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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.

Comments

Gwendolyn l OTA l Will match brackets or prose

[crownlessbluebird]

[Newly Arrived]


She had remembered the biting chill as wind whipped past her falling body, the sting of her wounds as the air seemed to rip into them and expose them more, and that hollow ache in her chest that gained more and more weight as her feathers had melted and disintegrated around her. Even the heavy smell and almost weight of the enormous body she had fought was hard to ignore, and superimposed on all of this was that roar and the last bit of light that wasn’t the fires burning the earth to ash below being blocked out.


She had accepted her world was dying even before she suddenly felt the chill that only cobblestone and narrow roads can create, and the odd sounds of life now around her. That life is why she goes from quiet grieving to calm and blank in face and military straight in posture. Out here where she knows no one or what any of these other people would truly want from her means that her mourning of Oswald and her home has to be pushed aside. Even the confused joy at her wings being whole and functional couldn’t be seen as she slowly made her way out of the dark nook between two buildings she had somehow been placed in and out into the streets. Wings on both hips and head folded up and feathers held tightly close like a living shield, adding extra warmth the black and purple tunic and skirt could not provide. Even the odd sandals while vexing in how exposed it made her feet and legs to attack, were at least adequate for walking at the least.


Though she did not really wish for anyone to actually bother her, information was vital and could be the only thing that would keep her alive long enough in this place to truly see if she was the only one who was ‘blessed’ to be saved. Thus inquiring to any soul who looked even remotely interested in explaining things to her.




[The Steps leading to the Heart of Nuren]


The call had persisted and tugged at her until she had no choice but to stop her gathering of information in order to follow it. The pearl like egg fitting warm and light in her hand keeps her near the steps for a bit longer after emerging from within the chamber. Curiosity and apprehension causing her head feathers to fluff a little in agitation as she stares at the egg as if expecting it to bite her.


“Tis a seemingly bad jest that one who was set upon by Fate to slay a dragon must now protect and care for one.”


The words are soft and almost under her breath as she attempts to weave past any who are also moving up or down the steps.




[Cliff Market]


Her first instinct is to acquire a weapon, but she is not exactly certain who is the right person to go to for such, and not yet comfortable in asking such of random strangers. After all a shoddy weapon is worse than no weapon at all, and supplies are much higher priority than gaining a decent spear. Despite this, she is drawn to stalls with small blades of decent make and prices that are not too high as to risk having to forego another item on her mental list. It would be easy to carry, and decent for quick and dirty tactics if she was attacked, and with there not seeming to be any sort of military in which to blend into the ranks of easily it would also aid in acquiring funds from hunting game outside the walls.


This decision made has her inspecting the blades in a critical manner that seems to amuse the owner of said stall as she tests weight and eyes the metal for impurities. An odd sight for anyone passing by considering during all of this one hand is still cradling the egg of her not yet born dragon while the other flips knives over to check for balance issues.






[Upper/Lower Nuren: Bird Watching]


The winding roads and the closeness of buildings reminds her of the few times she had visited the human kingdom of Titania. She had not really enjoyed it then and she wasn’t enjoying it now once she left the more open areas to investigate. So she wasn’t really all that surprised when she finally became fed up with such and would circumvent using traditional means to move about and with a flare of wings be on a rooftop or high wall in order to avoid a congestion of people or duck away from more people with that curious look of someone trying to catch a glance at a new ‘scion’.


Though likely the spectacle of her gently gliding back down from said perches to calmly walk along the street again after such moments was likely drawing more attention than if she had just kept walking, but by this point the familiar pattern to avoid people or move quickly was worth more then trying to blend in.

Bird Watching

[brand_of_disgrace]

Julian was able to manipulate the air around him to make him faster, to lengthen the height or distance of his jumps. However, he'd never seen anything like that, and he was sure no one from Paragon City, no matter what kind of shard they had or where it was located, could manage that.

Perhaps it was rude, but Julian was always walking a fine line between "unaware" and "indifferent" when it came to personal space. He approached the girl that had all but fallen from the sky, falling into step beside her.

"Hi," he said, a cheerful grin spreading over his cheeks. "I'm Julian. Can you fly?" If nothing else, at least he liked to get straight to the point.

[crownlessbluebird]

Both sets of wings ruffled for a moment at the question. Normally such was asked of her by children back home, but she had to remind herself this wasn't home. So for others to be unused to a Valkyrie in the sky should not be as surprising as it was, even as her ear wings fluffed a bit at the question.

"...Well met Julian, I am Gwendolyn of Ragnanival."

It was technically true even with her banishment.

"I fly, though not as freely and ably as the fairies back home. Is the gift of flight not a common thing for any race that you once knew?"


A normal person would have winced at that blunt statement over the fact they were not on their worlds, but tact was not something a soldier, even a royal one was taught much of.

[brand_of_disgrace]

Julian wasn't easily offended, and took the question in stride; he was sure his answer was just as unsettling as the implication within her question.

"No," he said, shrugging as he looked her up and down. There was no malice or ill-intent there, just a genuine curiosity. "Where I'm from, people need to build machines to fly. Only animals are capable of real flight. Birds, bats. Insects. We talk about how much we wish we could, though."

He was clearly a bit awestruck.

[crownlessbluebird]

She's hardly insulted considering how openly some had stared at her back home and since arriving. There isn't even a pause as her left wing stretches out from her hip so she can rearrange the pouch on the sash she had found when she woke up. Closing quickly with barely a sound.


"The men of the kingdom of Titania were much the same, though the only ones I have ever known to contrive a flying machine of any sorts are the dwarves that served Demon Lord Odin. Is there much in magic used for the ones you know of? Or is it so much forged metal in odd shapes that simply seem like magic?"

Her curiosity has overtaken her normal nature to not really engage in conversation unless spoken to. She hadn't really let it sink in until now how different the worlds could be of those brought here until now.

[brand_of_disgrace]

"Ah, both," Julian said. "I like to fiddle with scrap metal, but I'm no mechanic. They build things... Planes, zeppelins, these strange crafts shaped like birds. There's not far to travel where I'm from. Some people do use magic, though, to strengthen the materials. We can't use our magics to fly. It's not really something I can see happening without wings."

He'd tried.

"There are some creatures created by magic that might have the ability to fly a bit, or at least glide. Homunculi. Small golems. Pooka. Those sort of creatures. But nothing natural. Nothing like you or me."

[crownlessbluebird]

"Valkyrie magic is within both our wings and ourselves, so it does seem as if you are perhaps correct, in that wings may be a catalyst for such. Even the Fae need their wings and they are pure magic if one is to believe."

She tilts her head to the side as she registers one of the names he had listed.

"We have Pooka as well back home, though the chance of that race of beings being the same from both or our worlds is less then likely."

[brand_of_disgrace]

"Pooka can be one of two things in our world. People who are cursed, or changelings, plain and simple. We only have humans, when it comes to sentient races. Everything else is either born of magic or science, or..." Extinct. That bothers him, for some reason. He shrugs, brushing it off.

"So what's a valkyrie do? There are stories of valkyries in our world, but they're old and badly translated. I don't think you're the same thing."

[crownlessbluebird]

"I can not imagine a place of only one race, regardless of the conflicts that were there amidst our various conflicting natures."

The slightly somber tone is brushed away as her head feathers rise and open a little at the question. She has no qualms in answering such with pride and matter of fact tone.

"We Valkyrie of Ragnanival are fierce warriors who serve honorably and loyally, fearing not the death that may await us at the end of an enemies blade."

[brand_of_disgrace]

"Wish we had your people in Paragon City," Julian said, perhaps a little bitterly. "We have a sore lack of honor."

He played with a lock of dark hair, realizing that it was less decorated than it would usually be; a brief look of confusion passed over his eyes. A moment later, he realized that his usual adornment - black feathers - might have offended Gwendolyn. Maybe it was a good thing he wasn't so dressed up.

"Is there a lot of war where you live?" he asked, trying to change the subject in his mind with the one within the conversation.

Cliff Market

[mithrarin]

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."

[crownlessbluebird]

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."

[mithrarin]

"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."

[crownlessbluebird]

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."

[mithrarin]

"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.

[crownlessbluebird]

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. "

[mithrarin]

"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.

[crownlessbluebird]

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."

[mithrarin]

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."

Cliff Market

[revolutionfalcon]

Winding his way through the market with Ultima standing taller than him at his side, Shun's eyes flicker over anything that gets too close as he walks past. The glint of metal is what catches his eye most easily, though, and his attention turns to the woman flipping knives in her hand. New, probably, if she's just now getting a weapon, and after a moment of calculation, Shun leads Ultima towards her.

"If you're looking for a weapon that's weighted exactly right for you, a market stall isn't going to do you nearly as well as commissioning a blacksmith. But if you're that familiar with knives and not looking for a custom one with this much availability, I'm going to guess you're new and don't have the gold."

His tone is a little curt, but not dismissive or derogatory right now. They might have limited money to start with, but he does have to question how much she's planning to get with it if she can't afford a better knife than this.

[crownlessbluebird]

It's more that the other actually speaks of experience that causes her to place full attention on him. The fact she has warning allows her to keep her reaction to the other's dragon muted to only a quick glance and shift of stance to keep both within her line of sight.

"Well met, sir. You are correct in most of your observations. While knives are known to me it is in use of hunting and skinning, or as a discreet precaution when one must follow niceties of another's home or land where weapons and armors brandished fully are frowned upon."

Here her eyes glance briefly back at the knife she is holding.

"These are suitable for starting out in trading of hunted goods, as if lost or broken by animal or rouge, the loss of such is easier to manage and far less eye catching as a custom blade."

A wan smile as her head wings flicker out at her speech, as if amused at herself for such talk.

"There is also the fact it is still not fully known to myself how this land regards the thought of shield maidens."

[revolutionfalcon]

That particular change in stance to allow her to see both of them is very familiar to Shun, as he's prone to doing it himself, and it's what properly alerts him to the fact that he's dealing with some kind of experienced warrior here. Not a real surprise, since she's knife shopping, but good to know anyway, and his own guard becomes that little bit more alert and prepared in kind.

Despite how he initially came off, he listens to her returning logic with the air of someone who understands it well, and nods slightly as she explains the specifics of it. It's the remark about shield maidens that catches his attention most out of that, though - even the head wings get little more than a passing raise of the brow when he's met full-grown and sentient dragons here before.

"Nobody's going to care about you taking up arms, if that's what you mean. Shield maidens aren't any more surprising of a thought than shieldmen to anyone with sense. And you obviously know what you're doing from that talk, so there's even less of a problem."

Incompetence is something he doesn't let slide in any situation, even if it's pointing out someone has as much right as anyone else to wield a weapon.

"Custom blades don't have to be eye-catching, either. I have one, and it's as basic as you could ask for, just more resilient and better matched to me than some of these. It's a frivolous use of money when you've just come here, but it's something you could consider later on."

the steps

[accordance]

[ The slim man she passes replies without missing a beat, as if they were already in conversation. ]

We are all reborn. A jest, but in turn a second lease of life.

[ He pauses after finishing his sentence, voice calm and his expression likewise. His own dragon has apparently already hatched, fast asleep on her post at his shoulder. Should Gwendolyn reply, he will stay and speak with her. ]

[crownlessbluebird]

"A jest of gods with unsympathetic hearts then."

Though she doesn't fully turn to him she pauses as well wings ruffling softly as half turns to face him.

"Is a second life worth such mockery, if one was not asked if they wished for such?"

[accordance]

[ Death would be a natural close to things. All things die; gods, kings, entire worlds. And yet. ]

Your life holds only the meaning that you give to it. Would you consider this hope not worth grasping for?

[ Perhaps one day, their realms could return. ]