Quest The Rising

[Vhagor]

Spoiler: Quest OOC Info - Please Read Carefully

Welcome to The Rising and thank you for joining us for dragon fun! Before joining please make sure you read our info here: https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/the-rising.5231/ and our Thanasis Lore Page! If you have any questions please drop me a DM or fine me on Discord (JJ / Warmth of Dragons event room). For the most part this thread will be driven by yourselves, however myself and a few other players will occasionally drop in obstacles, challenges and treasure to help you along! If you specifically want one of the three eggs up for grabs, shoot me a message, and if you're here for an unbound dragon, good luck!

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Morning of The Rising, The Heartlands
​

A dragon's roar in the distance drowned out the clap of unnatural thunder. Several of this years hopeful contestants paled and others grimaced. Ten had already realised why riders suggested not eating breakfast and had emptied their stomachs behind rocks or ashen trees. Out of the two hundred gathered only a handful would return as Ascended. Three eggs were scattered across the Heartlands, guarded by traps and dragons who thought to cast judgement over those who thought themselves worthy, but they were not the only prizes some would seek. These lands were the heart of the dragons homestead and it was unknown how many wild ones prowled the tunnels, caverns and spiked heights. Some would seek out a human worthy of a bond, others were here to cull the numbers and some merely wished to hunt humans for sport. Last year the death roll had reached the hundreds, but that was the risk each of these contenders took by entering their names.

Nyxondra had once been one of those dragons who had taken great relish in turning participants into heaps of ash.

The giant blue dragon had taken a perch not far from where Vhagor stood. Her form took up the entirety of the large jagged slab of rock and her tail curled all the way down to the ground, the Morningstar like end glittering in the ominous light. She didn't so much as glance as the humans stood below doing final checks, her sights were set on the distance where that roar had come from. Sometimes Vhagor wished the dragons of Thanasis were more like their kin of the West where they could talk mind to mind; he would have liked to know why that roar made the spikes on her back tremor with glee. There was little that delighted his blood thirsty mount and so he sent a silent prayer for those gathered below.

Another clap of thunder drew his eyes to the sky. It was time.

"Welcome candidates!" Vhagor's voice boomed across the desolate landscape. People glanced up and shuffled uncertainly closer, casting weary glances at one another. It wasn't always a dragon that killed a contestant, sometimes it was a fellow human. "I commend you for your courage in signing up to this years Rising Games. You have three days to travel the Heartlands in search of an egg or a dragon with which to bond. I cannot tell you how many; dragons are fickle and they may only decide when they set eyes on you," there was a murmur of discontent at that. People liked to know their odds.

"At the end of the three days a flare will go up and that marks the end of the Rising. Those of you who are still alive but haven't found an egg or a dragon must make your way back to Thanasis. I suggest you make it quick; the dragons let us use their home for this event only out of the kindness of their heart-" Nyx snorted "- I wouldn't abuse that. Let us go over the rules!" One of the clerks handed him a scroll.

"Everything you have managed to bring with you today, you may use. Otherwise you will have to use what you find in these lands to aid you.

If you are lucky enough to find one of the eggs, touching it will transport you back here where the Thunder will tell you the next steps.

If a dragon decides you are worthy of them and you survive your first flight back here, you will be given rooms within the Ōmeyōcān.

The only law of Thanasis that stands is that the murder of a dragon is punishable by your death.

All those who Ascend will serve Thanasis.

Any interference by those not on the participation list will result in their execution, and the execution of whoever they tried to help."

As Vhagor went on the faces below him grew more grim and determined. This was it. There was no turning back. Once the High Ascended had finished he wound the scroll back up and passed it back to the clerk.

"You may begin."

 

[Cullen]

The morning sun cast a golden hue over the desolate landscape of the Heartlands as Cullen stood among the two hundred hopeful contenders. It had been ten long years since he had been exiled, a condition of which was that for he had been forbidden from entering the Rising for a decade. Today though, his patience and determination were about to be put to the ultimate test.

He could feel the weight of anticipation hanging in the air, mingling with the nervous energy radiating from the others who had come to prove themselves. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a resounding echo of his resolve, but Cullen stood firm, his eyes scanning the rugged terrain ahead. This was the heartland of the dragons, their ancient homestead where wild and untamed creatures roamed. It was a place where hunters and the hunted mingled, and the line between victory and death blurred.

The Rising was not for the faint of heart; it was a formidable and treacherous challenge that had claimed the lives of many who dared to tread upon its path, their dreams extinguished like flickering flames in the face of the dragons' judgment.

'Welcome, candidates!' Vhagor's voice thundered, drawing everyone to a hush and all eyes toward him. 'I commend you for your courage in signing up for this year's Rising Games.'

Cullen's mind drifted back to his family, to the betrayal that had shattered their legacy and stained their name. He was here to reclaim not only his family's honor but also their dragons—the symbols of their once-mighty house. With each passing word from Vhagor's lips, his resolve burned hotter, stoking the fires of his determination.

As the rules of the Rising were laid bare, Cullen's dark eyes scanned the faces of his fellow contenders. Grim determination etched lines on their faces, a reflection of the risk they were all willing to take for a chance at greatness. He knew the path ahead would be perilous, fraught with danger at every turn, but he was prepared to face it head-on, ready to face whatever lay in his path, to claw back his family's name from the ashes, and to prove himself worthy of a dragon's bond.

Drawing a deep breath, Cullen took his first step forward, his every muscle taut with anticipation. The Rising had called him, and he would answer its challenge with all the strength and skill he had honed over the years.

His face bore the marks of a painful past, swirling scars etched across his features like a twisted tapestry. They served as a constant reminder to all who gazed upon him that he carried the blood of a traitor, a mark of shame and distrust. The scars were a stark contrast against his piercing, determined gaze, which radiated with a fiery resolve that could not be extinguished.

Each scar told a story— his told of his father's betrayal that had shattered his family and led to their downfall. But Cullen wore them with pride, for they represented his unwavering determination to reclaim his family's name and restore their honor. He refused to let the mark of a traitor's blood define him. Instead, he saw it as a symbol of resilience and a testament to his unyielding spirit, a warning that he was not to be underestimated, for he was a man who carried the weight of his past upon his shoulders and forged ahead with unrelenting purpose.

Dressed in dark attire that would blend seamlessly with the shadows of the great, razor sharp peaks, Cullen moved with speed and purpose toward the treacherous terrain of the Heartlands. He traveled light, carrying a small pack containing essential supplies. The weight of his many daggers pressed against his body, a constant reminder of the dangers of not only dragon or terrain, but others who would do whatever it took to get what they wanted.

 

[Azad]

This was so stupid.

Not the Rising, Dragons bless, obviously not the Rising. That was a great bit of social forward momentum that should be praised and copied around the world. No, what was stupid, was the fact that Az was here.

It was quite a bit of genius on his part, at least that was what he considered it. A few days of very, very hard work, and then a lifetime of riches and luxury. That was what the Rising was about, and Az had managed to place himself among the ranks who found themselves participating.

Lucky, that, really.

Of course, now that he stood here and heard the fancy warriors words he couldn't help but feel like he had played himself a fool. The words uttered by their...headmaster? Had made him question if this thing was even fucking survivable. Az had heard the legends of course, the stories per-mutated even the lower city of Thanasis, but he'd always thought they were...just stories.

The Rising was the stuff of legends, but he'd never really given much thought of what it actually was. Now that he stood there, now that he had some idea, he felt that he had played himself a fool. His head tilted back as the other contestants sprinted off, moving like carefully honed predators into the ash wastes before them.

"Fuck it." The Thief swore, shaking his head and taking a deep breath before breaking into a light jog.

 

[Polina]

She did not wear the garb of a servant today. Those palace robes with the crest of a royal servant. She had second-hand clothes on. A dark brown jacket that was her father's, clearly too big in the shoulders and waist. Wishing for a skirt when she had pants on, instead. Soft leather boots instead of sandals.

Light-eyes swept around to those gathered around her as Vhagor's voice boomed the directions to her. A much, taller muscular girl with red-hair sneered down at her. A man with dark hair and strange swirling scars across his face. An older boy with white hair grinned at her as he ran his tongue carefully across the steel tip of his dagger.

Grimacing, she looked quickly forward, hands coming to adjust the straps of her pack. Her pale skin giving her emotions away. Because they all knew what her appearance gave so easily away.

She wasn't a fighter.

She was a healer, a servant.

This was suicide.

Soft jaw clenched. She had no choice. The herbs she needed were in that valley. And like Vhagor said, this would be one of the only times the dragons would barely tolerate the human existence in their lands. She had to go. For those she loved. That’s why she’d signed up for the Rising.

And then it started. Head swiveled, trying to pick a path...perhaps someone to follow as she moved with the crowd that was quickly dispersing. She felt a sharp elbow to her ribs and teetered sideways. The redhead girl grinned as she passed. "Stay out of the way."

"Nice one," that white haired boy from earlier grinned like a wolf to the other girl before his eyes coldly settled on her. "If you survive the first night I'll find you and kill you myself."

Po could only stare as he and the other girl laughed cruelly as they disappeared among the boulder field. Picking herself up carefully, she continued on.

 

[Lolani]

Breath Lolani. In and Out. Focus on the rhythm and feel your body relax. Remember, you can not let fear cloud your judgment. The minute you hesitate, you are dead.

She opened her eyes as the words of her father echoed in her head. This was the moment. There was nothing to relax for as she had been training for this moment. Her eyes locked onto the speaking Ascended, never once breaking eye contact. Vhagor was once a trusted companion to her father. Yet none of them stood up to protect him when it mattered most, but neither had her father, who had accepted death with little...defiance.

Here she was. She was that defiance. She would clear her father's name and make them all regret the day they turned their backs on him.

Just before Vhagor signaled the beginning to the Rising, Lolani quickly checked at the bow on her back, the spear in her hands, and the other supplies she would need. Satisfied, she turned her vision to her competition. Most of them towering over her. None would suspect she was the daughter of the Titan. It did not matter. They would die either way.

As the competition began, she took her time venturing forward. Why would she want to be in front? It was better to start off as the hunter, rather than the hunted.

"We Stand Unbroken." She whispered to herself.

 

[Thairyl Vheklios]

Thairyl Vheklios stood among the gathered hopefuls clad in blackened scalemail armor with a visored helm. It combined draconic motifs and gave the impression of a horned and fierce reptilian biped in it's shape. He had forged the armor and matching twin blades in a mixture of prayer and grief. Faith and anguish poured into the Thanasyian steel. And now he looked like he belonged to the desolate landscape around and before him.

This was it. This was where and when his gods would test him. Either he would find an egg, bind with a dragon, and in those cases bring honor to his house, just like his sister wanted... Or he would join her. And the sense of peace and attractiveness which that thought brought up in him was extremely discomforting.

All around were warriors, mages, tricksters, and desperate men who would all be aiming the chop his head clean off if they could. He had already had to stop a pickpocket from going into his pack. And who knew what dangers beyond his fellow competitors were awaiting in these sacred lands.

Once the High Ascendant had commenced with the Rising officially, Thairyl would be one of those who would head to the treeline thinking to find an egg or a dragon to bond with in that section of the Gods' territory.

Before he got there however, he stopped and stopped low and touched his hand to the ashen dirt. Gods guide our flight through mortal life! he whispered inside of his own mind, before proceeding onward.

 

[Tuon]

It wasn't long before the killing started.

Most contestants had broken off to take the paths towards the pulsing volcano in the distance on their own. A few had stayed in the groups they had arrived in, pairs of friends who thought their chances were better together. However, in their haste to get ahead of their fellow contestants, not many had seen the rather sizeable group that had formed at the back. Men and women with cold, murderous looks in their eyes, worn leathers, and an array of weapons. It was clear to any they were a unit used to fighting together. They made no attempt to hide themselves as they strode arrogantly towards their prize and neither did they hurry. There was a confidence that radiated from them as though claiming an egg or a dragon was only a matter of time.

They had even laughed when they spilt the first blood of The Rising.

Tuon Stryker was not one to run from a fight but she was also no fool. The odds of one against twenty were slim even with her training behind her. She had only left her small fire for five minutes, perhaps ten, in order to go and relieve herself. When she had drawn close again she had dropped into a crouch when she had heard the first curse.

"There's nothing useful here - not even food," the same voice who had cursed grumbled. Tuon crept closer, silently drawing one of the daggers against her thighs. She made sure to keep it down and away from the fire least the light glint off the curve blade. Once she reached the rocks she peeked carefully between them.

On the floor lay two bodies. From this distance it was hard to make out much but the blood that slowly ebbed outwards from the pair told her they were dead. Tuon grimaced. She had thought someone had been following her. When nobody had attacked her after the first mile she had assumed they had hoped she would lead them through the dangerous landscape. They'd probably hoped to steal some of her food whilst she was gone and had paid for it with their lives.

That could have been me...

There were four of them stood around her fire but the one who had spoken was a man crouched down rooting through one of the packs. He had a tattoo curving down one side of his face. She caught herself before uttering a curse out loud and glanced to the spot she'd hidden her own pack up off the floor in case any animals had strolled past whilst she was gone. Her supplies were in there. Food, water, medicine. Her jaw clenched.

"They clearly thought they would be able to hunt for their meals," a woman with red hair said, picking up the bow one of their victims had carried.

"Idiots, everyone knows game keeps away from fucking dragons," the third said. Discarding the first pack, the tattooed man started on the next.

"Let's just go, the others were tracking another group - maybe they weren't as stupid and packed food," the redhead sighed and threw the bow into the flames causing them to spit and hiss. Finding the other pack also lacking aside from a parcel of biscuits, the tattooed man stood with a grunt and the group loped back into the darkness.

Tuon counted to 100.

Then 200.

Once she reached 500 she slowly stood from her hiding place and crept towards where her pack was hidden. Nobody jumped at her from the darkness but she didn't take it for granted they wouldn't be back; a fire would draw others here. Others who might have food and fall prey to the wolves who had attacked here. Slinging her pack over her shoulder she considered dowsing it but that would only alert them to the fact someone was here if they were watching from afar. Instead, with a grimace and a grumbling stomach, she headed back out into the darkness towards the ominous roars in the distance.

 

[Khaato Khusakhane]

Seeing the volcanos belching ash and lava and the contestants gathering around him, many of whom were seasoned warriors or cutthroat criminals, the realization that Khaato likely signed up to sprint into his own death quickly sank in. Thanasis sometimes sent riders out to the villages under its protection, but the nobles who rode them often didn’t deign to bother with the peasantry, so many were, in reality, still left to fend for themselves. Khaato saw monsters before, and he even evaded him, but now he had to outwit fellow humans and pray that one of these gods didn’t kill him on sight.

The boy was covered head to toe in ashen gray cloth, even wrapping it around his face to expose as little skin as possible. A bow and quiver were slung over his back, and knives lined his belt, covered by a sooty gray tunic. He figured he needed more than just weapons, of course, but he couldn’t carry much that didn’t slow him down: small bags of salted meats, (sadly) stale bread, first aid supplies, a rope loosely coiled around his shoulder, and waterskins. Khaato gingerly stepped forward, his dark gray boots barely tapping against the volcanic rock.

But when the High Ascendant let the games commence, he took off in a sprint, realizing the rule was not to murder dragons. There was no rule mentioned about murdering humans. His heart skipped a beat as he looked behind him to see other contestants behind him already preparing their weapons. He ran for what felt like miles, but it was hard to tell. He rounded a corner, gray eyes darting back and forth in panic as he searched for a hiding spot. Khaato slid behind a rock and crept into a small, dark tunnel. The boy drew his bow and nocked an arrow in hushed anticipation. After what felt like an age, heavy footfalls plodded against the stone, but none bothered to check the inconsequential crack in the rocks. They may not have even noticed it was there. He listened with bated breath as the footsteps faded out, and all fell quiet save for the dragons' roars and the rumbling volcanos.

 

[Zali]

"Welcome candidates!" Vhagor's voice boomed across the desolate landscape, bringing young Zali, an orphan known as son of none, out of his reverie. He stared up at the ominous shape of Nyxondra, the dragon of Vhagor, her blue scales glittering in the dim light that filtered through the clouds of sulfuric ash that coated the sky. The air felt oppressive and heavy, and the roars of dragons echoed off the rocks. A myriad of colors flashed across the sky as the sun attempted to cut through the clouds. A flash of volcanic lightning slammed into the side of a distant rock face, a peal of thunder vibrating across the landscape. If there ever was a close approximation to what one might consider hell, it was this.

Zali had never been to the Heartlands, and he had never really intended to be here, that was until he received the first dream. In it, he saw the face of a great white dragon. The dream was always the same sequence of events replaying every night, he would find himself standing on the ledge looking at the beast. It would regard him with one brilliant eye, and he would get the feeling that it was curious, about what he did not know. It was almost as if the creature was questioning what his intentions were. As an orphan, he had grown up with nothing and did what he had to in order to survive. Serving as a laborer, stealing, and begging had kept him alive this long.

With the encouragement from the dream and not much else to live for, rather than become a bandit or laborer, he had decided to stake it all on the rising. He would either live and become something greater or sacrifice himself to the dragons and die. By his own reckoning, his chances were a lot lower than most of the candidates here. He had no martial or magical training and was just as likely to die from another human as he was a dragon. Managing to at least scrounge together some light armor for this event made him feel slightly better, even if dying dark colors in at attempt to blend in with his surroundings. That had taken every penny he could scrounge up, so he only had a small pack with whatever food he could steal or find.

With a sense of excitement overshadowed by extreme trepidation, Zali stepped forward into the landscape in front of him. His first step would be to hide somewhere so that the other contestants who were likely much more skilled than had time to spread out. Surmising in the moment that his one saving grace was the fact that he was no threat to any other candidate and would likely not garner much attention from other humans. A hungry dragon was an entirely different story, however. As the thoughts raced through his head, he began to pick his way over the rough, rocky terrain.

 

[Cullen]

His journey had been a solitary one, his trust in others worn thin by years of suspicion and betrayal. He preferred the solitude, relying solely on his own skills and instincts. As he passed by the occasional person on his path, he remained unseen, his presence nothing more than a fleeting shadow.

Thirst burned in his throat, and he took measured sips from his water supply, aware of the need to ration his resources. Every drop was precious in the Heartlands, where survival depended on one's ability to adapt and endure. Cullen knew the risks he faced, and he'd had plenty of time to prepare for them.

A cacophony of screams shattered the silence, drawing his attention. Cullen's muscles tensed, his hand instinctively gripping the hilts of his blades. He moved cautiously, approaching the source of the commotion with stealth. Peeking from behind a volcanic rock, his eyes widened at the sight before him.

A group of six, once comrades in this deadly challenge, had turned on each other, halving their number in an instant. Cowardice had consumed them, and they callously pushed their companions into the slow, churning river of magma. Cullen's grip tightened on his blades, and he watched in grim silence as their cries faded, their bodies disappearing beneath the fiery surface.

Fucking cowards, he thought, a deep disdain burning in his eyes. The Heartlands had a way of bringing out the worst in people, amplifying their flaws and breaking their resolve. But Cullen remained steadfast, his determination unshaken. He had no fight with any not standing in his way. He was here for one thing, after all, and he had no time to waste hunting humans.

Hours had passed since he began his journey, and the dwindling light in the Heartlands urged him to find a place of temporary respite. He moved with caution until he discovered a small cavern, its walls adorned with razor-sharp rocks that served as both protection and warning.

He sat down in the darkness, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The scorching heat of the Heartlands had taken its toll on his body, and his muscles screamed for respite. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, mingling with the ash that clung to his skin. Cullen closed his eyes briefly, allowing his weary body a moment of rest. Resting would be just as crucial as food and water if he were to preserve his strength and keep his reflexes sharp.

His mind drifted to the challenges that lay ahead, the dangers that lurked in the Heartlands, and the ultimate goal that drove him. Tomorrow, he would reach the tunnels that he knew led deep into the mountains, where it was said an ancient forest could be found, though how a forest could survive inside a mountain that only ever rained ash, he had no idea. Soon, he would see for himself.

 

[Azad]

Oh this had been a truly terrible idea. In the first ten minutes four separate people had tried to kill him. One had very nearly succeeded before helpful potential killer number four had come along and disposed of him. Though of course the bastard had then immediately tried to kill Azad.

As it turned out, most of the first day was just running away!

Not that he couldn't fight, no, obviously he could fight. With the best of them in fact, but why put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation? Especially when there were better dangerous situations to actually find himself in.

Like those with Dragons.

Creatures, which so far, had proven to be entirely elusive in this gods-forsaken place.

It had been hours, and Azad hadn't seen a single dragon. Not even a hint of one in fact. He'd spent the day, after almost getting killed, going high and low. Searching up on the cliffsides before eventually venturing down below into the craggy rocks.

His search had lead him to somewhere a little less barren within the wastelands. A small pool of rainwater, surrounded by a beach of black rocks. He sat there, water-skin already refilled and a tiny fire offering meager warmth besides him.

In his palm he cradled a dozen small pebbles, shaking his head. "Stupid idea."

The Thief grumbled to himself, skipping one of the rocks into the water.

 

[Polina]

Her lungs burned. Every footfall she was in danger of twisting one of her ankles even though each was wrapped tightly. Her pack thudded lightly against her back. Blonde-hair plastered against her pale skin in sweat and heat.

But she couldn't afford to stop. Because those older kids were after her. That redheaded girl and the white-haired boy. She'd thought she'd lost them through the boulder field. Or that they'd gotten distracted by falling upon another party. The screams still echoed in her ears from the solo-traveler they'd found.

Now though?

It was their taunting voices from behind in the quickly fading light.

"WHY RUN?! You know we'll catch up to you sooner rather than later," the white-haired boy called.

"YEAH BLONDIE. STOP MAKING THIS SO HARD ON US!" THe red-head sneered. "Promise I'll make it QUICK!!!" There was no doubt about it. She couldn't outrun them. But she might be able to hide?

Head swiveled. There were several cracks and openings in the black rock. Caverns? Taking a sharp swerve to the right, she ducked her head. Something razor sharp snagged on her arm, drawing blood as it tore through her jacket. Wide-blue eyes blinked rapidly as if that would help her suddenly see in the dark. A breath heaved and then another until her ears heard that she wasn't alone.

Breathing from someone else even as the calls from her pursuers echoed from outside.

"Please," she whispered. Unknowing if she would be murdered by someone else in this darkness. "Please don't say anything."

And don't kill me...an unspoken plea followed the spoken one to Cullen.

 

[Lolani]

This was already growing annoying. Were these people all this dumb? She reached for her quiver and found she only had five arrows left. The pack of hunters kept sending groups after her, and they kept dying, but she was being pushed further into the area and wasn't given any time to retrieve arrows. It would not be long before she was forced to fight close quarters.

She had abandoned stealth hours ago. She kept getting got, and killing and then running had proven quicker. Now she simply sprinted through the slightly arboreal area with a keen awareness of her surroundings.

It was that awareness that led her to something strange. Was he...skipping rocks? During the Rising?

Lolani reached for another arrow. It would be easy to end one more life, but her father had always stressed that they were no simple killers. They killed when in danger, or when they needed to protect. This scrawny man looked like the least dangerous person she had seen so far.

That did not stop her from notching an arrow as he carefully stepped out from behind cover.

"You must feel pretty confident to take a break skipping rocks."

Azad

 

[Cullen]

Cullen's eyes shot open as the echoes of raised voices reverberated through the cavern, shattering the fragile embrace of sleep. Instinctively, he reached for his weapons, his senses on high alert. As he listened intently, the voices grew louder, their words indiscernible but laced with tension, and as they drew nearer, Cullen's irritation grew. This was supposed to be a brief moment of rest, a reprieve from the relentless challenge of the Heartlands. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not in a place like this.

The cavern's jagged edges seemed to amplify the clamour, transforming it into an intrusive cacophony that grated on his nerves, replacing the weariness in his muscles with a surge of adrenaline. He'd be seen if he moved now, and so he drew his knives and set his dark eyes upon the toothy mouth of the tiny cave. With any luck, the hunted would escape the hunters unseen, and he could end their life swiftly before any further attention was drawn.

Apparently the girl needed no help from him in drawing blood. His eyes had adjusted well enough to the low light that he could see that she shouldn't be here at all. Ending her life quickly would have been a mercy, but when the first word she spoke was a plea, he growled.

Anger simmered within him, fueled by the notion that her weakness had endangered them both. What sympathy he might have felt was overshadowed by the practicality of their circumstances. Survival in the Rising demanded strength and skill. From what he could see, she possessed none of these qualities.

His voice carried a stern edge as he responded, the frustration seeping into his words. "Are you completely fucking mental?.." Cullen's gaze bore into her, his voice low and his dark eyes holding a mixture of frustration and caution. He couldn't fathom her decision, the recklessness that had driven her to undertake a trial for which she appeared ill-prepared. In the Heartlands, such naivety would mean a merciless demise.

 

[Polina]

Pale eyes widened in the darkness. Painfully slow, they were getting used to the lower light in here and she froze as she caught the sharp glint of dark eyes staring back at her, set within a bearded face. One of the many older than her who'd entered this trial.

Well?

The good news was he hadn't killed her yet.

The bad news?

He looked like he was about to. It reminded her of that one summer she'd gone beyond the wall and heard the Jarlax coming. She'd found a small cave to duck into only to find a sleeping bear. That creature had also been startled, grumpy, and about to kill her.

"What?...Shhh...shhhh," Polina shushed him. She did not take a step toward him. Nor did she take a step in retreat. But she did suddenly sink to her feet, wrapping her arms tightly around bent knees with legs curled up to her chest.

'COME OUT COME OUT LITTLE GIRL!" They called, much closer now. Polina didn't turn toward the entrance, she kept her eyes locked with the bearded stranger's in the dark. Her lips pressed into a thin line but she didn't move.

"I dunno where she went."

"Keep looking, she can't be far."

"If you fukin' lost her."

"Shut the fuck up."

 

[Tuon]

Tuon trudged on.

The mountains and crags of rock seemed to press down around her making her feel as small as a mouse in their presence. She tried to peer into each gloomy tunnel she passed but in the dark of night it was near impossible to make out what was shadow and what might be danger. Only when no dagger came for her throat, or an arrow for her eye, did she let out a breath each time she passed one. She needed to get out of this odd corridor where any ambush would be easy to set, but she had seen no other way through the mountain. She could have climbed it, she supposed, or she could have discovered where those tunnels led, but she preferred to keep her eyes on the volcano that beckoned her forward. Dragons liked heat. Her prize was there.

Suddenly the winding pathway opened out into a wide open plain which had once been a forest. Petrified stumps still remained though they were blackened and charred - though whether that was from whatever had fossilised them or the risk of being near dragons she did not know. It wasn't the trees that drew her eyes though.

In the centre of the decaying forest lay the skeleton of a dragon.

​

Tuon let out a low whistle as she wandered closer and whispered;

"Fuck me."

 

[Azad]

Azad stopped almost as soon as he heard the crunch of pebbles underneath someones boots. His fingers wrapped around the small rock that he'd picked up, never noticing the slight warmth that was coming from it. He curled his fingers around it, and then turned as a woman suddenly spoke.

Eyes narrowed almost immediately, but obviously the Thief didn't recognize Lolani. The bow in her hand with an arrow knocked was hard to miss though. "Who me?"

He asked, as if anyone else was actually in the clearing.

"'Course I am." Azad half turned, remaining seated and offering not even the most minute of threat. At this point if she wanted to run him through with an arrow there was little he could do.

Plus he'd always been better at talking anyway. "There's dragons enough for everyone."

He pointed out.

"Didn't you hear...uhh..the old man?" Azad thought he probably should have remembered the guys name and made a note to figure it out for later. "No need to rush! Look at the wonderful views."

The Thief said, gesturing to the small pond, which in all fairness did look quite lovely.

 

[Lolani]

Lolani squinted her eyes like she was trying to see through the man, but only came across as more confused. How could a man like this hope to bond with a dragon? Unless the dragon decided he tasted bad.

She never drew back her bow, but the arrow remained notched in cased of unexpected dangers. These lands may be beautiful, but they were also turbulent and unpredictable.

"I'm glad you think that, but there is an army of bottom feeders that think otherwise. I watched them tear one woman nearly in two. They look more like animals than dragon riders."

It was cowardly and deplorable, everything that the chosen few received the honor of bonding with dragons shouldn't be.

Lolani was practical and driven, but she wasn't blind. The place was quite the sight, and so was the large storm that she saw rolling in the distance. It was the perfect image of duality, peaceful and violent at the same time.

"I don't think everyone gets a dragon."

Azad

 

[Khaato Khusakhane]

Khaato ventured out of his earlier hiding spot after what seemed like an age, but it wasn't long before he came across the carnage. Bloodied, mutilated corpses—or even groups of them—appeared on his path many times. He grimaced as he stepped over and around them, trying to resist the urge to look directly at the maimed bodies.

Now crouched amidst the blackened volcanic rocks, his head whipped around as he heard small stones tumble downhill. The boy's eyes widened at the sight of a much taller, burly man staring down from the top of the slope. He'd been spotted before he could hide. Khaato's lanky body wasn't much good in a melee, a fact that he was painfully aware of. He turned his head left and right, frantically searching for an escape route as the bloodthirsty contestant slid down, sword drawn. He spotted a crack in the rock wall out of the corner and bolted for it. He barely registered that it would be a tight squeeze, but it was the only chance he had. The man was closing in. The opening was so narrow that he had to move in sideways. His bow scraped against the rock.

The barbarian thrust his sword into the crack. Its sharp tip gouged the boy's shoulder, ripping through fabric and cutting a short line down his upper arm. Khaato yelped and instinctively tried to throw his hand over the wound, but his palm hit the rock wall instead, so narrow was his path. But that meant the barbarian outside couldn't reach him after he crawled in farther. His meaty hand grabbed empty air, snarling, but his barrel chest and thick torso didn't permit him to enter.

Khaato's breaths were ragged as he inched through the corridor, desperately hoping there was an exit at the other side. He winced as the cut stung, but he thanked the gods for his good luck in escaping with his life.

Finally, he found an end to the claustrophobic path, and it opened up to a plain. He took a moment to look around for others, but in this wide open space, there were few places to hide. Worse, there were no other paths through the mountains he could spot. He inhaled deeply as he set foot out onto the plain, readying his bow. He moved slowly, crouched, even though it wasn't really going to help him much. Still, he knew moving objects were most likely to be spotted, especially if they were quick. The best Khaato could've hoped for was for someone to be oblivious. Maybe they would've been transfixed by the grand skeleton of a once mighty fallen dragon.

But there was someone else here, and he wasn't confident he'd go unseen now. He drew his bowstring and aimed an arrow at the woman, but he couldn't bring himself to shoot. Not yet anyway. The boy's hands quivered. Blood seeped out of his wound and darkened his sleeve.

"You there," he said, careful not to raise his voice much to not draw attention from any others who could've been in the vicinity. Still, his eyes darted back and forth, looking for signs of another possible attacker. "I—" his voice caught in his throat. "I don't want to shoot, but we've both seen how this… this whole thing has made other people, right?"

Just then, a massive shadow passed over the two of them. Khaato flinched and turned his head upward. His face paled at the sight. Vast wings blocked what sunlight pierced the clouds of ash. And it was getting closer. He bolted behind the dead dragon's bare skull. The fallen titan's monstrous bones were the only things he could've hid behind or under. A colossal dragon circled above, so huge that the boy would've imagined he was like an ant to it. Its eyes glowed as brightly as a roaring fire, two small suns in the bleak sky above. But while it descended slowly, it didn't land, merely circling above them.

Tuon

 

[Zali]

It had been a rough few hours for Zali. He had dodged a dragon that had spotted him, managed to outsmart people searching for him and stay hidden, and somehow remain alive and hold onto his provisions. Zali was quite proud of himself for that. He had no choice but to conduct himself in what one would consider a cowardly manner since he had no fighting skills of his own except some basic proficiency with a dagger. Zali had one thing going for him that many others did not, however, the ability to survive.

That was the only thing that kept him alive, his ability to take any situation and learn to survive through it. Zali was doing it even now as he came upon a wide-open area in the midst of the unforgiving rocks. He first noticed the petrified remains of the trees, trunks laying strewn haphazardly all over the ground as if a great beast had swept through what once was a forest, burning its way through. That was probably what had happened. In the middle of the clearing, Zali saw the largest skeleton he had ever laid eyes on, a dragon skeleton.

As he took all his in, he heard voices around him. Noticing that he was on the other side of the clearing from the voices, Zali made his way into the pile of bones and decided to hide in the skull of the dragon until they passed. It was certainly large enough to hide effectively inside of. From inside of the skull, he heard the unmistakable sound of dragon wings as a massive beast began to circle the clearing. Zali had hidden in the nick of time. He cowered down further into the bones, letting out a sudden, surprised exclamation as a boy his age sprinted into the skull alongside him.

Tuon Khaato Khusakhane

 

[Tuon]

You there!

Tuon half turned to glance over her shoulder. If the voice had wanted her dead she would have been dead by now and that made her raise her brows. She would have been less startled to find the arrow protruding from her chest than to see it quivering in a young kids hands that way. How in Helfyre had he managed to get this far without having his throat slit? As she turned her right hand hidden from view slid down to brush the hilt of the dagger sheathed against her thigh.

I don't want to shoot, but we've both seen how this… this whole thing has made other people, right?

Now that really did make both brows vanish into her hairline. Had nobody told the kid--

Whatever thoughts and retort would have followed were dashed by the appearance of a large shadow overhead. With both parents and three older brothers already riders, dragons were not an uncommon sight for Tuon. So whilst the kid fled into the bones she watched warily. Killing a dragon was outlawed, yes, but sticking a knife in it's eye was a good way to tell it to fuck off. Apparently she did not need to bother though for the great lizard seemed content merely to toy with them with its presence alone. It reminded her of her fathers dragon, Nazzark. The moon dragon had enjoyed stalking her as a young child and attempting to scare her too by merely existing.

When it didn't immediately incinerate them and screams came from inside the skull Tuon rolled her eyes and dropped her hand from her knife.

"For Helfyre's Sake," she muttered and stalked towards the bones. She didn't even need to crouch to peer in through the eye socket and instead stood just outside and folded her arms over her chest. Two kids! "Are you two done telling everyone nearby where we fucking are? Get up! Both of you. Look, he's not interested in eating you or he'd have done that already."

Khaato Khusakhane Zali​

 

[Khaato Khusakhane]

Khaato's heart stopped the instant he realized he wasn't alone in the skull. He flinched at Zali's sudden noise, but remained firmly out of open view. Not that it would've helped since their position was given away a little loudly. And the woman standing outside was scolding them. Khaato didn't respond immediately, but slowly raised his head to peek out of the eye socket and up toward the circling dragon. It was still getting closer. Actually, it was getting a lot closer a lot more quickly. His eyes darted toward Tuon and he wordlessly pointed up.

If he had no idea how to deal with a stranger who would've certainly spotted him, he definitely had no idea how to deal with what was effectively a violent god. The heavy thud reverberated across the plain as its thick claws hit the ground. The creature's landing threw up a cloud of dust and ash that nearly obscured its form, if not for the fiery glow of its eyes and maw. Khaato ducked back into the skull, obscured from view, but he knew it was too late. He froze, heart pounding. There wasn't anywhere to run. Would an arrow even do anything? His aim wasn't bad, but he would've needed to make a damn lucky shot to hit two moving targets that were so high up. He'd killed monsters when he lived outside the city proper, but they were far smaller than this and he had a lot of help.

The dragon's claws strummed the dirt, leaving gouges in the ground. A deep rumble vibrated the very earth as it regarded Tuon, then slowly turned its head toward the skeleton. That rumble turned into a hiss as its vice-like jaws fell open. Flames licked at the dragon's lips, its neck arched, and its spines bristled. The beast plodded toward the trio.

---

If either of you want to take control of this dragon, feel free. It's also open for anyone in the thread to bond with if someone else wants it. Just let me know and I'll throw it your way when it's done here.

 

[Azad]

"I think it's mostly the people who don't try hard enough." Azad quipped, smiling still and letting his fingers unfurl around the rock just a little bit.

It seemed as though Lolani wasn't going to try and kill him, at least not in that exact second. Perhaps continuing the conversation would see her thoughts keep in line with that tactic, and thus Azad decided to keep doing what he did second best; run his mouth.

"I mean those people you're talkin about?" He said with a shrug. "They're wasting valuable looking time killing each other! Pretty stupid, no?"

Azad contended, then half turned from the woman. Acting as though he didn't fear getting an arrow through the behind. "And me? I'm just skipping rocks."

He shifted, bending his arm back and moving to throw the rock in his palm.

A frown then suddenly touched his lips, and something within the back of his mind stopped him. His arm lowering as he glanced at Lolani, and then drew his fingers back around the rock more tightly. "Also pretty stupid."

He murmured, more to himself than to her.

"But I'm here to get a dragon, not to get killed." Azad said, looking up at his new friend. Yeah?"

If she agreed, then perhaps they wouldn't have to murder one another.

 

[Zali]

Zali quickly clamped his hands over his mouth as he also yelped from the sudden movement. He hadn’t expected to find anyone in here, necessarily, but here they were. Before he could respond to Khaato, a young woman approached from nearby and yelled "Are you two done telling everyone nearby where we fucking are? Get up! Both of you. Look, he's not interested in eating you or he'd have done that already." Zali wasn’t so sure, the dragon sure looked aggressive, and it seemed to be getting closer to the ground.

“Oh fuck, I wanted to avoid this scenario”/ he thought with an impending sense of dread. He had no idea what he was supposed to do against a dragon. However, this didn’t look like the dragon that had been calling to him in his dreams. He somehow instinctively knew if he went and tried to bond with this creature, it would simply kill him. He cowered against the skull, pulling out his dagger from its sheath. He knew it wouldn’t do much, but it made him feel slightly better. ”That one isn’t for me, I’ll know the one calling me when I see it”, he quipped quietly to Khaato. ’Are you gonna try to bond with it?”

Khaato Khusakhane Tuon

 

[Lolani]

Lolani just stared at the overconfident man before her. A small part of her just wanted to shoot him to make him worry a bit more, but he wasn't technically wrong with anything that he was saying.

"Yes, which is why I will warn you that some of that pick is heading this way, so I would be careful."

Having finally decided that she wasn't going to kill him, Lolani placed the arrow back in her quiver as she slung the bow over her back.

"As nice as skipping rocks might be. You might want to move if you actually do plan on getting a dragon."

Again the thunder rumbled in the distance, near the less-than-ideal area. That was where she was going. She was sure to find something fierce there. The man next to her was strange, but he seemed confident, and a thought suddenly came to her.

"Do you know what type of dragon you are looking for?"

Azad