[IC] The Faraway Land: Resurrection

[Darkwatck01]

@Samdragonx
@Thinslayer

For his part, Edward mostly stood around slack jawed as he was moved by his good ‘friend’ from that lab to the streets and now a Pub. It wasn’t really up to the Transcendent to say what was on his mind, mostly because his gut was speaking for him every chance it got, yet he couldn’t help but laugh a little at the proclamation made by the Reaper. Sure they could find food here, and for Edward’s sake a strong enough stool because those wooden ones made for a human weren't going to give him proper support. Still after ducking to avoid getting his head caved in by the force of which he was moved into this poor smelling establishment he gave pause.

It smelled like the sulfur mines to the north of the Wastelands, if he was being nice at least. As for the occupants well, they were the rift raft of the working class. Seems they came here to spend coin on food, entertainment, and drink to slate off the fact they were the working poor. How someone like the reaper had a line of credit here was beyond his understanding but he could make some connections considering the condition of things.

Still slouched over he moved over to the bar, more or less leaving Ravadon by himself to speak aloud and boost his own ego a little more. Fool was going to get himself killed with that mouth. Looking to the bartender, keeping his mouth closed as well as Third eye shut. He Ordered as much as she was willing to offer. Might as well eat what he could considering who was picking up the tab. Ah the small Victories. Dropping off the name of the person taking up his tab he turned his attention to Ravadon, only to see he was about to get into a fight.

With his maw slightly ajar, just enough to speak for his plan was just to make himself look like he was in rather heavy armor was all. “Picking a fight with the lower side of society isn’t the wisest idea. Of course if we are talking about bodies, no sense in wasting perfectly good food.”

It was a fact back in the day, Edward wasn’t above eating...questionable things when hungry. However after all this time he doubted anyone even know him.

“However I believe it's best to just avoid fighting? What's the point, waste of energy, time, and more importantly food.” With that Edward turned back around to the bar. Wanting none of this, however more then happy to finish a few drunks with delusions of grandeur. Honestly who fights in a place of rest and food anyway?

[Thinslayer]

When everyone's back was turned, the Grim Reaper dispelled its armorsuit in a mist of golden dust, which disappeared into a pendant. Then it threw back the hood and stepped outside. The market was busy as usual that day. Four women fought over who would buy the last watermelon from a fruit vendor, and several men lined up behind a blacksmith's stall for his high-quality steel weapons. Children played in the streets, under people's legs, over display stands, and generally ran roughshod over everything they encountered.

The Reaper took a moment to take inventory. Five arrows are hardly enough for a good hunt. I should pay a visit to Yar for a new batch. Not for his lazuli powder, though - I can get it cheaper a few blocks down. Having decided upon a strategy, the Reaper approached Yar's stall and examined the produce.

"Top of the mornin' to ya!" the thick-bearded man called out. "What can I do ya fer?"
The Reaper offered a salute and a smile. "Greetings, Yar. I have come for more of your excellent arrows."
Yar paled. "Er, yes, um, have a look."

The Reaper did look.

And picked up one arrow and held it up for Yar to see. "Pardon me, but this is not an arrow. This is a splinter dressed up as an arrow. The wood is rotten, the feathers are old, and the arrowhead is brittle. I could make an all-wooden arrow better than this one. Product quality has dropped precipitously since the last time I visited." Reaper planted both hands on the stall and leaned forward, expression softened into pity. "What happened, Yar?"

Yar shrank back and started to shake. "I knew nothin' would get past you."
"What happened?" The Reaper repeated. "I know your father makes the arrows. Did something happen to Fargen?"
The man nodded. "He took seer'sly ill last fortnight, and he ain't gettin' no better. The local healers think he's been poisoned, but they can't make no heads nor tails of it. I think he's gonna bite the dust soon."
The Reaper clutched its chest. "By all that is holy, that does sound serious indeed. Shall I stop by your place on my way out?"
Tears of joy formed in Yar's eyes. "Oh please if you could please, I'd be eternally grateful to ya! I'll...I'll give ya a discount! Free arrows!"
The Reaper shook its head. "In truth, I am a little short on coin at the moment, so my standard rate of two crowns should suffice for payment. In fact, I will cut you a discount. I will charge only one crown, but you must promise to use the other to buy better arrows. I know a hunter in Blackthorn by the name of...Morrin, I think it was, who makes exceptional iron-clad arrows at a reasonable rate."
Yar shook his head. "You are too kind, far too kind for the likes of me. Shouldn't you be chargin' me for this info?"
The Reaper cracked a half-smile. "Certainly not! The journey is frightfully taxing, and I would much rather someone else took the trouble. You will be doing me a favor."
"Thank you. Thank you so much!"

They exchanged currency, shook hands, and the Reaper left for its next stop - the alchemist's stall, where lazuli powder was sold. On the way there, however, it spotted a news parchment hanging by a nail on a house wall. The Reaper ripped it off.

Princess Isabella Visits Midhaven
King Enraged

Crud crud crud

The Reaper raced back to the pub and summoned its invisible armor back on as it ran. That blithering idiot! The king is going to kill her! I have to warn the princess!

[Thinslayer]

((Samdragonx has granted the GM permission to manage his character for a few days until his return. I shall endeavor to manage Ravadon with all due dilligence and respect.))
@Samdragonx@Darkwatck01
One of the patrons approached them, a giant of a man with thick, rippling muscles and barely enough shirt to hide them. He came within two feet of Ravadon, crossed his arms, and sneered. "Just who do you think you are, boy? I'll tell ya - yer a robbin', lyin' thief and a scoundrel. If I weren't a-feared of higher powers, I'da pulverized ya to goop on the wall. In fact, I'mma thinkin' of doin' just that..." He coiled back his arm to throw a punch.

This, as history will recall, wasn't Ravadon's brightest moment. "I think I am the Glorious Ravadon of Xyllodan, the One, the Only. If you will but listen to my tale-"

The man didn't. The man's fist connected with Ravadon's cheek with a loud crack and spray of spittle. Ravadon stumbled back and regained his footing. He ducked just in time to let another punch thunder over his head. "Now, look here, sir!" he retorted, wiping the blood from his mouth. "I'll have you know you've embarrassed me grievously, and shall pay dearly for that. Have at you!" He pulled back his fist as far as he dared, then unleashed it upon his enemy. His knuckles struck the man's chest with a thud - a glorious hit!

Silence.

The giant man chortled, a deep, menacing rumble that shook Ravadon's very bones. "You call that a punch? I'll show you what a punch is, weakling-" His monologue was cut short by a bloody cough that dropped him to the floor. "What the- what is this?" Ravadon clutched his own hand, knuckles still throbbing from the strike. He couldn't show his pain, not now, when victory was so close. So he grinned. "That, sir, is the might of the glorious Ravadon. You would do well to remember it."

The other patrons, however, didn't seem to remember it so well, and cracked their knuckles as they marched toward him. Ravadon backed off to Edward's side.

"Um, this doesn't look so good, my friend. Got any bright ideas?"

[Darkwatck01]

@Thinslayer

The simple sounds of a small scuffle broke Edwards peace, or at least what little peace someone like him could afford. Turning around to seed Ravadon at his side, the smell of the crimson liquid around him, it made Edwards gut roar in hunger. The food wasn’t coming fast enough to relieve his addled mind.

“This was a place of peace, food, rest. Now it’s a battle of the vagabonds of society.”

Walking over to the currently incapacitated Edward wasted little time getting him to his feet all the while taking in the sweet smells of crimson. Still hands on the man’s arms the Monster kept lifting him up till he was eye level. It was at this point the Transcendent opened his third eye and looked the muscle bound dolt in the eye, mouth open showing that he wasn’t in armor, this was his flesh and bone (More like scale, but he got the point). With a small hiss he spoke, all the while anyone who could since the flow of energy could feel it moving around his hands as Ice slowly started to form where his grip was.

“I will proclaim this once and only once. I wish not for a fight, only to eat in peace. However if you wish a brawl then I will make a meal out of the flesh that wishes to fight me.”

With that said he placed the man back down on his feet, closed his eye and maw looking down at him. Arms crossing over his chest as he waited for the response. Inside his mind he was telling himself how much he really didn’t want to do this, he could just let them have Ravadon and be done with it.

[Thinslayer]

@Darkwatck01
No sooner had Edward deposited the man on his feet than the other patrons dragged the unfortunate individual back and started to pummel him. The man cried out in agony as their blows drew blood on every corner of his body. Then they stood up and came for Edward and Ravadon.

"What...madness...is this?" Ravadon gasped. His eyes narrowed. He slipped Gladius out of its sheath and levelled it at the patrons. "Now look here, you slimy scumbags! You cannot treat people like that in my glorious presence. I hereby sentence you to-"
A patron threw a punch at him.
Ravadon instinctively sliced back.

A stone head rolled to the ground.

These were not humans. These were golems. Ravadon had barely picked his jaw up off the floor when he heard screams erupting down the street. "Edward," he said slowly, "Perhaps it's time for a retraction to your earlier statements?"
__________

@ineffable
The screams soon grew common enough to be heard inside the castle walls. Sir Byron motioned for a guard to go outside and investigate. The guard came running back. "The city is under attack from...from golems, sir!"

The King rose to full height.

"The Dragon is here."

[Thinslayer]

@ineffable
@Samdragonx
@Darkwatck01
Quest Start: Destroy One Hundred Golems Before They Destroy the City!

[StormHeart]

"Oh, of course!" Kiera exclaimed. She was very excited for what Dessa might teach her, plus she can't wait to show all her friends back at home her new abilities! She'd also be able to heal people easier, but that didn't matter that much to her. One thing did concern her though...

"Why are you doing this though? I mean, teaching someone something so powerful, you must want something, right" I'll join, but I'd like to know what I'm getting into first." Kiera explained. Even though she wished that Dessa wanted nothing, she knew that someone wouldn't a million dollars without expected something else in return.

[Samdragonx]

@ineffable

"Golems! These wretched cur shall not harm the handfull of random inferior citizens that live in this lavatory.
I, the rightously prestigious..."

@Darkwatck01
Ravadon ducked away as a bar chair was hurled at him. It seemed the head towards a group of people behind him.
The person hurling was the servant following orders of a nobleman. That nobleman was a person who actually knew lavatory was the high-status equivalent of "Pissbucket" for the common man.

"...and equally swift, shall strike down any and all oppressive regimes that limit the true freedom of speech.
The power is mine. The Gladius is mine. And with the condescending penance for your transgression I shall bring you, nemesis, veracious virtue."
He commenced walking towards the door, shouting ever louder.
He did this hoping the people would follow him in his charge of the golems.

"For I have the honor! I have the glory! By my competence, justice will be rectified!"

@Thinslayer
Ravadon ran outside, seeing the unspeakable horrors the golems were about to perform in the streets.

He foresaw their swift end. Roughly, after two or three more speeches. Though he was never a true fan of short speeches such as the one he gave in the tavern, Ravadon couldn't help but feel like he needed to act quickly if he was going to execute a display of his effectiveness in this latrine infested city.

[Thinslayer]

@StormHeart
Dessa watched the girl alternate between excitement and caution as she considered the offer.
"Of course!" Kiera exclaimed, accepting at first...
...followed by a swing to caution with, "Why are you doing this though? I mean, teaching someone something so powerful, you must want something, right?"
...which gave way to acceptance again. "I'll join, but I'd like to know what I'm getting into first."

Dessa pursed her lips. What I would ask of you, no sane person would give, yet what even the most cowardly heart would not hesitate to offer freely to those they hold dear. I cannot ask it of you, for you are not ready to take the world on your shoulders.

She reached out, folded Kiera's hand in hers, and breathed a nervous sigh. "The skills I would teach, you must use to the fullest. Do not waste time or talent on people just as easily treated by lesser healers. Touch only the most wounded, those on death's door, the broken in spirit, the cold-hearted, the lost. Be hope for those who have lost it."

Then, in a smaller voice just barely above a whisper:

"Do not let yourself lose everything in ignorance."

[Darkwatck01]

@Thinslayer
@Samdragonx

After watching whatever that mess was happen before him Edward grumbled something under his breath as the events unfolded before his eyes. First a Human turns into a Golem, then the Tavern breaks out into a frenzy followed by Ravadon shouting some speech that sounds pre-writen for something like this, honestly where was this coming from, then just to make things worse the Transcendent turns around to find his food.

Oh, he could smell it already if his nose wasn’t being attacked by the foul smell of this excuse for a Tavern. Walking over he started eating without remorse, stuffing his face full of the life giving food, even if it tasted like...well crap. As soon as Ravadon went outside someone came up to Edward, clearly thinking he was responsible, maybe he was but the Transcendent didn’t care. Without thinking Edward turned around and snapped at the man, the sound of bone crushing jaws closing around air sent the man back only to have the Creature towering above him. “I am trying to eat, do that again and you will pull back a nub.”

Turning around Edward started to eat once more.

---

After another handful of moments Edward couldn’t hear the loud mouth spouting off anymore, and the Tavern had become rather quiet. Sticking his head out the door, all eyes open and someone's arm hanging from his mouth he grubled.

“Finally shut up I see...Good. Now what’s going o-” It only took that moment for the creature to see what was happening. Well if he had to describe it, reminded him of a siege, but more tame. Still chewing on the unfortunate man's arm the monster stepped outside, ducking to avoid hitting his head of course.

“Never mind, I see what happened. Was hoping to get some grub and move on, at least we got the grub part down.” Lifting his head up he finished his ‘meal’ and walked over to Ravadon. “One question, where is that bastard at.” More of a statement then a question.

[AtomicNut]

@Thinslayer

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The man eyed the damp cellar of the castle with reticence, his worn boots descending the small tortuous steps to the chambers beneath. He inhaled deeply, manifesting his tiredness to the world, even if few people could hear. He was an average, toned man, in the garb of those who roamed around. Hunters. Often scavengers. And often those scavengers, covered in leathers and hoods, were the ones with the keys of knowledge ages past.

The heart of the city was ancient, and the mists of time had eroded the knowledge about its structure and function to all but a few who were lucky enough to seize the tiny fragments of those that had Come from the Stars. Such was Sykes, the man who now stopped, his nose frowning upon seeing a rat the size of a small house animal scurry past his feet. Truly, the power plant, one of the greatest assets of Midhaven, needed every single maintainance it could get, judging by the signs of disrepair that were more evident as he descended into the small cubicle full of mirrors which in the ancient tongue of the starmen was inscribed as "Control Room." The scavenger eyed his companion. A mage of no small talent, a confident of the Archmage, and ultimately the King. He was to be their eyes, for one could not leave such an asset unguarded. Sykes coughed, and extended his hand in a bump in the cold metal door. Clearing his throat, he chanted.

"Oh, ancestors, grant me passage." He said, while straining his visage, as if he was performing some kind of magic feat. And the ancient machines answered, springing to life in a slow, lamenting noise. Doors of metalwork without match in this era slid open, revealing the damp, ghastly interior. Sykes didn't hesitate, as he step inside the unknow.

And just like that, the door sealed shut. Apparently the machines had only found Sykes worthy of passage.

At least that was the official version, Sykes thought. He was no scavenger, no specialist in ancient technology. He himself was a piece of living past, but in a world of reality warping features known as magic, mutants and in general backwater societies, it would be wise to keep his true past to all but himself. Long gone were the days where he gazed at the virgin skies, from the spaceship... and wondering how the colonization would happen. Forgotten by the world at large, and cast in a retrograde future, he lived to get by, wishing to repair what had gone wrong.

Damp, and in disrepair, the control room felt more nostalgic and homely than a hundred inns to the ancient engineer. "I am sorry master Vanarys, the machines of the ancients are fickle. They do seem to want me and me only. I am safe, but for the time being we might be incommunicated for a bit." He lied. Truth to be told he know the command to override the door safety and allow it open, but he would not tell. He only hoped the mage on the other side was sensible and did not wrench the door open with the powers of his mind.

His eyes traced in the barely lit dark the keys of a metallic keyboard. After a few strokes, and dusting a few cobwebs, the device was up and running.

The mirror-like screen flickered to life as he brushed his hand slightly. The mere proximity of the mark on his left hand served as identification for a lot of systems, he did not need to use handwaving and voice commands, but it was better to keep the performance in public, as he had done so earlier.

>Antaeus Inc Reactor 3TF-669B
>Last login, XXX of the XXX.
>HELLO SYKES, WELCOME BACK.

The ancient machine displayed, an automated message he himself had configured centuries ago whenever he identified himself. Sykes wasted no time in typing, stroking the keyboard with a swiftness unseen in ages, the room half in shade and in the dark.

>Power output 48%
>Maintenance required on sectors 4B, 4C, Main, AUX, and SCONTROL.

He sighed, as he eyed the data. Several parts were clogged or corroded. However, some of them could resist some more wear, and the trick of flushing some more coolant in some of the lines seemed to do the trick for some issues. He wished he still had the tools he had landed with. He could probably bring the reactor to its optimal treshold. But that would have to do for a little more.

>Power output 57%
>Lines on 4C Restored.
>Proximity alert triggered.

"Hm?" Sykes eyed the screen, as a low key alarm began to ring. "Uh, that is odd." He said loud, hoping to quell the mage on the other side of the door. "Apparently the machine sensed something outside." Sykes added. Well, it was true enough. He pondered. Maybe he could...

>SkyEye Uplink connected
>Panel in SCONTROL Deploying
>Obstruction found. Overriding...

Sykes gasped, as ancient system went online, connecting the old satellite network positioning system to the video feed of the plant systems. He had eyes now...

But not only him. Somewhere, in the Superior Control Room, which happened to be located in the same place of the Throne room, a panel shuddered to life, tearing through tapestries and displaying alien, shifting images of the aerial view of Midhaven...albeit from a mind-boggling height. Rings of light and strange words appeared in several dots that surrounded the castle.

Well, he probably would have something to explain after that, Sykes thought bitterly...

[Thinslayer]

The time has come.

I can feel it in my bones. I have witnessed the wickedness of men, the endless bickering of orcs, the vain prattle of elves, and the primitive constructs of dwarves. I have seen civilizations, even whole races, rise and fall in my time.

But something has changed. The dynamics have shifted. Some things that were buried have risen again. Some secrets that were long hidden shall be exposed. The truth fled from me as a hare flees from a falcon, and the earth rose up as a forest to swallow her. Yet I spotted her from afar, and with a swift claw I shall catch her. I know now, as none yet do, what lies beyond the Dark. The proof sits upon a little golden throne, in plain view of all, but unseen to any. Give me time but a little, and all that we seek shall be found.
_____

The air burned his wings as the dragon Caradras glided several miles away toward Midhaven. Many eons had passed since he had last flown, and despite the pain, it felt good to exercise again. His golems overran the key locations around the city as planned - the barracks, market, major industries, and dense residential districts. Exceptional losses came from the market, doubtless inflicted by the few "exceptional" individuals he'd heard about.

How far you've fallen, Reaper, to have chosen such pathetic Heroes. He folded his wings and nose-dived for his grand entrance. A cloud of dust and brick flung up into the air at his landing in Midhaven's south gate. His foot nearly crushed a house. People all over the city who could see the gigantic dragon dropped everything and fled shrieking. He took a single step and levelled an entire block. This might be fun if it weren't beneath me to end their short lives prematurely. He waited until everyone evacuated the next block before stepping on it.

Caradras spotted unusual movement from the corner of his eye. He turned to see the three individuals who caused him trouble at the start of his operation: the vain man, the dragon man, and the Reaper. So he drew his head closer to street level and studied them with his left eye.

That dragon man. He knew him. His toughest foe during the Void War, the Black Dragon "Edward," now stood before him in the stature and likeness of humans. Caradras knew better than to underestimate him, though. His gaze twitched right to Edward's recruiter. The two locked eyes, both unflinching.

Your confidence speaks well of them, he mused. I suppose I shall wait and see how you shape them before judging them with my fire.

One of the humans, though, he felt needed a good scare. His turned his gaze to Ravadon and held it for half a minute. He narrowed his eye and emitted a low, almost inaudible, but deeply unsettling growl.

The Reaper spoke up with a measured, respectful tone.

"Everyone, no sudden moves. Meet Lord Caradras, the Fire Guardian."

[Thinslayer]

@AtomicNut
The screaming and rumbling would have gotten Sykes's attention.

Out in the throne room, the guards had just finished hauling off Isabella to prison when the chaos started. At first, the King thought the rumbling was due to the tapestries coming off a mysterious living map in the wall. But the screams soon told him that something much, much bigger and dangerous was afoot. He quickly surmised that the wall map depicted a radius around Midhaven castle. A large icon of a dragon overlapped most of the south gate. Unsure of how to process this information, the King barked, "Get me intel, NOW!" A couple guards scurried out of the castle.

"And get me Sykes. I'll need his help to activate this tower."

[Darkwatck01]

@Thinslayer
@Samdragonx

Of course being the first one to speak out, or rather in this case laugh out as the two people Edward hated the most were right in front of him. Well hate is a strong word, more like dislike. Still laughing he walked over to the Dragon and waved him a gesture of some kind. Some little idiom he did better when, well he wasn’t humanoid.

“The old Salamander finally comes down from his mountain just to cause a little havoc. Seems someone learned a thing or two from me while I was away. Also look who it is, your bed mate!” Edward said with the highest of merriment in his voice. “Good ol death. Tell me when is the child due? Ah forget that I am just surprised the Salamander made it down here without throwing out his back. Remind me again will you, I think it was me who walking away from that little sparring match.”

Turning around he walked over to Ravadon draping an arm over his, shorter, shoulders looking at Caradras, gesturing up at the Dragon.

“Would you believe this old trash is honestly one of the few people I hate! Well hate is a strong overstatement. More like, heavily dislike. Reminds me of another time these two came at me. Had a book or two thinking they had the upper hand, turned out to be another lie by the divine.”

Standing up straight, merriment completely sapped from his voice as all three eyes now locked on to Caradras, even the third eye, the crimson misfortune as many back in the day called it.

“And yet, here I am after you killed me, or more aptly, knocked me out cold. No this isn’t a ghost but flesh and blood that looks you in the eye Salamander.” With a small wink from the third eye a cold smile spread across his face. “And I still remember what I am, and look like.” A small cryptic message he was sure the old Salamander understood quite well.

Hold up one hand, pointing upwards the joy returned to his face. “Now, time for more food!”

[Samdragonx]

"No sudden moves?!"
Ravadon was besides himself.
Deep down his urge to start yelling grew ever greater.
"I will have you know that my moves are always announced with excessive dance and song!" He thought to himself.

But before he acted, a person whom he thought inferior laid his hands on his shoulders. @Darkwatck01
A person who, according to Ravadon, might not fully understand the severity of personal mortality when compared to that of a dragon who levels cityblocks by walking and burns the air it flies through.

Understanding the odds of his survival, Ravadon decided now would be a great moment to not taunt and/or torment the dragon. As great a time cheating death is, having someone stare into your soul leaves a mark on any person.

Besides that, Ravadon did not care for smelly dragon parts in his hair. As soon as he was unhanded, he might make a run for it and try to strike the dragon in secret, overwhelm it in song, exchange essence or even burst through with righteous fury.
Alas, there must have been a coinpouch left unattended when the marketplace was put to ruin.@Thinslayer

So he decided to try and sneak out of the encounter with a powerful firelord, leaving the dragons to spar against eachother once more. All the while, leaving the more sizeable golems and various currencies for him to prey upon. After all, dragonslayer heroes have to eat.

[AtomicNut]

@Thinslayer
Well, so much for subtlety Sykes shrugged as he went on to type, eyeing a mirror of the image that was displayed in the Throne terminal. They were under attack, and their target was big, also numerous, with a peculiar bio-signal... and didn't have any kind of IFF countermeasures. There was loud banging on the door, and Sykes stretched himself from his seat, as he opened the door.

"Hm, the good news is that this ancient relic will still hold out for a while yet...the bad news is that, er, well, I seem to have activated some sort of ancient...mirror system thing. The Ancients had a lot of these things for farseeing." He said, edulcorating the truth with obvious metaphors. "Yeah, I know what are you going to say. Throne room, right?" Sykes sighed as he begun to walk upwards.

Midhaven had a powerful defense system... if only he could do some rerouting, he would have little trouble hitting something that big or numerous anyway. But to do so, he probably needed to use the throne room. And risk alienating the king. Well, too bad for regrets, as he finished his ascent into the King's chambers not soon after.

"Hm. You called, your highness?"

[Thinslayer]

@Samdragonx@Darkwatck01
Caradras glared at Edward for another moment longer. It seems he now resembles humanity in both stature and foolishness. He is lucky I need him alive.

Annoyed with the man-dragon, he turned his attention back to pretty boy, who busied himself trying to sneak away. The young man's humility in the face of power carved out a Ravadon-sized soft spot in the old dragon's heart.
"Ravadon..." the dragon rumbled, pointedly ignoring Edward, "If you desire true glory, and not the vain pretense thereof which you have spilt thus far, stay your ground."

He looked to the Reaper.

"Mark him."

The Reaper nodded, and stretched out its hand. Golden dust poured out from the wrist and swirled around Ravadon's entire body. The dust entered him from every pore, from his eyes, nose, mouth, sweat glands, everything. In a moment, his every nerve burned as this otherworldly magic rewrote every cell. On the back of his hand there appeared a mark resembling a diamond star. Then the dust surged out through his mouth and returned whence they came.

The Reaper lifted him to his feet. Caradras spoke again. "Arise, Hero Ravadon. Open that letter you carry in your pocket, for it is addressed to you. Earn your glory, and fulfill your destiny."

With that, he rose to full height and resumed his march toward Midhaven Palace.

[Thinslayer]

@AtomicNut
The King and all the courtiers turned when Sykes entered the room. Some scoffed at his peasant robes and looked away. Others stared out of curiosity. The King, for his part, appeared not to care. He slumped into his throne and jabbed his finger at the table-sized map display in the floor. "What is that? What did you do? It looks like some sort of magic map, and it only appeared when you fixed the star core in the basement."

Shortly after Sykes delivered his reply, the earthquakes and screams drew closer and closer until a tremendous crash brought down the whole front face of the palace. Guards stood their ground trembling while courtiers darted every which way screaming. Through the opening crawled the great dragon, orange flames engulfing his entire body and torching everything it touched that wasn't stone. He gave a deafening roar that shook the tower to its very foundations.

Now that everyone's eardrums were adequately broken, he drew his face to human eye level and glared at the King.

"Where is your daughter?" he rumbled.
The King clenched the armrests. "She- she's not- which one?"
"Both of them."
"One- one is in prison. The other is right here- here." He pointed to Evelyn's body on the floor.
"Give me both of them."
"N-No! You can't-"
"I'LL DO WHATEVER I PLEASE!" Caradras bellowed. "YOU WILL GIVE THEM TO ME, OR I WILL TAKE YOUR LIFE!"

By now, the King had turned into a frightened, sobbing mess. Tears and snot poured down his face in equal measure. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Take them! Please take them!" he cried.

Caradras turned down the flames and drew closer to the King. "Do not think I have not heard of your misdeeds. I know what plans you concocted with your silly mages to secure the throne for your descendants. You failed to realize the irreversible harm you have wrought. The bill has come due, Alexander."

Caradras picked up Evelyn in one paw, broke the dungeon and withdrew Isabella in his other paw, and took off with them.

The King composed himself long enough to deliver a message to his cowering servants.

"Tell the Kingdom to find my daughters and return them to me."
@Avali

[AtomicNut]

Herodotus Sykes frowned. "That your majesty is a-" But he could never finished, as the creature that the sensors had picked up had decided to barrel through the ceiling in the throne room. While not visiblely affected otherwise, Herodotus Sykes blinked twice. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. A dragon. A tangible one. He had only thought those things were inventions of storytellers, and at most, some exotic aliens could look like ones.

And the beast was talking, making demands to the king. Herodotus Sykes just waited and listened. There apparently was some beef, and some kidnapping... and no one was paying attention to the wantom destruction of Empire's property. He sighed as he made himself scarce, and headed for a very familiar pattern in the wall. A gentle touch of the hand that bore the symbol while everyone was distracted, and another ancient contramption full of letters, a keyboard appeared. He typed deftly, in a feat of concentration while they were quarreling. The cracked display of the monitor flicked ominously.
>PARTICLE GUN ONLINE
"Pathetic. I've had enough of you prehistoric yokels. I have had enough of this era of mutants and beast. I am so tired..." Sykes added, gritting his teeth. "Swords, sorcery, princesses kidnapped. All. of. It." The letters flicked through the screen, strange symbols peppered with words. The Code of The Ancients, no less. Sykes keep compiling and patching the weapon's system, turning a defensive system into an offensive one. Red crosses peppered the map.
>TARGET ACQUIRED. SYSTEMS FULLY CHARGED.

By now, the beast had probably taken flight and took the king's daughters. But Sykes couldn't let it stay. He was angry. A parting shot was needed. Ancient coils in the top of Midhaven sprung to life, sparkling with light. Then, like a lance of light the weapon exploded, the sonic boom roaring not soon afterwards.

BOOOOOOOM!

The arrow of pure energy tore through the forest, the golem stragglers in full force, barely missing the dragon thing as it flew. Well probably it was a good thing, as Sykes understood that it would've disintegrated the heirs of the throne in front of their sobbing father.

[ineffable]

@Thinslayer

Isabella batted uselessly with her sword against the dragon's giant paws while she looked over at her sister who seemed totally out of it. Her sword just wouldn't strike against the steely scales, the metal only slid off the hide and if she didn't have such a good grip her sword would've fallen long ago.

A power surge of undeniable strength and velocity whooshed by her @AtomicNut and she almost couldn't resist the urge to grab it. It looked so powerful, it probably could've killed the dragon. She set her sights to find the person who had fired it but could not see much.

Isabella glanced down at the land racing by below her. Emerald green lakes glimmered in rays of sunshine, hooded mountains far away shook off their snow and the tiny villages zooming down below her were quiet and peaceful, a few small faces turned upwards as the dragon beated its wings. Her mind raced with plans, each more useless than the one before. She groaned in frustration. And then it came to her. She could just drop couldn't she? Have the dragon fly over a patch of water and wriggle herself out of it's grasp. But she would sink, her armor weighing her down like a sack of rocks and her sister would probably drown, floating on top of the water like a cloud. Plus, if she misdirected the time it took for her to get out of the dragon's clutch...

It was useless. All she could do was wait till the dragon did whatever it wanted with her.

P.S: Sorry for the weird paragraphs! Been a long time since I've written.