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Post by Stage on Jun 16, 2020 0:34:11 GMT
Even wounded, the loyal Ezekiel managed to carry Hilde quickly towards their southward destination, towards the grand city of illusions and its walls: Mival.
First, the marsh landscape had dried and become tropical plains, hastening their process. It was far easier for Ezekiel to tromp through tall grasses than muddy water. Then the flat, wide-open fields, largely devoid of obstacles, had grown thicker with shrubs and trees, eventually twisting into a dense rain forest that forced them to move haltingly, at times guided by a voice from above. Moria, who had at some points run ahead of Hilde and at others flown besides her, chatting the whole while, took higher to the skies for these portions of their journey, her quicksilver eyes finding paths for Ezekiel to snake through.
Several times predators, most often feathered bipeds somewhere between dragons and birds, had sprung out, drawn in by the hope of an easy meal, but a flash of Moria's wings scared most away. The stubborn few that remained even then fled upon tasting her fangs. The jungle had never seen a creature like her, so its inhabitants were not at all prepared.
Finally, as the sun lurched high overhead, much farther across the sky than when Hild had first encountered Moria, the trees and knots of vegetation began to thin once more, revealing more of the path ahead to Hilde: including a distant wall.
"Mival, I suspect," Moria stated needlessly, dropping from the sky and landing next to Ezekiel with stunning grace for her size.
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 16, 2020 2:34:43 GMT
"I would hope so," Hilde replied to Moria, running her hand through Ezekiel's mane to keep the noble steed steady. She looked up to the great walls of the city. She hadn't seen something of such immense size and majesty since she was home in Freyr-Lunge. To think others had built such a magnificent city as well... it contradicted much of what she had been taught as a child. She wondered how many other lies Fero had been feeding to her about the world's inhabitants...
"How did you wish to enter?" Hilde inquired to the dragon. "I do not know if this place would allow you, great dragon, into the city..."
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Post by Stage on Jun 16, 2020 22:51:38 GMT
A silver shimmer running down her body, Moria sat on her haunches next to Hilde, curling her tail around her feet.
"This may be where we part ways then, pretty stone," the drake said.
The lithe dragon shivered and raised her large, mirror-like scales, each reflecting her surroundings and making her fade into the landscape.
"Go, little gem," the blurry mass of air besides Ezekiel commanded. "I will follow and judge if I am welcome. If not, this is goodbye. These humans have weapons that fire tiny missiles. I would rather not be stung by them."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 17, 2020 1:47:53 GMT
Hilde nodded amicably to the great form of Moria.
"Very well then. We shall see what happens, dragon."
Hilde then proceeded forward, Ezekiel striding forward with an understandable apprehension. In but a few brief minutes of silence, Hilde soon found herself before the great walls of Mival, and its gates.
"Hello?" Hilde shouted out, "Is anyone here?"
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Post by Executus Gira on Jun 17, 2020 2:47:09 GMT
A voice called down from the gate. It was a man, a somewhat short person dressed in uniform. "Are you here to come into the city? Who happens to be with you, traveller? We just dealt with a calamity last night, and we don't want any nasty surprises..."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jun 21, 2020 20:02:49 GMT
"I am Hilde, former knight of Draxonia. This being is my trusted escort, Moria," Hilde said to the guards on the gate. She then inquired, "What sort of calamity has occurred here? Is it related to the smoke cloud I saw far off?"
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Post by Executus Gira on Jun 26, 2020 23:53:28 GMT
The guard crossed his arms. "Last night, someone opened a rift to a demonic realm, and we had demons invade the city. Large portions of the residential areas were destroyed, and hundreds of lives were claimed before they were stopped. We're on edge about who or what comes into the city, so... this Moria who is with you, can we inspect them?"
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Post by Stage on Jul 17, 2020 20:42:25 GMT
Moria clicked her tongue. The sound was like a distant gunshot as it echoed out of her long jaws. So much for staying subtle. Perhaps it was her fault for trusting a woman in a silver shell with matters of stealth.
"You may," the drake hummed, flattening her scales to seemingly materialize from nothing.
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Post by Executus Gira on Jul 28, 2020 23:11:42 GMT
The guard's eyes widened as the drake seemed to materialize out of thin air. Dragons weren't unheard of in Mival, but they were usually on the smaller side, and with so many different types, it was hard to keep track of which type of dragon could do what, and more notably their personalities. The fact this dragon had at least bothered to materialize itself instead of remain hidden showed it was at least willing to follow orders...
A more obedient dragon than his own workers... Now that was a thought that made Xero shake his head. What a world this truly was.
"You don't seem to be that problematic..." Xero noted, "and we have other dragons in the city, so you'll be alright to enter."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 28, 2020 23:34:11 GMT
"Most excellent," Hilde said with a bow of her head, before glancing briefly at Moria. She had a feeling that announcing her presence was a mistake, and seeing the expression on her face confirmed her suspicions. Hopefully, with this guard's tolerance of her, she would not be as angry as she had initially feared. Even as sacred beasts of Greshlynk, dragons were infamous for their rage.
"Thank you for your kindness. Though I heard you mention... demons and a rift? Do you mean merely fiendish creatures of the darkness, or do you truly mean demons?" |
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Post by Executus Gira on Aug 9, 2020 1:54:55 GMT
Xero rubbed a hand across his chin. "To tell you the truth... I do not know. This land is a dumping ground of things far and wide from other worlds, and wherever the demons summoned were truly demons or merely creatures of the dark I cannot ascertain. There were many of them and casualties were many, but they were beaten back by many here, including a different type of demon from they. Still, given their nature..."
Xero bit his lower lip. "Based on what our demon expert has stated, they were indeed true demons, a kind we have never seen before, but with similarities to others all the same."
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Post by Stage on Aug 15, 2020 21:10:01 GMT
Temper soothed by Xero's approval, Moria sat on her haunches and placed a hand on her deep, powerful chest.
"There is nothing true about the demons I know," the dragon hummed. "They are vain, self-absorbed creatures modified deeply by their own magic, same as both devils and angels. They are as much spell as flesh."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Dec 6, 2020 4:39:53 GMT
Hilde bit her lower lip. Creatures from another dimension that had somehow ended up in this realm? True, flesh and blood entities from a hellish pit? The thought of true, flesh and blood demons shook the knight errant to her core. What hope did they have to stop such a threat?
"To imagine such creatures entering into our world in such quantities is truly nightmarish. I am sorry that such horrors were allowed to step into your home." Hilde offered Xero a bow in sympathy. "Is there anything we could do to help with the recovery?"
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Post by Executus Gira on Dec 6, 2020 5:31:44 GMT
The guard nodded. "Yes,there is still a lot of recovery to be done. People missing, homes torn down, many wounded or dead... If you can help with them, or at the very least help with removing the rubble and debris and bodies, that would be much appreciated. We are... short handed currently."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Dec 7, 2020 6:41:51 GMT
A quick smile appeared across Hilde's lips. "I'd be happy to help. It's what I do best."
The knight errant quickly turned to look at Moria. "Would you like to help as well?"
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Post by Stage on Dec 9, 2020 0:11:58 GMT
"Perhaps," Moria purred, her wings shuddering rhythmically, like one might drum their fingers.
Crocodile eyes shined down at Xero. "But first, we should discuss payment, no? I have no need of money, of course, but these thick forests... they are not my preferred hunting grounds, shall we say. I hope this city would, say... feed one of the kind souls who has volunteered their sharp nose to find undiscovered bodies? They must be unearthed before they soil, yes?"
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Dec 10, 2020 1:17:54 GMT
Hilde's face turned into a slight grimace at Moria's mention of payment. Not particularly noble for a dragon... not like what she had heard of the dragons of Greshlynk at all... though at least the dragon was reasonable in her requests. Food did sound nice after the cooked succulents they had survived on in No Man's Land.
"Food and shelter would be my only requests for payment," Hilde said. "My noble steed is tired and food has been scarce."
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Post by Executus Gira on Dec 17, 2020 1:55:55 GMT
Xero raised a hand to his chin. "Food and shelter won't be a problem for either of you. And no, no need for you to eat bodies, Moria. There is a feast planned at one of the hotels in the city. We have a surplus of food for it, more than we realized. Foods exported from the far corners of Lemuria, from the finest chefs in London, and some natively grown and nurtured plants and animals as well. A decent cut of them would be acceptable to pay you with. And the hotel can be used for lodging as well.I can point you in the right direction if you need..."
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Post by Stage on Dec 20, 2020 21:02:25 GMT
Though she at first seemed offended at the suggestion she would even consider eating the bodies, lower herself to feeding off carrion like a common buzzard, the mention of a feast quickly improved Moria's mood.
After all, if the largest portion of such a celebration was dedicated to her, would it not ultimately be in her honor?
"Yes, yes, just be quick about it," the drake purred, lifting her nose high. "We've just finished a long journey after all. I'm sure the little dear here needs her rest."
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Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jan 15, 2021 21:55:48 GMT
"Yes..." Hilde stated agreeably to Moria, though her expression revealed a hint of disdain at the dragon's dismissive attitude. Was this really the attitude such a sacred beast would have? She would have expected the creature to be more honorable that it so far has proven to be...
Hilde then turned to look at Xero. "I would appreciate some directions, thank you. After that, the two of us will be on our way."
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