Dragon Tales - A Test for Asher - RPLOG
Participants
Date
14/8/478
Log
The trek to Dragon's Reach is long, but not difficult. Up here, the air is cooler than in sweltering Firmament and the town proper is quite small. There is a road side inn that probably does double duty as a municipal office, a little church, a blacksmith, a general store and a few houses. It is definitely a rural community.
Gathered outside of the inn in the late afternoon light are three beings, all tall, broad and of the draconian persuasion. They are standing around chatting beside a large wagon bearing the mark of Sweetwater's Academy.
Rokarion stifled a yawn as he reached the village, with a salamander besides him. The plant being's double blossom was in full bloom this evening, enhancing his aroma. Without a moment's hesitation, the plant being moved towards the three draconian beings giving them a polite nod, "Greetings, I am assuming you are with the scholar who had a job posted in the Freeswords? Just here to join this expedition." he says in his apathetic voice.
Cassidy adjusts her hat as she joins the others gathered outside the inn, the phoenix dressed in a ankle length black gown to contrast the red feathers, and a floppy sun hat to match the dress. She was no dragon, herself, but she was certainly curious to learn more.
Zuri runs up after Rokarion having stopped to pick up something shiny off the ground. Just a rock, but a shiny one! In absolute contrast with the jasmine being next to him he smiles broadly at the gathered beings, waving energetically at them. "Hi there! I'm here to help too!"
The resident drab nurse shark is present, also not a dragon, but it is a scholarly pursuit, and she wants to learn. She's currently in her normal gear of the creator wetsuit and her brown oilskin, prepared for pretty much anything. Her swords seem to be absent, though.
Jera has kept his dragonhood a surprise! Comfortable between switching around all of the dedications available. The kit fox is dressed in a simple tunic and a skirt and trousers, reinforced with rugged leather for some protection.
The three big dragons look up at the approaching beings, then as one burst into laughter. "Not us," one of them says when the laughter abates, "Him!" The dragon points at the wagon and a hitherto unseen participant, a short, chubby corgi in a carefully tailored travel outfit. He stands up on top of the cart's driver's seat and waves happily at the party. "Hello!" he says, "I'm Asher Hardbottle! I'm here to represent the Academy!"
Rokarion looks at the apparent academy representatives and nods his head before looking back at the dragons, "Then allow me to ask, are part of his expedition or inhabitants of this village?"
Cassidy offers a little wave towards Asher, before looking back towards the dragons. "Him?" She looks back towards the corgi again, blinking. "Well! This should be an interesting little expedition, then, shouldn't it! I look forward to it."
Zuri looks over at Asher, waving at him as he recognizes him. "Woah, this trip just got a whole lot better!" He peers up at Rokarion with a smile. "We should probably take sketches of everything!"
Cirra joins up with Cassidy, though her natural curiosity draws her towards the dragons. She takes out her notebook, deciding she should begin writing things down rather than asking questions yet. It helps that people tend to talk to her, since they confuse her muteness for deafness.
Jera gives a soft, brief nuzzle to Cirra's cheek. "I'll translate." He offers, helpfully. Asher gets a big, happy wave and a grin. "Been too long." He chuckles, and follows the shark to the dragons.
The spokesman for the dragons grins at Rokarion. "Just the locals," he says, "Most all of us here in Dragon's reach got some dragon blood in us." He extends a clawed hand. "Jethro Hardbottle," he says, "Asher there is my nephew."
Asher bounces on his seat, waving to familiar faces. "I was just making some last arrangements for a place for us to stay tonight," he says, "But first we will be heading to the Reach's shrine. It is a little different and much older than the one in Firmament."
Rokarion nods his head at the dragon before looking back at Zuri, "Don't worry about it, I will.", the plant being says as he gestures to the sketchbook in his hand, looks like a new one this time.
Zuri nods approvingly at Rokarion before returning his attention to the dragon beings. "We're ready to go, I think! What are we expecting to find ahead, if anything?"
Cirra nuzzles the kit fox back, rumbling softly as she nods. <Will be glad to have you along.> She quickly signs to Jera before moving to follow the others, prepared for whatever hike it takes.
"A little different? Will I be allowed to try it out?" He looked hopefully at one of the dragons, even as he walked alongside the others, following along. A blush as the nuzzle is returned, the kit fox looking ahead ramrod straight.
Asher scrabbles around in the back of his cart and produces a trio of packs. They look pretty heavy as he drags them out. "There is a story about the first dragons inscribed on the wall on the innermost part of the shrine," he says, panting, "The Academy asked if I would come and use their new cram-er-ma to catch a picture of it, since I am from around here."
"Bout time!" chortles one of the dragons, towering over the corgi and scooping up the bags to hold them out for others to take. "We were all starting to think you didn't have enough dragon in ya to make it into the shrine!" he booms, breaking back into laughter with the other two.
"Yeah!" teases the third, picking Asher up like a babe in arms, "Bad enough you're a runt! Would be terrible if you didn't have no dragon in there!"
Asher fends off his draconic relations and drops to the ground. "Just a little bit of an initiation test," Asher says uneasily, "Nothing to worry about. It is built into the shrine. You'll see." The little corgi looks to see that his gear is all carried before taking up one more, smaller pack and leading the way down a well worn path, the other dragons laughing companionably at some other joke they have made between themselves.
The shrine is obvious. While the one in Firmament is little more than a carved stone, this is a full blown shrine, obviously well tended. The building is made of sturdy looking stone with a definitedragon motif, sinuous forms snaking along gables and trim with statues flanking the open stone doors.
Rokarion nods his head at Zuri and keeps his sketchbook in hand as he follows along with the group, taking it out and beginning to doodle on it as they reach the shrine.
Zuri admires the shrine, emitting a little 'oooh!' as he paces around looking at the statues from various angles. "It occurs to me that I actually don't know much about the dragons, as a whole." He headscratches. "Or many of the sacred families, for that matter.."
Cirra looks over the statues and carvings, drooling a bit. She begins a rough sketch, mainly intending to convey where the statues are and in what poses and positions. She is curious, but glad for now that she isn't herself a dragon.
Jera frowns as he looks at the Shrine. So majestic...unlike anything he'd seen on his long travels. "Does that mean I can't enter?" He chimed, feeling the awe hit him.
"What?" Asher asks, surprised at Jera's question, "Of course you can go in! Anyone can go in, you just have to pass the initiation." The little corgi stops at the door. "It's sort of a family tradition," he says, "But the shrine is open to anyone willing to make a go at it. As far as I know, no one has ever died." Those are comforting words. . .
Zuri wiggles his snout at the door. "Well, I'm not one to back down from a challenge! Especially when it's a.. uhm... challenging one." He giggles. "Alright, what's this initiation then? Does it involve flying? Pleae tell me it involves flying!" He asks, to noone in particular, his attention flitting from being to being as he speaks.
Cirra groans. She is woefully unprepared in her current ability to pass an exam, unless it involved magic or medicine. But she REALLY wants to get in, wants to see eveything.
Jera squeezes Cirra's hand when he notices her discomfort. "Well. How do we go in?" Emphasis on we. It's likely watching Zuri and Roka that has him a little more...
The corgi leads the way to the entrance and looks inside. "Just hold on tight to those packs," he says, "they should be fireproof and waterproof." The little dog takes a deep breath, then sprints into the door. As soon as he passes the threshhold, gouts of flame erupt toward his fluffy little body, and then he is gone.
Rokarion rubs his chin as he looks around before pocketing his sketchbook for the moment, sketches of the outside already done. Then Rokarion begins resolving the equations in his mind as he attempts to layer himself with stone, "Zuri, did you bring your hearth soul along? Might be useful here."
Zuri grins at Rokarion. "I was just thinking the same thing. A little bit of water should make this a breeze!" The small salamander wiggles his snout at the door, then starts casting some Divine Math of his own. With the amphibian standing right next to the jasmine its clear that his own style of 'weaving math' is inspired by the plant being's own, having been tutored by him. The salamander's math is simple, meant to gather moisture in the air into protective droplets that will shield the party from temperature extremes.
Cirra winces as she sees the gout of flames, and, copying the salamander, she begins her own magic, using a spell she crafted herself. She's designed it to enable her better deep water exploration. It won't protect much from the heat, but will keep her from getting hurt much.
Jera just laughs. "That it?" He chuckled, undressing thoroughly and bundling his clothes up, using his long trouser legs to tie it all up. He smirks and then he shifts, the enlarged dragon form striding after Asher...
Up ahead, the form of Asher can be seen sprinting ahead of gouts of flame and sounds of stone on stone can be heard as something shifts. There may be more than flames ahead. For now, however, Zuri's spell should keep the worst of the heat at bay, and thise who stay near Rokarion ought to be even better protected. The flower, ensconced in his earthen shell is quite well protected and Jera in dragon form is quite comfortable amidst the flames. Asher is definitely doing this the hard way.
It is not long before the group comes to a bend in the corridor. The shrine did not look this big outside. Perhaps they are underground. Asher is nowhere to be seen, but the tunnel ahead is soaked with water, the damp stone lit by mathemagical lights set in the walls.
Rokarion begins moving into the flames with the rest of the group. The plant being focusing his gaze on the path ahead and ignoring the temperature here even. The plant being stops in front of the new corridor looking around, "Hmmm, no idea what exactly is the challenge here. Would have suggested casting water breathing but Cirra already did that." he comments as he takes in the sights of the shrine before continuing down the corridor.
Zuri bolts through the flames, stopping on the other side to observe the room. He nods at Rokarion's words. "A trap maybe? Tripwire, pressure plate under the water, or something? I'll scan ahead just to be sure!" The salamander walks forward slowly, zig-zagging left to right as he examines the masonry for oddities.
Her spell isn't the most useful for the first section, but she casts it anyways, knowing that being prepared is better than trying to cast on the fly. She heads to the water, looking for changes in depth after watching to see where it is safe where Zuri walks.
Jera frowns. "I'm a lot more durable in this shape than most of you are. Why not we take a risk? Three of you can line me up with your protection and I'll barge on ahead as the shieldbearer..." The kit dragon fox offers.
As Cirra and Zuri step out into the damp, slightly flooded corridor, arm thick jets of water blast forth from cleverly disguised holes in the walls! Zuri's quick reflexes help him to avoid being blasted across the stone hallway and Cirra manages to deflect the hard stream away, but the tunnel, which slopes downward starts to fill with water! Soon it will flood the way ahead completely.
Rokarion too manages to deflect a spurting jet of water away from himself.
Jera hesitates as the tunnel fills with water. He does not tread often as a dragon! Still, he thinks it best if he heads on first, knowing mentally the innate boosts the shape gives him. He takes a deep breath, and heads into the passage, trying to swim through the water!
Rokarion deflects the jet stream with a quickly drawn air diagram before he begins swimming with the rest through the water tunnel singing, <The next will most likely be the cold test then.>
Zuri tumbles away from the sudden water jet with a yip, and dashes across the hall as it begins to fill up. Shorter than his companions, he quickly goes from treading water to having to swim across, and by the time he reaches the other side he's absolutely drenched.
Cirra grins as the water envelopes her, making her squirm with delight as she swims. Rokarion's signing also makes her smile a bit as she signs back to Rokarion. <I can double up the salamander's magic, if that helps. Don't have much else.> She swims ahead, enjoying herself.
With the help of Cirra's masterful water magic, the flooded corridor proves to be no obstacle. It is a bit of a distance before they emerge, sloping upward once more, but that is hardly an issue when the very water is like air.
Asher is nowhere in sight. But that dies not make the corridor ahead any less interesting. A thin spit of stone crosses a wide chasm in the floor ahead. While the walkway itself is well lit, there is no light in the chasm which swiftly fades to blackness. Somehow, wind howls through this chamber from below.
Rokarion looks around the room before peering into the chasm, "Hmmm, not sure what this is about. Zuri, you could try and traverse this chasm in your pegasus form, no? Would you kindly do that and tell us if there are air currents that try to push you?"
Zuri peers down at the chasm before looking up at Rokarion, and back at the others. "I can give that a try, sure!" He closes his eyes and focuses for a moment, going through the now-familiar transformation into his dedicant form. The pegamander snorts proudly after the change is complete, wings unfurled. He steps up to the edge of the chasm once more, peers down, and steps off, hoping that his wings will hold him aloft.
Cirra is uncertain what this room brings, so she's going to sit back and study the room a while, as well as Zuri's motions, to see if she can find a pattern.
Jera frowns. He shifts back into a kit fox form, more capable of using magics in that shape. He has no time to get dressed before he just churns out some rapid math to see if he couldn't combat the winds!
The little pegasus is forced to flap wildly just to avoid getting thrown against a wall! The winds here are STRONG! Zuri manages to stay steady, but that is all he can do! At least until Jera works his magic and the wind goes suddenly still! Probably best to hurry along while the effect lasts!
Rokarion was about to prepare his own spell to cast, but Zuri was saved with Jera and that was enough. The plant being quickly walks over the walkway to the other end, being extra cautious not to slip.
Zuri flails in the air as he was about to lose control, but fortunately the winds subside at just the right time. He flutters across as quickly as he can, exploring the room ahead and looking for a perch to land on.
The nurse shark follows Rokarion, keeping a low profile as she tries to keep up. The winds do make her quite nervous, though she is glad Jera is holding them back.
Jera has a bit of a tenuous time trying to negotiate his balance while juggling the task of holding back the winds. He follows along behind Cirra, his breaths getting a little bit shallow from exertion...
The crossing, while difficult, is no great challenge for such seasoned adventurers and soon they have left the chasm behind. The passage turns sharply once more and the party finds themselves in a large round room, maybe twelve feet across. In the center, on the stone floor, is carved the complex mathemagic that allows a being to awaken dormant Elemental Dragon blood within them. Lying next to it on the floor is a damp, slightly singed and very windblown little corgi, panting heavily from his recent exertions. His head lolls toward the others as they enter. "Oh!" he pipes, "You're here! Perfect! Let's get set up!"
From his own, smaller bag, he produces a little box mechanism and what must be the lens of the picture machine. "There is a tripod in one of your packs," Asher says, "Someone pass it to me?" The corgi then goes to stand in front of a large bas relief carved into the far wall.
Rokarion takes a deep breath once he reaches the room, letting his stone layer to crumble back into the ground before he takes out his sketch book. First, Rokarion kneels closer to Zuri checking him for any wounds, "Are you okay, Zuri?" the nonchalant being asks.
Zuri is shaken, but alright. He may have lost a few feathers back there... he smiles at the plant being, and gives him a quick hug. "I'm alright Rokarion, thank you!" He looks up to admire the bas relief. "That looks real pretty!"
Cirra notices her dragon friend winded and strained, and walks over to Jera. She weaves a quick story in signing, evoking the smell of dust after rain: Petrichor, her recovery tale. The tale is incomplete, but she hopes to expand on it with magic later. Mainly, she is trying to help him revuperate.
Jera shivers, and feels a little bit revitalized as he finishes the last of the stretch. "Sounds right...hope we brought the pack, though." The kit fox grinned.
Asher smiles and nods as he works. "It is pretty, isn't it!" he agrees with Zuri, "It's supposed to be about the original Elemental Dragons. They were a lot bigger and stronger than what we have today." He points out a section of the image. "Look!" he says, "This one shows a dragon swimming all the way to the bottom of the sea! And there is one flying through the sky with wings! Like you Mister Zuri!" The little corgi finishes his setup and taps the little math rune that will start the exposure process. "There," he says, "Ten minutes and we will be done." He turns a doggy smile on the others. "Looks like you all handled the initiation test better than I did!" he says.
After checking on Zuri, Rokarion stands up and opens his sketchbook as he begins exploring the paintings and carvings around, sketching and jutting down notes. While he waited for the rest of the group.
Zuri grins at Asher. "Well, we all worked together, you did it on your own. That's way harder!" He flutters up to watch the artwork as Asher points them out and elaborates on what they represent.
Cirra begins taking copious notes, listening to the corgi expound on all of the carvings, enjoying the history of the place as she leans against Jera, rumbling happily.
Jera finally starts to get dressed, giggling. "Need me to pass a message to Fenris?" He offered, looking along the carvings.
Asher smiles and bounces on his toes while he waits for the camera to finish its work. "I am glad the Academy was interested in this place!" he says, "I have always wanted to see it, but this is the first time I have been able to get up the courage!" Eventually, a little chime comes from the camera and Asher carefully stows it away. "Time to go, I guess," he says, "Unless anyone has some Dragon in them they want to wake?" He points out an irregular part of the wall with two handles on it. "It sort of takes a dragon to open the door out." He perks an ear at Jera's question. "No," he says, "I'm sure he will hear about all of this soon enough."
Rokarion taps the pen on the no longer white paper before closing his book and storing it back in his bag as he gives the room one more look. Rokarion's inner flower had already began to close onto itself as the youthful plant rejoined Zuri on their way outside, having nothing else to look at currently.
Zuri scratches his head. "Dragon, huh?" He grins. "Maybe. But I have this pegasus thing going already. Maybe another day!" He flutters down and join Rokarion, the two of them walking out together.
Cirra nuzzles Jera. She signs to the corgi, but doesn't expect him to understand. <I already have my pact with the elements. I do not wish to exert myself as such. Thank you for your offer.>
Asher looks around at the others, then bites his lip and strips out of his clothes as he starts to swell bigger and bigger into a large, if slightly squishy draconian form. He lumbers over to the door and heaves it open, releasing the party into a beautiful evening where a dozen elemental dragons are waiting with a ready cheer! Not a bad end to an evening of excitement.
