RP:Fire In The Snow
Northern Range
Dagon stumbles from out from the mountain path, when coming to the open area of the northern range he trips over a misplaced stone and falls forward. Landing square on his face in the small pile of snow. Upon exhaling a small cloud of snow flairs up around his face. Pushing himself up with his arms he places his legs under his center, and sits on his heels looking around to see if any had seen him fall.
Linn staggered in somewhat sorely from the south in his usual pack and armor, the usually bright metal stained with blood and black char. From whatever he had endured, the physical damage he sustained was surprisingly little, though exhaustion pervaded his entire form like he hadn’t slept in days. Onlookers with keen sight and memory would notice that his normally colorless eyes were now instead a dark grassy green, the reasons for which only he really knew (Not that he was able to see it without a mirror.) In the distance he caught a figure falling into the snow before pulling himself together and forging forward to see who it was. In spite of being ready to call it a day, he was just too damn nosy to not potentially get himself into something else.
Aira needed to get out of Frostmaw for a while. She was too hurt, too angry to stay there a moment longer so she had traveled down the mountain. She adorned her usual Frostmaw furs and boots; however, her usual bow and quiver of arrows strung to her back are missing. The only other difference is her hand which was clad in a tight black cast that resembled a glove. She was able to move her fingers freely but the healer had made her promise to wear it while her frostbitten fingers healed. Stepping into the open area she froze, those copper eyes landing on a bloodied Linn and then to the fire bug who had been absent for quite some time. She breathed out a deep sigh before sauntering further into the gathering. "Interesting bunch we got here," she commenting, clicking her tongue in her mouth.
Pilar had, indeed, seen Dagon fall. She had been on her way up the mountain when she saw it. She picked up her pace and made her way to his side. "Are you alright?" Her voice had an obvious foreign accent, but she took care to enunciate her words correctly. She heard the clank of armor and turned to see Linn heading towards them. Her eyes widened at the sight of the mess that was his armor. "Are YOU alright?" Upon hearing Aira, she turned to look at the elf. This time, she was hesitant. "Are you... alright?"
Dagon 's eyes fell upon the two armored ones first. It was when he looked upon Linn that his eyes grew big fear washing over the mage then to Aira. The terror washing over his body causing the usually warm elf to start a shiver. "No... it can't be I got out!" he stands quickly getting to his feet and backing away from the two. "Back away from me fiends!" He inhales deeply. His left hand moves in front of his mouth closing into a fist then is brought down to his side, the right follows suit. "Nice try.." he says upon lowering the right hand "But they are already dead.. you can't use them to trick me again!" it is then that the man raises his hands, one pointed at Aira and the other at Linn. A defiant glare is sent to Pilar "Tell your master he`ll never get the book back" both of his hands open wide, each producing a blast of fire which race to their targets. His mouth opens as well sending a third line of fire like that of an aged dragon racing towards Pilar.
Linn | Once everyone had gathered closer the stench of burnt flesh around Linn would become noticeable, no doubt connected to the stains on his armor. The black char was noticeably concentrated around his right hand that would wield either of the blades at his hip or across his back. Any grimaces at the smell would be met with a somewhat sheepish look and a ‘sorry’ about his own presentation right now. Pilar’s triply repeated question prompted a small chuckle and a nod, “A little out of it, but I’m fine.” Now-colored eyes turned to Aira’s hand with a satisfied smile, “Good to see you kept it.” A full recovery always made the enchanter rather happy, seeing the shadows of events wiped away. Of course the hunter had a few other shadows following her, but hopefully those would fade eventually. Dagon’s… odd behavior drew him back to attention, the man’s unusual fear setting him on edge himself. To the words he tilted his head slightly, clearly perplexed. “Umm… What are you…” He was cut off by the fireball suddenly hurtling his way, forcing him to turn his back and duck to shield his head and let it crash against his armor. It dimmed ever so slightly as it impacted him before dispersing itself, the enchanter already running to put some distance between himself and the crazed fire mage before him. “What the hell are you doing!?” he called out on his momentary retreat before turning to face Dagon again.
Aira offered a half smirk to Pilar at her question, opting not to verbally answer her just yet. When Linn's comment draws her attention away she merely shrugs. "Still need a bow," she sighed as if it were an appendage she had lost. Dagon's odd behavior caused Aira to quirk an eyebrow, copper eyes widening in confusion at his words. She is about to approach the fire mage when he hurtled a fireball her way. The runaway squealed and dropped to the ground in order to miss being burnt up.
Pilar had no idea what was going on and before she knew it a plume of flame was heading for her. Paralyzed with terror, she could only shriek as she was engulfed. Running on survival instinct now, she dropped to the ground and rolled in the snow to put herself out. Once the fire was out, she laid in the snow, tears spilling from her eyes. Her dress and cloak were charred, her hair singed, her skin covered in burns. She couldn't remember the last time she was in so much pain. She couldn't move, except to speak, and even then all that would come were whimpers and soft cries rather than actual words.
Dagon had lost track of the other two, "Give up the act!" the mage shouted toward Linn "You can only send them after me so many times, I'm onto your tricks fiend but I have a new one for you, thanks to your master" with the other two not in sight the mage focused his full attack on the only one in sight. He begins a chant, though not as confident in the words as his previous spells as he speaks he hold out his arms as if he were a warrior with dual swords. And with a flash of purple light that gives off a wave of chaotic energy two broad swords take place in waiting hands almost instantly the two blades catch a flame and leave the red mages hand floating above him. Upon pointing both hands toward the /imposter/ the blades charge on their own attacking on their own following the orders of the mage.
Linn didn’t have time to unshoulder his pack before he had to begin weaving and ducking between the twinned blades of magical fire. He drew something from a pouch at his belt with the unscorched hand as he attempted to dodge the blades that crashed against him repeatedly, flashes of blue light coming from each of the impacts that grew steadily dimmer, the mithril glowing redder with each blow. Linn grimaced in pain as the radiant heat began to sear his skin under his leathers before the heated plates suddenly fell from him to reveal the doublet underneath. Dagon may have killed the exhausted enchanter then and there if it wasn’t for a burst of energy belatedly coming from the pack that shattered the magic of the blades attacking him, dispersing them into a weak glow that drew itself into the bag or his own body. He seemed… energized by what had just happened, parts of the exhaustion melting from his features as the color in his eyes began to fade again. “Who… Savage Queen? Dark imp? Winter queen?” he threw the names of the liches he knew responsible for all sorts of shenanigans in Frostmaw and Xalious into the air in hopes of one of them ringing a bell and giving him something to work on. He dropped his pack and maneuvered behind it with an intense focus on the mage in front of him, this time ready to combat the spells thrown his way.
Pilar continued to lie in the snow, unmoving. She could only watch as Linn fought this mad mage for their lives. She was glad that Dagon didn't seem to be paying her any attention. She scanned the landscape for Aira, but couldn't see her. Her eyes went back to the fight.
Dagon began to laugh as he had taken up the winning side. "Fool!" he shouts as he lowers himself down to the ground placing a hand within the snow "If your master intends to send assassins to retrieve his book for him..." his hands begin to dart around no doubt casting another spell "Then it would be best if they knew how to fight" he raises a finger to his lips, after a moment of thought he extends his arms in front of him with fingers open wide both of his pinkies and thumbs touch before each hand falls in on itself into a fist. A slight crackling sound emanates near Linn heat begins forming behind the human then just as the mages hands, had formed a ring of fire begins to take shape around the human. Dagon steps forward and moves into the ring just before the 30 foot ring closes around them. "You can drop the act fiend, Linn is dead, I saw him die with my own eyes or with my own hands.. I'm not sure which was the real one, but if your boss continues to send his fiends after me that mirror his image then I shall kill the assassins the same way the real one was killed when he tried to rescue me." the hate and rage in his voice is evident even with drops of pain one feels when losing a friend "You will never win"
Linn took the time Dagon gave him to hold his hand covered in blackened plating out over his pack before a clear, nearly invisible gemstone flew from it into his hand. This mage was clearly under some kind of illusion or madness, whatever it might be… It seemed to be a part of that book he kept going on about. Resetting his focus on the firebat in front of him he tightened before relaxing, finding some kind of confidence as he continued reading the magic that circled around them all. So long as nothing continued to play at Aira or Pilar he seemed satisfied to play with whatever game was going on. “Tell me, how did Linn die?” the enchanter questioned his own existence in an attempt to challenge whatever false memories Dagon may have obtained. He remained readied for another spell, this time able to block and shatter it before too much harm would come to him.
Aira slowly lifted her head from the ground, carefully shifting her copper eyes around to see where everyone stood. Thanks to his attacks and her diving maneuver, Aira lay to the side of Dagon. As Linn asked his question, distracting the fire mage, the runaway slowly inched her way around to get as close behind the delusional mage as she could. What was he going on about? What was this book? Why did he think Linn was dead? Should Dagon happen to glance her way she would lay still once more, pretending to be unconscious. With Pilar safely to the side, the hunter continued to inch her way closer. When she was satisfied with her distance, Aira would make the stupid move of springing from the ground and charging at Dagon with sylvan grace and speed. Should Linn's distraction hold, Aira would aim her shoulder into Dagon's lower back in an attempt to throw off his center of gravity thus sending the two elves tumbling to the ground.
Pilar bit her lip when she saw Aira's gambit. She had to stifle the wish to warn against it, lest she put the hunter in danger. Tears continued to fall as she thought about how useless she was. Her friends had avoided getting hit and were now fighting, but she had stood there like an idiot and was now just lying there. She tried to move her arm, but hot pain shot through the appendage. She bit her lip harder to keep from screaming, drawing a drop of blood.
Dagon tilts his head looking the man over for a moment "It was when I first tried to escape, surly you remember your boss capturing Aira Linn and I right outside of his walls and using that purple fire... well thanks to him.." the red mage gives a twist of his hand as if one were turning a light bulb and almost instantly the red-orange fire takes on a purple hue the flames begin to emit a chaotic energy to them "You see.. it took me a while to...." the mages speech was cut off as he is tackled from behind falling once again face forward to the ground. He grunts upon impact and quickly struggles in an attempt to move out from under the fiends grip"
Linn tracked Aira’s movement with his periphery, making sure not to give anything away as she maneuvered. Hell, he would have posed for some more attention if the situation called for it. When the crazed fire mage suddenly surged forward from the hunter’s tackle Linn dashed forward as well to pin him from the front, preparing the crystal in his hand to end any and all forming spells that made their way into the air around them. He put the clear gem on the ground just behind him, making sure to shield it from any tampering with his armored form. If Dagon wanted to try any kind of magic he would have to execute it very fast to avoid interruption from the reactive spellbreaking enchantment that Linn had made. He wasn’t likely to get away with the same trick more than once either. Removing the charred gauntlet the enchanter exposed his hand before reaching out in an attempt to grab Dagon’s face and force it into the snow while he tried to get a feel for any spell that had been set on the mage. “Find the book.” He commanded to Aira, suspicious of the mages’ paranoid protection of it.
Aira had rolled a few times with Dagon as the went down, fueled by her recent feelings of anger she managed to get the upper hand, leaning her knee near his throat as Linn came to assist her. While not weak, there was no doubt the enchanter was stronger physically plus he had the aide of magic on his side. Throughout their tussel, Aira hissed at Dagon through clenched teeth, "We didn't die! It's us! It's us, Fire Bug!" A grunt and Aira is thrown from the fire mage due to his thrashing. When Linn commanded the runaway to find the book she merely gave him a quizzical expression. "Where the hell am I supposed to look?" Was it a large tome or a small pocket sized book? Unsure, Aira began to peruse any pockets on Dagon's person.
Dagon looked to Aira and Linn "Liar! Why give two stones about the book if your master didn't send you to retrieve it!" he shifted and all though unable to actually fight her off, he did what he could to make finding the book as difficult as possible. Even going as far as to raise snap his teeth at her if she got close enough to his face. His struggles became his own undoing though as through the folds of his robes an old book matching the size of a text book given at universities falls out. Though he keeps struggling."You take me back I swear I will burn the lot of you and your homes. I'll burn fiend families, I'll burn your fiend mother your fiend father your fiend siblings your fiend children and then I will personally set your master on fire with his own flames!"
Linn had taken a spot to help pin the flailing mage, deciding to hold his wrists into the ground from behind while Aira searched for the book. Faded green eyes snapped right to the large worn hardcover that slipped from Dagon’s robes with a sudden intake of breath. The enchanter didn’t budge, though his lapse in focus on holding the mage to the ground could be taken advantage of if he had the mind to do so. “This master you speak of is someone that I’d probably want to see on fire as well.” He retorted, hoping to throw Dagon’s mood with a smart-ass remark. When in doubt… shake things up abit…
Aira scrunched up her nose in distaste as Dagon went to chop down on her hand when her fingers got taken close. Copper irises flared upon seeing a book within the folds of his robes, quickly snatching it from the mage and moving away from his struggling form. All of Dagon's threats fall on deaf ears when it comes to the runaway who knew he was speaking from an unstable mind. Once again she called out to Linn, "What should I do with it? Shall we set it on fire since that seems the be the topic of conversation? Destroy whatever hold this book has on Fire Bug?"
Pilar attempted one more time to get up. With every movement, pain shot through her body. By the time she was on hands and knees, she was openly sobbing. She remained in that position for several minutes, waiting for the pain to dull before getting to her feet. She took shaking steps toward the north. She had to get to Frostmaw, get to help... She didn't get very far before collapsing again.
Dagon laughs at the womans suggestion "Destroy it if you wish, but I already have a majority of the spells memorized." taking the lapse in focus to his advantage the mage would extend his hand calling upon a first year trick that took little effort he closes his hand around the woman trying to escape, a ring of fire, much like the one that circled the group circled around her. The smaller giving no heat, but would burn if she tried to get out of it "A deal then.." he says nodding to the trapped woman, you give me the book, she lives. You burn the books, well...." he said his eyes staring deep into Airas.
Linn unfortunately was unable to take the time to get Pilar up to Frostmaw right now, having to deal with the mage in front of him. Considering his current state he wasn’t exactly comfortable with the prospect of hauling another body up all that way. He also hadn’t thought of what to do with the book after they got a hold of it. So far they seemed to be forcing Dagon’s hand though, slowly. The enchanter’s eyes flickered over to the ring of fire currently around Pilar. The moment he sent the crystal over to her it would figure out and break the spell like it had the blades, though for now he would go along with it, seeing if he could learn more of what’s going on. “I’ll make that deal, but I want to know a little more about that book first. If you have everything in it memorized, what need do you have remaining for it?”
Aira attempted to call out to Pilar when Dagon sets his ring of fire on her. "STOP!" Aira called out loudly so as to get the fire Mage's attention. "Stop." She repeated again, a bit softer this time. "I won't burn the book," she spoke calmly, staring into those red eyes. "But how about you and I make a deal?" Aira swallowed hard as she looked first to the injured and trapped Pilar and then to the enchanter whose eyes seemed to have gained some color. "You let Linn take Pilar to get help and in exchange," she plowed on quickly so as to not be intereupted, "You can have your book back. And me." Her final statement is met with a clenched jaw and a curt nod. Her metallic eyes would never leave the red ones, not even to shifting to Pilar and Linn should they try and protest. "I am the one who master minded this whole facade, I'm the one you really want."
Pilar flinched when the fire sprang up around her. Still shaking, she rolled onto her side and looked behind her. She looked at her friends with pleading eyes. She was not ready to die, not now, and not for this. But when Aira offered herself up in exchange, she managed a weak "No..."
Dagon glares to both of them "I keep the book and All three of you leave and return to your master, tell him the next fiends he sends after me won't get away so easy... " the mage holds out his hand ready to take the book back which if given to him, he would dispell both of the magic rings to allow them to leave.
Linn stiffened as Aira offered herself up to Dagon at the whole deal. What in the world was she thinking? His thoughts briefly wandered to how he would get the burned Pilar to some help, somewhat dismayed knowing that it would take him right back to Xalious. That damn rat better had been the last thing he’d have to deal with today. When Dagon offered to take the book peacefully the enchanter let up on his hold before taking the crystal back in his hand, maneuvering around near Pilar to dispel the ring of fire himself at a moment’s notice if needed. He couldn’t help but press the issue of the mage’s hostility though. “You’ve gone mad Dagon, if you think my armor could be replicated to every detail on the same kind of person that would casually walk up burned and bloodied. Whatever that book’s done to you is something else.” With his statement he waited to allow the magic to be released willfully unless something more suddenly took place around them.
Aira looked up Dagon with narrowed copper eyes before stepping forward and reaching the book out towards his hand. She would not fully relinquish her own grip until the fire rings were diminished. Linn's comments towards the fire mage granted an agreeing nod from the runaway before she turned to Dagon once more. Her metallic irises find his red ones and when she speaks it's low so it wouldn't carry. Pilar might be able to pick up what she was saying with her vampiric hearing and Linn as well depending on his proximity. "I should have known, another person I've grown to trust turns on me. I don't know why I bother even getting close." A small snarl twitched itself onto Aira's face. "I guess I'll burn Rynvale myself." Should Dagon allow the fire to give way, the hunter would release her grip, turn on booted heel and walk away towards Pilar.
Pilar sighed in relief and let her head rest on the ground when the mad mage agreed to let them all go peacefully. She could only hope he'd actually keep his word.
Dagon looks at the woman and narrows his eyes "You may have stolen her memories.. but I know this is fake and I will get out of this cursed realm. Now leave." and with that he opens his hands wide, both circles of fire fading away from the group fading away into the world as if they were never there. He lowers his head "And I will exact your revenge on them for killing you."
Linn had begun scavenging his plates while the fire faded away before he caught his own reflection, finding the green that remained in his eyes. Some of the smallest things could shatter a construct; might as well try it. The enchanter stormed right up to Dagon and looked him square in the eye. “What color were my eyes when we met in the tavern?” he asked commandingly, meeting the mage’s gaze to let him compare the memory with what he saw in front of him. He turned the crystal that still rested in his hand, prepared to break and absorb a spell that came his way in response to the discontinuity.
Aira would not turn to look upon Dagon again. Whatever semblance of a relationship or friendship they had, was gone with his new found paranoia. The Mage's words felt like salt in Aira's wounds of Kahn's treachery. She had left her home for the abuse she suffered there, opting to give herself a fresh start out west. It would seem that letting her guard down was the biggest mistake she had made. Her heart had grown soft when it came to certain people, but their betrayal would only callous it, hardening her further. If Dagon thought she was some pseudo Aira, so be it. Ignoring Linn's attempts to speak to Dagon, the hunter moved to Pilar's side and knelt down. "Are you okay?" She asked a bit more sharply than she intended. "What happened?"
Pilar had no clue what was going through his mind when he stormed up to Dagon and posed his question. Instead she focused on Aira. Her clothes have been utterly ruined by Dagon's blaze, and her body is covered is second- and third-degree burns. "His... fire..." she murmured, her voice a mere hiss from the pain. She reached out towards Aira. "Please... help me..."
Linn found no reason from Dagon with his own little attempt to break the illusion before he parted ways with that damned book of his. The enchanter sighed before collecting the plates of his armor, attaching the ones that wouldn’t be an issue for carrying someone and stacking the rest to put them in his pack before heading back over to Pilar, taking in a sharp breath at the extent of the wounds. “Got to you bad…” he whispered out rhetorically before pursing his lips, sending glances in the direction of Frostmaw and Xalious. There was no way they’d make it up that cliff together. “I need to take you to Xalious. You can rest there, whatever attacked that place back at the town hall shouldn’t be bothering us any time soon.” He looked Pilar over again, trying to find a way to pick her up without aggravating the burns too much.
Pilar groaned as Linn picked her up gently as he could. She leaned her head against him and sighed. She was glad that he was there. As they trekked down the mountains, she let out little whimpers here and there. It seemed to take forever for them to get back to Xalious Village. The townspeople turned to stare at Linn as he made his way to the clinic. Who was that woman in his arms, and what had happened to her? Was this more of the Dark Imp's doing? Any questions posed were ignored. Once they reached their destination, a nurse took one look at the vampire before calling for a stretcher to be brought out, and Linn laid her down carefully. She was still conscious, as much as she wished she wasn't. The vampire looked at her friend, now savior. "Thank... you..." she murmured. The doctors and nurses whisked the vampire away for treatment.