Journeys

GoldenDrakon looked up quickly, only to see the young man crumple into a heap; blue stone still held in his hand. Closing the distance in a few short steps, the dragon kicked out, slapping the stone out of Wulff's hand and sending it flying into the underbrush.

He wheeled around and with a snarl, stamped down on another nearby stone, grinding the thing into the dirt of the trail. At that moment, there were multiple squeaks and the blue 'stones' suddenly scuttled away from the path, vanishing into the thick forest.

The dragon blinked tilting his head for a moment and snorted in indignation just before turning back to Wulff. Wetting his hand with one of the waterskins, he flicked dropplets into the young shifter's face.

"Wake now boy. I do not relish the thought of having to carry you through the woods."

Enter: Taljor

Taljor sat, sliding the stone down the edge of his great battle axe and listened the 'wick wick' of the honing stone as he set it against the blade. Wraith came striding by and he only took passing notice of her, Myst was trailing her as so often she would.

Half an hour later they passed through once again, this time trailing several others with them. As well as something he presumed was a newcomer, a man with violet wings. Shadow, Orgrim, the shapeshifter and the Dragon man. That particular man interested him, due to the histories of his people. So he stopped his sharpening and placed his stone back in its pouch.

Half a day later, he was there to witness the attack of the Skirl within the cave and the opening of the Portal. He only thought about is for a second before slipping through the portal himself. He had nothing but the clothes on his back and the axe in his hands.

As he passed through the portal, something happened and his ears began to ring. His bones started to ache, and then his muscles began to scream as they seemed to stretch endlessly on and on and on. He roared his pain, opening his maw wide.

Then his was over and he was tossed to the ground. He looked around, slightly dazed and sniffed as he smelled dead flesh. Looking around, he noticed several Skirls dead as well as a mound of viscera off to one side. The scent from the others had almost gone cold and he noticed that there were two trails. One led off west and the other led off towards where he estimated the Skirls had come from.

choosing on instinct, he went off to follow the western path. The cut way made it easier for him to follow and he had yet to get the scent of the Golden Drakon. It wasn't until he heard the squealing of a wild animal did he really pause to look ahead of him.

A clearing opened up as he ran forwards, his battle axe held before him aggressively, and revealed Shadow, Orgrim, an unconscious Myst, Akaron and the violet winged man being attacked by three boar like creatures. He ran in just hear Reht sream his warning about the Bullaboar's secretions. He was not impressed.

Roaring his battle cry, he ran forwards and....

.... quickly found his first target. The bullbear creature was not prepared for such a charging animal that it did not even have a chance to see what was coming.

The charge hit its mark and Taljor stopped just as the other beast was sent flying. Spinning on his hooves, he caught the second at the base of the back of his neck with the hilt of the mighty axe, dropping that beast into dream land.

The third, took its eyes off of the others... "mistake number one in combat." The minotaurs eyes seemed transfixed upon this bullabear, but Taljor was trained by the best weapons master he knew ever existed and knew better than to lose focus. He kept a very watchful 'eye' on the charging victim and put a firm foot on the dreaming one at his feet, holding the large axe in one hand, very comfortably and the other hand empty and open, waiting to react.

His eyes told what he expected to be the leader of the three, that he had only one option... run. But the others may have other ideas.

Of the three Bullaboars, Shadow takes out one. Taljor takes the other out and the third is left with little option but to run. Bullaboars are intelligent enough to know when the odds are against them, especially in numbers. With its fellows taken out of action, the third changes direction swiftly and soon disappears into the underbrush surrounding them. It makes enough noise that it is soon understood by the group that it is running away and not trying to rout them.

Reht picked himself up and dusted off his hands, bending over to take Myst up in his arms once again. He eyes the newcomer, a massive beast with horns and an axe that he so obviously knew how to use. But he had seen him before, in Vale City and knew that he did not necessarily have anything to fear from him.

"We must go on. Thank you for your help." Then he turned around and kept going the way they had been, the bullaboars out of his mind. Rescuing his love was the only concern he had and the boars had taken up much precious time.

GD's body tensed, preparing for a coming fight. A part of him reveled in the thought of battle, a new challenger to come forward and be ground to nothingness. The urge to tear and bite and flame, lost in the zeal of bloodlust.

Still another part of him reasoned that this was unimportant, that there was no gold or glory to be won in fighting some unknown beastie without even the eyes of jellous Valians to see and report to one another in hushed and awed tones.

A low growl bubbled out from between his teeth, but he slowly began to back away from the crashing noise.
'I have no dog in this fight.' he thought to himself. "This is not why I have come here.'

With a final snort, the dragon turned away and pursued through the jungle after Wulff.

Stomping on the dead bullaboars jaw, Taljor breaks a large tusk off and slips it in a small pouch. 'Medicine man or wizzard could use it for some good.' He sped off after Reht and caught him quickly.

"Allow me to carry her for you, we will be able to move faster."

Reht turned at the sound of the new voice and looked to Shadow for some advice. This newcomer had joined the fight, but he didn't know who he was, or what his agenda was either.

At Shadow's nod (the two obviously knew of each other) Reht nodded himself and gently laid Myst down for the new comer to take. "What's your name, friend?" he asked as he did so. And he would supply his own name when asked, of course.

Moving on in what he hoped was the right direction, Reht kept up a light conversation, also informing Taljor of their quest, though not too loudly and they would occassionally stop if he heard something out of the ordinary. There were few animal sounds and the sky was beginning to darken when Reht got them to stop.

"I don't know how much further it is to the coast. But we should talk about the Skirls. They are an ancient enemy of the Aegirans and they..." he shook his head, "Its best if you ask questions of me and I can answer them as best I can. But we must hurry - we don't know how long it will be until the prisoners are.... eaten."

"My name is Taljor." Answering quickly and just as calmly. "And your's?" Glancing at both.

"Please tell me everything you know about these Skirls. We may not have alot of time, but if you could touch on how they fight, defend and any known weakness throughout thier history would be helpful."

Rehts last comment concerning eating prisoners brought back nasty images from his clans oun history. Not many people or creatures know that minotaurs eat meat.

Dizzy, disoriented, confused, he didn't know which end was up, the sounds were mystifying, because they weren't sounds, he screamed, and didn't scream, through a haze of blue and purple, he could see, but not see, he had memories of who he was, *what* he was, had teeth, and claws, and feet and hands. He didn't understand! And there were feet, he scuttled away, the ground so close, the plants so far, he remembered being taller. The plants being below, not above.

~*~

He was so high! Nowhere to hide, nowhere to duck, to scuttle away, and his body was so confused! He doubled over and retched, though, from doing it earlier, he had nothing, what was he? What was this fleshy softness, no pinchers... then they were there, he didn't understand, all the movements of body beneath and around him.

He convulsed, flopping to his side and clutching his head, screaming, over and over, in voices he didn't comprehend, nails raked over soft flesh, dragging bloody furrows in his arms, and his chest, and his legs, where was he? Too big! Too bright! And he screamed until his throat was raw, shaking and trembling on his size, his body still trying to take a form it didn't know, over and over, and he lat there and air hissed through his throat with his silent screams.

Reht nodded in polite greeting. "I have not seen your kind before friend, yet I have not seen a lot of this part of the world either." Sighing he rubbed the muscles in the back of his neck, "I am called Reht. I am just an Artisan - historical study is my forte. But the Skirls have been our enemies since time immemorable. " Crouching down, he used a stick to sketch a rough picture (rough for him, but quite detailed for the others)

"Skirls fight with anger and bloodlust. A calculating plan usually wins over them, but do not underestimate their intelligence. They will use brute force usually. They aren't ones for clever traps or ambushes and usually they attack in numbers."

"As for weaknesses," he shrugged. "They are quick on their feet, possess claws which they will use and a very strong jaw. Their weapons of choice, when they bother with weapons is just as unpredictable as they are. But I have never seen one use a sword. They are a religious lot though, and strangely a matriarchical society."

Reht paused and stook a little swig of water from his water skin, "They have great vision at night, but seem to have trouble with bright lights. I don't think they can swim, and they have a blindspot right in front of them, but they have a way of swinging their heads from side to side in order to avoid having that blindspt." He shrugged, what else could he tell them? Being an historian was an advantage - as he could access the archives where all of this sort of thing was kept, but there was only so much they knew about them.

Standing, he wondered breifly if he should tell them about the War - but silently shook his head, making it into a movement that appeared he had something near his ear. Damn he could be an open book at times!

"So, we will most likely find them in a large group - they are all fit. I have never seen a Skirl that wasn't able to pick up a weapon and use it. Younglings, women or men."

He looked at them expectantly, "Any other questions?"

As Reht spoke, Taljor listened closely and did not miss the man's body language... "What is he hiding?"

The infomation was very detailed. "How is it you know so much about these people?"

"And I would like filled in on how this particular situation came to be."

Reht sighed, "My friend, our world was destroyed long, long ago by a war with the Skirls. The gods played with us and our lives and we've since then learned our lessons from that. We have common knowledge about Skirls and sometimes conduct information raids in their lands. As for why I know so much, I told you, I am a Historian. I have access to our archives."

He wasn't sure if the man trusted him, but all he could do was hope that he did.

"We.... my mate and I... were here on a mission to uncover the truth about those portals you came through to be here. I need information - it's my life's work to study the Ancients. The Elders sent me and the Dreamers assured me there would be no problems. And... we were ambushed and my... my..." Reht stiffened and stared at the newcomer. "Forgive me, i am rambling."

Standing up a little straighter he gripped the small dagger at his side, it was the one Sera had given him at their Binding Ceremony, "I will find her and I will save her. There is more at stake...."

He swallowed, remembering the babe that his beloved carried.

"We came through the portal as did some of the Skirls. A woman, something I've never seen before came to our aid. She disappeared with Sera.... and it seems they are now Skirl prisoners."

It did not take long for the dragonman to come across Wulff where he had come to rest, doubled over and retching. He stopped nearby, keeping one eye on the boy and the other on where the thing was apparently coming from. Despite Drakon's speed and agility, trying to outrun the crashing beast was futile when one step from the monster accounted for twenty of his own. No, he needed to fly or fight.

"Boy! We have no time for this now. You must get up, we must go!"

Reht spoke with passion and pain that only magnafied as he stood and his hand had quickly and firmly found his blade.

"Love is a very powerful thing to fight for. I will give you a piece of advice though and please pay attention. Don't let your in love blind you in battle or in any plan of action, let it be the fuel for the fight. Understand?"

Taljor stood to his full, towering 8', 400 pound frame and looked at Reht. "I think we have waisted enough time. If you have rested...." Was all he said as he reached for the massive double bladed battle axe.

The creature is slowly drawing nearer. Though it's steps bound across the land, the trees swaying and crashing together in its wake, it will take a few moments longer before it reaches Golden Drakon and Blackwulff.

It is suggested that these precious moments are used to either flee or prepare to fight.

Strange animal calls and distressed bird cries finally herald the beast's arrival. It crashes through the screen of trees that once protected it from view by the adventurers. Blue scales glitter in the sun that shines through the small gap in the canopy that denotes a clearing stretching between the monster and the adventurers.

It pauses, bellowed from a maw that appears to be located on the underside of it's head. A flat mouth that none-the-less harbours rows of deadly three inch long teeth emits a sound that rips through the surrounding area and causes tree branches to sway.

Blue flashes once again as it sways it's massively round head to seek those that have disturbed its young. It's eyes swivel on three feet long stalks that distend from roughly the center of it's head. The sunlight strengthens and the adventurers can now see that the scales are a metallic blue that shimmers and is slightly pearlescent. They are actually hexagonal plates that only lap eachother slightly, but provide better all round protection for it's rounded body.

While it's head is a round flattened disc shape, it's body is round and bulky. Sixteen long claw like legs distend from enormous sockets on either side of it's bulk - eight to a side - and it stands almost fifteen feet high with twice that for it's diameter. Four of the front legs have large, swollen pincers on each, with three-inch long thorns running up towards the body.

Opening it's maw, its eyestalks swivel towards Golden Drakon and Blackwulff. One more roar and then it suddenly lurched forwards, scuttling towards them across the clearing, its pincers aimed straight at them.

Golden Drakon and Blackwulff. It is up to you to decide upon a plan of action to deal with this creature.

Golden Drakon; you are severely weakened in your Human form. However, your speed and agility has increased.

Black wulff; you are also severely weakened due to your current affliction. You will find it hard to concentrate on one ability or even thought. You will also find it hard to battle the creature due to a subconscious bond with it.

GD looked up at the blue crab thing and sighed.

"Damn, I knew I should have stamped those things when I had the chance..." he muttered darkly to no one in particular.

Without warning, GD grabbed one of Wulff's arms as he reached out and yanked the young man up and threw him over one shoulder. He turned and bolted away from the creature, Wulff bouncing feebly against his back as he went.

The roars did not startle the minotaur, but the hairs did stiffen on end. His axe that was on his back, found it's way to his hands and battle read so quickly that the others did not even notice that he wasn't holding it in the firdt place.

He looked at the blade and it had an errie redish blue hue to it. "Not good. We need to move.... now."

Reht looked up warily and gripped the pommel of his short sword. Bracing his feet apart he frowned and looked towards where they were headed and then towards where the sound was coming from.

"The others of your camp. They are in that direction..." he was torn. His compassion was warring with his love for his wife. He paused.... sighing, "Where to?"

Sencing an inner termoil, Taljor looked over his shoulder at Reht. "Follow your heart Reht. You will not be the same if you do not go to her and end up being to late."

"I will go and see if I can provide any sort of help with our friends. Just leave me a way to follow you should we make it."

Reht paused, unwilling to leave the safety of numbes and forging on by himself. But the call of his love, the call of his child was too strong. Shaking his head, he dipped a finger into a pouch at his belt. Holding them up, he revealed purple dye on his fingertips. "I will mark the trees with this. Or stones should I need to."

Then he turned, squaring his shoulders and knowing he may be going on by himself. "Take care... and follow safely."

Then he was gone through the screen of trees, lost from sight.

Finding his intended direction quickly, Taljor moved off towards the roaring. It sounded big, so he did not make a direct route and was surprisingly quiet for such a bulking mass.

Soon, the trees were thining and he could see a monstrous crab-like beast on the heals of GoldenDrakon, who was also carrying another and from the angle, was not able to determine who it was.

He had not faced such a beast before, not to mention the size. He quickly searched the area for anything that could be used to either slow the beast or turn the tables in his favor.

Even as he fled, GD knew that running was futile. The creature simply moved too fast with it's disk-like bulk mowing down the foliage between them as it moved. It would only be a matter of time before it caught up with the running dragon man and his companion.

Time's up.

One of the claw feet smashed the ground next to Goldendrakon, missing him by inches. Still the force of the stomp showered the dragonman with dirt and lome, causing him to stumble. A second stomp sent him and Wulff cartwheeling into the air. GD lost sight of Wulff as he fell to the ground and tumbled head over heels, sliding down a low hill and aquiring several minor cuts and bruises in the process. He landed heavilly at the base of the hill and righted himself, only in time to see the blue shell of the creature's body loom over the ridge.

"I have had enough of this!" he growled.

There was a sudden rumble and shift in the air as the dragon called upon his own power. Trees bent or snapped like twigs as the massive golden and reptilian body unfolded from the dragon man and expanded. Leathery red-gold wings spread out to either side and a long, sineuous neck rose up over the trees. The man was gone, replaced by the dragon that lingered within.

The giant crab-thing was suddenly confronted with a new creature, a preditor that was now even larger than it was. The serpentine head glared angrilly down at the eye-stalks and growled, revealing rows of his own razor sharp teeth.

"Come to me..." GD rumbled at the crab-thing, uncaring if his challenge was understood or not.

"Come to me and fall. I hunger for fresh meat..."