Fantasy Falling skies: RP

[Rurnur]

"Hoh!" Azal exclaimed as he accepted the gift from Yahno with a nod. Rubbing the strange fruit on his feathers briefly, he sniffed at it before tucking it away in his pouch. "I suppose I must wait until later to try it then! How exciting!" He chuckled and gave the skylander a friendly pat on the shoulder as the group approached the villagers. While not an expert in the ways of humanoid races, he has slowly improved in the skill of reading the emotions of humans and the like, enough to know when people were receptive to communication or not, and this Yahno seemed to be teetering on the edge. Of course, there are other ways of acquiring information than by directly asking, Azal knew by now that a genuine relationship was infinitely more valuable than a few pieces of raw information. Unfortunately, not all members of the party were able to see things that way, but no matter! The most powerful party is often the most disjointed one.

The beastkin clapped his hands together excitedly and extended his arms in response to the tribe leader's unexpectedly gracious reception of them. "This modest party is not worthy of such a blessing! But we accept your kindness nonetheless! We hope for nothing more than to inconvenience you all as little as possible!" Azal spoke loudly and laughed heartily, while making various different poses and puffing up his feathers for the curious children and repeating their words back to them with his own voice, making himself look much more heroic and fearsome than he truly is. While greeting the tribe members, he thought to himself, were they truly the first to disembark upon this island? Perhaps those strange stones were more rare than Azal realized. Either way, this greeting was not something to be missed, and to imagine they could have been trudging through jungle instead of having a magnificent feast tonight!

NeonFlow

 

[NeonFlow]

The skyrace children laughed and flew about in excitement as Azal showed off,
The chief laughed heartily beckoning Azal putting a arm around his shoulders to guide him toward his stone house, it was two stories the only one in the village.
“I be Drak Tafu, tell me your name birdman, did you fly here? How was the journey for your people”
Farr coughed twice and followed Azal and the tall winged man. He felt inferior infront of such a man, nothing a cloud of poison wouldn’t fix.
Farr smirked at his bad fantasy and reached the opening to the building, stone benches raised from the ground as was the tables and presumably the shelves, the stairs led to presumably more stone furniture. Farr didn’t dare to sneak around, yet.
as drak let go of Azal he got two golden chalices from a shelf, as well as a gourd pouring purple liquid into both chalices he offers one to Azal before gulping his in one huge sip.
The purple liquid smelled stronger than any alcohol Azal has ever witnessed.
Farr could smell it from the doorway, it made his neck hair stand on end.
Rurnur
———-
Weglas made small talk with the chiefs woman, she seemed to tolerate him, and the rest. wasn’t exactly confrontational but obvious she wasn’t keen on strangers. She did Ask if the group wanted water or anything like that. More skyrace approach the group to inspect and interact with the strangers.
A group of skyrace men break off from the crowd, going into a stone building coming out with hunting supplies such as spears and nets. If one was to listen intently they might hear mumbling of having to go out to hunt and forage once more.
Quados seasonedcat Computing Magus
———
Seeing as his people seemed to have the greetings down ok,
Yahno approached Ayda and leaned close to speak quietly again. “you follow me, I show you the past” he sounded reluctant but obviously kept his word.
Taking a few steps away he casually flew to the balcony on top of the stone house the chief and Azal entered. Sitting on one of the many piles of fur rugs and adjusting his wings.
Juju

 

[Rurnur]

Azal squawked and joined the chief eagerly. "An honor to make your acquaintance, Sir Tafu! Azal Nara is my name, though unfortunately these wings have not the strength for such a journey! Unlike those of your people, it baffles me how you have acquired such great power! We arrived here through a magic I do not yet understand myself.." He said and gulped worriedly, unable to repress the truth any longer, speaking honestly came naturally to him, although even if he had time to weigh up his options, the risk involved with perpetuating a lie was simply too much. "So as I must insist, we are not so praiseworthy!" Azal laughed loudly before accepting the chalice, his eyes watering at the rather horrific smell, struggling to keep them open all the while.

He would assume that this concoction was some form of alcohol, while normally the beastkin would have no issue refusing the beverage, he didn't want to take any unnecessary risks while in the presence of the chief. Though, he'd consumed enough fermented fruit in his time to have developed a resistance to the stuff, much stronger than the average human. Along with the fact that Azal himself didn't possess much of a sense of taste, he concluded that it couldn't possibly be as bad as it smelled. Closing his eyes, the bird poured the contents of the chalice down his throat, giving a squawk and hiccup as he placed the golden cup back down. "Unsurprisingly, your drinks are just as powerful! I look forward to what other delicacies this land has in store for us!" Azal bowed in thanks to the chief. "As i'm sure there is no better person to ask, I must implore you good sir, where would a party of.. Aerthlanders.. go, if they truly wanted to understand this land of Chlokoka?" The beastkin looked to the chief and folded his arms, the question was innocent enough, sounding much like one from a curious tourist, while also attempting to draw out any more information about that place in the mountains, which seemed to be of great interest to many.

NeonFlow

 

[NeonFlow]

Azal squawked and joined the chief eagerly. "An honor to make your acquaintance, Sir Tafu! Azal Nara is my name, though unfortunately these wings have not the strength for such a journey! Unlike those of your people, it baffles me how you have acquired such great power! We arrived here through a magic I do not yet understand myself.." He said and gulped worriedly, unable to repress the truth any longer, speaking honestly came naturally to him, although even if he had time to weigh up his options, the risk involved with perpetuating a lie was simply too much. "So as I must insist, we are not so praiseworthy!" Azal laughed loudly before accepting the chalice, his eyes watering at the rather horrific smell, struggling to keep them open all the while.

He would assume that this concoction was some form of alcohol, while normally the beastkin would have no issue refusing the beverage, he didn't want to take any unnecessary risks while in the presence of the chief. Though, he'd consumed enough fermented fruit in his time to have developed a resistance to the stuff, much stronger than the average human. Along with the fact that Azal himself didn't possess much of a sense of taste, he concluded that it couldn't possibly be as bad as it smelled. Closing his eyes, the bird poured the contents of the chalice down his throat, giving a squawk and hiccup as he placed the golden cup back down. "Unsurprisingly, your drinks are just as powerful! I look forward to what other delicacies this land has in store for us!" Azal bowed in thanks to the chief. "As i'm sure there is no better person to ask, I must implore you good sir, where would a party of.. Aerthlanders.. go, if they truly wanted to understand this land of Chlokoka?" The beastkin looked to the chief and folded his arms, the question was innocent enough, sounding much like one from a curious tourist, while also attempting to draw out any more information about that place in the mountains, which seemed to be of great interest to many.

NeonFlow

Azal would notice His balance shift, almost as if the moment the liquid reached his stomach it trickled down to his feet and became mush. As drak noticed Farr in the door he beckons him in, pouring more purple into the cup and handing it to Farr before answering Azal.


“Ha, no praise he says” drak went to slap Farr on the back but the man had already opted to sit with his empty cup.
“Ilikethatdemonwater” farr slurred
“Magic or not, your the first to arrive that we know off. And a feast was happening anyway, my daughter Nano becomes a woman today, despite her tiny size haha”
At the mention of learning more about the island Drak laughed further “our people record history by sharing it with friends and family. Drink with us, eat with us, hunt with us. You will understand what it means to live in the skies.” it was obvious the chief had been drinking for a while now, he held it down very well though. But Drak seemed to be in to festive a state to play tour guide.

Azal could try and walk out the house to socialise with others who may provide a clue, or continue interacting with the chief, perhaps drinking with him will lead to some of that history being shared?

 

[Quados]

Gruntus stood uncomfortably in a corner and played with his necklace, looking at the faces around him and seeing how nice they were to his comrades, he just felt like he was not invited. So he tried to not make any kind of sound but was soon overwhelmed with nausea and a burning feeling in his stomach.

He became pale and started to breath heavy. He was unsure what was happening to him, he didn't ate something from here, so he asked one of the natives. "Those red creatures in the Forest, Yakwho or what their name was, is their bite venomous?" Gruntus try to smile politely ended up in an awkward try.

NeonFlow

 

[NeonFlow]

Gruntus stood uncomfortably in a corner and played with his necklace, looking at the faces around him and seeing how nice they were to his comrades, he just felt like he was not invited. So he tried to not make any kind of sound but was soon overwhelmed with nausea and a burning feeling in his stomach.

He became pale and started to breath heavy. He was unsure what was happening to him, he didn't ate something from here, so he asked one of the natives. "Those red creatures in the Forest, Yakwho or what their name was, is their bite venomous?" Gruntus try to smile politely ended up in an awkward try.

NeonFlow

A beautiful blonde skyrace girl, must have only been five foot tall noticed the large man stumble from pike fence seemingly after assistance. The girl fluttered right up to gruntus’s face to give him a look over.
“No, the Yakawho suck the magic and the life from their victims...” her adorable face twisted into a cheeky smile
“they say, if a Yakawho breaks a tooth in a creature, that creature turns into a Yakawho over time... you’re not a creature are you big tall man?“
The girl flew around gruntus looking for a wound, unable to find one.
“if you say... please Nano heal me with your mighty magic, save me from becoming a small little Yakawho with a tiny penis.. then I’ll use my magic to see if I can help.”
the chiefs woman looked over to her daughter, “Nano! Get ready for your nights feast”
Nano looked over with a face that seemed to radiate as her grin matched her sweet perfect (fake) tone
[10/10 charisma] “I’m a woman now mother, you cannot tell me what to do.”
The skyrace men cheered, even some of the women did. But as her mother glared they quickly quieted down.

 

[Juju]

As per usual, Ayda was busy hastily jotting down notes as the introductions began, though she stopped when Yahno told her to follow him. Nodding her head, she pressed her quill into the pages of her book and slipped it back into her bag.

With the help of her trusty broomstick she easily kept pace with him up to the balcony, her two drakes trailing happily behind. They were headed towards a large building with a balcony, she soon found out, and upon arrival she noticed that there were many pelts strewn upon the ground. 'I wonder what creatures these belong to', she thought as she hopped off her broom. She noticed Yahno sit down upon a pile of furs and figured she should do the same, though first she placed down her pack against a wall. Seemingly by its own will, the broom did the same.

Meanwhile Moh and Koh fluttered around, sniffing curiously at the many furs. Koh even went to chomp down on one but a stern look from the elf forced the drake to rethink. In the end it settled to sit down for the time being, while the other rolled around on a striped animal skin.

Ayda at last took her seat across from the skyracer, legs tucked daintily below her. "Thank you for doing this, Yahno. I truly do appreciate it." she said with a small, yet sincere smile.

 

[Quados]

Gruntus followed this girl with his eyes and he hated what he saw and heard. Overpowering the nausea and the pain and his red eyes were burning through his wild, white hair. "Let me tell you something, you may be a woman, but you should respect your own mother, you can't know when she is forever gone and secondly, I don't think that you..."
He looked around, took a deep breath and started his sentence new. "I am sorry, I don't know your traditions and I don't know your life so I shouldn't judge, so could you tell me, do you have a healer here, whom I could talk to."
Gruntus even managed a good fake smile, knowing it would be bad for them if the people now turned against them.
NeonFlow

 

[NeonFlow]

Yahno could hear Nano being a brat, if worst came to worst HE would have to help... as Ayda joined him and thanked him, he couldn’t help but match a small smile. “You ask of Akurra being magic and being a monster. Yahno knows what yahno saw.. you need to see to know” yahno took a step up moving to sit opposite Ayda at arms reach.
Closing his eyes, placing his fingers to his temple rubbing them in a circle, trying to remember each detail. His hands cover his face before moving to his forehead. falling silent for a few minutes before he slowly took his hands from his head, reaching out toward Ayda. The moment his fingertip touched her forehead she was taken from the balcony to a hazy nostalgic memory....

Ayda would first notice tiny feet and hands move as she runs down stairs. Her wings drag in the wind. The large stone corridors are lit up by small crystals that light up the very walls they sit in.
Apart from that further down the stairs, across more corridors. Flying over dark pits ducking under dangerously disgusting spiderwebs flying down more stairs! The little feet land on solid ground and continue to run in excitement, the curious nature of a child wanting to know more about the stories he had heard. Brilliant light changing from pink to orange, red, blue, purple, green, yellow was getting stronger the further the little Ayda travels down the temple,
Finally standing in the arches of a momentous size. Ayda sees it.

A giant rainbow serpent coiled around a long jagged rock, at the very top of that rock is a grand glowing green stone, smooth in the shape of a egg almost, the magic radiating from the stone, from the snake was incredible even as a child Ayda could tell this was something legendary.

Ayda fell backwards, her wings wrap around her face, tears start to well in her eyes as she is stuck in paralysis.

be not afraid, Yahno Tafu. Your brave curious nature is to be rewarded, it has been generations since one has travelled to the centre of chlokoka. I shall gift you with the knowledge of Chlokoka, and all who reside here in the sky.

Ayda could feel a voice in her head, as it spoke all trace of fear and worry was washed away, she felt warm, safe, looking up from her hands letting her wings part she was met with a black Barb on the end of a giant rainbow snake. As The tip of the barb touched her forehead... she was back on the balcony with Yahno still poking her head with a single finger. He had silent tears staining his face though “that be Akurra, Akurra be magic” his voice was small and soft, he took a moment to wipe his eyes and assumed Ayda might want a moment to process that before moving onto another memory.
Juju

 

[NeonFlow]

Gruntus followed this girl with his eyes and he hated what he saw and heard. Overpowering the nausea and the pain and his red eyes were burning through his wild, white hair. "Let me tell you something, you may be a woman, but you should respect your own mother, you can't know when she is forever gone and secondly, I don't think that you..."
He looked around, took a deep breath and started his sentence new. "I am sorry, I don't know your traditions and I don't know your life so I shouldn't judge, so could you tell me, do you have a healer here, whom I could talk to."
Gruntus even managed a good fake smile, knowing it would be bad for them if the people now turned against them.
NeonFlow

Nano huffed in annoyance. The large man telling her to respect that woman? He has no clue what she’s like... the fact he mentions not knowing her life and traditions is true. Nano couldn’t help wonder if the large man lost his mother.

Why else would he mention that instead of doing what she says?
Everyone everywhere did as she wanted... yet this guy who has three Yakawho teeth stuck in his chest behind skin that’s been forcefully healed won’t say he wants help...
No one’s child deserves to be turned into a small little Yakawho with a tiny penis. Nano landed on the ground to look up at gruntus. She gave a long sigh before answering
“im a healer. You can talk to me... but I want something in return for helping. Your problem”

 

[Quados]

Gruntus sighed, of course this little brat is the healer and instant of normal payment she wants him to beg.

He would never beg, he would rather... A sharp pain reminded him why he should be reasonable. He growls silently and then ask as nicely as he could. "please Nano heal me with your mighty magic, save me from becoming a small little Yakawho with a tiny penis.." If she push him just a little more, he would take out his weapons and just kill everyone he sees, but for now a smile would be good enough.

 

[NeonFlow]

Gruntus sighed, of course this little brat is the healer and instant of normal payment she wants him to beg.

He would never beg, he would rather... A sharp pain reminded him why he should be reasonable. He growls silently and then ask as nicely as he could. "please Nano heal me with your mighty magic, save me from becoming a small little Yakawho with a tiny penis.." If she push him just a little more, he would take out his weapons and just kill everyone he sees, but for now a smile would be good enough.

Nano smiled brightly flying up to meet gruntus’s pissed off face with her own pleased look of winning a petty victory
“This can either hurt or take time, so I’ll wake you up later” she nimbly flew off into the Forrest returning with a ripe zazz fruit. Without warning she forced it into gruntus’s hand. “lay down and eat this.”
the moment gruntus reluctantly sat down and took a bite of the fruit a sweet flavour would burst from the crunchy flesh, a large seed in the middle was to hard to eat, but the rest is delicious, fresh and... gruntus fell asleep not even halfway through the zazz fruit. The moment his head hit the grass Nano laughed to herself, checking his eyes first by prying open his eyelids.
Her hand glows a brilliant light as she runs her fingers along gruntus’s body. Finding the yakawho teeth by telekinetically searching for something foreign in his body. Using that same telekinesis she rips the three needle like teeth from his chest. Three small bloody holes remain but fade as she runs her hands over the wound. She takes the three teeth and sticks them one by one into the half eaten zazz fruit leaving it by the healed, but sleeping, gruntus.

“now that smile seems more real” nano giggled.
(Plus one charisma to gruntus for completing a misfortune successfully! You can fix your character sheet whenever or wait til the end of the first arc.)

 

[Rurnur]

Azal wobbled and flapped his wings in order to keep his balance, letting out a sigh of relief. before readying himself to speak once more. "Well then, celebrate we shall! And congratulations to her! I'm certain it would be a pleasure to meet her.." He trailed off, attempting to keep his thoughts straight while conversing with the chief. He spoke of their methods of recording history, leading Azal to conclude it wouldn't be as simple as picking up a book, to learn the true history of Chlokoka. As he suspected, spending time within the village would be a surefire way of learning what they needed to know. But did they really have enough time to spare for this sort of thing? Becoming intoxicated with the chief was perhaps not the most responsible course of action to take, considering Weglas' reluctance to enter the village, Azal began to grow concerned about what he may or may not be up to. Looking to Farr, he shook his head upon seeing that he likely wouldn't be any help either.

"Any more of that strong stuff then?" The beastkin sat down and picked up the chalice once again. Well, if anyone was going to do it, it'd best be him. "I couldn't imagine a greater honor than becoming a part of your people's history, despite how small that part may be!" Azal said joyously, raising his cup. He began to wonder, what did it mean to live in the skies? Had life for these people changed significantly upon the fall of the island? Everything seemed so peaceful at the moment, perhaps for an airborne race, a drastic change in altitude wouldn't have so much of an impact. "I know, ever since this land dropped from the sky, I've been immensely curious.. what happened here? I don't believe any of us knew of Chlokoka.. yet you seem somewhat familiar with the land below." Azal offered another question, perhaps the most obvious one for an Aerthlander.

NeonFlow

 

[Juju]

Ayda let out a tiny gasp when the memory ended, eyes wide in disbelief over what she had just witnessed. As her eyes refocused she realized, in a brief moment of panic, that her vision was blurry. She blinked a couple of times only to realize it was only unborn tears from the shared memory. A jolt of embarrassment stuck through her upon this realization and she was quick to make them vanish with a flick of magic. However, her petty worry about her self-image dimmed when she realized Yahno was actually in tears.

"You... your right. This Akurra is extraordinary. Even in memory. In all my years I have never felt a more powerful magic signature. " she admitted. The witch had never been the best at comforting people, but maybe a confirmation of his statements would help?

The memory had answered many questions, but in doing so left more. Akurra was in fact real, but there were many things that Aurra could be at this point, some of which were concerning. While Ayda couldn't help but feel a little guilty for making him recall these memories, she had to know the truth. What was this knowledge? And did Yahno still have it? "Did Akurra actually give you the knowledge of Chlokoka?"

 

[NeonFlow]

Drak let a booming chuckle out as Azal asked for more ‘strong stuff’ the chief poured one for Azal and another for Farr. Before finishing the gourd and letting the last drip hit his tongue.

“I have visited Dunwel since the island fell, many of my people have. We do not know a great deal however. Just what king Leo and his people share with us. Have you met this Leo? I’m to understand a large castle makes you king. If I was to create a castle larger then his would I be his king?”
Farr gulped down the purple and burst into laughter at the ramblings of the chief, he didn’t slur a word but it sounded like he was drunk.
“it.. it” Farr caught his breath and laughed further falling off the bench trying to sober up as he laid on the floor.
“It don’t be like that chief, I’d rather stay here though this place is beautiful”

“hah the little man takes drink better then expected.”
Drak picked up Farr from the floor to balance him in the archway standing up.
Farr couldn’t believe it, a alcohol or poison that could effect his natural resistance. “Thatbe, demonwater, chief” Farr managed before taking a few shaky steps with a giggle. Hell he felt like introducing himself to the locals.
Rurnur
———-
Yahno shook his head at Aydas Question. “akurra gave his magic to Yahno.. yahno is...” he looked stumped. As if the answer was in another language and he had no way to translate it to the elf.
“yahno just knows Chlokoka. Where all my people are, where the yakawho hide, where the stalkers hunt, where the birds nest, where the fruit grows, yahno just knows...” as if to demonstrate further he opened a portal infront of Ayda, it was a perfect gateway through space to a bush where small purple berries grew. He reached in and grabbed a handful of the ripest sort.
“Akurra gave yahno his magic. Yahno could never invade one’s mind before. Yahno could never create holes”
Juju

 

[Rurnur]

Azal shook his head and squinted before taking another sip of the substance, quickly placing the cup down again straight away. "The way humans do dings are a liddle more.. complicaded.. I beliebe.." He slurred and slapped himself in the face, his eyes widening once again. "But yes, I did have the pleasure of meeting the king, and he seems most capable! Though of course, i'm no expert in the ways of humanity.." He trailed off before taking another gulp of drink, feeling his stomach rumbling, he reached into his pouch and grabbed a handful of nuts, and slapped them all on the table, before he began to crack them open one by one, hopefully enough to keep him going a little while longer. One of the strange glowing objects rolled across the table towards the chief, unbeknownst to Azal. "Hah.. that's better.. as I was saying, do none of your people know yet of what caused the fall? I would have thought such an event to be rather catastrophic, but this village seems to be in good shape." He asked the chief again, upon regaining his composure.

NeonFlow

 

[NeonFlow]

Drak slouched onto a bench adjusting his wings with a groan as he leaned into the wall.
“my father claims.... the protective spirit of Chlokoka got hungry over the years... as less of our people visited the temple to leave offerings to the great mighty Akurra” Drak let a sarcastic laugh loose.
“he may be right... yahno tried to warn me... moons ago, that Chlokoka was hurting, fighting. I didn’t believe him, days later the Island fell from the skies...”
Drak crushed the nut that rolled towards him in his palms before eating it.
“Enough superstition. I shall go hunt for my daughters celebration as well as you and your company Azal, you are free to rest wherever my friend! But I hope you shall accompany us, learn of the island as you say”
Rurnur
————-

Farr luckily stumbled towards some skyracers who helped him stand. “He had some of the snake juice.” “Surprised he still talking haha”
“I spit poison and spew thunder” Farr corrected the man who held him up. Well at least he thought so.
“I’m sure you do Aerthlander, I’m sure you do” the man and woman laughed as they took him to Nano who was leaving from where gruntus lay asleep.
“He’s had your fathers drink” the woman informed. The man propped up Farr’s face so he was at least looking at the healer.
“hey dead eyes” Nano snapped her fingers in farrs face. “Ohheyblue.. eyes.”
Nano shrugged “he must have a tolerance... leave him with the big one, don’t let him eat that zazz.”
the helpful winged no names place Farr by gruntus. “But I wanna talk to uh.. eyes”
“just breathe deep, you be fine” the man laughed before joining the woman in NPC activity.
——-
Weglas, Udgirr, and Agnis were invited to rest by the river, the locals say it’s safe to drink.
Weglas spoke to them about leaving as soon as they could, not mentioning that they want to explore their sacred temple, and that any riches found was his, they would receive the pay promised to them when he was safely back in dunwel.
seasonedcat Computing Magus

 

[Juju]

"And you can do all that with such ease?" she exclaimed in disbelief as he opened a portal. Her eyes lit up in excitement and she peered into it, like an apprentice all over again. "A...a portal like this usually takes the concentration of a mage to maintain, and even then it is only after rigorous study! Not to mention your possession of perfect omniscience! Yahno, this is incredible!"

She gave a cough then sat back down. "Akurra just gave this to you? As a reward for exploring? That's... rather generous..." she said, brows knit together in thought. "You told me Akurra turned into a monster though. Was that after this event? And what was that green stone Akurra was... protecting?" she wasn't sure if protecting was the correct term here, but the stone seemed to be important. Almost like an egg.

 

[NeonFlow]

Yahno stared blankly at Ayda as she mentioned words he hadn’t heard.
Words like portal, mage, rigorous study, omniscience.
“Omni?” he repeated before Ayda continued with more questions. These words he understood.

“yahno thinks Akurra gave to much magic.. Akurra said generations since one went to the centre” at the mention of the green stone the young skyracer nodded.
“Akurra’s Stone be Magic, magic stronger then Akurra but..” he stopped mid sentence with a sigh. “yahno show you.”
closing his eyes again yahnos face tightens turns pale as he remembers. Tears begin to well up as he moves his hands to his forehead, then just as before yahno reached out and touched the elf.

The memory she was in was not like the first...
This was much more recent.

Ayda was screaming in a terrible rage, her hands were aflame. Red surges of fire burst from her palms at dark humanoid creatures, smooth almost slimy looking. They howl in pain trying to kill Ayda, they had no fear of pain or death.
Luckily Ayda is able to incinerate the closest attackers before flying through the smoke to escape the rest.
The halls are destroyed instead only tunnels remain. Tunnels that Akurra made, the walls are jagged like a cave, the only light comes from Ayda’s Flames.

She could see more of the creatures... these ones had black wings reminiscent of a skyracer, again Ayda screams in a primal way throwing fire across all in front of her before opening a portal above them that rained spears.

Ayda flew through the carnage but was grabbed by a strong feral hand that threw her to the rough ground. head buzzing, spinning, bleeding, Ayda screams once more throwing the creatures back with a massive gout of fire.
Crawling away from the screams trying to stand up and run.

Ayda could feel voices in her head. Cold, dark, voices. Voices crying out in fear, howling in agony. And it was all in the language of Elves...
SAVE US! WE BURN! DARKNESS!! LET US REST!
FREE US! AGRRRHHHHHHH
PAIN
Almost petrified Ayda stumbles onward. That was when Ayda saw it, bursting from the wall sending debris flying, Akurra slithers past.
His colour is gone, he is a black serpent darkness bleeding from its mouth and eyes, wounds all across the creature. Akurra’s dark eye looked directly at Ayda before crashing further below. That was all Ayda could take. A portal swallows her and she lands in the clearing of Chlokoka. Sobbing in screams punching the ground until Nano telekinetically held Ayda still.

That was when she awoke from the memory.
Yahno wasn’t crying this time, but his eyes held a rage.
“yahno didn’t know Akurra’s words. Yahno only felt darkness. Anger... yahno doesn’t know the dark creatures either”
His voice was small as he looked down.
Ayda would easily recognise the creatures as nightspawn. A common occurrence in all lands of aerth. Theorised to be spirits of the dead raised from dark magic, (although none have found solid evidence)
And that the voices coming from Akurra in his dark form were elves.
Juju

 

[Quados]

As Gruntus was sleeping, he fell into a dream, he dreamed about his past.



Gruntus wandered through the forest knowing where this mighty beast is, he will get his revenge for his stolen food. He heard a loud growling behind the tree line, when he emerged from the trees, there he saw it, a gigantic bear, with brown fur and crimson eyes.



Knowing that this bear will be stronger than him, Gruntus held onto his two-handed axe. So he stormed at the bear stopping inches befor it, he swung his axe in the same motion upwards, he felt the vibration when the blade was cutting through the ground. The bear, surprised by the sudden attack were hit and had a big wound on his front leg, it saw how its attacker jumped back, it knew that he just had luck with his attack. The bear raised itself and was now standing on two legs, it let out a deafening roar that shaked the ground a little.



It started an attack, running on its four legs, jumping to the side to evade the axe and giving this man afterwards a shoulder check, that send him fling. Now that man should know that he doesn't stand a chance against the bear.



Gruntus stood back up and shaked himself a little, he was angry, did this bear think that a shoulder check would stop him? He screamed, ran at the bear, jumped into the air and tryed to hid the bear in its back, but the bear was quick enough to evade that attack, it countered with a strike aimed at Gruntus head, but he ducked in the right moment. He pressed forward, striking repeatedly but only a few hit, doing minimal damage but the bear also couldn't land a successful hit.



Both stood there in some sort of stare of, both covered in dirt and blood, both knew one strike could end this whole thing, only one mistake could end one of their lifes. Gruntus started the next attack, trusting in his enchanted axe, but he tripped over a rock, putting him off balance, he fell to the ground. He tried to stand back up but felt only sharp claws digging into his chest and dragging themself across his torso.



That was it, he knew he couldn't survive this, the wound was to deep, but he refused to give in. He gathered all of his energy, overcoming the pain, he stood back up, he screamed while he swung his axe wildly, feeling only the impact of his weapon, he lost the grip of his weapon and collapsed to the ground.



As a cold feeling gripped his body, he felt how something landed next to him, he forced his eyes open, to see the bear and its claws where glowing, in the next moment everything went black.



He woke back up, to the sound of chirping and laughing, Gruntus touched his chest and was rewarded with a sharp pain, but he was alive. A little light flew towards him and he heard a soft voice shirping to him. "We found you, by Tarantara, you have killed her crimson eye." Gruntus was more then just confused, the bear had a name, but befor he could say something the little light spoke again. "We fairies healed you but we request that you hunt the 4 other crimson beasts. They would come after you anyway so it shouldn't be a problem for you." Gruntus found his voice again. "Why would they come after me and what are the crimson beasts?" The chirping around him stopped but the fairie in front of started again to speak. "The crimson beasts are mighty creatures, all born with crimson eyes, they are cruel and rule they teretory like tyrants and they will come after you, because you killed one of them." Gruntus didn't knew what he should think about this, why should he care about this, he got his revenge and everything should be fine now. "No! You need to kill them, all four of them or we... Or we will keep you axe! We will keep your axe till you killed all 4 of those monster!"



Gruntus was shocked a little that this fairie could scream like that but he liked his axe, he even forced a magician to do an enchanting on it, he sighed. "Ok, where are those monster?" The chirping around him started again and the fairie in front of him stayed. "Thank you, oh thank you crimson Eye! There are 4 creatures, the ruler of the sky, Rathar, he is a wyvern, he lives in the sky so I don't know where you could find him, Carha, a Mantis, living deep in the jungle, Gar the tyrant of the swamps, an alligator and the centaur Derum, living deep inside of an old ruin. You will know that it's them when you see their red eyes, and when this is glowing." She was pointing to Gruntus' chest, where one of the bear claws was resting.

 

[Juju]

When Ayda resurfaced from the memory she was pale-faced and her heart was beating wildly in her chest. She blinked a couple times, processing what she had just witnessed. It was quite a lot.

She chewed on her lip in thought, face contorted into a frown. Nightspawn in this land? And they seemed to have been elves… gods they were elves. But how did they get there? Yahno had said they were the first to arrive on the island. But what if they had come in secret? No, that didn’t add up. Theoretically Yahno should have known about their arrival.

“That’s because you shouldn’t know what they are. They are what we call Nightspawn, unholy creatures said to have risen from dark magic. Though even the archmagi can’t say exactly how they came to be...” she trailed off for a moment as she pondered this. It looked like Akurra had been turned into one.

She blinked back to reality, continuing her conversation, “They’re a scourge, hungering for nothing but the destruction of the living. You’re lucky to have survived a horde like that.” [correct me on this description haha]

“And as for Akurra…” For once she didn’t reach for her journal to record anything, she looked at her hands, tapping her thumbs together. “I don’t know how to say this but it looks like Akurra may have been afflicted by the Nightspawn ‘curse’. I cannot confirm it, but it is a possibility we must consider. Like I said, I’ve read tombs… uh...” she waved her hands while trying to find a better word “...teachings from other mages, magic users, on the origins of Nightspawn but nobody knows where they come from or how they multiply....or whether or not there is a cure.”

With a sigh she rubbed her face, “There’s something else, too. Those words you heard were not from Akurra. They were spoken in elvish, a language used by...my people. The elves. These voices were in pain, begging to be freed…” she interlaced her fingers and rested them thoughtfully below her lips, muttering her thoughts out loud. “Though I haven’t the faintest idea as to why they would be there. Could they have been the cause? If we are to assume Darkspawn are made from magic than an elf could be responsible, but the use of dark magics was strictly banned by the Elvish Circle of Magi centuries ago...” [again, correct me if my description is different than what the world should be xD]

 

[Computing Magus]

Udgrirr Riki

Location: Chlokoka Tribe, Refreshing River
Mentions: Weglas (( NeonFlow ))

The hobgoblin merely follows whatever the group does, but as soon as they split up, for one reason or another, Udgirr was left with the ill-tempered Weglas and the strong-arm Agnis to be accompanied by the men and women of this tribe as they explore. They appear to make conversations. What kind? No Aerthlander would ever understand what people up in the clouds talk about for trivialities. At least, for a normal one. Udgirr thinks he is of a similar situation with these people, living away from the Civilized in a world of their own. The hobgoblin wonders if someone like him ever wanted to travel beyond their tribe?

Udgirr cups his hands to reach and carry water from the river, which the locals have said to be pure enough to be drinkable. The way the water sparkles from the sunlight and the clear and purity of it all, this green man would not need to be told. A thought arrived of whether he can soak his feet in it, as he frequents to do at clean bodies of water, but they did not want to happen upon the fact that this kind of river is not for foot-soaking, so he leaves the thought be until somebody else does it first. For now, he had some questions in mind and wonders if a particular person can answer them.

He knows little of his companion Agnis, knowing only of her displays of strength during this current travel. Was she not what they call a dwarf? Those stout but mighty mountain-movers? Still, he did not know of enough of her personally to question her. As for Weglas, he was simply too irritant and selfish, but knows what choices would suit the situation best. He's not someone Udgirr would like to acquaint himself with, but there was nothing he could do about it for he was the one who could lead them to Chlokoka as their job giver. These other winged people are out of the question. The hobgoblin drinks once more, relishing in its cold, refreshing effect and satiation.

"The Sky People, Chlokoka. Somewhere above Aerth, an island sits peacefully, where no one below even knew of its existance. Then, it fell at an untimely fashion..." the hobgoblin said to no one in particular, facing the water as he sits cross-legged. Then he slightly faces Weglas, upper torse half turned and eyes reaching to meet the elf's, but otherwise Udgirr still faced the river. "Has there been legends of something as such in your home, Weglas? About the sky people? The only air people I know of our my people, but these winged men are something else. It shouldn't be impossible for someone from Aerth to at least learn of an island above?" Udgirr asks, wanting to know the lore of the lands, to learn if this island was nothing more than a fairy tale if inquired in a previous year, or rumored to exist if uttered decades ago.

 

[NeonFlow]

Weglas has just seated himself cross legged after refilling his water pouch. As Udgirr asked questions the wood elf could only respond honestly, for once.
“I certainly can’t remember any tale of islands in the sky where I grew up. What I need to figure out is if there are more islands like this that haven’t fallen and why this particular bit of rock fell to begin with... if they were to declare war it’d make more sense landing on barrack instead of near it”

The tree elf spoke low and watched the skyrace mostly.
Computing Magus
———
Hours past, Azal wakes up from the table he drank at with the chief, Farr and Gruntus awake when Nano splashed some water on them. Gruntus would feel refreshed, Farr felt like he was dehydrated. He quickly went to find water.
Yahno tried to elaborate further to Ayda about the situation with Akurra,
She learnt that the temple was blocked off after the island fell due to nightspawn that would explore from the centre. As many of the skyrace had never had to deal with battle yahno took the more experienced to try and reach the centre but was unable to do so. To open a hole now would be dangerous as the skyman has no way to sense magic or creatures foreign to the skyisland.

The entire group and nano were celebrated as the village threw a massive feast. Rabbit like creatures the size of a pig were cooked over a fire, with pans and a few other cooking items from Dunwel, various birds and beasts that was seared or prepared in a soup with other fruits and vegetables that grew on the island.
After the night settled Weglas made damn sure to alert everyone to leaving early in the morning for that temple. He had learned offerings used to be left there, he assumed treasure mostly...

In the morning as the sun rose weglas woke all who weren’t already awake to assemble them before most of the village woke.

A few scattered groups were flying off to hunt, forage, bathe (in a different body of water) and do other various meaningless tasks.
The chief was still asleep, hungover from the amount he drank. Nano took no man from the village and was still asleep from the amount she drank.
Yahno sat on his balcony waiting for the foreign party to assemble.
Farr was returning from the river, He had learned through questions what was safe to eat around the island, that snake juice certainly is something else, fermented berries, the skin of a zazz fruit, with a few drops of venom.
Farr would find the reptile that produces the venom...
———
Rurnur Quados Juju seasonedcat

 

[Quados]

Gruntus spotted Azal under his Comrades. Gruntus remembered back to the time in the forest, so he walked over to Azal. "Good morning my friend, don't we have a fine Day up here?"

He layed one hand on Azal's shoulder and squeezed it. "Do you remember back in the forest, where I told you that I don't need healing?"

His face turned a little sour and he started to squeeze Azal's shoulder more. "Yeah, there were some teeth from those red things in my chest, that no one saw because the wounds were healed... You see what I wanna tell you?" He put on a nice smile but you could see that one wrong word could lead to a severe wound.

Rurnur

 

[NeonFlow]

Farr was actually the first to respond to gruntus, he could sense murderous intent as well he couldn't hide his either when he was mad. Approaching from the side Farr showed he was unarmed as before slowly reaching up to prompt gruntus to let go of his newest drinking buddy.

"Hands off big man, azal will apologise but we didn't come here to fight each other. We had all night at the feast to eat drink and get over yesterday... if you start shit with big Bird I'm quite sure the village, and myself will get mad... this fool wins crowds, don't be a man who dies to a crowd"
Farr gave a brutally honest warning.

Azal was loved by these people and was only trying to help the previous day.

Weglas just made a noise of frustration "we have no time for foolish squabbles, desist with the excrement and let's go."

Quados Rurnur