dragon butt-whooping
Who: Jade Chan, Members of the J-team, Members of Krasus' team, Deathwing etc. (I know I'm missing people from the tag list...)
What: Getting Jade's talismans back from evil dragon-dude (AKA Deathwing).
When: Today?
Where: Somewhere outside the castle.
Rating: PG?
( Kick Dragon Butt )
What: Getting Jade's talismans back from evil dragon-dude (AKA Deathwing).
When: Today?
Where: Somewhere outside the castle.
Rating: PG?
( Kick Dragon Butt )
A dragon.
His wings spread wide, he lets out a mighty bellow that bounces against the very walls of the castle. Sunlight glimmers from thousands of blood red scales. From wingtip to wingtip, he is massive. Not quite as massive as Deathwing, but he is of a similar creed, with horns and fins and spikes, a mighty frill, and a clublike tail. He beats his wings once and a massive wave of golden magic erupts from the ground beneath the fleeing children, a gratuitous display of magic that makes every plant in the vicinity flourish and flower. At the same time, it seeks to pierce the agony that plagues Jade and her group.
Even as he lets the spell loose, he dives with speed that one of his size should not be able to muster, plucking Jade and Harley out of the air with a delicacy that dragon paws are often ill-credited. Another flap of his wings and he gains enough altitude to support Nudge-- in fact, she should find herself astride his back. His scales back there should give some purchase.
The dragon's resounding mental voice is probably passingly familiar, but it's hard to put a name to it.]
No! Deathwing... You shall harm them no further!
Reply
Hahahaha... hahahaha!
[ His damaged jaw spreads into a crazed grin as he creeps forward, tail twitching with excitement. ]
So the meddling benefactor meets his appearance! Pardon me, fools, but may I introduce you to Krasus? This is his true form!
[ Deathwing thrusts a wicked, accusing claw Krasus' direction. ]
You were deceived from the start! He never intended you to retrieve the talismans... you were used as bait! I hope that makes you feel as utterly worthless as you truly are!
[ Deathwing's laughter is maddening... you may want to cover your ears, lest your own madness prolongs. ]
Reply
Jade's confused. Krasus had told her he would help if things got really bad, but what is this that Deathwing is saying about being bait? That's not true right?
"Um, so where are the talismans?" She asks tentatively.
Reply
[ This face, guys. This face forever. ]
Reply
Two dragons, one of them seems to have caught the fliers, they were bait (never hoped for this to end well anyway), need to get out of here, is the werewolf guy alright?]
Reply
But she can't think of that right now. First, she makes sure that Jade and the blonde are alright, and they are; as alright as you can be in a dragon's claws. Then she looks to the ground, checking on the other two. She stays close to the new dragon for now; anyone who came to the rescue and made flowers grow couldn't be bad, right?
Reply
It's almost like it's not her life. More like a movie. A movie that's skipped over key scenes leaving her to struggle to fill in what happened in a vain attempt to make sense of the present.
She slowly grows aware that Nudge isn't holding her anymore. Instead it's another dragon. Where did this one come from?
"Put me down!" she shouts. "And you better not drop me!"
Reply
"Where are my talismans?" She asks, directing her question directly to him this time.
Reply
Clever as always, Destroyer! How unfortunate that mind is wasted. For all your mad brilliance, you can do nothing to save yourself!
[He sets Jade and Harley down a safe distance away and places his massive scaled form between them and Deathwing in case they get any ideas.] It is as the dark one says. I could not deter you from what you had chosen, and so I sought to help you as only I am able... as the dragon Korialstrasz. Fear not; the talismans are protected. [He's bluffing-- they haven't retrieved the talismans yet, but Deathwing doesn't have to know that. And neither does Jade for that matter. He bows his head to her, eyes half-shut.] I did not mean for any of you to be hurt. Please, gather your brave people and retreat for now. You have done much today, but this quarrel is between me and the monstrosity alone.
[He spreads his wings as wide as he can and stares down the Aspect of Death.] You have sown enough chaos this day, overstayed your absent welcome! These lands are under the protection of Alexstrasza the Lifebinder, She Who Is Life! Leave this place!
Reply
And yet the supposed hero continues to deceive his charges! The talismans may not be in my possession, but nor are they in yours! I've made quite certain of that.
[ Of course, Deathwing isn't quite clever enough to put two and two together and contemplate the idea of a separate team infiltrating his room. Or maybe he's just overly cocky in thinking such a feat impossible. Whatever the case, he's going to hold his head high and grin down at the pathetic little dragon who dares challenge him. ]
What right have you to banish me from these lands? What right have you to invoke the name of my sister? You who believes that he is worthy enough to dabble in the affairs of Aspects! You are nothing but an insect, a coward, a disease to be cleansed! You think yourself a champion, but all you are is a tool of Alexstrasza! Even now, she is laughing at you, as am I!
[ Rather than attack physically, he's sniping at all the weak points, all his doubts. His words drip with malice, with cruelty, burning as brightly as the magma flowing down his sides. ]
I will return you to her in pieces and take your place, as one deserving of the honor! Now, my dear Korialstrasz...
[ That wingspan of yours? Deathwing doubles it, easily, and shrieks with such horror to make even a dragon quake. ]
Pursue me at your peril!
Reply
Harley's shaky still, but trying to push everything she doesn't want to consider at the moment to the back of her mind. Past experience doing so helps her lock everything away. Humor speeds things up. Able to function again, she remembers Jade being deposited on the ground with her. Harley turns to her.
"You okay, kid?"
Reply
Anyway, Korialstrasz-- no longer Krasus-- shakes his reptilian head at Deathwing's accusations. He doesn't take his eyes off the Aspect, either. He's nothing compared to Deathwing and yet he stands his ground, refuses to give in when the fight hasn't even started.]
How can you be certain of anything? Stripped as you are, you are powerless even to control your destiny! There is no rest for you. Not the rest you so desire, nor the death you deserve!
[It's that next part that fills him with doubt. There's a certain ring to his words-
No! Every fiber of his being hums in response. Those words are far from true. Alexstrasza would never mock her consort so. She would not think less of him were he but a fraction of his power now. She is loving and suffering, and would rather not see her once dear friend and her consort fight like this.
But it must be done. The red dragon bristles, his warm blood flowing with determination and tranquil fury. If he can just distract the Aspect of Death long enough, he can save so many lives. It might cost him his own, and the thought of Deathwing finally killing Korialstrasz, even in this place, gives him cause to shiver beneath his scales. Yet for all his doubts and insecurities, he responds by summoning a small, silent shield to cut out the sound of Deathwing's scream and mad laughter. Or most of it.]
Reply
[His power is nothing in comparison to Alexstrasza's or even Deathwing's but he's still going to try. He concentrates. The plant life that flourished from the red's presence grows radically, seeking to rip that open spot in Deathwing's armor further. They'll certainly burn in the process, but it's the best he can do right now. Being airborne will be more of an advantage when Jade and the others clear out; he can still shield them with his body right here.]
Reply
"I'm sure that..." ]
I am the master of my own fate.
[ He speaks low at first, but with growing power, growing conviction. ]
I am the master of my own destiny.
[ With a vicious swipe, the growth of life speeding towards Deathwing is slashed in two. ]
I am now, and forever more, the master of myself! Not gods, nor dragons will tell me what to do! If I wish to die, I will die, and if I wish to live, I will live! And if I wish to be happy--
Reply
--then you will not, cannot take that away from me!
[ Something has broken free in Deathwing, something that has been repressed for a very long time. The chains of madness give way to a momentary lucidity that fills the great beast with resolve. It is also in that moment that something else becomes terribly clear to Krasus:
This time, he has truly overstepped himself.
There is nothing else that needs to be said. With a shuddering howl, Deathwing charges. ]
Reply
She looks around for the rest of the team. Akira and Natsuki look okay, and Harley's fine except for where the spike cut her. She glances around for Nudge (who she's not best pleased at... reliving memories of evil scientific experiments is NOT an excuse for dropping her thank you very much!).
But what she really wants to know is where her talismans are! Krasus has got some 'splaining to do.
Reply
Leave a comment