Lore of Leyuna RPG (FRPG)

[Pyronychus]

"Ah, won'erful! I b'lieve that's about right," said the dwarf, rubbing his hands together before turning and gesturing to one wall, where on several long rows of wooden pegs hung dozens of different halters, reigns, ropes, saddles and storage packs. "Yu'll also be wantin' some equipm'nt fer each of 'em, I trust? Normally a quali'y saddle or cargo pack with a good halter would cost 'round fifteen gold fer the set, but since yu'll be need'n three, Ah'll give yeh a discoun'. What d'yeh say teh ten gold apiece? Thirty fer the lot, and yeh can 'ave yer pick from anythin' in the collection..."

[Giratina93]

Smaug snorted with distaste, but this time ignored Discord as his eyes locked upon the Emperor and the Pope, who were now struggling to get back up. Rearing his head back, the last of the Fire Drakes lunged at them, mouth wide agape.

To Dione, time seemed to enter into slow motion as Smaug's terrible maw drew closer and closer. This was it. She should have obeyed Trajan's orders and stayed in the castle, and now, both she and Trajan were going to die, and there was nothing they could do about it. She had been spared of execution... only to be killed by a dragon. No. She wanted to live, to come out of this alive and prevent anymore souls from being killed. She wanted to freeze time, stop this beast in it's very tracks... but-

Suddenly, a bright light flashed through the collusseum, blinding all who looked at it, including Smaug. The next thing the dragon knew, his head collided with something hard, something cold. he snarled with rage as he backed up, still disoriented by the bright light. He shook his head, and saw, that where the woman and the man had once been, was now a dome of thick, cold ice. The ice then cracked, before shattering completely, revealing Dione and Trajan, the latter cowering behind the former, whose hands seemed to be glowing.

Dione looked down at her hands, confused and, at the same time, awed. How had she done this? Her family lineage wasn't known for using any kind of magic aside from rumors of talking to animals... had the bird she seen yesterday given her this kind of power?

[dinoman666]

"Excellent dramatic timing, my dear Dione!" Discord shouted from above, now holding a small flag with the words Boo Dragons! Yay Pope! written on it. "Who knew the Pope was a wizard, eh?" His glee was interrupted, however, by Arashi, to whom he responded with his own telepathy. "Well well, look who's back. The spoil-sport. Going to ruin this show for me too?"

[The Kingpin]

"What you saw, madam, was a Blood Omen. In this particular case, it was a creature created by foul magic, that strives to destroy all it comes into contact with. This village is the first of many victims it has afflicted with it's presence over the better part of the past millennium" explained the Archknight calmly as the Vindicator continued investigating in the background, slowly checking for traces of magical influence. though his back was turned to the group as he searched, a look at his face would show he was quite concerned. Something wasn't right...


Septimus chuckled at the concept. "Ah, but illusions are only one small part of what I can do. I prefer the title 'Scholar' myself. I think you could probably guess why" rumbled the Dragon with a smirk as he curved his neck, looking back through the corner of one eye to look at Urlox...


"Excellent. You have my thanks, err... Oh. It seems I somehow forgot to ask your name. My apologies" said Andruil, lowering his head slightly, surprised he had managed to overlook such an important detail. Here he was bargaining and dealing and planning to spend a considerable amount of gold for the winged steeds and the equipment included, and he still hadn't a clue about the name of the man with whom he was dealing...


"Oh, come now, it's not all bad" responded Arashi with an amused tone. "Think of it this way. That little group was hardly interesting for all intents and purposes. Had I not...taken them off your hands, so to speak, you would not have encountered this little group of infinitely more amusing people. That one tossing the fiery eyes at things in particular was a laugh to watch, and I can tell you were having a whale of a time taunting that...egotistical simpleton" he added, his tone gaining a darker, indignant tint when he mentioned Smaug...

[dinoman666]

Discord stroked his goatee thoughtfully. "Ah, cold logic, you are a cruel mistress. Regardless, you didn't answer my question..."

[C S]

The barkeep regarded the Archknight with a blank expression. "Great. Do ya know who called it here to get us all plagued?" the woman asked curtly. Bard was just about to slink off to the bar when she had another coughing fit and the fisherman quickly discarded the thought. Last thing he wanted was getting sick himself, even if it meant passing up a free drink...


"Scholar, eh? Didn't know there were...Dragon Universities...or equivalents of them...learn something new everyday. You and Syria should meet each other then, she's always going out on trips and coming back with all sorts of relics and books. She's one of the main contributors to the Daavenian Library, y'know, though she probably keeps a bunch of interesting stuff in her inn" Urlox said thoughtfully, eyes to the blue sky but glancing down to take a good, measuring look of Septimus. "Not sure you'd fit inside the place, actually"

[The Kingpin]

"The way you say it one would think I made it my occupation to ruin others' days" rumbled Arashi's voice on the wind, the tone like distant thunder. "Were I planning to intervene, I would've done so before that lizard walked into a trap. Would've made for a much more entertaining outcome for me. My presence is simply to see what my good friend Discord has been doing in my absence" he added, the smirk on his face almost audible in his tone...


"No. Not yet. Though this particular....entity, has thus far proven far beyond the powers of any master. It moves and acts of its own free will" explained Tacitus. "We have a problem" said the Vindicator as he returned from his sweep. The Archknight eyed him questioningly. "If the Aura in here is truly Desrium....then there's something else at work here. The plague wasn't his doing" said Makkus. "....You're sure?" asked Tacitus, his gaze serious. "He may have inadvertently accelerated it. But it was not his work. this is something else entirely"...


"Oh no, we don't have anything remotely like a university. Our communities, when they exist, aren't nearly large enough to fill a role like that. I study from what the mortal races of Aster have produced. I roam from city to city looking for books containing knowledge I have yet to encounter" responded Septimus with a chuckle. "Yes, I have considered my little....size problem. Funnily enough, if my Elders are anything to go by, I SHOULD be able to shapeshift into something a bit....less obstructive. I have yet to figure out how though"...

[dinoman666]

"Could've fooled me," Discord replied. "But if you must know, I've been doing what I was born to do: spread Chaos and, failing that, let Chaos do its own thing. That's the beautiful thing about Chaos, really: there's no such thing as control, only the unpredictability of life itself. Glorious, isn't it?"

[C S]

The woman started wheezing, bracing herself for another round of coughing that never came. "If you'd be so kind, could you hurry up!? If your Desri-who'sa-whatsit do this then find out what did. As far as I know no one's died from this sickness but with every second I feel like I will!" she snapped. She looked weary and light headed after that, breathing heavily.

"That so?" asked Urlox, a brow raised. "Its things like that which makes a dragon university sound look a good idea. A place for your kin to learn skills that could save their hides when they come across cities. Less likely to get carved up by slayers and will make their visits generally less of a hassle" he added, looking at the local bakery and chuckling as a man stepped out with a pastry in hand, which he promptly dropped as he was stricken by the sight of the draconian. A young red scaled Frondfoot, barely more than two feet long scampered up to the sweet and bit into it. With a disgusted hiss, it extended its tiny frill and retreated speedily back into the alley whence it came.

[The Kingpin]

"Lock up the pub and head to the hospital. You will be treated there. In the mean time, we'll investigate the rest of the village to see if we can't pick up a trail for whatever did this" said the Archknight simply as he eyed the woman briefly...

"We're not the most...open of creatures, friend. For all intents and purposes, I'm the first of my kind in millennia to leave our home in search of knowledge. the few others of my kind currently roaming Aster away from home are exiles" rumbled Septimus lowly, a hint of sadness in his voice at the last part...


"Indeed. In fact, that is one of the reasons I'm here. You see, Aster's a very big place. So many possible venues to corrupt with disaster, disorder and chaos. I've been mulling over the possibility of....visiting you on occasion, fill you in on potential targets for your amusement. I get the benefit of seeing the mortal world cave in on itself, and you get the entertainment of pulling them apart. A fair deal, no?" rumbled Arashi's voice on the wind, as far above, the faintest of silhouettes showed the serpentine Hueilin, gliding amidst the clouds of a nearby mountain...

[dinoman666]

"Hmm... So, you'd be my informant of chaos, then?" Discord replied, trying to split his attention between the events down below and his conversation with Arashi...

[Giratina93]

Below the conversation Discord was having, Smaug reared his head back in rage, undertered by this development, and was about to attack, when several explosions blasted him in the back of the head. This caused him to divert his attention away from Dione and Trajan and toward the three magic users behind him... and fury blinding his rationality, fiery sparks flew from his mouth right at them...

...and into the shield that Byakuren had conjured up. The shield resembled a cross between a flower petel and a butterfly, with 4 spots on each 'wing'. As the flames splashed over the shield, it began to glow, absorbing the fire. Then, the spots turned back, and 4 large, blood red beams shot out of the spots and right back at Smaug, the very energy of the worm's fiery breath returned right back to him, four-fold. The old dragon waield out in pain as the beams exploded against his hide, blood and scales flying in every direction, one of the beams blasting through part of his front leg, the leg unable to hold up, causing the dragon to tumble down onto it's side from temporary shock. At once, several flaming eyeballs formed right above the head of Smaug, Djinn keeping them there to keep the dragon from trying anything else. Guame closed his eyes, and several arches of rock shot up from the ground and wrapped around the dragon's body, keeping him pinned, while Byakuren kept her shield up and primed, some juice still ready to be fired, the three magic users leapt down from the seats and onto the main floor, toward Dione and Trajan.

Smaug, had finally been suppressed and taken down.

Some distance away, A lone figure watched from the roof of the church, 7 long, bushy tails swaying gently in the breeeze. For Akuro, all was going to plan. He could hear the prayers of the people down in the catacombs, praying that God would deliver them from this crisis.

Unfortunately for them, their prayers were going to someone else instead...

Akuro smiled as an 8th tail emerged alongside the others. This body... it was that of the other Archbishop. Finding the poor sap had been rather easy... catching him had proved rather troublesome, but now, he had a permanent host to use, one that would suit him well for the upcoming week...

[C S]

The woman looked from Tacitus to Bard repeatedly, eyes narrowing more and more whenever her eyes fell upon the fisherman. "Fine, fine. But take that scruffy sea-scavenger with you" the woman grumbled. "Sea-scavenger!?" Bard asked indignantly. "Madam, I'd rather you faint before my eyes before I let you call me such a thing! If it weren't for the men like me this village will have starved long ago!"
"Ive seen how you've been looking at the rum, you hawk-eyed drunk!" the woman spat, once again looking dazed after her fit.

"Ah ha. Well, lets hope they haven't succumbed to Slayers then. Decorated dragon scale such as yours would fetch a hefty price on the market, it'd be a shame if the exiles are now...departed, so to speak" Urlox replied, not understanding how his words would affect the Hueilin...

[Pyronychus]

The dwarf gave a good-natured chuckle as he took a short coiled rope that hung from the side of Karak's stall. "Henric Norbek, local feath'rbeast wrangler, as some like t'call me, at yer service," he said with a small bow of his head and another light chuckle. Turning for a moment, he slid open a smaller side door that lead into the paddock and made a sharp whistle, reaching into his pocket once again, instantly attracting the attention of both Ereblenn and Thalion, who both trotted over, watching him expectantly. "Off yeh go, 'Blenn. Yeh ain't goin' teh be leavin' me just yet," he said as he pulled out two strips of dried meat, tossing one into the paddock, the gryphon immediately trotting away and snapping it up. While Ereblenn was distracted with the morsel, Henric moved back into the stable a few paces, holding out the other to Thalion. When the hippogriff had clacked inside next to Myrn, the Gryphonner gave him his reward and tied the lead rope onto his halter, hitching him to the black and white gryphon's post. When he was sure the rope was secure, he glanced back to Andruil and commented, "Y'know, Ah b'lieve Ah've done the same thing... or is it jus' my mem'ry lettin' me down agin?"

[The Kingpin]

Septimus considered the possibility uncomfortably, concern etched in his reptilian features. "I can only hope most of them survived long enough to learn who they can rely on and who they should steer clear of" rumbled the Dragon, surrendering to the fact he may not find them all alive...

"Enough" said the Archknight, his voice calm but loud enough to drown out the arguing voices of the fisherman and the bar-keep. "Arguing will kill you before you can get aid. This man will not touch your drinks until you officially reopen this place. Of that, I can assure you" he said, trying to diffuse the situation...


"In a manner of speaking, yes" rumbled Arashi simply...


Andruil chuckled. "No, your memory hasn't failed you this time, my stout and jolly friend. My name is Andruil Lyall, a Knight of the Silver Order of Valenhad" said the half-elven man with a smile, watching as his latest companions were prepared for their departure...

[dinoman666]

"Well, I don't see why I would need one, but why not? It's always important that one stays 'in the loop,' as it were," Discord said. Aloud, he shouted down at Byakuren. "I knew I liked you for more than your looks! Hahaha!"

[C S]

Urlox patted Septimus on the shoulder, a strange sight indeed. "Chin up my giant dragon friend. Its like I was once told, living forever is one thing, but death is experienced only once! At the time I thought the person who told me that was a bloody idiot; what person wants to look forward to death? But you're a dragon and your friends are dragons. If you can channel their spirits you can ask about the world beyond and all that mystic stuff!" he said lightheartedly, despite the strangeness of the subject matter.

"I didn't even want the damn rum!" Bard muttered as he started heading for the door, the barkeep getting to her feet and watching the fisherman go, intending to see them all out of the pub before she left herself...

[Pyronychus]

Listening attentively, but not pausing in his work, Henric crossed to Sulrana's stall and lifted another short length of rope from its hook, his bushy eyebrows slightly raised. As his hand found a wrought iron handle and he slid the heavy stall door open, he exclaimed, "A Knight of Valenhad! Can't say Ah've had many Knights pass through my stable. Y'hear that you three? Bet'r be'ave yerselves... Myrn." He said this with particular emphases on the black and white gryph, who glanced around at the sound of her name, having been standing stock still, eyeing the big hippogriff tied next to her. The dwarf stepped into the stall with a light chuckle and went about tying the rope to Sulrana's halter, leading her out to join the other two and extracting one last treat for the Kestrel mix. Not wanting Myrn and Thalion's area to become too crowded, he hitched Sulrana to another vertical post a few feet away, then crossed to the wall where a supply rack stood, picking up a large, coarse-bristled brush and proceeding to clean the dust from Sulrana's fur and feathers, the gryphon seeming to enjoy the attention, even lifting her wings so he could better reach her flanks. In a few moments, her tawny and cream feathers had been flattened, black and yellow fur straightened and free of dirt and dust, and Henric proceeded over to Thalion to do the same...

[Giratina93]

Byakuren looked up at Discord, and simply smiled briefly, before getting down to work. Though she would have perfered Discord to have helped out a bit more, she couldn't ignore the fact that he had indeed assisted them in taking down Smaug somewhat. She would be certain to thank him later, but now, there was the real issue at hand. "Dione, Trajan, could you please go and tell the people down in the catacombs that it's safe to head out now?" Byakuren asked them. The two looked at her, then at each other, before following what she said. With that, she turned to the downed dragon, who oddly enough wasn't trying to struggle free, but lay there very, very still, eyes beaming at her with a dark hatred that fumed from the dragon's soul. "Smaug, what is your true purpose here? When we last met, you said that you hadn't razed any villages in decades, and that you wouldn't be destroynig any for decades to come..."

Smaug snorted, black smoke billowing from his nostrils as one eye kept on her, but another shifted toward Djinn. "The woman there has stolen what belongs to me! I have come to retrieve it back!" He rumbled.

Djinn at first seemed confused, as did Byakuren and Guame, when she pulled out the golden goblet she had recieved the day before. Immediately, both of SMaug's eyes were locked onto it. " You mean this cup here?" Djinn asked, twirling it around...

" YES! That belongs to me, and me only. You stole what was mine, and I came to get it back from you miserable lake-men! You and your city shall pay dearly for this intrusion!" Smaug hissed, refering to everyone here, including Discord. Like all dragons who kept massive ammounts of treasure, he knew his hoard to an ounce, and even though it was usless to him other than for wealth, no one took what was his and came out alive in the end...

[dinoman666]

"So..." Discord began, floating down and sitting daintily on Smaug's head, "You tried to burn an entire city to the ground instead of just asking for the goblet back?" The chimera clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Tsk tsk, Smaug. I'm a living embodiment of Chaos, and even I think that's illogical!" he added with a chuckle.