[F07-SP] premonition. <<DHA:7>>

NIGHT · September 22

“there used to be a third dragon between them — my mother. uncle liked her very much. father regrets even now that she’s gone. but uncle’s seen it as a reason to advance his position: take more land, claim further rule, and eventually bring the fight to his family.” idianth placed a paw upon his chest. “that includes me. is that good enough a reason for you yet?”

“what is this,” day echoed in the back, just as the bandits started to discuss in hushed whispers, “family feud?”

the player snorted. “next, you’re going to tell me that’s the whole reason i’m progressing through this quest line.”

“night,” idianth beckoned, voice low, “what is this quest you mean to speak of?”

the duo but groaned. “i’ve said too much.”

after the bandits’ quick assembly, they started to disband, shuffling away, now non-hostile. “alright,” said the chieftain, the only member of the troupe left standing to face them. “suppose that’s good enough for my men to be cool with an arrangement.”

_{travel. 2/2}

NIGHT · September 22

“before we start, however…”

she took a few steps forward, and offered a hand when she got close enough. “i’m giovanna.”

the dragon took it. “idianth. and that over there is night.”

night simply bowed, but was offered a handshake too, and she couldn’t find it in herself to refuse it.

“so here’s the terms of our pact,” giovanna declared. “when groviat goes down, what remains of his hoard will be distributed between all three of us.”

night put her hands up, her head bowed. “uh, no, no thanks — i’m not really in it for the treasure.”

“okay then,” giovanna replied, quirking her brow. her head turned to look at idianth instead. “between the two of us. i’m sure your father will be very happy to see the return of his treasury; don’t you think so too?”

“indeed,” idianth replied, lowering his head. “though i don’t suppose the treasure is all you’re looking to reap from him?”

Spoiler

> POST ACTION: TECH-A
> FREE ACTION-I: dreaming. | [HYPNO/LULL II (2)]

ID233569 | bd10 | cd12 | -> Groviat

(27+16+3) * 12 = 552 DMG
552 - 50 = 502 DMG
| stunned.

ID233570 | bd6+2 = 8 | -> Groviat
ID233571 | bd3+2 = 5 | -> Groviat

100 - 50 = 50 DMG

13 -2-1 = 10 EN

Groviat | HP: 948/1500 | DMG: 175 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 | KEEN: 2 | EVA: 0 | [HYPNO/LULL II (1/2)] | HP<750: pause.

NIGHT | HP: 1320/1320 | EN: 138/148 | DMG: 27 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 6 | BH+HB: 131 | FLN/HLY: 16 | LD: 8+1 | PROSP: 3 | DOTE: 3/3 | [CONCENTRATION: 5/5]

Idianth | HP: 745/800 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 100 | ACC: 2 | KEEN: 1 | EVA: 2

FIERCE FIGHTER | 2 attacks per single-target. Can do [COMBO (2)]; +1 ACC, +50 Final Damage. Attack priority from strongest to weakest.
BREATH ATTACK | 2 uses per thread. Single-target. 150 unmitigated DMG, applies [BURN: 42 (2)] if successful.
AERIAL SUPREMACY | +1 ACC, +2 EVA unless fighting a flying enemy.

NIGHT · September 25

giovanna shrugged. “if my men can be kept wealthy and fed, i see no reason to go on raids any more. they could stop risking their lives to challenge adventurers like you — ” she gestured to night, “ — and then promptly losing them afterwards.”

night simply turned to face day instead.

“what?”

she shook her head and addressed giovanna. “those conditions are fine by me. so do you happen to know where groviat is?”

the bandit chief chuckled. “know it? if our home base wasn’t once so near where he was about to conquer, we would’ve remained neighbours with his cave. come.” she ushered them with the roll of her shoulders. “follow me.”

so they did. they went far, along the path of the camp they’d stopped at, but only left after giovanna had said her goodbyes and comforts to her associates did they begin to walk. along the way, day and night hung back, and let idianth and giovanna exchange words.

Spoiler

> POST ACTION: ST-B
> FREE ACTION-SYS: COMBO

ID233572 | bd2+6+1 = 9 | -> Groviat

27 * 20 = 540 DMG
540 - 50 = 490 DMG
| combat paused.

20 -2-1-4 = 13 EN

Groviat | HP: 458/1500 | DMG: 175 | MIT: 50 | ACC: 2 | KEEN: 2 | EVA: 0 | ~~[HYPNO/LULL II (2/2)]~~ | HP<750: pause.

NIGHT | HP: 1320/1320 | EN: 125/148 | DMG: 27 | ACC: 6 | EVA: 6 | BH+HB: 131 | FLN/HLY: 16 | LD: 8+1 | PROSP: 3 | DOTE: 3/3

Idianth | HP: 745/800 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 100 | ACC: 2 | KEEN: 1 | EVA: 2

FIERCE FIGHTER | 2 attacks per single-target. Can do [COMBO (2)]; +1 ACC, +50 Final Damage. Attack priority from strongest to weakest.
BREATH ATTACK | 2 uses per thread. Single-target. 150 unmitigated DMG, applies [BURN: 42 (2)] if successful.
AERIAL SUPREMACY | +1 ACC, +2 EVA unless fighting a flying enemy.

NIGHT · September 26

night was looking over her interface.

day didn’t seem too interested to investigate, not as much as she used to. a glance here, and a tilt there, but night managed to swing her notes around ever so slightly that she wouldn’t notice them.

“night, what are you trying to hide?” day asked, leaning onto her owner’s shoulder once the message was waved away.

“i’m not trying to hide anything,” night lied.

“and idianth wasn’t trying to talk about his mother, either,” day refuted. “but he did, anyway, for giovanna. for trust.”

at the entrance of groviat’s lair, it was apparent that he was sleeping. his loud snores made rumbles through the earth as they began to approach his abode, and giovanna rolled her eyes, scowling. “if he’s that soundly asleep, then surely he wouldn’t wake upon an ambush attack, would he?”

“it would aid us to have the upper hand,” idianth tried to persuade, but to no avail.

Spoiler

participating in groviat's bargain.

gemstone cost: 100k col
blessing cost: 500k col

offering the following:

Spoiler

x1 | Lucky Tracksuit | [#165780] | TIER 3 PERFECT CLOTH ARMOR | LD III | [state]: crafted
A large oversized tracksuit. It's black in colour, and sports two lines of checkered squares in monochrome running down its sleeves. Large pockets line the insides of this jacket, and there's two more at the front. Lined with silver thread from floor 21's caverns, it has a strange effect on fortunes.
| total: 3,000 col

x1 | Jacket of the Prince | [#174122] | TIER 3 DEMONIC CLOTH ARMOR | LD II, EVA, REC (3) | [state]: identified
x1 | Jacket of the Prince+3 | [#155427b] | TIER 3 DEMONIC CLOTH ARMOR | LD, MIT (18), REC II (6) | [state]: identified
A black jacket with a detachable hood, once modified to fit its user's taste. Now, it looks like a tracksuit that might come from a high-end fashion store, or a cosplay website. One large red stripe tears down the side of its sleeves, and two folded collars sit on opposite ends of the front zipper. Large pockets line its insides, and there are two more at its front. Only a small label at the back of the coat clues players into the coat's origins -- however, it seems to be written in Latin.
| total: ((50,000 + 3,000) * 2) = 106,000 col

total: 192,000 + 216,000 + 76,000 + 106,000 + 1,000 + 3,000 + 4,000 + 4,000
= 602,000col

night receives: gemstone, blessing.
groviat receives: a lot of junk.

NIGHT · September 26

giovanna rushed in. idianth followed suit. night was in there last — she’d been stunned at the mouth of the cave, surprised to see the stark contrast of wealth untold and unimaginable against the tranquility of the outdoors. where he slept had likely been on a large mass of gold coins, spread across the floor at the center of the room, towards the back wall… because that was where groviat stood, appearing cornered, lunging out only to bite at the bandit human and his nephew’s relentless clawing.

“night! what are you waiting for?!”

she’d shook her head. if something else gave her pause, she had to take a deep breath to still herself. then, dashing forth as though in blackened armor, looking like the legendary hero here to slay the dragon, night made a leap and swung downwards with her sword pulsing of light. the impact had sent her allies off their balance.

NIGHT · September 26

another strike — this time directly underneath groviat’s chin, upwards — and her blade sung again with cardinal’s favor. two attacks, and groviat’s health was already past a half-way threshold.

he’d lashed out with a roar, before his head hung low. groviat chuckled, just as everyone else scrambled to their feet. day had only just entered the room.

“smarts, that hurts…”

the great dragon growled and shook his head, attempting to waive off the blows he’d suffered. “hold your blades,” he decreed, and for some reason, the party had obeyed. night was still at the ready — groviat looked to her at the corner of his vision. “especially yours.”

she merely lowered her arm, but that was enough for groviat to register her understanding.

“i have not been impressed — nor bested — by many others before. seeking to end me, if you have intruded while i was sleeping… but, surely you are here because you want something. we must be able to come to a compromise.”

NIGHT · September 26

“all of your treasure,” giovanna declared, “and the lands you’ve claimed back from us!”

“nothing you can offer will quench your ruthlessness,” idianth barked back. “if it were merely possessions we’d wanted, you’d find some way to retrieve it from us once again. so only in death shall your debt be repaid in full!”

groviat snarled, and extended his wings, beating them lightly to quieten the two. “i don’t think either of you should be speaking for her,” he said, turning to night. he eyed the oath in her hands. “for someone to be wielding such a tool of might, there are more worthwhile pursuits than treasure and land.”

the player blinked slow. the message she’d read earlier scrolled in tandem in her mind. “what are you offering?”

“what?!”
“no!”

“night,” idianth growled, bowing his head low. “this isn’t part of our plan.”

she hesitated, after she looked over her shoulder.

NIGHT · September 26

“a part of yours,” she muttered, audible enough for the dragonling to register. “maybe. or a part of your fathers, or giovanna’s. but i don’t remember agreeing to any of this — just to the way you split your treasure if groviat ever goes down.”

“when he goes down,” giovanna pushed, “which was what you were supposed to be helping us with!”

“aww.” groviat laughed. “your aides appear to be so greatly in need of your power. and you can have that, and more, with my help. so why don’t we cut ourselves a deal, night?”

night shared a look with day, the latter stunned, a distance behind giovanna. “i was here for a gemstone, actually,” she said, turning to groviat. “kevranth said you had it.”

“oh,” the dragon snarled. “i definitely do. if that’s all you wanted, there’s no reason to be going around and slaying anyone for it, you know? we can make a simple trade for that.”

NIGHT · September 26

“it’s that and power,” night found herself saying. she pulled up her inventory, and dropped a couple of leather sacks on the ground. “is this enough for what you’re bargaining for?”

groviat hummed as he leaned in close. night unlaced the item sacks, revealing a multitude of marbles, gold coins and gemstones — all crafted items.

“barely,” he decided.

“will equipment do, then?” there were a number of items she’d started to discard as well — old tracksuits and trinkets long unused.

“do i really look like a junk sale agent?” he mused, but tilted his head upon noticing the jackets of the prince. “hmm. you drive an interesting proposition.”

“night,” day called, now starting to close the gap between them. “what are you doing?”

night did not respond, her eyes locked onto groviat once her interface had been erased.

“well?”

he hummed again, considering.

“... accepted.”

the flick of his claw into the pile of gold nearest to him drew sent items scattering about himself. one of them was the gemstone, which flew directly into night’s cupped palms. “that satisfies you, yes?”

NIGHT · September 26

“and what of the power?”

groviat narrowed his eyes. “yes,” he said, “prepare yourself.”

night kept the gemstone — by now, the quest should have been considered complete. and yet, she watched as groviat lean backwards, taking in a deep breath. when he was ready, he leaned forward, and hummed as he sighed.

the air about them changed, shifted. the air, once feeling scarce, now grew heavy and dense, a force that kicked night awake, if only just barely. there was a warmth that drifted in from groviat’s power — one that wasn’t apparently directly targeted towards her, and yet, she felt the winds speak of his intention that she was, in fact, meant for it.

when his graces died down, idianth was the first to speak.

“uncle,” he shuddered, “how did — what did you do?”

“i merely shared a part of my blessings with her,” groviat said, nonchalantly. “it is but a simple skill, a part of our divine power — and one that it seems your father has not taught you yet.”

NIGHT · September 26

idianth showed doubt on his face.

groviat sneered. “has it never occurred to you: the strength of the bonds between dragon and man? why this gift is uniquely ours… and why, perhaps, kevranth had not imparted upon you this knowledge yet?”

“no,” idianth stammered. “no, i didn’t know.”

“a shame.”

it happened suddenly. groviat made no warning, but lunged in the direction of giovanna — who had been silent, watching, agitated the entire time. day was right behind her. and night could see them on the collision course, almost as though time had slowed, for her and her alone.

the great dragon was halfway there when the player had shifted, scooped up her counterpart and bounded away. for giovanna, who had been closer, while she had not been spared from one of the dragon’s fangs, the player still dragged her out of the path, albeit in barbaric fashion, as she made for safe ground.

“giovanna!”

when groviat withdrew from his apparent feint, he’d been laughing.

NIGHT · September 26

to night’s turned back, and to idianth, who looked on in shock, the conqueror spoke. “this is the ability that mortals could harness, if they worked together with us,” he hissed. “the height of our paradigm, nephew, able to achieve a nigh impossible fate.”

“because,” he spoke, “i had not intended on leaving either of you alive.”

his gaze bore into night. but night couldn’t tell, busied with setting day upon her own two feet again.

“are you okay?” she was quiet, and unaware. “did it hurt?”

but day very much was, eyes caught by cardinal’s unwavering camera.

“night,” day whispered, grabbing onto her friend’s shoulder. “night, he can see me.”

the player’s eyes widened, and she swiftly turned around, pulling away her construct.

“either of you?” giovanna spat on the ground, struggling to get up. “after all that work for a ‘blessing’. night, i can’t believe you trusted a liar. and i can’t believe i trusted you.”

NIGHT · September 26

giovanna began to leave. idianth started behind her. night merely shared a glare between groviat and herself, weapon resummoned, after a brief dismissal from her save earlier.

“nephew,” the great dragon began again. his kin stopped, partway out the cave entrance.

“me neither,” he muttered to the woman trudging on ahead, but turned his gaze towards his uncle either way. groviat’s sights fell onto him.

“you can ask your father about it.” groviat smiled. “and tell him i sent you. and, that if he doesn’t teach you about this yet…”

his head turned, and he looked to the player.

“then tell him i have chosen a champion. one who nearly fell me.” he snarled, breath forming, the licks of flames from his mouth barely escaping the gaps between his teeth. “and one who could easily kill him. that i, i should be the one true ruler to take his place…”

NIGHT · September 26

idianth but stared at him. then his sights dropped to night.

“an eye for an eye,” he whispered. “so if i should face you in combat ere long, it would be a trade. a life to lose under his care, too.” he bared his teeth, breath unseen. “that the score should be renewed…”

the youngling took flight, drastically, recklessly, his wings near clipping the stone that jutted from the cave’s entrance. groviat’s fury waned. he but trod back to his resting spot, an eye trained on day.

“and we hadn’t had much to say to each other yet,” he said, taking a seat upon the mound of gold. his front paws, while crossed like his brother’s, made an ample rest for his neck to stretch forth upon, his head drooping from the treasure hill he so slept upon. “so come. let us make our proper introductions.”

night narrowed her eyes. her messages were open. she did not receive word that what followed was meant to transpire.

NIGHT · September 26

she started forth after waving her sword away.

“night.” groviat’s voice was booming. “i know of you. my champion. upon mine appeasement, your blessing shall be refreshed. i shall address you later.” his pupils went to the construct instead. night stopped. “but your counterpart is of legend. only few of us are able to recognize now the ones that lurk, often unseen among us.”

day hesitated. night spoke on her behalf after a glance. “how do you know of that?”

“because idianth and giovanna are not one of us.” groviat squinted. “and, by my judgement, neither my brother after all.”

small steps. the gemini was shaking — and night was unsettled. “day,” she said.

“where you do hail from?”

“the sixth,” she replied. groviat considered it thoughtfully.

“the home of green dragons,” he recalled. “and this is of red. poison marks of their territory, correct?”

“yes.”

day had fallen beside night in standing, and night took her companion’s hand in her own. her fingertips were unusually cold.

NIGHT · September 26

“ours is of strength,” groviat said. “raw, unadulterated. that is what our flames stand for, what the blessing you have received shall be.”

“not the ninth,” night spoke between gritted teeth.

“no.”

the dragon raised his head. “only the wyverns inherit that place. debased and uncouth. just because our kind breath fire does not mean we need live amongst that which burns with us.” he looked upon the duo. “i called of you, to understand the people i now deal with.” groviat’s blink was slow. “a life for a life, my nephew had said. now i exchange — you and yours for mine.”

day tugged upon the player, taking a step forward. “i don’t understand.”

“there is naught to be understood,” groviat said. “little of the cell we exist in is explored, beyond our known comprehension. my tale is one of them, and you are approaching the end of the path you walk on, the path, by coincidence, ours happened to intersect.”

NIGHT · September 26

“sorry?”

night brought her companion’s hand close. day slid a resistance in lightly. “you mean the dragon hunter’s anthology, correct?”

“indeed.” their breath-bearer sighed. “and that is a tale of which another has walked upon — but whether or not it pertains to the existence of you and yours is unknown. i share in memories of him, memories where i am disembodied, abstract. different. i am not of my own, but i have heard his voice. i understood of our kind that he had fought. i know of him.”

“it has puzzled me all this time…”

the duo shared a glance. day raised a hand. “who is it?”

groviat closed his eyes. “aye, who indeed. you said your path was named after an anthology, didn’t you, day?”

“her path,” the gemini corrected. in comfort, groviat’s lips turned upwards.

“ah, but your path is tied to hers, is it not? it is yours, just as well.”

NIGHT · September 26

the dragon paused. “then there must once be a dragon hunter. one before you and yours. how else would you know to collect the gemstones? but you must be wary, and ready.”

groviat stayed still for a moment. raised his head and shook slumber out of his eyes once he felt to do so. “my dreams had once told me of our kin. dragonkin. a race once far larger than we are now. i thought, inhabiting this figure from history, ‘how large could my wings grow up to?’ i never found out.” groviat hummed. “but i know now that there is so much more we could do. so much more we could be.”

he turned away. “kevranth could never have dreamed of such ambition. the light smiles upon him — he hatched before i did a summer drakeling. and i, the one who sleeps in his shadow, know only of truth.”

NIGHT · September 26

in their clutch, their fingers overlapped. soft pads went over smooth skin, almost like a comfort. groviat peeked from the corner of his vision.

“so i thought this, of fate,” he said. “of our capacity. of our truth, and growth. you will face stronger foes in your time to come — because that is of your nature. of yours and mine.”

from his sides did two wings expand, the tips of their span touching the walls on either side of the cave from where he sat. his eyes were lit with determination, breath burning and readied.

“and whatever shall come your way, i too, will see it through. for we must. because you, just like i, would not suffer to see the ones i loved lost again.”

night looked to day, tilting her head with suspicion. she waved to groviat. “she’s not all hopeless or defenseless, you know.”

“aye,” he replied.

NIGHT · September 26

“and neither was our beloved when she fought for our territory. against an outsider’s forces. an overwhelming threat, that was only sealed away by sheer coincidence through these layered penitentiaries of ours.”

they shared a look again, just as groviat had decided to calm down.

“like shadow?” day questioned.

“like wushen,” night considered.

“like evil unearthed, like pure sin risen from the depths of sorcery, of witchcraft,” groviat uttered, and their eyes fell back onto him. “enough to betray the rules of living. a darkness heard of multiple times over, an ever relentless hunger. it must be beaten back at all costs.”

the duo considered his words in parallel.

“we’ve taken down both of them,” night offered.

“it’ll be of no match for us,” day said.

“they’re just numbers in the end,” night added.

“numbers.” day breathed, and then blinked. “we’re all just numbers.”

“so who is it? you can tell us.”

groviat considered day’s reaction, and hummed to catch her attention. he closed his eyes upon her notice. “be wary. be ready. take caution if you want to protect each other.”

“i will,” night said, and felt her hand being pulled along, to rest above day’s artificial heart.

“we will.”

“good.” groviat looked to the skies. “then let me tell you what i know of our eldest, the wretched…”

“... zyrmith.”

Linked Accounts

[F07-SP] premonition. <<DHA:7>>

Recommended Posts

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites

NIGHT 0

Link to post

Share on other sites