NATION

PASSWORD

Post

Region: Hoshizora

Messages

Taurgha

Iammelon wrote:The older red Dragon barely avoided rolling his eyes at the declaration, just giving a grimacing look over at Tyfrondor when Sarxaxa got distracted by her mischievous offspring. The Grand Drake for his part glared at the offending Katak'sar for a moment, before giving Ezron a small sigh and a look of his own. The resignation in the Grand Drake's eyes told Ezron everything he needed, and Ezron couldn't help but grin. Not the first time he would have to save his old friend from such a situation, and it almost certainly would not be the last! He had his part to play.
And so with a smile still on his face, Ezron walked up behind the two Katak'sars as they were moving to leave, "Now now, no reason to cry. The Grand Drake is understanding, he's a father himself. All the same, if we're treating this as a privilege, best then to get going. The other clans will be most interested in meeting the newest vassals of Clan Granion after all." Letting that hang for a moment, Ezron turned back to Tyfrondor and gave a small bow, "Goodbye for now, my Drake. Or Saresh, if we're using this fancy new offworlder lingo. And goodbye to you as well, Razethorne. We'll catch up later." With that he turned and marched his way out, leading the two Katak'sar's out. Tyfrondor for his part simply gave an affirmative nod, and watched quietly as they left. He certainly had a lot to consider now, and plans to change.

It was not a long journey to the destination that Ezron decided to lead Sarxaxa towards, in fact it was just a short flight from the Golden Mountain. The location in question was a large castle built into the side of a nearby, different mountain. Ezron had chosen to enter through a landing pad type area, and he began to explain as he walked towards the door of choice, “Now, there is no ‘Dragon Ball’ as you put it currently ongoing. However, Clan Therkiza did decide to host a party today, and the date is no coincidence. The official reason is the clan leader, a Dragon by the name of Gyornsar, celebrating the renovations to his domain, that being this castle. However the unofficial reason for this gathering is a neutral spot from which the clans of Heord can discuss recent developments and cut deals, while the Grand Drake is supposedly busy. Clan Therkiza is neutral in most affairs, as well as being old and respected, making Gyornsar’s castle a popular neutral ground. One of those recent developments, by the way, is the news that lost kin have been discovered and are being brought to Heord… We’re going to be surprise guests.” He smirked, “This serves the Grand Drake’s purposes two fold. First, we get to display that this meeting did not go without his notice. Second, the clans in attendance are from a wider spectrum, and should serve as an excellent introduction for you into Heordal Clan Politics, without giving any of them the chance to pretty themselves up for you. Perhaps it’s a bit rude to arrive unannounced, but none can afford the prestige loss of being the first to tell our lost kin that they are unwelcome,” he finished with a short chuckle.

With that, he opened the door up. They had actually come in through a side door, not the front entrance, and this led onto an empty balcony. Looking down upon the main castle grounds, where a large gathering of Dragons was taking place. Only Dragons, no softskins were present here. In addition, there were a number of banners strewn about, likely one for each of the invited clans. Thanks to their elevated position, and the fact they were as of yet unnoticed, Ezron took the chance to start pointing Dragons out, “Over there in the back, that’s good old Gyornsar. Wealthy, friendly, and quite strong. Neutrality is a difficult position for most Heordals to hold, but Gyronsar has the strength to make it count.” The Dragon he pointed out was an older, larger one, comfortably sitting towards the back and entertaining a batch of younglings with stories. His age showed, as his resplendent golden scales had faded a bit in color. Gyornsar had a number of scars, including a missing eye which he concealed with an eyepatch, but he seemed jovial enough. His wounds and clearly used claws however demonstrated that he had earned his vaunted position of respected neutrality through battle, not mere words.
Ezron’s claw turned towards another batch, this time a proud looking Mountain Dragon, “There’s Kothex, of Clan Achjaris. Archetypal Mountain Dragon Combat Drake, like much of the rest of his clan, and he’s the heir to their leadership. The Achjaris are vassals to Clan Granion much like yourself now, Katak’sar. Kothex in particular has served the Grand Drake for a long time now, he fought against the Talmyrox on Yoricko and against the Confederacy in the Civil War. Handy advice about him, he’s stern and uptight, but fairly easy to flatter. Just bring up his battlefield accomplishments, and he’s simple. Also, he gets nervous around Montezuria. Think it might be because she scares him?” Ezron’s speculations aside, Kothex fit the description. His Combat Drake status clearly mattered to him, as he was still wearing his armor, unlike most of the other Dragons in attendance. He was in the midst of proudly showing off a gauntlet, bringing attention to strange crystals that were built into the claws.
And finally, Ezron sighed and pointed at a grouping of Dragons towards the back. This batch consisted of a few different Dragons, predominantly Cave Dragons but also a few Town Dragons, who were all gathered around one clearly important Dragoness. This Dragoness had resplendent red scales, already making her stand out among the golden majority, and was rather attractive by Draconic standards. Ezron explained with a frown, “And that, leading a gathering of the anti-Tyfrondor clans, is Krezena Shadtai, the matriarch of Clan Shadtai. Also, she is my mother. While she is not technically my clan’s leader, my father is little more than a puppet in her paws and dances to whatever tune she desires. Same goes for all the Dragons around her, all from the various vassal clans of the Shadtai. Likely one of the most dangerous Dragonesses in this room.” He then turned to Sarxaxa with a serious look, “And a bit of friendly advice; keep your other sibling away from Krezena. For her own safety and well being. I’ve seen how Myrsa interacts with Tarral, and I’ve seen how she acts in general over time. My mother can and would sense a great new underling to tempt into her service, and she’s not above any method to do that. And especially in her current state, she’s easy pickings.”
“Now, that said, I’ve noted out a few individuals in the room you should be aware of… All that’s left is to make an introduction for yourself. How do you want to do this? We can swing back around and go through the front, or…” He glanced over at the balcony, “We could make a more dramatic entrance, as is suited to direct servants of the Grand Drake. Fly straight down into the center and announce yourself, with of course my escort as unspoken proof you are here with the Grand Drake’s blessing. Believe me, they’ll act annoyed, but that sort of act of brave indignation is a good way to show you mean business, and it’ll especially impress the Mountain Clans.”

Sar'ksasa remained relatively silent throughout the flight towards Ezron, calculating strategies on how to make a first impression upon the so-called Heordals. As they arrived and her redscaled companion begun his exposition of the guests, the young ambitious Valak thought to herself that perhaps Tyfrondor was not that foolish to have such a dragon at his disposal after all; although definitely a coward, he most certainly had a quality of his own she figured. The young matriarch of the Katak'sars leaned a bit towards Ezron "Good suggestions for a Shadtai ..but I am a Katak'sar and we never really were concerned about mountains as much as we do fellow caves. I have to say that you seem to be a knowledgeable short Ezron, but you seem to lack the ruthlessness of a truly great cave ...mommy is not a good clan-leader as much as she is a contenter, I presume. Quite un-clanly behavior, I have to say. Which reminds me..." She then turned to Ymira "Sweetieflame, be sure to watch mom at all times and note how she deals with weaker dragons, alright?" Ymira smiled "Yes mommy! Do I get a pony after it?" Sar'ksasa snorted "A plastic one if you behave.."
With that she turned full of confidence towards Ezron once more, covering their conversation with her wing "This is how it goes ...we walk in - you first as the leading male - without drawing any attention, then as we reach the center. You let me do my job and go along with whatever I say. If you do not, it will be your loss Ezron of clan Shadtai, for I see potential in you ..and perhaps I could fix some of your problems, wether you trust me or not. Now without much delay, let's create something for these bored lizards to talk about".

After a bit of prepping up, the two found themselves within the room. While the plan was to not draw much attention, many already did notice the peculiar trio. It was after all a bit suspicious and scandalous that Ezron was accompanying a new whitescale young female dragoness and pink hatchling...
As they reached the center, Sar'ksasa stomped the ground and opened her wings to draw attention, while quite loudly announcing herself "AHEM! Ezron of Clan Shadtai has arrived, right-paw and trusted friend of our Grand Drake Tyfrondor, he whose firebreath has no bounds and revenge is meek but definite and deadly. So be sure to pay him the respect befitting him, but be not alarmed, as Ezron is here only to accompany and introduce me; Sar'ksasa of Clan Katak'sar, humble first-vassal of honorable Clan Granion and Great Tyfrondor ...and newest addition to the grand host of Heord" She smirked and looked at various dragons around her "Why yes, the rumors are true of newcomers as it is a fact that I am of Saherod, a Valak and proud to be so! Many sour and immature weaklings might hold in your tongue the words 'Who asked' and the answer would be Tyfrondor himself, so hold them within for you might not want to discover a morning that your tongues might have been cut. To those honorable and strongest of dragons and clan-leaders who care and wish to meet me, I say that I am happy to see who in here is perhaps as great in mind and strength to dare to welcome a new dragon. Those who do not wish so, are perhaps afraid ..and I would not wish to speak to such weaklings. Who in here will be first among dragons to make acquaintances the proper way?"

-

Iammelon wrote:As they were walking along the path, leading down from the Golden Mountain into a nearby valley, Tarral chuckled at the concept of living in a village being weird. "Seems the Valx were quite like Heord, as our cultures are split among where we live as well. Mountain, Cave, Island, and Village. Strange that you lacked Village Dragons, always felt sensible to me to just build something a bit more cozy than a shack, or a cave." She then raised an eye, "Claw of Right, eh? Seems a bit more brutish than the Claw of Law, but I can see the logic in it. Very Mountain logic. As for fights, I doubt any, unless you get yourself into a duel. Or you insult father's cooking."

With that little warning placed, they arrived at Tarral's village. Or at least it was a village by Draconic standards. Keztris was in fact rather large, with multiple Dragon sized buildings nestled into a pleasant looking valley, a large portion at the back however seemed to be set aside for cattle and was mostly guarded by large boulders arranged like a fence. The buildings themselves tended to be of two different designs, either a massive longhouse type shape, or a great circular hut. On the spherical buildings, it seemed that there was a panel towards the top to allow flying Dragons to land, open, and enter the building from the roof. A demonstration of which occurred as a Dragon flew back to the village from the direction of the fields, with a large beast in its mouth, happily returning to its oversized hovel and going in through the roof-door. Marking those buildings as the residences. Tarral however was headed towards neither of the two more common styles of building, "Father is at the Grand Court of Fire right now, as he's working. Right this way."

Their destination was quite a bit more obvious, as it was a grand tower looking building towards the center of Keztris. At the very top, there was a massive, burning flame. Acting as a great beacon for the town, and marking it as obviously important. As well as the fact it had a guard near the entrance, a large Dragon wearing a fancy helmet and bladed claw-gauntlets. The Guard raised a paw in greeting, "Hail, Tarral, welcome home from whatever business deal you were doing this week, your fath-... What the hell happened to this one? She looks like she was buried in an avalanche! And those wings! Should you not be headed to the Aerial Doctor?" He stated, pointing at Myrsa with concern.

"I intended to bring her to the good doctor after seeing my father, Cyrirak," Tarral responded calmly. "However I felt it best to let her meet my father first, since that work may take some time. I presume he is handling another case, probably another pointless brawl."

The Guard, Cyrirak, was about to respond before he suddenly clamped his paw against the ground and assumed a vigilant looking position, standing at attention. Tarral was confused, until she heard a voice boom out from behind her, "You presume incorrectly, little claw!" Turning to face the Dragon who had just dropped out of the sky behind them, Tarral and Myrsa would see a large, older Dragon. He also wore armor, however it was distinctly ceremonial in appearance and nature, extending to his claws and even wings. And on those wings were large braziers, which tilted as he moved them, making it look more like a scale. "I had heard my daughter went on a trip Ezron of all drakes, and then a visit to the Golden Mountain... You should counsel your father before getting involved with matters related to the Grand Drake, youngling. But I am aware of the situation now." His gaze fell upon Myrsa now, "And you must be one of the offworlders. A... 'Valx', if I remember the terminology the grey softskins used for our kind. Good that you have come, I needed to register your clan as well as any others in the ledgers. Now stand tall and address yourself before the Claw of Law, youngling! Your name, your clan, and your heritage!" he boomed out, raising up one of his ceremonial gauntlets in emphasis.

Myrsa felt a bit hurt and insulted by the rather mean remarks of the guard and was about to retort that the guard's face was in a worse state than her wings before Tarral averted a likely disaster. She was of course caught off guard by the arrival of the greater drake in the premises. Turning around to realize that this was Tarral's father, she mustered her strength to open her troubled wings and make a slight bow, though upon hearing a certain word she also snorted; Disregarding any and all fears of meeting with a superior dragon that was also her interest's father, she raised her paw's claw to correct something "First of all, sa'ar, with all due respect but it is Valak, which means Dragon in general. Valx is what softskins call us because they feign an inability to pronounce our true names, which is a lie and purposedfully mean. To answer you, I am Miraak'sana of Clan Katak'sar, daughter of Lasai'ksases Katak'sar, deceased Valek Saresh of Saherod of our once royal clan that boasts forty-seven Grand Drakes of Saherod, a position we held through rightful wrath, wisdom and fire's justice. I am fireborn as all of my clan, which is as we hold to be true, the one great guiding force of all dragons. My clan Katak'sar has stood for our kind against all hardships even when stronger dragons gave up and betrayed our species ..we stand here in dragon form, while the traitors' bones have been turned into dust by the billions of softskins. We led Saherod's dragonkind against all odds and fighting against both weak-minded dragons and the softskin hordes and while we lost the battle for our homeland, we stand proud for at least never giving up, even when those stronger than us in muscle faultered; since while we may be small and of weak constitution, our fire burns bright, vengeful and powerful and ever will! I would say I am most honored to meet you but I would also require your name for it to be a true feeling, sa'ar!"

-

Iammelon wrote:The martial attire got glances from the guards, who were uncertain about all of this, but they did let it slide. Otrysian however was not incorrect in assuming that his subordinate had gone a bit overboard on announcing himself. The captain got a glare from a number of the stern Anubites, including one who seemed to be the official announcer. The jackals among the crowd glared at the accidental, but still occurring, breach of protocol. And the eyes of the statues, burning with soulfire, quickly glanced at him. Judgement from countlessly old generations. Brief, but powerful.

The Announcer Anubite however, deciding to just ignore that, unveiled a scroll. Yelling out to the crowd of Anubites, "In arrival, the honored groom, Prince-Drattan Ortysian I of the Talmyrox! Valued guest of the High Lord and upholder of the ancient treaties, the Ancestors welcome you!" That allowed the crowd to now clap for Ortysian, as he had been formally greeted and announced according to the Anubites. The announcer then spun on his heels, and looked in a different direction, "Now arriving, the bride, Princess Feme Rwim! Honored member of the Imperial Rwim Household, defender of tradition, beneficent diplomat... The Ancestors congratulate you and are here to certify this union!" Then the crowd of Anubites went wild, and all the jackals eyes turned towards the aisle where the older member of the Rwim Household was approaching from. She had a decidedly less martial look to her, instead wearing a lovely and ornate dress that marked her clearly as part of Anubite royalty. Flowing fabrics, and glowing gems quite similar to those of the Soulstones Anubites cared for so deeply. Yet she also had a Khopesh at her side, quite similar in style to "Brotherly Soul" Ortysian now wielded. Fairly important to the ceremony.

Ortysian's slight rush to get to the center stage to stand next to her seemed to be acceptable for the Anubites, and Feme wasn't exactly slow either. As both got to the podium however, appearing in a burst of light behind them was an older Anubite, one who was slightly transparent. An Anubite spirit, and judging by the regalia he wore, it was the spirit of a High Lord. He looked over Ortysian, his phantasmal voice speaking out dryly, "Hm, not the wedding I would expect for one of my descendants. But an old flame, lit by true passion, appears to burn strongly." With that, he gave a small nod of approval, and then his voice became much louder as he magically amplified it for all to hear, "Verified by both living and dead, we all come to witness this union! A historic occasion and merger of families, for as long as it may last. But what matters most today is we see two souls make a choice for their future. A unity of body and soul, a union that begins in life and will continue forever more even into death! Let all bear witness to this newest bond, and may it be as eternal as our souls and our Empire! With the assent of the ancestors, may this marriage between Prince Ortysian and Princess Feme become official! Blades up!" With that, many of the Anubite Guards, who notably were all wielding two blades, raised their swords into the air. Feme raised her own up, and gestured for Ortysian to do the same. The blades were important to make this real, in the eyes of the ancestors. "And... together!"

With that order, all the guards suddenly crossed their blades in the air, loudly clanging them together and creating sparks. Feme moved forward to do the same with Ortysian's Khopesh, clanging them together above their heads. And then, still holding up that sword, she moved forward and kissed him. And the crowd cheered, for strange as this unusual union may be... In the eyes of the Anubites, it was now one that would surpass even death.

It was rightful and it had been finally accomplished. With the clash of his kopesh with Feme's, Otrysian felt as if he had repaid the greatest debt of his life to whom he always considered to be his wife. No longer they would the old prince have to pretend that Feme was merely a diplomat and all of Astana could in turn resound in jubilations for the wedding. Most importantly, he could finally have his wife stand beside him at all times and perhaps for an eternity. As the two enjoyed the ceremony in Tombuiorn and stayed in the palace grounds for a few days, they soon would have to move to Astana, where a massive celebration was awaiting them ...Feme and Otrysian being showered with flowers, blessings and Ether-powder in what appeared to be the greatest festivities the planet had seen ever since the old times, of peace and good Arganraxel rule.
The rather old couple was finally at peace, united not only in soul, but also in the eyes of the ancestors and law. After the festivities ended and Feme was given her princely crown as Princess-Drattan-Regent the two could finally enjoy their married life at peace. Looking outside their bedroom's window in Caer Maltez, Otrysian smiled truthfully while holding Feme in his embrace "Astana's Sun finally looks a bit brighter, don't you think? ...no etherstorms tonight"

With that out of the way, the Arganraxels would have to look at new debts to be paid back, less jovial ones and more demanding...

ContextReport