Welcome to Gaia! ::

((There are now two rough maps on the first page! The map of Valden's Lair isn't more than a working model though. Once this particular thread is finished the entire place is going to end up remodeled.))

((Nothing. As of now. We will continue roleplaying. There is a new person who has posted so we can make progress while the other three are trying to catch up and become active.))

The dawn slowly begins to rise, shining on the Silver Sea. Zeal opens his eyes in the quiet of his small chamber. He does not move, waiting for the two dragons outside his own chamber to awaken before stirring. His thoughts are focused upon what must be done. They need to be introduced to Mirage. His expression is calm and steady but there is a slight upward twist to one side of his mouth. I''ll need to see what they can do. Kreen is definately competent... but how effective is he? I''ll need to test him. The upward twist shifts to become a full grin. The Gray Waste will serve that purpose nicely. Artes will have to come also since I have no idea about his capabilities. It may be too hard for him to deal with right now... but it is probably better than just silence and solitude.

Zeal smiles wider as he senses that Valden is rousing. Mirage also stirs, her crystaline scales shimmering faintly. Zeal rises to his feet and walks silently to the opening in the wall that serves as a doorway. He leans against the edge of the opening and watches as Mirage opens her eyes, shimmering blue. Their gazes meet in silence, both calm and pleasant.


Valden opens his eyes. Their depths taking in Zeal''s posture and expression even as his mind grows alert enough to know his intent. The corners of the black dragon''s mouth curve upward as he shares in his partner''s devious amusement. So... We''ll be taking them out for a test run will we. Good. I would like to see how well that fae will do against the most powerful monsters in all of Shria. He raises his head and turns so that his gaze incompasses both Zeal and Mirage, his lovely mate.

"It seems that Zeal and I will be taking the new boarders for a training session in the Waste after their formal introduction." Valden''s voice echoes faintly in the large cavern. "Do you want to see them now, Mirage?" The tone of his voice is deeply respectful and caring as he speaks to his mate.


Mirage blinks slowly before turning her gaze to encompass her mate. The light seems to ripple over her scales, making her look much like the essence of her namesake. She shifts her body slightly, carefully cradling the eggs while shielding them from sight with one wing.

"I would like to meet those who will meet our young, Valden. I look forward to seeing them with my own eyes after your tales last night." Mirage''s voice is smooth and resonant. Her mouth forms a slight smile as she turns toward Zeal again. "Please, Zeal, go and bring them. I have waited long enough already." She is in good humor and her tone has a note of humor that seems to ripple on its surface.


Zeal listens in on their brief conversation respectfully and bows his head when he is addressed by Mirage. His respect for the mate of his bonded partner is very great and his voice reveals that respect when he replies to her request.

"I will retrieve them immediately, Mirage. I believe that we have all waited far longer than we would have wished." Zeal speaks with respect and directness before turning to make his way out of the lair itself and toward the holding chamber where the new guests were left. He deliberately allows his footfalls to echo down the narrow passage between the outside ledge and the chamber where the two had spent the night.

The early hours of day seemed to hasten his rise. He yawned, and stood up. Right as he rose half way, a lycan-like creature pounced over him, nearly missing his head. It sort of skidded to a stop in the sand and turned to face Rath. Startled, he missed his chance to pull out his twin-scythe.

The lycan jumped on him and threw him to the ground, biting his arm. The blood trickled down into the sand, which absorbed the moisture. He could not reach into his coat pockets to grab his daggers, and the two-headed weapon on his back was drowned in the sand. He used the only weapon he could. His fists. He tossed a punch into the lycans nose, and it flew back a few feet away. Rath stood up and reached behind his back and grabbed his strongest weapon. He ran toward the lycan and slashed its head off.

The harsh wind blew more dust into the air. When it cleared two more lycan creatures stood, hungering for more than a buzzard. He pulled out two daggers and threw them at the beasts. Dodging them swiftly, they howled loudly and a pack of them surrounded Rath. Turning slowly to see each beast, he lifted up his weapon and dived at one of them. Cutting it across the chest, Rath quickly lifted himself up again, just to be attacked by the angry mob. They slashed and bit. Rath punched them away, throwing his fists blindly until his chest did not feel the pressure of heavy paws. Back and forth, the scythe slashed. Killing a few wolves in the process.

There were three of them left, and Rath was beginning to tire. He wrestled one of them to the ground and stabbed a dagger into its heart. He threw his scythe, javelin style at the next one. Dodging, it jumped closer to the other one. They seemed to be laughing inside their heads, in a mocking tone. Rath dived for the scythe and held it vertical as a lycan jumped above him, stabbing it in the jaw. The other wolf thing, taking its chance jumped four paws up at Raths back. He was stunned on the floor.

Both of the creatures stared at eachother and stalked toward Rath. Lying on his front and holding his scythe out, Rath knew what to do. Right when the lycan were at his head and feet, he jumped up and slit both their throats at the same time and came back down, landing in a sitting position with his weapon on his lap. After a brief pause, his head fell to the floor, sweating profusely. Oh my god, that was tough...

Rath was walking slowly, hunching slightly. His lips were parched and his stomach growled endlessly. He had no idea where he was going, but he knew he had to just keep walking, and get out of the desert like terrain. His feet stopped after his eyes noticed he was standing at the egde of a deep canyon. Without any thought, he slid down the almost vertical side and a minute or so later he was at the dark bottom. He walked across the wide area and ended up on the other wall. There was moss and vines, so he grabbed one. He struggled to the top. It seemed like an eternity before he reached the top and when he did, his strength was weining. His weak hands grabbed at the lifeless sand and pulled himself up.

He looked forward only to see black sand and green feet. The orc bashed him with his club, almost knocking him back down the canyon. Blood dripped from his head and mouth. He saw a canteen on the orc's belt. His spirits were lifted a little. In his pocket, he felt for a dagger. The stupid orc stood there, not knowing what to do with a seemingly dead body. As he pondered, Rath pulled out two long daggers. He sort of limped toward the orc, who was angered at his living prey. The orc dodged Raths first two swipes but the third and fourth hit him across the chest. Seemingly, the orc felt no pain, but rather yelled and charged at him and backhanded him across the face. Rath fell to the sands. He swiftly tossed a dagger at the orcs right eye. 'Now for the other one.' The angry brute charged at Rath, who fell to the floor to evade the monsters attack. Turning, the orc vertically swiped to the sands and when his club made impact, a dagger went to his eyes and a slit through his jugular. He fell backwards, dead. Rath immediately went down and stole the canteen. He drank all the water, fortunately it was pretty much filled.

Reenergized, Rath wiped his mouth, grinning and walking away from the form without looking back as buzzards swarmed and cawwed in gratitude.

Artes jumped nearly three feet in the air. He shook himself awake and nodded to Zeal, "Oh, yes, of course, sorry." He quickly traced a rune on the ground and whispered, "Renori." Magical energy jumped from his hands to the traced rune and a loaf of white bread and a stone bowl of water materialized.

He ate and drank quickly, before turning to the Fea, blushing madly. "Um, would you like some bread... o-or water?"

Zeal watches the behaviors of his two guests with a steady, slight smile. His posture is relaxed and he seems to not be in a hurry, without regard to his earlier words. He twitches slightly at Artes' rather extreme reaction to his wake up call but succeeds in neither laughing out loud, nor smiling more widely. Once he sees Kreen start moving, knowing that he wont take long to prepare himself, Zeal pushes lightly off of the wall and turns to leave.

"When you are ready come outside and meet me at the main entrance. We'll proceed with the day from there." Zeal pauses for a moment before he walks out of their sight. "Don't leave anything behind. We wont be coming back here until after going on an outing." Zeal walks out through the fairly narrow passage and along the ledge. He stops once he reaches the large landing ledge outside the main entrance to the lair and looks out over the silver sea, although the mountain itself blocks the view to the east and the sunrise.


Valden stands with his posture erect beside his relaxed mate. He watches the wide passage with careful attention, paying equal attention to Zeal's activities. Mirage's words elicit a slight movement of aggreement from her mate and they both settle into a comfortable silence as they wait for their guests to arrive. Both of these great dragons have high hopes for the future of this little experiment. Both also harbor some doubts as to how effective it will be in improving general understanding between species.

Narrowing his eyes at the suddenly oddly jovial elf, Kreen takes the food and water wordlessly and consumes it on his way out of the tunnel. Placing the now empty bowl at the side of the entrance to be dealt with later, he walks toward the main cave entrance, stopping just to the side of it to wait for Zeal and the elf.

Zeal turns to see both Artes and Kreen waiting for him, obviously anticipating their encounter with Mirage. He smiles slightly, but only for a moment, at the sight of their dissimilar reactions. The morning wind ruffles his clothing and hair as he walks toward them with a purposeful gait, neither hurried nor leisurely.

Zeal says nothing, no words being necessary, as he nods to the two and walks past them into the main entrance. The main passage is smooth and large, easily large enough for a dragon significantly larger than Valden to navigate it. While it isn't lit, Zeal seems to glow faintly with a nebulous blue light that provides the very minor illumination that is necessary to observe one's feet. His footsteps, quiet though they are, seem too loud as he guides the two guests into the lair of the two dragons.

Zeal proceeds into the chamber immediately, expecting the two to follow. The room is lit by a shifting pattern of flowing, gentle illumination. The light flows from one of the two dragons in the chamber. While the unfamiliar dragon seems to be the source of the illumination, the familiar one seems to absorb it.

"Mirage, Grand Dragon of the Silver Sea, these are the two guests that were mentioned to you. Kreen, The Dying Breath, and Artes Mystheart, once of the Elven Forest." Zeal's voice is formal, showing great respect to Mirage with every movement.


Valden remains silent, a vast black presence. He observes quietly, not wishing to interrupt, through both his own eyes and those of his partner. Events around here are going to become much more complicated from now on. His slight smile is not easy to notice in the shifting illumination, especially as Mirage tends to attract the greater attention.


Mirage's eyes remain fixed on the new arrivals throughout the introduction. Her expression is impossible to truly read through the shifting light that seems to swim over her crystaline scales. She raises her head slowly, keeping her clutch hidden under one wing absently.

"So, you are the fae who has given his oath to protect my young. Kreen. In your new path the reputation you bear may not be applicable any longer." Mirage turns her gaze to focus on Artes, her voice smooth and fluid. "I am aware of the loss of your home, Artes Mystheart. This mountain is your new home. Do you understand what you are being asked to do?"