It is foretold that, someday in the future, after being in hiding for centuries, the Dark Flight of Tiamat would take wing once more, uniting all of chromatic-kind, and crushing the dissenters underneath their feet. The Wyrmshadow Prophecy details this rise of dragons, and foretells that all of the Amian Islands will fall under the Shadow of Tiamat, forevermore forced to serve the Scalykin. For many years, and especially since the departure of Draklaw and Layla Emberblaze, this prophecy has long been forgotten. But now... due to happenstance, the beginnings of the Prophecy begin to be fulfilled. All thanks to one chance encounter over the skies of Brogendenstein.

The Shadow of Tiamat stretches forth. Who will rise to bring Light to the Shadow? Or shall the Island fall prey to the Wyrmshadow, and live under the eternal gaze of the watchful Many-Headed Queen...

~~~

This post will also serve a a "biography" post of sorts. As the plot goes on, and more dragons are revealed, I'll be posting about them here. History tidbits, appearance, perhaps personality quirks. Just things to help draw you further into the plotline.

Chromatics:

Sleet - Deceased: Sleet is a white dragon. She is the youngest member of the Dark Flight, and easily the most rash, and least thoughtful. She is the Daughter of Icingdeath, but beyond that, all titles, such as "Icequeen of the North" are simply products of overzealous pride and arrogance. Raised much like her father, she has no use for fawning slaves, but instead prefers cold coin and magical items and trinkets for her hoard. She at one time was rather beautiful, as far as white dragons go. Scales shining in the sunlight, all hiding an absolutely brutal female Dragon. Sadly (or not.) she would meet her death at the hands of Justice, the Silver Dragon.

Icingdeath - Deceased: Scourge of the Frozen Islands. Well earned was this title. Though Icingdeath, White Dragon, is oftentimes beating back adventurers from his den, he was not always seemingly on the short end of the stick for battle prowess. He is a very large specimen of a white, and possesses far more intelligence than one would typically attriute to his kind. He ius still little more than a beast in his battlelust though, and his scar covered body proves it. Claws chipped and broken from battle, the end of his tail missing. Nonetheless, he has held his lair against all comers, but has never needed to deal with an invasion such as this. He has answered Aurichon's call, and joined the Dark Flight of Tiamat. What skills he brings to the fore are much the same as his daughter: Brute strength and raw ferocity. But brute strength and ferocity will only take you so far. He was laid low and tossed into the ocean by the stout dwarves of Brogendenstein.

Aurichon - Deceased: "A battle-scarred, pitted black dragon gazes malevolently down in your direction. Deep, healed wounds cover his scaly flesh. An aura of palpable anger resonates from his flared nostrils and his muscular body. His arrogant demeanor is justified by his unusual size for a black dragon - his chest is robust and his visage is old. The left horn that juts from his head is broken off and missing, yet he seems to view it an accomplishment from some battle won previously." - Remarks from Draklaw Emberblaze, on Aurichon. Aurichon, powerful Black Dragon, is Lord Wyrmhold for the time being. His entire body appears as one large rippling powerful muscle. He has lived for ages, and seen nearly everything there is to see. He commands the Dark Flight, at the behest of Draklaw and Layla. Whith his Flight nearly assembled, his plans for attack nearly complete, the city of Kohlingen firmly in his sights... Each day is a new war council, and each day is another day closer to when he hopes to see all his work blossom to its full glory, and spread the Wyrmshadow across the land. But for all his work, he would die to a carefully laid trap by the Defenders in the Temple of the Triad.

Myrk - Deceased, and Destroyed: "Myrk exudes magical prowess from every pore of his muscular black body. In marked constrast to his comrade and superior, Aurichon, Myrk's body seems impeccably well kept. For a dragon, anyway. Hardly a scar mars his body, and his wings and scales are shiny, clean, and glossy in the sunlight. The pair of horns on each side of his head curl forward like lances, large, sharp, and glistening dimly in the light. Myrk's head is gaunt, sinister, almost skull-like in appearance. Trailing down the crown of his head, and down his back is a bronze colored frill, held up by solid jet-black protrusions, that end in a thick, muscular tail ending in a cruel barbed spike." - Reflections on Myrk, as noted by Layla Emberblaze. Myrk, the Black Dragon, is the sorceror, the arcanist of the Dark Flight. His prowess with the Weave exceeds that of any other dragon on the island, chromatic or metallic, and he knows how to use it. An exceedingly powerful Necromancer and Abjurer, he has subjugated the various lizardman trived under his control. Only Babylon the true Yuan-Ti dares stand up to him, and thus far, Myrk has been content to let them do their thing, as long as they stay out of his territory. Slayer of Justice, he has come into Imperator's sights, as he is the closest Flight member to Kohlingen. ... Myrk was slain at the hands of several adventurers set out at Imperator's behest. With Myrk's passing, the arcane power of the Flight dwindles, and Kohlingen's borders become secure. His "passing", anyways. It was later revealed that he was a Dracolich, though despite this amazing power, he was destroyed when Infernus was. Ironically enough, his phylactery was the Throne of Wyrmhold itself, an object destroyed when Infernus crashed into it, shattering it to pieces.

Forestgloom - Deceased: "Forestgloom is an older, female Green dragon. Her emerald shaded body is pockmarked head to toe with scars, large, small, crooked and straight, showing her many battle victories. Her neck is nearly swanlike in appearance, graceful, and lined with powerful muscles. Her body ends with a trailing, powerful tail, almost twice the length of average, and her head is adorned with a sparkling crest that crowns her head, running down over her back like the frill of a fine tunic. Her pointed incisors show past her skin, lips twisted in a cruel smirk, and her claws tap patiently, as if every moment is waiting for the perfect chance to strike." - Excerpt from Drak'law's journal, in which the Flight was described in detail. Forestgloom is, as Drak's journal notes, exceptionally old, and exceptionally powerful. She is often referred to as "The Huntress", and she sees her territory as anywhere in the Amia Forest. She has an especial hatred for Elves, and her battle tactics for fighting a fellow Dragon tooth to claw are second to none. There are even rumors abounding that say she may be cannibalistic in nature... She loathes Rockhopper, and would love nothing more than to tear him limb from limb. But that chance would be denied to her, as she was lured out (slaying an adult Silver nearly instantly in the process) and tied up in the She'Kat valley while Rockhopper was quietly escorted into Kohlingen. Once her victory over Shadowflame was complete, after a slight sidetrip to look into Rockhopper's whereabouts, Forestgloom has deserted the Forest of Despair and gone back to Wyrmhold. She was slain by the Grove at the final assault on Wyrmhold, and shoved off a cliff, whereupon she broke her neck. No longer will she terrorize the Grove and he Shrine with her malice.

Infernus - Deceased: "Towering far over her brothers and sisters, Infernus is the quintessential Mother of the Dark Flight. Her body is covered in large scars, most of them grown over by now with brilliant ruby red scales. Sparkling white teeth glimmer in her jaws, openly displayed in a haughty arrogant expression of superiority. She exudes confidence and power in spades. Large midnight black spikes protrude from her head and curl backwards, and more such spikes follow the line of her neck and back, down to her tail. When she invokes Tiamat's name to cast Her spells, the Dark Lady's ghostly image can be seen surrounding her mighty Chosen as she rains destruction down upon her enemies." - From Aurichon's private thoughts on his kin, as told to Drak'law Emberblaze. Infernus is a mighty Red, and a powerful Cleric. If it were not for the direct orders of Drak'law, she would likely lead the Flight herself, as her prowess exceeds that of even Aurichon's. She now lairs in Wyrmhold, presiding over the Flight in her matronly manne, Chosen powers ready to be exerted in the skies over Kohl, and the city itself. Woe to be her foes, for the Chosen of the Queen flies to burn, and Kohlingen is in her sights. At the final battle at Wyrmhold, in a bloody rage, she was brought low and slain by the forces of Good. With her passing the final link to wyrmhold was severed, and the Castle was destroyed, crushing her body and sending it to the Beyond.

Stormwhisper - Deceased: "One of the most notable thing about this dragon, oddly enough, are his solid white eyes, that crackle with electricity. Bright white fangs poke out from under his lips, his maw twisted in a vain and arrogant smirk. Radiant sapphire blue scales twinkle like stars in a far off sky, and the smell of wet ozone penetrates the air wherever he goes. Tiny blue spines spiral out all over his body. His bihorn is tremendous, and appears much like a large chiseled piece of sandstone resting atop his forehead. Squat and more robust, in comparison with his siblings, his neck and tail are shorter, but immensely powerful." - Layla Emberblaze's personal journal excerpts, extoling the virtues of Stormwhisper. Storm is an eons old Blue Dragon that has long since laired in the Ank'remun Desert. Stormwhisper is a powerful enforcer of Tiamat, and his strikes carry divine power behind them. It is said that when he brings his full power to bear, that one can see the illusion of Tiamat herself directing his claws and teeth to his prey. Since his triumphant victory over the Blue Dragon, Baulg, he has since left the Ankh'remun Desert and made his way to Wyrmhold, leaving the Ankh' Desert calmer than it's been in years. But for all his military genius, he was killed at the final assault on Wyrmhold alongside his sister Forestgloom. One might say that it was a mercy killing. Stormwhisper was quickly approaching his Twilight, and in his death, was given a far more honorable way to go than by simply fading away.

Deepeningdoom - Deceased: "Deepeningdoom, or, as he's known among his Flight kin, Meplipenixisti, is a lean, sinewy Shadow Dragon. His body is built for weaving around through tunnels and corridors, and he displays an impressive amount of agility for a beast of his size, snaking through tunnels, traversing land, and soaring through the skies with impressive speed. The dark, almost oily surface of his scales remains unmarred, a sign that he doesn't often get into brawls... Or perhaps a sign that he finishes his opponents off before they have a chance to react. Green luminescient eyes, and a dual layer of slick, oily spines travelling down his neck and back add to his overall look of immense power. Obsidian-black teeth and claws look well kept, and ready to shred anyone in his way." - A much-paraphrased passage, related by Morningdew, one of the few to escape his grasp. Aurichon's spy. Subtle. Sly. A decisively cold hearted killer. Little else is known. Few ever escape to relay the knowledge they obtain. What little is known is that he is a master of disguise, an expert at mimicry. Adept with shadow-power, both below the surface and above, he often uses it both to attack, and to escape in a flash. A massive, sinewy Shadow Dragon, he nearly succeeding in killing Morningdew in the Nexus Hills with his hired mercenaries, he is easily one of the most intelligent members of the Flight. Deepeningdoom has made his presence known to several key players among the island, but few know what he's actually up to. In the battle of Kohlingen, pressed in upon by Morningdew, Cordor, and the Black Flag, he was unable to enact his escape plans. Held down in a titanic struggle, he was slain by Cordor.

Metallics:

Justice - Deceased: If ever a virtuous dragon existed, Justice, the Silver Dragon, was it. Named for the virtue itself, Justice is one of Bahamut's Draconic Paladins. Previously lairing in a hidden on the north side of Brogendenstein, he is helpful, eternally calm, and always friendly, to those who would share his views. To evil creatures, he is the stuff of nightmares, his immense silver body, and silver-crowned frill, along with large beating wings, signalling death to those who would dare harm the innocent in his presence. His body and scales are relatively unmarred, and only the scars from his battle with Sleet are visible on his visage. He gives off an entrancing aura, one that says "I will help you. No matter the cost." A lengthy tail and graceful neck finish off his portrait of glory. His last great action was slaying Sleet, the white dragon. His final resting place is just north of Uhm. Slain by the sorcerous dragon Myrk, he will grace the skies no longer.

Imperator - Deceased: Long hidden, even from his friends, Imperator has almost always assumed the disguise of a soldier in the Justicar's Everguard. Recently exposed, the Platinum Dragon has gone to the fore in leading the attack against the flight itself, leaving the defense of Kohlingen to the Justicar and the Defenders. He is incredibly old, but his body is... nearly flawless. Marred only by time, and not battle, his scales shimmer in the sun, and it's easy to see how he earned the title of Platinum. Easily distinguished, even from a silver dragon, Imperator stands well over even the tallest metallic dragon on the island, with a long graceful neck, and a smooth snaking tail. Lithe, sinewy, powerful muscles ripple along his body, and his claws are silver-tipped in color. If a smile was possible along those powerful jaws, you'd swear he was wearing one constantly. At the final battle of Wyrmhold, Imperator was slain by Infernus, but granted a second chance at life by Bahamut himself, who allowed the mighty Platinum to return as a Draconic Spirit Guardian, so that he might forever watch over Kohlingen.

Rockhopper: Rockhopper is a Copper dragon. A tremendous lover of stories and practical jokes, he is the least powerful of the Metallic flight. His copper scaled body glints in the sunlight, and he always seems to be perpetually laughing at something or other. Jovial, good natured, and all around a "decent guy", he is also fascinated with Elves and their culture, and spends much of his time polymorphed into one. Sadly, his less than stellar battle prowess nearly spelled his death in the last great wyrmclash. The Green and Red dragons of the Flight paired up, and very nearly killed him. He was forced to dive into the She-Kat Valley and go into hiding in the Oakmist Vale. His current location is the keep in Kohlingen, where he spends his days chatting away and telling stories with anyone who will listen, either in Elf form or Dragon form. He has since returned to the Grove since the final battles at Kohlingen and Wyrmhold.

Morningdew: Morningdew is a Brass dragon. Talkative, energetic, lover of people all around. She is an incredible information gatherer, and serves as spy and scout for the Wings of Bahamut. Retrieved from her place in Cordor, she now resides in Kohlingen, nursing her wounds after a powerful display by Deepeningdoom nearly rent her limb from limb. In her dragon form, her brassy body almost glows in the sunlight, the plates on her head reflecting the light back ino the sky. Her body now contans several deep scars, and her tail slinks along to the side, the tip cut off thanks to a lasting injury in the last Wyrm-War. She is a singer, a bard among bards,a truly gifted vocalist of the dragons. However, she's also chattery, stubborn to a fault, and a little arrogant when she feels she's been slighted in a situation. You likely don't want to be on her bad side, because dragons live a looong time, and she is most definately a grudge holder. Good friends with Rockhopper, she often spends her time with him chatting the day away. She has since returned to Cordor since the final battles at Kohlingen and Wyrmhold.

Arcanos - Deceased: The mysterious Gold dragon of the Flight. Wise and ancient beyond any member of the Wings but Bahamut himself, he has long been in hiding beyond the eyes of any dragon on the island. Little is known about him, and it is said only Morningdew may have clues as to his whereabouts. Though those whereabouts will now only lead to a resting place. Slain by Deepeningdoom, Arcanos the Gold will never rejoin his brethren.

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

((In the interest of saving me typing, I'm going to copy paste here the shouts I used in game. After that, you get more written material of course, but C/Ping those saves me time.))

She was the Heir to the Icethrone of Brogendenstein, and nothing could stop her from claiming it. Her father was Icingdeath, Scourge of the North, and she had been raised in his image, a cruel predator. Today, however, the predator would be prey. Justice, the mighty Silver dragon, would launch himself out of his conceal Brogendensteinan lair with one purpose: To slay Sleet, heir to the Chromatic throne of Brogendenstein, and youngest of the Dark Flight.

*Out over the Eastern coasts of Brogendenstein, a loud draconic roar emanates forth that can be heard from anywhere on the island, provided the listener is not deep underground. Anyone that looks towards the origin of the sound easily finds it: In the skies off the coast of the island, what appears to be a white dragon is diving in to attack the dragon beneath her, a glorious glittering silver dragon*

*The Silver Dragon is quite a bit larger than the white, though the White appears quicker in the skies. The two of them are locked in winged combat, diving and ascending at each other, claws slashing, tails swinging, and jaws lashing out with incredibly sharp teeth. Even from a distance, it's easy to see that the fight would not end until one of them was dead*

*The Silver occasionally launches an array of silvery bolts at the white dragon, and they arc through the air, slamming into the White's body, as it lets out a crescendo of pained howls and roars. The White frequently follows up with a spirited charge directly at the silver, and one time manages to land a solid headbutt into the chest of the Silver, sending them both careening towards the sea*

*The pair, now appearing to be a solid ball of draconic fury, tangle with each other recklessly as they plummet, before disengaging mere feet above the water, a radius of waves kicking up as they beat their wings and ascend back into the air, now over the island itself. They waste no time, as they launch themselves back at each other again, a set of deafening roars coming from the both of them*

*They connect solidly, a crack sounding nearly like a sonic boom from the two of them speeding and colliding with each other savagely. The White manages to get her jaws around the neck of the Silver, but a powerful smash from his tail sends the White careening off into the air, as she struggles to regain her balance before the Silver can smash into her*

*However, the White is unable to regain her bearings in time, and the silver's jaws latch onto the White's back, and both front legs rend through a wing simultaneously. The Silver's powerful back legs claw across the White's belly as he curls under her to score a solid blow. The White reaches her head back to snap at the Silver, but to no avail. She simply can't reach him from where he is*

*The White gives out a final bellow as the Silver's jaw clamps onto her spine and bites. Hard. Giving a final slash with his front claws, the Silver shoves the White towards the ground, and she begins plummeting through the air as the Silver watches calmly, hovering, wings beating up and down as it sits on its lofty perch high in the skies, looking quite winded and injured himself*

*She sails downwards through the sky, giving a roar as she struggles to right herself, but her heavily injured wings beat futilely, and her body is covered in savage, blood pouring wounds. She crashes into the ground just north of Brogendenstein, and everything goes quiet, except for grunts and shuffles north of town in the hills, where the slowly moving body of a White can be seen...*

*Soaring above, the Silver Dragon continues to hang above the scene, watching and waiting, circling Brogendenstein in his arcs. Observing the situation below him with an eagle's eye, he appears to be waiting for the White to take flight once more, or for her to die in the icy cold hills of the island*

~~~

Sleet slammed into the ground hard, tossing up powder snow, and staining the snow red with her blood. She was bleeding badly... And great. The last thing the Heir needed. She had suffered that bastard Justice's attacks long enough, and now adventurers from Brog showed up?

"Just stay still. What's your name?" Those were the first words she heard, spoken by a name who would later call himself "Trent Blake". She was no fool human. She demanded his name first. While they bickered, a larger crowd gathered. Two distinct crowds... One crowd cheering the chromatic on. She dismissed them as foolish mortal worshippers of a power they did not understand. She did not need idolation, she already knew she was superior. She didn't need it reaffirmed by prey. The other crowd was far quieter, and focused directly on her. Demanding. Noting that she was a White. She knew this, why did it need to be said? She roared out, in an attempt to make them flee.... sh was wounded. Justice would surely move infor the killing blow. Sleet, Queen of the North, gazed up at the sky, and saw Justice's glittering form hovering over the island, as if he was expecting something... that... metallic... bastard. She... she was the predator. Not the prey. Never the prey.

In her pride and arrogance, she would leap out at Trent, even in her wounded state. Dripping blood everywhere, she lashed out with claws and teeth, scoring a few solid blows. She barely had time to look over before she realized a pir of Elven sorcerors had simultaneously launched a barrage of flaming magical arrows. They seared into her flesh, and the shock of the magic, combined with the wounds she had already suffered, sent her forever off this plane... her final breaths cursing all of metallic-kind, and especially Justice... "I was... Queen... It was mine... Justice... May... Tiamat visit... your soul..." The Queen's reign was over before it started. Her body let off a spacial chill that would soon engulf the area in a temporary blizzard. Kald Blake and Gurth Balmor quickly lit the dragon's corpse aflame, and soon, all that was left was bones.

Almost immediately, groups of adventurers began salvaging the body. Stealing eyes. Teeth. Scales. A creepy little midget began *eating* a hind leg. Amidst all of this, Justice decided it was time to address those who had aided him. Landing on top of the cliff above them, Justice, the great Silver Wyrm, addressed the crowd. "The deed is done... if not by my hands, then by your own. I thank you... this one, irregardless of creed, I thank you for your aid." Justice cast his gaze over the darkly clad group of people, who scoffed at him. Then down at the Elven sorcerors, and the Paladins who urged him to let his tail down, that they might heal him. He, of course, smiled, and let down his tail, and felt the power of their deity course through his wounds, sealing them slightly. But he could not delay. He had messages to give, and if he delayed much longer, surely Icingdeath would discover what had transpired. Leaping off the cliff, he took to the air, and soared off, blinknig out of sight.

~~~~

The Paladins, who would later call themselves Trent, Elvithiir, and Narathiir, along with an oddly clad man later identified as the Horseman of Conquest, took it upon themselves to deliver the news of Sleet's death to her father personally. Icingdeath was, naturally, enraged... Not at the fac tthat his daughter died. He could care less. If not predator, then she would be prey. But no. A Silver had encroached on his territory! How... offensive... to his very nature, it was. He would have vengeance, but not before he struck out at Shan. The impudent whelp. Who was he to bow to him? Lord Icingdeath does not want mortal worshippers. They didn't even offer gold! Trinkets! Nothing. For his weakness, Icingdeath struck. But as Sleet, Icingdeath cursed those Elven sorcerors, lobbers of fire, and he was forced to leap down a chasm and hide deeper within his lair.

~~~~

On top of being delivered to Icingdeath... the Horseman of Conquest soon delivered the news of Sleet's death to... Lord Aurichon, master of Wyrmhold. The Common language has no word powerful enough for the rage that consumed Aurichon when he learned that one of his Flight was slain, and not just by Justice, but by the aid of Kohlingen men! And then her body pillaged like a cheap whore. Burnt to a crisp. This was insufferable. He knew the truth, of course. Kohlingen was conspiring again... Imperator was alive! That was the only way it could happen. Imperator was alive, and calling the shots from Kohlingen. Aurichon snapped out at the many visitors to Wyrmhold, ll drawn by his ecstatic rage, and Sleet's death. A few offered alliances. Aurichon turned them down. Tiamat needs no one. The Children of Tiamat are as unto a god! Aurichon would reunite the Dark Flight. He made plans to replace Sleet. He knew the perfect replacement... Meanwhile, slowly... he would gather the rest of the Dark Flight. Imperator, Justice, and all the rest of them... would pay dearly for this. All of Amia would pay for the sins commited against Tiamat and her unholy children.

And together, they would spread the Wyrmshadow across the land.

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

It was time. Justice could delay no more, and he set out, off to Kohlingen for his scheduled meeting with Imperator. He needed to deliver the news of the past days happenings personally, and formulate a plan.

~~~~~

*From across the northwestern seas, a dark speck slowly comes into focus as it approaches the island: It is the Silver Dragon, Justice, now known to some Amians by his name. He appears to be approaching Kohlingen, for one reason or another. Flying across the seas majestically, his wings moving up and down, he is truly a sight to behold, a mighty metallic flying peacefully in the skies*

*But the gods, or specifically one goddess, had other plans. A great murky splash of water bubbles up from a hidden half underwater cavern in the Quagmires. Lizardmen rush to get away as a horned Black Dragon shoots into the sky with amazing speed. The Black Dragon gets above the treetops, and hovers patiently, waiting for Justice to approach, and approach he does*

*The Black is far different than Sleet, however. Before Justice can get *anywhere* near the Black, a fireball lobs into the sky, and connects solidly with Justice's chest. A mighty roar of pain comes from the valorous beast, and the Black Dragon continues his assault, pouring fireballs, flame arrows, and acid spheres into Justice's hide. The Silver is helpless at a distance in the face of the magic*

*Justice, diving down, finally gets close enough to close in on the Black and bring his claws to bear, but by this time, the volleys of magic have taken an incredible toll on Justice. The Black swoops out of the way of the wounded Justice's dive, snapping his barbed tail backwards to score a clean cut across the Silver's back. He then casts a single large flaming arrow, searing the fresh wound*

*Determined not to let his life go out in vain, Justice struggles to regain his bearings, and pulls himself back into the air, beating his wings laboriously, breathing heaving, blood dripping from various wounds and acid burns across his body. He launches himself at the Black, and manages to score a direct slash across the somewhat surprised Black's chest, and readies himself for another assault*

*As Justice swings around for another attack, viewers of this combat see the Black dragon suddenly... disappear. Justice is equally as alarmed, and begins soaring around, looking for his target. He quickly finds out where his ambusher went to, as the Black emerged from Sanctuary, a tremendous orb of energy suspended over his head. For a moment, everything falls silent*

*The Black Dragon's voice echoes through the sky, as he yells a Draconic Word of Power. The orb begins descending rapidly, and no matter how Justice dodges, it ends up slamming into him. A cataclysmic explosion rocks the skies, and when the dust clears, the Black is nowhere to be seen, and the body of Justice is hurtling towards the hills just north of Uhm at incredible speeds*

*Dust kicks up as the body connects with the ground, rolling and tumbling before slamming into a cliff, and coming to a rest. The Silver is beaten, torn, and badly bruised... and just barely breathing. The Black is nowhere to be found...*

~~~~~

Justice groaned as the dust settled. He looks up slightly, but could see nothing. The first thing he saw after he truly opened his eyes, were those two Elven Paladins again, and a lady Elven ranger... what were their names? He couldn't remember... all he knew at the moment was pain. He felt helping hands touch his forehead, but it didn't do anything for him. He knew it was his time, and he has accepted his fate. He tried to pass on his message to the slowly gathering crowd... he recognized one... one who had stood with the deathsmelling ones. And the one next to him, with a Greataxe. An odd looking woman with an axe... a Druidess next to her.

He tried to pass on the message that wa sso urgent to deliver, but all be could gasp out was "Kohlingen". This was not due to his injuries... but due to the fact that high above, Myrk, the Black Dragon, had decided it was time to stop playing with his prey. He fired a Draconic powered Greater Ruin,, destroying his Sanctuary disguise, and thrashing Justice's already torn body. Instantly, the flesh was disintegated from his body, leaving only bones, deeply lodged into the ground. Bones that began to glow a swirl of silver and red.... This odd ward prevented any desecration of the body, and prevented his return to the Prime... or perhaps the long-lived Paladin was finally glad to meet his deity, after centuries of faihful service to the Wyrmking.

Of course, the crowd gathered was equally as surprised as Justice, and before anyone could retaliate, the sorcerorous, treacherous Myrk had dived back into the quagmires, and vanished, the way all his kin excelled at doing. Gasps of surprise. Cries of grief. Even a few murmured approvals. All these arose at the sudden death of the glorious Silver Dragon. After a tussle over the body itself, the crowd dispersed, returning to their homes, or in the case of the Paladins and the lady ranger, and the axewielding woman and the druidess, to Kohlingen, to look for Imperator.

Those who met with the Justicar would find him. Imperator, the great Platinum Dragon, in human form... standing next to the Justicar all along, as one of his Everguard. amidst hurried bows, Imperator slowly called for order, and explained to them the situation, after hearing what the group had to say.

The first action would be to locate Myrk's lair, and take down the member of the Flight closest to the city itself, and also one of the most dangerous members of the Flight. Myrk was a powerful sorceror, and it would take a unique plan to defeat him. The people were to gather more fo r the cause, while Imperatore began searching out Myrk's hidden lair.

"The island is in a period of immense transition..." Imperator's words would be a forboding reminder of the days, weeks to come.

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

The time to return the blow that Myrk had struck was at hand. Gathering the few Paladins still left that would come to Kohlingen's aid, as well as a few independants from the Grove, Imperator relayed to them the information he knew about Myrk, and his hideaway. It was a semi-underwater area on the south end of the Quagmire swamps, very well hidden, and almost invisible to the untrained eye, but he had managed to discretely mark the entrance via his scrying magics, and Kohlingen's scouts. As well, lately it had become a slightly more obvious entrance due to the existance of Myrk's specialized Darkscale Savants guarding the entrance, as opposed to the typical gaggle of lizardmen.

However, beyond that, there was simply nothing Imperator could do. Th company would need to break into the Arcanic Dragon's lair and best the beast on their own. The early going proved to be simple. The Lizardmen caved to the group's assault easily. The Elven sorcerors. A pair of Grove archers. A Salandran Cleric. And one of the Defenders who hadn't left Kohlingen. Also alongside them was a bardess, and an energetic Hin, along with the enigmatic she-construct, Mynna.

Deep within his cave, Myrk was alerted to the coming of Kohlingen's counterattack. He had expected it for ages now, and his lair was trapped and defended like never before. He cast a multitude of enchantments on himsefl, called forth Sanctuary... and waited, slipping behind the makeshift shacks that held his hoard. Waiting for the adventurers to foolishly charge in. Myrk licked his lips, a bit of acidic slime dripping from his teeth.

Fending off attack, after trap, after attack, the adventurers slowly made their way deeper into the dragon's lair, fighting off the Darkscale Savants sworn to defend their draconic master. Myrk listened as the sounds of battle echoed throughout his cavern, drawing steadily closer to his lairing chamber. And soon enough, they set off his personal tripwire: A wall of green light that, when passed by anyone but a Darkscale, immediately alerted him to the presence of intruders, no matter where he was in his lair. Myrk slinked around (as much as a Dragon can slink, indeed, a very old and very large black dragon), and prepared to demonstrate to the adventurers the methods in which he had so simply removed Justice from the face of the Prime Material.

They never saw it coming. Gathered in the room, looking around, the world stopped for a moment. After a few seconds, it was as if reality itself shattered, an ear piercing draconic roar echoing through the room, rending eardrums... indeed, from the sheer force of the spell's power, all but three dropped dead on the spot. The Elven Sorcerors, and Kald Blake of the Defenders, all three of whom shrugged it off with divine blessing. Myrk had meanwhile gone back into Sanctuary, and prepared to launch his assault proper.

For at least an hour, the battle raged. Much of it was Myrk darting in and out of Sanctuary, spellcasting, and rending with tooth and claw anyone that got too near. Occasionally, he would leap *over* someone, to get at one of those pesky Elves, who had a penchant for counter-magic. A few claw swipes later, and they would abandon their post, and Myrk would Sanctuary. But the delay in Myrk's spread-magic assaults allowed the clerics to take a much needed few seconds to deliver healing to their allies. Myrk was slowly finding himself getting penned in on all sides. In desperation, he coated the ground around him in acidic vapor, and cast his most powerful defensive spell: Tiamat's Ward. Their blows became like gnats launching themselves at a steel wall, but for Myrk, it was only a delay of the inevitable. They had pinned him down in a corner, with both elves in Counter-stance, preventing his escape. As Myrk began to get desparate, he flung curses in every language he knew, lashing out with his spiked tail, his bloodied claws, his hungry maw. In desperation, he began firing scores of energy missiles, but even that would not save him.

It would be the Elven Arcane Archer, Ailahra, that delivered the killing blow. As Myrk opened his maw to breath a gout of acid at the invader, Ailahra let fly an arrow, her inborn sight guiding it directly through Myrk's throat. Instead of acid, all Myrk coughed was blood, covering the warriors below him. Stumbling forward, still lashing out wildly, though mostly ineffectually, the mighty Sorcerous Black hit the ground hard, the front half of his right horn cracking off at the impact. With his last breaths, he cursed the existence of Bahamut and those who would help him, and as his eyes glazed over in death, and his flailing tail went limp, his final look was one of fury, and contempt, even as his soul departed Faerun.

As Myrk's soul left, a deep shroud began to set over his lair, and at the same time, the arcane locks over the makeshift vaults loosened. Door flew open, now unrestrained, and Myrk's hoard began pouring out. Gold coins, everywhere, along with trinkets of substantial value. It was quickly divided, and those who were left, departed either for home or for Kohlingen, to deliver the news of Myrk's death, along with his broken horn as proof.

Imperator graciously accepted the gift, and extended his congratulations to all of the brave men and women, who had risked their lives to remove one of the greatest threats that the Flight could bring to bear against Kohlingen. The Horn was to be put him the Relic Vault, and kept safe. From there, Imperator explained to those gathered, that from hereonin, they had a pair of choices on where to go next: Either gather the Metallic Dragons scattered around Amia, and gone deep into hiding, or attempt to seek out more of the Chromatic Flight itself. They also were deep in hiding, away from prying eyes.

~~~~~

Deep within Wyrmhold, Aurichon's rage boiled over, as he slew at least a dozen servants, whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And when there's an angry black dragon in the castle you live at, everywhere is the wrong place to be, and there's never a "right" time to be anywhere.

He would need to hurry... Those whores, the metallics. They had slain his only remaining kin. True kin. For Myrk was born of the same clutch as he, and they were probably the closest bonded in all of the Flight. Not only had they slain the Flight's most promising young member in Sleet, but they slew his brother, Myrk. Aurichon knew now, that they would require the aid of ALL chromatic-kind on the island chain, and not just the Flight, if they were going to have any hope of succeeding. Aurichon's quiet servants went out through the night, across the island, and began seeking out his old wingmates.... warning them of what was to come. And who might be coming. Missives were also sent to a certain... White Dragon. One who was all too pleased to join the fight against Imperator, for the slights upon his territory. Others would need... convincing. The Green. The Blue. The other blue... Windreaper... was useless. Stuck in the Abyss, cursed for all eternity, there was notihng he could do to help or hinder, and so Aurichon let him be. He had long since been driven insane by the Abyss, anyway.

They would hunt down the metallics before Imperator could gather them, and then they would descend upon Amia like a hurricane ravaging a small village. There would be nothing left but ash... And the storm would begin with Kohlingen.

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

"My liege, we must take you to Kohlingen. We will never have a better chance than what we have right now."

This is what Kald Blake explained to Rockhopper, a few days after he had been discovered, and his cover foiled, by the now familiar Elven Sorcerors, and their female ranger friend, Ailahra. Once outed, he explained his tale, and jsut why he was so loathe to leave the safety of the Grove. If he even thought about stepping outside for just a moment, Forestgloom or Infernus would surely find him and rend him into pieces. He was simply no match for her, not without his friends at his side.

But today, he had friends in no short measure. A line of Defenders has arrived from Kohlingen, along with some of the Grove's finest rangers, a druidess, and the Arch Druidess herself, Alitha. The plan was laid out... the Defenders, except Kald, and the rangers, except Alitha, would all draw Forestgloom out into the Shekat Valley, and either kill or, or at the least, tie her up so she couldn't harm Rockhopper while Kald and Alitha assured his quiet escape. Meanwhile, Alitha and Kald would silently lead Rockhopper, in his Elven form, along the opposite side of the she-Kat Valley, go underneath Minmir Bridge, and secure his entrance into Kohlingen and the Keep.

The two groups st out, just after one another. Rockhopper delayed the second group's leaving with his anxiety and nervousness, and required calming down before Alitha and Kald could begin leading him off.... In the Western half of the area, Trent Blake had sent his Silver Dragon to soar voer the woods in an attempt to draw out Forestgloom. It didn't take very long at all, and soon enough, the adventurers saw Forestgloom shoot out of the canopy, and rip her jaws and claws into the soft belly of the (quite tiny by comparison) Silver dragon, sending gouts of blood everywhere, before the eons old female flung the silver to the ground in disdain, listening to it crash through the trees and thump against the ground. Dead. She gazed down at the small army gathered before her in the Valley... and dived down to meet them, opening her mouth in a mighty roar, dazing a few of the tiny mortals gathered beneath her majestic beauty. She slammed into the ground, and wasted no time in rending the Prismatic Dragon she had landed next to, while fighting off the Silver at the same time with her tail. She quickly proved that the title Huntress was well earned, as the other two dragons were quickly flung to the ground at her feet, despite the abilities of the magics that had been cast on them.

After this, it came down to the warriors themselves. The Defenders yelled battle prayers to their dieties, calling forth their power in time of greatest need. Trent Blake fought back tears, as he unleashed blast after blast of magical fury into Forestgloom's hide, determined to make her pay for what she'd done to his friend. The rangers danced along the feet of the enormous emerald beast, twirling their blades in time with her strikes, as it it were a great dance of life and death.... And the lone silver haired sorceror standing at the back of it all, facing this fight as if it were just another day in his life.

The more they fought, the closer Forestgloom got to the western edge of the She'Kat valley. Eventually, the great Green let out a roar of anger, and dived behind the rocks and down a nearby chasm, disappearing into the darkness of the forest at midnight. The group quickly clambered after her, both to search for her, and to find Trent's Silver dragon companion.

This whole time, Kald, Rockhopper, and Alitha had been walking along the East side of the shekat Valley, listening, and in in some cases watching, the battle at hand. Forestgloom was driven away just as they left the valley behind, and came upon Minmir Bridge. Heavy ogre patrols, like always, forced them to take an underground route, where they snuck past the pairs of ogre guards, Rockhopper making faces at them the entire time, and emerged victorious on the other side of the river.

It wouldn't be too much longer before they would be at the Gates of Kohlingen proper, and Rockhopper would bound through town in Elven form, and bounce up the Keep's steps, Kald and Alitha lingering behind. Once in the Justicar's room, the two dragon, both in humaoid form, looked at each other incredulously, and hugged like two reunited brothers. They immediately began discussing what to do next, and while the Justicar thanked Kald and Alitha, asking them to tell the others to come to him as well for their own congratulations, Imperator began to help Rockhopper settle in to his new room in the Kohlingen Keep.

And so part of Bahamut's Wings were reunited at last. Two metallics still hide, and the wrath of Wyrmhold grows ever stronger. Every day it seems, the parapets rise a little higher, the walls get a little bit thicker, and Aurichon becomes just that much more irritable. At least his messages had gotten through. Too bad they weren't to his liking... The white... Icingdeath, had quickly agreed to join the Flight in Sleet's stead. Ta'lishima, young green, and the proprietor of sorts of the lower Skull Crags mountains, refused to deal with Aurichon, ans sent back a sickeningly honeysweet letter back, prostrating her self and apologizing for her... direct refusal of orders. Aurichon would see her change her mind soon enough. He asked Infernus to deal with her personall. Baulg had sent back much the same. He stated quite simply that he refused to share the island, or any glory, with Stormwhisper, and the conditions of his joining, were Stormwhisper's death. Aurichon told Stormwhisper to deal with him however he felt appropriate.

He couldn't even count on his own kin for allies... Typical. Aurichon sighed and continued his work. He needed to find the Brass and the Gold... And he had his best Flight member doing it.

Below the ground, a dark voice hissed, and a loooooong shadow crept through the tunnels....

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Wyrmhold stood stoically in the night sky. Passersby would notice that the castle seemed to be... Growing? Over time. Slighlty more fortified, slightly bigger, walls slightly thicker. Aurichon was getting less personable than usual, as well. Old allies were being dismissed from the castle summarily and on pain of death. He refused audiences that he once would've accepted eagerly.

All the while, his network of information was spreading, as his quiet aide slipped along the dark places of the earth, entered Wyrmhold via a hidden entrance and approached him...

"My... Lord, Aurichon. We have closed in on the Brass... The Copper escaped. Forestgloom was... unavoidably detained in her lust for battle. I assure you, I am far more capable of slaying Morningdew than she. Allow my presence on the surface... and I will make sure the Brass dies before Kohlingen can escort her to safety.

However... my efforts to find the Gold, the one they call Arcanos, have all but failed. He is hidden well. Finding him may take a Miracle by Her grace, my Lord. I suggest we focus on the task at hand. Their Morningdew is almost as knowledge as I when it comes to matters of the dragon variety. She was heavily involved in the first war as a scout, and I suggest we remove her quickly before she can bring this information to bear."

All the while the lean one spoke, he kept his head down, with Aurichon looming far above him.

"Very well. I... give you permission to begin the Hunt of Morningdew. I have Stormwhisper and Infernus working on our other problems. Baulg and Ta'lishima are proving uncooperative. Blood will be spilled. Now go and do your work. Let the Light know what the Shadow can do."

"Yes, my Lord." With that, the wretched longtailed oily beast slithered out of the castle and back into the depths from whence he had come.

~~~~

Meanwhile in Kohlingen, Rockhopper and Imperator discussed the same thing.

"Imp... are you sure those guys can find 'Dew before the flight does? I really hope she does alright... If they send 'Gloom after her, I really doubt she'll fall for the same trick twice. I hope they're ready... I hope they can find her. ... How're the others doing? With the defense and stuff?"

"Aurora and Elvithiir have ordered and purchased siege weapons from allies, as well as brought the oath of dwarven workers to help us operate them. Kohlingen is well prepared... The other sseeking Infernus still search the Skull Crags for her lair as we speak. She is of utmost importance to slay... Her power may exceed that of even Aurichon. It is imperative that she not be allowed to bring this strength to bear against Kohlingen."

"I'm gonna go work off some stress. See you later Impy!"

"*sigh* Behave, young Rockhopper..."

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

The crashing sound of gates echoes through the summit of the Skull Crags, as a veritable wave of blue and gold swarmed to the top. Red-scaled Disciples were quickly dispatched. The outside guard stoof little hope of fending off the Defenders from their prize: Infernus, the great Red. Imperator had pinned down the location of her lair, and authorized a strike if the Defenders thought it best. They had. Now, standing at the peaks with their chosen allies from the Grove, they couldn't help but feel a slight sense of foreboding...

"We can't let the Chosen enter battle in Kohlingen. It's not an option." Elvithiir had stated this loud and clear, and it became the deciding vote in leading them to the Skull Crags. Aurora and Kald stood close to him, both of them weilding their gifted blades from the metallic dragons. Huntress and Justice gleamed in the midnight air, waiting to do their duty. At their flanks were Ailtha, Trent, Rith'laria and just behind, Ohlde and Nayann, rangers from the Grove.

Breaking into the building at the peak, the two lazy guards didn't even manage to yell before getting cut down. Descending down to rope into her air proper, it was easy to see that Infernus had converted the Duergar forges into things more soothing and appropriate for herself. Statues of Infernus were scattered about her lair, cast from wrought steel and created by her Disciples. Gouts of flame sprouted from the ground at every turn, and still more of her Discipled bodygaurds worked against their advance. Through superior power and tactics, they were cut down, tossed aside like rag dolls, while the Defender's power marched inexorably onwards... Destroying her shrineguards, and moving on to a small storage area. This move would cost them dearly.

Flowing in from the north passage behind them came eight or so warriors, but their job was not to defeat the intruders. Their task was to buy enough time for the scouts at the back to dash to the Lady and warn her... and escape they did, while their friends gave their lives in service to Tiamat. One straggler was cut down, but Infernus received the message...

"My.. My lady, you must go. They're here, the ones who slew Myrk. You can't afford to die... not here, my Lady. There's too many of them... There must be... a dozen... and dragons! Silver! Three of them!"

Infernus snarled, and curled her lips. "It... pains me to do such. But... Even I could not face such... overwhelming odds. ... Cover the backroute. Hold them off." With that, Infernus crawled off her throne and slid down through the escape tunnel specially built in the back of her room, concealed until the moment it needed to be used. Diving down into an old mineshaft, almost maze like in appearance, she ordered her workers to stand guard and delay them so she could escape.

Infernus could hear the Defenders and Grove members behind her while she moved. They were in the Throne Room... and had quickly dispatched her guards, and had begun to descend down her now open escape route, bringing their small army with them. She leapt across a small underground river, causing a massive tremor under the ground. Once at the exit, she stepped outside, and wove a Wall of Force across the exit... Not a moment too soon. She barely had time to take off and get distance before out of the corner of her eye, she spied one of the Elven mages Disjoining her Wall of Force, and standing over the bodies of her last stationed guards. Not wanting to present a target, she looked down, spied Dead Man's Chasm, and dove down out of sight. She had made her way out... for now... She couldn't go back to her lair, though. She had lost a veritable army of disciples, as well. She looks around, and ducked into an Alcove, and began to work the set up for a Word of Recall spell... she would need to speak to Aurichon, and soon.

MEanwhile, back on the Peaks of the Skull Crags, for indeed, the backroute had circled around and led nearly to the entrance of the shrine in the first place, albeit a little bit lower... the Defenders cursed Infernus. "Coward!" "Is this the best that Tiamat has to offer? One who flees?!" Nonetheless, they had scored some small victory by ransacking the place. It was one less place for Infernus to hide.

For now, though, they would need to pull off the chase, and begin the search for Morningdew. The information she had would surely be precious, and they could not afford to let her fall into the hands of the Flight. They had narrowed it down to Cordor, and so the search began...

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

// Myrk doesn't have a winkie, Torm.

_________________
Characters:

Evangeline Ve'heer
Jynx
Sariah

((And Forestgloom didn't have a ditch. I messed up their descriptions when I made them, and I'm "creatively retconning". Gloom's female and Myrk was male.

...

And really, you could've PM'ed this to me instead of cluttering up my topic.))

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

In various places around Amia, odd events happened... events perhaps not done by the dragons themselves, but as a result of their actions nonetheless.

~~~~

The Ankh'Remun desert is rather busy, and guards in Nes'ek are worn to the limit. Being in the middle of the Bedine and the Minotaurs was bad enough. Now the guards report that each side is being driven forth by a dragon in an effort to wipe the other one out. The Minotaurs claim direct aid to Stormwhisper and the Flight, and the Bedine appear to have been harassed and harangued into slaving for Baulg. Nes'ek seems mostly untouched, but given that it lies in the middle of all the happenings, collaterla damage has occured. For the most part, however, the Bedine and the Minotaurs are too busy fighting each other. Every great now and then, observers for the temple say they can even see the great horned bodies of the dragons themselves demanding and ordering their underlings, before hurrying back to their caves....

~~~

The Skull Crags becomes odder than usual. The area is pockmarked with deep firey scorch marks, and the entrance to Ta'lishima's cave has a three word message scrawled across the top of the rocks, in Draconic: "Join or die." The Lemur Monks have also had disturbing sightings of a gigantic ruby-red beast going in and out of the caves, but other than that, nothing earthshaking has happened.

~~~

Individuals dealing in the shady side of the information network will often find themselves approached by a Shadovar man who explains that he is searching for a traitor to his lord. The traitor is described as an Elven woman, overly charming and manipulative, and a master at talking and doublespeak. Given the situation and his knowledge of her past, he explains that she is likely a guardsman, in order to narrow down their thoughts and inquiries. He offers token amounts of gold to anyone who gives information or any leads whatsoever, and quickly goes on his way.

~~~

Wyrmhold's fortification continues to grow, parapets sprialling into the air as the castle slowly strengthens itself, though no visible workers are ever seen. The same can be said for Kohlingen, though in stark contrast, it appears that the entire city is hard at work, preparing for what has become, in their minds, the inevitable.

~~~

In Brogendenstein, the Frozen Wastes have gone oddly quiet... Where has the Scourge gone? His hunts have become more erratic, occuring less often. Rarely is he seen and rarely does he come out to defend his territory. If you didn't know any better, you might be inclined to think that he;d packed up and moved. But why would a territorial White do that?

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Deep within Wyrmhold, Aurichon was trying to stop himself from slaying his spy on the spot.

"You let her ESCAPE?! Why must you *play* so much with your food, Meplipenixisti? Why did you not simply kill her?"

"Please believe me my lord. It was... those Drow. And the Grove archers. That sorceror. The same ones that sent Myrk's body crashing to the ground, and have caused Forestgloom to ret-"

Aurichon cut Deepeningdoom, the great Shadow of the Depths, off midspeech with a withering growl. "You said you were *better* than Gloom. I was expecting to hear news of your victory, Shadow. You know very well that you are... the outsider here. You are not typically one Chosen by Tiamat. By Her grace, She has allowed you to proceed with us..."

Deepeningdoom bowed his head low, prostrating himself in a manner that he was very unaccustomed to, despite having this information relayed to him before. "Please... Let me look for the last. Arcanos... I know him personally. I will try to sniff him out. I have at least done this much, yes? I notice that Ta'lishima is still alive, and Baulg and Stormwhisper are still playing their games with their pets. I at least made headway..."

Aurichon roared in Deepeningdoom's face, causing the Shadow Dragon to twitch on the spot. Even other dragons feared Aurichon's wrath. He was not one to trifle with, no matter who you were. Unless you were Infernus, anyway. "Get. Out." ... "Yes, Lord Aurichon." Deepeningdoom made haste out of the castle and re entered his home domain, the Underdark.

*snort* "This is your great spy, Aurichon? My daughter could rend him limb from limb, let alone actually letting me step in. Please. Just assemble now and attack Kohlingen, will you? It's not like they actually stand a chance. I'm itching for the hunt...

Aurichon wheeled around to face the scar covered White in front of him, who had recently taken domain in Wyrmhold to escape the Frozen Wastes where he knew the Metallics and their allies would surely search for him. Deep beneath Wyrmhold in his magically frozen corridors, he was safe. "Icingdeath... Please do not open your mouth and speak when you know not what goes on. Your daughter at least had some tact. You are nothing but a mindless beast that wants to go on a rampage. Show some class, Child of Tiamat, even if you are Her smallest. We must consolidate everything before we march on Kohlingen... Stormwhisper had better stop playing around, and Infernus is giving that whelp far too much leeway. Gloom is getting stabbed left and right in her own domain.. Myrk is gone, and Doom cannot even kill a Brass girl. You'd best not dissapoint."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Lord Aurichon." ... "Good."

~~~~

In Kohlingen, spirits were higher than ever, for the most part, as the metallic trio discussed what they should do next.

"I guess the Grove and the Shrine want to off Forestgloon before she can do much more. She wants me to' turn myself in... I can't do that, 'course. I feel bad for the ones that might die because I'm not there to do anything... y'know?"

"There is nothing you can do, young Rockhopper. For now, let them do their work and we shall do ours. We must find Arcanos, and all our work shall be complete, and we will be prepared to launch the final assault on Wyrmhold. Perhaps we will even outspeed them in their preparations."

Morningdew chimed in quickly, naturally."They look pretty set on going to Forestgloom. I think they're content to let Stormy do his thing... probably a bad thing. He's gonna win, you know. He's tough. Gloomy will probably lay low for awhile... Deepeningdoom... he worries me. I didn't know he'd gotten *that* good at mimicking people. That's pretty scary... I mean, what if he tries to show up here? Disguised as an Everguard or something..." Rockhopper looked exceedingly anxious at this news. "They wouldn't let him... right? They said he was beat up pretty badly... I mean.... We're safe in here, I think. He wouldn't dare fight the Keep alone... Uh... I hope not, anyway!"

"We are quite safe here, my kin. Do not worry so much. Stormwhisper is indeed troubling. Nevertheless, we cannot act out directly, or we will make ourselves... very large targets. I know you would've preferred to work from Cordor, Dew, but we needed you here. Please do not hold that against us."

"Whatever." The other two dragons looked at her slighlty reproachfully, and she sighed. "Look, they shape up, and I'll tell 'em what I know... it's not much though. All I know is that he's underwater these days... I'm sure the Shadow is looking for him too. He won't like the fact that he messed up, and he'll be looking for any way possible to fix it, and the last way to do that is to kill Arcanos before he can get here. Or by offing Baulg or Ta'lishima, but he wouldn't dare step on the others' toes, especially not when he's not a true Chromatic, remember?"

"Yes, I do remember... Long planning ahead of us... and still more danger. May Bahamut shine on this city and all her endeavours... Gods only know we will need them in the time to come. Let us retire for the night... it has been a long day for all of us. Especially you, Dew."

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

The Chosen had made sure the path was clear before moving down from her hidden place in the Dead Man's Chasm at the Skull Crags. Ta'lishima had had plenty of time to make her decision, and now it was time to force the matter. The Great Red climbed down the mountain, claws clenching into the ground, leaving great gouge marks in the dirt, while the giants stepped aside for her, and the animals fled in terror. The people of Guldorand locked their homes up tight, waiting for Infernus to pass by. She made her way down the Crags, and more than likely, in the dead of night, she would still be visible to people in the distance, and at the Lemur Monastery, the monks went into deep prayer and meditation, hoping that the Red would pass them by peacefully.

She flicked beetles out of her path with disdainful motions of claw and tail, and pressed herself into the entrance of Ta'lishima'slair, displacing a few rocks and boulders along the way. It was a tight fit for the mighty Dragon, but she managed it. Once inside, she moved across the small pond, and faced the waiting Green, who, compared to the Red, looked like a Hin might, when standing next to a tall half orc.

"It's time to make your decision, Ta'lishima. We've waited far too long for you to announce your servitude to the Queen, Wyrmhold, and her Dark Flight. We're getting tired of it."

The Green bowed draconically, offering a "polite" smile that covered a sneer of arrogance. "I told you, I won't be joining. I'm planning on getting off this island anyway, it makes no sense for me to stay and fight."

" 'No' is not an acceptable answer, young one."

"Then I am afraid our talk is at an end. Do with me what you will, Infernus. We both know there is little I could do to stop you from taking what you want."

Infernus growled, staring at the Green before her, who, until her very breath, denied herself the chance for glory that all dragonkind deserved since the beginning of time. She roared, leaping at Ta'lishima, who blew a fan of acidic gas at Infernus' face, and stepped aside while the larger beast hit the wall as she wrenched away from the blast.

Ta'lishima snorted haughtily. "Come now, Chosen, can't you do better than that?"

Infernus' long tail whipped out violently, catching Ta'lishima unawares, and scoring a vicious blow against her chest, slamming her into the opposite wall. The Green's long neck craned up, looking at Infernus, who had recovered, and was looking down at the crumpled Green like a cat who has chased her mouse into a corner, wondering what to do with her. Finally, Infernus spoke, almost gently, like a mother telling her child in a baby's voice, just what they had done wrong.

"You could've had it all, dear Ta'li." Infernus addressed her with a shortened version of her full name, a grave insult to the Green. "Instead, you chose to be defiant and self serving. The call of your Goddess rang, and you failed to answer. Now you will meet her personally and answer for your failures. Goodbye, Ta'lishima."

Infernus drew her head back, and let forth a searing blast of divine fire, burning reddish purple, fueled by her powers as a Chosen of Tiamat. Ta'lishima roared out in pain, unable to pull herself out of the fire scorching her very soul. When Infernus was finished, all that was left was a corpse pressed against the wall, flesh bubbling from the intense heat. She cast a Disintegration spell, and pressed a claw into the corpse, turning it to ash. Useless dust in the corner of the now deserted cave.

The great Red walked out of the cave, and made her way back up the Crags as the sun rose, leaving more gouges in the ground as her claws sank into the dirt. The coming rain would quikcly distort the dirt and mud out of recognizeable use, along with the beetles and giants that inhabited the area. She dove back inot the Chasm, and settled herself back into her lair, preparing to send magical word to Aurichon about the death of the tenacious Green.

((Mind that it may take a bit for Ta'li's spawnpoint to get removed, so if you happen to see her there... well... eheh, she's not supposed to be. Chalk it up to something else.))

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

//Kinda forgot about this... uploading a change now.

_________________
Say 'no' to JSBF!

In a nearly submerged cave branching off into an above-ground cavern, off the Lumorier coast near Wharftown and Uhm, a man dressed in gold and silver armor prays quietly before a shrine, various holy objects and symbols strewn about the area. Behind him, at the entrance to the cave, an elven woman with dark hair, dresed in ravishing clothes, with two rapiers on her waist, enters the room.

"Long time no see. Holding up well?"

The praying man turned around, and rose to his feet serenely, nodding and waving a greeting.

"Far too long since I'd heard your voice, young Morningdew. It is good to see you in high spirits as always. What brings you out here? Indeed, I did not even know my presence was known."

"You need to come with me, Arcanos... You're in danger. We couldn't wait any longer. We had to come get you and bring you home. Imperator and Rockhopper are waiting for you. So are the rest of the Defenders."

"Of course. If Kohlingen is in need, and I have heard it has... I will go to her. I was simply laying low until the time was right. You understand. If you will wait there, I will return in a moment. I require a few things from the hoard before we go to Kohlingen." With that, the still human form Arcanos walked back through his lair, picking a few things from his hoard, a helmet, a blade, a shield, and a few smaller things, gemstones, divine focuses, and the like. He emerged from the back corridors with a gentle smile. "Morningdew, I'm ready-"

His sentence was cut short by the vision in front of him. Gone was the Elven woman with the blades, and in her place stood the looming form, full sized, of Deepeningdoom, the Shadow Dragon.

"Yes, I do hope you're ready, Arcanos. You have lived here, and now you will die here. I offer you the courtesy of at least dying in your full glory as a dragon. So hurry up and get out of that ridiculous human form."

Arcanos had been in the middle of turning back anyways, before Deepeningdoom offered him the "courtesy" that he had. Soon enough, the powerful Gold was fully grown once more, powerful legs supporting a stout neck, golden scales glimmering dimly in his own cavern, face heavy-set and intense, whiskers trailing down, wavering in the air below his chin as he spoke to his adversary.

"I am only sorry it came to this, Shadow. You were never beholden to Her like the rest of the Flight. You could have left, could have escaped and come out completely unharmed. Instead you chose to stay and lengthen their crusade, and bring yourself to my domain no less. While I applaud you on your tracking ability, I am afraid I will need to slay you here, Dark One, and join my brethren in Kohlingen. There is much left to be done."

Deepeningdoom sneered at Arcanos' eternal calm, annoyed at the fact that even though his very life was in jeopardy, he looked as serene and resolute as any other day in his long, long existence."Oh yes, there is much left to be done. Unfortunately, your time on Faerun is short, and I'm sure your god is eager to meet you. Allow me to speed up the process."

In his element, that of a deep cavern and cave, the Shadow darted forward, slinking around the edge of the cavern, and darting at Arcanos, teeth outstretched. Arcanos didn't move from his position at the entrance to his hoard. The reason why soon became apparent. The Sadow slammed headfirst into a Draconic Glyph of Warding, crashing into a blast of sound and fury, and was sent sprawling back, dragging along the ground before quickly hauling himself to his feet, staring hatefully at the Gold, who simply shook his head and smiled.

"Your hate drives you, and in your singlemindedness, you overlook the simplest things. Like the fact that anyone hiding would protect themselves, magically or otherwise."

"Spare me your sanctimonious drivel, Arcanos, and actually defend yourself."

Deepeningdoom leapt to the attack once more, slightly more cautious this time. As he drew closer, Arcanos reared his head back, waiting for the right moment. Deepeningdoom punced at Arcanos like a cat on the prowl, and the Gold loosed a blaze of golden fire, speckled with white-silver. Whirling himself midleap, the Shadow dove out of the way, only barely singed by the force, and retaliated with his own blast, a dark crackling wave of negative energy. Arcanos once again simply smiled as the wave of energy collided with his scales and phased off harmlessly against his spells.

"It seems claws and teeth with decide the victor. Unless you'd like to keep hurling futile assaults at me, Dark One."

The Shadow released an immense roar in return, rattling the cave. As much as he disliked it, the Gold was right so far. Shadow-power was useless against the eys of a Dragon, a cleric of the Platinum, no less. His choice methods were failing... He would need to enter physical combat, and utilize his agility. Apparently Arcanos was thinking much the same thing, because he was incanting various blessings and wards. In the end, his claws glowed with a bright shining light, and his body was surrounded with a golden aura, painting a stark contrast to the oil-black sleek body of the Shadow Dragon.

Dark and Light rushed at each other, Arcanos moving forward with a steady gait, strong legs and powerful jaws ready to rend the Shadow. Deepeningdoom charged forth in long loping strides, his superior agility, his jagged talons, and razor-teeth prepared to strike. The two of them collided roughly, claws and jaws wrestling for a moment before 'Doom wiggled free, swinging around behind his opponent and whipping his tail sharply at Arcanos' face. The Gold swept the air with his claws, but air was all he caught. Despite all his magic, drawn into a fierce melee with an incredibly quick dragon had been the wrong idea. A claw strike sank into Arcanos' side, but a retaliatory tail-crack beat the Shadow away for a moment, before he snaked his way back in, the turned Gold's claw hitting the Shadow's neck and staving off a brutal bite.

Firing off another gout of gold-silver flame, the rookm lit up dramatically as Deepeningdoom took another grazing blow. Once the darkness settled back in suddenly, Arcanos has momentarily blinded as his eyes took about a second to adjust. That second of non-reaction from the Light was all the Dark needed to snuff it out. Deepeningdom leapt on top of the Gold, and clenched his jaws into the thick neck of Arcanos, who roared out in fury, swinging largely in vain and the bite drew blood, 'Doom's claws making repeated stabs and gashes into the flesh of the Gold. Finally, Deepeningdoom wrenched his head sideways. Arcanos staggered, stumbled, and let out a gurgle, before falling to the ground, bloodied and battered. The last thing Arcanos saw was a set of claws that rent his face. After that, his vision went dark, and with a growl of agony, and a small sigh, the Gold's head fell, and his body went limp. Deepeningdoom crawled off his prey, glanced towards the hoard, and laughed. Turning back into his assumed guise, Morningdew's Elven form, he began making his way out of the cavern, turning into yet another form as he reached the beaches of the Gulf.

Arcanos was dead, and Aurichon would want to know.

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

The wizened Blue eyed his desert, watching the minotaurs scuffle around, and ocassionally do battle with Bedine invaders. He sniffed deeply, taking in the arid scent of the land, mingled with... something else? What was that? Stormwhisper, The Coming Storm, looked around his territory but could see nothing. He smelled it tho-... oh, what was that? Sand and dust being kicked up. Like someone was running around. Stormwhisper dove into a tunnel, and peeked through a thing layer of sand... who was that? Something was running around his desert. The figure blinked in for a few moments, before replenishing a Greater Sanctuary spell.

"Blue and gold... hrm. A Defender. Took them long enough to step in. Now where is he going..."

Stormwhisper watched the cloaked Defender dash around his desert and stop here and there, the imprints of feet always near a tunnel, before dashing off, kicking up more sand. Stormwhisper decided it would be prudent to follow this intriguing invasion, and so began to follow the Defender as he made his way West, into Bedine territory, and the land of the Glutton. Were he anything but another Blue, Stormwhisper would've been hopelessly lost, but he quickly made his way past Baulg's deceptive caverns and mazes of tunnels, and slowly made his way to the far edge of the desert.

"So he is going to meet with Baulg... Mmm... This could be the divine opportunity I have been waiting for. Tiamat, thy will be done. The traitor dies this day."

The Blue waited, back behind the sealed entrance to Baulg's domain, as quietly as he could, and listened...

"....-reason why I shouldn't eat you now?" Baulg's voice was unmistakable. Trent had obviously stumbled upon the bloated dragon in his den.

"Because I want to smite Stormwhisper too?" Who was that? One... oh, yes. He knew that voice now. One of the Blake brothers. Which one? He couldn't tell. They dressed so much alike. All the humans did. So much blue and gold. Stormwhisper opened a frilled earflap wide, eavesdropping carefully.

"Why should I let you take the glory, when I want to kill him myself? But... hrm... my enemies killing themselves off could be useful. How do I know you're not playing the fool to both of us? You could have given Stormwhisper this same opportunity."

"I'm a Paladin. You take me for a liar? You are stupider than I thought. I know where you live, Baulg, we all do. And we can send you digging. Stormwhisper's more dangerous. Where is he?" Haughty. The Thunder-Caller couldn't help but smile a bit. It was a trait he could respect in the young mortal.

"Hmphh... ...? What..." Stormwhisper froze. In the other side of the chamber, Baulg peered at the back of his den. Something was wrong. something was out of place. This mortal coming... wanting to talk... what was out of pla- "You led him to me!" The over-large Blue roared at Trent, leering at the back of his cavern, which was now quaking just slightly. Stormwhisper knew his plan was going to be blown soon, and he was now delving powerfully through the walls of Baulg's cavern. It didn't take long before he broke through, sending a shower of debris and stone to the ground, and emerging from the dark tunnels, his pure-white eyes lit up in lightning-fueled Draconic fury.

"Step back, Defender. I carry no qualm with you today. It is not your head I seek."

"But it is I who seek yours, Stormwhisper. Really, I thought you'd be bigger. This is all the Flight has to offer?"

Baulg snorted and glared at Trent. The mortal was odd, why was he insinuating himself in this? The little man obviously had a death wish. "Stay out of the affairs of those who are superior to you, small one. You will find you live much longer."

"I could've said the same thing to you, Baulg, but instead you chose to defy us. In the name of the Dark Queen Tiamat, I charge and find you guilty of open defiance, and treason. The sentence for this is death, and I shall carry it out personally. Have you any last words before I lay your sentence upon you, Glutton?

Trent stood quietly, mouthing a soft "Hmph." at being ignored and pushed aside. Meanwhile, Baulg and Stormwhisper continued to stare each other down. Baulg, a bit shorter, but far wider, and Stormwhisper, with electric eyes, and static jolts running along his muscular, powerful body.

"Allow me the honor of your death then, Stormwhisper. I fancy your position in the Flight...!" Baulg leapt at Stormwhisper, scoring an impressive strike with his claws, though sadly much of the effect was lost on the electricity immune Blue. the electric arcs that typically shocked Baulg's foes into oblivion barely tickled the massive opposing Blue, who snorted in Baulg's face, and took a single step back, rearing up on his hind legs, nearly hitting his head on the cavern ceiling above. Baulg shirked back slightly... he was afraid of what Stormwhisper was capable of, and had grossly underestimated the indifference which with Stormwhisper has shrugged off his blows, strikes that had laid some of the most powerful adventurers on the island flat.

Stormwhisper roared, and his claws lit up in streaks of white-blue raw energetic lightning, dancing along the length of his powerful forearms. One strike. Claws rent flesh, muscle,and bone as easily as paper. Baulg roared in pain, and reeled back, gouts of blood staining the nearby cavern walls and floor, while Trent stared. Two strikes. Baulg's body was shorn nearly in twain. The Glutton barely had time for a death gurgle before a ruthless shove from Stormwhisper sent him reeling into a pile of debris, his battered, broken body crashing to the ground hard, bones creaking and snapping on impact after body-crushing strikes from Tiamat's Enforcer. "In your name I slay, the traitor is dead. The infidel is no more."

Trent did little but stare in awe at the Smite, but quickly composed himself, looking over Stormwhisper, whose timeless crackling gaze had turned to him.

"I show you mercy this day, though when next we meet, it will be on the field of battle, Defender. I must admit, I am intrigued as to your full strength. I do hope your city fares better than Benwick did. Oh. Wait. No I don't." The Blue laughed sinisterly.

"Dig." Trent replied with a single powerful word.

"Hrm." Stormwhisper grunted slightly, and crawled back into Baulg's tunnel, releasing a powwerful mule-kick behind him as he went, toppling the tunnel from the inside, and sealing the passge behind him, leaving Trent to watch a cloud of dust and rubble fill in the void. "I come back to you soon, Aurichon. Apologies for taking so long. I will soon be ready to bring Kohlingen to its knees..."

~~~

"Well, that went well." Deepeningdoom walked out of the portal to Shadowflame House, and into the Forest of Despair. He looked back and smirked slightly. He was good at what he did, and no one would ever doubt that. He made his way through the forest, and into the depths, hidden places that only he knew about, thanks to being told by the Huntress.

"Well? Did you do it? Is my Forest mine again, Deepeningdoom?"

"The job is done. Several key members of Shadowflame lie dead, and they have withdrawn from your forest. Your lycans are claiming victory, and the pack hunts unabated once more. You are free to join Aurichon for the attack. He eagerly awaits your return, and has grown quite imaptient with your vendetta, Sister."

"Took you long enough. I'll go back there when I'm ready. I'm just about ready to head there anyways. Pity I won't get Rockhopper's head on a platter... how annoying. Maybe I'll get to take it in Kohlingen... ooh. That would be delightful, yes. Tell Aurichon I will be there soon. I trust the rest of my kin are finished with their duties as well?"

"I rarely meddle in my sibing's affairs unless asked, sister. You should know this by now. I believe Infernus is done, however, and Arcanos is dead as well. If Storm has finished off the fat one, then yes, we are all ready, and all that remains is to bring our strength to Kohlingen. I think they're in for a rather unpleasant surprise, yes?"

"Very much so... now, leave me. I have things to do, Shadow. I'm sure you do too."

"More than you'd know. I'm quite busy, being Aurichon's eyes and ears... more than you slinking in a forest anyway...." Doom smirked. Gloom hissed, but did nothing, and the Shadow slipped out of the lair and back into the Forest, making his way back to the Depths, utlizing the hidden passages to get back to Wyrmhold unabated. Indeed, his own plans were proceeding swimmingly. He had a way out... Kohlingen would not be the death of him. Not if he had anything to do about it. And he had two wonderfulk places to choose for refuge, at least, if the original panned out... He would know soon.

~~~

And in Kohlingen, three metallic dragons and the Justicar discussed the defense of a city. Word of Baulg's death spread quickly amongst the dragonkin, even to the metallics. They knew that soon, the Flight would descend upon their city, and they were gravely outnumbered, in raw numbers at least. Perhaps not in quality. Time and again the fair-minded adventurers of the island had proven themselves capable of facing far greater adversity than even Impeator could have hoped for them to display. Time would soon show if Benwick's descendant would share the same fate as it's mother city, or if it would shine anew like a beacon to the island, proving that Good can triumph over Evil.

~~~

While in Wyrmhold, Aurichon plotted with his Flight in Council. Minus two. Forestgloom was still laboring in her Forest, much to Aurichon's displeasure. It was immensely irritating. Naturally, Myrk was missing as well, but for other reasons.

The last member of his council showed up slightly late, but better late than never, one could suppose. The room grew quiet (which is hard, considering it's a group of Great Wyrm Chromatics used to squabbling for every bit of power they can ascribe to themselves.) and looked to the entrance as the final member of the Flight walked in.

"By Her Claw, it took you forever to get here."

"I apologize for the delay, but I was... inexorably detained. You understand." The dragon made its way over to the group, and began discussing possible plans of attack, along with the rest of the crowd.

Far away in Kohlingen, Morningdew had a very very bad feeling.

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Called forth by Imperator, the Defenders and allies... what... few had deigned to show up... gathered in the meeting room to discuss plans of action when it came time to defend the city from the flight. Cystana, a Red Falconer, Tactician of the Red Knight, had been called in especially for the siege. After discussion of several side businesses that would need to be taken care of once the main force of the Flight had been taken care of, hopefully, Cystana began to lay out the proposed plan for the defense of Kohlingen.

"We will divide Kohlingen up into 5 sections..." Cystana pointed to a large, somewhat crudely drawn map of Kohlingen and the surrounding area. "Here we have the Western Outskirts, and the Gate to the city. In here we have the Western half of the main city, with the businesses, and the Temple to the Triad. Over here, the Eastern Half of the Main City... the Temple to the Triad itself will be very important, as I'll explain later... and then lastly we have the Keep itself."

"Much of our forces will remain within the city itself. We are going to be playing this extremely defensively. The overarching idea is to cut off the ground forces of the Flight, and hold them off outside the castle, and ensure that the dragons inside are isolated. This is an idealistic plan at best, and as they say, no plan survives contact with the enemy... but regardless! Rockhopper is to be stationed here, among the business area, just south of the Temple. Any Grove allies will be placed there with him. Morningdew is to take point here... near Mayfield's and the City Hall. A small division of scouts from Cordor... unofficially, anyways, they're not working in an official capacity from Cordor, and so they are not to be treated as such... are going to be stationed with Morningdew. The Keep itself will be guarded by the Everguard, and then the Dwarves from Brogendenstein who are showing up... along with their siege weaponry and defensive ballistae that were bought. The Temples will be defended by their clergy of course... and then the Justicar in the Kelemvor Temple, and Imperator in the Triad. I myself will probably be leading point outside the city gates along with the troopers and warriors, and will also be around the city to direct as needed."

"I will be working as an overall battlefield commander. Orders will be relayed through me, to the rest of the battlefield. Imperator will be commanding his clerics and Wing as he sees fit, and the Justicar will work as the Everguard's commander, as well as co-commander of the Kohlingen Troops. Brogendenstein, the Grove, and the Cordor unit all have their own subcommanders, but ultimately answer to me. Adventurers and Defenders, the core elite unit, will be assigned around the battlefield and shuffled around as needed by me. You will be moved and assigned to the places mostly likely to get hit by the dragons, and when they arrive, you will be pulled in to combat them. Targets of highest note are Aurichon, Infernus, and Stormwhisper. Between those three, they comprise much of the leadership of the Flight. They are the highest priority, but are also the strongest. Do not engage alone if possible. If available, call in either one or both of Rockhopper and Morningdew to assist. I do have a plan to eliminate one member of the Flight with almost absolute assuredness... but this will be discussed later in private counsel."

"The forces arrayed against us are numerous and quite dangerous. Along with the Flight itself, we are looking at combatting the moving forces of the Quagmire, obviously seeking vengeance for the slaying of Myrk. The Ankh'remun desert is also oddly silent. I would bet the Blue has pressed them both into grudging service. Also, slight movements from the top of the Skull Crags would also indicate some sort of force coming from there. As you can see, we will have our hands full. The West Gate is the most likely point of entry, but there is also the inland river, and the water near the keep to deal with. Given that Infernus is with them, we may also be dealing with some form of magical teleportation. The ground forces should be fairly easy to predict, though. The dragons themselves will be forced to come in low and fast. Hanging around in the air will get ballista bolts launched at them alarmingly quickly, so be prepared to be hit hard on the initial descent. Once in combat, the aim should be to isolate Aurichon and/or Infernus, to cut off the leadership lifeline of the Flight. without their commanders, the ground forces should panic and rout, and I doubt the Flight will hang around much longer as well."

"The slight possibility exists that another force could take an opportunistic attack on us... especially given the recent assault by Tarkuul on the Temple of Kelemvor. We will alter our strategy on the fly should this occur. Given the nature of the Flight, odds are we would be looking at a complex three-way battle situation, in which the Flight is pressed in all directions against everyone. The tunnels underneath Kohl have had grates and barriers placed over them. That should keep any Underdark Drow from coming up, as was reported by the Defenders. As to keeping out a dragon that might utilize them, like Deepeningdoom... who knows. One can hope, yes?"

"A few of you have expressed concern at being overly defensive here. The point of the defense is to successfully repel, and then, while they are still reeling and unorganized from a failed attack, and hopefully a fallen leader, we will march forth and take advantage in a decisive counter-strike. The details of this willl be ironed out when we get there, but I do not forsee requiring a complicated plan to take Wyrmhold, as opposed to defending a large city of innocent people. On that note, we will be evacuating as much of the city into the Keep and Temples as posssible, ocne we get word of an impending attack. Everything possible will be done to ensure the least amount of innocent lives will be lost. I expect that we will need to do quite a bit of rebuilding, though... The ports will be sealed off for the attack, as will the gates.

"I do not believe there to be anything else to cover... I hope this is all to your satisfaction? I will relay the other plan to you later, if that is alright."

The Defenders nodded, and after a slight bit more discussion, the meeting was adjourned to begin preparations for the defense. There was a lot of work to be done, and everything would have to fall into place seamlessly if they were going to have any hope of fighting off the Flight. They could only hope that more warriors would step up, ones worthy of the cause.

~~~

Deep within Wyrmhold, the same council was occuring, but for the opposite reason: Fixated on the death of Imperator, and the destruction of Kohlingen and all who lay within her. Stormwhisper had stepped to the fore of the planning session, and was explaining his own ideas...

"We are many, and they are few. Together, few can stop us. however, a successful attack on Kohl will likely require us to pair off or solo, and work with the ground forces that you control. Icingdeath and myself will be assuring that the environment that Kohlingen needs to work with will be decidedly disadvantageous to them. My Bedine and Minotaur hordes will come in on the decided route along the outside edge... As you will see in combat. Aurichon, you will need to lead the Flight in yourself, I believe. I assume you and Infernus will be taking point?"

Infernus lifted her great head, and spoke quietly, an odd trait for her kind. She was staving off her bloodlust, sating herself with her vivid imagination. But soon she would be able to unleash it all..."Forestgloom and myself will be pairing off. Unfinished business. Rockhopper will die. After that, we will attack targets of opportunity. I assume Forestgloom will be going after Morningdew as appropriate." The sleek Green nodded her head, and deferred to Infernus once more. "My Crimsonguard will be leading the main force at the gate. In theory, they will breach the west gate and open the way for our trops. If not, I am sure the two of us can break down the west gate ourselves. Regardless, once Rockhopper is dead, I will be raining the Holy Fire of Tiamat down upon that wretched slate and stone they dare to call a city."

Stormwhisper nodded, and turned himself around to look at the Shadow Dragon, who had mostly stayed out of the planning sessions, and had been oddly absent for much of the time... "You are still working as planned, Doom? You are quieter than usual. Something... wrong?"

Deepeningdoom shook his head, and spoke with a chill voice. "I will be performing the task set before me, naturally. I will break in as planned, and do what I need to do. My first target is Morningdew..." With that, he sneered at Forestgloom. "From there, I'm to find a way to lay Imperator flat. I can do my job, Stormwhisper, you know I can. I've got my own backup as well. Don't you worry about me."

"You all plan too much. We're stronger than they could ever hope to be. If we just flew in, we'd decimate them. So much planning when raw force could easily decide the fate of this city, just like Benwick."

"Quiet Icingdeath. We know how you work. You do the same as your daughter... and look where she is now. She rots in Brog and her soul feeds the Queen. I would pledge my Lycans to the fray, but they have been decimated by those bastard Shadowflames. They want little to do with me, now that I've returned to the Hold. I apologize for being able to bring little to the fold.

"I believe we will do fine without them. Our wildcard has reunited much of his forces and is prepared to open the way into the West fairly easily. With us paired off and commanding our own forces, this frees Aurichon up to be where he needs, in order to strike at the Wing, and the more elite corps of the City. We all have enough sense to coordinate ourselves while Aurichon does his work."

The "wildcard", who had stayed silent for much of the discussion, finally spoke up. "The quagmires are prepared. The Savants will lead, the lizardmen will support. We will flood straight into Kohl with the aid of the Crimsonguard. I will remain on the outside... and force entry to the inside, if need be." He clicked a bony claw on the ground in thought, dark, empty eyes focused on the ground in front of him. "The Yuan-ti may arrive, they may not. They are harder to press into service. Do not count on their aid. Sporadic, if any, will be the snake people. I willl also be taking full advantage of the weather conditions you and Icingdeath will be imposing, Stormwhisper. As well, the manor is an interesting tool..."

The looming form of Aurichon stepped forward. "All well and good, as long as we remember our true goal. We are in Kohlingen to slay Imperator and his wing. Everything else in secondary... Let no one stand in the way of slaying them. Like Benwick before them, we will see the Wing destroyed and their city burned. Justice, Skylight, and Arcanos already lie dead. The other half will soon follow. No matter who has come to Kohlingen's aid, they will be overrun... do we know anything about their defenses?"

"Very little. It's incredibly well fortified, and even harder to break into to get intelligence info. I did hear about some Tarkuul attack on them recently, perhaps that's a weakness we can exploit. They've doubtlessly worked at fixing it by now though. We need to wreck the gates. Then the ground things can run in, and they'll start getting overwhelmed. If they can't focus on us, and they're too busy trying to keep from getting flooded, then our job is all the easier. Hopefully we can do much of the fight in the air. I, uh, saw some Dwarves, so... They looked to be carrying building tools. We might be looking at some heavy dwarven fortification. Dangerous to the ground, we can probably walk over it."

"We are flying largely blind then, aren't we...Well. You are all familiar with the various associations and cities on the isle. Prepare your forces accordingly. Wyrmhold marches to war, my kin. Let us remind the island just who it was that has held the centerpiece of the island for so long."

Aurichon stretched himself to his full height, nearly reaching Infernus' powerful visage. "Yes. Wyrmhold marches to war...."

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

((Alright people.. .due to this being the week of the 4th, I realize this is probably a bad week for most of you in the USA. Not much I can do... I'll be moving shortly myself and will be without 'net, and I don't wish to see this plot hang.

So right now, we're shooting for this Thursday, July 5th, at about 7 PM central, maybe a bit later, possibly earlier. I would err on the later side, possibly 7:30. That appears to be midnight GMT (12:00 AM) according to the site I used(This is the midnight that is at the end of thursday and the beginning of friday!!!)... There's really no wiggle room to reschedule, because I am probably going to be moving on Friday or Saturday. That basically means... if you show up, be prepared for a long event. Get your pepsi, go to the bathroom, do all that good stuff.

Any questions, feel free to get me in game or send a PM.))

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

// Just to clarify so people don't make the same mistake -i- did.

// The event is happening at 00:01 Monday GMT, or one minute after the midnight that bridges between Sunday Night and Monday Morning.


// To help out timezone challenged folk, here's a very useful link for you. It does indeed take Daylight Savings and the like into account. The timer is already set. Anyways. Choose your place of residence in the lower Drop-Down list, and ta-da.

http://www.worldtimeserver.com/time_con ... &h=0&mn=01
LINK CHANGED TO FIT THE NEW TIME OF THE EVENT

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Mostly Retired

((Due to unforeseen (litterally.) circumstances, I wll not be available Thurday because of a family emergency. The earliest I will be available is referenced in Ron's post just above mine. I am sincerely sorry for this))



((If Monday or something is more suitable, PM me, and depending on how it goes, I will see if we can work out a more suitable time...))

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Take care!

_________________
Say 'no' to JSBF!

Somewhere in Wyrmhold, voices shouted in anger in their draconian tongues, as a certain piece of news reached the place of Tiamat's worship.


[[Two hours earlier]]


Four figures stood huddled beneath the dark, cloud-filled night sky. Loud and heavy rain masking their voices as the dense smog from the nearby swamps kept them mostly hidden.

"Alright. Metalien, you and I scout ahead." Said the elven archer known as Zeyriel, nodding to her fellow ranger "Phenwick, can you and your ensign search ahead for a location? We'll meet you back there"

Phenwick nodded. "Of course". And with that, they parted ways.



Phenwick and his new ally, Anne, trudged along the road that led away from Kohlingen, southbound, while their two stealthy companions trudged forth into the quagmire. After a small time they found their point of ambush. A small break in the cliff's pattern which is known to lead to the caves of Beastmen. Considering the rainfall and darkness, they were confident they would have no beastmen troubles to worry about.

They set up where the ridgeline opens up, within clear view of the road, yet also granting them cover behind some boulders and the partial-wall the cliff face gave. Phenwick and Anne waited behind one of the boulders for their comrades to rejoin them.



Meanwhile...



"Look ahead" Zeyriel quietly whispered to her half-elven companion. "See it?"
He saw it, barely. Faint white glows piercing through the swamp. The two snuck forward slowly to get a closer look, keeping a fast pace to them as the storms kept them from being heard. What they saw was more than they'd expected. Ten, perhaps fifteen scaleykin with dark, blackened scales and enchanted weapons, talking quietly... A priest was discernable, too, as was a heavily built one on his own with an electric sparking whip.

Just as they turned to go back, one of them saw the young half-elven ranger, Metalien. Charging for him without even telling his troupe, the scalykin met a swift end by the two sets of blades drawn against him. At this moment, they decided it best to get moving. Zeyriel couldn't help but notice further glows behind the group they'd found, perhaps more units, she didn't have time to work it out.



Prompty the four were regrouped, talking quietly and using the cliff as a shelter from the rain as their planned... They'd use a lure to draw them between two ridges, with an archer on each to ensure they were flanked and caught unaware.

Sadly, Anne had to be that lure. Fortunately, it worked... A group of lizardfolk, only a meager four in number, wandered past. One of these four noticed the lone adventurer, and couldn't help but point it out to its allies, who slowly walked into the trap. Metalien and Zeyriel took aim, while Phenwick remained still, hidden amongst some debris, then, they struck.

Two arrows were fired, taking out the two at the rear with a single shot each, whlie Phenwick lunged from the shadows with his rapier ready, and Anne drew her blade to slay the last. Flawless.


The process repeated again, though Anne took a few hits too many, becoming wounded and momentarily fallen... With time, their numbers began to increase, groups of eight, twelve, sixteen. Each becoming progressively harder to deal with,.


Zeyriel and Metalien had to scout ahead while Phenwick and Anne regained their strength, and what the two said was less than reassuring. At least twenty, twenty of the scalykin had started assembling with the intent to get past the ambush. Metalien and Zeyriel were, fortunately, able to make out the priest and the leader among the group, and slowly took aim.

They had their time to ensure they didn't miss, and they used it. And with time, they fired their shots simultaneously. They ducked too quickly behind the ridge to see if they had connected, but the shouting that followed answered the question for them. Metalien stayed there, hidden, with a single order... "When they pass the ridge on the other side of the road... Start firing. Don't miss."


Meanwhile, Phenwick and Anne had shifted position to ensure they didn't have to fight over the corpses of scalykin, Zeyriel returned to them to report in. The army was coming, and they were ready for it. Anne, Phenwick, and Zeyriel drew weapons while Metalien started lining up his shots. Suddenly, the swarm came.

Dozens of warriors, glowing tridents held high and calling at the highest of their lungs, they charged forward towards the three. None of them questioned wether they would win or lose. There would be casualties, of course.
...Enemy casualties.


Arrows started whirring through the air, each a perfect shot, as the three started working their swordplay in melee. Without a leader to tell them how to fight, and without a priest to bolster them, they soon fell to the martial prowess possessed by the four.


Zeyriel and Metalien could not help but release a short, victorious laugh, while Anne and Phenwick remained proud of their work yet keeping it silently hidden behind their disciplined expressions.


Kohlingen would soon find out, as Zeyriel and Phenwick proceeded to inform the Justicar about the sudden lacking of scalyfolk in one area and in such a number.

For certain, this would be a setback for the flight, who would need to wait until their numbers were rebolstered and ready.

_________________
Mostly Retired

The sun rose in the sky over Kohlingen, as armies from all over the island gathered in their appointed places, voices discussing what was to happen in the hours to come. From Cordor, from Brogendenstein, from the Grove, even a few refugees from Wharftown who still served the Selunites... volunteers and warriors flooded into Kohlingen from everywhere, all ready to toss their blades behind the Holy City in defense of all they held dear. Cystana, Morningdew, and Rockhopper ran around the city, organizing in a flurry, making sure people went to their appointed stations, making sure defenses were rallied, and effecting any last second changes.

The Defenders stationed in the outskirts prayed, prepared, and spoke idly about what was to come. A few of them mused about what Flight members they might face, and what would accompany them.

The Grove collaborated around Rockhopper, many of them casting spells of protection on him and themselves, as they prepared to hold the West Gate of Kohlingen. Never before had such an odd alliance of forest and stone been weilded.

Cordor and the Wharftown refugees spoke to Morningdew and Saelier Zeyriel about their job in the Defense: To cover the Temple and defend the City Hall. Orders were barked as men and women assumed their positions.

And last, but surely not least, the stout wall of Dwarves near the Keep, ready to repel anything and everything. They spoke among each other as they drank their ale, armor glinting in the sun. They did truly appear to be a massive wall of strength and sturdiness.

This went on for a few hours, with the Red Knight Tactician, Cystana, running herself ragged as she bolted around the city making sure everything was perfect, from the Dwarven ballistae to the militia stationed outside the gates, to the clerics and medics on standby to aid the wounded.

Deep inside the Temple of the Triad, Imperator sat quietly, praying.

Finally, all was prepared, and all that remained was to wait for the coming storm....

~~~

Deep within Wyrmhold, the very foundations of the castle, and possibly the island itself, rumbled as the forces of the Dark Flight of Tiamat began to move towards the northern end of the island. The mighty doors of Wyrmhold flew open, and one by one, the Flight took to the skies. With Aurichon and Infernus at the head, Stormwhisper, Forestgloom, and Incingdeath behind them, and Deepeningdoom and Myrk, now revealed in his powerful bony Dracolich body, behind those three. Beneath them, the shadow of their flying bodies formed the Wyrmshadow, one massive giant shadow that appeared to be a five headed dragon in flight, and it was headed straight for Kohlingen. Along with the dragons, the Bedine and Minotaurs were n the march. The quagmires buzzed with activity, and deep within the Skull Crag mountains, red-winged disciples brought themselves to bear.

The dragons were seen far off. Kohlingen knew they were coming from miles away. The Dwarves readied the siege weapons with Ballista bolts, and aimed them for the skies. The Flight soared towards Kohlingen, and when the first volley of ballista bolts were fired, they dived down low, and began pairing off, soaring towards separate parts of Kohlingen. Forestgloom and Infernus dived together towards the Western part of the main city. Stormwhisper and Icingdeath headed for the keep, and began circling the skies, chanting in Draconic. Myrk vanished completely in the skies, as did Deepeningdoom, who vanished in an orb of shadow. Aurichon hung back, watching the battle from afar, and batting away ballista bolts as needed, circling around the area. And almost simultaneously, all hells broke loose in Kohlingen.

In the Outskirts, Myrk the Dracolich appeared, along with Teleported Darkscale Savants and lizardmen from the Quagmires. The outer wets gate was forced open quickly, and lizardmen flooded into the outskirts of Kohlingen, meeting the Defenders, Everguard, and Kohlingen Guard head on. While battle raged around them, the highest ranknig Defenders darted around the battlefield, squaring off against the Dracolich himself, who continued to blink in and out of existence, firing a spell and disappearing, only to blink back in a moment later on the opposite side of the battlefield. Two sorcerors would eventually pin down the Dracolich with Counterspelling methods long enough to force the dragon to go sword-to-claw with the blades of Huntress and Justice. One Chromatic, one Metallic, both blades pursuing virtue, and the death of the Dracolich. Bone fragments began flying out from the Dracolich's body, as he beat his skeletal wings in an effort to escape. Dragged back down by supporting spellfire, his body was eventually dismantled and broken to bits... not that the Dracolich cared. He had done his job, and would be waiting patiently in Wyrmhold to reform. The Defenders began to pull back into the city proper, and joined the Grove, who had just begun their own set of problems... and would now have the Lizardmen pressing in on the West Gates added to them.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of Kohlingen, a storm was brewing. The loud draconic chants of Stormwhisper and Icingdeath began to be drowned out as all of Kohlingen was surrounded with a massive storm. Rain, fog, lightning, the entirety of Kohlingen was covered in monsoon-like conditions. The Dwarves of Brogendenstein held their line, as ships holding Bedine warriors, and Minotaurs slipped up to the keep, some being sunk by massive ballista bolts, individuals falling as the boats drew closer, to tossed axes from the dwarves. Once the boats came ashore, Icingdeath and Stormwhisper descended upon the line of dwarves like a tidal wave crashing against a castle. A castle made of pure mithral and adamantine... even the mighty strategist chromatic couldn't make a dent in the valorous line of Dwarves. Not a single Bedine or minotaur made it past into the main city. Stormwhisper was forced to withdraw and return to the skies to remount the lightning storm. Icingdeath wasn't so lucky. His hide became filled with the blades of throwing axes, and his blood began to stain the rising rivers and ocean around Kohlingen. With a powerfu roar, the body of Icingdeath collapsed backwards, torn, shredded, one wing broken... into the ocean behind him. The body sank, and was carried away by the current. Like his daughter before him, the Scourge of the Wastes was dead. The Dwarves had their revenge against the White that had terrorized their isle for years. Now they had their eyes on Stormwhisper, and they watched him circle above carefully....

The Grove's forces were taken by surprise when Infernus and Forestgloom suddenly raged down, diving directly at Rockhopper, wo had been preoccupied with seeing just how far out of Kohlingen he could throw lizardmen who were getting inside. Scores of troops of both sides were blown away at the simultaneous wing buffets of the landing dragons, and Rockhopper immediately leaped away from the main battle to start fending off the Flight. The Druids of the grove organized the Rangers, who began launching timed volley after volley of special arrows into the hides of the dragons, focusing especially on Infernus, who was causing the very air around her to be lit in superficial heat.

"Today you die, Rockhopper! I reclaim my pride, my hoard, and your life!"

"I'm waitin' Gloomy. C'mon! I'm not alone this time!"

Infernus began to ravage the city, calling down pillars, shafts, storms of unholy fire that burned the city, despite the heavy rains. MEanwhile, Rockhopper and Forestgloom dueled, batting lizardman and elven ranger out of the way with equal disdain as claws and teeth scored marks on dragonhide. Leaping from side to side, scaling walls, building, and other implements as necessary, the ground shook with the force of their battle. Over in the center of the city, Infernus was tiring. Her spells were waning, an her hide was filling with arrows, tiny pinpricks that, though they were pin pricks, were adding up.

"Return to Wyrmhold Sister! We await them there! Aurichon has this handled!"

The battered, bloody Green looked at Infernus disdainedly, but obeyed the command of her superior. Leaping back from Rcokhopper, she screamed at him. "We aren't finished, Copper! You head will rest on my hoard!"

Yelling out simultaneously in Draconic, Infernus' Word of Recall took effect, and the third and fourth dragons retreated from the battle, leaving only the lizardmen hordes, and the elite corp of Crimsonguards to deal with the Grove and the Defenders, who were slowly being pressed back towards the center of the city.

Back near the Keep, Stormwhisper, still injured, descended once again on the dwarves with more Minotaurs, and met the same resistance as last time. His strikes were fierces, and he called down bolt after bolt of jagged lightning, but the dwarves held fast. Even the almighty Enforcer could only take so many jagged axes biting into his hide before he needed to admit defeat. With an echoing word of Draconic, he too used the spell Infernus cast on him, and blinked out of existence, returning to Wyrmhold. With that, the storm over Kohlingen slowly began to dismiss itself, and the daytime sun slowly shone through the clouds once more. The Dwarves looked up at the sun and grinned to each other, grimfaced and bloody with battle.

Aurichon, watching from the skies, was entirely worried, until... "My lord Aurichon... we have found Imperator. He is in the Temple to the Triad, and caught up in prayer. He is entirely vulnerable and unable to fight back. Easy pickings for you, my Lord. If you slay him, they will surely break against our tides."

"Excellent, my Shade. Now... go to your duty. I go to do mine.

Deepeningdoom blinked out in another orb of shadow, and Aurichon began his descent into the city proper. Deepeningdoom wouldn't vanish for long... in the center of the city, directly near the Cordor unit, Deepeningdoom appeared in a void-orb of Shadowpower.

"I come to finish the job I started that night, Monringdew!"

"You couldn't if you wanted to. C'mon guys!" Morningdew announced the charge, and Deepeningdoom, along with a multitude of summoned shades, washed into the forces of Cordor: The Adventuring Guard, along with Delta Squad of the Cordor Scouts, led by Captain Zeyriel. Arrow and blade soared as they struggled to combat the shifting Shadow Dragon. Even Morningdew was little match for the slithering, snakelike beast, as he waved his way around buildings and through the city, dispatching members of the Guard, and striking at Morningdew herself. Aid would come for Cordor, however, from the oddest place... the doors of Mayfield's flew open, and who should arrive but members of the Black Flag. Leaping into battle alongside Cordor, they began to combat the Shadow Dragon. Flag and Guard, working together for a common cause.

Aurichon, however, was more concerned with other prey. Like a falcon diving to the attack, he blazed down through Kohlingen, batting away a ballista bolt and sending it crashing into a building. He blew through the Triad Temple doors, and strode in pridefully...

...And was met with a trap. The Triad doors slammed behind him, as two defenders slid a heavy metal bar over the door. Ahead of him were three far too narrow corridors to maneuver in, and ahead of him, behind those corridors, stood the platinum body of Imperator. In front of him were the assembled Defenders, who had, in a lull of combat, maneuvered into the Temple to the Triad, allowing Rockhopper and the Grove, along with Kohlingen forces, to handle the Lizardmen and Crimsonguard.

"No... NO!"

"I am afraid so, Aurichon. It ends here." Imperator wove a mighty spell, and the illusionary form of a Silver Dragon slammed into Imperator, wracking his body, and destroying the enchantments that Infernus had placed upon him to protect their leader. "You are a worthy adversary, but I am afraid your percieved victory has just turned into your biggest mistake."

"A trick. You... all..." Aurichon fell into unintelligible words, as the battlerage took him. Exploding with rage, he flew into a frenzy, striking at anything and everything. Deep gouges were rent in the walls and ceiling as he struggled to defend himself against the Defenders after being wracked by Imperator's spell. Wings beating, tail lashing, teeth gnashing, the Unholy Ravager fought not just for himself, but for once, he fought for everything he knew, he fought for his island. HIS island, no one else's. His visions were slipping away...

"DIE! DIE! ALL OF YOU! EVERYTHING! BURN AND DIE!" Acrid spittle flew out of his mouth, burning holes in the ground, and more than a few holes in the armor of the gathered Defenders. Imperator cast a second spell, and this time the visage of a spiritual Gold Dragon slammed into Aurichon's body, sending him careening to the wall.

"So... my fate is foretold. Bastards... all of you. I will... see you burn. Somehow..." A pair of bastard swords plunged into the chest of the fallen beast, and with a powerful roar, the Temple of the Triad fell silent. Aurichon's head hit the ground, and he spoke and moved no more. Moving through the corridors with ephemeral grace, Imperator moved to the front of the Temple.

"Unbar the door. It is time for Kohlingen to reclaim her glory and honor." And it was done. The doors to the Temple of the Triad were swung open triumphantly, and for a moment, it seemed like time stopped on the battlefield. All eyes turned to look at the Temple, to see who would come out...

...And out strode the Platinum Guardian of Kohlingen, flanked by his Defenders. Deepeningdoom roared in fury, and tried to leap at him. but was tripped up by Morningdew, who tackled him to the ground, forcefully wrestling with him. Already heavily injured from the fight, Deepeningdoom was quickly slain by the charging Defenders, and the rest of the Cordor troops, along with the Black Flag, plunged their blades into the Shadow, ensuring his demise even as he struggled, gurgling and roaring, to get out of Morningdew's grip.

Imperator let out a triumphant roar, and with that, seeing behind him the crumpled body of Aurichon, and the dead body of Deepeningdoom in front of that, the Lizardmen, Bedine, and Minotaurs ran and jumped in boats, or fled out the gates. Dropping weapons, shields, armor, interrupting spells, they ran for their lives. Trampling each other and everything in a desperate attempt to escape before the wrath of Kohlingen could strike them, they dashed out of Kohlingen, stragglers being cut down left and right as they dispersed, fleeing into their habitats.

With that move, Kohlingen claimed victory in the battle. But all was not over...

"we have won this, but the time has come to end this once and for all! Rally your forces, all of you! WE MARCH TO WYRMHOLD!" Imperator's voice boomed throughout Kohlingen, and all heard the order. Following the fleeing forces, every faction began weaving its way down the island and towards Wyrmhold, looking to claim final victory over the Flight, and finally bring some measure of peace back to the island.

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Back at Wyrmhold, Infernus sat in "her" Castle, channeling all the energy that a Chosen of her strength can merit. The very stregth of a thousand dragons coursed through her, as she became a fraction of her deity's power.

"Let the metallics in. When they do, you will move past, and bar entry. I will slay them all personally. They will all pay for what they have done..."

Stormwhisper, Forestgloom, and Myrk, slightly reformed but still somewhat broken, all bowed to her, and prepared for the final conflict. The prophecy would either come true here, or they would be extinguished along with eons of legacy and legend.

In the skies, Imperator, Rockhopper, and Morningdew flew in formation of their own... their own shadow apearing to be a large dragon... another Wyrmshadow, so it would seem, but one of Bahamut, and not Tiamat. Towards Wyrmhold they flew, slightly ahead of the amassed forces. When they arrived at Wyrmhold, the foremost warriors would see the trio of metallics dive into the Castle itself, before a trio of chromatics replaced them and barred the door behind them. Myrk took point, with Forestgloom and Stormwhisper behind him. Other than that, the three were alone against the island....

And indeed, it seemed like the entire island showed up. The amassed forces of Light crashed against the walls of Wyrmhold. Stormwhisper and Forestgloom leaped to the attack, striking out in the valley against targets of opportunity. Myrk the Lich weaved around buildings, launched strategic spellblasts, and trying to avoid the gaze of counterspelling mages from Kohlingen. But all three dragons were already dangerous injured from their previous encounters. Forestgloom especially, still had several Grove arrows lodged within her hide. She would be the first to die, to several druids and rangers laucnhing spell, swinging blade, and firing arrows. She slipped off the edge of the nearby cliff after a devastating strike to her leg, and as she fell, cracked her neck asunder on the rocks below. If she was still alive, the repeated volleys of arrows that followed surely would have slain her anyways.

Stormwhisper fared better, striking out mainly at the forces of Kohlingen. One would swear that everytime he struck, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky to hit his target. Vicoous rending electrical strikes rent Defenders, Cordor Guards, and Grove members alike with wild abandon. But even the Lord of the Storm couldn't keep it up forever. He was exhausted... so tired. Maybe it was just his time... The Twilight was coming anyways.

"I admit defeat, Kohlingen... And I die a warrior's death. This is all I could ask for." With that, and a final searing breath of electricity, the powerful Blue was laid low, his body falling to the ground in failed defense of his castle. In service to Tiamat, whom he had dedicated his life. His eyes crackled brightly for a moment, then dimmed grey, and his body moved no more.

Myrk would barely last much longer. Spell-less, he could do naught but flail at the enemy with tooth and claw, and despite being excellent at this, one dragon simply could not stand against the entire army. Dismantled bone by bone and scattered to the winds, the Castle of Wyrmhold was laid open to the crusading forces of Good.

They battere ddown the door, and descended the siars and ramps to the lava filled castle. Just inside, a very badly wounded pair of Rockhopper and Morningdew ushered them ahead... "Go! Imperator's up there with Infernus! Go!" "He needs help, go go go!"

The forces rushed forward just in time to see the ending of the battle.

Before them, the Aspect of Bahamut fought tooth and nail with the Chosen of Tiamat. And it was quite obvious that the Aspect was losing. Just as they reached the throne, Infernus wrenched her neck sideways, releasing a massive gout of blood from Imperator's neck. The Platinum roared dimly in pain, and with just one last look backwards, the mighty Platinum stumbled backwards and fell to the side. He took one final gasp of air, and closed his eyes, clenching his claws together.

Imperator was dead.

Screams, yells of fury went up from the amassed forces, while Infernus sat calmly, despite the battle that had just occurred.

"You see? You are meaningless. All of you are meaningless little flies to me. Even your Aspect lies dead at my feet. I don't think you understand the magnitude of the situation you're in here. I AM WYRMHOLD. I *am* the Castle, I am the Flight, I am EVERYTHING! You say that you will fight on with Hope? I say Hope is dead! Imperator was Hope and he is in ruins before your very eyes!"

Out of nowhere, an oddly times blast of fire hit Infernus in the chest, causing her to burst out in sinister Draconic laughter.

"Very well little ones, we will end this here and now if that is what you wish. May Tiamat have mercy on your souls, for I shall give none!"

Infernus began by unleashing a massive blast of fire at the grouped warriors, causing the heat to rise to unbearable levels. A moment after, she launched an Implosion, catching Saelier Zeyriel directly in the center. She dropped instantly, among a few others. Once she had finished, she leapt over and landed directly in the center of the group, and began to rage out of control, her bloodlust, psychotic Red insanity comnig to the foreground. Wyrmhold echoed with roars and battlecries as the Chosen of Tiamat flew out of control, casting spells, unleashing flame, and rending men and women, throwing their bodies aside like so many tiny toys. It took five sorcerors to finally suppress her spell casting ability, but even then, she continued pulling wreaths of flame around herself, wrapping herself in powerful blasts of Divine Might and Divine Barriers. Clenching her claws into the ground, she stood in one place, beating her wings and lashing out with her long, sinewy tail, flinging a pair of hapless Kohlingen troopers into the lava outside the battle area. Her body began to fill with scores of tiny cuts, and she appeared much like a pincushion, given the number of arrows that were entering her, though one had to wonder if she actually felt any sort of pain at all in the state she was in.

"All die! All burn! Everything! I am Infernus, Slayer of Kings, Bringer of Fire, and Mistress of Ruination! Garyx the Destroyer himself could not bring to bear what I will do to you!" A massive blast of fire emanated around her body once more, bringing the heat to sweltering, boiling levels, incinerating the arrows in her hide.

But despite all this rage, and despite all her ignoring of the pain, she was slowly dying. Every spell that slammed into her, every blade that pierced her, was exhausting her, drawing her precious lfieblood from her body. After what seemed like hours of locked combat, Infernus tossing men and women like ragdolls, others standing tall to her blows, mages working tirelessly to halt any magic she cast... Infernus stood up, and coughed... but it wasn't fire she coughed. It was blood.

"I... I give you this last chance to flee! Before I... tear you all asunder. Before Wyrmhold destroys you. Before... everything dies." She let out another hacking cough, and stumbled backwards slightly, heavy footsteps rumbling the area. A large shard of ice tore through her shoulder, and she sprawled back a bit further. A greatsword plunged into each of her hind legs, nailing them viciously to the ground as she roared out in pain and fury. An arrow pierced her left eye. Then her right. Blinded, she breathed out one last blast of fire, blood visible in her maw, cauterized by the flame. One last arrow was let fly, entering her mouth after the flame stopped, and piercing her head from the inside. Infernus choked out a gasp, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head... and she fell forward, crashing against the throne and shattering it to pieces, before she rolled down the slope that the throne was set on, and lay still, next to the body of Imperator.

The battered (and some dead) forces of Light stood in melancholy, looking over the bodies of both their slain foe, and Imperator. Rockhopper and Mornigdew limped behind, coming up once they heard the sounds of battle cease. They both blosed their eyes when they saw Imperator's body.

But there would be little time to mourn. Wyrmhold itself began to shake. Apparently Infernus' claim to be Wyrmhold itself wasn't just bragging... A few Defenders strayed back by Imperator's body, mourning his death, but were eventually dragged out at the urgings of Rockhoppper and Morningdew. The dead were brought out, those who could be, and the remaining warriors pulled themselves out of Wyrmhold and back to the cliffs, watching the spectacle before them.

In front of their eyes, they saw Wyrmhold revert to a form long ago, that very few would have seen. They saywStonehold, in its beginning stages. As they watched, they saw the castle build and climb into the sky. They saw statues get built, destroyed, and rebuilt again. They saw the shift from a theme of demons and devils, to undead, back to devils and demons, before the greatest shift of them all. An echoing roar sounded, and the statues of devils and demons began to be replaced by dragons, all over. The castle changed entirely, becoming what they knew as Wyrmhold. The more they watched, they saw the aging of the castle over time, as Drak'law ran it. Then, assumedly when he left, they saw the Castle begin to fall into slight disrepair. A ew statues crumbled. For a moment, the Castle rebuilt itself and shone upwards in massive glory. Then it was enveloped in a massive white light, and they heard two loud bellows. Imperator, and Infernus. With that, the castle imploded on itself, falling to the grond as moss, stones, and grass grew in hyper-speed over it. When the massively fast aging display halted, all that was left were overgrown stone ruins... and one giant draconic skeleton, that of Imperator.

When all fell silent, the warriors approached the bones of Imperator. some cried. Some knelt down to touch the bones and offer gentle prayer. Others hung back to deal with the injured and wounded, such as Rockhopper and Morningdew. But all took notice when a bright white light descended from the skies, and a ghostly form of Imperator forme before them, shining white, entirely see through.

"Mourn not for me, virtuous ones. My death was not in vain. In my passing, I brought Infernus low, so that you may slay her.... So please, do not mourn me... Bahamut rewards his extraordinary servants. He has smiled upon Kohlingen... And allowed me to take the form you see before you. I am the Spirit Guardian of Kohlingen... now and forever. I am here to guide you through to Eternity. So do not fear. I am here for you."

"What you all have done here cannot be expressed in words. The immeasurable ammount of lives you have saved... countless lands saved from these dragons. I simply cannot explain it... nor do I have the time. I must assume my station in Kohlingen. Rockhopper, Morningdew... I release you from the duties of Bahamut's Wing. You are free to return to wherever you wish. I will see you soon, Kohlingen. Farewell."

With that, the glowing form of Imperator faded into the sky, and al that was left in front of them were bones... bones that felt decidedly holistic in nature. All that was left now was to go home and rebuild Kohlingen.

~~~~~

Wyrmhold was brought low, and the island saved by... the island itself. All rose forth to defend it, and ultimately, all were victorious. For now, the island enjoys some measure of peace.

~Fin~

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

~Epilogue~

Imperator would return to Kohlingen with the defenders, and begin an eons long reign of guidance and wisdom-giving. His bones would be rooted into the ground at the ruins of Wyrmhold, and have indeed acquired a rather holy quality to them, that causes any good hearted creature to feel warmth and courage, just by approaching them.

Rockhopper would return home to the Grove, and take a far more active role in the activities there. His favorite stories to tell as of late became the exploits of various people from all ove rthe island during the last Wyrmhold War. Where once he was secret, now more than just a few knew of his existence.

Morningdew came back to Cordor, and resumed her job there. Happy as always to be back in her home and among plenty of people, she worked to aid Saelier Zeyriel and the rest of the guard in their recovery from the recent battles, then resumed her usual duties.

Wyrmhold and The Flight: Dead. Destroyed. Battered. Eliminated in their entirety. All 8 of the dragons that had risen in the name of the Dark Flight, and some that hadn't, were dead, their corpses scattered among the island. The reign that would have been impressed by the Dark Flight was over before it even began, and their castle came crumbling down with them, with no king to rule, and no dragons to keep it alive.

Kohlingen: Battered and bruised. Buildings broken, it would take time to rebuild, but rebuild they would. They had come back from worse. Men and women crossed the streets, carrying building materials, working side by side with workers from all over the island, all working to restore the Holy City to its glory.

Mylocks: With no Wyrmhold oppressing them anymore, they've become far bolder, and range more fiercely in their usual territory. A bad side effect, but a side effect nonetheless.

And in all this, one might say, in a roundabout sort of way, the prophecy came to pass. The Wyrmshadow did spread over the land, but it was the Wyrmshadow spread by the metallics: A "shadow" of virtue, honor, and glory, by stationing themselves around the various institutions of Amia, and fostering the same traits that had saved the city and island they all held dear.

((With that, I open this topic to replies from the players if they wish. However, I ask that if there are any complaints that they be PMed to me. I wish to keep this topic fairly IC for the most part, please, as well as flame-free.))

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

For long, Na'yann had prepared herself for this day to come. Eversince she came to know of the threat by the dark flight, she would start to create special potions of restauration, the most powerful ones she was taught to make by Alitha, arch druidess of the Grove. Each day, she would, after finishing her regular work for the Grove, then go and seek the neccessary herbs for these live giving potions.

Once she had a number of them ready, she travelled to Kohlingen in order to bring them to Imperator himself, personally. Should something happen, should anyone quickly require the strong magic stored in those tiny vials, they should have them ready.

When the fateful day would come, and the dark flight would approach the city, many lives were saved by these tiny vials and yet, the one for whom they actually were delivered for, did not touch a single one, leaving them for the gravely wounded warriors and soldiers who would run into the raging battle, although chances were good they would not get back out alive. They did not have a strong dragon hide, they could not take hit after hit, they could not sweap their foes aside by a single, powerful breath, and yet, they fearlessly fought with their lives for Kohlingen, for Imperator, for the light.

Na'yann herself did not see much of the whole battle raging in and around Kohlingen. She focused on her duties and the instructions given to her and the other Grove members. She was glad, when she saw Imperator step out of the temple and thought her work had eventually paid off.

And so, the more sad and sorrowful she was, when in the end, Imperator had given his own life to enable the forces of the Island to strike true against Infernus, Wyrmhold's heart.
At first, she wanted to help saving Justice, but she could not. Then she wanted to help saving Imperator, and she could not.

Although, she was part of the forces that helped save the Island, she yet felt she had failed. As a medic, a healer, who would try to save life, she was unsuccessful twice..

After returning to the Grove with the other members, a Grove member named Toman Summer approached her. He told her that he had seen her arrow to be the final, lethal strike against Infernus. Na'yann did not believe him at first but he was absolutely sure about it. Taking the arrow then, Na'yann started to think...

...had she failed at all? Could she have done anything more to save Imperator?

Na'yann was uncertain.

He did show up as a spirit of pure, white light. That would mean he is safe afterall, would it not?

"Mmmmh...." A smile formed on her face

Her efforts had saved lives, that is for certain and Imperator is now much more powerful than he could ever be in material form. Although his claw could not be raised in battle anymore, he could now guide and protect Kohlingen and all its friends on another plane of existance, one that he perhaps could not access this way in his material form. Maybe he could now take Kohlingen under his wing more than ever. Maybe this is what he ultimately wanted.

Na'yann was certain.

She had done what she was supposed to do and more importantly, she did all she could to contribute. Maybe some things are simply way beyond her powers and there are others with greater powers to care for those... like Imperator now.

Na'yann looked at the arrow in her hand and grinned slightly.

Up to now she has much been like a typical, shy adolescent. She was uncertain, shy and often afraid. The last few days had changed her greatly, though. She had not only learned to step up and fight for what she holds dear, she also had learned that she is force to be reckoned with. She held the proof for this in her hand now, afterall.

Maybe, this was Imperator's way to thank her for not failing ... herself. Without the lesson she had learned this day she would continue to worry too much that she could fail others but never notice that she would thus only fail herself. Without being fully grown inside she could never have been a true protector.

That, perhaps, may be her answer...

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Na'yann - Dark skin, white heart


If you disagree with what Amia actually is, there are enough other servers out there to choose from.

Do not try to change Amia to your personal liking, but change yourself to suit Amia instead.

// this is a little ic story, not really focusing on the battle itself, but some of the dialogue that was going on underneath it, some small details... enjoy.


“I’m going to come with you Phenwick….” She said.
He blinked in disbelief. “Um, you are?”
“Yes…”
He muttered a whatever, and Kala looked at her worriedly.
“Pray to whatever gods you worship Maddie…”
As they finally arrived in Kholingen, Madison tugged her dark black hood up over her hair, and readied her bow.
“The last thing I need is more people recogn-” Casper Meche tapping her shoulder and turning her around cut her thought short.
“What are you doing here Maddie?! Its no place for you!”
She scoffed at him. “I’m here to help Phenwick!” and with that she dashed off, vanishing into the crowd after the crew that was slowly moving away from her.
As they stood outside the Mayfield Inn, and waited for the imminent attack, they prepared, and reprepared… weapons were checked, spells were gone over… but it seemed not enough could be done. Could they really walk away from this battle? Could they afford not to?
Casper eyed her casually and shook his head.
“Jud would give birth to kittens ya know, if he knew you were here….”
She smiled faintly.
“I guess you’d better look out for me then eh? And be thankful he doesn’t know…”
He grumbled and nodded.
And then it happened… one by one, the dragons came… one by one, they fell…. Madison wasn’t certain she’d ever seen anything like it. No… scratch that, she was positive she never had, and never would again. Only by quick feet did she dodge the massive attacks sent out on the crowd by the dragons, and quickly flung her spells out like it was her last dying day. “Perhaps it would be,” she thought.
Finally, the time came to march to Wyrmhold.
“Casper, are you all right? Its time to leave…” she cracked out at him, her normally smooth velvet voice dry and raspy.
“Maddie… help me over to that wall… I need to rest a moment.”
She draped his arm over her shoulders, and slowly moved out of the crowd with him, most of his weight bearing down on her tiny frame. After half-dropping him to the ground, she tugged his helmet off to get a better look at him. Sweat poured off of him, and she quickly pressed her lips to her forehead. As she had suspected by his appearance, he was burning up with a horrid fever.
“Casper Meche!” she chided him sternly. “Your ill, why didn’t you say something?!”
He groaned. “I’m all right…. Come on, theyre leaving…” slowly falling behind the group, they pressed on towards Whyrmhold, dodging spiders and the like all the way there. Infernus was waiting for them, and a horrific battle ensued.

"You see? You are meaningless. All of you are meaningless little flies to me. Even your Aspect lies dead at my feet. I don't think you understand the magnitude of the situation you're in here. I AM WYRMHOLD. I *am* the Castle, I am the Flight, I am EVERYTHING! You say that you will fight on with Hope? I say Hope is dead! Imperator was Hope and he is in ruins before your very eyes!"

"All die! All burn! Everything! I am Infernus, Slayer of Kings, Bringer of Fire, and Mistress of Ruination! Garyx the Destroyer himself could not bring to bear what I will do to you!
"I... I give you this last chance to flee! Before I... tear you all asunder. Before Wyrmhold destroys you. Before... everything dies."

As the battle finally came to an end, and Infernus lay dead, Madison suddenly realized her robe was drenched in blood…. Her own blood. She fell to her knees and grabbed at her sides, where the numerous sources of the blood were found. As she looked up searching the crowd, her eyes fell on a fallen. “Casper… Casper!”
As she attempted to make her way to him, a kind stranger stopped her.
“Hold on… you first… lets see about these….” She stopped long enough for him to to heal her wounds enough for her to walk, and quickly made her way over to Casper. As she did, someone murmured a raise dead scroll over him, and he breathed again, raspily.
“come on Casper… we have to leave… we have to leave –now-! This place is coming down on us….”
After fighting valiantly with song and sword, and giving up control for the greater good of the fight, he was in no shape to argue, and allowed himself to be dragged out of the castle by the hand. They made there way over the bridge where she finally let him rest.
Val came upon them and checked him, but had to leave all too quickly. “Your still burning up you know…. And… “she grimaced., “Mylocks are coming.” She looked him over and assessed correctly that he could not in fact walk on his own, and grumbled, heaving him to his feet, his arm once again draped on her shoulders, and weight leaned heavily on her. “All right… lets get home to the Shrine… she whispered to him, as she slowly and carefully made there way out, avoiding all danger as well as possible. She grumbled to him as they left. “Watch my back indeed…. Your certainly in sore shape….”

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Daniel was sitting on some cushions at Valkirya and Oninre's room at the shrine of Eilistraee. He had been spending the past two days in deep meditation, trying to discipline his will, fighting against the power of the cursed bracelets that nullified his dragon shape and his sorcery. The spell cast over it was too powerful and he would only be able to take the form of a dragon with Valkirya's help, both their will and their sorcery combined would be able to help him project some sort of perfect alter ego of himself, in all his Prismatic glory and power. It was excessively draining, more to him than to Valkirya, and he wouldn't last long. But he would do what he could for as long as it lasted.

Through that form, he was perfectly aware of his surroundings when fighting beside Valkirya; but where his real, fragile human body was, he was completely unaware and vulnerable. Lilith and May'Une stood guard beside him, even though it was impossible for any foes to break through the door to the caves under the shrine.

Valkirya came and told him the battle was about to start. She took a portal to Cordor, and from there she teleported to the same place the Cordorian Guard was. Daniel would rather see her fighting alongside the Defenders, because that was his place, beside Imperator, the Mighty Silver. But Daniel understood that Valkirya could find some resistance, not being a Defender anymore, even though the Justicar had already vouched for her.

<"Daos, come forth, if you will. It is time."> Valkirya's voice came to his mind and he felt a soft tugging at his soul, as if something was hooking it away from his body.

And there he was. At Kohlingen. He took some time to gather his surroundings. The dragons were not there yet, and Valkirya and Maddie seemed to be the only envoys from the shrine of Eilistraee there. Daniel smiled softly when he saw Valkirya standing tall and strong, her twin holy blades in hand. He whispered to her to stay away and use her bow, and after some resistance, she agreed with him. After talking to Valkirya, he saw MorningDew, Phenwick, Boy, and even Casper.

It didn't take too long for the Dark Flight to show. Infernus and Gloom came first. Daos followed Dew's and Phenwick's orders and the whole group charged against the dragons. It was Bahamut's eyes watching the battle that prevented Daos from stepping over the many elves, humans, dwarves and even halflings that were there, everybody doing their best to hurt or kill the dragons. Daos was closest to Infernus. And he was proud to be fighting against her, rather than Gloomy. His draconic shape, empowered by Valkirya's sorcery and will, was more powerful than his human one and he tore and bit at Infernus' hide, if only to weaken the spells she would have probably cast around her.

Infernus retreated and Phenwick was down. Valkirya told him to go fetch Phenwick, but a cleric by the name Kala was already there. So, Daos simply stood beside Valkirya, proud, watching the skies for any more threats. But that first battle raged for more hours than he wished, and so, his willpower weakened, and his alter ego shimmered and disappeared.

"Daos!" May'Une's voice came at him and he heard her casting a spell of Protection Against Evil. He felt the necromantic power of the bracelet, the punishment for trying to overcome the spell, draining at his body and soul.

<"Lilith.. go... Valkirya must.. come back... unharmed.."> Daos said, panting, a painful expression in his face. Lilith stared at him as if he had just spoken some foreign language, then looked at May'Une, who nodded at her. The faerie dragon darted off of the room, leaving a trail of faerie dust that disappeared before touching the ground. <"May... did you bring--"> Daos stopped to catch his breath.

<"The potions. Yes, I did. Here."> May'Une poured within his mouth the contents of a restoration potion, and a healing one. His energy back, he sat straight again, and waited for Valkirya's next call.

<"Daos, are you sure..?">

<"Of course I am! I need to help the Defenders, I want to protect Imperator and I want to see Wyrmhold fall!">

May'Une sighed, knowing that topic was past discussion, and sat in front of him, drinking a potion herself so she could replenish her health and prevent her body from falling of exhaustion. She saw him frowning slightly and then his body relaxed. Daos was on his way to meet Valkirya again.

They were at Wyrmhold. Valkirya took a bit long to call him. People and dragons were already fighting against Infernus. As planned by the Defenders, Aurichon had fallen at Kohlingen, unaware of the trap that caused his doom.

The chosen of Tiamat was fighting fiercely. He saw some of his friends fallen, and some people dragging their bodies away from feets and claws and arms. Casper and Gillaria were among them. Infernus blood was already forming a pool beneath everybody's feet. He tried getting close to help kill her, but then, the vision of Imperator, fallen, called his attention.

"Sir!" Daos voice boomed as he hurried at the fallen dragon. Trent was desperately calling for a cleric, but no-one could hear him amidst the sound of metals meeting claws, spellcasting, screams and roars. He looked down at Imperator and knew that Trent's effort was in vain. The dragon's spirit had long left his body.

Then, Infernus finally fell. MorningDew approached Imperator and commanded the Defenders around Imperator to leave Wyrmhold. The castle was crumbling down. The Defenders, some of them praying, some of them mourning his death, didn't seem to move. Not even Daos himself was willing to move. Valkirya's voice brought him back to reality and he would drag some of the Defenders out with him, but they finally decided to move.

But just as he left the castle, Daos felt his bracelet attack his human body, angry because it was forced again to release some of Daos' imprisoned natural sorcery.

<"Valkirya, I don't have much time. Please, pray to Imperator for me. Tell my fellow Defenders that it was an honor to fight beside them."> Daos managed to say while his form started shimmering again, slowly getting translucent, until only tiny dots of light remained in his place.

Valkirya nodded and sighed. She closed her hand over some of the dots of light that fell in her palm. Valkirya was on her way to check on Casper, who had fallen and was looking ill, but upon hearing Daos' words, she turned her back on then, apologizing, and walked toward the Defenders.

***
Later, first thing Valkirya did after she arrived at the shrine, was walk to her room to check on Daniel. She changed her course after she met Casper and Maddie there, arguing. They talked for some minutes and then she finally went to her room.

The paladin's human form looked as if he was ill. Dark shadows were under his eyes, and his otherwise softly tanned skin carried a sickly tone. He was asleep, his face wet with some tears he shed, his face frozen in an expression of pain and frustration. May'Une was asleep, too, beside him. Lilith wasn't there, but she saw the faerie dragon outside with the twins, shortly before she entered the caves.

Valkirya whispered a prayer to Eilistraee and another to Bahamut, and left them to rest.

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BlackDahlya

Once Upon A Time Played
Adr'ael Ken'rahel, Auron Teken’ath, Aurora Mesodias, 'Daniel' Daoskinaxarijikkym, Eilin'ira, Helena Rios, Layla Faircurrent, May'Une Do'Ndar, Mellinda Tellus, Michael of Cliffside, Rizzen of Twilight, Valkirya d'Claddath