastrugen, laid down, asleep. A feeling of dread washed over Yxe as he realised that he would have to call a meeting with Sastrugen's siblings and their various Wind Riders. There was sure to be trouble. There always was when Stephan and Affy were together for any amount of time.
Yxe gathered his senses and mind-called Minh. Although she was bound to know what had happened to Tarasque's twin, it helped to have someone to turn to.
-Sastrugen gone. Kidnapped. Call others. Meeting place, discuss.-
He leaned back and waited for an answer.

[Ciaobat]

Name: Minh Rho
Sex: Female
Age: 17
Steed: Tarasque
Affinity: Fire
Warmth- The swords are heated to high temperatures. Any contact for as short as a second with the blades will begin burn. Cut wounds are sometimes sealed by the burning, so they won't bleed, but they also won't heal to their original state. And, they hurt more.
Appearance: She's just a little on the small side, at just over 5'4". She's thin but not tiny, and has a little bit of muscle on her; more than most girls her size anyway. Her hair is silky and pitch black, hangs to her shoulders when down, and has some small braids scattered throughout. She keeps it drawn up into two ponytails or buns, depending on if she needs it off her neck or not. A few long loose strands hang around her face. She tends to wear clothing that lends itself to warm temperatures, like shirts with no midriff, and shorts. Much of her clothing is red, with some blue accents. She either wears no shoes or some type of sandal. If she absolutely must be in cold temperatures, she'll bundle up. Her eyes are a chocolate brown and are slanted.
Personality: She smiles a lot if she's in a good mood, and if she's not it's just as easy to tell. She can easily get into a one-track mindset, and tends to be determined about things to the point of what some might call obsession. She will occasionally boast, but doesn't really mean it; she isn't haughty, just a little playful sometimes. She hates to let herself or anyone down, and takes a while to recover from blows to her confidence. She's quick to meet a challenge, and she gives her all to everything she does, which is why she's so disappointed if she doesn't meet a goal.
Weapon(s): Two butterfly swords, such as these with similar patterns on them. A large ruby is at the bottom of each guard, and tiny rubies are sporadically incorporated into the pattern on the blades. They're made for chopping.
Relationships: Is close to Yxe, right? And she hates Stephan.
Other: She.. likes peanut butter? And she's pretty good with a hand-sized harp that she has, but doesn't like to play for people.


Minh Rho
~~~~`~~~~`~~~~`~~~~
~TARASQUE!~ Minh was hauling herself up a tall tree near the base of the volcano, hoping it would be strong enough. She had a strip of cloth tied around her face, in a quick attempt to protect her self from the ash that was cascading through the air. She was beginning to take on a dull grey look, like she was turning to stone, as the ash settled on her. Apparently.. apparently Sastrugen was gone. She didn't have to ask; it wasn't hard to figure out. ~Tarasque!~ Minh could do little to get to the dragon. She huddled close to the trunk of the big tree as chunks of cooling magma and little volcanic rocks fell around her. ~Calm down! Everyone probably knows now, we need to figure out what to do-- ~ She winced as a higher branch on the other side of the tree cracked loudly. Lava was beginning to ooze around the trunk of the tree. -Sastrugen gone.- Minh jumped. -Kidnapped. Call others. Meeting place, discuss.- Yxe's familiar voice interrupted her worries about the tree. ~Calming Tarasque. Meet where?~

[Bulbasaur4]

Sairi
~ High Mage / F ~

"A ... helicopter?" Sairi said lightly, raising a brow at one of her comerades as if she had suddenly grown another eye upon her forehead. Sairi made a slightly strange 'clicking' noise with her tongue as she shrugged and danced away.
"... I... was joking.." a faint mumble could be heard as SAiri clambered onto one of the large rocks in the cave. The ice dragon and fainted, obviously from lack of strength and from being attacked so swiftly.
"Alrighty... I gots a plan." Sairi stated, her language and voice turning back into it's reverted child-like state. Humming softly to herself, she twirled her staff in her left hand this time, slightly above her head as she began to chant softly.
"I think our little friends... the Feiros will help us."
With the calling of fire, suddenly two forms emerged from the earth. At first, their bodies seemed to be nothing more than a white, misty fog that seeped upforth from the ground. But with a sudden shout and a slamming of Sairi's staff, head-first into the ground, the bird-like shapes burst into flames. They were Feiros... spirits of dead Fire Children who had not been put to rest because they died at the hand of the Ice Dragon and it's rider.
That was what happened if you died by the opposite.
" Mai'tornak, maleonai feirgo fuego dira'kah!" Sairi chanted cheerfully in her native tongue, and instantly the birds gave a cry and with their own forms of magick... they seemed to attach themselves to the fire-like barrier that formed all about the dragon. With ease and great power by their fiery wings, the birds flapped into the air and instantly the ball of fire rose, along wtih the body held captive inside.
"Let us move now... towards our location." One of the others spoke, and Sairi gave a nod as she followed the others.

Tarasque
~ Dragon of Fire / F ~

In the heavy, almost intoxicating state of rage... Tarasque heard a voice inside of her head. A commanding, yet some how reassuring voice... a call, as if to bring forth peace. The rage inside of Tarasque's mind tried to grow strong, but like a cool stream of water the voice began to wash away the rage... the pain... the turmoil.
Tarasque's eyes seemed to fade lightly, the soft piercing blue flushing back into her gaze. The firey red color faded away... and soon she could see with a level vision again. The volcanoe still brewed and flowed... but as Tarasque's anger vanished, the volcanoe became less explosive. Still, Tarasque's eyes rested upon Minh, who was struggling in a falling tree.

With ease and grace that far surpassed expectations of a creature of her size, Tarasque went over to Minh. The trunk of the tree was cast into flames just as Tarasque reached her, and before her body was claimed to the heat Tarasque lowered her neck so that Minh could clamber on. Instantly as her human body landed upon her neck, soon to slide down towards the base of her neck and between her shoulder blades, her warmth could be felt.

Tarasque's body gave off a natural heat, which rose with her emotion and it was a bit hotter than normal but if anyone could tolerate such heat, it was Minh. The heat was slowly cooling to a more 'warmer' state now anyways, so it wasn't an apparent problem. Minh sighed as she seemed to be communicating with some one... and Tarasque simply out of the lava. Her giant claws easily sloshed through the thick lava, the heat having no affect upon her repellent scales.
" Yxe wants a meeting with the others... you're brother-"
{ Gone, kidnapped... I know of this. Let us fly and meet my siblings. Perhaps it will calm the rage that I suffer to stifle in this moment. }

Tarasque's strong yet some how poetic thought stretched to Minh.
{ I will notify my kyn. }
As Tarasque opened her large wing span, knocking over a few trees in the process, she took a few large and stealthful steps before suddenly thrusting her wings downards so that her body rose in flight.
{ My siblings... we must have a meeting. Flock forth to our calling spot. }

[Arnen]

Er, I can't think of a decent post right now but Eurythion and Stephan are on their way XD

[Ciaobat]

Name: Tiamat
Sex: Female
Appearance: Her body is thin and a little elongated. She's covered in tiny pearl-like scales, white with a slight blue tint to them depending on the light. Two enamel horns curve from the back of her head, and a short pale blue mane lines the back of her neck, stopping just before her shoulders. Her long tail tapers, unadorned and whiplike. Her wings are slender and feathered along the fingers. Her eyes are different shades of blue; usually sapphire, but they lighten if her mood intensifies. Some of the scales along her back are a bright blue, making a brilliant dappled pattern.
Personality: Usually happy and optimistic. While her outlook is as light as her element, she's not the type to ignore problems in favor of pretending everything's alright. She likes to tease, but is adamant about not hurting others unless it's necessary. What she does find necessary, she doesn't hesitate to do. She's just as adept at cutting as she is at caressing, so to speak.
Element: Air
Animal form: Peregrine Falcon, with very pale coloration (can't think of anything else fast and not too tiny x_x)
Powers:
Chinook- Tiamat's every motion is extended and strengthened tenfold through the air around her. If she swings her tail, a scythe of air may hit and break a tree 30 yards away. A flap of her wings while standing would throw colums of dirt into the air.
Weighten- The air around Tiamat becomes very heavy. The effect lessens with distance, but she can maintain it for probably 80 yards or so. Within maybe 10 feet of her, the air is very difficult to even pull into one's lungs, and movement forward takes great strength. She can still move easily, as the air will part for her. This power takes a little time to build in any one area, so if she moves too far she'd have to start again.
Mistral- Tiamat's body takes on the properties of air. She becomes essentially weightless, and can move with startling speed as such. She can also disperse into the air. To see her would be like seeing a ghost, which can disappear and reappear at will.
Offensive Ratio: 1:2
Gem: Sapphire
Other: Likes fish. Also, she enjoys an immense freedom of movement in the air, and she feels horribly constricted if she has to move through any other medium, like, say, water.

Tiamat of the Winds
~''~'.~''~'.~''~.'~''~.'~''~

Tiamat could feel it. The winds that flowed around her were suddenly warmer, just slightly, and then even more so. She pulled herself up from her resting place, her pearly claws scratching at the rock under her. Her resting cliff was lightly vegetated, with sparse grass on the jutting rock that was the perfect size for her to stretch her long body as she lounged. She scanned the valley and mountain slopes before her with sharp eyes. This was not right. She could feel the collective anger of her siblings flowing through her as well. This outrage was not only for Tarasque to be furious about; an attack on their own brought the wrath of all of the siblings. As she scanned her mountains for a swish of yellow hair, Tarasque's thoughts called to her. {My siblings... we must have a meeting. Flock forth to our calling spot.} Tiamat realized that the one she searched for may not have known of the situation. :~ Kalani, we must go with speed. Where are you?~: Her usual mirth was replaced with simple urgency. She moved forward smoothly and dropped off the ledge of the rock, letting her wings catch her before she began to fall, making a smooth, level transition from the earth to the air.

[MarshmallowEgg]

Name: Kalani O'Morain
Sex: Female
Age: 17
Steed: Tiamat
Affinity: Air Blade - Kalani's sword feels almost weightless and is incredibly easy to wield though it is so large and she so small.
Appearance: Kalani's skin is lightly tanned and very smooth. Her hair is thick and white-blond in color; it reaches to her knees and she leaves it free and loose. Her eyes are the color of the sky - light blue and sparkling. She's small, standing at only 5'1", and very thin, but has surprising strength for one of her size and is lithe and agile. She can often be found barefoot. Around her left ankle are several blue and silver metal bangles that make a tinkling, jingling sound when she walks. Her usual attire is a light, airy, sleeveless white tunic tied off around the waist with a blue sash and tan leggings only a shade darker than her skin. Her longsword hangs in a white sheath at her side.
Personality: Kalani is not one of many words. She is very quiet, and a deep thinker. She is very sensitive, not only to her own feelings but to others as well. You could call her intuitive; she can tell when someone is upset and on the rare occasion when she speaks more than a sentence or two at a time to someone other than Tiamat, it is usually because she's trying to help someone out. Kalani usually feels responsible for what happens to her friends and allies, even though she is rarely put in leadership roles. If a friend is wounded/dies in battle, she blames herself, though usually she couldn't have done anything to prevent it anyway.
Weapon(s): An edged silver longsword which she handles with ease though it is nearly half her size. There is a band of small sapphires around the hilt and one larger one embedded into the blade.
Relationships: Open
Other: None, unless I think of something. XD

Kalani O'Morain - Wind Rider of Tiamat
----------

Something's wrong.

She felt it before Tiamat called to her. Something was wrong. Tiamat was... distraught. But it wasn't only Tiamat. There was something bigger. Something was going on on a much larger scale. What it was, she did not know. But her normally accurate intuition was insisting to her that something terrible had happened.

<Kalani, we must go with speed. Where are you?>

Tiamat's voice was in her mind. She sounds upset.... Her intution had been correct. Kalani rose to her feet, scanning the skies. She spotted Tiamat not far from where she was, circling the area. Her hand rose into the air.

<I'm here, Tiamat,> she replied, running forward. The bangles around her ankle jangled without a care. <What is it? What's happened?> she asked. Her mind speak, though only heard in the head, gave away her concern.

[Weasel Overlord]

[Weasel Overlord]

It took so long to write out my post, and then when I posted it, it went to the wrong link...I went back, and it had all been deleted! That is so annoying!

~Yxe, Wind Rider of the missing Sastrugen~

-Calming Tarasque. Meet where?- Came the reply from Minh. Her voice filled Yxe with relief. He hated the feeling of loneliness that was pervading his mind. It felt strange and unreal, despite the fact that he had spent about 15 years alone and blissfully unaware of Sastrugen’s presence and importance. That, however made no difference to the way the he felt now. There was a void at the back of his mind that was usually filled with Sastrugen, and it was taking a lot of getting used to. He probably wouldn’t ever be used to the sinking despair that was washing through his heart.
Yxe shook his head to snap himself out of the depression and linked his mind to Minh’s.
-Meet in Russia. You know where. Tasasque to tell the others. Make haste.-
He snapped his mind away and sank to the snowy ground to await his Dragon-kyn. There would probably be trouble. There always was…especially when Affy and Stephan were together. They just didn’t get along for some reason. Then again, Yxe and Minh seemed to be the only pair of Wind Riders to actually be genuinely friendly towards each other. Although that could have been something to do with the fact that their Dragons were Soul-twinned. And that they were in love. That always helps! Anyway, the meeting was bound to be strained, and Yxe was determined not to let them squabble. There were higher things at stake here. Such as Sastrugen’s life. Yxe found himself shaking with pent up emotion and he bit his lip to stop himself from crying out. He shook his head and got back into control over his feelings. There was time for grief later.
Yxe glanced at the sky and gasped. They were here. And so swiftly. He gave thanks to Minh and Tarasque’s organisation and the favourable winds that had carried his Dragon-kyn here so quickly. First in the convoy was Tarasque, naturally, closely followed by Tiamat. She was the oldest of the female Dragons, and the one most likely to show Yxe some compassion for his situation. Soon after, Beowulf winged into view, his great, brown bulk blotting out some of the chilly, Russian sunlight. Then came Sigurd and Marduk, with Eurythion following them. His body like a patch of pure darkness on the air. Next to Eurythion flew Indra, the sun glinting off her flawless silver scales. The Dragons swept in to land, the draft from their wings stirring up a dust cloud that covered Yxe from head to foot. He brushed himself down as Tarasque and the rest landed. As soon as they had touched the ground, Minh leapt off Tarasque’s back and ran towards Yxe. She leapt at him and embraced him warmly.
“Don’t worry.” She whispered in Yxe’s ear. “It’ll be alright. You’ll see. We’ll get him back for you.” Yxe relaxed and embraced her back, crushing her to his chest as if she was being snatched away like Sastrugen had. He stepped back, out of the encirclement of her arms, and gazed round at the assembled Dragons and his fellow Wind Riders.
“I should have been there…” He whispered. “I…I was out hunting, when they took him from me…I should have been there for him…” He trailed off and looked at the ground.
“So if you had have been there…what would you have done?” Spoke a quiet, slightly lilting voice. There was a gasp, and Yxe looked up and into Stephan’s eyes.
“What if it was the Fire Children again? Not like you could have taken them on your own, is it?”
Yxe could have sunk into the ground and disappeared.
<Don’t take any notice of him, dear. He means no harm.> Spoke the gentle voice of Tiamat. Yxe took a deep breath and stood up straight.
“Will you help me?” He asked, shyly.

[Amdir Mallorn]

Name: Oriyen
Sex: Female
Age: 16
Class: Bard
Appearance: She has long, light brown hair that falls over her shoulders. Her eyes are a greyish-blue, and her facial features are plain. She is slim, and about 5'6''.
Personality: She isn't outgoing, but isn't particurly shy either. She mostly takes things as they come to her, whether she accepts them or not. She is very expressive, and you can usually tell what mood she is in by the look on her face. She tries to treat everyone the same, if she can.
Weapon(s): None
Speciality: Defensive; Oriyen is a 'reject'
Powers: Extinguish: When a tune is played on her Ocarina, she can extinguish regular fires, and to some extent magical ones.
Relationships: None as of now
Other: She hasn't quite accepted that she is a reject. She is frightened of her magic, but can't bear to be apart from her Ocarina for long as it was an heirloom given to her by her mother.

~Oriyen, Bard Reject~

She was there just to lend a helping hand when it was needed. Her magic was of no use to them, as she just could not get it right... therefore, she had kept it secret from the High Mage. Oriyen dreaded the time in which Sairi would learn that instead of creating fires, she put them out. So for now, she was there, a presence noticeable yet quiet.

Her Ocarina was tucked safely in its case, inside her pocket. Within reach in case she needed it, out of sight if she did not. It would only give the Mage another reason to notice her, if it was out all the time. And it was safer there, anyways... inside her pocket, it would not get scratched or broken.

'Now!" The word caught Oriyen by surprise, she had not been expecting it. Even after the Mage's first comment. And then... It all happened so quickly, and the fact that Oriyen had been startled did not help. She almost missed the whole thing, taking only glimpses of what was happening. It ended, to her it seemed, almost as quickly as it began. As the Feiros carried the great Dragon away, Oriyen watched them leave in awe, not daring to think of what would have happened if Sastrugen had had time to react and protect himself.

"Let us move now... towards our location." One of the others said. Oriyen nodded, glancing up at the sky once more, and then followed.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

My computer is still AWOL... Currently, I'm hogging my aunt's computer as my mother refused to let me waste her office clerk's time xD;; So, yeah.. Just to let you know I haven't given up on this rpg.. I'll hopefully be posting a full length one on Monday...

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

*drools all over newly restored computer* Now we're cooking with charcoal...
------------------
Athanasius Pound|M|Wind Rider of Beowulf
"Argh, Argh, Argh"
------------------------

There was cold, and white, and snow, all over.

Usually, the flights were bad enough, what with the vertigo and the weather conditions and the wind wailing and the yuk, but the landings were quite possibly worse.

Beowulf was big, which meant he had a lot of mass. He was also heavy. And while he wasn't the quickest flyer in the world, once he started he didn't stop very easily, and all that energy had to go somewhere, which was... all over.

Momentum kicked into action, and there wasn't a thing that Athanasius Pound could do about it, except try not to scream. He couldn't, even if he'd tried, because Beowulf hit the slush and the tundra with a whooph and Affy hit Beowulf with a thud and all the 'aaaargh' was winded out of him. The next thing, or things, they hit, in order, were a snowdrift, a pine tree, a rock, another snowdrift, a quite larger rock, a longer snowdrift and, rather finally, an icy cliff.

Since Beowulf was harder than most things, not much actually hit Affy, but the thudding and the whomping made him feel as if he'd been streetfighting, without a proper weapon, for a week and seven days flat; or in other words, mildly concussed. His dragon, of course, hadn't noticed a single thing and shook the snow off his lichen-covered shoulders nonchalantly. Affy lit a cigarette. (Not to show that he was still cool, calm and collected after what he'd just gone through, mind- if this was the case he'd had attempted to stop the shaking of his fingers. It was more of a reflex action that he performed every time he thought things were going a little too soddingly for his taste.)

He vaguely thought he heard Yxe say: "Will you help me?"
Beowulf thundered, Of course, and telepathically, looked at Affy expectantly.
"I'll say yes because oh gods I never want to go through that again," said Affy, on auto-pilot. "Maybe if I tell Sairi I'll withhold the candy for a month she'll surrender instantly. Oh, how I wish."
There was a telepathic glare from Beowulf, and it hurt. Athanasius sometimes disliked it when the dragon's senses were working properly; Beowulf made him do things his way when they were. He took a drag.
"What I meant was," said Affy quickly, rearranging his sentence, "sure I'll help because I want to save Sastrugen and the world's balance from certain ruin."
There was a soft noise, like the padding of a honey-pawed cat. Stephan had somehow moved nearer to him without him noticing it.
"Why, hobo," he said, with a voice that was several degrees higher up on the food chain than Affy's. "What a charming notion."
"Shut up, Stephan," said Athanasius automatically.
"Um, how about everyone else?" Yxe stepped in, albeit quiveringly, in order to avert the inevitable avalanche.

[Bulbasaur4]

Tarasque

With a billowing flow, Tarasque arrived just before a few of her other bretheren. She landed gracefully, her wings beating down against the air so that snow seemed to rise but instead of nailing Yxe like the others, the snow instantly melted. Usually half of the snow would melt, and half of the snow would stay in an arrival such as this... but her brother was gone. He was not near.

The snow would melt before her.

Instantly as her clawed feet met the ground, the snow sizzled and instantly turned to puddles at her feet, giving her about a two foot radius of girth. The water soon evaporated as well, and Tarasque seemed not to notice. Minh stayed upon her back, and at the hearing of Athan (short heh) she curled her head towards him. Her eyes narrowed for a bit, but her temper (usually controled) was a little at both ends. She bit back her fierce words that boiled inside of her, but she glanced at Yxe.
[ My brother is half of my soul. With out him, it feels as if my own self is lost. I will find the ones responsible and destroy them. ]
At those words, anger flared up within Tarasque which caused her body temperature to suddenly let off an extreme heat. Minh gave a slight cry of dislike, edging away from Tarasque (she had returned to her) along with a few of her siblings. The snow also seemed to disappear from around her.
<< Calm down Tarasque... >> Minh replied, and Tarasque gave a snort.
[ The more we talk, the less time we have to plan and the more my brother's life is gravely endangered. I suggest we hurry things up. ]
Tarasque withdrew a sigh, awaiting.

[Vulpix.ck87]

Siyann/F - 17/Windrider to Sigurd

With a relaxed stroke of her tail, the water dragon was propelled snout first through the ocean. The current flowed over and around her body, and soon the creature seemed to melt into the water itself, and was barely distinguishable, except to trained eyes. Sigurd literally purred her song, a series of slow clicks and deep throated rumbles, and she practically rippled with happiness. Not only was the water her home, it was her being, and she instantly felt at ease with the world.
As her lifelong dragon companion bathed in the ocean, Siyann bathed in the moonlight upon a low, grassy overhang of the coast. It was a beautiful night, and as the stars twinkled above her in the dark of the gloaming, she daintily dipped her toe in the lush warm water. It barely disturbed the surface, and neither did the dragon snout that emerged a few seconds later. Sigurd lifted her windrider's foot back into the air, and Siyann took pleasure in the gentle touch of the soft velvet flesh - moist yet not slimy - and the warm air upon her legs as the dragon exhaled the deepest of breaths.
Siyann smiled as Sigurd slipped away again, and her foot sunk back to the water - but only for a moment.
"Ahh!" Siyann gasped in shock, and by reflex she backed away from the water. Had she been stung? Her skin felt like it had been branded with a scorching hot poker. Instantaneously, a large sea otter landed on the shore beside her and shook its pelt violently. Flecks of boiling hot water stung her flesh once more. The peaceful mood was broken in an instant.
I am greatly worried.. I feel fire, and that fire is certainly of Tarasque. No matter this, fire does not belong in the ocean. She is ferocious.. Sigurd spoke through that sacred mind link, and Siyann could sense her pure fear. This alarmed Siyann greatly - mostly because it worried Sigurd, and Sigurd was well used to her sister's fiery temperament. Siyann's heart sank as the otter gazed up at her with it's deep black eyes, almost quivering.
"We should go check it out then," Siyann said decisively, and scooped the otter up in her arms. Sigurd was restless though, and squirmed until she was free. Anxious, she ran down the grassy cliffs and across the beach back to the village, with her windrider hurrying behind her. They reached her grandmother's inn, and Siyann crept up the stairs silently to her attic bedroom. There, she stuffed all the money she had into one of her boots, and put them securely into her white bag, which she slipped over her head and onto her shoulder. All the while, Sigurd made small piteous noises, very unlike her usual calm self. The reason? She had just received a message from her siblings of her brother's plight.
"We have to go.. they have Sastrugen, we have to leave.."
"Hush.." Was all Siyann could say to this, as shocked as she was. Sastrugen? This meant serious trouble. "Hold on."
She picked up a piece of parchment and put a pen to it, though had no idea what to write.
Grandmama.. She winced at the thought of the truth, started to write the opposite, but shook her head. The truth it was. Or something make-like.
The gods have summoned me, and I must take my leave of this place. I love you, and though I wish it wasn't so, I have to do this. Do not fret for me, as I rest safe in Sigurd's talons.
Wish me luck, Siyann. xx
Her grandmother was old, and believed every single legend of the dragons of yore. Siyann smiled - If anyone would accept the unlikely truth of this, it would be her grandmother. She placed the letter on her bed, picked up her harpoon, and departed back to the ocean.
Here Sigurd waited, her great beautiful head watching Siyann as she swam out to meet her. Siyann heaved herself out of the water to sit at the nape of Sigurd's neck, just in front of the sail like fin that ran along her spine, and the ridges of her long slender wings. With her arms around Sigurd's sinuous neck, and with a beat of her tail and a sweep of her wings, the two alighted not into the air, but into the water. The water was pleasantly cool once more upon Siyann's skin, and she grew sleepy in its light warmth. With the rhythmic beating of Sigurd's webbed tail and wings, so much like her own heartbeat, the water-rider (for that's what she truly was) was lulled into a trance. Her mind floated, and she felt her body sway and dissolve into a million water particles, and all she knew was the water: it's currents and temperature; the tang of the salt and it's roar; and as far as she now knew, the ridges of the sea bed far beneath her and the place were sea met land and air.. they were the very edges of the world.
North.. Said the dragon, calm once more.
What seemed like hours later but were mere seconds, Siyann felt herself come back to her body - her lungs ached and her eyes stung from the salt. Her flesh froze in these freezing waters so unlike her native land's, and with a lurch she was forced upon the grit of a rugged shore. Sigurd stood in front of her stretching her wings as her rider hacked up the water from her lungs, and then nudged her to her feet.
Now we fly.

It was a brief flight into the heart of Russia, as fast as Sigurd was. Siyann was almost freezing to death above the clouds that threatened snow, and the two hastily glided down to land. As they neared the ground the air seemed to warm, and Siyann spotted Tarasque and almost smiled and called out from relief.. But Tarasque looked heartbroken (not to mention murderous), and Yxe looked uncommonly forlorn, so the girl and her dragon curled up together silently to listen to what Tarasque had to say. Greetings could wait.

I'll probably take Sigurd if no-one butts in ^^ but i might not post for her too much. She's under Siyann's watch anyway

[Weasel Overlord]

~Yxe, Wind Rider of the missing Sastrugen~

Minh left yxe and walked back over to Tarasque. He felt her words through their mind-link but he couldn't understand their meaning. That was secret. Only for the Wind Riders and their soul-mates, but with Minh and Yxe's close relationship, he could understand at least some meaning, albeit vague, but it was still more than the rest could muster. Ah yes, the rest. Yxe had confirmation of Tarasque's help. That much went without saying, but as for the rest of Sastrugen's siblings and his Dragon-kyn...well, he wasn't sure. Obviously they felt Sastrugen's loss as he had done, but whether they would help him...
"Um, how about everyone else?" Yxe ventured. "I know that I can count on Tarasque and Minh's help but..." He looked around expectantly. "What I'm trying to say is, can I count on the rest of you?" The latter of the sentence came out in a rushed breath, and Yxe felt nervous as he waited for affirmation. Almost instantaniously, he felt a rush of warmth flow thorugh his mind. <Of course we'll help you.> That was Tiamat. <Is Sastrugen not our Brother too?> Yxe felt a ripple of agreement flow through the rest of the Dragon siblings as they nodded. Yxe exhaled in relief. How could he have ever doubted them? He smiled around at the Dragons assembled.
"Now, we need a plan."

~Malic-Fire Child and Warrior~

Malic looked up as the fiery imps carried off he nemesis. She knew not what the imps were, but she felt thankful that they were there to assist in the transportation of the Dragon. After all, he was quite a burden, and no doubt she and Anoma would have had to do most of the carrying, as usual. She didn't mind her place in the sect. SHe enjoyed doing the 'dirty work' as it was called by the magic-doers. It made her feel useful at least, and she didn't resent the magic-users, she just didn't understand it. At all.
As Sastrugen, bound and helpless, was borne ahead, she followed with Anoma, a good friend from the very beginning of her experiences with the Fire Children. They had joined at about the same time and, both of them having the same job to do, they found common ground. This was odd for Malic, not having many friends for most of her life, but she was drawn to Anoma in a strange way that she had never experienced before. For one thing, they were both warriors, which helped. Malic broke off from her thoughts and looked around, realising that she should have been more alert. The company had been walking for quite some time now and suddenly, they had stopped. Sairi was looking at the floor. She looked like she had lost something, when suddenly she sprang into a crouch and brandished a small, red stone with a cry of triumph.
"Found it!" She cried. Then, she put the stone back on the floor, to Malic's puzzlement, and walked around so that she was facing the other way. She held out her hands above the stone and chanted some words that were unintelligible to Malic's untrained ear. She clasped her hands to her chest, and suddenly flung them out in what seemed to be a dismissing gesture. However, a large portal materialised out of nowhere, with a loud whumph. The flaming portal shouldn't have surprised Malic, thay had arrived in one, after all, but the use of magic always made her jumpy. You couldn't fight magic with a sword. Sairi clapped her hands and the imps carrying Sastrugen disappeared through the portal, followed by the rest of the company, bar Malic, Anoma and of course, Sairi. Their job was to guard the portal from unwanted invasion, and Sairi needed to make sure that everyone was through before she went through herself. They stepped through and into the temple that they called 'home'. Sairi followed shortly and, with a word, she collapsed the portal so that it was nothing but a pile of ash on the floor.
"Mission accomplished, my people." She cried, to the sudden burst of cheering. "We have the Dragon."

[Djinn]

Name: Ignis "True" Trucido
Sex: Male
Age: Seventeen
Class: Sorcerer
Appearance:
Description - True nearly reaches six feet in heighth, barely a centimeter or two short. His build isn't extremely muscled, but he has lean muscle enough from exercise, though it can't really be used for offensive purposes and rather is for endurance. His eyes are piercing silver that seem able to fathom the deepest thoughts in the world and holding intelligence unknown. His hair is cut of medium length and styled in a way that small tufts spout over his ears with a curve at the back, and long black bangs that cover his entire forehead. Usually messy and untidy, he prefers it this way to slicked down and stuck tight to his head in an organized fashion. True's teeth are brilliantly white, but he isn't fond of showing them, and rather, half-smiles in a smirking sort of way. He's lean and lithe, and couldn't be much more aerodynamic for a human. He wears silver face paint in the shape of a crescent moon. True's moonstone implements are embedded on his palms and forehead, and gray with clouded centers (can be turned to red to give the illusion of rubies). They are pentagonal shape, and 2 cm on his palms, 1 cm on his forehead. These embedded gems are .3 cm thick.

Wear - True's preferred dress is plain gray linen pants and a simple gray and black tunic, on special occasions he might dawn a silver robe that covers this and reaches nearly to the floor. If he has to, he'll wear a deep crimson robe of the same style as the silver with neck clasps of gold. When wearing his pants and tunic he can usually be seen with a black belt around the waist and cloak in the style of 1600 France. His feet are clothed in comfortable, though hardy, black riding boots. You can't even force True into any type of armor, even in battle, unless it is extremely lightweight.

Personality: He doesn't boast a shining personality, but sports a generosity and kindness not found in most of the others of his sect. True is never boastful, and neither optimistic, rather he tells it like it is. Though he likes to express his thoughts in a complicated manner, he doesn't mind letting it into to simpler terms to cut time cost in half. He's witty and wise when he decides to speak, though he never uses it to insult another. Though quiet, calm, and graceful he doesn't fear to speak loudly come the chance. Towards other Fire-Children he as cold and distant, not wanting to get connected to any of them, and is not afraid to take a fight should it come to that. Passive-Aggressive at most other times, True can be the mediator and is adept as seeing all the sides of a debate. Intelligent and extremely well-learned, he has no problem with patience and is masterful in judging the feelings and moods of others. True has a completely lackadaisical outlook on his sect's practice, and desperately wants to leave, especially by the pressure of being so different. For all his intelligence, he hasn't yet had the opportunity to escape, and leads a lie in strictly following the rest of the Fire Children.

Weapon: Naught but his magic! True also happens to have reflexes that are only a step behind the step before precognition. Really fast. His skill with any matter of weaponry (including unarmed techniques) is infinitely lacking compared to nearly any other person that has ever used a weapon.

Speciality: Better Defense (Reflex) than Magical Offense; True is a reject.

Powers: True implements his powers through the moonstones embedded in his palms and smaller one on his forehead. Currently, the only way True is able to hide his reject power is by being late for any meeting, and acting as a bad monk rather than sorcerer. He is able to make his moonstones glow a vicious red to make them seem like rubies.

Luna Blessing - True makes a praying gesture and rubs his palm moonstones together twice to heal minor wounds quicker.
Cloud - True raises his hands to face level, and his moonstones cloud and spout easy-to-breath nontoxic smoke that can be concentrated to have a damaging effect or extinguish fires, or as a temporary barrier.
Blink - True teleports a short distance by clapping his hands hastily, then a plume of smoke arises from the spot he disappears and a barely audible pop sounds. If he teleports more than a hundred yards he becomes extremely sore.
Flash - True sweeps away his hair and his forehead's moonstone flashes, immobilizing the weak-minded for about ten seconds.

Relationships: None as of the moment.
Other: Besides being a sorcerer, True has a haunting ethereal singing voice to rival a Bard's though he can't and never will be able to perform magic this way.

History: True's mother, Glacia Trucido, was a devoted Fire Child herself. His father Ulexo was a middle class citizen of Gaudeo, a village of good tidings. When a battle with a group of rebels opposing the Fire Children's cause occurred just outside the small wood near Gaudeo, Ulexo found Glacia wounded in a small clearing and taken for dead by the rest of her sect. Glacia bred a deep resent for her kind in her months spent nursed back to health in Ulexo's home in the wood near the village. She decided that she was never to go back, and would rather lead a newer simple life. A year later, True was born and both his parents were proud but surprised by the eccentric moonstones embedded in his palms and the small one on his forehead. His mother new immediately of how he had a sorcerer's ability, and fled Gaudeo by night to leave her husband (whom she still loved) alone in his home. Despite her betrayal, Glacia had been one of the Fire Children's most skilled Sorceresses and she knew that if they discovered her child they would take him as their own. Fleeing through the wood, she encountered a fellow Fire Child near another battle scene that had once again arrived near Gaudeo, and she was struck down (her power had long ago waned when she settled) and True was taken despite her desperate effort to save him. Ulexo found Glacia's body later that day, and has sought True ever since. True, however, was raised thinking his parents were both Fire Child devotees that died honorably in battle with a Wind Rider. For all their lies, True has come to hate them and their purpose anyway. For all his intelligence, he continues to not realize that he can escape the sect just by showing his reject power, which would get him kicked out instantaneously.

===============
Ignis - M - Fire Child
===============

My own muffled sigh more than cheer was drowned out by the massive uproar of the rest of the sect. Even my "patient" was more enthusiastic than I was about it, and listened intently as Sairi went into some success speech "rant", blah, blah, bloody blah. I bandaged the male sorcerer I had been treating and sent a quick blast of healing energy through his wounds, good thing his damage was minimal. "Wait," I said just as he left. "Explain to me again how this happened."

The reply was just as shocking the second time. "I tripped," he said, and obviously didn't sound to amused, even more so when I let out a slight chuckle, "don't make fun of me you Monk!" The clumsy warrior unsheathed his sword and waved it in my face. "I'll kick your ass any day!" I took the comment with ease, and this seemed to unnerve him. "You're weird!" He yelled this midrun, dang there goes another patient.

I glanced up at Sairi again to see her finishing her speech, and the sect disbanded to different areas of the temple. Sairi directed several people as to what to do about Sastrugen, but mysteriously she locked eyes with me, and seemed to directly command through them for me to come. It wasn't unusual for Sairi to talk to me, though a monk I was also a valuable spy, and had done several missions to my discontent. Would it be the same thing this time?

I made my way across the stone tile of the main chamber and came to a stop in front of Sairi. I sighed a deep annoyed sigh and asked, "Yes High Mage Sairi?"

===============

Sorry B4 for making you have to interact like that, but I don't know exactly what to post at the moment... If you can't think of something for Ig to do, just make him go heal some other mundane patient, should bother him a bit. Yes I know that was short.

[Bulbasaur4]

Sairi
~ High Mage - F ~

" Come... talk with me."
Sairi gave Ignis a charming smile, her usual bumbling self coming to light now that the dragon was currently being contained. The portal had opened... and brought them home.

Home was directly upon the equator of the world, and it was always constantly warm. If that wasn't enough... their main island was surrounded by five other smaller islands- each a volcanoe of course. Surprisingly enough, their own island was not formed by volcanoes but was a mere high point in the sea. Perhaps long ago it had been formed... but as of now, there was nothing to provide evidence. Four of the five volcanoes surrounding the island were constantly active, but never erupted much to hurt their own island. Besides... they were fire children.
Sairi motioned Ignis still, even after he had asked her what she wished. Night time was falling... and the volcanoes seemed to cast their own small glow. After a brief and silent walk... Sairi and Ignis were standing upon the edge of a high cliff. From this cliff, there was a clearing that had a remarkable view of two of the volcanoes, and the beautiful night sky. Sairi seemed to look at the sky for a while... and the moon casted it's rays upon her. She gave a smile and sighed... and it wasn't until Ignis spoke again, that she turned her head to look.
"Umm... High Mage Sairi... you summoned me?"
Sairi gave a smile as a flush came to her face.
"Oh... I did, didn't I?" Ignis seemed to sweatdrop at this, himself used to Sairi's little tidbits.
" Yes, what is it you wanted?" He responded, sighing lightly and to that Sairi tilted her head to the side.
" Do you know why we captured the dragon of Ice?" She stated, her voice completely innocent and full of wonder. Ignis was dumbfounded for a moment...
" ... isn't it because the legends state that the fire children will gain power over the world or some thing along those lines?"
" oh... is that it?" Sairi's expression faded into a frown, as she sat upon a large stone that seemed to overlook the sea. The moon's soft pale light reflected upon her face ever so gently.
Ignis seemed confused, and for once Sairi was serious.
" I keep reminding myself of that."
"Isn't it what you wanted?" Ignis asked, perhaps interested in why Sairi was acting so strange.
" What I wanted? Oh... sure."
"Sure?"
" Well... the elders, they... they wanted it."
Sairi forced a smile as she glanced at him.
" When the elders, the council... when they told me the legend when I was younger, they stated that one day we had to capture Sastrugen. They said that was what the legend wanted us to do. They told me that one day I would be the leader... and that I would have to take on the duty of making the legend come true... and so, I have."
Sairi leaned forward, resting her chin upon her palm as she took her elbow upon her knee.
" I want everyone to be happy... the elders are happy and it seems most of the fire children are happy. Sastrugen killed a lot of their family members. Everyone... is... happy. That... that is what I wanted."

Silence. Then Ignis seemed to be unsure of what to do... he had never seen Sairi this way.
"Are... you happy?" Sairi stated, glancing at Ignis with intent eyes. They were sparkling... full of a painful tare, some thing that was odd. Offsetting.
When Ignis didn't answer, Sairi nodded.
" You're powers... they're what the elders call, 'reject powers'... aren't they?"
Ignis seemed to swallow suddenly, as if that was a very striking comment.
" I can sense who has what power... it's part of being the High Mage. I knew your powers the moment I set my gaze upon you."
"Oh... umm... well.." Ignis fumbled for words, and Sairi suddenly stood up. Whirling about, she faced him, a smile upon her face. This one... could not be determined if it was true or not.
" Do not worry. I will not tell anyone."
"But... doesn't that make you, dislike me? That... I'm unlike everyone else?"
Sairi gave a strange look, and its eemed as if she were hiding some thing- not about Ignis, but as if she knew some thing that saddened her yet it made her content all the same.
"Dear Ignis... why should I dislike you for being unique? No one asks for the powers they recieve... but for whatever powers they do receive, they should think of them as gifts- blessings. No... the elders are the ones who have true power. I may be the High Mage, but I am... simply their tool. I must stand strong and firm for the Fire Children and do as the elders say. If I disapprove of the elders' ways, then everyone will fall apart. Things will split.. people will be unhappy. I do not wish to grant unhappiness. But Ignis..."
Sairi reached into her robe, and gently she withdrew a gleaming red stone. It seemed to mirror the stone that she had in her very own staff.
" You have helped me many times. You have done things for me, and for the elders. I thank you... so please, take this. You might not have the power of fire, but this may help you. It's a Fieron Stone. Just hold onto it... and if ever you might need the power of fire, think hard with you mind... and a little fire will form around the hand that holds the stone. It will not burn you and it will not fade as long as you clasp the stone. Who knows... maybe it'll help you, if ever the elders doubt your prowess."

Sairi smiled, and turned away from Ignis. Walking towards the edge of the cliff, she stood there... her toes over the edge but yet she seemed perfectly balanced. She just gazed out upon the sea...
" Tarasque, you'll be coming soon... won't you?"
She thought, withdrawing a sigh.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

Athanasius Pound - Wind Rider of Beowulf
---------------

The cold was getting to Athanasius, or rather, Athanasius was responding to the cold. Bits of him he wouldn't have admitted to knowing he had were tingling, and other bits were, he was sure, quite numb. He'd managed to keep his teeth from chattering but that was about the best he could say about his adapting qualities. And the surest sign that he had that the cold was at least forty degrees Celsius below zero was that Beowulf's brain was working very quickly. As quickly as it'd gone in the middle of the Great Desert, even. It took a special kind of cold to emulate the effect. No wonder Sastrugen lived here.

Even as it passed through his mind, winking out of intellectual sight, the past tense of the word 'lived' made a little part of his heart go even colder.

As far as he knew, the Fire Children were really big on tradition. That was probably why they lived in the middle of a circle of volcanoes. Madmen, every last one of them. And there was a portal. Somewhere. Guarded heavily. With magic charms and hexes on too, in all probability. The one thing Sairi's letters to him never mentioned was the state of security in her headquarters. They often contained random information about what she'd eaten for lunch that day, though.

Right now, Beowulf's quickly working brain, transferring thought, told him that one of the most important things they had to do was to make sure Tarasque did not walk right into the maw of the Fire Children. Which was to say, she couldn't be an active part of the rescue party, because that was what they wanted her to be. Granted, she could possibly make all the volcanoes go boom and annihilate the lot of them, but that would mean Sastrugen went boom too. Or maybe the bugger would melt. He'd die in either case, anyway.

Problem was, Tarasque would probably swallow him whole for suggesting it. Or, more likely, incinerate him and send his ashes to the Fire Children in a nicely labeled envelope as a warning, or something. And they'd think it was an Omen, or a sign of approval. And then they'd slaughter Sastrugen on account of there being a sign of approval. Oh gods.

Or, if they decided to send a vanguard, he was pretty sure his name would be right on top of the list. He was arguably one of the hardest of the Wind Riders to kill, although he wasn't big on attack power. Beowulf was always useful in any situation that involved brute force.

Athanasius raised a gloomy hand. "Er, I have got a small yet essential point to make?"

Yxe nodded. "Go ahead."

"Tarasque can't go." He cringed, waiting for the inevitable hot-spa-steam feeling he always got when Tarasque was pissed off.

It came, with the hot breath breathing almost down his neck. Could you give me a very good reason as to WHY exactly I cannot rush to my brother's aid?

"Yeah, exactly. Why the hell not?" demanded her Wind Rider, Minh.

"Er... because that's what they want her to do. Go, that is. I have no idea why they'd want a rabid, angry, large, fire-breathing dragon for, but I'm almost certain it's not for something agreeable. They'd find some means to bind her, you know, they and her being fire-element and all, and then they'd have two of them." He tried not to concentrate on the flaming depths of Tarasque's eyes, which were unnerving him considerably. "At least, I think you'd better not go... it's your choice, I mean.."

[Djinn]

*Applauds B4* Bravo!


===============
Ignis - M - Fire Child
===============

I almost responded again to Sairi, but she had turned, and I kept it as the end of our conversation. I made my way silently off the peak, still clasping the Fieron Stone tightly in my palm. I left and withdrew to my room unfortunately on the far temple, which meant I had to traverse a lot of corridors. I passed happy Fire Children and even eager ones; there were no unhappy faces upon this crowd. I was surprised my own anguished eyes couldn't be easily picked out.

When I reached the rough wooden door of my own little quarters I quickly clasped the handle and bolted through, gasping as the solitary air filled my lungs. These times were the best, when I was alone to ponder; crowds made me a bit nauseous.

Usually in conversation I was either witty or confusing but in front of Sairi I found myself fumbling for the right words. Her outlook on the sect, as I had realized today, was almost as lazy as mine. I would have never guessed she was but a pawn of the elders, and those eyes didn't burn like so many other Fire Children but were almost like a small inviting flame.

The way Sairi had seen things had nearly changed my outlook within a finger snap, and I realized that it wasn't any of the Fire Children's fault that they might be blinded and surely they had to be happy about something. Was it pure lust for power that the legend might grant? Or was it something different? All my life here in the temple I felt the bonfire of the sect scorching me, but now as I stroked the Fieron Stone still in my tight-fisted hand, I saw in Sairi how the flame was almost welcome: a change to a bitter and cold lifeless land. Was the blaze in general such a bad thing?

Even as I had felt the unsettlement of seeing the High Mage so serious on that precipice, I could see the tinge of longing, maybe even regret in those deep eyes so questioning. I had asked her if it was what she wanted, to capture the King of Ice Sastrugen, but she had cleverly evaded the question. On that high cliff she had seemed to be waiting for something, like an old sailor's wife waiting for her lover's ship to come in. The slate in my head etched away to write again and again the comment I couldn't pass. As I had left that high maw I had wanted to whip around and scream, "It isn't what you wanted!" The evidence had been right there in those eyes, but somehow I feared her response.

As I went to bed, I opened my small window to embrace the steady moonlight from above. I couldn't help but feel it telling me, telling me something. Some kind of change was happening soon here, a reverse of power, but my mind couldn't yet grasp what.

===============

[Weasel Overlord]

~Yxe, Wind Rider of the stolen Sastrugen~

Affy raised his hand after a short period of thought.
" Er, I have got a small yet essential point to make?" He said, gloomily.
"Go on."
"Tarasque can't go." He cringed, and ducked his head slightly, expecting the outburst that followed. Obviously Tarasque had spoken into his mind, the look on Affy's face said it all. Minh looked furious.
"Yeah, exactly. Why the hell not?" She raged. Affy proceeded to explain to her fury, which looked like a formidable task. Yxe, however, totally agreed with him, but he knew that if he mentioned this fact, that Minh would break him. Painfully. He didn't feel up to facing her wrath yet. Not to mention Tarasque's temper. Yxe zoned in to hear the last part of Affy's speech.
"...it's your choice, I mean..." If looks could kill, Affy would have been fried to a crisp with the intensity of Minh and Tarasque's glares. He trailed off and backed away, holding up his hands, as if for protection.
"Much as I hate to say it, he has got a point." Drawled Stephan. "It's what they'll want you to do." He addressed Tarasque and Minh. "If you go, you'll be walking right into their home. Their territory. They'll find you straight away and then they'll have you both. And who knows what sort of plans Sairi has for Sastrugen and you." Yxe nodded in agreement.
"Well, we're not getting anything done hanging around here."

[Bulbasaur4]

Tarasque

Tarasque looked at her brethern, particulary at Affy who seemed to have mentioned the whole entire idea. At first, her reaction was that of a glare... a penetrating glare that probably could have fried anyone if fire were to shoot from the power of her eyes. Yxe started to agree, and it seemed as if almost everyone would agree except for Minh.
Tarasque smirked then suddenly... her expression totally changing from that of pure anger to a more calm, serene appearance.
[ You all give valid points. But... there is an aspect that perhaps you do not consider. ]

Everyone froze for a moment, as if they were hoping that TArasque would not retaliate. Yet she had another side of the argument... which was hard to deny.
[ While yes, my power comes from fire...and so does theirs. However, this is not to say that they'll have control over me. So what if they're waiting for me... with you by my side, we should still be able to take them. My fire against their should be most distracting... ]
They still gave wary looks, but Tarasque sighed.
[ Their islands are surrounded by volcanoes. if it appeases you, I will hide in one of the volcanoes... waiting. If things prove difficult, then I will join. Or at least until we can make a proper anaylsis. ]

Sairi

" Oh... what to do... what will happen. Will they come? Yes... they will... " Sairi thought to herself, or rather she mumbled outloud.
Then, with out warning... two figures appeared.
Elda and Ne'vex. One of the two elders of the council, very high elders that always meant business. Frowning, Sairi turned around but instantly her eyes seemed to light up.
"Oh! My two doves!" She said happily, and she went to them. They didn't give her the same reaction however.
" SAiri... the elders have discussed a few things. You must kill the ice dragon soon. Tomorrow would be the best time."
Sairi frowned... "BUt the children, they need time to eat candy!"
This did not amuse them, and Ne'vex growled.
" Sairi... we were the ones who created you. Listen to us or we will strip that power away."
SAiri bit her lip..
You did not create me, Tarasque and Vinali did. She thought bitterly, but simply fought off her emotions and smiled.
"Alright elders... I understand."
With that, in a few minutes... they left like shift shadows.
"Nirth!" Sairi suddenly called, and with out warning the Gryfalcon came. It was her loyal messenger bird... some thing that had always been dear to her. She smiled to him, and with out hesitation she went inside of her little mud-made home. The gryfalcon went through the windowless section and waited for her.


Affy!

~ Message from the one who brings you candy! A warning- we will be planning to kill your Ice Dragon friend soon! So if you want to surprise attack us... hurry! The Elders are pushing this, so I might not last long. When you come... I'm sorry. I may be foe.

Fight strongly!

~ The little dove

Sairi frowned at her letter, but soon fastened it up and hooked it to her bird's talons.
"Fly! Fly to Affy!"
With that... the bird was off with the utmost speed. Sairi sighed, and slowly she meandered to the corner of her house, near where her pictures and drawings of the twin dragons were- the dragon of Ice and FIre.
The scriptures... the passages.... everything, a lot of things... they were there.
A pain, a twinge of pain formed at Sairi's right side as she stared at Tarasque's picture, and she clasped it gently before slowly feeling the pain subside. She bit her lip again... and then she thought of Affy, of the others... of the elders and of Ignis.
Then she slowly bent her head, and softly cried.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

>< ....The browser deleted my post while I was typing it again!!!!!! *kicks browser* Apologies for relative crappiness of post. I've got quite a pile of homework today...
---------------
Athanasius Pound
---------------------

Athanasius raised both his palms in an inoffensive manner and took a deep breath. He tasted the flames. "Good point. Okay, whatever. I guess you can still fry them if things get hairy and they catch you or something. Er, not that it's likely."

Feeling as though he'd just braved a walk through the Valley of Fear, Affy sat down on Beowulf's left front claws while the others talked it out. He still felt shaky from being the focus of tarasque's fury; at least he certainly wasn't cold anymore. He lit another cigarette, and half-wished he was dead. Scratch that, he wished he was normal.

Beowulf did a dragon version of the pat on the back, which bent Athanasius nearly double. Sorry, I forget that humans are squishy. The dragon was a doer, not much of a thinker. He waited fairly patiently for the other brethren to come to a standstill. Tarasque was getting more fidgety by the second. Someone, somewhere, was definitely going to get fried. Soon.

A gyrfalcon alighted on Athanasius's shoulder. He took the small scroll of parchment from its leg almost instinctively, burning off the seal with the end of his cigarette. What's she writing to me for now? Maybe it's something like, Oh, we are going to roast that stupid ice dragon at dawn, hahaha, sorry to rub it in and by the way I had orange sherbet for dessert today.

Probably not... Sairi's not the type...

He was dead right about roasting the stupid ice dragon at dawn, but completely wrong about the part on rubbing it in.

He ran over to the conferring group, who were getting slightly nervous because Tarasque had started breathing smoke rings. "Oi! We better get going quick because they are really going to kill Sastrugen tomorrow!"

How do you know this? roared Tarasque.

"Mine not to reason why," answered Affy automatically, then collected himself. "Look, I have my sources, and don't ask stupid questions because now isn't the time. The main thing is we, or just me if you don't believe me, have to get there ASAP. I have this idea that the gyrfalcon knows the way. It's ambush or nothing, if you're following me. I'm going now."

He threw the gyrfalcon into the air, and scrambled up Beowulf's back. The great dragon rose into the air ponderously, displacing several ice-covered boulders as he did so. Are you sure this is wise? remonstrated Beowulf mildly.

"No. But I don't want my friend to do something she'd rather not do, and stress about it in the process. I bet she's crying right now. And you don't want your brother to die. Objection?" He didn't want to meet Sairi in battle, either, but that could be sorted out later. He wasn't sure he'd be able to hurt her, when it came to it. He... well, he rather liked Sairi. Hopefully not in a mushy sort of way. He did't have time for that.

You are right... The large wings moved slowly, using the wind force they created with each flap to keep Beowulf afloat. The others will follow if they see fit.

"I'm really gonna die," said Athanasius to himself.

[Arnen]

Sorry for shortness and lack of postage ^^;

+'~Eurythion of the Darkness and his Wind Rider, Stephan~'+

Stephan leaned against a large stone, apart from the rest of the group. Eurythion lay curled at his side, for the most part uninterested in the conversations of his brothers and sisters. Stephan's gorgeous golden locks had a thin layer of frost covering them, and he was pondering how to wipe them away without breaking any frozen hairs when a gryfalcon flew onto the hobo's shoulder.

Poor thing, getting its talons all filthy like that, Stephan thought with a smirk. Gauging everyone's reactions, he figured the mangy hobo had, miraculously, come up with a solution to the missing Sastrugen problem. Giving Eurythion a nudge, Stephan gestured vaguely towards the hobo, who was climbing onto Beowulf's back. Getting the message, Eurythion rose, shaking snow and ice from his massive dark wings. He bent his neck for Stephan to climb into the hollow at the base and stepped forward with the grace of a cat stalking its prey, despite his size.

"So, we're leaving, are we?" Stephan said in his usual disinterested tone. "Well, I'm up for some entertainment. It's not like I have anything better to do..." He flashed a malicious, dazzling smile at the hobo. He figured he may as well raise some hell while he was being all heroic.

[Weasel Overlord]

~Yxe, Wind Rider of the stolen Sastrugen.~

All Yxe heard of the conversation was Affy's yelled remark that Sastrugen was going to die. Tommorow. He started shaking and let out a keening gasp.
"Tomorrow." He whispered, almost struck dumb by the proclaimation. He raised his head to see Affy and the rest clambering onto their Dragons. Even Minh mounted, which surprised Yxe. Beowulf bounded into the air and spread his enormous wings, catching the current of warm air that was rising. Suddenly, the rest of the Dragons were airborn, and Yxe was left alone. Grounded without his beloved Sastrugen. He expelled a great, shuddering gasp of horror that his Dragon-kyn had neglected him, and slumped to the ground in despair. He was never going to get Sastrugen back. And even if he was, he wouldn't be there to witness the saving of his Soul-mate. To see his reaction when his brothers appeared to save him. Despair filled him, and a scream of terror was forced through his mind-link with Minh.
-Don't leave me alone!- He felt her surprise, and looked up to the sky, to see Tarasque and the rest winging back to get him. Tarasque backwinged and landed as close to Yxe as she could, without landing on top of him or knocking him over. Minh opened her arms wide from her perch, and smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry, love." She murmured. "In our haste we forgot that you had no steed." Yxe ran over to the bulk of Tarasque and Minh leant down to help him up.
"It might not be the most comfortable of rides..." She whispered in his ear.
"Don't worry," Yxe replied, "I'm sure I'll manage." He grinned in relief and settled himself between Minh and one of Tarasque's large ridges.
"It's a little warm..." He smiled, ruefully, and Tarasque leapt upwards and into flight. Beowulf hovered above to meet them, and Yxe could sense the apologies from his Dragon-kyn at their negligence.
"The most important person on our mission and we forgot about him..." Smiled Affy. "Sorry 'bout that."
"No worries." Yxe grinned back, "Let's go then. Let Beowulf lead the way." The bulky Dragon powered his wings and sprang forward, utilising the currents to keep his mass in flight. He headed off to the South. Towards the volcanic islands of the Fire Children, in the heat of the Southlands.
It felt good to be flying again, even if he wasn't flying with Sastrugen...

~Malic, warrior of the Fire Children.~

After the triumphant kidnapping of Sastrugen, the temple was in high spirits for the remainder of the night. Malic had been kept off guard duty, along with Anoma, and they were celebrating their success along with other members of the sect. Red wine flowed freely amongst the revellers, but Malic felt slightly out of place. She hoped that the High Mage would kill Sastrugen and get it over with, before a rescue mission had time to be put into action. In fact, she rather hoped to have some part in Sastrugen's death, but what the Elders and Sairi had planned for him was been kept in absolute secrecy. Not even an inkling of their plan had leaked out, which was surprising in such a closed community. All Malic knew was that it involved some sort of ultimate power, and, of course, the Riddle of the Fire Children. Malic elbowed Anoma in the ribs.
"So what do ya think they're gonna do with Sastrugen?" She whispered in his ear.
"Dunno," He whispered back, rubbing his ribs, "But that really hurt." Malic giggled and elbowed him again for good measure. Anoma hissed in disgust and elbowed her back.
"Quit it!"
"Then tell me what you've herad." Malic retorted. "I know you've heard something."
"And what makes you think that?" He demanded.
"I dunno...you just always seem to know stuff." She tittered, slightly drunkenly. "The sorcerers seem to like you anyway. No idea why..." Anoma slapped her across the back of the head and scowled.
"I guess I'm just a nice guy. Unlike some of us..." He looked pointedly at Malic and she put her hand over her mouth in pretend shock.
"How rude," She exclaimed, "I'm not a guy at all!"
"I didn't mean that...anyway, I think they have some sort of machine...to be honest, no-one's really clear about what they want him for. Guess it's something to do with Tarasque..."
"Obviously," Interrupted Malic, "He is her soul-twin. Maybe he's just a lure..."
"Hmm...good point. But what are they gonna do with her when she takes the bait?"

[Ciaobat]

Minh Rho
~~~~`~~~~`~~~~`~~~~

Minh's mind was racing as the flight began anew. They didn't really have a plan. Who would do what, from what direction, what would happen if the Fire Children did thus-and-such.. if the Fire Children had planned this thoroughly, they were sure to anticipate the coming of the dragons and the riders. And since most people tend to stay away from willingly bringing all sorts of doom upon themselves, they would have all kinds of safeguards in place. These weren't good prospects. As for Affy's letter.. it was probably from one of them. If all it said was that Sastrugen was about to be killed, it could easily just be a lure to get the dragons to attack when they were ready for it.. Minh sighed and wrapped her arms around Yxe's neck.

She spoke loudly in his ear, just over the wind: "You know I'm going too, right?" Just because Tarasque couldn't go, it didn't mean she couldn't. She mentally repeated her query to Tarasque. As an aside, she could easily keep Tarasque up to date and such. She waited for their responses, and was consciously glad for Tarasque's warmth in the frigid air.

[Weasel Overlord]

~Yxe, Wind Rider of the stolen Sastrugen.~

"You know I'm going too, right?" Minh yelled in Yxe's ear.
"Of course." he replied, but his answer was swept away by the winds. He leant back, "I think we should land somewhere," He shouted, "We need a plan."
"I'll tell Tarasque." They changed direction almost instantly, and tilted towards the ground to land. The other Dragons followed Tarasque's lead and, within minutes, they were grounded again.
"We need a plan." Said Yxe, simply. "We can't just go rushing in there...that might put Sastrugen in more danger than he's already in..." He gulped, "And that...that wouldn't be good."
"Well, that's putting it lightly." Drawled Stephan. "It's like saying ice wouldn't melt in Hell! So what do you plan to do?" He asked, sardonically. "Or, don't you know?" Yxe glared at his thoughtless Dragon-kyn and mentally stuck his tongue out at him.
"Actually...well, I think that we should find out something about the layout of the place first. Maybe that would help..." He glanced at Affy, "So...you got that letter, right?" Affy nodded in agreement. "So you must know more than the rest of us...it's only logical, or else, how would you have got that letter?"
"Okay, I'll admit, I've been there once before," There were some sharp glances at this.
"What do you mean?" Demanded Siyann, "When?"
"If you'd let me finish...It was a long time ago...before Beowulf found me." He glanced lovingly at the hulking Dragon beside him. "If I remember rightly, the volcano is inactive, so the Fire Children made it their nest. It's roughly circular in shape, with a temple in the centre. The lodgings are around the outside layer, and the temple is surrounded by guard-houses. I olny got to see inside the temple for a little while...it was like they didn't want an outsider there, but I think that there's a basement of some sort underneath. I'd bet that that's where they're holding Sastrugen." He took a deep breath, "It's not going to be easy, you know? That temple is guarded well..."
"But we have the help of all Sastrugen's Kyn." Interrupted Siyann, "That's got to stand for something, right? And, they won't be expecting all of us, at once!"
"That may be so, but don't you think that they'll notice the sudden appearence of a whole bunch of animals, just wandering around their hideout?" Sneered Stephan. "Or, were you planning to just, oh I don't know...walk in, with your Dragons, and say, 'Oi! Give us Sastrugen back! Or we'll have our Dragons rip you apart'? I'm sure they'd listen..."
-------------------------------------
Okay, I have to go now...college calls! Toodles, dudes! *Waves*

[Bulbasaur4]

Tarasque

Tarasque listened to their plan, and she knew that both sides did have a logical point. Still... she suddenly had an idea. Between the verbal beating between Yxe and Stephan, it was rather easy to butt in.
[ A distraction. ]

Everyone stopped lightly, glancing at Tarasque as if her booming voice was a wake-up call between the dispute. While Tarasque wasn't understandible by everyone, she was the one who was best with human languages... thus a few boomings words got across to everyone. Plus, she wondered if Yxe still didn't fully understand that she knew human language. It was rather amusing to listen to him and Mihn.
[ I will approach from the North, and the rest of you shall approach from the South. You should all wait away from the fire Children's eye sight, prefurrably at dark and behind one of the volcanoes. It won't erupt... I won't allow it to. However, I will show myself blatantly that morning... and thus the Fire Children will assume that in my rage, I was the first to leave and came foolishly alone. They'll most likely send most- if not all- of their forces to contain me. While that happens, the rest of you can go to the island. I'm sure your animal forms can hide you better than your Draconic ones, and you can try to free Sastrugen then. You all can find a way to get upon that island... whether it be swift low flying or being like Sigurd, and using your talents to blend in. ]

Mihn shook her head, "They'll get you Tarasque."
[ I can hold them off long enough... besides, I will remain near an active volcanoe to help aid me. My fire powers surely are stronger than their own... and if worst comes to worst, I can shift my form into lava and hide deep with in the roots of the volcanoe. But we should hurry... Darkness will fall soon and we need the cover. ]

Mihn with drew a breath, seeing how the rest of Tarasque's kyn seemed to be nodding at her words. Now Mihn just had to translate it... which she did.

[Weasel Overlord]

~Yxe, Wnid Rider of the stolen Sastrugen.~

Under the cover of darkness. Perfect.
"Hey, Stephan! Maybe you and Eurythion can help us with that." Eurythion nodded in aquiescence and Stephan grinned lopsidedly.
"I'm sure it won't be a problem." He drawled. "Leave it to the better of us..." He smiled maliciously, "We'll get the job done." He glanced pointedly a Yxe, who nodded, ignoring the jibes. Stephan was always like this. It didn't take much to get used to him.
"I think that Sigurd and Siyann should approach through the water. Also..." He glanced at Marduk, "Maybe you can make the weather a little cloudy...?" Marduk nodded. "Right, then Tiamat, you stick to the sky, but fly low. The same for you, Indra. Er, Beowulf and Affy...maybe you should stick to flying as well, the volcano doesn't appear to be approachable from land. That's all of us, then! Tarasque, you know what to do...and I think that as soon as we're close enough," He adressed the listening Dragons, "You should all take your animal forms, to avoid been seen by any guards." The Dragons rumbled their agreement, and Stephan and Eurythion sprang upwards to perform their part of the task. Darkness was already well on it's way, but the cover of Eurythion's power would hide them better than ordinary night. He roared, but no sound came out. The air around him grew darker and darker, even the light of the moon became cloaked. Stephan waved his arm to signal the Dragons that all was well, and the rescue was under way. Sigurd and Siyann slipped into the sea, and the rest took flight, with Beowulf slightly ahead. Tarasque, Minh and Yxe followed him, flanked by Marduk and Eurythion. Tiamat and Indra made up the rear. After a good half hour of swift flight, Affy yelled back to Minh and Yxe.
"We're nearly there!" The volcano was silhouetted against the horizon, and Affy pointed slighty South.
"You go that way, and create the diversion. We'll go in and get Sastrugen." Yxe shook his head.
"I'm going with you, you know?" He yelled across. "I'm not leaving Sastrugen to them..." He trailed off, and looked down, feeling guilty that he was flying on Tasasque and somewhat enjoying it. Even if it was too warm. "Anyway, I'm coming. And there's nothing you can do about it!" He shouted defiantly. Affy held out his hands.
"Like we'd try and stop you."
"Just thought you'd like to know...that's all."
"Okay, that's settled then. I think we should land." Affy motioned downwards and the Dragons wheeled and thumped to the ground. Tarasque shook out her wings, and inclined her head towards her Kyn.
-I thank you for your help.- She turned and walked towards the volcano, and her fate.
"Now, we wait." Proclaimed Yxe, and he slumped to the ground.
-----------------------------------
Bah! These posts always look longer when I'm writing them!

[Bulbasaur4]

Hey, I have a little plan for Sairi... well actually I thought of it long ago, but if you want to know what it is Weasel, then PM me. Otherwise I'll let you be surprised. ^^

Tarasque

Tarasque gave a little nod as she folded her wings and softly walked to the edge. The rest of the dragons were hiding near one of the already dormant volancoes. The Fire Children's main island was surrounded by five volcanoes... but it was carefully noted that EACH of the five volancoes were their own seperate islands... but the islands were completely devored by the huge volancones. It was like one island surrounded by five mini islands... leaving water free between them. That's why it would be easier to get to the fire children island if there was a distraction...
Suddenly Tarasque stopped, and craning her neck she saw Mihn. Of course... Mihn had not gotten off when Yxe had.
[ Leave... go with Affy and Yxe. They will take care of you. ]
Mihn frowned instantly, "No Tarasque... I'm not leaving you."
Tarasque flared her nose, as she craned her neck.
[ Please go. I want you to help Yxe get back my brother. It will be easier for me to fight with you not upon my back. It will be less intimidating to the fire children if you're not there as well... plus... I do not want you getting hurt. They might capture me, but they will most likely kill you. ]
Mihn was about to protest, but Tarasque suddenly had her body temperature go to an extreme. Mihn was swiftly swept off Tarasque with a leap, but she took a step forward as if to talk her dragon ally out of it. It was too late...
Tarasque's body was consumed into flames, until suddenly the only thing left was fire in the shape of a dragon body. It burned brightly in the creeping darkness... and she seemed to give another nod.

With an outspread of her wings, she instantly took off into the air much faster than in her regular dragon form. Like a bright beacon in the sky, she lit it up gently... obviously catching the attention of anyone around. She headed towards a bubbling volcanoe of lava... an active one, hoping the fire children would follow.



Sairi-


Sairi withdrew a sigh as she walked through the center of the village. Many people were dancing... feasting... and it wasn't until Sairi saw Ignis that she felt better. He was standing at the head of their temple, for he had been assigned by the elders to watch it tonight. He seemed nervous... and Sairi walked up to him.
"Hello Ignis."
He seemed to glance at her, as if wondering what Sairi could possibly say.
"Candy?" With out warning she offered him some candy, but he shook his head. She shrugged and set the small bag near him, as if taunting him.
" You'll get hungry soon enough. I just wanted to let you know... if there is trouble tonight, I will aid you soon. Trust me." She gave him a wink, and then twirled about. It was as if expected... suddenly a burning figure in the sky flew overhead, towards one of the outer volcanoes.
Sairi felt a burning sensation in her side slightly, and she held it for a while until the figure had flown over the island. Yes...
"Tarasque!" A few people shouted, and eagerly they glanced at Sairi. She smiled... and gave a nod. The elders soon filed out, but with out saying anything they looked at Sairi and she knew what was expected.

"Children of the Fire! Listen to me! Tarasque has arrived to avenge her brother! She wants him back... but she knows nothing of our plans! So let us form together swiftly, and combine our strengths to rival hers! We will tame the fires that burn with in her and we will win!"
Sairi smiled, but glancing towards the side she pointed a fairly decent group of fire children.
"You... warriors of the fire. You must remain here. Guard the dragon of ice... for you may not ever know what may come in the night."

I trust you all have come Affy... but I can't simply let you destroy my village. No doubt if you succeed... the dragon will destroy everything. I have to have some defense... and I have an obligation to my people. I just hope... that my plan works. Not the elders... but MINE.

This was it... they were off for Tarasque.
Everyone was almost ready, and Sairi gave a smile but a figure caught her eye. "Oriyen... you come by my side."
The girl slowly approached Sairi, and Sairi whispered in her ear.
"Find any others who might have your unique power of extinguish. We might be in need of it."
She ignored the look of shock upon Oriyen's face, and with in a whirl a fire portal appeared.
"Let us go! To the Volcanoe of Fenriil!"

[Djinn]

=======
Ignis - M
=======

Amidst the war crys and the confusive stampede that followed Sairi's orders, it was easy to quickly sweep to the corner and hide in one of many of the temple's small shadowed alcoves. All but a group of warriors stayed to guard Sastrugen, and since the Ice King wasn't housed in the central chamber, they went off to do this duty.

Thinking it safe I waltzed out of the alcove, glad to have escaped the battle that would be soon ensuing following Tarasque's arrival. I was surprised then when I unexpectedly ran head-on into Oriyen.

Oriyen and I had been friends since I had arrived here, one of the few that shared my extinguishing powers and was able to keep it secret. Two people with a single likeness can easily become their own small side in the face of adversity. A friendship was easy to maintain, surprisingly, as there wasn't always work, work, work in the sect. I enjoyed the deviations of training from the schedule of power-hungry crusades against Wind Riders and other enemies. Needless to say, what she said next surprised me even more than when I had found her, as I'm sure she had tried her best to escape battle also.

"Sairi asked me to find other people with the power of extinguish, though I have no idea how she knew I was a reject." Oriyen spouted this quickly, and looked around in the paranoia that someone else might have heard the word "reject."

"She knows this, something she can sense being a high mage. I think she can be trusted anyway, almost positive. I don't believe she really believes in the Fire Children's cause."

Oriyen wasn't exactly sided with the news, and quickly responded with confusion, "You saw that empassioned speech she gave, she is Fire Child to the core." She stated this matter-of-factly as if she knew that it was somehow impossible to be anything else.

"Did you look at her eyes?" Oriyen's gaze dropped at this, and she seemed to be trying to recall them. "Her eyes were not in it, they were off elsewhere, I could go so far as to believe she might be sided with the Wind Riders."

"No, that's impossible!" That was the end of that part of the conversation, as we both realized we couldn't convince the other otherwise. Oriyen continued by getting back on track, "anyway she said she wanted me to gather extinguishers, and I guess I'll try to trust her enough to know that part at least was not some scheme to turn me into the elders as well as you."

"Does she want us to enter battle?" I asked this tenatively, fearing the answer.

"Why wouldn't she? No better weapon against Tarasque then a fire extinguisher, ay?" My only response at that moment was to draw back in shock.

"Sold on the idea already? We hate the sect, remember?" She shook her head, and continued.

"We can't leave one of the biggest battles to be of the Fire Children's history and expect to not get punished. I will not risk the elders over personal crusades." Her comments seemed so wrong coming from that mouth, and I opened my mouth to continue but she plowed on, "you think they wouldn't go so far as to kill us? For being traitors? I'm sure they would. The'd take us both out with no qualms, and act as if it was natural. Resistance to fire is and traitorious is not a combo that will live to see the light of day."

I could see she wasn't arguing, she was commanding now. "No," was all I could mumble as I swept my hair back and leveled my embalmed moonstone with her eyes, the resulting flash lit the room. I needed her incapacitated for at least five minutes, and that energy should do it. She would wake up, but she wouldn't come after me. She wouldn't risk herself for me. With a final glance at the unconscious body, I quickly teleported to the outside of the temple by training my mind to the spot my memory. I had plopped just at the south end, and the extra couple yards had already given me a sideache, the pain was worth it though.

I realized, finally, that I would have nowhere to go. There was no leaving an island, and I was no swimmer. Suddenly the strangest thought came to my head. I knew a possible way to get out of here, but it would take some negotiating. If I could fight for the Wind Riders, as I know they weren't stupid enough to let Tarasque go by herself, and was nearly sure it was some type of distraction, I might just be able to get a lift. It was betrayal, but if I succeeded I was free. If I failed.. well, death was the price to pay to follow the right path then.

=======

I'm really sorry for the lack of post in a while, hopefully I can get back into gear.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

OOC: eheh... it's Chinese New Year and much festive madness has been taking up my time... *collected much money* *spent much money as well* *ate too many oranges* And Bleach 15 is out!!!! *is probably speaking Greek*
---------------
Athanasius Pound, male, Wind Rider, alive (not for long)
-------------------

For some reason, Athanasius Pound found himself unable to shake off the feeling of impending doom that was currently kicking his brain, with iron-soled, hobnailed boots. It was the feeling he got every time he got near the home of the Fire Children. It told him that if he valued his life, and this he did to a certain extent, he shouldn't be within a ten-mile radius of the place.

But he was here. He'd brought everyone else here. And he had to stay here. Argh, argh, argh. Painful, firey death was clearly in sight, although not necessarily at the moment.

Tarasque, incandescent and the essence of pure flame, flew off into the night. There was an old poem from his childhood that reminded him of her. Something like... tiger, tiger burning bright. In the forests of the night. What immortal hand or eye. Could frame thy fearful symmetry...? He remembered it was some scary religious bloke who'd taught it to them. Funny, that...

Minh did not look too pleased at being left behind, but Yxe murmured something in his reassuring way into her ear, and she seemed to resign herself to be content with attacking. Despite this, Affy had a pretty good idea on who'd be wearing the pants when those two did get married. The other brethren fanned out to cover all other entrances excluding the one nearest the active volcano, leaving Beowulf and him at the southern gate.

He tried reasoning, at first. "Look, I don't want to get killed, and neither do you. I'll only ask this once, are you willing to die for the cause of the Fire Children?"

The reply turned out to be fire-tipped arrows and fireballs. Beowulf's wings raised in the attitude of a shield, and the missiles bounced off it like so many pebbles.

Beowulf, not wasting any time, rammed his clublike tail against the gate. The granite crumbled beneath his spikes, causing a slight panic among the few Fire Children on guard as the stone blocks fell, crushing them. Athanasius mentally directed a silent eulogy in memory of their lives. He hadn't wanted them to die, not really. But there were some things that had to be done. Anyway, there was no stopping Beowulf once he was really pissed. And why couldn't they have been dumber buggers and gone after Tarasque instead?!

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a frantically signalling figure, perched in an out-of-the-way alcove. It had black hair and had silver face paint on, though Affy couldn't be sure because the next moment, Beowulf dived low, obviously intending to forcibly ram through the barricade that had been hastily set up at the gate to the central area. For reasons unknown, although probably because Sairi was a good strategist, there was a cohort of Fire children left over to keep guard. Almost immediately, the fireballing began again.

"H-hey, Beowulf! Wait a minute!"
...What is it, Mr Pound? Are you getting goosebumps? Beowulf sounded very natty. He did not appreciate being halted in the middle of his battering ram impression, especially among a volley of fire. The dragon ascended a little, to minimise the dodging from fireballs and whatnot.
"There's someone there."
Where? Please do not waste time... I will not go any easier on your sorceress friend if you delay.
"Right there. There, the weirdo with the face paint who seems to be the only one not trying to fry us."
He is still one of them. I say.. squash him.
"Er. He's making the peace sign... Argh!" This last was uttered as Beowulf swerved heavily to avoid a gigantic ball of fire roughly the same size as Beowulf's head. It grazed his right hind leg, though it didn't leave any visible wound except a darkening of the scales and a faint roasting smell. Beowulf grunted.
Bah.. What a nuisance. It will take me months to grow new lichen... peace, you say? We can always use the defecters.
The large dragon swooped over to the small outcropping. Affy yelled: "Oyyyyyyyy! You there! State your name, affiliation and whether you'd be willing to die for the cause of the Fire Children! By the way, Beowulf doesn't do metaphors."
"I'm Ignis Trucido! I want to work with the Wind Riders, at least on this mission, and no, I'd rather not die for the cause of the Fire Children!"
Affy grinned, grimly. "Really? I've asked five people that so far, and they all said yes. So Beowulf clobbered them. You're a defecter, huh? I trust you won't backstab us like you're gonna backstab your people. Hop on."
Ignis looked surprised. For a fraction of a second. Then he arranged his face into a smirking expression. Affy noticed the moonstones in his palms and his forehead. Weirdo, indeed. "It's that easy? Don't I have to prove my worth?"
"The way I figure it," said Athanasius, wincing inwardly - not another smartass - "if you pull a fast one on me, I'll shave your face off with my crossbow. Simple as that. And don't bother trying to steal it or the sword, it won't work. If you somehow manage to knock me out, Beowulf will have you for lunch. I'm Athanasius Pound. This is Beowulf. Nice to meet you."
------------------
^^;; hope that's okay...

[Weasel Overlord]

~Yxe, Wind Rider of the soon-to-be-rescued Sastrugen~

Minh looked furious at Tarasque's departure. He arms crossed, she looked the epitome of anger and she even exuded a heat not unlike Tarasque's. Somehow, this didn't surprise Yxe, and he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her close.
"Don't worry, love, she won't be hurt. Their fire just isn't strong enough. And besides, do you really think that she will fail?" He whispered into her ear.
"I know you're right...as usual." She retorted. "But I still don't like it!" Yxe turned from her to survey the sky. Tarasque was in plain view, lit up like a firework. If that didn't lure them, nothing would. Beowulf and Affy lumbered over to the gate and promptly started knocking up the Fire Children. Whatever activities they were engaged in were sure to be disrupted as their gate was smashed to splinters by Beowulf's great spiked tail. Yxe yelled, an intelligible cry and charged towards the ruined gate to join Affy. As he ran, he fumbled at his belt for an arrow. He brandished the longbow and roared his defiance at those who stole his Soul-mate. Skidding to a halt just in front of Beowulf, he quickly strung his bow, and sighted down it. His vision zoned in on a target and at the back of his mind he heard his Dragon-kyn join them in the battle. Fireballs flew all around, one of them hitting Beowulf. He snarled and turned, but instead of going closer to the gate, he leapt into the air and flew to a small overhang. Yxe turned to look, and he spied a figure stood waving. He shrugged and turned back to his target, pulling his longbow taut, he sighted once more and let the arrow fly. The arrow flew straight and true, it's diamond-tipped point extinguishing the life of the mage. He clawed at the air futiley as he fell, searching for his killer. By this time, yxe had strung his bow again and chose another target. He let fly. Another Fire Child fell to his wrath. One of the mages spotted Yxe and sent a spell flying towards him. Yxe saw the ball of glowing fire too late and swerved, but it struck him on the arm, exploding in a mess of sparks. Yxe winced and checked. He crouched down to assess the injury, prodding it gently. Luckily, the fire had only burned him slightly, all the time he had spent with Tarasque and Minh must have given him a slight immunity to it, however the arm still smarted, but not enough to put him off his shooting. He straightened up, and selecting another arrow from the quiver at his waist, he strung his longbow once more. Moving closer to the gate, he sighted another mage, watched his movement for a second, and then let the arrow fly to it's destination. It buried in the mage's throat and he fell like the rest of them. Yxe turned as Beowulf landed near him. With another passenger, no less.
"Who's this?" He asked, gesturing at the silver-haired figure on Beowulf's back.
"Defect Fire Child. He thinks he can help." Stated Affy, simply.
"Maybe he can. Maybe he can't." Yxe adressed the unknown Fire Child. "Do you know where my Dragon is?"

[Djinn]

=======
Ignis - M
=======

"I don't believe we've been properly introduced, it's Ignis Trucido." His eyebrows rose in annoyance, I could tell his need to reunite with Sastrugen was getting the better of his emotions.

"Yxe, now can we move on!" His anger was rising, but I decided to tempt fate for just a moment.

"I know where Sastrugen is, but I will only tell you under two conditions, and if you think I don't have the power in this situation, you are dead wrong." I waved my moonstone palms in the air before I continued, "these are not for presentation, and don't think even a wide berthed dragon blast will touch me."

Yxe's undying devotion to Sastrugen, and the time presented in this format allowed me a bit of a break. "Speak."

"One, you take me off this island after we rescue Sastrugen." Eyebrows rose again at "we," but I plowed on, "two, you need to refer to me as Ignis. I have never been a true fire child, and if you had any semblance of latin my name literally translates to 'fire slayer', I am not of Fire Children kind."

Yxe's tone was cold and impatient, "Okay, Igg-Niss," he stressed the last syllable with a hiss, "have any more favors to ask?"

"I said two, and don't think I'll deviate from what I originally asked, besides the obvious that you won't harm me, and give me the time of day if I have to act unlike a traitor if the need makes itself heard. Otherwise I have information," several sets of ears perked up, and I paused to build a bit of anticipation before I started. Getting some of this through might be difficult.

"Sastrugen is being held in an underground area, directly under the temple's main chamber. I have no access to this area, and have never even entered here, but I know where it is mostly. There is still a contingent of Fire Child warriors holed up there, so don't expect to be sneaky here. Also there is one other Fire Child, Oriyen, who is also here but should not be killed as she is a 'defective' as myself, be hesitant to severely injure anyone here, and I would prefer if that didn't happen," I gestured to the crumpled bodies of the recently felled mages, "very much. Non-lethal force, I can render most of their powers useless with my extinguishing power and do this to many at a time, considering my magical ability far surpasses those warriors. I repeat that they should not be killed unless absolutely necessary, unconscious is much better. I can stun any in my eyesight for as long as five minutes with a flash, but no longer. This should give considerable time for you to attempt a rescue on Sastrugen." The entire thing was still being swallowed, and it seemed I had been useful in providing a plan since they must have been rushing relatively blind.

"Anything else important," Yxe asked, obviously the self-appointed leader of this crusade as no one else had ventured a response.

"There is one more thing, if the army for some reason returns from its battle with Tarasque, the high mage should not be harmed. I am not sure of her attentions, but I wouldn't be surprised if she had some contact with you through letters and such. Sairi is her name, and she is easily recognizable as commander and chief. If the elders are present, they should be killed without remorse. They are the main constructers of this affair, and their loss might cause havoc. That is the end of what I have to say, I'll be back shortly."

I left them to contemplate as I gently "poofed" into my room. I would prefer is I wasn't recognizable in battle, and thus my crimson robes were insufficient. I yanked open my wooden bureau and grabbed my folded silver robes and quickly pulled them over my head, and I drew a half mask of silver from the drawer, effectively disguising my face, but to be sure I spoke the words to summon a dull smoke that enwrapped my body and the other side of my face. I was definitely unrecognizable by no one but Sairi or the elders in this guise. I took a quick look in the mirror, and realized how intimidating I looked. I was a real sorcerer now, maybe I had a place on this side after all.

With a small plume, I blinked back into my previous position. Facing the assembled I asked, "Ready?"

=======

[Vulpix.ck87]

Me? Hardly posting? Well..

That is true, and now I’ve got all this pent up posting energy inside of me, so I’m sorry but I’m gonna bore you for the next three pages..

Siyann/F - 17/Windrider to Sigurd

Marduk and Eurythion spread their wings, and each with their respective windriders, they alighted into the air at cross angles to each other. They wheeled around to meet each other in the sky, bringing an impenetrable stream of darkness and cloud in their wake. Siyann smiled happily, doubting that anyone had even seen them. For a few moments, she watched them circle around the entire volcano range, and noted as darkness closed in on the main base. Soon, all that could be seen were the pinpoints of lit torches that surrounded the gates, and flames in the hands of the fire children, who seemed for the most part to be heading in Tarasque‘s direction. Yet even though the 'troops' were leaving, this place seemed far from deserted.

An impressive rumble of thunder sounded above, and just as Siyann was pondering how to sneak through the gate unseen, a thunder of equally awing capacity came from Beowulf’s own mouth as he charged towards the gate, using his entire being as a living ramrod. Siyann and Sigurd exchanged exasperated glances: subtlety was something that their eldest dragon kin had not yet grasped. Siyann saw Yxe run ahead, and she followed silently, slipping off to the side of the gate.

Hefting herself up with ease, Siyann stepped upon a round, wooden disc - resin-soaked it made up one of the many gate torches - and the flames upon it extinguished with a satisfactory hiss. Siyann smiled grimly and, crouched upon her podium in the cover of darkness, took her aim. With a sharp snap, the harpoon was ejected and it flew briefly through the air to penetrate the skull of the nearest guard. He fell silently to his knees, his skull completely shattered and his brain turned to mulch. Siyann pulled on the short length of sinew that connected the harpoon frame and the spear - it was taut, and she reeled the body towards her. She raided the pockets, and finding a small key and a packet of biscuits she smiled triumphantly. She slipped the key into her boot, and the food into her mouth, and dropped to the ground - there seemed to be a confrontation going on between Yxe, Affy and some stony-faced bloke...

“..should be killed without remorse. They are the main constructers of this affair, and their loss might cause havoc. That is the end of what I have to say, I'll be back shortly." Siyann heard the stranger say, and then he promptly disappeared in a poof of smoke. She blinked, trying to figure out whether that had actually happened, and then Yxe spotted her. He quickly explained that this Ignis traitor was on their side, and could lead them to Sastrugen in exchange for his safe passage out of this hellhole. In the time it took to explain, Ignis Trucido reappeared, shrouded in mist and only recognisable by his voice.

“Ready?”

Athanasius, Yxe and Siyann all nodded solemnly. They tiptoed through the enormous hole in the outer perimeter, where the gate had previously been, and through to the body strewn guard post. It was a mere few metres to the ocean again, the private waters bordered by the five volcanoes. From the windriders’ positions, it was a couple of hundred metres to the second guard post (the second fence), and that was barely more than a walkway in the midst of the moat that surrounded the fire children’s base. Sigurd appeared behind them, and padded gracefully to the waters edge. Siyann gave a disdainful look to the boat that was docked to her left, and waded in to climb upon Sigurd’s back. Yxe hesitated, then climbed upon Sigurd too. Ignis followed, and Affy last. Beowulf sloshed heavily into the water, sending spray everywhere. Yxe frowned, and Siyann raised an eyebrow at him. He sighed.

“I feel like a total traitor - I’ve replaced my steed twice today with ease..” He sounded uneasy and racked with guilt. Siyann patted his hand comfortingly.

“Don’t be foolish, we’re doing this for Sastrugen, remember?” Siyann said. “He’ll understand.”

“Besides, there’s nothing wrong with being a turncoat,” Ignis said simply, and Siyann could of sworn she saw him smile under the mask.. The four humans felt Sigurd’s tail beat behind them, and they rode smoothly away from the dock, their toes barely skimming the water. Siyann peered up at the sky, as they were fast approaching the second fence.

“Come on Marduk,” She muttered. Sigurd raised her head, gazing at the clouds, which were multiplying as if on command. Yxe blinked upwards, thinking for a moment that he glimpsed a dragon’s form, and then smiled a small smile as a thick mist floated down from above, and the sky rumbled yet again. Following cue, Sigurd’s eyes closed slowly, and with it the rain began to fall: first in small, heavy droplets; then in solid sheets of water. Yxe and Affy scowled somewhat as whilst they were spectacularly drenched within seconds, amazingly the rain seemed to simply slide straight off of Siyann, leaving her perfectly dry..

The rain doused the torches upon the second gate, which went out with a crackling reluctance, and Ignis extinguished the few remaining with ease. They reached the row of vertical wooden poles jutting out of the water - sharpened to a deadly point on top - which formed an impenetrable barrier.. Well, to most people anyway.

“Hold on,” Whispered Siyann, and the others did as she said, though they saw little point. And then their world seemed to shimmer before their eyes, and they were filled with nausea for a few brief seconds whilst they still had stomachs.. The small team literally poured through the fence, and amazingly found their selves intact on the other side, all in one piece and immensely confused.

“Ah.. What just happened?” Whispered Affy, as a floundering buffalo Beowulf appeared in the waters next to them.

“You don’t want to know,” Siyann replied. ”Trust me - it’d rot your mind..” Affy sat back quietly.

Eventually they reached the coast of the main base, and thoroughly soaked they staggered up the rocks towards a duo of peeved and (thankfully) unenlightened-looking guards. As they stumbled and slipped over the mossy ground, they caught some of the conservation..

“Can’t believe we’re stuck on patrol whilst they chase down Tarasque.. I‘ve dreamed of this victory for so long. What’s there to guard anyway?” The first guard asked, and rambled on without waiting for an answer. “Who cares about the other dragon? It‘s obviously weak compared to the Tarasque..” Yxe hissed in the darkness. The four of them stopped to huddle behind a large convenient boulder, and readied their ambush. The foot steps grew steadily closer.

“Look, the elders and Sairi clearly have something in mind, so shut your pie hole and get guarding.” The other guard snapped. He was right on the other side of the boulder, and about to continue his criticism of the first guard when.. The footsteps stopped. And Siyann could of sworn she heard the cogs in his brain turning..

“Wait a minute… where the hell did that ruddy boulder come from?” The guard scratched his head, and blinked. The boulder blinked back. Then an enormous club of a tail came sweeping towards him, and four people ran to ambush the second guard. Seconds later the guards fell unconscious to the ground, completely oblivious to the large sea otter that scampered past them, key in mouth, and that slipped through the gate poles. Sigurd found the latch and the lock without wasting time, and fumbled with otter paws for a few more moments until..

As the thunder increased in volume, and the first of the lightning flashed through a torrent of rainfall, the gate swung open revealing a small army of fire children.

The first arrow flew, and the real fight began.

--------------------

I’m siiiinging in the raaain…!

[Djinn]

Singing in the rain, lol. That made my day.


=======
Ignis - M
=======

Despite my lightheartedness from having the chance to escape the sect, I could feel the dull aura of unacceptance that radiated from each of the Wind Riders here. What did I have to do before I could be genuine again? Was the fact that I had been such a turncoat going to prevent me from ever choosing a side again? Was betrayal like some kind of stench? I had completely good intentions on turning sides, and no intention to kill any of my former sect "members" even if they hadn't shown me the least bit of friendship. This whole things was brought to my head at the worst time as we entered the facility, and my mind snapped back to reality at the first arrow's flight threw the air.

Reaction was instant, the Fire Children had their Bards and their Warriors and the sprinkled mage here and there, but the Wind Riders weren't to be underestimated in speed. Obviously they wouldn't have stood this long without talent, but to witness Yxe's archery talent and the finess of each of the dragons was awestriking.

After a somewhat deliberate delay to gawk a bit longer while remaining relatively safe, I sprung myself into action as well. Several heads had already turned at the prescence of this seemingly unidentified Rider's ally that was I. A bevvy of belated warriors chose to charge me all at the same time, and I surprised myself at how I could perform in battle. In what could be said to be the velocity of lightning with the force of the gods behind it I had swept away my hair and flashed the most brilliant of moonstone shinings I had performed thus far, incapacitating the entire force of warriors for what looked to be indefinitely and several of the combatants that hadn't been in my eyesight.

I gave a meek smile as one of the Riders took a moment to shoot me a red-eyed glare through the crowd, obviously I had forgotten that they could see the flash too. There own wills were far to strong though, but it surely had to have hurt. Apologies later...

The Wind Riders had suffered no losses, or injuries as the battle had progressed this far, and the army was wittling down to one-on-one combat. I had been placed against what was one of the wiliest and most talented of warrior kind in the sect. Most unfortunately, Gabriella also happened to be female. We had met quite a while ago it seemed this day...

It had been a normal practice, if you disregarded the fact that it was night and still searing hot. The humidity was so strong that even "Fire" Children threatened to collapse in sweaty turmoil. As warrior after bard after mage retired to the cooler peaks of the temple, it remained that eventually only a "monk" (I) and Gabriella had remained.

"Ready to fall healer?" She taunted relentlessly that day, but both of us continued to stand strong. The elders were more wicked than expected however, and one of the higher-ups, an unarmingly talented monk asked if the two remaining trainees to have a bit of a practice fight of what was one-on-one combat. My thoughts were basically that I was dead, I had no combat skills whatsoever. I relied on agility and magic to finish the job, some day I'll have to train in unarmed combat...

As a rule, she made sure that we both were unarmed, and Gabriella was just as talented with a sword as she was with her fists which set me at even a more severe disadvantage. One thing I realized though was the only way to win this fight. With an agility comes an endurance, and I was nearly sure that mine could match Gabriella's.

The duel started out slowly, Gabriella waived a few swift punches which I dodged with ease, and the lobs slowly became stronger and stronger swings. She stopped when she saw how her arm muscle was waning in the combination of heat and strenous exercise.

Next off was lightning punches, which infuriated Gabriella roundabout. With each time she got faster, she missed even more. My dodging ability was superb, and she was wearing. Punches and kicks threatened to cave me from all sides, and the elder looked on with a vicious smirk. I was worn, but she was beat.

The punches and kicks became more and more labored until they finally stopped entirely. Gabriella stood opposite me with a deepset glare on her face, but that was the only muscle working. Her legs threatened to buckle, and her arms shook. She was dead-tired, and I was still relatively sound.

I would always remember the point of impact, my first ever decisive blow in a battle. With a speed that brought a gape to the mouth of the standby elder, I had glided to the back of Gabriella who flailed her right arm in a desperate last ditch effort, but it was too late. With a serene grace, my right leg spun in a whirlwind motion and swept underneath Gabriella's, buckling them instantly and forcing her flat to her back.

From that day forward, she had always held a vicious grudge at me for using such an underhanded method to defeat her, and I saw the grudge renewed in the venom in her entire body, even if she had no idea that it was I that was behind those mists.

All the Riders still held their own, but forces weren't dwindling as much as I had expected them to be. There was another wave of the army it seemed, of this small contingent left behind, and so the battle ensued once again.

Gabriella had grown nothing but bigger since I had last seen her, but something in her step showed that she too possessed a keen sense of agility. With sword in hand, she got a good foothold and jumped in a fierce attempt at an uppercut, which widely missed my face. I spun around, and scored the first of the blows on her, with a blast of smoke from my upraised palm.

I gaped as I watched her recover unfazed, and suddenly I saw the first of a warrior's fire. Her blade seared with heat now, and she handled it with the hands of a blacksmith, deftly but still unharmed. She quickly tossed it from hand to hand before raising it high, and bringing it down in a smashing motion.

I quickly flew rightwards, but the blade left a huge welt in my wake. Suffice to say I would have been cut in half had I remained in that spot. This time though, I had more of an upperhand than last. A sorcerer's power was now at my disposal, and magic would surely prevail over might this day.

With the ferocity that could match Gabriella's, I summoned a torrent of raging smoke and pushed it at her, she batted at it and slashed with her searing blade, but the fire was soon extinguished. Her efforts, nonetheless, served to divert the concentrated smoke and dissapate it. It was us two alone again, and at nearly the same moment that I dodged, she brought up that large broadsword. In my desperation to flip away, the blade had sliced my side shallowly, which only served to heighten her confidence.

There I stood weaponless, but as I saw that red stain my pristine silver robes a change overtook me. I watched as she ruthlessly charged with her sword like a lance, in a final evisceration centered at impaling my very flesh. She looked up as she came closer, and what she saw unnerved her. In her muted eyes I saw the relfection of a piercing silver coming from mine, and I knew I had won.

With the divine grace I had displayed that day in training, I did an effortless cartwheeling backflip and placed myself exactly behind her. In a triumphant motion, I raised my hands so they were tip to tip with the sky, and brought them down in a huge sweep. The resulting plume of smoke was so silvery and bright despite its mistiness, that I shielded my own eyes as I was thrown back by the force. I watched as the blast gutted the side of Gabriella as she narrowly dodged to avoid fatal wound. She fell to a knee, and her eyes rose in a gazing whimper.

As our glares locked I felt the power of flash again inside me, and with a reflexive sweep I let it loose. Her body crumpled under the pure force of the light, and I looked up to find myself and her seperated from the rest of the battle. Smoke, ash, and dust rose from the mounded dirt and craters around where I stood, and they were comparible to some of those in the fray of the Riders.

I quickly bounded back to the battle at hand, which was becoming a victory for the Wind Riders, but certainly this was far too easy. What danger hadn't we faced that would be required to recapture Sastrugen? And how was the battle with Tarasque going...

=======

If you bothered to read that entire thing, I severely apologize. Supreme Verbiage King!

[Bulbasaur4]

Heeee...

Tarasque

Tarasque flew in the night sky, like a beacon announcing it's presense for all to see. A haunting image... that some how could have struke a bit of awe and fear in those who grasped her true beauty. Like an eagle upon it's nest, Tarasque landed near the top of one of the active volcanoes and perched there, watching and waiting... expecting none other than the Fire Children to arrive.
Such a shame... to end a race that worships the fire.
Tarasque thought, narrowing her eyes as the rage she had felt earlier soon reformed at the thought of her captured brother.
But they brought it upon themselves.

In no less than a half an hour, suddenly Tarasque's keen eyes caught sight of a brillant, fire-induced portal which seemed to occur from no where. Tarasque expected the fire children to emerge, one by one... against her but instead she was caught off guard. A brilliant flash rippled through the air, blinding her for a second before she didn't see one... but at least a hundred of soldiers baring arms before her. Her body still brilliantly glowed of fire... and Tarasque wasn't about to let that stop. She was dangerous... her fire against theirs.
She knew she would win.

"As I told you before we came, attack in those lines!" A woman called out- her voice ringing with that of a leader but yet Tarasque couldn't help but feel some thing strange. A bit of innocence... and a bit... of herself?
Impossible.
Tarasque watched as a wave of archers came forth, and taking their arrows they fired against her but her body was nothing but fire. The arrows had no power...
[ Fools. You cannot hurt me with fire... but I, can hurt you. ]
With that, Tarasque reared up her head and inhaled deeply, her lungs filling up with her firey temper and chaos with in. Soon she unleashed it upon them, a firey inferno that blazed out like an angry storm. Screams could be heard, as the first line was set ablaze and they retreated. Some how... a gentle mist of rain seemed to form upon them,b ut from where Tarasque was unsure.
Tarasque unleashed another breath of fire reguardless, but this time it was defended. A brilliant blazing wall of fire rose from the ground to meet her own attack, and surprisingly instead of giving way like most things... it upheld Tarasque's fire and actually grew. Tarasque let her eyes glance and she saw that it was the leader...
Tarasque grew slightly angry at this, and her eyes glazed over slightly.

Fire fire fire fire fire fire... NOW!!!!
She growled, and instantly the volcanoe seemed to begin to rumble beneath their feet.
"She's calling forth the power of lava! NOW!!"
The leader suddenly shouted, and a strange group of three people came forth... looking timid and ashamed, yet they did as they were told. They waved their hands above their heads, and chanted some oddities... until finally, a shimmering aura of blue wavered about their hands. TArasque continued to call upon the lava... but as she did so, suddenly a strange feeling overcame her.

Extinguish.

This word came to mind... and all of a sudden Tarasque felt weaker, as if the rage inside of her was dying and her control of the lava had been erased. The flames which had surrounded her body seemed to disappear, and she now had reverted to her old form.
"Good! NOW ARCHERS!"
Suddenly a wall of arrows came forth at Tarasque, and while they did not penetrate much... they hurt, and Tarasque knew that the leader had called upon a different power. Not fire... but perhaps, the opposite?
Tarasque felt that she needed to gain some time, so spreading out her wings she knew perhaps she had bought enough time for her siblings.

Taking to the air, it appeared as if Tarasque was about to fly away until suddenly she pressed her wings close against her body and dived into the volcanoe's mouth. A light yet gurgling splash emitted as she plunged into the lava, seeking refuge with in the burning abyss.

Sairi

"Alright! This is what we planned.." Sairi called out to the others, as they gathered about the mouth of the volcanoes. Sairi withdrew a breath... those shots had hurt her slightly, but she was not about to show it.
"BAck away my comrades... I will take over now." She said gently, and putting her staff down she withdrew a breath.

Chanting... Sairi chanted deep from with in, and her words made little or no sense to any that surrounded her. They were ancient words... speaking of a time before the elements, a time where fire, earth, water... all of the elements were one. She continued to chant, and a strange breeze seemed to flow about her... spiraling about as if it had a life of it's own. She continued... further until suddenly she let out a gasp and her eyes opened.

Lifting her chin, suddenly it seemed as if her body had erupted into flames. Her figure was vaguely seen as a shadow with in, as screams that were neither hers nor the fire children seemed to pour from the sky. Sairi lifted her hands upwards towards the heavens, and then she thrusted them down as if towards the earth. The ground began to shake... not only with in the volcanoe, but it seemed everywhere. It lasted for a little time... nothing to cause damage nor waves, but it was there.
Silence then insued...

Then suddenly, the volcanoe erupted. Lava rose upwards and spewed into the air- the fire children screamed, but oddly... strangely, as if by some luck or magick, the lava seemed to arch unnaturally away from t hem. The lava continued to rise into t h eair and lash into the sea like a bunch of chained explosions. Sairi kept her hands raised tothe air again, chanting... forever chanting as if she herself, were possesed.
Then the lava seemed to peel away... finally resting back into the volcanoe, but their capture was there.

Tarasque... enraged, furious... seemed to be trapped with in a firey dome. It was similiar to that of her brother's trap, but far more powerful. The angry she-dragon with in blew fire with in it and angrily lashed against the firey casing, but with her added fire the shell only grew stronger.
Sairi's flames died downf rom her body, and instantly she fell to a knee.
"Lady Sairi!" A girl came to her, and Sairi smiled and looked to her.
"I thank you... Milia, for your help. You and the other two... are safe."
Milia seemed releaved, and Sairi offered her a smile.
"You were safe from the beginning,I would have protected you either way."
Milia receded to the backlines, as if contemplating those words.

"What now Sairi?" Some one called, and Sairi smiled. She opened her mouth as if to answer... but one of the Elders came forth.
" We rest here. Tarasque's rage will be inside for some time, so we will wait until her cage has grown stronger from her fires. Then we will return in celebration."
Sairi was about to object, but the look the Elder gave her caused her to comply. She sat down and grabbed her staff, all the while staring at the island.

They're attacking... the Elders know it. What are they waiting for?
Sairi thought, a frown upon her face.




( I will wait for my next post... the Fire Children will not show up, at least not yet... heh, I'm going to wait until nyou finally reach Sastrugen. )