Welcome to Gaia! ::

New character. Bio up soon. Sorry for the long post, but it's well worth the read. :]

It was not the feel of things that woke Graqox. It was the smell. Decay, death, misery. The world was not at peace anymore. No, far from it. A war was being waged, a war that could go on for many years. Tired from his last four hundred years of sleep, he stretched and beat his wings. Rocks flew in all directions, clearing a space around him. It was warm in his lair, despite being in a mountain cave. The fire inside his body glowed inside him, and he let out a roar. White-hot flames licked past his teeth and shot out of the entrance to his cave. The roar could be heard for miles around. He wanted the world to know: They had awakened Graqox. His claws gripped the ground as he shot into the air, breaking through the solid rock and diamond above him. Spinning like a drill, he broke through the peak of the mountain and let out another tremendous roar, echoing for miles. Feeling for energies, he felt something. Other dragons. Karasu. He could smell her from here, she gave off a very unique scent, as all dragons did. But then, he smelt another. A dragon who he had not heard spoken of in a long time. Hak-Kar.

He knew he must seek out Hak-Kar. He was a very wise dragon, this Graqox knew. He had never seen Hak-Kar, as the dragon was born while he had been sleeping. But he knew of him. Hak-Kar was close by, and he knew he had to find the dragon. The dragon was angry, and must be calmed. He beat his tremendous wings, and with another roar was off like a bullet, soaring toward Hak-Kar. He knew he must reach the dragon before he did anything rash. Reaching out with his mind, he attempted to speak with the dragon. Hak-Kar. I understand you are angry, but please calm down. If you refuse, I will make you by force. I know you are a War Patriarch, but not everything must be resolved by killing.

Graqox relaxed a bit, and beat his wings once. No matter how much he towered of Hak'kar, the dragon standing before him was intelligent, but still blind-sighted with anger. I understand this, but certainly if this many go, there will be more casualties. Let us think for a minute. I understand you are a Warlord, but don't let anger get in the way of your strategies. Although united we are more powerful, too many of us create more, and much easier targets. Abomination as it may be, the giant is not stupid if it can kill broodmothers, sleeping or awake. However, it is your decision. I will gladly stand by your side in battle, and aid if necessary. Graqox beat his wings again, this time lifting himself into the air. He flew over the dragons Hak'kar had assembled. I will watch from above your ranks. If you truly decide to attack with these numbers, I beg you to have a strategy in mind.

Graqox smirked. He knew very well the War Patriarch was smart, and he was glad that Hak'kar had a plan. He looked back down upon the dragon, who was giving orders to his fellow war comrades. Very well. It has been a long time since I have been awake, but I would like to engage in battle as a kind of wake-up. I will be a little rusty for a few days, but I'd like to get some good fighting in. Plus, he added, looking in the distance. I hate every fiber of those things coming toward us. The humongous black and white dragon spread his wings and gave a huge roar, and he could see the front row of the shadow stumble. Graqox stood around thirty-five feet tall, which was large, even for a dragon. Looking back down at Hak'kar, he calmly said: Your war mates are going to need some back-up. I certainly do not doubt their skill, but no matter what, we want no casualties. I will go ahead as a distraction and injure a few. When the battle begins full-force, I will not hold back on them. With that. Graqox flew above the clouds, exposing his white underside. He glided through the clouds, keeping his wings still so as to stay hidden. As he looked down through the clouds, he saw the shadowed. But something was amiss. There were far too few of them. He looked down harder, and realized it. Hak'Kar, be extremely careful. Some of them are cloaking themselves, like chameleons. They also have their shorter numbers in the back, making them seem like less. So first, Graqox thought to himself, is to expose the ones who are cloaked.

With that thought, Graqox gave out a tremendous roar and dive-bombed the shadowed ranks. With a crash, he dove straight into the ground, leaving a gaping hole where he had struck. That should give you time, Hak'kar. I'll continue to distract them, although some are still moving to you. I'll leave the rest of the tactics to you.

Graqox listened above him from underground. They couldn't see him, but they could feel him. He knew he would be pinpointed, and they would launch spells at him from above ground. But still he waited. He waited for them to cast. He could hear them moving above him, circling the area where they knew him to be. Graqox got into position. He waited still, and then, the spells were cast! Graqox shot up into the air and through the dirt and rocks above him, casting a shield as he did. One spell, however, was faster than the others, and hit Graqox in the wing. He howled with rage and pain, and crashed to the ground below, crushing three or four shadowed under him. Graqox slowly got up, and the shadowed creatures encircled him. Archers drew their bows, spellcasters readied attacks, and the warriors drew their blades. Graqox looked around at his attackers, and merely smiled. "Do you fools honestly think you can kill me?" His smile turned into a snarl. "I am Graqox!" he roared. "And I cannot be defeated by such insignificant creatures as yourselves!" He let out another roar, and the ground below him began to heat up. Magma shot out from underneath him, blasting him up into the air. Shooting up into the clouds, the magma stopped and fell, incinerating about ten of the creatures. So much for a distraction, he grunted to Hak'kar. I can barely move now. I probably shouldn't be casting spells yet. He chuckled, painfully. I can stay in the clouds now, it's really all I can do. I'll join back in the fight once rejuvenated.

((Still waiting on Faelan... and me I guess. I'll post in a while, I just want everyone to know that she is planning to post again (I think). In the meantime, I'll post and try to keep the dragon plot line running))

Graqox stretched slowly, and was soon able to move. There is no need, my friend. My body, though old, is not feeble. I just needed a quick warm-up. Graqox smirked, and flew into the clouds directly of the hoards of shadowed. He began spinning in the clouds, gathering moisture and speed. As he reached his speed limit, he dove and cast a spell on himself. He began to freeze, his body literally becoming ice. Bracing himself, he crashed into the ground below, crushing twenty or so shadowed. He rolled out of the way as the creatures in his path dove to either side to save themselves, and Graqox began rolling around. After a minute, his body thawed. He flapped his enormous wings, and charged straight back into the battle.

Marten ran his hand through his hair, trying to concentrate. "I wouldn't risk another battle with him without my staff and equipment... that's so far away though. Even flying... he'd have time to set up. If we can go now, he won't be prepared... but how?" he thought aloud, pacing. Another worry was nagging at the back of his mind, something he couldn't put a finger on. Something like when he had heard the dragonwhistle, a faded memory from the monastery. He pushed it aside.

Wiping the blood off of his scorpion's claw he walked to a clearing, scratching a pentagram in the sand before placing the blood and skin inside. He closed his eyes, his hands lightly touching the line as he slowly charged the symbol with magic. "Show me," he whispered to the spell. A curious tingling sensation ran down his body, as though he wasn't entirely himself. He turned and walked back to the others. "Alright, I know where he is. We leave as soon as you are ready Karasu."

((btw Mitsu, where exactly did you take her?))

((Uhh, Idox is still in town last I checked, and Evan, Marten and Karasu are at an oasis. It'd be nice if you could explain how you knew these things in your next post, PT))

Hak'kar nodded. "Take care old one. If you are ever in need of assistance in the Dragonlands, you need only ask." The shadowed were almost all gone, their bodies broken and spirits forced back into the shadow realm.



Marten closed his eyes and massaged his temples, trying to pin down the memory. Something was wrong, something about how the man had left. He sighed and sat on a rock, trying to figure it out.