C1 RacksomAnd then, there was War(5th Board)

A small smile creased his face at Lena's small show of affection, a little surprised at the gesture. Here they were in incredible danger, both of them weary and exhausted, and yet.. Talos was disappointed to hear that Alteon wasn't with Lotharia, but there really wasn't much he could do about it. He couldn't see in the tunnels, much less navigate through them in an attempt to find the prince. He just hoped that their effort of saving him in the first place wouldn't all go to waste, and that he and whoever he was with would get out of the city and to the relative safety of the forests beyond, just like how he was planning on doing. Talos gave Lena a little squeeze then walked to where the dragon and his rider had collapsed, offering a hand up to Jackdaww since he seemed to show little inclination to rise on his own, though his dragon appeared ready to go, if a bit weary. "We're almost out now." He said, his voice a little rough but not unkind. "We'll see what we can do about patching everybody up once we're outside the walls. Up now, I'll help you walk if your leg is too badly hurt."

At the sound of flapping wings, Xaoc turned his eyes to this potential new prey – after he was done with this one obviously - and saw the rather huge, strangely scaled dragon, who had been with the euphorn, advance towards him. He turned his bloodred eyes onto this new target, a light of disdain in his eyes as he saw the bad shape the dragon was in and he quickly dismissed him as being his next victim. “Go lick your wounds, you pathetic excuse for a dragon,” he growled. The dragon was in no shape to fight, nor was he prestigious enough anymore to be even torn into pieces, he was already barely held together by a few pieces of metal covering his body; a very strange sight indeed. The tribal battleblood couldn’t help but wonder if it was indeed so stupid as to try and fight over a little snack such as the pink piece of meat in his claws. Xaoc would definitely not share and he was not planning on handing his price over.

With another disgruntled roar towards the pursuing dragon, Xaoc turned around and flew back towards the city definitely being painted in the colours of the rebels already to find himself a spot to settle down for a while before he would head back to Zartear to claim is final reward. Not too far away from his flightpath, he could detect a group of humans being horded together by some of the soldiers and a man on horseback ordering them around, regularly looking up at the tribal battleblood did not pay them any heed, he did not enjoy the taste of human flesh if there was something better to be had; their taste was far less appetizing than that of dragons. To his own dismay, his enthusiasm for the battle was beginning to dwindle away with the lack of proper opponents to fight and with the spilling of blood down below ebbing away to a slow trickle once in a while. It was clear that the battle was won for the rebels, but Xaoc did not care for the outcome either way, the only thing he cared about was the human with the dragon blood and the little pink dragon in his claws.

Lena smiled briefly when Talos returned her small show of affection and got herself out of the tunnel, she kept a hand on her bow, ready to fire off what little arrows she had left if any trouble came to them. Thankfully the area around them seemed to quiet compared to the deafening noises of the battle earlier on. Adrenalin was starting to drain from her body now that they were not being attack and fatigue weighed heavily on her. The warm mid morning sun played on her face as she looked around for aerial attacks and waiting for the dragon rider pair and her husband to emerge from the tunnel door.

~*~*~*~

Whatever peaceful morning light was going on for Lena, was not however for Lotharia. There were sharp pains from the claws digging in her sides from the Tribal Battle Blood and even more so when the red dragon caught sight of another creature. Rilos. Lotharia knew better than to struggle against Xaoc, knew she would be torn to shreds from his sharp claws so all she could do was look back at the worn dragon and goblin rider. She was almost thankful that Xaoc was insulting Rilos that he wasn’t worth his time, if he got into battle now there was no way he could survive. “Go back!” She pleaded, “I can not heal you if you fight him!” She added, hoping that if she herself made it sound hopeless the kind dragon would back off and live to see another day.

Armeno too raised an eyebrow at Sandy's muttered comment.
'I presume that your intention was for me not to see you; I should have been more alert, but after a battle like this I don't think any of us will be on top form.' He nodded briefly at her thanks, tagging a small acknowledgement onto his former words. 'It was my pleasure.' With that, he too left the chat- now wasn't the time.
'I have the chest, yes,' he said in response to both Atleon and Sandy. He glanced over to the prince as the man addressed him, then nodded once more. 'Of course, there's no sense in us splitting now.' He followed Atleon to the opening and looked up at him through it, then back at the horse. The trapdoor wasn't exactly designed for horses, and he didn't see any way to get the animal up into the pub. He placed his torch in another holder.
'Looks like I'll be leaving another animal in the tunnels,' he sighed, removing the chest and then following Atleon through the opening.

“Oh well that’s just great, someone out to find you too.” Static couldn’t keep the anger out of her voice, not liking the turn of events one bit. It wasn’t as though the pair were exactly unnoticeable, and if the avian had those two out after her, then sticking around with Starling didn’t seem like such a great plan- grudgingly though, it seemed as though they would have to stay together for now. She knew they should probably get back on the move again and head for the S.R side, to try and find some sort of healer, but just the thought of trying to hobble on made her feel sick to the stomach.
“What?” At Starling’s words, her head suddenly flicked up, scanning the area around them for returning forces. “I’m not taking on more.” It wasn’t as if she had a choice- Static couldn’t take on more opponents, even if she had wanted to.
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Despite making it safely into the air, and being healed by Lotharia too, flying was taking its toll on Rilos. It wasn’t that he was paining all over- granted, he still ached a fair bit- but plain exhaustion had set in, and it was difficult to concentrate on so many things at one time- the yelling goblin (wasn’t much help coming from that direction), making sure he didn’t crash, and of course, the problem of the tribal battle blood. Despite closing the gap between them, he restrained from outright dive-bombing without heed, not wanting the huge dragon to drop the euphorn, or some other unfortunate outcome… Like getting slaughtered. Which was looking increasingly likely.

Despite the vulgar way that Xaoc put it, turning to recover actually looked like quite the favourable option when the dragon turned to face him. He really had underestimated the dragon when he had taken to the air- not only was the battle blood much, much bigger than him, even staying in the air was an extra strain, his breath huffing in his throat with every wingbeat. He shook his head once, thinking still to try, but as the larger dragon turned with a roar, he saw there was little chance of actually catching him, let alone trying to wrestle Lotharia off him too. It wasn’t fair on any of them, if they were all killed- he had dragged Kagan right into this without asking the goblin once if he had any objection.

With a battered droop of his head, he turned tail and fled, while the sky was still free for him to roam, guilt twisting within him.

Sandy too, was rather relieved at the sight of the chest, safe and un-harmed. She let out a short sigh and a quick smile. So it looks as if they wouldn’t have to go gallivanting round the city looking for a box, thank goodness. But any good news in this war effort was another shot at hope, and she knew it wouldn’t last too long. Only so many good things could happen at once, before something else had to come around the corner. But if everyone wasn’t optimistic, then they would have no chance.
She raised an eyebrow as Armeno mentioned her hiding away. D’you think? “Nahh, I just like hugging walls.” She mumbled, mostly to herself. His comment wasn’t half-obvious, but she turned away nonetheless to press on with their current mission at hand.

At Atleon’s movements, Sandy began to follow him down the long tunnel. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she tried to squint against the darkness and find whatever piece of metal had lit up in the blast of light from before. But at the prince’s voice, it was obvious that her efforts were no longer necessary, for he had found it. She watched as he gradually opened the trap door and nodded at his words. Another stroke of luck. She daren’t think how long it would last for, but again, optimism all the way. As the prince and elf clambered up into the pub, she gave one last look around the tunnels, before too, heaving herself up.
She was quite dazed by the sudden chance of light and scenery, but it didn’t take long to wear off. Around them, were random tables, half covered with spilt jugs and smashed glass. “Right.”

So. This was it. His time had come. The infamous Kagan, killed while atop a half-blided dragon in a fruitless attempt to save a comrad. Granted, it wasn't a terrible death, but Kagan had thought his death would be a little less... airborne. Would anyone mourn his death? Would he have his own private grave? Probably not. But hey, at least he had fun up to this point! Had a few laughs, busted a few skulls here and there, made fortunes and lost them on a whim... "What?" Kagan's eyes widened at what had disturbed his believed-to-be final thoughts. Rilos was... was... turning around!? Granted, he barely knew the lizard, but surely he wouldn't turn his back on a partner near death without a fight! But, then again, that other dragon was pretty big....

But what would they do now? Was Rilos going to run away and never look back, cut off all contact and live a lonely, impaired life? Something strange stirred in Kagan's belly at the thought of this, perhaps the ultimate shame. Was it... compassion? Or, you know, it could just be his air sickness. No, no, it was compassion! But what could he do for Rilos, what possible solution wold let Rilos leave with at least a shred of dignity? Then, suddenly, it hit Kagan: what he had to do for his companion, the one thing Kagan could do to combat this shame.

Save face.

Careful not to plummet to his doom, Kagan turned around on his spot, hands flinging foreward to help keep his balance as he watched the quickly-shrinking enemy dragon. Kagan allowed for a few seconds for a speech to form in his massive mind, then, trusting his legs to keep him in place, cupped his hands around his mouth to help amplify his voice. "You're lucky!" Kagan shouted, staring at the Tribal Battle Blood. "Lucky that this mighty dragon has been called to a higher purpous than this!" Dragons had telepathy, right? Oh well, too late now to ask. "But know this the next time your paths cross, he will be merciless, and beat you back into the worthless lizard you really are! Fear this armor, fear the dark, fear" Kagan took a deep breath, then screamed out one final word, the force of it making his throat feel raw. "Rilos!"

Xaoc growled as the words rang in his ears. He had not even paid attention to the little creature hiding on the dragon’s back but now it was exactly that creature that was almost sending him into fits of rage. How did a goblin even dare talk to him like this? To him! A tribal battleblood! He could munch that little being as a pre-snack appetiser. Oh, he could just… And with that thought still unfinished in his mind, the tribal battleblood launched himself in pursuit of the dragon and its aggravating little rider. Xaoc did not pay attention to the dragon underneath the goblin, he only wanted the goblin but even as he dashed in the direction, he realised he had completely forgotten about the exotic snack still in his talons.

Or rather, now not in his talons anymore but slowly falling towards the ground where it would certainly die, and he would not be able to delight in its exquisite taste anymore. Roaring in fury, Xaoc finally and completely turned away from the dragon and its rider, vowing he would get his claws into their hides next time they came upon each other, and hurried after the falling pink dragon, clasping his claws around it once more just before it hit the floor. He was crushing a few more buildings in his wake to get his prey but he did not care. Xaoc did not even flinch when he brought down a larger building, pieces of which were now being scattered into the middle of the Surahnian rebels who were getting into formation behind and around Zartear.

Atleon nodded. “Right.” The place looked like it had already been ransacked so they could only hope that whoever had been in here was already gone. Carefully, the prince made his way through the pub, trying to avoid the broken pieces of wood and glasses scattering the floor as much as possible, though that was almost completely hopeless. The evidence of war was so clearly visible even inside this rundown pub, it was almost painful.

However, their silent presence was not remaining as quiet for much longer. Suddenly, the dead seeming pub was alive with shouting and the clattering of home-made weapons as suddenly, what Atleon could only assume to be a drunken regular of the pub came at them, swinging a bottle and a wooden piece of a barstool at the trio, the last one of them barely poking his head out of the whole. Before Atleon could avoid the next swing, having ducked away under the first one, he felt the wood connect to his shoulder and he had to bite his lip not to scream out in pain. As drunken as the man was, he still had quite a bit of force behind his gestures. “You stupid man, give me that,” he then roared and went to rip the bottle out of their attacker’s hands, but the man wouldn’t have any of it. Letting out a stream of curses, he clung to his bottle and began dashing the wood into Atleon, who was slowly beginning to lose patience and was about to let go and draw his sword.

The movement in his city was getting smoother now, most fights on the streets now showing small resistance, quelled by his men easily enough. Even the overhead fleets of defiant dragons had been destroyed or caught, though it seemed Xaoc was already back from his playtime on the battlefield. An immense black dragon crashing out of the sky from nowhere.
The horses shifted nervously away from the dragon and Zartear looked up, turning in the saddle, noting in the distance another significantly large dragon...

Against the black cutout he could see a sleek, pink and snake-formed body twisting in the vicious grip of the Tribal.
"So the dragon has another-" He said to the air before stopping halfway. Zartear had wanted to know more about what the Tribal wanted so much from a kill, but now he couldn't hesitate.
Looking to his left quickly, searching for a certain specialist, he spoke smoothly as ever but the signals from his hands were urgent...Euphorn's were at their best when they were alive, afterall.
"Dragon, release your prey now!" He ordered, it was useless trying to be diplomatic when he needed to snatch the dragon before it's death. Anyway, he was certain he had a good bit of leverage for the impending anger of the Tribal.

Forming the Slayer marks into the air with the hands of a skilled artist, painting it black in the shape of a double ringed circle, the specialist mage let the black curse fly from his hands where it snapped itself neatly around the neck of the female Euphorn. It sizzled on contact with the smooth and beautiful scales, a small hiss coming from it as a whirl of snaking black smoke fell away from it, marring the scales it held onto, appearing like darkened and melted wax.
"It is complete my Lord."

Zartear was still at a fundamentals-only level of magic, but of what he had learned so far, he'd made sure it was solely the most practical of things.
As it happened, this form of magic complemented his style of fighting and working very well.
Raising a palm directly to the burned in curse-circle he twitched his fingers with just the slightest movement and a worm of black metal sought contact to his palm.
Finishing it's liquid transformation, the extension cooled into a long wrap of chain, exactly the kind of metal that he used in his weapon. Namely, dragon chains. Ordinary chains against such an agile (and fast) dragon might have been problematic. Truth be told, he wasn't expecting a fight from the Euphorn, though they had a talent for escaping.

"If you let go of your prey, I'll tell you everything you want to know." A simple ultimatum, he wasn't keen on fighting for this Euphorn either, not least because it was a fragile rarity and could be turned to dust in the next minute. "Besides, I think that Felren would matter more to you than this small dragon."
As if to emphasize the point, he made another coil of chain wrap around his hand so the link was now tight.

Lotharia looked back to Rilos where the strange creature was on his back shouting insulting things to the Tribal Battle blood clutching onto her sides. She thought him very brave for even speaking against the large dragon and was about to say something when suddenly she felt a free space around her. She wasn't sure what was going on, the air rushing past her so fast and almost as fast as she realized she was falling and more than likely going to her death, the large clutches of the Tribal Blood bit into her sides once more just before she hit the ground, scattering roof tops and entire houses as he caught her. She let out a a small roar in pain as blood trickled down her sides from the pressure of his claws. While she was grateful not to fall to her death, she wasn't sure if it was much better to be back in the Xaoc's claws.

Just as everything around her was moving so fast, Lotharia was only holding still for a moment as she looked around at all the humans in front of her before a burning sensation erupted around her neck. She let out a growl in protest, instinctively trying to move away from whatever was hurting her but Xaoc's claws were deep in her side and whatever was around her neck now was keeping her from moving.

Trying to calm herself, Lotharia kept still once more, watching as a chain formed in one humans hand and was trying to get the Tribal Blood to release her. She wasn't sure what chances she had with this human but she knew what would happen if she stayed with the dragon and it wasn't a pretty thought. She would just have to see what reaction and course Xaoc would take.

Armeno glanced back at Sandy as she muttered an obviously sarcastic response, but it didn't seem to be an actual reply and so he didn't comment.

As the drunken man burst into the room and began to brandish a pair of extremely rudimentary weapons, Armeno tensed. As soon as the wood hit Atleon, the elf drew his sword and took a threatening step forwards. Perhaps this man was only attacking because of his intoxicated state, but that didn't mean Armeno was about to go easy on him- none of the three needed injuries from a citizen who had felt like drinking a little much. When the drunkard didn't seem to notice the drawn sword, the elf stepped forwards and hit him across the back with the flat of the blade- definitely enough to hurt, but nothing that would do serious damage.
'Leave,' Armeno snapped.

Shame burnt within Rilos as he turned tail on the tribal battle blood, setting his sights on the far edge of the city and trying to ignore the carnage strewn about the streets below. He tried to harden his heart and forget what he was doing, but that was hardly possible, even when he shut his eye for a moment and took a deep breath. Kagan was sure to say something to him now, and he wasn’t sure he would be able to stand the goblin’s protests. He tried to speed up, hoping to get the flight over as quickly as possible. Then he could just… disappear into the forest.

He was suddenly shaken out of his fixed mindset by Kagan’s shout back at Xaoc, looking at the goblin in confusion for a moment as the wind whipped his words behind them, then his eye suddenly widened in horror. What was he doing?
“Shut up!” he hissed, flicking his tails from side to side in agitation to try and knock Kagan slightly and get him quiet. He gave a nervous gulp, hoping he would stop at the word fear… He gave a groan, looking at the ground in disbelief for a moment before looking back at the goblin again. “Oh, you’ve really gone and done it now…”

Rilos gave a shriek as the huge dragon turned after his tail, flapping his wings furiously to try and get out of range. He headed up, away from the buildings below, in case he hit another, but the tribal battle blood turned away hardly before it had started out after him, diving after Lotharia again. He shot her a worried look, his features creasing in unhappiness as she was caught in the dragon’s claws again.
“Hell, don’t do that again.” He gave a sigh of relief and slowed, conserving as much energy as he could.

She had entertained herself a little by floating around the city, following the tides of the wind where they would take her and pouncing on someone every once in a while when the mood took her. A few soldiers had fell to her claws and more than a dozen buildings had been demolished in her wake, but still she was growing bored. She was standing amongst the ruins of a building at the moment, a band of soldiers that had detached themselves from the main body of the invading force having caught her eye and were now little more than crushed bits of meat on the pavement and walls of the surrounding buildings.

Arasolra looked up when she heard the screech of dragons above her, an enraged roar which she could only assume came from the battleblood that still haunted the skies. However, a certainly familiar streak of blue caught her eye. Oh, so he's finally come out of hiding? The little rat. With a grin Arasolra crouched, her whole body tensing before the spring, her wings snapping as the grabbed the air and hauled her weight into the sky. The blue dragon would be crossing just over her, and she let out a tremendous roar, making her presence known to any that could hear her.

*-*_*-*

Screams of terror rose up all around him when the black and red dragon made a dive for them. Vann flinched reflexively when the huge dragon came their way, roaring with fury and snatching up a pink blur before barreling into the ground. Bits of buildings came flying into the crowd of prisoners, cries of pain welling up where people were hit. A chorus of crying children erupted in the chaos, but he could tell that they were holding back. They were terrified of what would happen if the soldiers got angry, and with good right. These people had probably never seen a sword in their life unless with was mounted on a wall.

What surprised him most however was finally seeing just what the higher-ups in this army were capable of. One of the more imposing looking men that he had seen before appeared to be freely conversing with the dragon. Demanding things from it, even! He had heard of slayers that took down larger fearsome dragons of course, but to see one in action… He sensed more than saw the others around him cower from the beast and instead of doing the same simply watched, awed by the display of power.

Xaoc’s eyes were ablaze with fury as Zartear suddenly jumped into his little tête-à-tête with the euphorn, who was once again firmly clasped within his claws. This little human did have an awful talent to meddle with things at just the wrong time, and the trible battleblood was now hellbent on ripping that petty human apart for being so bold. The pink dragon in his claws felt the squeeze of his anger as his claws drew tighter and tighter as Xaoc growled at Zartear: “I am not going to release it.” In response to this it seemed, the man and another human who had conveniently appeared by his side were busily performing some kind of weird task that made Xaoc feel rather queasy and he growled some more, the anger mixed with a little uncertainty.

The marks that had been performed in the air seemed somewhat familiar and Xaoc was sure it was not something he wanted to experience any time soon again, even though he was rather certain that this tiny human could not do much against his big bulk any time soon.

However, soon after a leash seemed to be lashing out and winding itself around the euphorn’s neck and Xaoc’s runes began pulsing with the anger burning stronger again within him. “Release the dragon at once,” he roared at Zartear, in turn using the man’s earlier words. Though of course as soon as the slayer mentioned the dragonblood infused human, the tribal battleblood halted in snapping off the human’s head with his large teeth. “You will tell me everything I want to know. You will keep your word and tell me where to find this blasphemous piece of a two-legged, who does not deserve to live?”

There was no way Xaoc could be sure that this man could be trusted, yet in that one respect he was right, the human was worth more to the tribal battleblood than the euphorn in his talons, even though he had gone through a few lengths to get this little one. He was reluctant to let go of the exotic snack he had been looking forward to, but Felren… All of a sudden, Xaoc opened his claws and let the euphorn drop down, leaving it up to the human to catch her before she smashed on the ground below, seeing that there did not seemed to be all too much left of her to be smashed. Apart from a little wiggling here and there, the euphorn had been very still and seemed almost lifeless, her tiny voice barely breaking through to Xaoc’s ears.

“Now tell me where the human is!” Xaoc roared once more, as he himself slammed down onto the floor completely, taking down one more building in his wake, careless of who or whatever was beneath his talons. His muzzle was now threateningly close to Zartear’s face and the smoke slowly dwindling its way out of his nostrils was a clear indication of what the tribal battleblood might do if he were refused now, after he had given up his precious prey.

Zartear held his ground firmly, appearing to those around him and the dragon itself, not to be at all put off by the Tribal's display. Inside however, this was far from ideal and he felt himself by instinct searching for the best lines of escape and attack in this gridlock of people, horses and dragons. The Tribal didn't care what it had to plough through to see it's enemy dead, but Zartear was hardly the multi-tonned animal that was confronting him...so he had to be a little more careful.

As the dragon flared up against him and the others Zartear felt the nervousness of his horse underneath him, and couldn't help a tiny bit feeling like that too. But the dragon saw his reasons and refrained from going into a killing frenzy, as good as a success then. The euphorn was pretty much his.

"So it's been decided, I will tell you then. But first!" He stared into the eyes of the demonic dragon before him, the looming breath of it seemed to wrap around the group like a threat to choke them all for the smallest of mistakes. Zartear carried on. "Once I have told you, perhaps in future I'll be able to give you more of what you'd like...And you'll be able to drink up more blood..." Which was his own way of telling the dragon not to waste any more time snapping human spines the moment after he disclosed on Felren. It was also his way of preserving this living-weapon for his use in a crunch point to come later on. Provided the dragon would listen.

"Anyway, wise as you are...The creature is headed north east, on out to the desert region and then to Kaionar, apparently. He didn't leave so long ago, but the cover is heavy there so I'll wish you best in tracking him. You'll find he's accompanied by a few other humans. Oh and...you should probably know the man is afflicted by some other being too, maybe that'll interest you."
So it seemed Zartear was destined to lose Captain Hadanna, a few of the cavalry and that other strange woman that walked with the demon-blood. A small price to pay for the help from the tribal burning the resistance to cinders.
"I look forward to speaking with you again Xaoc." As he'd heard the infamous dragon's name was.

It was only now he reverted his attention to the pile of euphorn not far from him, a pool of guards surrounding the dazed looking figure. He tightened up on the new slack of the chains tugging it to make the dragon come to the horses side. A priceless one for the healing of his good soldiers, Zartear couldn't afford to lose the excellent men he'd come to this island with...as the island (besides it's dragons) seemed to have very little to offer in the way of people, on it's own.

Plus, the dragon would put on a pleasant display soon enough when he spoke to the people, burned the dead and healed the wounded. For the first time spoke to his new dragon,
"You needn't fear me Euphorn, however, if you insist on making things difficult...I can make sure that things will be difficult for you too, understood?" in spite of the sinister undertone and unsaid outcomes, he then smiled, "I sincerely hope you'll help those that need you here...though. The fight here is unfortunate."

When Xaoc grew angry with the humans demands and dug his claws further into her, Lotharia lowered her head, letting out a small distressed noise that thankfully went unnoticed. She listened carefully to the conversation they were having, and had no idea who this Felren was but his fate seemed sealed if Xaoc was so interested in him. She could only hope whoever the poor soul was would remain unlocated by the fearsome dragon.

When Xaoc finally seemed to agree she was dropped the last few feet to the ground and remained where she had fallen until there was a tugging on her neck. A little slowly, but willingly she followed the pull to release the tension on her neck and was brought to the side of the human and his horse. After a few more moments of listening to the conversation between Xaoc and Zartear, he finally addressed her.

"I could never deny someone in pain." Lotharia spoke the truth of her cooperation, in that there was not a living soul, good or evil, that she could resist their cries if in pain. It would drive her to insanity if she tried and the compulsion alone was enough to make her do it.

Lotharia switched to a more private mental path with Talos and thought carefully before she spoke, not wanting to alarm the man. "Talos, Atleon is no longer with me, but I can confirm he is not with the human leader you went against, Zartear, I think."

Jackdaww clambered onto Measle’s back with a little difficulty, but once seated seemed to have much of his energy back about him. The grubby leg on his trousers was slick and dark with blood from the slash, but he didn’t wish to look at the damage until they knew they were safe. The feeling of being watched bit into him like the icy jaws of a mountain beast, and this time he couldn’t help feeling that there really was something wrong. “Talos? Not meaning to concern you, but we should move. I don’t think we’re safe as long as we stay in one place.” He said quietly, but from the bristle in his scales he could tell that Measle was concerned as well. Hopefully whoever it was was just as worn down as their group, and less likely to attack.

“Well, they aren’t making any move on us, and there are a few wounded men and women among them, so they may well be crawling to a healer. I’ll keep an eye out.” Starling confirmed, staying standing and watching the DDC army’s escapees. She knew that Static couldn’t fight until they had been to a healer, and even then it seemed that that there was something deeper wrong with her. All she could hope for was that the DDCs wouldn’t come too close. She kept her eyes pinned on the dragon and rider pair, and realised that they were no danger as the man scrambled onto his dragon’s back. No, wait, as the dragon allowed him up, silly her. She always showed dragons great respect, more out of fear than anything, and this brilliant blue lighting storm should be no exception. The dark stain on the mans leg was further proof that he was in no state to attack, and for a moment she was tempted to take him down while he was weak, but she knew there was no real chance. Why give up makeshift safety for the slight chance to take down another stranger? Even if you did have a feeling that they weren't reallt a stranger at all...

Not safe if they stayed in one place… Hah! As if he had forgotten such a thing. Still, near the East gate, things had been fairly quiet. He half expected someone to jump out of an alley way at any second. Perhaps they would still. It was hard to say that even getting out of the city would provide a safe haven at this point. Though, looking to the sky, Talos could see that the Tribal Battle Blood didn't appear to be in flight anymore which was certainly a good sign if any were to be had. "Then we go. Quickly now, I don't know how much longer our luck will last." He kept his voice soft, half because he was too tired to muster a bigger sound and the other half because he was concerned that enemies might be surrounding them even now. Who knew how quickly Zartear's forces may have advanced now that there was no opposition to face them?

Talos lead the group along the streets, keeping as much as he could off the main road as they headed toward the East gates, the huge stone pillars marking the exit looming over them in the watery sunrise. They were out in the open completely once they had to pass through the gates and into the surrounding forest, but he quickly deviated the cobble-and-dirt road that led out of the city, heading for the thin scrub that surrounded both sides of the road and thickened more into a real forest with tree cover over head. A familiar voice suddenly entered his head and he looked around quickly expecting to see Lotharia's pink form nearby, and was slightly disappointed to see that the dragon was nowhere in sight. "Well, at least he hasn't been captured by the enemy." Talos thought back quickly with relief coloring his mind. "Are you out of the city? We've moved outside of its walls and are taking shelter in the forest."

Zartear nodded agreeably to Lotharia. It was a true paradox, having stolen the dragon from it's roots and bound it to service via brutal divined metal...and there he was behaving as if there weren't the slightest issue.
It even seemed he might just as well have been going for a stroll with the dragon.
"Then, there is no time to waste...This way."
The troupe having not strayed far from the square, close to the place where the end of this was to be sealed, could now see several distinct divisions.
The pile of cleared dead bodies from the main streets were forming a center piece on the cobblestones just north of the Earth Stone Tower, a grim yet firmly traditional display of the Surahnian kind...

"Ah, so many casualties..." He spoke, then averting his eyes to the south western part of the square, a holding pen for the new slaves, namely, any decently-fit-for-work people found in the houses and children that would form the next generation of fighters. "Here we are now, you'll find there's many that need your help in this group." He guided the dragon alongside him to the holding area, guarded heavily, though the miserable hum of resignment alone was enough to stop any uprising.

"See to the children first, it shouldn't be any trouble for a dragon of your caliber." Zartear scowled a little taking a closer look, "It seems they've been a little heavy handed..." His voice seemed barely interested, but it was clear that among the slaves a few limp bodies were sprawled amidst the mass of human. Not ideal, but just a few was good enough.
"It won't make it much longer anyhow. Get to work then, will you please?" He gestured to the group.

This didn't mean Zartear was in any hurry to be off supervising the many other things that begged for attention in this city, first, he had to see what the power of a first rate healing dragon was worth in Dragons Cove. Ever since he'd arrived he'd been on a quest to evaluate the powers of the unique lizards here, and now, was a perfect moment.

Lena thought the comment to Talos was a little obvious, they were going to keep moving anyway for as long as they could...however much longer that might be. She followed him out into the open and then back into the vegitation that would steadily become thicker. Looking back at Racksom, she gave a small sigh and wondered where Atleon had gotten himself off to. She knew about the small group she had sent off to the Everbridge and the group they were with now but that wasn't a lot of people.

Lena looked to Talos, looking as if he was deep in thought, not knowing he was speaking with Lotharia, "Talos, are you alright?" She asked, keeping her voice low in case something really was wrong.

~*~*~*~

Lotharia thought for a moment about Talos' question, not wanting him to come after her if she said the wrong thing, but lying was not something she was really used to doing. "I am still in the city little one, though I am glad you are safe. May the fates rejoin us one day." She said privately to Talos as Zartear's group began to move out. She had no want for him to come here and risk his life, which he would be doing with all these guards around and she was sure Zartear was not going to kill her. He needed her.

The pink dragon walked along side Zartear, not wanting the strange metal around her neck to pull and burn her now sensitive skin. As they got close to the pen of humans, Lotharia thought it odd they were caged like dogs and flicked her tail back and forth silently as she observed. Listening to what Zartear had to say, Lotharia looked at the group. Her heart twisted painfully, feeling the anguish, sorrow and pain from the group of people in front of her. There was not a bone in her body that allow these people not to be healed. Leaning her large pink nose into the crowd seemed to frighten some people to the back of the pen but with no where to run Lotharia moved in for the first child. She pressed her nose to his arm and let her healing magic flow into him.

Having run out of magic from before, Lotharia was lucky that some of her powers had been restored. The group in front of her wasn't huge and many of them had non fatal wounds that did not use much of her large supply of healing magic. Once she had finished healing each and every person in the pen, she stepped back, twitching her tail and looked to Zartear. "I have done as you instructed." She told him, her voice feather light in his mind.

Well, at least it wasn't following them! Kagan glared at the tribal battle blood until he was absolutly certain it wouldn't start charging at them, sniffed and nodded once defiantly, then shakily turned around and plomped down on Rilos' back, finding his balance surprisingly easy. He heard Rilos and sat in silence for a while, staring in disbelief, then answered him. "What, are you talking to yourself?" Kagan said. "First, you pull me into the air without any warning. Second, you dive at the beast like a madman, and third..." Kagan had counted each point on his finger, and at the third balled that hand into a fist. "You leave a comrade. So now you have to get bloody revenge to save your honor!" Kagan sighed, leaned foreward, and braced his arms against Rilos' back. "Lucky you've got armor, the battle you're going to have s'gunna be bloody." Hopefully, Kagan will be doing something else when that time comes. He did not want to have to go through that again.

Taking slow beats to keep him in the air, Rilos coasted over the city at a relatively low altitude, trying to keep a steady flight so he wouldn’t knock Kagan overboard. It was quite the relief when he finally sat down again, and was quiet too- at last, he wasn’t going to start shouting insults at anyone else, he had little wish to have to engage any other opponents for the next few years, let alone the next few hours. What he started up with in place was nearly as bad though.
“Look, I’m sorry I dragged you all the way up here…” he started, but was cut off by the little goblin’s ranting. He wasn’t a madman… And… And the tribal battle blood was too much for him in such a state… And now he had gotten him into a fix that was bound to come to a sticky end- as if a sunblaze hadn’t made her mark on him enough already!
“Yes, I have honour, I’ll grant you that, but that doesn’t mean I have to go and get revenge on some bloody enormous dragon!” His voice started to growl a little at the end as he realised the full extent of what Kagan had just done. He would have to scarper out of the area quick, otherwise that tribal battle blood would come after him, and those things didn’t forget someone who had just insulted them so badly fast. Especially someone who was instantly recognisable in bright silver armour!
“Thanks, just thank you ever so much, really. My dearest wish was to take on that monster of a dragon.” He narrowed his eyes at Kagan as he glanced at him momentarily. If the goblin didn’t see his ire in a look like that, then he was as blind as a bat. “I just cannot wait for that to come to pass.”

It suddenly dissipated as there was a roar behind them, and a spike of fear shot through him. She was back! The sunblaze was back! No time to check, and no time for a warning, he suddenly drove his wings down, picking up as much speed as he could muster in a few wingbeats, before which time she was sure to be right on his tail for the second time that morning…

~~~~~~~

“Good.” said Static shortly, hoping the young avian wouldn’t do anything stupid- like try and attack those escaping. She kept an eye on Starling, just in case (she obviously hadn’t been in a battle before, otherwise she would have been trying to conserve her energy, not looking to go and pick another fight), breathing a silent sigh of relief as the others moved off again. It was time they were moving too. She wrapped both hands around the hilt of her sword, then slowly stood, leaning heavily on the blade.
“Time to go and find a healer.”

Xaoc’s bloodred eyes were glued to the human in front of him, whom he was sure in the meantime was devising another sort of plan to make him stay away from what he wanted, especially after he had already so easily managed to make him let go of his prey. Growling, the tribal battleblood made his intentions quite clear if the human tried to trick him again. He had given up the exotic one, he was not going to let the human blabber on much longer without giving up the required information on the one he sought.

The vicious eyes narrowed slightly as the human began talking to him anew in this tone he began to know rather well. It was the persuasive one, the voice that tried to tell him to do things that the dragon himself might not be willing to do, and smoke slowly started creeping out of his nostrils as Xaoc grew more impatient by the second.

However, the human did make a wise point and Xaoc was indeed tempted by any further attempt he could make at satisfying his unending desire and need for blood and devastation. The steady threatening rumble that came from his throat did not subside all through the man’s speech however and the tribal battleblood did not give any notion whether he was inclined or not to accept such an offer.

Finally, finally, he had the information he required and already flared his wings before the last words had left the human’s mouth. Xaoc barely heard mention of the one he sought to be afflicted by something else as well, and he definitely paid no heed to it. What was another being to him, especially if it was seemingly another human of sorts. Huffing arrogantly, Xaoc did not deign to reply to the human, and with a loud roar, lifted away from the main square of Racksom, crashing yet another few pieces of an almost completely ruined tower onto Zartear’s men before he rapidly disappeared into a north-eastern direction, on the hunt for his desired prey.

As Sandy adjusted her position to get a good look around the pub before she decided to step over the glass, her thoughts were disturbed by a loud crashing noise. She span on her heels just in time to see a man, obviously drunk by the sloppy movements and glazed eyes, take a hit at Atleon, and succeed. Yes, their luck had definitely just ran out. She was about to advance forwards, when the elf drew his sword after being closer to the man than she was. Sandy half held her breath as she heard the prince shout, which would no doubt bring more attention into the pub, and watched as Armeno struck the drunken fellow across the back as a result of being completely absurd.

Seconds later, Sandy decided to act as well. For she had been watching the shaking glass bottle in the man’s hand grow more unstable by the second, as if he would lash out at any moment. Quickly, she sent a jet of energy across the room and struck the bottle square on.
Unable to act against the laws of physics, the man could only flinch as the glass was sent flying from his hands, only to crash along the top of another table, onto a chair and finally, onto the floor. Thankfully, it only made a clinking noise, rather than smashing completely.
“Now.” She hissed, her eyes flashing a shade of blue, then changing back to their brown-black colour.

He watched silently as the leader of this army talked with the Tribal, impressed and a little fearful when the huge angry dragon flew away without maiming the man. He didn't know what this man stood for or who was against him, but he didn't envy those on the other side of the fence in this battle. Any man that could turn aside one of those dragons without resorting to blood… that was a man to be feared, and respected. However, he couldn't help but to notice that he wasn't a man to be though too highly of. He'd seen the faces of snakes, had grown up with politicians and should have been one himself except for a turn of events. This one had the look of a man who knew how to say things that would get people on his side. And a fair bit of cruelty was in that face as well if he dropped the mask of neutrality. A dangerous opponent indeed.

Vann witnessed his charm next, and when the Euphorn came his way, he simply stepped back and watched the poor creature. It was exhausted. But obviously it's gentle nature was forcing it past its limits at the behest of its new master. So much suffering and death, and the pink dragon seemed incapable of ignoring it even when it was drooping from exhaustion. "Hold a minuet." He spoke and acted before thinking of the consequences, coming forward out of the crowd. "The creature is exhausted. Please, let her rest."

*~*

She wasn't surprised to see the blue dragon rush away from her, but was a little surprised to see that he couldn't outstrip her anymore like before. Maybe it was that shiny metal that he was carrying? Flapping faster, she caught up well enough and examined Rilos quickly, looking over his armor for weak points. If she still had her fire it would be easy enough to roast him through the armor, but she'd run out until she ate something sizable. Arasolra flew next to him, their wings nearly touching at the tips for the proximity. "So you ran away to put on metal?" She asked, her voice rife with curiosity. Her eyes traveled to the small green creature on his back. "And you picked up a snack to go…?"

*~*

Talos almost didn't hear Lena's question, absorbed in connecting to Lotharia to try and figure out what she was about. When his wife's words finally filtered through he snapped out of it as if in a daze. Which he was really, being so tired that he could nearly fall over at this point. There was something wrong with Lotharia's next sentence. Though he didn't expect that Lotharia would stay in this indefinitely, he certainly didn't expect for them to part this way. "I don't know." He replied softly, looking at Lena for a long moment as he tried to process the hidden meaning in Lotharia's words.

He continued leading them further into the forest and halted when they were a while now from the walls. "We stop here for a little bit and bind wounds before moving on." He said, turning and examining those that had managed to follow him this far. A relieved sigh came collectively from the group, a few of the men sitting themselves down immediately. They were all exhausted as he was. "I'll watch for anyone coming for us. Make sure everybody gets patched up." Talos spoke quietly to Lena, hoping that he'd be able to keep on his feet for the moment. "And I'll keep an eye out for other refugees."

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C1 Racksom~~~~And then, there was War~~~~(5th Board)

C1 RacksomAnd then, there was War(5th Board)