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Something Wicked This Way Comes... Again; Finished
Topic Started: Oct 26 2014, 04:14 PM (1,721 Views)
CloakAndDagger
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THE DUNGEON MASTER
Admin
[Warning: Horror and mature themes. Blood, bones, and… things]

The damp air hung with words. The fever-pitch ramble, inhuman save for the sheer passion of its concert, birthed a decadent and unrepentant ocean in the deep dark of the jungle. Outside this equatorial belt, the sun was beginning to die and the winds were beginning to hail from the north. Out there it would be winter, but here -- here there was no fall, no spring, no summer. There was no winter. There was only rain or no rain. There was only an ever present heat and a pressure that cooks the sweat and bile out of outsiders. And, of all the great lands of the continent, this was the most richly living, but it all came at a price. One night of this deafening, living symphony of voices was only able to sing by standing on the backs of those unable to survive the chaotic conflict of the day. The dead here outnumbered the living by thousands to one.

Massive crickets rubbed violin string legs in unrequited love. Night birds whooped and cried and jeered at their sleeping peers. Primates with long, spider thin legs grasped for purchase on shadow thickened branches, and as the trees sung battered crackles, the reckless reachers cooed and hollered to make themselves heard. It was overwhelming. It was omnipresent.

Then, like the air being sucked into a vacuum, a bare silence snapped through the jungle. In an instant, there was everything -- and then there was nothing. Not a soul moved. Not a leaf. Not a breath.

Two years ago, a warm night like this had brought up a threat. It had been something regurgitated from an unreal world, and had begun to twist into an infection, but it had evaporated almost as quickly as it had been discovered. This night, just as warm and just as humid, saw a return to things unfinished. As a sublime, effervescent musk proffered itself from the depths of the jungle, a roughly outlined figure shambled into the pale moonlight. Halfway between its escape from the trees and its glorious return home, the stuttering shape sagged. Its knees broke down, and the form fell. From standing to genuflecting, and from knees to the ground. The ground was soft from rainfall, but, the impact was severe. In an eruption, the bloated man burst like tissue paper and ground beef. A red mist of queasy flesh slurped onto the saturated ground where the browned blood was quickly whicked into the soil. The face, half fleshed, stared out with one glassy eye toward the sleeping town. From its other eye socket, something shifted. Under a the moon’s lidless eye, half a dozen chitinous protrusions groped to wrap around the softened skull.



A day later, two more bodies fell towards the village -- each a little closer than the last. However, long after the third body had collapsed into meat, another man died. In a pool of his own red running blood, this one’s end had come at the hands of the familiar instead of a mystery. And that familiar man, having gotten what he’d needed, sat down beside the fresh corpse. He wiped his knife, lit a hand rolled cigarette, and waited for the others to come.



(((OCC)))
Planning thread
And here is the first night of the first day of this new, halloween adventure. This time, I’m trying to stick to a plan and I’ll get us straight from one thing to another. With your help, we’ll get this thing to the fitting end.

Sekkians! After the appearance of the first rotten corpse, it is logical that the academy kicked into high gear to send a party out and finally resolve this madness before it ate its way through another town (see last thread). Tainteds! If you’re here, its probably because you’re curious and/or want to see who tosses their cookies first (spoiler alert - it’s me). All are welcome!

So far, you know this:

  • This first body and the proceeding two other bodies arrived in the same mysterious manner as the last town’s corpses had.
  • This town is some distance away from the last town that experienced dissapearances
  • No one from this town has disappeared yet, but, after the first body, a majority of people fled or were evacuated.
  • Also like the other town, the animals in the surrounding wilderness have either disappeared, or are hiding.
  • It is eerily silent.
  • Touching the corpses last time was a very bad idea (see Rolf)
  • There is a strange musk slowly emanating from the jungle. At this time, only dires will be fully aware of it.
  • Josiah just killed a man. He is alone
What you do not know:

  • Why Josiah killed this man, or if the man was healthy.
  • Who the other bodies are.
  • Should you set fire to the bodies y/y?
  • Why you are putting yourself through this again.
Once again, you play the detectives working your way into a dangerous mystery. We’re going straight into the fray here. Interact with Josiah however you wish! You may pose questions to me either in post or in Chat/IM/Discussion thread. If you want to look at the jungle, I will tell you what you can see. I will give you any information that you ask for, within reason, and within the directives of the plot. At the end of your post, make your way to the edge of the jungle. If you’re interested, go right ahead and wander into it.

<33 You guys are the best.
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Kialish
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Frang and Xeena, interrogating Josiah

It had been two years since the happenings that occurred in the jungle. Strange things had sprung up from the deep mysterious green that was the dense jungle that encompassed most of Nyushi. Rumors of moving corpses and rotten bodies vanishing... It was disturbing to say the least. But, the Academy had, after one investigation, called it quits and waited until things got worse. And slowly, it seems they did. Now, more were being sent to investigate, and this time, to put a close to the mystery once and for all.

Frang didn't want to go, not one bit. It sounded risky, and even though she knew she was more than capable of handling herself, she worried Xeena was too fragile. Of course, the human would have none of it.

"We are going, that is final!" She exclaimed when Frang brought her concerns to light. The forest dragons face fell from surprise to anger.

"It's too dangerous, no one even knows what this is let alone what it can do!" The dragoness hissed, Xeena walking around the forest and shaking her head.

"That is the point, my beloved," Xeena said, exasperated. "We need to stop this, it is going too far and no one knows what it could be. It must be some tainted handiwork but all we know is that Dires go crazy around the 'infected' areas and that someone got bit by a corpse. So. We are going. If you wish to hide like a soft scaled whelp, then I will join one of my brothers or sisters in flight, and solve this without you."

With those words, Frang was locked into going, even if meant putting them both at risk for the Jungles secrets. She would simply have to be more on guard. And not leave Xeena alone at any cost...

It was a few days later that they were scheduled to leave with a group to a set of given coordinates on a map. Frangipa stepped from foot to foot nervously, the unease filling her stomach not unlike when anticipating the hatching of her forest babe. The babe who never hatched... Xeena did not share her worry. In fact, she was eager and excited. The emotions between the two clashed uncomfortably, but neither complained. She climbed into the saddle, and they were in the air.

The flight felt, for Frang, to be far too short. One moment the were flying over dense brush that seemed endless and the next they were in the moon drenched area where the map had lead them. But, to Xeenas surprise, they were not alone in the outcropping. A man stood, the glow of a cigarette faint in the dim evening. Before told to do so, Xeena had Frang angle down towards him, dropping from the formation and coming into a run once paws hit ground. She trotted to a stop, Xeena leaping from her back and walking at a brisk pace with purpose, face melded into a look of anger and mystery.

She noted the bodies, disgustingly rotted, and as though they had exploded outward, flesh decorating the ground like confetti. The smell was washed out from a previous rain, but the fresher corpse smelled of rot and a breeding ground for death. And the man smoked a cigarette right next to it. Had he killed the man who lay dead on the ground?! Anger sparked as she walked faster, grabbed Josiah by the collar and heaved him to his feet.

"Who are yo-" She halted, seeing closer now that he was somewhat familiar, one seen around the Academy but not with a dragon. He had been a mentor to the new wyrmlings. "Or I should say, why are you here?" She asked, no less sharply. "Did you do this?" She released him and gestured to the corpses around her. "Answer!"
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CloakAndDagger
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THE DUNGEON MASTER
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Josiah to Xeena

The flapping wings had been a dead giveaway to company, but the speedy arrival of this particular inquisitor was unusual, even for such a situation as this. In the span of half a draw of his cigarette, something large had landed an something much angrier had come to pull him into standing. Rough hands around his collar heaved him upwards, which was a feat given the somewhat distant physical nature of the rider and the sitter. He was forced to turn somewhat and face her, but he did not protest. The lit cancer stick burned keenly between his lips as he regarded her somewhat distantly. In his time at the academy and most of his time abroad, he had been a genial, if not somewhat mysterious man. His smile was easily shared, especially as he’d been the one to introduce quite a few young wyrmlings to the tools that they may use for the rest of their lives. Weapons were his nature. And today he was sharper than usual. He was friendly to a point, but there was no smile. And the scar over his nose looked tense.

“Well, now.” He gave a little flick to his black had to perk it upwards toward the lass. “I imagine I’m here for more or less the same reasons you are. That is, if you’re here to get your hands dirty with a little reoccurring problem.” His words were thickly accented and were drawn long. “And for the other, yes. This one, but not those.” After gesturing to the body next to him, he lightly brushed what was left of her grasp, if any, off his person. “And, if I may ask, who are you to be questioning so mightily?”

There was something missing.
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Alix
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Loves characters who write themselves
Alix and Ammit arriving. Alix to Josiah

“They can't be serious.” The tone of Alix's voice suggested a hearty amount of disbelief. Dark brown eyes scanned the parchment in her hands once, and then twice again. The watermark and wax seal on the edge showed that the information the letter contained was all too real. “By the fucking First they can't be serious!” The anger in her voice was matched by the parchment crumpling under her tightened fist. Forcefully tossing the ruined scrap away, Alix pushed herself away from her desk and to her feet. She paced in the confines of her spacious quarters, trying to organize and make sense of the swirling emotions inside of her. Her hands balled into fists until she could feel her nails dig into her palms. The pain distracted her enough so that she could take a deep breath. She needed to calm down. Taking several deep breaths, the young rider wandered over to her dragon's nest. She needed Ammit right now.

Stopping at the veritable crater that was Ammit's nest, Alix gently rested her hand on ruddy scale. Climbing over, the woman settled herself on the thick limb. She watched as the Earth stirred, most likely prompted by the emotions that had flowed unhindered across their Bond. A moment passed as thick, clear membranes flickered back, revealing the fiery orange orb that was Ammit's eye. With a cautious shake of her mane, the haze of sleep wandered away from Ammit's consciousness. As her vision focused, she was met with a small smile from her Bonded. “I'm sorry Ammit. I did not want to wake you, but there is news.”Alix explained. Leaning against her Earth's bronze-speckled shoulder, Alix's deft hands began to play with a lock of blond hair.

“Do not apologize.” The Earth rumbled. Even though it was meant as a caring suggestion, as always it sounded more like an order coming from Ammit. “Something bothers you. Tell me. What is it? ” the Earth demanded. Raising her massive head, the female opened her jaws in a yawn. They closed with a powerful snap, her teeth scissoring closed. There was nothing that went unsaid between the two of them. If there was something, or someone, that was bothering Hers, than she would do everything in her power to see the threat destroyed. Turning an eye towards her Bonded, the female waited for her to begin.

“Well, do you remember that investigation we were a part of? The one from two years ago with Rolf and the others?” The rider's tone had taken on a hint of sadness as the mention of their former guide. She had never forgotten his name, and his passing had certainly affected her. He had died a cruel, needless death. If only they had figured out some way to save him... If only they had found an answer!

Shifting uncomfortably, Ammit nodded her head in recognition. “Yes, I remember. Is that what has upset you so? What's happening?” The cluster of spines on Ammit's tail thumped noisily against the ground as she waited for the answer she already knew.

Taking a deep breath, Alix leaned against Ammit for support. “They're reopening the case. Apparently the strange happenings that were initially observed have started up again. The higher ups have created a task force comprised of the original investigators plus some new members. They want us back on.” Closing her eyes, Alix grabbed handfuls of Ammit's mane. A cold shiver descended down her back, unprompted by anything save her own emotions. Nothing about this situation sat right with her.

Snorting her displeasure, Ammit remained silent while she processed the information. Bringing her tail to curl around her body, she sent a reassuring wave across her Bond. Her rider's fear was understandable. Ammit would need all of her strength if they were to stay strong. If what her rider had told her was true, things were going to be just as bad as last time, if not worse. Feeling the mounting anxiety from her rider, Ammit crooned in an effort to reassure her. ”My love, I know you're scared but-”

”You're damn right I'm scared! That investigation closed two years ago, the results inconclusive. We don't know what the hell happened to those people! Now they want to send us back?! I'd rather run 18 hour drills every day for the rest of my life than go back there again!” Alix's outburst had curtailed any response from Ammit, and in her haste the young woman turned and slid down her dragon's leg. She hadn't meant to yell, but the last thing she wanted was to go back to that God's forsaken forest!

Rising from her position, the mountainous female followed after her rider. “We will be alright. We will make it through this. I will let no harm befall you.” The Earth's voice was powerful and confident, her will firm as rock. “Now come. We must prepare.”

[align=center].....[/align]

The days leading up to the rendezvous with the team had been anxious ones. Alix's worries had intensified so much that Ammit had had to all but force her to eat that morning. Preparations had been completed the night before, so when the time came around for their afternoon departure the pair was ready. Alix had opted for standard riding straps, figuring that the investigation wouldn't warrant the use of Ammit's full combat set. Safely clipped in as she was, Alix lounged on Ammit's back. She kept her eyes to the sky, not wanting to look down for fear of seeing some horror that she wouldn't be able to push out of her mind later. Oh how she wished she could have refused this order! But alas, it would have been stupid to deprive the investigation of Ammit's prowess, and her prior knowledge of what was going on, scant as it was.

Traversing the forest had never been much of a problem for Ammit. As usual her stature prevented most trees from being obstacles to her towering form, and it wasn't long before they met up with the rest of the contingency that would be joining them. Among those gathered, Alix recognized several familiar faces. The Celestial Talons Lumiere and Makani, the Shadowguarde pair Ryle and her Valigar, and the healers who had arrived well into the initial investigation just to name a few. Besides that most of the other faces were entirely new to Alix. On a whole their team was much larger than the first time, something that abated a few of Alix's fears about the operation. The odds of something bad happening were greatly lessened when there were more members... right?

Time seemed to slow down for the Earth pair, and it felt as if an eternity had passed when something finally happened. It had started with the animals. Just like before, things seemed unnaturally quiet. The realization that they were getting closer to the village set Alix's heart into an erratic beat. She clung to her Bond for support, relishing in the ironclad reassurance that Ammit offered. She would be safe so long as she was with Ammit. Nothing could hurt her from where she was, atop the Earth's powerful neck. Grabbing handfuls of the blond mane, Alix took deep breaths as she calmed down. Everything would be alright. It would be just like last time, only now no one would die, and they would end this nightmare once and for all.

The young woman was drawn out of her thoughts by a rumble from Ammit. The sound reverberated through the female's throat as she turned her nose away from the sight below. Unbuckling herself, Alix prompted Ammit to let her down. The earth was reluctant to do so, but the presence of the other group members reassured her that having her rider on the ground for a bit couldn't hurt. Before Alix even made it all the way down, the sickly sweet scent of decay had reached her. There were bodies on the ground, just like before. Shielding her nose as best she could, Alix surveyed them from between Ammit's paws. She had no way of knowing whether these bodies were like the reanimated ones from before, and it was best not to go poking to find out.

The Earth rider had begun to move away, when a commotion in front of her reached her ears. She watched as a rider from their group approached a sitting figure. Taking a step forward, she listened as the woman questioned the man, demanding answers as to whether or not he had contributed the fresh body before them. She had started to move, to intervene, when the man's accent made it clear who he was. What the hell was Josiah doing here?! Again!

Brows knit in confusion as Alix took a step back. Something wasn't right here. He had shown up the first time to aid them, and now here he was again? Did that mean the bodies were reanimating like before? Was he involved in this whole charade somehow? The questions sprang from one another, as thoughts are wont to do, but Alix cast them aside. She needed to diffuse this situation. There might be an explanation for all of this. Turning away from Ammit, Alix made her way towards Xeena and Josiah. She dared not step between the two of them, instead she held up her hands in a show of non-aggression. Even though she was nervous, (she never intervened in situations such as this) she cast the two of them cautionary glances before she spoke. “Whoa now, let's all just calm down. We're all here for the same reason... At least I hope we are.” She said, casting a wary glance in Josiah's direction. “Now, Josiah, was this body like the other ones from two years ago? Is there anything you can tell us?”
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Kialish
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Xeena and Frangripa to Josiah, Alix, and Ammit

Frangripa was on edge as Xeena confronted the stranger, but the bit of recognition had her slightly loosen her stress. Perhaps he was an ally, no intent on harming anyone aside from the bodies laying around them. Xeena kept a stern demeanor until the man started talking, responding to her anger with a stone face. She let go of him completely and her shoulders slumped. It was then that Alix, a woman rider of a hulking earth dragon appeared with said earth and urged for calm and peace, asking the man a few questions herself.

"I... I apologize," Xeena spoke, dropping the stern face. "yes, we are here to investigate this as well. I was not expecting another person to be here, and thought perhaps you could be one of the people responsible. But that is foolish. I have seen you around the Academy, so they trust you."

"We are Frangipa and Xeena," Frang chimed in, taking a few steps closer to the man. "We and the others here have been dispatched by the Academy to investigate the happenings here, as you are doing. But please, do answer our comrades question; was this man ill? The one you put down?"
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Kitsu
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Hatchling
Raksha and Solanaceae arriving. Raksha to Josiah

The dark incident from two years prior had ended as fast as it had begun, gruesome with no answers in sight. Not that it seemed like it was about to start all over again the Academy was determined not to let it end the same way as before. Most if not all who had been part of the first investigation had been called on again to discover the elusive answers to the case. There were also calls for others to join now that they knew just how dangerous it could be. Raksha and Solanaceae were among the healers who were joining up in the investigation for the first time. From what they were informed the healers from the first time had not been prepared at all. The pair were determined to make sure they were this time. They packed as much medical supplies that Sol could safely fly with minus the extra weight of his rider’s favored weapon. The war hammer might have seemed like excess baggage but from what they gathered it could be greatly needed. While the large woman could be a bit wild at times did not mean she was stupidly reckless.

They kept close to the others as they traveled south, the bronze woman getting conflicting feelings as they grew ever closer to the jungles. While not the jungles she had grown up in it still brought up uncomfortable memories of her youth. To keep her mind busy she constantly checked on the condition of their supplies, mainly upon the glass jars set aside for collecting specimens. Around the glass was wire mess carefully set close around the slick surface and held in place by leather bands around the circumference. They were made that whatever was put in didn’t get out easily. It also helped they were stored in another container that could be locked for safer relocation. Most likely upon a larger dragon of course. Once full they would be too heavy for the rosemary to carry back.

Solanaceae was being just as precautious with his rider’s attire along with their supplies. He had hear a bit from the other healers who had gone and made sure she was properly protected. From head to toe she was covered in sets of hardened leather armor. It was light enough that both she and her dragon could get around in but also sturdy enough to make sure nothing nasty could easily latch on to her. She tugged at the simple gorget Sol had insisted she wear as well. She wasn’t too happy having something wrapped around her neck even if it was for protection. The healer looked more like she was ready for a fight than to provide medical attention. “Do ah really hav’ ta where dis damn thin’?” Raksha continued to tug as they followed after the others to the meeting location. “Unless you want me to fly back to the academy now then yes.” The woman let out a huff of annoyance but otherwise remained silent. When they arrived they did not immediately see the lone man who had arrived before them. Many of the other dragons in the group were much larger and had blocked the view of the rosemary pair. What did grab their attention though was the silence. Golden eyes narrowed as the stared into the distant trees. It was never this quite in her village. The jungle was always alive with sound, this silence was unnatural.

With another tug on the gorget Raksha turned and took notice of a few questioning a man. She strode up behind them with Sol hot on her heels and stopped behind the others. Recognition flicked through her as she took in sight of the man from up close. She had seen him plenty of times at the academy before. Mostly around the times the wyrmlings needed to learn about weapons. As questions and answers were thrown around like darts she looked to the side at the nearby bodies. The ones that were farther away were doing their best impressions of a spilled bowl of soup and a pile of chopped liver. Her eyes narrowed once more as she took in the sight. Behind her she felt Sol stiffen as he took in both the sight and smell of the bodies as well. His scales would have turned green if they could have. When it quieted for a moment she through out her own question. “An can ya tell us anyt’ing about dese bodies? Any creepy bits ta worry ‘bout?” She wanted to know if she was going to need her hammer sooner than later.
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Gothic Thylacine
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So sayeth the Spider
Caspian & Riviere gathering Alwin & Havilah before arriving on the scene and listening to questions asked and awaiting answers
((Just having them show up for now. More action to come no doubt!))

Anyone who knew Alwin knew he had seem some pretty intense situations in his day. And indeed Caspian knew this well. So when he was asked to go seeking more volunteers for a mission that sent shivers down his spine, something made him ask Alwin, but that did not mean he did not feel horridly guilty about it. Both men had heard what had happened with the first incident, Caspian almost wished he was there to help but at the same time the horror of it all nearly froze him in place.

Alwin of course had become ill when he himself had heard of it. Thanking any higher power imaginable that he was not in that mess. He had seen his friend tortured and torn to shreds, he did not need to see anything like that again. So why the hell was this happening again? And why was he being asked about attending?

“You’re mad Caspian. Yeah I get it you’re some kind of swash-buckling adventure seeker-“

“No I’m not” he said dully

“-but I am not. I need a damn rest from crap like this!”

“You haven’t done anything major in a long time. And I am not forcing you. I was asked to find volunteers so we can stop this” There was that guilt. But he had to, he had to see if his friend was willing to help and also to let him know the recent development. But Alwin was not ready to hear it just yet. Caspian kept his stoic expression as Alwin went on waiting for him to finish.

“I mean how much do we know? Was it a disease? A fungus? Whatever it was it’s obviously contagious so sending a new wave of suckers into it may not be the wisest idea. Poor Rolf! I would send in some Earth and Lava dragons to quarantine off the area. Maybe burn everything” It was clear Alwin was distressed over the whole thing, Caspian sighed and finally spoke up.

“Alwin, you don’t have to come, I’d never make you. But I feel I should let you know…they are urging as many dire riders to come as possible” At this, Alwin’s face lost all color.

“You son of a bitch!”

“Hey hey, this is NOT my idea! But there is some kind of smell in the air and only dires can detect it! I don’t want to upset you but I felt I needed to tell you” Caspian did actually look sad about this. Alwin sighed and turned to his home.

“HAVI-“ Before he could finish, the pale Earth appeared already geared up with saddle and supplies as well as a smug smirk on her face. Obviously she had heard it all.

“Who knows you best?” She asked. Alwin just sighed and swore as he ran to change and grab a few more things. Caspian just nodded and handed him a map of the location and how to get there, the two agreed to meet up when they arrived. Stalking back to Riviere, Caspian looked oddly depressed, but the Water dragon expected as much.

“Ah, he’s coming then. Do not worry my rider, we shall help protect them” Riviere was always a polite positive dragon. The Yin to Caspian’s Yang in many ways. But he was silent now as Caspian mounted up knowing his rider probably did not care to talk right now. The Water worried about what they may face, but he knew he had to be there to offer his assistance. Perhaps he could cleanse the area somehow. Bah maybe that was a tall order, but all he could do was try!
~~~

Upon arriving both Water and Earth pairs were treated to an interesting sight. A few poor souls had already arrived, one of which was very familiar in the forms of Forest Frangipa and her rider Xeena. Riviere landed a ways away and sat silently watching as they interrogated the man who it seemed had arrived first. Caspian was somewhat impressed by his dragon’s lack of reaction to the female he had mated with and created a strikingly lovely Water hatchling. But sadly the loss of their second egg had resulted in less than happy memories.

“Not going to go near her are you?” Caspian asked. His dragon simply shrugged and Caspian was further impressed by his calm soothed emotions.

“She did not want me near her. I will respect that. If she changes her mind, that is fine. Until then I won’t bother her” There was such a non emotional matter of fact tone in his voice, Caspian could not really respond to his dragon. He was just being so mature and nonchalant! But Caspian himself shrugged and looked over as Alwin and Havilah arrived. Both pairs listened as the other Earth pair asked their own questions. Caspian had none just yet that had not already been asked. But a glance at Alwin told him the Earth rider was moiré keen on looking out for a certain Dire rider so he could watch over him. So Caspian just kept focus on the stranger and the other riders asking questions.
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Inkdragon
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m e g s
Jiromy and Anemone entrance; observing, listening, acknowledgement to Alwin.

Usually, this wasn't something Jiromy would do. But as he was doing his best to change his attitude and general behavior, it seemed fitting to go out on something big and mysterious, especially since he had a feeling his wingleader would be there, one of the many he needed to regain favor with. Anemone was starting to speak to him again, though going into something that would most likely go wrong and dangerous was not appealing to her in the slightest. But she had favor to regain, as well, since she had let her rider act like a moron to begin with. Talula wouldn't be all that happy about it, but Jiromy hoped above hope she'd understand. He was trying to be better, so he would be. His daggers tucked away safely and Anemone's saddle in place with the bags secured with supplies, Jiromy couldn't help but feel at least a bit of a rush as he swung up onto the forest. He knew Anemone felt it, too, as she whisked up in a bout of energy he hadn't seen since before the tragedy that had been the latest Sekkain hatching.

They were quiet as they descended upon the meeting spot, though Jiromy did sigh at the sight of an all too familiar earth dragon, Havilah. He hadn't actually spoken to Alwin in some time, their last time having been an argument. He took stock of who was there as Anemone walked the few paces left toward the others, and he slid off to get a better look from the ground. The silence from the nearby jungle made the hairs on his neck prick, and already, the cooler air of the season was changing the closer they got. Reviewing what he knew of the situation, he already saw others questioning Josiah, the man who had killed another. This was actually intriguing, so he managed a little smile and wave to Alwin before he wandered close enough to listen in. He was itching to just wander into the jungle, and would have, and maybe still would. Anemone was quiet, staring into the jungle, but she listened, as well.

Sasha and Thorn entrance; greeting Caspian and Havilah

Of course Sasha was getting in on this. How could she not? Having missed out next time, the woman made sure she was on the list of those going. It not just to do some right and get more into helping out where she could, but also because she noticed Caspian would be there. Of course, she'd never admit that out loud. Thorn was enthused, having been itching to do something for some time now other than patrols, though he did spend a lot of time with his Havilah. Whether or not the lovely earthen dragoness would choose another suitor come next mating season, he was still very fond of her, and would always be. They were ready to go and were right behind the others, and upon landing, Thorn hummed thoughtfully in his throat as his glowing purple eyes penetrated the starting of the jungle. The somewhat maddening noises that were usually within, were just not.

After Sasha slid off while navigating safely around his many thorns, the male forest tore his gaze away to scuttle over to Havilah and crawl gecko-like up her shoulder so he could reach up and nuzzle her muzzle with his. "My earthen beauty, though this day brings us a compelling mystery, it is more time together and will no doubt need your graceful strength." Sasha tried very hard to not roll her eyes at her dragon's flowery words, and casually came to Caspian's side, arms crossing loosely as she tried to catch up on what was already being said.
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SemperMemor
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Makani and Lumiere arriving; briefly to the group, then to Josiah

"I don't want to go back," the dragon whined. For just how large he was, the tone was ridiculously pathetic. The Celestial's crest flattened against his extended neck as great sails on either side gently panned the air above the treetops. Wind whipped around them, rustling the quiet woods with a dreary sound. It was too quiet. It was an uneasy feeling, almost certainly to the same caliber of what had happened last year. The dragon flew on reluctantly, but turned an eye back to stare forlornly at the rider nestled between his shoulder-blades.

The leather-clad human said nothing at first. He would have been a liar to say that the same dread did not inhabit his own stomach. The uncomfortable feeling had only grown since they had picked up word of a strange occurrence to the south. For the pair, it was only too eerily familiar. "I know," Makani eventually muttered. It would have been very hard for Lumiere to hear the quiet words over the singing currents, but the accompanying pat along the dragon's shoulder would suffice. "Neither do I," he continued, a bit louder this time, "But if this thing's come back, then there are more lives at stake. We need to get rid of the cause. There have been too many lives lost, you know that."

Makani didn't have to go into explicit detail recounting the casualties from the last excursion to the south. Lumiere shuddered involuntarily at the memory, the frigid feeling traveling the length of his enormous spine. There was little point in arguing against the old man, even if he was just as reluctant to go through with this mission. They had agreed to meet up with the investigation party as a veteran with prior knowledge. With a handful of pairs to lend to the cause, being Talons only made the trip that much more necessary of them.

The Celestial began to slow his forward momentum with mighty, sweeping backwings as the clearing up ahead showcased a number of familiar hides. His back legs and tail made contact first, jarring the ground with to absorb the shock before his shorter front limbs dropped down beside them. He bowed his head in greeting, crest expanding in wavering caution, as Makani quickly began to dismount and approached the group. "Good evening, everyone," he greeted warmly.

Gilded nostrils flared nervously. He smelled fresh blood, and the staleness of the air. Cattle had long moved from this area. There was not a scent of prey, thankfully, for even if he were running on an empty stomach the normally gluttonous dragon could scarcely think of food at the present time. Lumiere breathed in deeply as he shuffled closer to his companions, but when his eyes fell upon the bleeding body at Josiah's feet, the nearly two hundred foot beast screamed like a wee hatchling. "Makani!" he wailed, hobbling forward in an attempt to stop his rider from getting too close to scene. Light began to seep from the Celestial's mouth from gut reaction, though the shining element would pose little more than a nuisance to the gathered company. "Get away from that corpse! Don't go near it! No!"

"Relax, dear," the rider muttered back, waving his hand. He stopped moving forward to inspect the body, and turned slightly toward the Celestial to stop him from doing anything too rash. The dragon stalled, trembling, and settled to scrabbling unconsciously at the bare earth with raking talons. "I'm not going any further, but I needed to look." Then, he straightened up and turned his attention toward the rough-looking fellow. Makani was sure he'd seen this individual before, if only briefly, but he wasn't much more than a face in an older memory to him.

"Hello...sir, I'm Makani, of Lumiere," the rider offered grimly. He hesitated to extend a hand, but the brief incline of the head, he believed, would suffice enough. "We were one of the responders from the last incident in the area. Was this man...," he continued, looking around Josiah to stare with tight lips at the deceased," Showing any sort of odd or aggressive behavior? Did he try to bite you at all?"
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Silverfeather
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Nithian and Tiberius; Tiberius picking up the weird scent

Packing everything, Nith had to make sure he had everything. The dire whined pathetically, already wanting to be gone. Al and Havilah were no where to be seen. He frowned. He had wanted to discuss this with the earth rider, but he didn't have time. They had to go.

"Alright Tiberius, Hold still"

Getting the saddle on the high-energetic male became a challenge when tib wanted to go. And boy did the large dire want to go. But he behaved himself as the small male managed to sling the saddle over his shoulders. Securing the straps was easy, but he wished he had had help to throw the saddle bags on. But he managed enough. Finally, he patted the large dire's nose, avoiding the long tongue that reached out to try and lick him in affection.

"Not now, Tib. We've got work to do"

Ever since he had gone steady with the earth rider, his clothes were almost constantly new and kept fresh. For now he wore comfortable brown pants and a creamy semi-long shirt. His familiar grey coat easily found and shrugged on. Sturdy boots kept his feet warm and had a measurable offense against getting wet.

Finding the group wasn't difficult, the large gathering of dragons and riders wasn't hard to spot. And when the caravan got going, Nithian swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. There were so many dragons around and Nithian swallowed. Despite having lived at the academy for a long while now, the young male still couldn't get over his fear of dragons. Sure, it had been tempered with having to occasionally work with them, but he still couldn't handle it. Havilah was different, of course. Somehow he could still be around her and be alright. Perhaps it had something to do with the rider.

Perhaps, but he didn't see the golden earthen anywhere. And as they travelled, all he had was the company of the gryphon that lounged on his neck. He stroked the long fluffy tail that moved back and forth. It didn't took long for them to find the bodies and the male that looked to have killed them. His eyes narrowed at the bodies.

he knew he had to be here, and that things like this had happened before. Thought he wasn't entirely sure what they had discovered. Not the solution obviously. But that didn't matter. He listened to the others as they talked at Josiah. He didn't know anything much. Tiberius huffed, spotting the golden earth before Nithian did. He yipped and yipped. wiggling underneath Nith, Though he did not move towards.

Nith's eyes found the earth rider way up above, and he smiled up at the male. He waved before he stopped. There was another dragon climbing up atop Havilah, and one he didn't really recognize. He froze, though he didn't do much, keeping his place, his face showing how anxious he was. Really, What was he to do. All the dragons everywhere. He wiggled atop the saddle, and if Al wanted to come down, then he would. Instead he turned to the others.

Though Tiberius huffed his own nose picking up something strange. It was musky. Head down to the ground he started sniffing. Close to the bodies, but not touching them, anyone watching the pair would easily tell that he had found something. Tiberius whined and huffed shaking his head. He wound around Havilah's legs, Lumiere's legs and Nithian watched.

"What is it Tiberius?" He asked, looking around. He had found something, but it looked like the dragons could't pick it up. He couldn't himself.

"Um...I think Tib's got a scent of something." He replied To the group talking to Josiah. Though he didn't let the dire go anywhere outside of the group.

Iniiki and Shi
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Nherva
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Ryker and Invidia arriving, then Invidia to Lumiere ohgodlumiimsorryitsyourfaultforbeingashinybutt

"What do they expect us to do," Ryker scoffed, tossing the parchment across the room as far as it would fly. It didn't go far, and the air made it flip around so that it fell and slid right across the floor and right back to his feet. "We're not even in a wing, why us?" He was more than just a little miffed by the missive he'd just thrown to the floor. The last thing he wanted to do was get put on some ridiculous deployment when his place should have been in Lihn. At the side of the Empress herself, or something. Instead, he was still here at the Academy plying his trade with the merchants and trying to keep himself from getting put on duty outside the place. Perhaps they had been sitting idly too long, now they'd been noticed and put on duty. "Are you even listening?"

Ryker looked over to see Invidia lounging upon her giant feather-stuffed pillow of deep red silk and velvet, ringed by smaller pillows of various shades of emerald and malachite. Her back was turned to him, and she looked lazily over her shoulder, deep green eyes looking bored, "Hmm? Something about bodies in the jungle?"

"Yes and we are supposed to go out there with them? Why do they want us if people are dead. I'm not a healer, and you sure as hell aren't one either, despite your breed," Ryker narrowed his eyes at her. Invidia had never really taken well to what her breed was good at. Her bedside manner was sometimes more active when a patient needed peace and she was always distracted by things--particularly shiny ones. It was definitely something when the more experienced surgeons and healers had to lecture her that the shiniest dragon didn't necessarily get to be first in triage. In Ryker's opinion, he'd be better suited as some sort of advisor for the empress's court, perhaps of the financial sort. That hadn't even come close to panning out.

Invidia stretched her long, thin length upon her pillow, then stood and arched her back like a great pink cat. "Well, then I guess we'd better go before those cats drag us out of here kicking and screaming," she relented so easily to the summons that Ryker knew he was doomed. There was no way they were going to get out of going to some place in the festering jungle to look at these bodies. What featherbrained idiot put them on this assignment anyway? Didn't they know how useless they were for something like this? "Didn't you say something about this having happened two years ago?"

"Yes," Ryker groaned as he begrudgingly got up and started to pack some things. He couldn't take much or Invidia wouldn't be able to carry him, but he could fit a few things in a small pack to take with them. "The case file says there were bodies and it was strange, and strange things happened--though it doesn't exactly say what." They hadn't been there two years ago to see Rolf die and see bodies re-animate themselves. They hadn't watched riders get attacked by corpses. Ryker was most likely to disbelieve anything of that nature unless he saw it with his own eyes.

"Sounds like fun. Don't be a boob, let's go," Invidia said as she swaggered about her nest, picking through little boxes for small pieces of jewelry to attach to her horns and feathers. Even if they were purposefully going out to crawl in the mud she'd have worn her best. At least she could show up looking nice.

Ryker just narrowed his eyes harder at her, "Fine, but I don't have to like it," he sighed, then went back to packing his things. They were scheduled to leave the next morning, but they'd have to leave even earlier to get there with everyone else on the investigation team because Invidia had to fly slower with her rider on her back. She could just carry him if he didn't try to move around too much and a straight flight wasn't too hard on her, but they would never be warriors in the sky by any long shot.

------

By the time they reached the place they were told to go to, it was dark and only the telltale sounds of other dragons in the area let them know they'd come to the right place. Well, that and the stench of a decaying body or two. In spite of leaving early, they arrived at the back of the pack and landed amidst the non-existent sounds of the surrounding jungle. That was eerie enough to send chills up Ryker's spine as he dismounted his Rosemary. With the towering Earths and Waters around them he felt like he could hardly call Invidia a dragon. "Wait here, I'll go see what's up," Ryker began, taking a step toward the grouping of individuals that had grown around one body. One that wasn't splattered all over the ground.

"Oh look! It's Lumiere, Zodiac's dad, I think I will go say hello," Invidia said, her feathers poofing up in excitement.

"Invidia you nitwit you don't have to bother him just because he's shiny," Ryker began, but she was already sauntering off toward the Talon of Soleil. "Invidia! Get back here!" He'd yelled it in a whisper, mostly because he didn't want to draw everyone's attention to him. On the other hand, he felt like some bubble of suspense would just burst if he shouted in the wrong direction. The deathly quiet forest was really starting to creep him out now that he was on the ground.

"Well hello there dollface," Invidia trilled as she took wing again to hover level with Lumiere's head while his rider spoke to the other humans down below. "You look worried," the Rosemary noticed all of a sudden as she took in the much larger dragon's expression. She didn't know that he had seen this before. "Why, what's there to worry about sweetheart?" The little Rosemary looked around as though there were some hidden threat she might be able to see. There were too many people around it seemed for Josiah to be a threat to Lumiere's rider. Invidia remembered the man from her lessons well, and would have preferred not to have to cross paths with him again.
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CloakAndDagger
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One mighty question was, indeed, deserving of another. And another. And another.

The creatures came from land and sky as elementals made earthly by their human counterparts. One by one, as the silhouettes grew into magnificent, moon drenched flesh and scale, a gathering of monsters and men formed at the edge of a steep and treacherous jungle precipice. The land was flat here, but the cliff was going to be a long fall all the same. Some, it seems, had already taken a tumble down it once, and it was a hard fall to come out unscathed from.

The first of many voices came from a woman bound to earth. Overhead, the great shape of the mountainous judger seemed to loom as one does when waiting on scales to balance. The woman, however, seemed unwilling to tip them one way or another. “Whoa now, let's all just calm down. We're all here for the same reason... At least I hope we are… Now, Josiah, was this body like the other ones from two years ago? Is there anything you can tell us?”
While Xeena apologized and gave some insight into her own appearance here, the dragon accommodated Josiah and introduced the forest pair as well as her own thoughts. was this man ill? The one you put down?"

But there were more, many more. Raksha asked of the bodies and any potentially creepy bits, besides, assuming, the bodies themselves. They were, after all, swollen and decomposing at an accelerated rate. Already, the hard lines of the skeleton beneath their broken, slipping flesh were bending. And just as others were listening in for any a helpful word, soggy clicks from the mashed puddles of flesh ticked and tocked in the silence of the night. Bones were breaking from the weight of decay on top of them.

Next, Makani, who bore a bright golden god among them, gravely offered their names into the conversation. With his hand open to the black hatted figure, there came the impression of humorless teamwork, and when he looked at the fresher body, it was as if the celestial rider was looking at a river of blood -- a rain of frogs. A plague. "We were one of the responders from the last incident in the area. Was this man… Showing any sort of odd or aggressive behavior? Did he try to bite you at all?"

After a bit of the hubbub and fuss died down, what was left was a rustling of voices filling the silence where the natural night’s chorus should have been. Dragons huffed, grumbled, and growled. There, a dire sniffed and came up with something strange. But, here, a man finally got around to giving some sort of answer to all the questions all at once, and he did so as he rolled what was left of the cigarette from one side of his mouth to the other. He flicked the ash off into the ether of the night. “Now, these are all mighty fine questions, but I think y’all are getting a bit of the wrong idea here.” The small fire burned hot as he pulled on the tobacco. “Firstly,” He looked among those his size, and then towards the larger creatures present. Despite the difference in rank, size, and stature, the appearance of all these military strangers did little to shift his mood one way or another. He’d expected this much, just perhaps not so many familiar faces. “Firstly, the three poor souls behind me were here before I got here. They’ve been here all day and all night and haven’t moved a muscle.” He had kicked one earlier for good measure. It had been most certainly dead, and not even a little undead. “Secondly, as I was a participant in last time’s detective work with this sort of happening, I can say it seems the same. Difference being that the good people here were smart enough to pack up and leave before any of them started wandering off or disappearing. That, though, begs the question of where these three came from. Lastly, this man was full of all sorts of aggressive behavior, but not in the way you’re meaning.” He took the iron red butt of the cigarette from his mouth and crushed it underfoot. Sparks kicked up like small flares. “He was more than likely healthy and fine besides a gripping case of halitosis and a rotten diet. You understand. A man tends to get somewhat violent when he’s about to be killed against his will.”

“I put him down because I wanted to. Because thats what you should do when someone feels they have the right to take something from you.” He brushed off his hands without a hint of guilt. As the words settled, something from the treeline creaked. A broken branch was twisted underfoot.

Two shapes stood at the edge of the darkness and peered, as if longingly, into the throng of those still in the moonlight.



(((OCC)))

Lets get right to things. :D
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Kialish
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Xeena and Frang to Josiah

The others came shortly after, their party instantly coming to Josiah as Xeena had and beginning to question him. Unlike some of the others, Xeena and Frang had not been here the last time this happened. They seemed a bit more... solemn and anxious about the situation. Xeena was confident, ready to stop the menace. But then again, she hadn't seen what they had.

After the initial clamor had died down and everyone waited on Josiah did he speak. Xeenas brows knit together as she resisted the urge to grab the man again. Had he truly killed a healthy man for no reason at all?! In this mess?

"Who are you to say when a man dies for his crime? That is what the Shadow Guarde is for." Xeena argued. A man who appeared to be under the same spell that the other rotting corpses had would not have been a problem. But to Xeena this man had done an injustice by murdering a man for something as petty as thievery.

"That is no matter," Frang chided, pretending not to notice that Riviere was among those who had joined the throng of investigators. "What matters now is determining what this... thing is that's causing so much trouble." Frangipa could tell that Xeena was going to get heated up if she persisted in arguing with Josiah, and the forest dragoness wanted out of this jungle as soon as it was possible. "Perhaps we should dispose of these bodies? Just in case?"

"Should we not investigate them first?" Xeena asked, glancing to her dragon, then to the others. "There may be clues on.. or.. in them."
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Kitsu
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Raksha and Sol reacting to sound, gives a heads up to everyone else

Raksha waited as others threw forth more questions and for them to be answered. She simply nodded as her own question was answered in a way. She had heard quite a few strange things about what had happened the first time. Creepy bits was all she knew and what to look out for. When he said he was the one to kill the man she simply raised a brow. if someone tired to steal from him that did mean he had a right to defend his possessions even if it ended the life of the thief. though she did wonder what it was that was so important one would kill over.

Golden eyes snapped to the treeline as a crack echoed in the silence. Behind her Solanaeae stiffened, his antenna twitching nervously. Something was there. The sound of insects, birds and other prey animals was still absent so it meant only one thing. Some thing was there that the rest of the jungle rejected. The large woman took a step back towards her dragon. "Sol, get mah hammer." The rosemary quickly twisted around to do as directed and jumped as something dark moved on his back.

He let out a startled squeak before recognizing the shape of the stone gargoyle. "Oh Serket this is not the time to startle others!" Sol unhooked the war hammer and let it fall from its straps into his rider's waiting arms. The amazonian hefted the comfortable weight of her weapon as she eyed the dark stone scorpion. "Hmm we mah need of deh stone one." She shifted the hammer to her shoulder as she turned to the others near by. "Oy! Somet'ing ain't righ'. Ya best stop ya jabbering and get ta watch'n."
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Silverfeather
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Tiberius and Nithian reacting to sticknoise.

Tiberius whined when Nithian finally forced him to stop dragging him through all the dragon pairs legs in pursuit of whatever it was. Getting him next to havilah and the dragon that lounged on her, he frowned, skirting even her legs to have a bubble. Normally he would have stayed next to her, but with that other dragon, Nithian didn't want anything to do with it. Though, if he really thought about it, he had at least seen the green dragon somewhere.....

His eyes snapped to the male when he said the man he had killed had been healthy. So he had murdered him. He felt sick to his guts. Any sort of killing of another person sent Nithian in some sort of anxious state, but he knew that sometimes killing was necessary to survive.

He just wondered how necessary it had been to kill the thief. Perhaps it would have been better to knock him down and out instead of kill.

Perhaps, but Nithian was not there, and he did not trust his voice to respond. So many dragons. He hoped that no one got killed. Not getting injured had been flung from his mind the moment he had been caught up on the going-ons.

The cracking of the stick in the eerie silence nearly made Nithian jump out of his skin. Tiberius started to growl, a low long deep growl that seemed, to the handler who knew him, out of place. But, the savage growl also did what the rosemary rider did. It started to alert others that some of them should start watching backs. He growled, louder and louder, ears pointed forwards, coming towards Raksha and Sol, but stopping at the edge of the treeline. Blue eyes pointed towards, the sound where it had come from. Even Sky's hackles were raised and he Spat and hissed the awfullest noises and rather loud compared to the gryphons' small size.


Let the others deal with the bodies--they were unmoving and dead. There was something...animated in the forest. Alive, or dead it was at least watching them.

Iniiki and Shi joining the pair that are looking out for the noise maker (makes a suggestion to group)

The owl pair listened to the male as he finally got around to addressing the questions that had bombarded them. They had packed and left with the group and had stayed on the outskirts of the group before managing to squeeze by to get a good look at the dead bodies. They had not been at the last mission that dealt with these, and they had agreed to go together. That didn't stop the owl pair from being wary of everything.

"the forest is too quiet" Shi whispered, ears tilted as his eyes scanned the forest. Even now there should have been sounds of animal life to be heard.

And yet, as Shi said. There was nothing.

"Looks like the dire has something in scent. Perhaps when we are done all we can here, should let them take point, see where they go?" Iniiki's suggestion could be heard by all, but it was just that. A suggestion. Whether they heeded it or not, It was something. If others hadn't reached the conclusion.

"He hasn't gone far with it though..." Shi commented.

"Probably because the handler is smart. They start following it on their own and get caught in an ambush? Best wait till---"

The sharp cracking of a stick made them whirl around. Shi's wings flared and Iniiki found his trustworthy sword, though didn't fully unsheathe it. Already the dire rider and a rosemary pair were on it. Nue made a brush call from Shi's back, and iniiki cursed.

"Nue, shut up." He hissed at the gargoyle who was tucked away in a side saddle bag as to not get into too much trouble.

Shi moved, weaving around the group to peer into the night. Something had to be out there.
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