open The Last of One's Kind

[Nameless Knight 1,001]

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"Push" Shadow said as she began to push down on the lumber and Tenebae began to push harder. The boulder tilted some more but was still not rolling out of the way. Shadow heard cracking noises coming from the board and hoped that it wouldn't snap before the boulder was moved.

[Demirari 454]

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Both Praesuls clapped their hands three times in approval, "Excellent!" Both said in the same time as nods of the captains were added in as a sign of approval. The only one that didn't act in a similar fashion was Lady Florence herself, whom was looking at the scene with her usual facial expression. It was a strange contrasting look when compared to the Praesul's excited face or even the smiles that were upon the faces of the captains. 

 

At last, Lady Florence's face was adorned with a small smile, "I'll promise that Praeses Ordinis will act humanely as possible in this hunt unless it is needed to break our oath to save ourselves, however, the force we'll be using will make sure that there won't be any conflicts." Then she stood up and walked to the entrance, "our target will be somewhere near Albion I believe. Captain Artemis had given me an interesting report to make of." Then she turned toward one of the Praesuls, "Praesul Barden, escort this healer to our stables. We'll be departing soon." Then she left into the darkness at that.

 

"Understood Lady Florence," the now known Praesul Barden nodded his head before turning towards the healer of Sana, "when you are ready, inform me and I'll show you our stables."

 

----

A ship from Arcanum landed in the busy ports of Doritha as its crew prepped the ship for the next voyage back to where it all began. It was a normal cargo ship filled with the regular materials that were still abundant and has yet to be restricted from either sides as the ship's last departure. However, there was certainly something strange, a figure bearing the symbol of Praeses Pompeius quickly disappeared into the streets. An agent under the orders of Nox to inform Doritha of the war that plagues Arcanum. 

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

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Zefira and Raali pushed the boulder with Shadow and Tenebae.
"Come on you stupid rock...move!" Zefira shouts as she puts all her strength into moving the rock.
Raali helps push the boulder, using his tail. He lets out a small huff of smoke and looks at Zefira.

[Nameless Knight 1,001]

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The boulder began to move out of the way. Just enough for Shadow and/or Zefira to slip into the cave. Tenebae stepped back and then rammed the boulder. Moving it even more, but cause one of his spines to break off. He made a quiet roar in pain. "Tenebae!" Shadow said as she stopped pushing to check on his spine. "Take a break from pushing" Shadow said to Zefira and Raali. Shadow moved her hand across Tenebae's broken spine. "It will heal... Its not the first time I broke one of my spines" Tenebae said. Shadow felt around the ground and picked it up. The black spine was sharp at the tip and was slightly curved. She felt where it had broken off and said "Now where did I put my bag?"

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

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Zefira and Raali pushed hard, feeling the boulder budge. Both stopped pushing when Shadow told them too.
"Everything alright? Tenebeas not too badly hurt?" Zefira asks, leaning against Raali.

Zefira hadnt pushed anything as heavy as the boulder in a while. It also didnt help her much that she was recovering from being kidnapped by a handsome pervert and a wound in her side. Zefira sighed and pretended to make a snow angel on Raali's side.

[dragon4111 914]

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"Thank you." Asator replies as he looks around.

"Being human? Well its ok, i suppose. I live for battle, but I hate to see abuse of any kind." Asator chuckles, "I know I'm contradicting myself here but let me try to explain it better...I love to fight against my enemies for the thrill of the fighting. When I see someone being bullied or hurt with no cause, I get mad. One sided battles are despicable. Cruelty to majestic beings is downright disgusting." Olaf begins to think of a painful childhood memory.

A memory where Asator befriended a rabbit and took care of it. One day Asator was pushed to the ground and had to watch as bullies tore the rabbits limbs off one by one.

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Zefira watched as Shadow used some ingenuity to find an easier way to lift the boulder. She waved over Raali and leaned against the boulder.

"Just say when, Shadow."

 

@,@@dragon4111,  

Ali smiles at whatever Asator's thinking of, then nods, "I'll do it for you, my friend... What's it like being a human? You don't seem to be as hateful as my old master, but you seemed angry at him just because he was there..."

 

Lily nods, "Alright, let's get started then. Lead the way Draco, I'm ready to do whatever I'm supposed to do for this... She turns to Olaf, "Hello there, are you feeling down or something?"

Draco stood and started to walk towards the springs in the very back of his home. He looked to Olaf and Lilly. "Are you two coming?" Draco asked as he walked. He was humming a tune that his father once hummed. It was a somber tune. It was about longing for home.

 he began to sing softly to himself.

[FractalMoon 378]

@@Demirari,@, @@dragon4111,  

Cassandra nods, repeats her oath to herself under her breath, and looks up at Lady Florence, "Alright ma'am, when do we get moving? After all, time is of the essence if we are to defeat these threats. I forgot to say it in my report, but the scales of dragons, especially when treated with a liquid graphene solution, are an excellent armor material, especially since they are angled to deflect draconic claws significantly. I presume it was an evolutional adaptation in order to better survive combat with their own, but they work just as good for humans.

Ali nods, "I can understand. I don't like to fight, but there are many who do, and I understand that... You need not worry about explaining to me friend. I shall not judge you."

Lily walks beside Draco, only realizing the gravity of what she's about to do in the back of her mind. To distract herself from changing her mind, she begins softly singing to herself. It's a song similar to Draco's, but more hopeful and determined. The song of someone who had seen too much to give up.

[Demirari 454]

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"We'll move after the intimidation force is prepared," Lady Florence replied as she held the reins of her horse lightly, having dressed in her armor. Near them, the training field next to the large stable, was a force equaling around four-thousand men and ten ballistas in tow. It was a large force for this hunt, but it was more for intimidation than a fight.

 

Footsteps near them as a figure tailed behind Captain Dalton. Both stopped as Captain Dalton bowed before returning to a rigid position, "My apologies for the sudden interruption to the hunt," he stopped to motion the figure forward, "this man is from Nox." Then he silenced himself to let the agent to take the center of attention.

 

The agent didn't move as his cloak and mask betrayed not even a single bare skin. "Prima Florence of Praeses Ordinis," the agent finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, "Arcanum has fallen into disarray. Civil War is upon us, I am here to warn you of the ones loyal to the kings and queens. The princes and princesses of the old. They have brought up their swords."

 

At that, Lady Florence gripped the reins in tension, "Inform Praesul Fleta of this. Captain Dalton inform her that she has full permission to draw troops for what I fear the influence of the old will be arriving." The captain nodded at that before motioning the agent to follow.

 

Lady Florence then looked at the gathered force, "We'll move now." The force had been readied a minute after the small conversation had ended. It was a convenient as Praesul Baden shouted at the ensemble force to start moving.

[dragon4111 914]

@@Demirari,@, @@dragon4111,  

Cassandra nods, repeats her oath to herself under her breath, and looks up at Lady Florence, "Alright ma'am, when do we get moving? After all, time is of the essence if we are to defeat these threats. I forgot to say it in my report, but the scales of dragons, especially when treated with a liquid graphene solution, are an excellent armor material, especially since they are angled to deflect draconic claws significantly. I presume it was an evolutional adaptation in order to better survive combat with their own, but they work just as good for humans.

Ali nods, "I can understand. I don't like to fight, but there are many who do, and I understand that... You need not worry about explaining to me friend. I shall not judge you."

Lily walks beside Draco, only realizing the gravity of what she's about to do in the back of her mind. To distract herself from changing her mind, she begins softly singing to herself. It's a song similar to Draco's, but more hopeful and determined. The song of someone who had seen too much to give up.

Draco chuckled to himself as He pulled a lever revealing a glowing pool with a statue of Kalahira standing tall. "Here it is Lilly," Draco said as he looked at the goddess. He kneeled down "Now Lilly I need you to undress. I'll do the rest," Draco said as he said a prayer. "Kalahira, mistress of inscrutable depths, I ask forgiveness.

Kalahira, whose waves wear down stone and sand.

Kalahira, wash the sins from this one and set him on the distant shore of the infinite spirit.

Kalahira, this one’s heart is pure but beset by wickedness and contention.

Guide this one to where the traveller never tires, the lover never leaves, the hungry never starve.

Guide this one, Kalahira, and she will be a companion to you as she was to me," He head was bowed.

[FractalMoon 378]

Draco chuckled to himself as He pulled a lever revealing a glowing pool with a statue of Kalahira standing tall. "Here it is Lilly," Draco said as he looked at the goddess. He kneeled down "Now Lilly I need you toDraftees ans 'll do the rest," Draco said as he said a prayer. "Kalahira, mistress of inscrutable depths, I ask forgiveness.

Kalahira, whose waves wear down stone and sand.

Kalahira, wash the sins from this one and set him on the distant shore of the infinite spirit.

Kalahira, this one’s heart is pure but beset by wickedness and contention.

Guide this one to where the traveller never tires, the lover never leaves, the hungry never starve.

Guide this one, Kalahira, and she will be a companion to you as she was to me," He head was bowed.

Lily sighs and slowly undresses, unsure what this has to do with the ritual. Instead of questioning it however, she just keeps humming to herself, silently wondering how much pain she will feel when this ritual begins. She listens to the prayer, her eyes searching the pool as Draco continues his incantation.

[dragon4111 914]

The pool glowed brighter as Draco prayed. Draco's tail pushed her in gently. When that happened her memories flashed before her eyes. The floor gates opened with in Lilly's mind as if some omnipresent being was shifting through her memories judging her.

 

Lily sighs and slowly undresses, unsure what this has to do with the ritual. Instead of questioning it however, she just keeps humming to herself, silently wondering how much pain she will feel when this ritual begins. She listens to the prayer, her eyes searching the pool as Draco continues his incantation.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

@@dragon4111,
"Course"
Olaf follows Draco.

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Ali nods, "I can understand. I don't like to fight, but there are many who do, and I understand that... You need not worry about explaining to me friend. I shall not judge you."

Asator smiles, feeling a sense of acceptance. He looks forward and strokes Ali's back.
"Thank you, friend. Its nice to have someone who doesn't think less of you because of how you act." Asator says.
Asator looks around at the town and smiles, thinking of what an honor it was to have a dragon as his friend. Asator looks up to the sky and imagines flying into the heavens on Ali and touching the clouds. 

[Nameless Knight 1,001]

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Tenebae  looked at Zefira and Raalie "I will be fine, We were at least able to make a hoe big enough for on of you to go in." Shadow looked up and said "We did?!" Shadow got up and went over to the hole. She stuck her hand out and felt nothing "We did!!" She said happily. 

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

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Zefira shouts, "Hooray!" and jumps up. She looks at the hole and then at Shadow.
"Why don't you go in, Shadow? You might find some lost treasure...or a secret society of cave dwellers."  She says.
Raali scratches the side of his belly with his tail and rests his head on the ground.

[Nameless Knight 1,001]

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"I'm blind so... what if something were to happen, I can't just walk in. Even if there was light in there I wouldn't be able to see." Shadow said as she turned to Zefira. "And without Tenebae I would just be wandering around, not knowing where I am or if there was a hazard in front of me" She continued 

[Demirari 454]

It was a slow war; it was a fast war; it was a war of common blood. The Arcanum Civil War was still raging on. It has been three months since the start (it takes three months to travel from Sorsasa to Arcanum). The death toll had risen to three-fourths of a million. Indeed, in a short time for such war, nearly a million soul had perished in this deadly game of chess. It was a push and retreat. It was a war of attrition even with the technological advantage Praeses Church had against its foe. Yet, the feeling of the closing was nearer and nearer even with the death rolls rising ever so higher.

 

The coast of Sarinida was in a state of war as ships clashed with one another. The ships of the Imperialist outnumber the cannon-equipped Loyalist by four for every floating hull. Farther down south in the freezing archipelago lands were a war of raids. The center, the fields that feed Arcanum was bled red as armies continued to clash for the vital control of the region.

 

As an account described the center of the war as horror on earth as the bodies continued to pile up. In some cases even, the account stated that the bodies reached as high as a fortress's walls. It didn't help the fact the amount of the new crossbolts making the standard crossbow obsolete and had increased the amount of deaths happening by two times.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

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"Oh" Zefira blushes a bit, embarrassed, "well...what if you and me went into the cave together? Raali and Tenebrae could use their combined strenght to hold the boulder open for the both of us." she suggested.
Raali snorted out steam and stood up, waiting for the word. He looks at the boulder and gets ready to move it.

[Nameless Knight 1,001]

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"Sure! but we could just go in, you then me. It doesn't have to be held open." Shadow said. Tenebrae sighed in relief, He did not want to push anymore and Shadow knew it. Tenebae walked over to where his broken spine had landed and picked it up. He used his claws to dig a small ditch and placed it inside.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

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"Oh..right...didnt think of that. Well do you want me to go first, or shall you do the honors?" Zefira asks.
She looks at the cave opening and sucks in her stomach, hoping she would fit through the hole. Raali watches Zefira and shakes his head. 
Zefira approaches the boulder and peeks inside, seeing nothing.

[FractalMoon 378]

The pool glowed brighter as Draco prayed. Draco's tail pushed her in gently. When that happened her memories flashed before her eyes. The floor gates opened with in Lilly's mind as if some omnipresent being was shifting through her memories judging her.

Lily lets the memories flow through her, not daring to challenge the creature that was rooting around in her mind. Mundane things flash by quickly, but then they reach a definitive moment in Lily's life. It was a week that went by many names. 'The massacre on the plains', 'The battle of 5 souls', and 'The day the world burned'.  With a sigh, she lets the spirit see the battle in its entirety.

(This is meant to be read as a stream of consciousness, not a 

The battle started normally enough. Field Marshal Lily Osiris was organizing her troops for a massive incursion into Dracomancer territory, after the Rider forces had been driven back to their borders for a month or so. This area was to be the sight of a battle that would turn the tide of the war back into the Riders' favor, over the humans and the Heathens. It was time for them to finally end this battle. With a brisk command and I check to make sure her dragon was with her, she takes off and begins her charge on the enemy position. There was a platoon with her, and a company led by a Grandmaster around them. It was her honor to fight for the Riders, and many Heathens would die this day. A flash of flame, her platoon like a blowtorch through the village. Land with a crash, like birds of prey from the depths of hell. Dismounting, screaming like a banshee and taking the very heat of the Heathens' sick power and channeling it into her own kinetic energy. One drops after another, the battle is going well. Take a break from the battle for a moment to assess the situation and relax. A mistake, a white hot lance of pain in her side. Check her body, no wounds. Relief, then realization. This is bad. Look over to see her dragon falling over in pain. The pain becomes overwhelming, but she must press on. She must help her friend. Heathens swarming on her friend like ants on a carcass. More pain, she wants to let it just cause her to drop, but she can't. Her friend's heart is racing, she can feel the fear and pain. 'Why Lily? Why are we doing this?' she hears in her mind as her friend goes through massive agony. Then pain. But worse than the pain was what followed. Nothing at all. No reassuring voice in her mind, no gentle compassion of a lifetime of companionship, not even the mind-destroying pain she had felt moments before. Just... Nothing. The realization hits her, her dragon, her friend, her lifelong companion, is gone. Everything goes white. The rage she feels makes the pain seem like a small torch in a universe of sensation dominated by a bright star of enmity. In an event that will give her a title for the rest of history, she pulls practically all the energy in the fight, flame breath from both sides, tearing claws, swinging swords, even the cries and screams of the people around her, and channels it into electrical energy. The sky goes black as night with clouds attracted and charged with the same energy that now permeates her body. With a massive scream that causes her vocal cords tear and bleed she begins calling down lighting bolt after lightning bolt on everyone around her. Friendly, enemy, it doesn't matter at all. Everything around her has to burn. Burn like she did. Die like her friend did... The long-obliterated town runs slick with blood. Must leave nothing, must make sure that no one knows what happened... Suddenly a feeling on her shoulder, some sort of yelling. The lightning stops, and she finds herself being dragged away. In a physically ruined and emotionally devastated voice she croaks, "Stellatera..." while weakly reaching out, trying to find her dead partner. Tears in her eyes, she falls to the ground and sobs incoherently. The Grandmaster in charge of the battle looks around at the battlefield, then at the perpetrator of this chaos and evil. The girl was obviously going through trauma, but it was impossible to see why. There was nothing left to determine why, but by what was left of her uniform she was a Field Marshal. She was badly wounded, her uniform shredded and burned, and even her armour badly torn up and warped by the concussion of her lightning. She would be taken away for medical care, and a long debrief. Mercifully, the girl stopped sobbing and fell unconscious after a while.

In real time, Lily looks at the memory in shame. It was her darkest hour, and the turning point where she went from a cold and clinical tactician to a veritable hurricane of death, tearing through any enemy placed in front of her.

 

 

Asator smiles, feeling a sense of acceptance. He looks forward and strokes Ali's back.

"Thank you, friend. Its nice to have someone who doesn't think less of you because of how you act." Asator says.

Asator looks around at the town and smiles, thinking of what an honor it was to have a dragon as his friend. Asator looks up to the sky and imagines flying into the heavens on Ali and touching the clouds. 

Ali smiles and growls happily, "It's nice to have someone who doesn't hurt me when I haven't done anything wrong... You're so much better than my old master..." She looks up at the sky as well, dreaming of the time when she can bring her new friend and partner up to see the sights that she loved. The one thing that made having her old master bearable. She suddenly realizes something and cranes her neck to look at Asator, "Do you know anyone who can do magic? They could heal me right now!"

Lady Florence then looked at the gathered force, "We'll move now." The force had been readied a minute after the small conversation had ended. It was a convenient as Praesul Baden shouted at the ensemble force to start moving.

Cassandra nods and follows the group. This is the first time she has been in combat, so she planned to try and stay out of the way of these frankly brutal colleagues of hers.

[dragon4111 914]

The spirit had watched as the memories played out. But the soul of this lady would be too valueable alive than dead. With that the spirit touched her shoulder imparting the mark of the Dracomancers.  And with that part one of the ritual was done. The mark on her shoulder began to glow.

Draco stood up and sliced his wrist as he walked into the pool. He drew on runes onto Lilly's body. He looked like he was in a trance. A deep one. He walked back out of the pool then began to chant. The runes glowed with a blue light. The light intensified as it began to transform the grandmaster of the Dragon Rider's body into that of a sturdier Dracomancer's body.

[Nameless Knight 1,001]

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"You go first..." Shadow said as she looked at the cave entrance. Tenebae covered the ditch before walking away from the group and laying down. His spines began to slowly raise and lower at different times. He was growling quietly and looked around at the surrounding area.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

 

 

Ali smiles and growls happily, "It's nice to have someone who doesn't hurt me when I haven't done anything wrong... You're so much better than my old master..." She looks up at the sky as well, dreaming of the time when she can bring her new friend and partner up to see the sights that she loved. The one thing that made having her old master bearable. She suddenly realizes something and cranes her neck to look at Asator, "Do you know anyone who can do magic? They could heal me right now!"

Asator smiles and pats Ali's side.
"I would never hurt you. You are too kind to me." He says.
He bows his head and sighs when Ali asks about magic.
"No, I am sorry. If I knew anyone....well..I wonder if that Grandmaster does magic?" He thinks out loud.
Asator didn't want to think about the faction of Dragon Riders, but if it meant Ali's happiness he would do it. 
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Zefira nods and crawls through the opening. She gets up on the other side and brushes her armor off. Zefira then bends down and peaks her head through.
"Alright, now your turn." She says. 

[Nameless Knight 1,001]

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Shadow slipped in and put her hand on the cave wall. She didn't recognize what type of rock of rock it was made out of. "strange, never felt this type of stone before." Shadow said as she continued to walk with her hand on the wall.

 

Tenebae laid his head on the ground once he noticed there was no threat.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

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Zefira follows behind Shadow and looks at the cave wall where her hand was.
"Wow, haven't seen something like that before." She says.
"So, Shadow...how did you and Tenebrae meet?" 

Raali yawns and stretches his wings out. He glances at Tenebrae for a quick second and snorts out smoke.