dragoncalled | Welcome, New Scions! Sure is Cold...

Stop Dragon My Heart Around

New arrivals:
The dream you wake from is an unsettling one that feels like a memory. It sits out of place and too far forward in your mind, yet feels as real and clear as any other could be. It's the shadow of a massive creature blocking out the sun, skyline, or similar entity. A roar that shakes you to the core and and a feeling of dread and loss weighing heavy on you. Whatever the feeling or vision that comes across, it brings with it a sense that your world is no more.

A voice, reassuring and almost motherly in nature urges you gently to wake from your sleep. Rise from the ashes, little one, The voice calls in a whisper of wind and crackling fire, There is need of you, yet.

As the voice fades and the world of the waking returns to you, you are greeted with the sounds of faint bustling and the bounce of wooden wheels on stone or the sight of Upper Nuren's winding streets and open squares. A cloud passes by slowly near one of the stone pathway ledges and the sounds of nearby Touched and Remnants at work or leisure filter through the calm, cool air.

Whatever you had previously been wearing or carrying has been replaced. You might now find yourself garbed in a cloth tunic, pants or shorts, robe, dress or skirt, and sandals or boots if you wore clothing. A sash around your shoulders or a belt at your waist contains a small but weighted purse of gold coins, enough to acquire some materials, new clothing or food from the market and craftsmen in the city.

Current Scions:
With the temperature and weather taking such a drastic turn into winter, there are some acclimation issues to be expected. There is the normal scramble for warmer clothing, heating charms, and making certain the stores are full enough for the winter.

However, it seems an illness is also spreading with the cooler weather. The citizens of Nuren assure the Scions this is nothing new and nothing to concern themselves over, however it can be noted that this particular strain of the cold seems to be targeting Scions. It's possible they are more susceptible because of their newness to Osaaru and they haven't built up an immunity. There are a few Scholars that suggest this particular bug is drawn in by magic.

Infected Scions may experience a spike in magic that is somewhat uncontrollable. Ever sneezed flames? Or whatever your element is. It may be advisable to take cover in your caves to avoid causing damage to those around you. Or don't. Whatever you do, the illness should pass in a few days.

The Heart of Nuren

After waking, a pull starts from within your chest, growing stronger with each passing moment until it becomes the only focus. It tugs insistently once, then twice. A need to follow the pull curls around and through you, urging you toward a wide and torch lit staircase that leads down into the heart of the mountain. The steps are wide and sturdy, and the further down them you travel, the clearer the call becomes until you can almost hear it.

At the bottom of the steps, the large cavern beneath the city is revealed. The floor beneath your feet is warm to the touch, and the magic in the air calms your mind and fills you with a strange sense of safety and peace. No magic or harm can be done within the cavern. The cavern's floor is covered in circles of runes carved into the stone that surround small depressions in varying sizes, from a coffee cup's rim to that of a small circular table. Some of the depressions contain dormant dragon eggs of various colors, shapes and sizes. The runes surrounding them glow faintly with a magical light. Only the Scion who is bonded to the dragon within the egg can pass the runes.

Upper and Lower Nuren

Once you emerge from the cavern, the strange spell that fell over you fades. The bond between you and your egg or hatchling remains but your command of your own decisions and actions return and you are now free to explore, question and move about.

The streets of Upper Nuren are sparsely populated with Remnants, Touched and other scions with their eggs or dragons. Questioning any of the citizens leads to a variety of answers. You are a Scion of the Great Beasts. You were brought to the city from the ashes of time and space by the Great Phoenix known as Benra and the Great Serpent known as Mouros.

Pressing for more information will reveal that there are five Great Beasts. They are Benra the Phoenix, Chelba the Stone Giant, Renzu the Griffin, Mouros the Serpent, and Lysheu the Chimera. They are said to represent Mortality, Order, Knowledge, Time, and Chaos.

You are in the great Mountain City known as Nuren, and its people are the last remaining vestige of civilization on this wild and dangerous planet. The Touched and the Remnants share an alliance and work together to keep the city protected and its citizens alive and fed. According to these citizens of Nuren, you are here to help them defend the city, unite the remaining races and restore balance to the elements.

Soon after the first Scions awake, the city begins to buzz with the news and gossip that more scions have arrived. The curious and braver citizens make their way to Upper Nuren to get a look, and the rumors spread like wildfire through the city that Benra has come again.

Outer Nuren

Although those rumors make their way to Outer Nuren, the citizens there show far less interest in making the long trek up to Upper Nuren. With winter finally setting in properly, the temperature is warmer near the water and the citizens of Outer Nuren would rather preserve their heat than travel up the mountain.

The taverns fill with activity and warmth of those seeking evening entertainment and company. In the markets there is a push of people buying warm winter clothing and wood and charms to warm their persons and abodes. Many very skilled enchanters are taking advantage of the sudden turn in weather and the panicking of procrastinators to move a lot of inventory.

Evening

When night settles on the city, the taverns, inns and squares fill with curious citizens hoping to meet the new Scions or catch a glimpse of the Scions they have already managed to glimpse a few times before. Food and hot drinks are offered freely, as well as blankets to guard against the cool night air.

The night sky fills with beautiful displays of magic from the Fire, Light and Energy Mages, the Osaaru equivalent of fireworks, though far quieter. Several Scholars in bright and colorful robes can be found approaching the new scions and older ones alike, offering to tell them more about the city, Osaaru and the Great Beasts. Mages of similar garb guide scions to the cavern homes, and help where they can in making the scions more comfortable.

Small comforts of food, pillows, decorative crafts and other small tokens are offered to visible Scions by the citizens of Nuren in hopes of earning their favor and friendship.

Notes

Please direct Introduction questions to the Plotting Post Q&A
As a Reminder: Bahemait is not one of the Great Beasts openly discussed or mentioned by the Citizens of Nuren who believe the Great Dragon is little more than an old legend.

We would also like to emphasize that the Spirit energy within every resurrected character is required to use all magic in Osaaru, even that which is brought from their own world. The drain of powerful or excessive use of magic will lead to exhaustion.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A dragon, a little larger than a horse, nudged past a nearby stall to approach Gwendolyn, but he stopped several feet away. There, he waited for her full attention, and once he had it, he bowed his head to her.

What little of Dust's expression was visible beneath his hat read of affectionate exasperation. "Sky, I could hire you out as a Scion-detecting service."

It likely says much about her that when she turns to the duo it's the dragon that she focuses on more then the scion. She is still not fully used to the idea of friendly dragons, but she's luckily slowly working out of the stage of tensing for a fight when she sees one after hours of watching.

There was still some hesitation before the hand not holding her own dragon's egg came up as a fist to her chest as she bowed at both of them.

"Tis a skill many a tracker would be happy to pay for, in an event one is in need of finding a particular scion and no time in which to delay by searching."

"Problem is, he doesn't discriminate. It's politeness with him."

Skyship did seem to be the friendliest of dragons, leaning his head slightly into his Scion's fond pat. Dust, for his own part, regarded the woman cautiously till that tension drained out of her. Once it did, he relaxed in turn.

"You're new."

There's now more amusement then tension as she watches the interaction. That more then anything helps as compared to the dragons back home it is only general physical characteristics that seemed to be shared. That amusement translating in her ear wings fluffing out from being held close to her head. Almost like a dog perking its ears up.

"Then he has manners many others would not even realize are qualities in which to utilize."

She only realizes a moment likely too late that such could be considered rude by some to point out and bows her head a bit in apology.

"I guess that my uncertainty shines out for any to realize I am not of this land. Well met to the both of you. I am Gwendolyn of Ragnanival."

"Dust." Still wasn't good at giving introductions, after all this time. "And this is Skyship. It's -- not that you're uncertain. I've just been here a while. You're the third wave... or fourth, depending on if you count just two Scions, months ago, as the first one or not. Two months ago there were a few of us. A month ago, even more. Now..."

Now it was a pattern. Would this happen every month? New Scions emerging from nothing to claim dragon eggs, right up until -- something happened? Who knew what.

She doesn't seemed bothered by the blunt introduction, more focused on what he mentions about waves and what people have happily told as gospel when asked about why they were here.

"With how large that which houses the eggs of these companions, and how many still remain unclaimed...there perhaps will be more to come as time goes by then."

It's not hard to come to the same conclusion as Dust is thinking when it's laid out like that. Which makes her wonder just what it is they are being brought and chained to this world for, even though she does not say such out loud in case Skyship takes offense.

"If one is to believe that which is passed as common knowledge amidst those here, a price is likely to be paid at some point for our being the ones allowed to be brought here. Gods do not give out favors or create Chosens if there is not something in which they are wanting from those they...bless."

If her voice sounds a bit too knowing and resigned she doesn't really notice as she talks.

"Rare is it that one does something for nothing, or to give aide to those who have nowhere else in which to go without using that gratitude in some way. "

"The Scions and their dragons will serve some purpose on this world. That's unquestionable. But... it isn't as if we have no choice." His voice, generally intense as a rule, grew a shade more so. Now they were getting into important matters -- and Dust held no qualms about being direct. Whoever the Scions are, they were all here for a reason. All chosen to serve a duty. And, some might say, not given a choice.

Dust understood this very well.

Normally she would argue her point on this, but she does realize in a small part of her mind that she's still likely raw in being a tool of Fate before ending up here to be able to say anything without it fully coloring her words. It does not mean she fully backs down from such.

"Fate has its ways of working ones choice into its plans, yet I digress this is a meeting after all. There is likely time before soothsayers decree what our price may be and thus time to worry about such at a later day. If you do no mind the questioning of such, would you be willing to explain how life is like within these walls for those such as us? To speak to those who lived their whole lives here is not the same as to learn from those brought here."

She was... interestingly willing to table the discussion of choice and fate. Dust noted that, more out of curiosity than anything -- though it might become much more relevant in the future, when the time came for everyone to make that choice.

He let her change the subject though, a faintly amused smile twitching the corners of his mouth. "A lot of that is going to depend," he said, making a slight gesture towards the egg she held. "But speaking generally, we're welcome here. More than welcome, for the most part."

"I do not wish to offend with such statements, but to be welcomed as openly as you are implying is not such that one can look at without suspicion. Are you saying the faith of this land, is so absolute in regards to what they believe. That they see nothing wrong or would hesitate with such ease of acceptance?"

Her disbelief is likely quite clear on her face as ear wings fold back briefly, even as she unconsciously cradles the egg closer. To enter a city that was not Nebulopolis without wary looks and whispers just seems far too out there for her right now.

"They believe that Scions are special... and considering we were all reborn from death her and specially bonded to dragons, that's pretty hard to argue with." Dust motioned slightly to the egg she held. Not everyone on the street had one, after all -- and Skyship, behind him, made a little noise to emphasize that.

Welcome, New Scions! Sure is Cold...

Cliff Market

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