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

[wontforgetyou]

"No, they're not."

Those barriers had helped immensely, and the fact they'd lasted longer than they'd used to had gone a long way towards keeping him alive too, as far as he was concerned. He was grateful for that - and maybe ever so slightly impressed, given he'd seen Vivienne training before. However, it was what she said after that that well and truly got his attention.

"A coat? Hey, I'd not even thought about that. That'd be something, wouldn't it?"

He could even almost picture it - and for a few seconds he let himself get lost in imagining that before managing to shake himself back out of the thought and turning his attention back toward Korrin instead.

"Think the others would object if I claimed some of the hide to do that?"

[gatheringstorm]

"If they do, they'll have to get through me. But nah, I doubt it. There's more than enough dragon hide to go around for everyone." Korrin gestures to her own armor proudly. "That's what I did when I killed my first dragon, turned its hide into something I could wear into battle. This stuff is rare enough that people will know you didn't just buy it at a shop somewhere. For that reason alone, it'll turn heads."

[wontforgetyou]

"Aye, well...can't say as I'd mind a few heads turning for something other than this."

He holds up his hand with the mark on it for a second or two before reaching to snag a tankard from a passing tray and use that as a cover of sorts. Still, he's not upset, just more or less stating the obvious there. A moment or two later, though, he winds up grinning at her, a distinct look of amusement accompanying the expression.

"Maybe I'll even get a few lassies looking my way and not at all you tall and muscular sorts. Do you know how hard it is to compete with that?"

[gatheringstorm]

That gets an amused snort from Korrin, who manages not to spray her drink all over the table...barely. "Now you know how I feel when Taas is off flexing all shirtless nearby. Drawing attention away from that is nearly impossible, the ass." Said fondly because really, Taas is a great guy. But save some for the rest of us, dammit. "Don't worry, I'll keep my distance and make sure you get the spotlight as requested. After all you've done, you deserve a good time."

[wontforgetyou]

"Taas? He's the one who looks a bit like..." He lifts his hands, using them to very roughly sketch out what he remembers of what he's seen of the warrior. It's not very detailed, but it does give a general idea when it came to size and build, and hopefully that'll be enough, in this case. "I've seen him about, I think, but I've not had the chance to meet him yet."

There were a lot of people he hasn't really had the chance to meet and talk with, and that's something he needs to fix. For the moment, though, he's going to enjoy spending some time with his friend - even if that time is bound to come along with a bit of friendly teasing, which was exactly why that grin on his face is going nowhere for the moment.

"Although I would've thought that you'd not have to worry about any competition, though, not anymore. I've heard those rumours, you know."

[gatheringstorm]

As Jamie tries to recall Taas' appearance and build, Korrin nods. "Yeah, that's him. You should talk to him, he's a good guy who could use more friends. Just be sure to stand where he can read your lips, though. Since he's deaf, he won't respond if you shout at him when his back's turned."

She takes another sip, then flashes a grin at him for that last comment. "Oh? And what rumors are those?" As though she isn't aware, but she wants to hear just what Jamie's heard on his own.

[wontforgetyou]

Given that Jamie does occasionally have a habit of shouting at people's backs - or had with the Doctor, anyway - it's probably a good thing that Korrin thinks to mention that part of things. It saves him what might have been a bit of of a mess on his head, and he's grateful for that, nodding even as he stores the information in the back of his mind for later.

It still doesn't stop him from continuing to grin, however, and it stretches a bit wider as he leans in almost conspiratorially.

"Oh, aye, well, there's been a couple, mind, but they're saying you've got a wee bit of a thing going with Araceli. Is that true?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin throws back her head and laughs, that grin of his adding to her amusement. "That's one way of putting it, yes. Gorgeous, adventurous, charming, and the best cook in the south; how can I resist a woman like that? It's been that way since before leaving Emprise du Lion. She came with me on my return trip here largely for my sake, despite having more than her fill of mountains and cold already."

[wontforgetyou]

"Aye, I've talked to her a couple of times. Enough to know she's not so fond of the cold."

And if she's willing to face that for Korrin's sake, then that means quite a lot, as far as he's concerned. The grin softens a bit, turning into a more genuine sort of smile. Even though he's still getting used to the idea of how open relationships are here, it sounds to him that Korrin's fairly smitten - and although he realizes he could be wrong there, he likes to think he's not.

"You're a lucky woman, I'd say. And that's even with my not knowing about her being a cook. If she makes you happy, though..."

Then that's a good thing, and he's happy for her.

[gatheringstorm]

Aw, Jamie. Maybe it's just the heat from the nearby fire, but Korrin's cheeks are rather bright. "She does, more than I can say. And as for her cooking, you can always find out. Araceli always makes enough to feed a small army, and having a group dinner would always be fun. I hope you like spices and seafood, because her meals include plenty of both."

[wontforgetyou]

Maybe it's the fire...but maybe it's not, and for just a second his grin threatens to come back. Luckily he's very easily distracted by the idea of food - and even if he's more of a roast beef and potatoes sort of guy, the notion of seafood and spices sounds pretty good to him too, getting him to lower his tankard briefly.

"You think she'd be willing to do that? I've not been to anything like that since..." He trailed off, brow knitting somewhat in thought for a few seconds before his face cleared. "A couple of years, I think."

[gatheringstorm]

"A couple of years is far too long to wait for decent food, Jamie. Given your deprivation, I'm almost positive she would see it as a mission of mercy. And also a chance to show off, but when you're that good, why the hell not?" Modesty is something Korrin will never see the appeal in, not when one is skilled at what they do and they know it. All that hard work -or sheer talent- ought to be appreciated, after all.

[wontforgetyou]

"Hey, I've had decent food!"

The protest is automatic, coming out of his mouth without his thinking too much about what he's saying - at least for a second or two. It's when he's about to go on that he pauses and actually considers that part of things, and after a moment, he grimaces faintly and corrects himself.

"Well, sometimes, anyway. Some of it I'd rather not go through having again if I can help it. What I'd meant was that I've not had the chance to have one of those group dinner things. We'd mostly not stayed in one place long enough for that sort of thing to come up."

[gatheringstorm]

"Food isn't decent unless it has some northern spice to it. Hence my suffering in Ferelden and here. Southerners don't do it right anyway, even when they bother." Korrin's smile is teasing more than contemptuous. She has a stomach of iron and can handle whatever cuisine is thrown at her, but there's a decided preference and Southern fare isn't it.

"I've missed group dinners, real ones. Gathering around a campfire with rations is most definitely not the same. So don't worry, I'll make sure we treat you. It's only fair, after your heroic assistance earlier."

[wontforgetyou]

"Aye, well, you'll not get any argument from me there."

As used as he is to eating around a campfire, even he has to admit that it's nice to spend time with a group of people in a less rustic setting - so long as it doesn't get too fancy, that is. Fancy he's not quite as comfortable with.

"But...aye, that sounds good to me. Although I still don't know if I'd call what I did heroic, you know. The dragons needed to be taken care of so people could live their lives without being eaten. That's all there is to it."