EVENT #15: THE NETHER - IC EVENT LOG

[abraxasmods]

Event #15 - The Nether

OOC event plotting | settings info

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After a Conclave vote earlier this month, you're prepared to accept the formal request from the Nether for your assistance. By now, you'll know who the delegates are and that the dragons have suffered an illness from the rifts that opened this summer, due to the unfortunate actions of one of your fellow Summoned. Whether or not you agree with your Conclave's majority rule, the decision has been made.

The expedition will begin on October 16 and last 10 days. If you need to return home sooner, you can activate your portal stone at any point during the trip, but there's no going back once you do.

Though mysterious, the Draconae - or daemons, as others call them - are not elusive like the Fey. Anyone who's been to Nocwich will have seen a handful of them amongst the population, and some reside in the Free Cities or the outskirts of Thorne. The only nation they aren't found in is Solvunn.

Into the Heart

Your arrival to the Nether is a frosty one. The northern island is barren, save for a thick layer of snow, a few birds, and some hardy insects. Massive skeletal remains can be seen as you walk over the ice. Every few minutes, the ground trembles. The Draconae warriors greet you at the base of the volcano, including Orion, The Warden herself. Though they appear intimidating, they're grateful you're here and will clap you heartily on the back.

Entering the Obsidian Heart requires nerves of steel, but appearances aside, the narrow walkway is sturdy. As long as you're brave, you'll make it down without a problem. The less sure-footed are encouraged to ask for a hand. If they do, they'll be assigned a Draconum warrior who will cheerfully carry them down the winding path. You can also help each other, of course! Any Summoned who are capable can carry their friends, too.

As you venture down, the oppressive heat intensifies...until suddenly it stops. The moment you reach the fiery gates, the smell of brimstone fades from the air and the temperature eases into that of a pleasant summer's day. If asked, the Draconae will tell you this is how it is - a blessing from the two remaining dragons. Without them, the air would suffocate all life within.

Although the main purpose is to aid the dragons, the Draconae will invite characters to take breaks, participate in recreational activities, and explore the Nether. They want their guests to be comfortable, especially as the Summoned have arrived to help.

Around the City

At the center of the volcano lies the Obsidian Heart, where the Draconae reside. Made of stacking homes and stone bridges that spiral downward, it's a wonder how anyone finds their way. There are no maps, signage, or any form of direction. Their ability to navigate appears inherent. The most dangerous beasts lurk beneath the lava, so unless you intend to go swimming, you're unlikely to run into anything aggressive.

Doors and furniture are heavy and are made of iron, bronze, or steel. You might need to push or pull furnishings and doors with both hands and extra effort. Luckily, citizens are happy to help - as long as you ask. If you don't, they won't interfere out of respect for your autonomy. In fact, if they see you huffing and puffing, they might stop to watch and will sincerely cheer for you should you accomplish your objective by yourself.

Watch your sticky fingers. While petty theft is a minor offence in other places, the Draconae are highly protective of their belongings and treasures. Hands and heads have been lost over stolen trinkets.

The Hieran Wing

As a guest, you'll be invited to stay at the Hieran Wing. Named after Hierus, the oldest living dragon, the Hieran Wing is located in the eastern section of the Citadel. The rest of the Citadel is under heavy guard and inaccessible.

◎ The rooms are carved into the stone itself. Bedding is comfortable, if simple, with room to store your belongings. A curved stairwell grants you privacy even though many rooms have curtains rather than doors. The few rooms that have doors contain no locks. Your safety is assured, but if you're nervous, you can ask for a guard to watch you at night.

◎ The dining area consists of open-fire grills, pots, and raw ingredients - including spices and fiery hot peppers. As great believers in self-sufficiency, the Draconae will leave you to make meals to your taste and liking. You can hunt and fish your meat, as well. There are numerous lava pools where one can net jumbo shrimp, crabs, and flaming fish. For larger game, you can go after the Erymaes Boar or Petran Bison. Feel free to share your catch with your friends or offer to cook for the culinarily challenged.

◎ The library contains only fiction. You'll recognize several titles from your faction or Nocwich, suggesting they've brought back their favorite stories to read. Other titles are new, written by the Draconae. Novels and poetry span all genres, but the most common ones seem to be adventure, horror, and erotic romance - some of which contain surprisingly detailed illustrations.

Magma Pools

Outside the Hieran Wing, unusual cerulean magma pools are provided for bathing. Despite how they look, temperatures are equivalent to that of a steaming hot spring. The magma bubbles naturally from within the volcano and provides soothing effects. No soap or cleaning agents are required. These magma pools contain tiny frogs that leap and jump around. The Draconae consider them a tasty live snack. Don't be surprised if you see a local munching on them.

The Foundry

The Foundry has expanded over the past two centuries. A marketplace now circles the ancient forge. Observing the tradespeople inside and their secrets are off-limits. However, you can browse a selection of tools, clothes, accessories, and potions. Healing potions are common due to the Draconae's lack of healing magic.

You'll have the chance to request custom-made jewelry and purchase glass ornaments that are blown for you on the spot. Merchants won't sell the large weapons on display, but daggers and other small weapons are available. They'll also modify any pieces you own by adding jewels, altering the fit, or repairing nicks and faults...for a price. The Draconae deal in Abraxan currency if you have any, but they'll accept a vial or two of blood or saliva as payment.

Negotiations & Meetings (Rank 5+)

The first order of business is to present your Conclave's terms to the Inner Sanctum, the Draconae's governing body. If you've been voted as a delegate, you'll be greeted by the NPC meeting you (and your partner, if you have one). If you haven't been selected, you can still speak to some of the NPCs available.

A Place at the Table

Negotiations will take place in The Solar on the second day, a hall lit with a fiery orb of light. This is where the Inner Sanctum conducts all of its business. Tightly guarded, you're the first outsiders allowed inside in centuries. Here, you'll have the chance to present your terms and convince the Draconae to accept. You'll also have the first day of your arrival to gather a few details about the NPC you'll be meeting.

Only one meeting is required. The Nether will give you their final answer the following day.

Be sure to reply with the terms before starting the thread. Mods will approve or ask for revisions, so try to submit your points by OCTOBER 17.

Once approved, please TAG IN with your character under the correct faction heading.

Meeting the Inner Sanctum

Members of the Inner Sanctum who are not involved in diplomatic affairs are Aster, The Guardian and Anneth, The Flame. Additional descriptions about the two NPCs and where they can be found will be in their character comments below.

Characters who are Rank 5+ (negative or positive) and who are not acting as delegates can speak with one of the two NPCs above.

To do so, TAG IN with your character under the NPC you want to meet.

Runaway at Pyritean's Rack

Abraxan outsiders will whisper that Pyritean's Rack is a nefarious torture device created by the Draconae for their victims. This is true if the victim in question is delicious meat. The Rack, in other words, is a giant cooking area filled with grilling racks and pits. Shelves of ingredients and spices line the perimeter. Its most striking feature is the primary heat source, which uses magma rather than fire. Ingredients and meat unique to the Nether result in dishes and flavors not found elsewhere. Hot peppers are a popular feature.

The Draconae cook and share their food each night at the Rack. The station is always occupied. Locals take turns hunting and fishing, preparing ingredients, and cooking. Consequently, food is provided without cost. You only need to lend a hand.

Not everything goes smoothly, though. An escaped hatchling has infiltrated the Rack, and Khloris, the baby dragon, is eager to snatch and steal food throughout the week.

Earning the Torch

Impromptu competitions are frequent. They usually begin when one cook sees another outdoing them and makes a challenge. You can either issue a challenge or receive a challenge. Challenges can be between you and the natives, or you can face off with another Summoned. Judging is done by the crowd, which can be chaotic.

Not to worry! There's no downside to losing except your pride. Though the competition can grow fierce and heated in the moment - including vulgar insults and much jeering - once all is said and done, there are no grudges when the food hits the table. Sore losers are looked down on as being thin-skinned.

Winners will receive a jar of spice mix or marinating sauce from one of the many talented cooks. We won't be modding this aspect, so just be realistic with your character's cooking skills. Be sure to work things out with your thread partner if the competition involves another player character!

Escaped Hatchling

One young dragon has escaped its sanctuary at Dragon's Glass. Curious, it's drawn to the smell of food at Pyritean's Rack. As a result, it's disrupting competitions, breaking equipment, and stealing ingredients or even chunks of meat off people's plates. Desperate to get the dragon back before it causes more trouble - or worse, injures itself - the Draconae have asked you to catch the hatchling.

Of course, you'll need to contend with the dragon's unique abilities.

Khloris, the runaway in question, leaves behind small patches of grass. Its pollen dust coats nearly everything it goes near. When eaten or touched, the pollen causes flowers to sprout in your hair for a day or two. It can't fly far or very high, but it's prone to swooping down to snatch meat off the grill. The Flame informs you the dragon can be lured with gold trinkets or bright colors like red and yellow.

To see if your character can catch the dragon, submit for a roll HERE. Submissions will close October 18 at 11:59 ET. Results will be posted on October 19 so players can account for their success or failure.

Ailing Dragons

The two ailing dragons are Hierus, the Obsidian Drake, and Kruos, the Glass Serpent. Mated to each other, they're the only remaining adult dragons in the Nether and have been for decades. When you visit them at Dragon's Glass, their condition is worrisome. The dragons' scales have lost their luster and are grown over with painful white patches. They appear lethargic.

Those researching can offer the dragons healing potions or ointment to aid their symptoms while a cure is worked on. If you're not much of a healer or a scientist, you can feed them or simply spend time with them. The dragons are intelligent and appear capable of understanding you, though they can't communicate directly.

Characters have 3 avenues of participation, depending on their interests and strengths: gathering ingredients, researching the cure, and looking after the baby dragons and eggs. They'll have time to do all three throughout the 10-day excursion.

Finding a Cure

At first, you aren't sure where or how to start. The Draconae suggest the Ashlands may be a place to explore. It's dangerous, they warn, but they have a potion that'll help keep you safe. Due to the hazards, you're told not to go alone. As you travel through the deadened land, you notice an odd phenomenon: where you walk, the air around you clears, and the ground beneath your feet springs to life. You realize you don't need the potion to protect you.

The changes are temporary, fading behind you as you walk. Curiously, the effect you exhibit is similar to what the Draconae claim their dragons are capable of - though to a much smaller degree. Still, you have to wonder if you and the dragons share a similar magical connection to the Singularity. You can't help but notice that those of you who regularly interact with the Horizon and have been doing so for a while seem to affect your environment more. Your aura may be a little larger and the vicinity restored around you lasts a bit longer rather than melting away immediately - maybe even up to a minute or two.

Restoration and Gathering

Your ability to restore the land has unlocked a vital element. Ingredients once thought lost can now be gathered by the Summoned such as yourself, and they may hold the key to curing the dragons. Bring back these ingredients to your peers waiting at Dragon's Glass. The more you gather, the more they'll be able to research and experiment, so don't be shy about making multiple trips.

There are three sections for you to explore. Each one has its dangers and a specific ingredient to collect.

Due to its circumstances, Aetherie is only available on Day 9 of the event, shortly before the cure is finalized. The Draconae will seal the area once more when they realize what's happening. Cinder's Core and Featherhive are open for the full duration of the event.

◎ Cinder's Core

Filled with petrified trees and fossilized bones, the area that restores around you demonstrates its previous life as a flourishing rainforest: the humidity grows, the grass turns lush, and tropical flowers sprout under your fingertips. Although its sulfuric air won't affect you, you'll need to brave dangerous heights to reach the tops of trees and dried-up waterfall cliffs to retrieve the kydros fruit. The fruit smells like citrus and is surprisingly light despite its size.

Vines brought back to life can help you climb, forming ropes for you to climb and bridges that weave beneath your feet. They'll wither once more behind you, so you'll want to move quickly to avoid losing your footing. Height isn't the only danger - the ground below is littered with sharp skeletal protrusions and jagged trees. Beware of dangerous thorn bushes that will come to life in your presence and try to crush you in their spiny embrace as you ascend.

◎ Featherhive

The air here is too toxic for the Draconae to breathe in for long. Luckily you're unaffected. Scattered across the ground are the remaining husks of birds' nests. A dragon's skeleton curls under a rocky overhang. Use your restorative ability to journey deep into Featherhive's heart. Pushing aside the thick overgrowth reveals a small clearing covered in bright crystals for you to harvest.

Although Featherhive poses no physical danger, the land is haunted by shadow birds, ethereal spirits connected to the dragons - and you. As you pass through, they flutter around you and parrot familiar lines to each other. Their movements are jerky and strange. Quickly, you realize the birds are mimicking your memories. They might replicate an entire scene or echo a phrase or two that's plagued you all your life. Or, if you're lucky, they're merely repeating your grocery list. Shooing them will cause them to dissipate into smoke, but they'll soon return.

◎ Aetherie

The loss of a dragon released a noxious gas through this village without warning. Escaping villagers were forced to leave behind those they could not save and seal the doors. The Oblivion is a painful moment in history for many, and none have set foot near the area since. Near the end of your stay, the Draconae request you use your ability to venture where they can't and gather Anoix pods, powerful healing seeds from a plant that only grew in Aetherie. They believe the abandoned huts will contain pouches of the pods on shelves and cabinets.

Entering the village, you expect a tragic scene of corpses. Instead, you find something far worse. The dead have mutated into grotesque arachnids, limbs fused to bulbous abdomens. They show no signs of recognition or awareness and attack you on sight. Hidden in the depths of the purple haze, rat-sized spiders scurry forth. Their venom causes painful sores that will fester and spread if left untreated. Multiple bites may result in temporary blindness or paralysis of a limb. Luckily, this will clear up within 24 hours to a few days, depending on the severity.

Grab the pods if you can or flee if you're overwhelmed. When word reaches The Warden, she'll rapidly send her people to reseal the abandoned village and come to aid any who need it. If you're injured, The Flame and her apprentices will tend to you at Dragon's Glass.

Research and Magic

Dragon's Glass is a glass-domed temple said to be forged from the fires of Kruos. It's located in the Spiral, which is outside the Obsidian Heart. Here, the two remaining dragons reside while ill, along with their clutch of eggs and a few precious hatchlings.

Anneth, The Flame, will invite you into the temple's alchemy labs, where you can apply your skills and knowledge to create the healing elixir that cures the dragons. Doing so requires you to experiment with key ingredients found in the Ashlands. You'll have access to basic alchemy books and apprentices at the temple. Use any additional tools, supplies, and knowledge you possess, and take advantage of the resources donated by the factions.

How you approach your research is up to you, but each ingredient comes with a set of risks - so be careful while you work!

◎ The kydros fruit contains seeds that will explode when heated, causing a chain reaction like popped popcorn. The explosions aren't large, but they might scorch your supplies. Crushing them in the open air results in a similar chemical reaction. However, soaking them in water makes them soften into mush, allowing you to turn the seeds into a paste that could be useful. The fruit is similar to grapefruit and is excellent for a sore throat.

◎ The crystals come in three colors: red, blue, and black. Extended contact will dye your skin that color. The stains are extraordinarily stubborn, so your clothes may not recover. These crystals resonate with a strange hum that suggests they respond well to magic spells. Combining them with a liquid will give off a foul-smelling smoke, so you may need to find ways to neutralize the stench before combining it into an elixir.

◎ The Anoix pods must be used sparingly, as no more can be gathered from Aetherie. They possess strong healing properties, but each pod is very delicate and must be split open with care so as not to damage the soft seeds inside. In addition to researching the cure, you can also attempt to help the Dracaone grow new Anoix plants using the preserved seeds.

The final cure will use all 3 key ingredients. Don't worry too much about continuity! As long as your character participated, you can assume they made a valuable contribution.

However, to assist with coordination, we've provided a RESEARCH DISCOVERY section where you can present any findings your character would share with others in-game.

Hatchlings and Eggs

While curing the adult dragons is a priority, the hatchlings and eggs aren't to be neglected. Baby dragons are active troublemakers, and without their parents to keep them in line, they've become especially unruly. The apprentices at the temple can only do so much. The Keeper has even made rare appearances in Dragon's Glass to lend his assistance.

Meanwhile, the eggs are beginning to show signs of affliction. The shells are beginning to weaken, and the feathery growths appearing on them will suffocate the hatchling inside if left untreated.

Babysitting the Dragons

If you have a spare moment, you can look after the baby dragons. Keep them out of trouble by reading their favorite stories, singing songs, and playing with them. They'll also need to be fed, watered, and their bedding changed or fluffed. The hatchlings are mischievous but friendly. They're eager to bond with the Summoned for reasons unexplained, as if they feel something resonating within you.

Many are attracted to shiny objects and bright colors and will attempt to steal them. Conversely, they might gift you a trinket that they've pilfered from someone else. The local Draconae would appreciate it if you returned any missing tools or jewels.

Hatchlings you'll encounter in Dragon's Glass are:

◎ Okenus spouts water instead of flame. Bearing fins instead of wings, this sea dragon is vital to bringing lakes and rivers back to the Nether. Currently, it can only make tiny puddles and rainclouds. Watch that your belongings don't get wet. Standing near the dragon might cause a small storm cloud to spawn over you and rain down on your head. A simple spell will make the cloud disappear, but if you don't have any magic, you might have to bring an umbrella.

◎ Epeius can form miniature gusts of wind beneath its wings, but it doesn't have firm control and frequently spawns them when excited. These small dust devils and whirlwinds will follow you around. Though they aren't powerful, they can be a nuisance, knocking over cups, blowing away hats, and sending papers flying. The other hatchlings will find your misfortune a source of amusement.

◎ Ledas can help salt deposits form in the shape of large salt crystals. Salt is important to the Draconae, which the hatchling is aware of and thus takes great pride in its abilities. The crystals can be eaten as is or crushed into granules. Ledas will strive to impress you with the largest crystals that it can make...which occasionally results in the structure collapsing, littering the ground with salt. You might find yourself sweeping often around this dragon, but at least you'll never be short on seasoning.

◎ Anthusa is a very special hatchling that creates bioluminescent algae. The algae grow on its scales, forming a symbiotic relationship. Unfortunately, without a proper habitat for this algae in the Nether, its glow has dimmed in recent years and the hatchling has become languid and sickly despite its youth. Nonetheless, Anthusa is friendly and curious even if it struggles to keep up with its siblings. You can help Anthusa play by lifting it to heights it can't reach, and carrying it back when the dragon is too tired to walk.

Weakened Eggs

As noted, the eggs demonstrate signs of suffering, too. Three eggs are waiting to be hatched. Whether all of the eggs survive is dependent on the decision that each faction Conclave made regarding resources found, as well as the help provided by you and your fellow Summoned.

The eggs can't be cured until the dragons are cured, but you can help slow the growths by gently scraping them off and wiping the eggs regularly with a clean cloth. They must also be kept heated, so check the magma frequently and refill any magma basins. The growths can be donated to those researching for additional study if you wish.

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Comments

Dragonsitting

[philancer]

[ Having recently wandered back in from gathering ingredients, Sylvain's looking a little dirty and tired, but as he accidentally finds himself in the area where a familiar redhead is currently babysitting, he can't help but smile.

Dropping his belongings just inside the entrance, he tucks his hands in his pockets as he wanders in Himeka's direction, hearing her talking to the smallest of the baby dragons, who's currently looking about as worn out as Sylvain feels. ]

Well, you like you've got your hands full. Literally. They keeping you out of trouble, or was that meant to be the other way around? I forget...

[aquaveiled]

[ Himeka looks up from her current collection of wards at the sound of a familiar voice and offers Sylvain an easy smile as soon as her gaze settles on him. He does indeed look tired, but in better spirits than the last they had spoken. So she will consider this a win. ]

I'd say we're keeping each other on our best behavior.

[ Definitely could go either way. But debatable considering how she and that little water dragon and gotten to it earlier in the day. No one in a twenty-fulm radius was dry.

One of the hatchlings gives a big, big yawn. They aren't used to having this many visitors. ]

And you? You're dirty.

[philancer]

Let’s just say I had to fend off the advances of an overly affectionate plant. It didn’t like taking no for an answer.

[ His voice is dry with amusement as he shrugs off the underlying concern in that question, even as he comes to crouch down in front of one of the little dragons and affectionately run a fingertip along its scales. He can’t help but grin when the little creature arches into the touch like a contented cat, making a purring little trill in response.

A glance over at her, however, has an eyebrow arching upwards as the corner of his lips quirk with suppressed laughter. ]

…Do I want to know why you’re dripping?

[aquaveiled]

[ An overly affectionate plant? More likely than one would think these days. ]

It must be rough being so popular. Were you successful, at least?

[ But she won't press since he seems otherwise fine. It's easy enough to offer a bit of healing should it come to it. They're all here for these little dragons in the end, after all.

And to his question... ]

I'm a little popular too.

[ And a little proud of it. Who doesn't want to feel wanted by baby dragons? ]

Have you met Okenus? They command the might of the seas! Or...they will someday.

[philancer]

Depends on who you ask, I suppose.

[ He wrinkles his nose as he rolls a shoulder, revealing one sleeve that’s been ripped down the back, as if by a thorny grip. He doesn’t look otherwise injured, though. Just… thoroughly groped.

Still, he grins at Himeka’s introduction of the water dragon, his eyes brightening as he takes the little creature in. ]

Ahh, I see! I didn’t realize I was in such illustrious company. Were you swimming in the depths, then?

[aquaveiled]

[ She raises a brow at the bit of, erm, costume malfunction he's had and...sorry Sylvain, she does have to chuckle a bit. He definitely could have done worse, but it seems as if he had a very memorable experience. ]

I'm afraid my magicks can't fix that for you. Mayhaps it can suit your new rugged look?

[ The hatchling doesn't seem to get the banter here and instead lets out a little huff of a bubble out of its nose. A very mighty bubble. ]

Mmm, we were more...irrigating the lands, I would say. But all in good time! It sounds like there were once lakes and rivers of true water here, sometime ago.

[philancer]

As long as you don’t want me to grow the damn beard back.

[ He’d had enough ‘rugged’ to last him a while.

But he can’t help but grin at the little dragon, who is quite impressive, he supposes, for a dragon. Who he still has slightly mixed feelings about. Mostly because every time he saw one, death and destruction tended to follow. Now he was just paranoid.

Still, he’s pretty sure one this size can’t cause too much trouble just yet, so he crouches down and reaches for the pouch at his waist. Which immediately gets not only Okenus’ attention but its siblings as well.

Looked like all that grilling he’d done earlier would come in useful after all, even if he’d saved some for a later snack. He holds out pieces in his fingers to the little dragonlings before offering the pouch to Himeka as well. ]

Hungry? It’s not much, but I had some leftover from a competition earlier.

[aquaveiled]

It was kind of fun, wasn't it? If I could grow a beard I certainly would.

[ It would be as long as the rest of her hair!

For what it's worth, the pouch has Himeka's attention as well. Estinien used to liken her to a dragonet when she and Orn Khai would get into it together, teaming up on him for his own good. But, mostly, Himeka just has a keen sense for snacks. ]

Always!

[ At least she's kind enough to let the hatchlings get their portion before snatching a piece of her own. She's glad he offered. ]

Oh, did you compete? If I'd known I would have tried to go head-to-head.

[philancer]

[ He’s not sure who gets more excited over the prospect of food - Himeka or the baby dragons. The fact has him laughing as he hands out what he’d had left, dividing it up between them. ]

A couple times, yeah. Took me a little bit to get the hang of how they cook things here, but it’s not so different from doing it over a campfire, really. And we’ve still got some time here, so if you want a competition before we go back home, I’m sure we can squeeze one in. I’m not going easy on you, though.

[aquaveiled]

[ They are absolutely all taking a piece. Do they look the same munching down on it? Maybe. Her tail is wagging a bit. ]

Mhmmm!

[ Don't mind as she's savoring the textures and flavors, looking happy and thoughtful as she mulls it over. The dragons don't seem to be giving it the same attention, content to devour whatever is handed to them. She's yet to teach them the finer points of the culinary arts, but she's done it once, so she's confident she can do it again. ]

You've got a good roast on them, I like that the sides are particularly crunchy.

[ Himeka nods. ]

Yes, we should do battle. And I would only want to go against you at your best! I don't enjoy hollows victories in the kitchen.

[philancer]

[ Okay, that's just adorable.

Grinning, he tucks his pack away once again as he moves to sink down on one of the nearby stone ledges that serves as a natural bench. ]

It took a bit of trial and error, but I've always liked it done like that, too. I haven't gotten to try their fish here yet, but I was watching some of the other competitions earlier and I might want to give it a try. It's been a while since I've done something like that.

[ Although her statement has him blinking at her in amusement for a moment. ] Does that count as a battle?

[aquaveiled]

Is this how you would cook meat back home?

[ She finds that despite her years of training, it is easier to fall back onto the basics and the familiar.

Himeka hadn't realized that Sylvain was interested in cooking and fishing. (That's what he means, right? Because that's how she's taking it.) Why didn't he tell her earlier? She feels like there have been so many missed opportunities!

She pauses mid-chew to his question and looks incredibly serious all of a sudden. ]

...The most difficult of battles take place in the kitchen, Sylvain.

[ The dragon hatchlings exchange a glance with one another and then look at the jerky. Was this jerky...hard fought? More reason to devour it quickly, it seems. ]

Tune in next time for the Great Abraxan Bake Off!

[philancer]

Ehh… [ He wobbles his hand a little in a half-hearted answer as his face scrunches up in thought. ] Sometimes, if I had enough ingredients, or time. But I was in the middle of a war before I was brought here, so we were on the march and living pretty rough. Besides, I’d have felt bad, making a dinner like that but only able to make so much of it to share, and have so many others go without.

But I come from the far north, where it’s pretty cold, so we do a lot of hunting and fishing for our supplies, the ones that aren’t domestic, anyway. I learned how to cook over a campfire pretty young, and I’ve picked up a few additional tricks from friends in the years since.

[ He stills when she fixes him with that look, however, looking caught as she seriously informs him of the depth of this apparent challenge. He doesn’t miss the way the little dragons are listening as well, and seem to dive back in with even more eagerness. Apparently they appreciated the spoils of his most recent… battle? ]

Uh-huh. I’ll, uh, have to take your word on that.

[ He doesn’t sound convinced. At all. ]

only if we can have MARY BERRY

[aquaveiled]

[ Himeka nods. She can definitely understand to feed everyone--and equally at that. Sustenance is important but so is showing the value of the people around you with a well-cooked meal. ]

The ability to cook well on the field is something that not everyone has. I would like to put you to task on that front.

[ Estinien could grill meat if need be, but season it? Licking the rock salt really isn't the same thing.

She looks to the hatchlings. ]

Would you like to judge? You can pick whoever grills the best meat.

[ Several little heads start bobbing. ]

[philancer]

[ Sylvain watches those eagerly bobbing heads with a fond grin before leaning in close to Himeka and murmuring in her ear. ]

We’re not gonna get in trouble for feeding them three times their weight in fish and jerky, are we?

[aquaveiled]

[ Himeka turns her head just enough to catch Sylvain's gaze and shrugs. ]

They've got to grow big and strong, haven't they?

[ If they're guilty, she'll gladly do the time. ]

Besides, we can eat the leftovers if we think they're had too much.

[ She definitely won't think the dragons have had too much. Or them. Hopefully Sylvain is ready for several courses himself. ]

[philancer]

[ That just makes him snort out a quiet laugh and roll his eyes towards the roof of the cave.

He's suddenly suspecting this is what his friends feel like when he comes up with one of his harebrained ideas. This is probably karma.

Oh well. At least it's tasty karma. ]

Alright you convinced me. Let's go see what we can cook up. But I am definitely not gonna take it easy on you. If we're having a cooking battle, I'm not gonna show you any mercy.

[aquaveiled]

[ This is most definitely karma. Maybe it's just a #RedHeadThing. ]

Right now?

[ Her eyes brighten a bit and she looks from hatchling to hatchling. ]

You heard him! We're taking you on and adventure--

[ There is no way they have permission to take the babies outside to the barbeque pit. ]

[philancer]

[ Oh, he's pretty sure he and Himeka are gonna be the ones getting grounded over this, but at least it's got the little dragons looking excited at the prospect of adventure. Especially since both of them immediately get swarmed by eager (and hungry?) babies putting up a clamor in their impatience.

Sylvain feels several drops of rain plop onto the top of his head and yeah, that's probably their clue to hasten this along.

So he scoops up a dragon under each arm - not including Himeka in that number this time - and grins over at the other redhead. ]

Alright, a food adventure it is! Let's go. [... before they get caught. ]

fin ...for CRIMES

[aquaveiled]

[ What if she wants a ride? Did he think to ask?

But that's okay, because she's happy to grab a hatchling as well and any others will just have to follow on their own four feet. Or fly, if they're feeling up to it. There's a gaggle of happily wagging tails, so maybe Sylvain needs to get on growing his own.



They absolutely get in trouble later. ]