RP:Serenade of the Sleepless
Part of the Wholehearted Wanderers Arc
Part of the The Foundations Of Decay Arc
Summary: Two very different vampires happen to come across an unusual scene in the Kingdom of Enchantment: everyone has fallen asleep in the middle of the streets! Lhyrin recognizes one of these everyone as Kanna, who has been trying to send a distress signal out between spells of sleeping for the last who-knows-how-long, and Kanna in turn recognizes the famed Cenrili-Vailkrin designer Iintahquohae, who has also failed to succumb to the mass sleeping spell. With two vampires immune to the enchantment in tow, the unusual trio descend into the depths beneath the mystical dragon's nest to find the source of the problem.
Crystal Clear Moat
The barrier moat has once again been restored to the clarity of its former glory. Scintillating shimmers of pixie dust dance lazily about the canal, reminiscent of the recent efforts to cleanse the stream that feeds the crystal clear body of water. The beauty of the waters beckon you to step into their refreshing flow, but as you step forth, a swarm of water sprites and fae surround you, making a clear point that this viscous barrier is here for a reason. A large wooden drawbridge leads to the Enchanted Castle in the south, the old timbers now reinforced with thick living vines which also spider lazily across the castle's aged brick veneer. The bridge lies currently in its downward position, suggesting the open invitation to peaceful visitors in these lands. Upon further examination you notice a single lily floating atop the sparkling waters, something tells you this solitary flower marks a memorial of some kind. You may travel south through the welcoming castle gate, or northward into the bustling market.
It is a beautiful summer day in Enchantment. The birds are singing… the flowers are blooming… but where is the hustle and bustle of the woodland city? There is the distinct sound of a flute playing three notes in sequence, each note sustained for what seems to be an inhuman amount of time. Moving through the Enchantment Market Square, gnomes, centaurs, humans, and elves can be seen completely unconscious, but otherwise unharmed. Pixies are working as a team to drag each unconscious individual out of the line of traffic and up against a tree or building. The way the traffic flows will inevitably push the wandering vampires away from the northern edge of the square and down towards the path that leads to the moat. Laying in the grass as though this were a perfectly normal place to rest, a familiar bardess is fast asleep, with a quill in her loose fingers and a parchment beneath her hand that indicates a request for assistance from the Bard’s Guild. The sound of the flute’s playing seems to grow louder the closer one gets to the moat, and it seems that all the pixies are avoiding the area.
After the whole fiasco of a multitude of people, including a certain bardess, was captured and taken to Alithrya, Lhyrin had been attempting to keep a better eye on Kanna. Well, “had been” being the key words here. They looked around Cenril, but didn’t find her there. Her scent was faint, old, in the usual places she’d wander there. The vampiric hunter knew she wasn’t there and continued on to Kelay-Sage, not even bothering with Vailkrin or Gualon. As they reached Southern Sage, they caught her scent again, still faint, but fresher, and being carried on the breeze from the south. It was about that time that the flute playing hit their ears. It sounded off a bit, and as they got closer to Enchantment, they soon found what the mysterious pied piper had been up to. The situation was… confusing. But ultimately unimportant for the moment. After staring at the gnomes, centaurs, humans, and elves, they shook their head and carried on down the path further, eventually finding Kanna. She was… asleep? Just like the others. A bit of rage started to simmer in their chest, but the forsaken elf, who was usually rather emotionless, did their best to ignore it as they knelt down beside the bard and attempted to shake her awake, their monotone voice filling the air as they said her name. “Kanna. Kanna!”
“You are not your hair, Inky dear.” Iintahquohae could hear Ma's words in her head as she made her way toward Enchantment's shopping district. The assurance was typically given to her during wash day, or when it was time to braid her curls. It was usually said when the seamstress was a child, but the memories never left. Especially the ones of her mother and herself traveling from Cenril to Enchantment for hair sprang to mind. Her first encounter with the fair folk as a child was delightful to the say the least, and she and her mother selected unique hair bundles for her box braids that day. Today is no different, but Inks wished her mother could tag along. The shift in her natural hair's color from black to greyish-white opened up an opportunity for decidedly brighter, softer colors, despite her relocation to a city so dark and drab. She's thinking lavender, canary yellow. Pinks. Her favorite sky blue, which brings to mind tweeting birds, which brings to mind... how eerily quiet it is, aside from the odd notes she hears from an instrument she couldn't name or place. Enchantment, particularly its square, was filled with a noise she was especially fond of, like any other market squares across the continent. Her reminiscent daydreaming ceases the instant she's nudged aside by a group of pixies hauling an unconscious gnome away, and that nudge conveniently places her on the pathway that leads toward the castle's moat. Rather than double back and see if anyone running the shop she buys hair from is dozing too, Inks figures maybe bumping into a castle guard to inquire about what she's walked into is the better option. Her feet are leading her that way anyway. She comes into view at shortly after Lhyrin repeats Kanna's name. Considering this is the first person she's seen that isn't moving bodies, the seamstress adopts a genuinely concerned look, but maintains a distance in case there's some unforseen threat. “What's happened here?” She asks, with the assumption Lyhrin might have heightened senses. They didn't smell alive, so Inks could only guess.
Kanna reacts to Lhyrin’s shaking and calling for her with what can best be described as a cross between a mew and a sigh as she stirs. There is a decrescendo in the flute’s playing, as though the player is moving further away, and the bardess opens her eyes. “Ah!” If Iintahquohae and Lhyrin were to look around, they would see the other creatures that had succumbed to slumber are also beginning to stir the softer the flute playing becomes. The human sits upright and pats her cheeks hard with the palms of her hands. Looking at Lhyrin, then at the concerned Iintahquohae behind them, the dream princess of Valaane knits her brows in worry. Despite being bleary-eyed, the bardess tries to speak quickly, as though there’s no time. “Lhyrin, you found me! These people need help! Something is wielding something it shouldn’t be, and there’s a sleeping enchantment tied to it! Even the elves and fair folk are succumbing to it if they get too close to the source!” Her eyes suddenly take on a surprised, sparkling sheen to them as she recognizes who the woman standing behind the dark ranger is. “The designer from the charity fair?” With the attention span of a rabbit, Kanna lights up. “I love your cloud cloak! Wait… you’re standing, both of you…” Kanna tilts her head and looks down at the plea for help she had been writing. “Neither of you fell asleep? Did you hear the flute?”
Lhyrin tilted their head semi-curiously at the other vampire. The seamstress smelled like Lord Azakhaer. They weren’t too big on knowing who was who in each of the vampire houses besides their own (but that would probably have to change soon, if they wanted Vhys to ally with Vailkrin). “Someone’s musical performance was subpar, apparently, forcing everyone into a slumber.” Did… Lhyrin just make a joke? They were even mildly surprised at themself. See, this is what happens when you have to hang around people. Maybe they’ll outlaw jokes in Vhys when they take the damn thing over. A brief shake of their head was given and their attention fell back onto the bardess as she began to stir, along with everyone else. They knelt there in silence as Kanna explained things, their face scrunching up somewhat in a look of disapproval. “No. It affected neither of us.” They stood finally, then reached down a gangly arm, offering to help Kanna up if she needed it. “A musical instrument that does not seem to affect vampires. And perhaps undead as a whole.” Something felt… familiar about this, though they did not know directly what the flute was, the elf certain they had never heard of it.
Iintahquohae 's eyes settle on Kanna as she's roused from her nap, but are quick to shift at the sound of others nearby waking too. She hasn't connected that the sound of the flute and whoever happens to be playing the instrument is the likely culprit for this, but the girl's frantic speech to Lhyrin is enough to create the link. Brows rise a little at the shift in Kanna's demeanor from frantic to what she guesses is merely friendly, conversational, but it's enough to ease the bulk of the tension Inks possessed lately. Recognized for what mattered to her – her work, not her new position in Vailkrin. “Oh! Oh – yeah, that's me. Thanks.” The grin she flashes is disappointingly short-lived, but the compliment is heartwarming. There's a time and a place to show off, and now wasn't the time, nor the place. “Are you okay?” As for the flute's effects, Inks nodded at Lhyrin's answer. She didn't feel tired at all – just utterly confused and grateful to be beneath the sun again. Perhaps she and Lhyrin were of similar mind, because after they state that the instrument doesn't seem to influence vampires and potentially undead in general, her vulpine ears perk up and begin to swivel, in effort to source the fading sound of the flute. “Let's track down the flutist and silence them, then.” Big sleepy problem, simple and potentially deadly solution. Depends on how one wants to interpret 'silence'. They could just snap the flute.
Kanna haphazardly rolls up the parchment she had been trying to write, bottles up the inkwell and caps the tip of the quill, then simply shovels them all into her satchel without a second thought. “You heard it, but it affected neither of you…” She repeats aloud as she takes their hand to stand. They are definitely an unusual trio, with Kanna standing a good head shorter than either vampire. At Iintahquohae’s suggestion, Kanna nods vigorously. “That’s what I have been trying to accomplish since… oh gods, what day is it? Are we still in Zeyvann?” She frets, running a grass-stained hand through her silvery hair. Her eyes light up as the meaning of the seamstress’ words sets in. “Yes! I came here because the rumors made me think its something that one of the Guilds is seeking out, so two vampires are perfect!” Kanna looks around. “Ah, I think last time, I had figured out that the sound comes from the mystical dragon’s nest.” The bardess points to a deep incline in the ground near the castle moat, where the gorgeous guardian of Enchantment seems to be just waking from its slumber as well with a rather ungracious yawn. The saurian stands and begins to exit the nest, but then the sound picks up again, softly at first, accompanied by tremors in the earth. It seems not even the guardian could be safe from it, for it yawns again and falls onto its side just outside of its nest, creating a passageway for those who want to go forth. “Oh, that’s the sound!” Kanna says excitedly, her eyelids drooping as the spell already begins to take effect.
Lhyrin nodded in agreement with Inks’ plan as they straightened their pack, bow, and quiver carefully on their back. “Yes, let’s do away with it.” It had only taken a moment for Lhyrin to consider the plan. If they were viewed as a hero, they could likely get Enchantment on their side as an ally easily. They withheld a cruel smirk at the thought of it. It was so easy. It was then that both the dragon -and- Kanna started to drift off again. They’d catch her before she fell and lifted her into their arms for a moment. “You are a seamstress, yes?” Their words were for Iintahquohae now. “Do you have a bit of spare cloth on you? Something we can tear up and shove into her ears? I used to carry beeswax candles at one point, but after my change, I’ve had no need for it.”
They really are thinking similarly, and the thought elicits a smile. Iintahquohae is already freeing a handkerchief from her pocket, tearing it along its weft after holding it up to get a better look at the fabric as Lhyrin makes the suggestion. If they're going taking a trip to 'silence' some lullaby-playing flutist, maybe plugging Kanna's ears to keep her awake might be wise, considering she's the most informed of the trio here by Inks' estimation. She's unphased by the suggestion of dropping into a dragon's nest, given her experiences with dragons pre-siring and post-siring. Being near them was actually thrilling in a way. More because she missed flying, not because their blood could be her end. She steps forward, offering Kanna the two pieces of her handkerchief. “They aren't earmuffs, but...” Maybe they'll work a little. It's the best she can do for now. Whether Kanna herself or Lhyrin takes them, she's bounding ahead for the dragon's nest. Quietly, though – don't want to wake the sleepy dragon just yet.
Dragon Nest
The verdant aura draws you deeper into this space, dimly lit by one crude torch that reflects against the many shards of crystals piled in ritualistic manner just at the breech of its narrow mouth. The very presence of your being awakens the sleeping dragon furled in the expansion of the area against the eastern wall. A chill runs down your spine, thanks to the intricate carvings of archaic purpose grooved in the earthen surface whose sole purpose serves as a magical barrier against intruders. Sights are drawn toward the circular barrier of twig and gem in one rounded corner, fashioned there to hold several eggs secured within its cradle. Ominous, even in the ample space of this underground dwelling, is this opalescent-scaled creature whose very breath can be felt even before you notice his eyes scanning you. Crystalline sabers serve as incisors, bared by a gaping maw that leaves you to believe his intention is to consume you whole. Searching for an escape, your only option is to plow forward and face this majestic opponent, or make the dangerous climb back through the watery depths of the moat.
Kanna sighs happily as Lhyrin holds her, for a moment almost succumbing to the spell. “It’s so hot out, but you’re nice and cold…” Reaching up, she pinches her own cheek to stay awake and she straightens again, graciously taking the handkerchief from Iintahquohae before following along. “Thank you, I’ll see to it that you are repaid for this somehow…” Descending into the mystical dragon’s cavern, the light surprisingly stays bright, not with sunlight, but with the glows of crystal and gemstone geodes embedded into these walls as the furthest reaches of the Xalious Mountain Range’s plentiful resources. The passage narrows into something that the guarding mystical dragon could never pass through with its size, but is just large enough for three medium-sized creatures to comfortably walk through. Despite Enchantment being so close to the moors and the swamps of Gualon, the cavern here stretches the height of a mansion from floor to ceiling. The sound of the whistling flute here is so loud that it might threaten to shatter glass, but underneath those high-pitched tones are other tell-tale sounds. There is the rumbling of the ground from repeated blows, and the deep, reverberating growl of something unhappy. Rounding a corner, the head of a glittering crystal dragon comes into view, its crystalline scales thick with age and its irises blown so wide that they appear to make the whole sclera blackened. This is the telltale sign of mad dragons warned about in bedtime stories. A rumble comes from its throat, where the unmistakable sound of a flute whistles out, and the rest of its body comes into view. It seems as though it has not taken notice of the trio yet, but it snuffs at the ground as though searching for something. “They want… my hoard, MY HOARD…!” The mad dragon growls to itself. Spotting a chunk of onyx jutting out from the walls, the dragon bounds forward. “MINE!!!” It roars, chomping down on the rocks with its bare teeth. Kanna holds her hands in front of her face, her eyes wide like saucers. Any spell she could perform would need sound, making her stealth for naught.
Lhyrin felt something strange in their stomach as they held Kanna. It was almost as if a thousand butterflies were having a merry flying dance there, laughing happily. Laughing at Lhyrin maybe? They did not know what the feeling was, but they did know that they didn’t want to put her down right away. But, after a brief hug (wut. Lhyrins don’t hug), they relented and allowed her to lead them down below into the underground area. They did actually wince a little as they descended, the sharp volume of the flute making their ears ring a bit. Whoever it was down here, they were certainly going to pay. Perhaps the kind seamstress would like to feast on the mysterious flute-player with them, once they’d found them? So long as they were one of those foods that Lhyrin (and vampires in general) couldn’t eat, of course. But they did have a nice supply of pixie dust in their pack, just waiting to be used as a spice for their meal, as it always was. As the mad dragon made itself known, Lhyrin instinctively moved in front of Kanna, their bow and an arrow withdrawn in case it was needed. While Lhyrin would’ve put the creature down immediately, Kanna was delicate and Iintahquohae was unknown, so they posed a question to the two instead. Very very quietly, of course. “Do we put it down? Or just try to sneak around it? I may have a plan that’ll work for either choice.”
Iintahquohae 's footsteps slow, mostly due to the peculiarities of the cavern. The bard didn't owe her over a bit of cloth, so she didn't turn her head to acknowledge the kind words. Instead she looked to the cavern's well-lit walls. She possessed a dragon's appetite, once somewhat divulged to an actual dragon long ago, and the precious stones she managed to glimpse embedded in the walls were beautiful. But they weren't here to mine. Silencing, remember. The sounds of the dragon and that flute contort her features into an unpleasant wince, and the seamstress feels her ears begin to flatten against her skull. She makes a point of keeping a lot distance from Kanna and Lhyrin once they're in the cave. Not because of their moment prior to entering, since Inks missed it entirely, but for something else. If there was one thing the seamstress was especially good at after running with the Coterie, it was playing her favorite supporting role as bait. With that thought in mind, she presses her lips together in order to whistle sharply for the mad dragon's attention, and while doing so, utilizes her unnatural strength to pry free a fist-sized chunk of her favorite stone, celestite, from the rock face. She hefts the crystal cluster in her hand in order for it to catch the dragon's eye and coax it toward her, hopefully to open a path for them to press forward. She makes a show of turning the crystal in her hand as if she were examining it, then hollers, “Mine, actually~” Her eyes then settle on Kanna, then Lhyrin, then toward generally where the source of the flute was. They could press ahead while Inks tries to lead the dragon away. Seems she's decided sneak rather than put the dragon down for now.
Kanna’s shield-sized eyes look from Iintahquohae’s grand display, to the crystal dragon that turns to regard the intruder. “THIEF!!!” It screams, the sound of the flute whistling so loudly with the force of its exertion that the geodes of weaker crystals burst with equally ear-shattering cracks. It is so bad that Kanna has to hold her hands over her ears to keep the sound from shaking her skull even though the cloth she has stuffed them with. Smaller crystalline creatures of the cave skitter and take cover underneath the cracks as the ruler of this cave enters a rage. The dragon charges forward, and Kanna pulls Lhyrin by the quiver back and closer to her to avoid a falling chunk of rock. It is only after the dragon has passed the pair, and Kanna and Lhyrin are opposite it, would someone make the realization that the sound of the whistling is now coming from behind them instead of deeper within the cave. The crystal dragon is shaking with rage as it barrels towards Iintahquohae, its head lowered with a jagged crystal protruding from its snout like a horn, as though it means to headbutt her like it would a rivaling dragon.
Lhyrin pressed their lips into a thin line as the seamstress chose to ignore a plan that might not get them killed and just alerted the dragon to her presence instead. They were not at all pleased, but Inks’ attempt did work at least. They’re pulled backwards suddenly and out of the way of falling debris thanks to Kanna and soon noticed the change in direction of the music as the dragon went past them after the seamstress. “Hm.” That’s it. Just ‘hm’. After a moment, they sighed, threw their hands up in the air in a massive shrug, then turned and gave Kanna a headpat in an attempt to comfort her. “Give me a moment to do something and then you should hopefully be able to attack it freely. I think that sound is coming from the dragon itself, so we may not have any other choice but to give it over to my dark lord.” They mean Vakmatharas, of course. Lhyrin took off then, using their vampiric and elven agility and balance to climb up the crystalline scales of the mad dragon while the other vampire distracted it. They dug their toes up under the scales somewhat, in an effort to keep themself steady on the beast’s back, then put two fingers to their mouth and let out a sharp whistle, loud enough to echo through the rest of the cavern and out into the open air above. Soon after, a flurry of bats came flying into the area from deeper into the cave, while a plethora of corvids came rushing from the dark area of the forest on the east side of Enchantment. Just as they had when Lhyrin and Quintessa fought, the winged creatures flew around the dragon’s head, trying to distract it more, all the while screeching and cawing and slashing the dragon with their talons.
Iintahquohae 's dull eyes widen when the dragon roars its accusatory (and accurate) word at her, and the sound...Oh great, it -ate- the flute, didn't it. But it's charging at her horn first, so...A joust it is, then, and the seamstress is ill-equipped. She drops the hunk of celestite, deliberately so the pointed (though not at all sharp against the likes of a dragon) side of the cluster faces skyward. The heels of her boots dig into the ground beneath her, and with a bit of magic and a sharp stamp into the dirt, the seamstress frees what looks to be essentially a rod of compressed stone and dirt directly beneath the crystal cluster she pilfered, creating a shoddy looking staff. In this case, it's really a terrible jousting lance. After steading herself, the seamstress-turned-jouster notices Lhyrin on the dragon's back and can't help cracking a smile, despite the circumstances. “Good idea!” But where's Kanna? She can't stop to look yet, given that the dragon is drawing closer. Rather than aim for the lovely horn adorning its head that's obscured by Lyhrin's flock of birds and bats, the seamstress aims a bit lower – ideally the dragon's gut, but at the angle isn't correct for Inks to jab there and -potentially- force the dragon to get sick, so she'd go for the throat and pray the instrument is lodged in there instead. Maybe a sharp enough jab will make it cough the thing up.
Kanna is only somewhat comforted by the pat on the head, but she roped these two into this fight on her behalf and refuses to sit idly by. As Lhyrin rushes forward to scale the dragon, Kanna takes one of the dislodged rocks and follows behind, smashing the rock into the tip of its tail. “No magic! Crystal dragons absorb magic attacks!” She calls out as the flurry of corvids and bats swarm the area. Of the several useless books she passed her time reading while stranded in Alithrya, a good deal of the ancient selection were studies and stories on the different kinds of dragons. The first strike does not seem to deal any damage, and neither does the second, but the third time Kanna brings the geode down on the scale, the crystal layer cracks off, allowing the geode to pierce the flesh. The mad dragon, meanwhile, is thoroughly overwhelmed. The blinding swarms, the horrific sensation of lesser creature feet on its back, and the painful sensation in the tip of its tail causes it to thrash and scream out as it continues to thrust its horn in Iintahquohae’s direction. One of the jabs lands true in the center of its throat, and a distinct cracking sound rings out over the rest of the cacophony in the cave. The flurry of corvids and bats begin to drop as the final rasping screeches of the crystal dragon echoes in the cave, littering the floor and pelting the trio. The crystal dragon, frenzied, thrashes and smashes itself into the wall in an attempt to get Lhyrin off. “MY-- HOARD--!!”
Iintahquohae may be enjoying the game of dodge the crystal dragon's horn and try to jab its throat, but something had to give. The chunk of celestite she topped her lance with is too soft for a dragon's hide, so each graze she manages to get in shears off bits of the stone. Eventually it'll be useless, and then she'll have to resort to magic – no, after Kanna's shout, no. Physical strength then, and Inks had that in spades. The dragon's horn gets few forceful jabs in at her own stomach, very likely in equal measure but the seamstress wasn't counting, and she can feel dampness beneath her jacket and shirt beneath it. The jacket was her typical attire – its lining covered in red dragon scales that she used for warmth, but they scraped at her skin, even more so with the crystal dragon's movements. Whatever Kanna and Lyhrin did to steer the dragon toward beating itself against the wall is a relief, and one of her hands clutches at her side while the other keeps her odd lance within its grip. Maybe that odd cracking sound was the flute itself, and not bones in her rib cage – but it could be both. Whatever the case may be, the seamstress staggers back until she collides with the cavern's wall to lean against, and from there she leans forward to shield her face from falling debris. With the assumption that Kanna and Lhyrin were well on their way to successfully slaying the dragon, Inks tries to yell over the cacophony of noise, “Dibs on some scales, AND THE HORN.” The whole dragon's hide if she could have it, But what she shouted already wasn't wisest thing to say if the dragon isn't dead yet. It certainly wasn't leaving the cavern alive between the three of them as far as she was concerned. The hand gripping her earth lance tightens as she presses the butt of it to the ground. With the rumbling ground due to the dragon's thrashing, Inks struggles to maintain some focus as she works more terramancy. Dirt and stones skitter up the lance's length, compressing together into a decently sized club for her to wield instead. No magic? No problem, and Inks steps back into the fray swinging for the dragon's head. It's already smashing itself into the wall, so she'll help it out. And not hit Lhyrin or Kanna, if the bard draws close.
In a final attempt to destroy the intruders upon its abode, the crystal dragon, feeling its stamina rapidly draining from the fast-acting poison, retches and spits out the two halves of what looks like a black crystal woodwind instrument. With its throat cleared, albeit riddled with crystal shards that are digging into its flesh and hemorrhaging blood into its lungs, it releases a shimmering breath attack, turning the corvids and bats into pure crystal and gems of different colors. The transformed creatures fall to the ground, some shattering on impact while others roll away. As it opens its maw to snap the flea on its back in half, a thick, reverberating crack sounds out. Iintahquohae’s bludgeon has rung true, sending layers of gemstone scales flying and dragon blood spurting from its nose, though it is thankfully facing away from the two vampires. “Why… why…” The mad dragon laments as its thrashing slows and its breathing becomes ragged. It turns its head, revealing the might of a vampire’s strength: a dent in its skull spanning from cheek to temple that has one of its saurian eyeballs on the verge of falling out. Its eyes are finally clear in its final moments and its mouth falls open. “Where… is my hoard…” The mad dragon, who had actually been a kindly magpie while they were sentient that had been gifted its gemstone treasures over millennia, realizes that their hoard had long been pillaged by those who took advantage of its madness. Tears mix with blood as the crystal dragon sets its head down, and goes still. Kanna runs forward to retrieve the flute. “This is it, this was one of the items stolen from the Bard’s Guild…!” The human is shaking from head to toe and covered in minor cuts and abrasions from the falling rocks and geodes, but is otherwise unharmed. From the pile of crystallized creatures, shifting can be seen, before two curious creatures come out. They are both corvids still, but their eyes are distinctly transformed. One is a crow with glowing garnet eyes that is staring at Lhyrin, and the other is a magpie with glowing celestite eyes that hops towards Iintahquohae. As Kanna examines the broken flute, quietly despairing over how she’s going to get this fixed before returning it to the Guild, a gentle weight presses down on her foot. Looking down, a white and silver speckled rabbit with its eyes shut tight is shivering and pressing its head against her leg as though seeking comfort. “Oh!” Repairing the flute is a task for another day. She puts away the flute pieces and carefully scoops up the tiny creature into her arms. Her brows furrow as she looks at the massive dragon corpse. “What do we do with it? It feels wrong to just leave it here to rot…”
While the spurts of blood from the dragon’s face didn’t hit the vampires, the blood from the wounds upon the dragon’s back did, the smell of Lhyrin’s burning flesh filling the air as the dragon’s blood sizzled away like acid on the dark ranger’s hands and arms. The one day they decide to wear something sleeveless and no gloves… Sigh. Now that the adrenaline from battle was fading, the pain was intensifying, but Lhyrin did their best to ignore it. It had been some time since Lhyrin had killed a sentient dragon. Thanks to Kanna’s influence on them, they felt a pang of remorse for the beast. It did not deserve that madness, but now it was Vakmatharas’ to attend to. “After you take the scales and horn, leave the body and I will return later. I’ve left some of my attire elsewhere and I need to take a few pieces of organs to burn in tribute to Vakmatharas. He will help take care of its spirit.” They turned their attention then to the crow at their feet and tilted their head at it. “Seems they want to go with us. Might as well indulge them, I guess,” they said with a faint smirk. They could get some use out of a companion like the crow anyway. The gangly elf leaned over with an arm outstretched, letting the crow hop up to be carried. “You might need to find a jeweler to fix that flute, Kanna.” Luckily, and unbeknownst to Lhyrin, there was one standing right there with them.
Iintahquohae recoils at the foul scent of dragon's blood, her arms freezing with their dirt club mid-swing. She's been elbow-deep in dragon's blood before as a vampire (though covered in layers to prevent her limbs melting away), but this was an unpredictable spray. Whatever Lhyrin did on its back must have slain the creature, and as its movements slow until it ultimately dies, Inks drops her weapon so it can crumble and return to the ground where it belongs. Her nostrils flare at human blood – Kanna's blood, but that distinctly sweeter scent is overwhelmed by the crystal dragon's blood. “Are you okay?” The second time she's asked the poor woman, but there isn't much Inks can do to help. She's no healer. “And you?” To Lhyrin. The crystalline creatures that appear capture her attention shortly after, particularly the magpie that hops her way. Without a second thought, she extends her forearm for the creature to perch and presumably, her menagerie grows if it does take the offer. “I'd like to scale it,” she suggests, well-aware of her remorseless tone. Normally she'd have sympathy, but...something about ends and means. It ate something it shouldn't have, caused some disturbance in Enchantment, and on a silly personal note, disrupted her shopping trip. Sven above, Inks just wanted to buy some hair bundles, but to walk a way from a haul like this... “I'm not going to lie and say I intend to immortalize its scales and maybe its horn into some garment I come up with, but those are useful materials and I'd like them.” All or some. This isn't Inks' territory and she anticipated there might be a price, or merely a no. “The respectful thing would be to...” She didn't know, but that imbalance is set right with Lhyrin's intentions. She produces a lopsided grin for both of them. “I'll make quick work then so you aren't left waiting...Jeweler?” Inks missed Kanna recovering and stowing away the broken flute in the chaos. “I might be able to help with that,” and she steps forward, curiosity apparent on her typically neutral features. “I'd love to have a look, but,” she pauses, head turning toward the dragon's corpse again. “This first? I'll try to be quick.”
Kanna cradles the rabbit like it is a kindred lost soul, and its shivering slows. Lifting its head from the crook of the human’s arm, Kanna gasps as it opens its eyes to reveal glowing Valaane-tinted moonstones in place of normal eyes. This creature too had been touched by the crystal dragon. “I don’t know if this area falls under the Kingdom’s jurisdiction, but I’m sure if we explain that it was causing the sleeping spells, the authorities shouldn’t give us too much of a fuss.” She looks at Lhyrin at the mention of a jeweler. “They can mend crystal, you think…” There is so much to speak about, and as Iintahquohae offers to take a look at the split artifact, Kanna nods gratefully. “Please, do whatever you need to in order to put this troubled soul to rest and recycle their body before the terra claims it again.” It is only then, after a deep sigh, that the scent of burnt flesh reaches her. “Lhyrin! Oh gods, the dragon’s blood… Let’s get you to the apothecary, I can heal with magic, but not completely, and absolutely not here!” Kanna runs up to Lhyrin, her big cornflower eyes full of worry and gratefulness that they were there to help save the day. The serenade of the sleepless in Enchantment has finally come to an end.