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The Demon Dragon
The group had gotten an opportunity to gather some information on their mission’s objective, but morning arrived swiftly. In the distance, the forest from the day before still smoldered, though by now the blaze had mostly run its course.
Neese was in attendance, along with a smattering of the villagers. At her side were two familiar faces: Orson and Shiris, the two who had rode out to meet the crew earlier. Shiris looked vaguely mutinous as she clutched a cloth-covered parcel; Orson merely stood back a few paces from Neese, tending to a group of horses the village had provided for their use. The animals seemed a little skittish, as if they knew their destination, but were otherwise well-behaved.
Neese raised the long white staff in her hand, closing her eyes as if in prayer. “Marfa, goddess of creation, bestow your divine protection on these travelers. Guide them to their destination, and shield them from harm.” In response, a soft, warm light suffused the area; the crew would find their bodies just a little lighter, their stamina restored, and their anxieties soothed.
With that, she lowered her hands, blessing completed. “May you find your journey swift and safe,” she said somberly.
And with that, they were off.
Orson helped those of the crew that were amenable onto a horse, giving them some basic instruction on how to steer the animal or tell it to halt. For the most part, however, the horses knew what they were doing. There might have been a slightly uncooperative animal in there. Or two. But you know, for the most part.
Neese was in attendance, along with a smattering of the villagers. At her side were two familiar faces: Orson and Shiris, the two who had rode out to meet the crew earlier. Shiris looked vaguely mutinous as she clutched a cloth-covered parcel; Orson merely stood back a few paces from Neese, tending to a group of horses the village had provided for their use. The animals seemed a little skittish, as if they knew their destination, but were otherwise well-behaved.
Neese raised the long white staff in her hand, closing her eyes as if in prayer. “Marfa, goddess of creation, bestow your divine protection on these travelers. Guide them to their destination, and shield them from harm.” In response, a soft, warm light suffused the area; the crew would find their bodies just a little lighter, their stamina restored, and their anxieties soothed.
With that, she lowered her hands, blessing completed. “May you find your journey swift and safe,” she said somberly.
And with that, they were off.
Orson helped those of the crew that were amenable onto a horse, giving them some basic instruction on how to steer the animal or tell it to halt. For the most part, however, the horses knew what they were doing. There might have been a slightly uncooperative animal in there. Or two. But you know, for the most part.
Re: THE SIEGE
A hot gust of wind sent the lightstone skittering over the floor, sending wild shadows dancing over the surface of the passage. At the far end of the passage, from which a pinprick of light was visible, a section of the passage seemed to move.
Then it was replaced. By a large, reptilian eye.
On the other side of the passage, Shooting Star snorted. The gig was up.
Re: THE SIEGE
Punchy knows better by now than to grab relative strangers who already don't like him, so he doesn't pull Shiris away. He does, however, position himself in front of her, between her and the dragon's mouth. His shield protected him and Ronnae before, it could do so again.
"Pretty sure that mofo is maddogging us, shawty. If you're game, you run and I'll take the heat."
Possibly literally. He wonders if Puppet has a limit on how many times its shields can deflect fire.
And he hopes Shou's hightailing it out of there like, yesterday.
Re: THE SIEGE
Unfortunately, comrades are in potential danger, so common sense can kindly go take a long walk off a short pier. He steps out of the shadows rather quickly, moving up beside Punchy.
"You're not taking it by yourself, kiddo," he said, a red glow from the optics of his armor giving the area a bit of extra illumination.
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As the blast of flame past her, she held her breath and braced herself but did not release the spear. No way. She had a job to do, even if the blistering heat made her vision swim.
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YEAHHHHHHHHHHe doesn't appreciate Shou calling him kiddo, but he'd be a liar if he said he didn't appreciate the company. At the first burst of flames he slams Puppet forward and sends the shield up. It may offer Shou some extra protection and the field mostly covers Punchy. Mostly.
"Fucking shiznat!" Punchy yells as the flames subside and he realizes his glove is actually melted and fuzed to his left hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices that his jacket's on fire. And that Shiris is running away.
He tries to pat out the flames on his shoulder and waist and when that doesn't work, tries to smother the fire against the wall. "Shoutarou, make like Travolta and get shawty!"
Re: THE SIEGE
Much as Punchy is ...nonsensical, he at least gathers the meaning enough. He follows Shiris in. "You okay?" he quips, then does a memory-switcheroo, changing forms to Skull.
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It flew swiftly through the air, burying itself in Shooting Star's snout. Unlike with their experience from before, the dragon recoiled from the wound, whipping its head quickly away from the end of the tunnel as it roared unintelligibly. Whatever enchantment had been bound to the spear, it apparently worked and the dragon was now attempting to claw the offending weapon free of its face. Momentarily distracted.
Shiris looked at the end of the passage, then back to where they'd come from. She could try and run... or she could seize the opportunity and run straight into the dragon's lair while he was occupied.
Re: THE SIEGE
But it seems he and Shiris have similar ideas, because once he's done keeping from getting flambéed, he bolts for the dragon's lair. Because there is nothing more heroic than running straight into danger!
Also not much more heroic than realizing you can only run about twenty yards because the heat is so stifling. Activating Puppet's shield keeps the air around him cool enough that he doesn't pass out entirely, but he does wobble a bit.
"Shou! Shou! Can you gank that spear out of homeboy's face?"
The only good idea he has is letting Shiris use it again. Or making a tactical retreat back to the others and getting the other two spears, but why not just give up and go home if he's going to do something so logical?
Re: THE SIEGE
He doesn't wait for an answer from Shiris before he takes off for the opening. Once he gets where he can get air, he takes a mighty leap and tries to land on Shooting Star's face.
THIS IS THE BEST PLAN.
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She darted up and out of the passage, sliding down the rocky slope below and hitting the ground hard.
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Oh, and watching as Shou seems to be heading in slo-mo for Shooting Star's mouth. The spear is temporarily forgotten, as is the heat, as is Shiris, as is the danger of being in this ridiculous situation entirely, as Punchy runs forward and punches Shooting Star in the neck with more brute force than a runaway train.
Holy shiznat, I just punched a motherfu-
And then he passes out.
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...what are those two morons doing.
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Oh, the indignity of being struck by a nun puppet.
[Let's combine the two threads below, since they're now all in the same place.]