that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

[faderifting]

WHO: Dragon-slayers
WHAT: The three Inquisition teams face their dragony foes
WHEN: Guardian 28
WHERE: Emprise du Lion
NOTES: Violence, gore, etc. This log contains closed threads for the 12 characters who were assigned slots on the dragon-fighting quest. Each team has an info pack-type starter about its dragon below. From here it is up to you to coordinate OOCly and decide how you want things to go down, and to NPC the dragon as needed. It also has an open thread for post-dragon-slaying tavern boasting.

By the end of Guardian Judicael's Crossing is repaired, at least enough to send Inquisition agents across on foot. But there is another obstacle preventing them from reestablishing a link between Sahrnia and the outside world: three high dragons have taken up residence across the bridge in an area called the Pools of the Sun. Here, the only road out through the mountains winds between rocky hills, ruins, and statuary. The remains of three structures dominate the landscape, arenas commissioned by Orlesian nobility in ages past.

Each of the teams has been assigned a dragon, and given as much information about it as the Inquisition has been able to gather from a few cautious scouting missions. This consists of where it sleeps and its primary method of attack. Though Inquisition resources are not great, they have had mages working overtime preparing at least basic protections against the dragons' elemental magic. While not enough to prevent injury altogether, they do significantly increase chances of escaping without dire casualties. They have also been provided with a small stock of healing and lyrium potions.

The three teams have been chosen from among the most-suited of the volunteers, and are dispatched across the river together. They split off on arrival, each making their way to the dragon's location and, at a roughly simultaneous moment, beginning the attack.

Comments

[make_my_mark]

"You can feel it," Lara agreed, raising a hand to her breastplate, tapping in the center of her chest. "The power, the anger -- I can still feel it."

She imagined it wasn't something she'd ever truly forget.

"I feel a little sorry that it had to be done. It's such an amazing animal..."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's not likely to forget either, and another sip of her ale doesn't dampen the memory one bit. "I feel the same way. You know, my last name is related to them somewhat. 'Ataash' means glory, and in Qunlat, dragons are called 'Ataashi'; the Glorious Ones. Qunari admire their power, even as they hunt them because all that raw, untamed power is too dangerous. It's one of the few things I'd ever agree with them about."

[make_my_mark]

"I was told the Qunari are a - complicated subject," Lara replied, carefully, taking a moment to choose an appropriate word. "May I ask about them?"

Her expression was curious, but gentle, making it clear that Korrin could say no if she wanted.

[gatheringstorm]

"Sure, why not." She'll get back to talking about dragons all night, but it's better to set the rifter straight than refuse and have some bigoted ass fill her head with nonsense.

"Qunari live far to the north. They have this philosophy called the Qun, and want everyone to live under it, whether you'd suit it or not. No names, no freedom, no choices, everything's decided for you. Everyone has a role to play and if you step out of line, you're reeducated or made a mindless slave.

They don't like anything they can't control, so it shouldn't be a surprise when I say that the way they treat mages makes the Circles look like party central. They have no freedom at all, and if separated from their handler, they're often assumed corrupted and killed. Since I'm a mage, you can guess how much I love the thought of any of that.

Anyway, Qunari is supposed to be a term only for those who follow the Qun. Those who break away from it are called Tal-Vashoth. Their children, those who have never been a part of the Qun, are called Vashoth. I'm the latter. We don't really have a place anywhere, so a lot of us wander, making a living as mercenaries. If there's one thing we know how to do, it's hold our own in a fight."

[make_my_mark]

"It sounds like a cult," Lara said, her eyebrows slanting down and her mouth firming slightly. Historically, cults didn't mean well, and her recent, personal, experiences with them hadn't spoken well of them either.

Though, by the sound of it, they might have given the Sollari a run for their monstrous money.

She was quiet for a few moments more, absorbing the information, then she looked back at Korrin, her expression softening again.

"I don't doubt it," she said. "I don't think we'd be standing here now if any of us didn't."

She hadn't seen Korrin's dragon, but she doubted it had gone down any easier.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin grins at that last comment, not minding receiving -and giving- credit where it's due. "Some of that's due to Knight-Enchanter training and hence Vivienne, who's been mentoring me. I'll have to send her something in thanks, since her techniques made this battle a lot easier than my last dragon fight."

As for the Qun, she nods in understanding at Lara's reaction. "It's definitely a cult...and not one to just write off, since upon their arrival they kicked off a huge war trying to take over the rest of Thedas. It took several Exalted Marches to drive them back, and even now we're sure that they'll want to try again someday."

[make_my_mark]

Lara's brow furrowed and she shook her head, dark ponytail trailing over her shoulders with the movement.

"I hope you'll forgive me if I hope I'm not still here if it comes to that," she said with a sigh. As fascinating as the Crusades are to learn about, she had no desire to be in one.

[gatheringstorm]

"You and me both." Korrin raises her tankard with a tired smirk. "Some Tal-Vashoth think they'll invade in our lifetime, and now that the south is in chaos, I could see them wanting to do something about it. They're control freaks like that. But it hasn't happened yet, so let's hope they don't add to the shitshow. We have enough to do, without adding them to the list."

[make_my_mark]

"If this - Corypheus?" She was still learning it all, the names, the places, the plans and plots. "If he succeeds, won't he be a problem for them too?"

She tucked the dragon's skin back into her belt and leaned back against the bar, arms folding as her brow furrowed in consideration.

"You'd think that would be reason enough for them to give us some courtesy."

[gatheringstorm]

"Eh...the Qunari think they're all logic, but some of that 'logic' is off-the-wall weird. And as I said, control freaks. The longer we have this chaos continuing in the south, the more nervous they'll get. That's yet one more reason to end things as soon as possible." She takes another sip, a slower one this time.

"But you're right, Corypheus will be everyone's problem if he gets his way. I think that's our only saving grace right now. If we can clean up his mess, then they won't feel like they must. So, we have something of a grace period."

[make_my_mark]

"I take it they haven't much in the way of help thus far?" Lara mused, arching an eyebrow. "So they're content to let others handle it, given we don't take too long, in which case they'll ride to save the day and then enslave us for the trouble."

She exhaled.

"No pressure then."

As if there hadn't been already.

[gatheringstorm]

That gets a noise that might almost count as amusement, after Korrin takes another long sip. "I know, right? All the more reason to end this soon. And no, no direct help so far, though they have their spies just like everyone else. That's a given. But I shouldn't drag us down with such thoughts. We slayed dragons today! Everything seems slightly less terrible in light of that."

[make_my_mark]

It was a hard sort of thing to just laugh off, but Lara knew she was right. There was no use in fretting over something that could, but hadn't, happened.

With a shake of her head, chasing off the darker thoughts, she raised her glass (simple water), "We slayed dragons, and didn't get slayed in the process."

A very good day.