faderift | that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

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that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

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.

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"So glad to have her approval." It's only a little bit sarcastic, since Kain is less wary of Vivienne these days than he was after that first meeting. He'd thought she was awfully stuffy and stuck-up, but she'd gone to the trouble of giving him that outfit with the blue and the dragon buttons. "But I can imagine that dragon scales are a mark of a true warrior, someone who's got the strength to battle a dragon... and win."

Ok, maybe he still has some of the plaidweave, hidden away with his things, to bring out only when... some reason comes for it. Maybe. You never know?

Ew, Kain. There's never any good reason for plaidweave.

Korrin nods in approval at mention of the dragon scales, raising her tankard. "That and dragon bone, which can be crafted into the best weapons and armor. Hell, we should go back for the skulls one day. Can you imagine having one of those as a chair? It'd be the most badass thing ever."

Sometimes there is, he swears it! Kain will be the one and only champion of plaidweave in all of Thedas.

"An entire room, decorated in dragon-based furniture..." Kain imagines the sight, loving it immediately of course. He wants to emulate them in all ways that he can, so why not? Perhaps one day he could find a smith able to craft armor similar to his normal kind, with the look of dragoon's, but out of the dragon scales and bones. Now that would be great, to Kain. "I'm glad this chance came up when it did... a means to prove myself to the Inquisition."

Help her dream come true, Kain. Skyhold's main hall deserves more than stuffy, boring Andrastian Chantry decor.

She nods after taking another swig, leaning back in her chair. "Me, too, for your sake. You must have heard about Sina's shard opening a rift in Skyhold. Any shardbearer is likely to face some backlash for that, out of fear that they could do the same. But they can't doubt your loyalty after you slay a fucking dragon."

Kain will gladly aid in that endeavor, more dragon decor is always a good idea.

He rolls his eyes at the mention of everyone getting trouble due to one other person's actions. He's personally ignored the shard as much as he can, not wanting to somehow return to that pain he'd felt from it when first arriving. "Right. Dragon slaying ought to be a big deal. The actions of one shouldn't stand for the whole, though... some of us just want a purpose to fight for... at least I do."

The main reason he's pledged loyalty to the Inquisition is exactly that. He could go around lurking in caves and slaying dragons at random, but even that may not work out so well. Being among an organization like this on the other hand, one dedicated to fighting this world's evil... that's something he can get behind. A worthy penance.

Lifting her tankard back to her lips, Korrin smirks. "As do I. Just because I've been a mercenary since first striking out on my own doesn't mean I don't understand the importance of a cause. Hell, I'm not even here due to a contract. I joined to avenge my fallen and stop the asshole trying to wreck everything. I live in this world, too, you know. It'd be a little inconvenient if he destroyed it."

"It's no use for anyone, if the world is destroyed." it may be different of course, being native to the world and seeing it under such a terrible threat. He knows what that's like all too well. "And for me... it's a means to redeem myself from the past. Not that anyone I've wronged is here to see it. But I truly believe that's why I ended up here."

If he's to carry on with a life of saving worlds and defeating darkness, so be it.

Korrin shrugs and takes a sip, not about to argue with that. "Hold onto that belief, then. If it's what keeps you going, then that's as good a motivation as anything else. What you've done matters less than what you can do now, at least in the Inquisition. And from what I've seen, you're more than capable of redeeming yourself in that way."

“Perhaps. I know it may be a long time before I’ve fully atoned, but I’ll continue along this path for as long as I can. It’s finally clear in my mind.” The Inquisition, much like being a Warrior of Cosmos, really does feel like the Right Thing To Do, to him. Conquering demons and so on seems to him a way to also defeat his own demons, in time. He sighs. “Now if only all of the other nonsense didn’t matter as much. It’s no use being suspicious of one another when the true enemy is all too clear.”

Kain has allies he can’t stand to be around too, ones who annoy him beyond reason. Yet whenever it came to it, he could set that aside to just focus on the battle at hand. He hopes they can do the same here in this world.

"Damn right. Sina didn't mean to open that rift and I can't see any reason why someone would try that deliberately, when all it would get us are more demons to fight. It's not like we're running out of those any time soon, you know."

Draining the rest of her tankard, Korrin sets it aside. "So did you find yourself having to adjust any of that dragoon training for that introduction to Thedas high dragons, or was it more of the same?"

"Nor could I imagine anyone being interested... unless they're deranged. Let's only hope these shards don't fall into the wrong hands." Someone who's on the side of demons, for instance. It could happen. There are people out there with such cravings for power, Kain has dealt with them.

He shakes his head, thinking as he sips some more down. "Not too different. Dragons are still dragons, no matter the world. There's a lot that's the same. This one was especially strong, though..."

"High dragons usually are; that's why they're such a threat, especially close to civilization. I hate to think about the further damage they'd have caused if we weren't here to stop them." Korrin shudders slightly at that, signals for a refill.

"Shards falling into the wrong hands is exactly what the Inquisition will be worried about, from now on. Any more people stepping out of rifts are likely going to be questioned more than you ever were."

“At least we finally battled them. I was almost tempted again to go out there on my own and face them… but I’m glad I waited for the group, this time.” He knows well that even the best of dragoons usually couldn’t take on a dragon alone. There’s just no way, you need strength in numbers.

He sighs. “I feel fortunate to have arrived when I did, then. Still, it’s wise to at least be certain that no one with destructive ambitions ends up with too much power. I just hope that they don’t overstep their caution and let it turn to suspicion and hostility toward all of us.” It’s one thing to take precautions, that’s well and good, but he doesn’t like the notion that rifters could be looked at with too much mistrust. Really, Kain would just as soon stop with the “rifters and natives” split. They all have a common enemy after all.

"If they do, I'll be loud and obnoxious in opposing them. I'm good at that. My girlfriend arrived only shortly before you did, and she's done nothing but cooperate with and help the Inquisition. If they say that's not enough...."

Well. That temper is already lurking in Korrin's eyes, and it wouldn't take much to unleash it if Araceli's freedom is threatened in any way.

Yeeeah they better not cause him any trouble.

"I care nothing for your world's political struggles. Mages, templars, the whole lot of it... Suspicion against our own does us little favors. All I care for is the fight against evil. I assume that's why I'm here." Perhaps no one directly brought him here like the gods had, but there could be some other reason, some other force that pulled him here. Who knows? He's not about to waste this new chance at life and redemption.

"And once Corypheus is dead? What then? Will you become a famous dragon-hunter? Or maybe a Grey Warden. Those guys don't care about politics either, only killing darkspawn. Just do yourself a favor and don't do it beforehand, since they don't have the best situation right now." To put it mildly. Korrin worries for her Grey Warden friends and their premature Callings, knowing how much of a strain that's put on them. It's better Kain wait on that, if he's even interested at all.

"Hunting dragons isn't bad. Though if I survive this time, who knows? I'm not entirely planning much for after that ultimate battle." He's not sure he wants to think about it, not sure he can think beyond this latest purpose he's thrown himself into. He shrugs, not exactly bothered by this fact. "I'll either go down fighting, or find a means to doing what I set out to do back home." Kind of impossible here, but he doesn't mind. He's sort of adapted a fatalistic attitude in the war... and it's stronger knowing that he's not home. It's not his world, so who knows where he'll end up this time if he leaves by dying?

"I'm aware that 'going down fighting' could easily happen for any of us, but let's not make that a first resort." Really, Kain. What is it with you and rushing toward death? Korrin's a mercenary and even she has more restraint...though he'd probably get along well with Asher. What a scary thought. "Fair enough, though. I suppose it's asking for our asses to get kicked if we start planning for what we haven't earned yet."

"It's an option, nonetheless." Really, he has no ties here. No connections. No reason to want to stay once the beast is slain and the demons are dealt with. He's all too certain that if he doesn't go out in a blaze of glory in the final battle, he'll just go on an extended camping trip and let the dragons do what they would. Yeah. He is an upsetting person sometimes. "And yes... we cannot afford to lose focus now on what must be done. What happens after that..." He ends the sentence with a shrug, gulping down the rest of his drink.

Korrin signals for more drinks, not planning on going anywhere. "'What must be done' is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I'd figured that even if we didn't find Corypheus' hideout, that he'd come looking for us once he realized we survived Haven. But not a peep...yet. It's enough to make me antsy, wondering what the hell is so much worse that he's taking his sweet time to get it all in place."

Edited 2016-03-10 14:41 (UTC)

"How comforting," his voice drips with sarcasm as he takes a long sip of the next drink. "In my experience, when an enemy goes quiet like that... that's the worst sign of all. I've never been fond of the sort that scheme like that." Give him one that does things more straightforward, coming out and attacking openly. The ones who plot can't ever be underestimated. "Do we know what sort of weaknesses he does have?" He's not sure he's ever gotten a specific answer to that yet, and if they're to strategize... they need to know that.

"Does a complete lack of subtlety count? He also relies on that red lyrium to give to his followers, but that's obvious. Other than that...." Korrin just shrugs, not having any solid information to give. But then, not many do. "The Grey Wardens had him contained forever. They might know something, but if so it hasn't spread past the advisors."

"Except this time, there's no stopping at containing. He must be destroyed, completely, or the threat to your world will never go away." Sigh. Well, this won't be easy, but then Kain has always wanted a challenge. Perhaps this is taking that notion a bit too far, though. "Hmmph. 'Your' world. There may come a time I need to stop thinking of it in that way."

Like the war, he may very well be here for the long haul, at least until his death. He wonders if the distinction of 'rifter' would even matter, after long enough.

"I hope so." Korrin smiles a little at that, glad to have Kain -and others- find their place in Thedas. "For now, though, let's focus on the victory we richly earned. Tomorrow's problems will still be there, but I won't spoil tonight by dwelling on them further. Besides, I need your help figuring out how to claim one of those dragons skulls. It'd look so badass in the main hall."

Kain smirks a little to that, loving the thought of having something as intimidating and amazing as a dragon skull in their midst. "Yes, we really should... I'd be all for helping you haul it in. Not to mention ensuring we all claim our share..." He definitely will be holding onto the claw he'd grabbed, some scales... "There should be plenty to go around, anyway."

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that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

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