RP:Silver, Gold, & Red: An Exchange of Dragons, & the Fox Who Followed
Frostmaw Arena
Galos looked over the colosseum. His deep green eyes looked over the palace of death before him. The red dragon spanned almost 31 feet from nose to tail. His wings flapped slowly as his eyes shifted and looked through both sets of lens. The green orbs slowly rotated as he found a sliver dragon standing in the colosseum before him. The beast emitted a low rumble that echoed across the silent structure. The slits of his eyes narrowed as he slowly advanced towards the being fire gathering in his throat.
Hildegarde stood in the Colosseum with a garrison of Frost Giants, mortal men and even some elven refugees who had chosen to make Frostmaw their home; leading them through a military drill in an effort to train them and strengthen them against the threat of exiles. “Thrust!” she commanded, watching as they stepped forward in unison and thrusted their blades with a battle cry. She was pleased with their progress: given that some of the elves and mortal men could barely hold a sword to begin with! However, the knight felt her gaze drift skyward, spotting the advancing red dragon. She narrowed her gaze, curious as to what would bring a red dragon so far north; even more curious as to why he chose to rumble. It sounded threatening and the knight did not take threats lightly.
Galos allowed his gaze to shift from the dragoness for one second as he looked to those she had around her. Several frost giants , men, and elves seemed to preparing for something. What exactly he had no clue. The politics of this realm still escaped him. However, this did change things. Red dragons were prideful and hated silver's but their weren't stupid. He was already in her gaze and might be able to flee, but that wouldn't get him much of any thing. He slowly landed around 50 yards from the group and tried to take a different tact. He slowly approached, his wings tucking themselves against his body as he swallowed the flame. " Great dragon of Frostmaw." He called, the words bitter against his tongue. " Tell me. For what war do you prepare?"
Hildegarde held no hate for her kin, even if they be of a different scale colouration and breath attack. “For all war,” she replied, fingers flexing around her halberd as she gave a certain nod toward her assembled students. “Frostmaw is the City of War, it never hurts to be prepared,” she said, unwilling to deceive and yet unwilling to give all aspects of the information away, for fear there may be spies lingering or some other kind of force that may use her words against her and her comrades. “What brings a Red out to Frostmaw? It does not seem to be your… temperature.”
Galos exhaled a small gout of flame the rouse up around him covering him in a small whirlwind as he shifted to his two legged form. The dragon stepped forward now standing above six and a half foot tall. The frost giants looked much bigger now as he looked up and them and back down towards the humans. " I'm fairly new to the realm. I have yet to find a home. Though cloud isn't exactly my thing mountains very much are. " The beast said softly showing that he held nothing more than a fishing pole strapped across his back. His bare clawed feet press against the stone under foot now that the fire hand melted a large circle around him. " War. It seems no realm is without that. Well I would love to see just what this group of soldiers have to offer. Would t be too much to ask for a demonstration?"
Hildegarde stepped back at the gout of flame, along with her Frost Giant comrades who shared her dislike of flame and fire, “There are many mountains to be had, but a dragon of your breed would find Xailous and Frostmaw too cold, as I’m sure you can tell.” Her tone was polite, friendly and almost jovial. However, at the mention of a demonstration, the knight narrowed her eye at him, “It would be unfair for you to be matched against them. The Frost Giants are too big for you in this form and the others cannot hope to match the strength of a dragon,” she said. “Even so, you are not armoured and have no weapon. It is not fair to fight steel with fire.”
Galos held his hands upwards in a gesture of peace. He stepped forward a little seeing the giants and the dragon flinch against the flame. " A fight is not what I seek. You see I've fought in wars in different places, and I would love to see what your troops are able to do. Continue training if you will, but I would like to watch." The red dragon said with his hands held upwards still approaching the knight. " Maybe I can offer some insight. "
Hildegarde seemed to relax in unison with the giants as the flame subsided, “Sir,” she began, looking to the giants as if for some support. With a sigh, the knight continued: “Sir, as part of our survival, we do not show tactical methods to outsiders or strangers. How do I know you would not run off to someone and tell them exactly how I train my men?” The woman smiled, “I do not mean to imply you are a scoundrel or anything of the sort, I am simply unwilling to put my people at risk.”
Jonn makes his way into the arena, glancing about in genuine interest. His steps are indirect, wandering, and it is obvious that he is content to merely take in the sights. As he steps out onto what is, apparently, a training ground, he stops, his gaze soon focusing in on Galos and Hildegarde. At the sight of the latter, he gives his ready smile, and walks over toward the pair, a hand raised in greeting. "Lady Hildegarde," he says, "what a pleasant surprise!" He glances at Galos, and offers the man a nod. "I don't believe we have met. I am Jonn, Duke of the Vibrance."
Galos cocks an eye brow at the gold dragon that offers him a nice greeting. What kind of realm had he found himself in? " The Duke of Vibrance. You too seem to be surprisingly nice." The red beast shook his head and look towards the Lady. " I mean no harm. I just simply thought I might help. However, should you think I am a spy, I can absolutely assure you that I have no where near knowledge enough to know who your enemies much less how to tell them anything. What say you to a challenge? If you win I leave you to your training should I win you allow me to stick around."
Hildegarde smiled in a friendly manner to the Duke, dipping her head respectfully, “It is always a pleasure to see you, my lord,” she offered, before returning her attention to Galos. “Sir, it is a free region, you may go where you please, but these men will not fight before you. Certainly, the elves and humans might do, but the giants are a proud people and will refuse to show their methods before an outsider; especially one with no apparent allegiance to anywhere.” The woman did not particularly enjoy declining people their chance to participate or to view combat, but in times like these, she had to sacrifice her etiquette for the sake of the state.
Jonn affects an amused expression at Galos' words. "Why, thank you. I firmly believe in courtesy." As he catches more of their conversation though, the young man looks intrigued. "If I may, the lady's reasons are quite true. It is never wise to allow too many people, regardless of their intention, to learn your army's methods. In war, any advantage should be preserved."
Galos nodded. It seemed as if she wouldn't budge of this topic, but what of another. " So they will not fight before a stranger. Then how about a familiar. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Galosrykerokin. Galos as most people know me. I am a red dragon and a mage at that. However, I doubt that this little intro will do us much good. I have a saying. Combat is the finest form of expression. It is free from the inhibitions of speech, and the restrictions of etiquette. So M'lady will you join me in this form of expression?" The green eyed dragon eyed the being before him with a small smile.
Hildegarde nodded in agreement with Jonn, obviously glad for his support in the issue, but she was convinced the red would not drop the matter and she was correct in her thoughts. But she smiled, “I am Hildegarde the Silver, knight of Frostmaw and member of the honoured Queensguard,” she said, taking a breath to add another part of her introduction – only to suddenly leap forward and swing halberd from right to left with a mighty battle cry; the motion fluid enough that the weapon completed a circle, going around her back and swinging back around in an even wider arc, threatening to slice the man in twain if he did not attempt to move out of her way or even attempt to block the attack. Once her halberd swung, she called out to him, “This is Frostmaw’s expression!”
Jonn takes a hasty few steps back, ensuring that he is out of range of both the halberd, and whatever Galos may use in retaliation. Out of reflex, his hand drops to his sword hilt, resting on the gilded dragon pommel.
Galos watched her as the nice polite silver dragon quickly became the ferocious fighter that he had known back home. The dragon quickly shot backwards out of reach of the first arch. He quickly shot a fire bolt forward aimed for the knight chest hoping to hit the armor and and super heat it enough to stop the next attack. The mage continues backwards making sure that he would have time to channel his neck attack when she continued his assault.
Hildegarde had fought Svilfon many times and knew to give a mage no quarter, particularly those who played with fire, so she was well prepared for some kind of magical response. The knight did not wait to see if her halberd struck true or not, she simply tucked and rolled to the side – the firebolt singing as it struck her pauldron; steam rising from her mithril armour. As she rolled, she swung her halberd again and aimed for his legs as she moved; hopping up and twirling the deadly weapon down at his shoulder in her effort to force the Red dragon down into submission.
Jonn , off to one side, watches the battle unfold with undisguised interest. Without even thinking about it, the knight draws his sword, baring Judgment's wyrm-patterned blade to the chill air. Of course, he has too much of a sense of honor and fairness to wade into the fray, but he seems to take comfort from the feel of the drawn sword, which he holds, point lowered, by his side.
Galos groaned as she watched the fire bolt hit her shoulder and blaze out. He knew she would be coming in for a next attack, but he wasn't quite sure where it would be and he was no where near hardy enough to keep dodging these attacks. It was time to pull out the big guns. The dragon inhaled and quickly blew out a large gout of fire. He lifted his leg so that the first attack was thought dodged, but he could feel the sharp pain shoot up his leg and through his body. He could feel the small trail of blood roll down his leg. The fire breath should be close enough that she will have to cancel the attack our take a full face of the enhanced fire. His hands shot forward focusing on the flame as he started to chant lightly.
Hildegarde was not the sort of woman to ever retreat, which is quite possibly why she was dubbed reckless yet formidable. The knight drew in her breath as he did, leaping to the side in an effort to avoid the gout of fire as she released her own conical blast of concentrated frost; so strong that it seemed more like a gust of wind that froze whatever it touched. Indeed, it would not quench the flames, but it may well make them that less potent. The gout of flames had caught her side as she dipped to the side to avoid it, but that was better than being completely bathed in it! Her sensitive ears, however, caught the beginnings of a chat which only seemed to – for some reason – absolutely enrage her! The Silver roared furiously and ran at the Red, leaping at his mid-section in an effort to tackle him to the ground; raising her fist and slamming it hard in the direction of his face, followed by a vicious crack of her skull against his, providing her aim was true.
Jonn leans forward as the fire licks out, revealing the true nature of Hildegarde's opponent, his eyes seeming to glaze over, just as they once had when, borne up into the air by Hildegarde, he had leaped into thin air. He takes a step forward, entranced, and when the flames meet the silver's icy blast, the young duke steps forward again, entranced, drawing ever closer to the clash of elemental breath, as though something there is calling to him, unheard by the others present.
Galos didn't care if it hit her or not. His hand gripped together and ripped open. The remain flames swirled and opened in the gate like portal. His eyes were locked at the portal in total concentration. Just before he was talked he could see the massive lava hand breach the portal and pull its self onto this plane. The smile was quickly wiped from his lips as the wind was knocked from his lungs as he was tackled to the ground. This wouldn't be helped by the sickening feeling of a fist slamming into the side of his cheek. Blood rushed from his lips and nose, but he stayed focus. As the head butt came raining down he raised his fore arms upward and blocked the strike. About that time a massive pair of lava arms came around towards the dragoness' waist and attempting to pull her from his master.
Hildegarde was vaguely aware of Jonn’s advancing steps, forcing her to be even more on edge for fear her good friend might be caught up in this dance of dragons. The Silver, however, was keenly attuned to the temperature and her disdain of the heat alerted her to those lava composed arms closing in on her position. With a snarl, she rolled off the Red dragon but a little too late. Those lava like hands had grasped her mithril armour, forcing it to steam and waver under the great heat; forcing the Silver dragon to scream with a mix of rage and pain, two great fuels for any combat. But this dance could go too far, blood had been drawn and that was enough for her, “Stand down!” she commanded, keeping a hold of her halberd in the event the Red did not listen.
Jonn , now entirely oblivious to the fight between the dragons, steps forward to the place where flame and hoar-frost meet, his father's sword falling from his hand as he raises his arms up and out to either side, fingers splayed wide. Without a backward glance, the duke takes one more step forward, right into the swirling elements. His mouth drops open in shock at the sudden pain, the searing heat and biting cold, but he neither cries out nor retreats. Instead, he tilts his head back, staring up at the sky as a light seems to emit from within him, beaming out from his open mouth. The armor, clothing, and even the very flesh of the man appears to freeze and scorch at once, falling away in chunks and shards, to reveal the same blinding, golden light.
Satoshi ||Snow ripples and permafrost groans as if beneath the pulse of an earthquake. From the luxury box among the stands sounds an ear-splitting crack, as of a glacier's immense shelf rips from the body of ice before it plunges into the seas. Where a moment before the box had been empty, it is now occupied by Satoshi. Small the magus might be in stature, yet the writhing shroud of mist and frost about her, and the blaze of her amber-flecked eyes make her seem far larger than is true. Vulpine ears and tail alike stand alert, unmoving, and the whiskers adorning her face are as silver needles with the ebb and flow of magic in the arena. "Who dares open portals in my lands?" Without raising her voice above its usual lilt, the eidolon's voice carries with an unnatural ease through the chill air, biting and imperious.
Hildegarde finds her gaze tearing over to Jonn, utterly confused by what he was doing until she saw that blinding, golden light. It assaulted her senses: sight, hearing and even scent. This was no human thing, this more of a dragon thing, but Jonn had made it clear he was a human man! The knight watched with awe as flesh and armour alike fell away to give way to his blossoming scales, obviously the knight had not seen such a spectacle before. “By the Gods above,” she breathed, staring at him as he transformed. Her ears twitched at the Eidolon’s voice, but she was too enraptured by Jonn’s transformation.
Jonn | The last vestiges of Jonn's flesh crumble away, leaving what appears to be a being formed entirely of that golden light, standing in the same position as the duke had been, just moments before. The figure, humanoid in shape at first, begins now to waver and stretch, distorting before the eyes of the observers. The body elongates, perched upon four legs instead of two, while the neck stretches as well, with the head becoming snouted and horned, the latter appendages stretching back along the draconian skull. A tail appears, flowing outward from the body even as wings sprout from the broad back, completing the change from man to dragon. The light dims like cooling metal, the glow transforming into red-gold scales, gleaming in Frostmaw's weak sunlight. Where Jonn had stood now rests a golden dragon, the heat radiating from his body causing the air to steam.
Hildegarde did not know how to react to such a transformation! She was uncertain if Jonn would even be aware of who he is or what he truly was. So, she spoke to him gently: “My lord? Lord Jonn?” she asked, taking a cautionary step forward with a hand raised as a sign of peace.
Jonn glances down upon hearing his name, still unaware of his surroundings. He does recognize Hildegarde, however, and attributes his ability to look down at her from above, as opposed to the usual upward angle to after effects of the elemental collision. The dragon's maw opens to reply, and the booming sound that echoes therefrom is swiftly stilled, and the horned head drops, then twists back again as the duke attempts to get a good look at himself. What he sees appears to stun him, and he says nothing more.
Hildegarde flinched at the booming sound, dipping her head for a moment as she waited for the sound to subside, “You are a dragon,” she stated the obvious. But she wasn’t doing it to be mean or anything of the sort, she was simply stating it so he knew it was some odd fantasy. “Are you all right, my friend?”
Satoshi 's gaze locks on the blaze of golden light, suspicious this is the source of magic she'd felt crying though Frostmaw's snows. But no... this is not arcane. This is not what she felt. As she watches the light meld into that of a Golden Dragon, Hildegarde is spotted, prompting the magus to start in surprise. "Mithril...?" What in the name of Hellfire was going on?
Jonn seems to come to the same conclusion at about the same time, but he shakes his head, as best as he can. Again he attempts to speak, but a short gout of flame emits instead, not quite large enough to reach Hildegarde, but certainly large enough to spook the already confused Jonn, who involuntarily flaps his new-found wings, slapping the ground a couple of times before actually taking flight, a grand adventure that ends with the scaled body smashing into the arena seats, about halfway up.
Hildegarde, while concerned for her friend, is now concerned for Satoshi’s safety. An inexperience dragon is a dangerous dragon, it had to be said. At the gout of flame, the dragon’s head reared back with fright; her dislike of flame so strong. “Satoshi,” she began, before watching Jonn accidentally attempt to take flight. “No, you have to stop!” she yelled, eyes widening as she watched his body smash into the arena seats. “Satoshi, move!” she commanded, afraid the dragon might flop back or smash into those seats as well. “Jonn, you have to stop moving, you will hurt yourself and those around you. Stay still. You must… You must adjust!”
Satoshi takes visual cues from a stunned Hildegarde and Frost Giant guards alike to deem the situation not a threat of war as she'd originally thought. There's no doubt... -something- is happening. There's no mistaking she'd felt the arcana shift as of a portal opening. What is the connection, between the spell and the Gold...? Satoshi's mind dwells on the matter as she watches the scene unfold without visible sign of alarm--although she is, of course, at the ready, should Jonn's fumblings get too close. Have no fear Hildegarde, the magus will not caught flat-footed.
Jonn , truth be told, had not even known Satoshi was there, but after only a couple of panicked thrashes, he heeds Hildegarde's words, and falls still, his exasperation escaping as thin gusts of smoke from his nostrils. Slowly, painstakingly so, he begins to get his legs back under him, although he seems unsteady still.
Hildegarde understood what she ought to do now, in order to assist her friend and best protect her Queen. Before she stood there as an armoured knight, keen to serve and protect, but in her stead, a proud and tall Silver dragon stood. Horns loped over her skull, aerodynamic in their design and aesthetically pleasing. “Jonn,” she said, “it is important that you move slowly. You don’t want to try and take flight again, eh?” she joked, making a sort of chuffing chortle. “When you draw in a breath, you might hear a clicking noise in your throat or feel something move. Do you?”
Jonn turns to look at the other dragon, and it is then that he notices Satoshi. He attempts a bow, which of course does not work, and so turns his attention to his own throat, as he inhales. The clicking is noticed at once, and he bobs his head in response to the silver.
Hildegarde said to Jonn, "Good, that's good. Breathe in and speak before that click goes off. When the click goes, you are ready to breathe fire."
Satoshi can still taste the aftereffects of a portal on the air, but she's becoming more and more certain this Gold is not the source. Whatever had transpired that had provoked the magus into appearing, it has passed, and other matters have overtaken it. Matters that Hildegarde seems to have well in hand. Or claw, considering her draconic form presently. When the Gold attempts a bow to her, Satoshi returns it with the flicker of a smile. A nod of the head is offered to the knight-turned-Silver then, an unspoken deference that she entrusts Hildegarde with things, before Satoshi vanishes from sight once more in a flurry of snow. She won't be far, should Hildegarde need it, although Satoshi doubts the knight will require aid.
Jonn gives the vanishing woman a bemused glance, but tries again to speak. "How did this happ-" The last word is cut off by a brief gust of flame, but Jonn snaps his jaws closed and tries again, more slowly, abandoning the pointless question for one more practical. "How do I change back?"
Hildegarde was somewhat relieved that the Queen left in a flurry of snow, feeling that she was a touch safer even though she was certain the woman could handle herself! However, at Jonn’s question, she cocked her head to the side and gazed at him. “Visualise yourself as a human. Think of yourself as small and let your natural instincts take over. Just be calm and go slowly.”
Jonn takes another look at himself, still half in disbelief, then closes his eyes. It takes quite some time, but eventually the golden being shifts, shrinking down to Jonn's familiar size and shape, his armor scattered about him. He dons it as quickly as he can, however, and shakily descends the stairs to the arena floor. His face is pale, but whisps of steam can still be seen, nearly invisible, rising from the heat of his skin. He crosses to where Judgment lies, abandoned on the ground. Picking it up, he clutches the hilt with a white-knuckled, reversed grip, point aimed at the arena floor, before turning back to Hildegarde. "I do not know how...this can be."
Hildegarde reverted to her commonly seen humanoid form along with Jonn, hurriedly slipping back into her armour for the sake of decency, “Gold dragons are the best at shape-shifting,” she said, in some effort to explain. “It is possibly you have… have pretended to be human for so long, from such a young age perhaps, that you didn’t know any better.” The knight looked at him with sympathy and concern, “But you cannot deny who you are any longer.”
Jonn gives an attempt at a smile. "No, I don't suppose I can, at that. I should return home. Perhaps my father left some sort of explanation behind. And I must see to my brother." He shakes his head, and sheaths his sword. "But I would like to fly there," he says, a true smile now lighting his face at the thought.
Hildegarde said to Jonn, "That you can do! But not so close to the city... First time fliers are prone to have accidents."
Jonn gives a wry smile at the thought of accidents in flight, but says, "I agree. I wouldn't want to cause any more damage than I already have, of course!"
Galos stands in the shadows of the arena watching the golden dragon find himself for the first time. All the time he had spent around hollow and no one had told him what blood had soared through his veins? The dragon shook his head and stepped into the light of the arena. A scaled hand moved up to wipe the blood for his lip as he looked to Hildegarde. "Now I feel we know each other mi lady."
Hildegarde smiled at Jonn, "Just take it easy, my friend. I know gold dragons are too noble to accept the help of a lowly silver," she japed, trying to make his heritage seem exceedingly normal. Well, to her it was.
Hildegarde said to Galos, "Indeed, a fight is a good way of acclimating to another person. I trust you are not badly hurt?"
Jonn glances at Galos, almost surprised to find him still here. Turning back to Hildegarde, he shakes his head and grins. "I would welcome any help you wish to give, Lady Hildegarde. I am far from what I know here, and if I am to be truly honest, I am unsure of many things, now." Again his hand sinks to Judgment's hilt, running his thumb over the dragon's head pommel.
Galos shakes his head. " not at all hildegarde though for a moment I thought you sought my head. Your place in frost maw is well earned"
Hildegarde smiled at Jonn and offered a shake of her head, “It is mostly instinct and then common sense. You are in control, Jonn, you just have to remind yourself of that fact.” The knight offered a reassuring nod this time, leaning down to lift her halberd at long last, addressing Galos as she did, “I will continue to try and prove my worth and position here in Frostmaw, but this City of War is not a place to be pushed around. Our spars are more often lethal than not,” she said, “but it was pleasant nonetheless to have sparred with you, sir.”
Jonn offers Hildegarde a bow, and favors Galos with a polite nod. "With that, I think I will head outside the city, to learn. I am sure we will see each other soon, my lady, now that we share the skies as well as the ground." He smiles, and turns to exit the arena.
A Short Time Later...
Galos had returned the the colosseum as he could still feel the portal leaking magic across frost maw. He hasn't met this satoshi but had heard she wasn't one to disrespect. As such it wouldn't do to have a portal that he opened leaking arcane traces all over her home plane. The summoner looked around the now empty arena of death thinking that it was almost peaceful here when it was empty. He closed his eyes and focused finally finding the scar. His scales fingers of his two legged form ran down the length of the portal quietly chanting lost to the world.
Satoshi feels it again, that tremor through the snowsong, whispers of arcana at work nearby. And once again, the origin is the arena. Hildegarde had left, as well as the unfamiliar Gold dragon, facts that cause the magus' brow to furrow. In response, the air within the arena gains a flinty chill to it as Galos chants. A soft cough sounds over his words then, coming from the stands. "So you're the one toying with portal magicks in my territory, hm~?" The voice is musical in nature, soft to the point of being almost a whisper, and yet strangely capable of traveling the long distance to reach Galos' ears. Its source is, of course, Satoshi. She lounges with a casual grace in a seat that had been empty moments ago. In the time that passes between one heartbeat and the next, the petite magus has appeared, with no more announcement with a glistening flurry of snow, still clinging to her hair like countless tiny diamonds. Galos is eyed, the amber-flecked expression neither curious or hostile, simply observant.
Galos wondered how long who ever was behind him had been there. The cooling air hadn't been enough to alarm him to something heading his way, but the cough surely did. He could feel the scales on the back of his neck bristle and rise much like a cat's would. The dragon slowly turned to find her lounging causally on a seat o the arena like she had been there for all eternity. She seemed to right and at home on this place. She must be the famous Satoshi. He lifted his hands away from the mostly close portal and smiled as she shifted to him. The beauty was clad with snow flakes rustled up from her teleport. " That would be me Lady..." He said not daring to presume that much. " You see I had a little spat with Hildegarde earlier and had to summon a creature to my aid. I must say it was hard enough to summon a lava elemental to a mountain of snow, but there was something trying to keep me from opening that portal at all. I suppose that would be your doing."
Satoshi chuckles, the sound rich with amusement of the purest sort rather than condescending or at Galos' expense. "Oui, Frostmaw does not respond well too lava trying to touch upon its frozen skin. Between it and my weavings, opening gateways is a difficult task~." A lofting of an eyebrow suggests Satoshi is impressed at the stranger's ability to have done so in the first place. It speaks volumes about him. "And how, may I ask, did you fair against one of my dearest knights? Although, I should likely ask firstly for the sake of manners: who are you~? I'll assume you are not here to make war, else Hildegarde and her men would not have abandoned the arena." Friendly spars as means of introduction are rather commonplace in Frostmaw. Satoshi is a culprit of it herself. Frequently.
Galos allowed a smile at the sound of the laugh the seemed to echo with the land it's self. It was strange how the realm itself seemed to be more at ease as she walked it. The dragon shrugged his shoulders and place his hands back down behind his back. " Well if we are being honest here my first instinct was to attack the silver dragon before she could attack me. However, I found her polite if not friendly. So we begin to speak and as I spoke of combat being the purest form of expression she decide to ... Err express herself towards me. I walked away with a cut leg, bruised lip and nose. I do not know how she faired though I fear her armor branded her and might have broken to some degree. She called the duel and I took that chance to watch as a gold dragon found himself. This Frostmaw. It is an interesting place. I forget myself. I am Galosrykokin. Known mostly as Galos. I believed I sent you mail regarding going on the mage's guild."
Satoshi finds herself snickering and nodding at parts of Galos' explanation, for his remarks ring with truth sheerly from the description of Hildegarde. Leaning forward then, folded arms propped upon the seatback in front of her, Satoshi flashes a lopsided grin at the summoner. "Well met, Galos, I recall your letter~. I hope my reply found you? Although it wouldn't be the first time a courier was eaten en route..." A frown appears to crease the foxkin's normally smooth brow. She had sent a reply, right..? Yes, yes, she's certain of it! Waving off her faulty memory, Satoshi then picks up on another piece of Galos' prior comments, a grin and nod washing away the scowl. "And you speak truly about combat and expression! Most Frostmawians prefer such methods of introduction. They could not call us the City of War, otherwise, non?"
Galos thinks that he might just have found a home. Thought his temperature was not what he was looking for he was sure he could find a deep cave to pour molten rock into. Ever the coldest of depths could be made tolerable with some fire and patience. He speech made him wonder if he should be ready for combat between the queen on the realm and himself. Galos would never back down from a challenge even if the outcome was most likely not in his favor. " That is something my draconic heritage had taught me. Most of the time words call short of the true feelings of a being. However, combat showed the truest of thoughts and wants. Some times feral actions work better than modern speech." He signed and allowed himself a full look of the female before speaking again. " I also have heard of a dragon riders guild that took my interest. I would love to know more about this eyrie."
Satoshi, could she read thoughts, would have pointed Galos back toward the cavern he used to reach the arena. For there lies a series of hot springs, with pools and areas too heated for anything but a Red dragon to handle. They'd probably be to his liking! But Satoshi is no mind-reader, and so only has the summoner's words to go on. "Indeed, indeed~, there is a voice in combat that cannot be put into words. It is rather nice to find there are others who believe so, outside of Frostmaw." At the mention of the Eyrie, vulpine ears swivel forward, intrigued. "Ah, you've heard of us in the Eyrie, have you~? In essence, we are a combination of military force and family, for we are both organized and capable while also closely bonded. We are not dragon riders in the sense that we view dragons as inferior beasts. Dragons, gryphons, anghas, they are all -members- of the Eyrie as much as their riding companion. Each member is paired with another in a lifelong bond, both benefitting from their partner and thus thriving through that attachment. Hildegarde is one such member, in fact. She often likens us to a brood~."
Galos would allow a small frown to pass his lips at the words brood. A family wasn't something that Red dragons grew up with. Quickly after hatching the parents moved the young outside of the nest. The most he ever got was a shove in the right direction to keep him alive. The frown however quickly disappeared and was replaced by a neutral head nod. This time as his voice sounded it would be deep and passionate. " what are the requirements for this eyrie?" The dragon asked cocking his head a little to the side at the ice queen. " also I must say miss satoshi. I find these mountains to be the closest to home that I have found in this realm. With your permission I would like to be allowed to stay here with the promise that I will help defend it should the need arise."
Satoshi lets the ghost of a smile flit across her features. There's something about this dragon she likes. A certain expressiveness to his face and voice, a promise of deed to back his words. Just something. Or perhaps it's Satoshi's tendency to have a fondness for dragons. Whichever the case, the magus seems pleased when she replies, "The requirements are simple. Each of us looks out for our clanmates, and our partners even moreso, for we are all equals. If we are called to battle, your mind must be willing to allow psionic words to enter it, for that is how we communicate swiftly in the air. You need nothing else but a willingness to prove your commitment through deeds. Frostmaw is much the same. We do not judge based on claim or prior actions. It is what you do -now- that determines where you stand. Our doors are open to those with fire in their soul, loyalty in their heart, and growth in their future."
Galos nodded at each word. He had spent most of his life proving that he deserved to be where he was or have what he had earned. " as you said words and prior deeds can not earn my right to this place or your guild." The dragon would make a bold move. Galos dropped to one knee and looked upwards to the ice queen. " I pledge to defend your home with my life and soul if need be. I promise to earn my right to be here in frostmaw. If you will have me I will allow myself to be joined to another to aid the brood you speak of. I know a lot about psionics an will have no qualms about allowing these words into my mind. " his gaze would leave the ground an allow his smokey green eyes, like a forest lit on fire, to find her eyes. "Will you have me?"
Satoshi rises to her feet when the Red kneels, unwilling to remain in such a casual position while faced with formality. When Galos finishes speaking, Satoshi returns his kneel with a bow before she matches his forest gaze with her glacial own. "We would be pleased to have you, Torchling, if that is your wish." Within the magus' expression lurks an unspoken, 'Until you give me reason not to'. For while Satoshi is willing to accept all sorts of beings into her realm, she is not careless or blind. She will accept, and she will respect, but she does not trust until trust is earned. Dragons, above all others, the magus has found, are either unerringly true to their word, or as traitorous as vipers. There's rarely middle ground, with the proud saurian race. Satoshi can only hope the former applies to this Red, as she returns to her seat and gestures that he stand. "Tell me~, what are you looking for in the Mage's Guild? Is there an area of study you're pursuing, or a well-rounded training?"
Galos slowly rises to stand above her once more. The heat from his body was enough to radiate to her even here. The dragon had live off of his word as long as he could remember and for him to bend his knee to anyone meant that he had taken on a life time commitment. He nodded slowly and answered " I am a summoner by trade." He offered a scales red outwards to her. A small snake popped into existence swirling around his hands before pooling gone once more. " I specialize in bringing being from other plans of existence into my own and working with them. I seek to expand my abilities with fire and learn different elements to summon creatures with."
Satoshi said, "Ah! Then you may have come to the right place after all~. The wizard Svilfon calls Frostmaw home as well. There are few that know fires quite like him. I'm sure you both would have much to offer one another. You might also come across others in Frostmaw, some I call my kin like the wizard, who are attuned to different elements. There is at least one whose affinity is lightning," Satoshi doesn't mention that this is Kasyr, the blitz-happy swordsman and her husband, "there are two who know the voice of the earth." Kirien and Dami, respectively. "Others are masters of plantlife, air, shadows, and waters. You will likely not lack for learning of the elements, if you stay in Frostmaw. While only Svilfon and I are Frostmawians who are also in the Mage's Guild, lessons from outside sources are far from forbidden~. Beyond Frostmaw's borders, the Eldermage Tiphareth is an excellent teacher, who taught our wizard himself. They are likely to test you, of course, but I suspect you're ready for that!"
Galos nods gently and looks to the fox kin. "Thank you for your kindness and I will repay it to you should you ever need me. I will look for these mentors of magic an should you run across them let them know of my wishes of you would. I owe you a beat mi lady sato. If there is anything that needs doing do not hesitate to ask, but for now I must take my farewell." The dragon would bow turn and finish sealing his portal before vanishing with a smile on his face.
Satoshi wrinkles her nose in an impish grin at the Red before she throws him a salute, a quiet "Best of luck in your hunt", and promptly vanishes with the snow.