Fantasy Of Knights and Magic

[AceofRoses]

Spoiler

Shou Vuthewa

To a human eye, the Shou’s territory was impressive but unbecoming to the dragon himself. Not because it lacked anything distinct. It just gave the impression of being small, the idea that dragons had a lord and tenant system never occurring to them. Settled between three mountains, the valley had been hallowed out by a mass of ice eons ago, leaving behind a rich woodland that was sheltered from the politics of the humanoid world. It made a perfect hallow for magic to gather and swell as well which was why Shou had gone through the effort of building a castle there.

Not on the ground of course, although he supposed that if it had actually been built by humans, as any human who had seen it assumed, then it would have been lower. Instead the keep sat high up off the valley floor, perched on a cliff. It was still accessible from the ground, if one had a half day to take the curving trail up the side of the mountain, it just wasn’t an encouraged path. Especially during the last few decades when man had decided to push their borders again and knights had cropped up looking to pick fights with a dragon. In response he had taken to melting their swords and armor into a lovely archway at the head of the trail. A few particularly noteworthy pieces were melted into the sides of the canyon where they would be in full display to anyone coming up. Not that he had known anything of the knights, he just assumed the humans would by the craftsmanship and the proudly bared family crests. They were also artfully arranged so that they were not visible from his favored sunning perch.

Sprawled on an outcropping specifically designed for this purpose, the dragon let his eyes shut. He supposed he was fully visible to anyone riding into the valley. The spot was on the highest tower of the castle, arching outward to take full advantage of the sunlight and his hide was a glossy black against the pale grey of the castle and tan of the cliff. It wouldn’t matter much though. He was too high for an arrow to reach, the distance a cleaver trick of the eye for all that it was unintentional. It had the added bonus of tricking the mind into thinking that Shou was smaller than he really was, which made for a nasty shock once a knight got up close and personal.

That one had a lot to do with the design of the castle itself. True there were passages that his true form couldn’t fit through, tunnels and twisting rooms down below into the living stone. The entrance however, was enough for the dragon to pass through without even fully tucking his wings. The grand hall had seen four of his siblings together with still enough room that they could move and partake. Likewise the tower below was built for his size, although Shou had grown a few feet since then anyway.

A puff of smoke escaped, proving that the dragon was at least partially awake, the reaction similar to a huff of laughter. Shou was among the older drakes, the ebony horns curling back along his nape in an impressive crown that was longer than two men. His mane had come in long ago as well, thick hair that hide the smaller sets of horns he was just starting to gain. The mane threw several knights off since it was something that came with age and the young ones were too often killed by their own daring, or by the knights who took issue with them. Recently he had gotten the impression that the humans actually believed him to be a different breed of dragon. The puff of smoke came again. He wasn’t a different breed, although he was among the few of his race who could say he was a master level mage.

Wings of sooty black dusted with purple shifted, and then spread open. Yes, that would be better, to be fully exposed to the sun, the tail curling down the side of the tower in a thread of black. Talons that were normally nice and put away slid out, clicking against the stonework as he stretched. They slid away with the creature settled, fully intending to drift off to sleep.

InkedFox

 

[InkedFox]

The Fool

Myths and legends born from the mouths of travelers and knight alike had spread like wild fire through out the land and there was barely a knight who wasn't out seeking glory borne from battle, or the acquisition of loot gained from honorable quest. --and like many others, one such knight found themselves tracking down a gem only heard of in fairy tales. Many believed this knight to have gone crazy, or to be touched in the head simply for what they were, and most only scoffed at the notion of questing after a mythical gem that was rumored to be a diamond the size of a man's fist. Not only because it sounded too outrageous, but because of the legend protecting it. It was said that a terrible black dragon guarded the object of power and nary a brave soul had been skilled enough to slay him till this day.

After shifting through countless leads, and finding fact from woven yarn; the knight finally found the fabled mountain range that matched the description in the tale. 'Three Brothers' mountain it was called, due to the summit being composed of three different mountains that sat closely knit together and the valley nestled at the center that they safely hid away. The climb up was deadly on its own, and there were many skeletal remains that could be found among the snow drifts as the knight made their way up. From the stories, the knight had learned of a singular path up to the summit, and how it was nothing more then a gauntlet of death meant to funnel men into the flames of the ferocious beast waiting at its very peak. Knowing this, the brave knight marched fourth hoping to take the path much less traveled and instead-- either through sheer fool hardiness or blind bravery; they were intent on scaling the sheerest face of one of the taller mountains. The straight drop provided a blind spot, but the climb up could easily kill with one minor slip.

Gathering supplies and tying their armor into a bundle. They began their ascent up the rocky face. The climb was arduous, and many times gales threatened to tumble the knight to its death but they continued. Fighting every inch up the side of the mountain. At one point the knight's armor parcel nearly slipped, dropping them back, and forcing them to wedge their body into a crevice in the cliff-face, just to regain their strength and balance. It took all morning and afternoon, till the sun was just about dipping beyond the horizon line, to finally reach the craggy top.

It was a surprising change of scenery as well. From howling icy winds to the fresh greenery of a valley, stretched out before the knight in the crater that had been form by millennia of shifting earth and ice. At the far end of the hollow, a top the tallest cliff, lay a sight that nearly brought tears to the Knight's eyes. A pale keep, with towers that grazed the clouds sat nestled safely surrounded by the mountain's natural walls, and perched upon an unforgiving drop. The singular path towards the keep was in view from the unshapened peak, and even from here, the armaments of fallen comrades could clearly be seen. It was the telltale sign that most details of the legend were true, and if the deadly pass was there --that meant a dragon lurked none too far away.

The knight used this vantage point as cover, and strapped their armor back on as their eyes scanned the valley and the keep for any weak points. The knight immediately froze the moment their sharp eyes landed on a shadowy figure perched high above the courtyard of the main keep atop the cliff. There, on a plateau above the pale keep laid a figure that brought a sharp feeling of dread over the knight. From here the beast seemed much smaller, but the knight knew well this was perception simply playing tricks. Its massive black wings glittered with a myriad of colors in the sun light, and a toothy maw that could turn a man's hair white with fright, rested at the cusp of the roost. From the number of horns protruding from its back and head, the knight could tell it was an elder dragon. The mane that ran the length of its neck was enthralling; never had they seen such a rare breed. The Knight's heart tingled with a mix of excitement and terror, and their blood began to rush as they devised a way down from the razor's edge of the mountain's oddly shaped wall.

Unlike most knights-- this one was agile, and nimble. Their armor had been acquired just for this venture. It was light enough to maneuver and climb in, and the light metal made minimal noise. Mithril armor was a rarity only few knights had the honor of wearing and this knight had earned their suit after besting an elven berserker, who had become quite smitten with the knight there after. That had not been the only quest the knight had under taken in hope of better preparing for this very venture. The climbing ropes, the satchels, their shield; all objects of lore that had taken many weeks of travel and bravery to obtain.

Now, feeling fully prepared-- the Knight used their enchanted ropes to reach the floor of the forest choked hollow and started, carefully and quietly, towards the keep. Once at the base of the sprawling cliff, any knight would have been disheartened to discover the drop was much taller then perceived at a distance. But this knight had gone through the trouble of obtaining "Repunzel's Locks"-- a rope woven of golden thread that would carry its wielder to any height safely-- as long as there was a stable surface to latch onto. It's what had made their deadly climb possible, and now they would use it to gain access to the keep.

The knight murmured the magic words to the threads of hair, but to their dismay the object did not respond. Apparently the magic within the valley was neutralizing the rope. This unsettled the knight, wondering if any of their other objects would be rendered useless-- but there was only one way to find out. Drawing one blade from the couple that sat sheath across their back, the knight started up the deadly pass. There was only one way to go from here, and the pathway up was not encouraging, as many pieces of armament and coats of arms could be found soldered into the rock walls. The knight could only hope to reach the summit before the creature took notice of their presence.

AceofRoses

 

[AceofRoses]

The armor the knight had worked so hard to acquire worked well. The dragon didn’t hear even a click of it, nor catch the glint on the few occasions that he opened his eyes. It wasn’t often, the dragon choosing to sunbathe all day long. It wasn’t like there was anything pressing to do. His spells and potions were either not yet started, in full swing, or required the rise of the moon to move to the next step. The dragon also had no need to hunt. Beyond the full larder downstairs, the chill of winter still hung in the air, making the scaled beast lethargic.

It was actually the whisper of magic that caught Shou’s attention. Little twitches and chimes weren’t uncommon, at least not to the mage. The valley accumulated magic naturally, the ley lines of the world meeting at the base of the mountains. The pool had been further enhanced by decades of Shou living there, the mage laying an intricate lacework of spells. Simple things mostly, half of them unintentional. The cliffsides stayed steady regardless of age or wear. Flood and disaster stayed away from this land. Disease too, although natures balance of life and death was not something to be played with at any time.

This touch was different however. Mane flowing with a faint life of its own that suggested an ability to control it rather than just the wind that high up, the dragon lifted his head. This magic had the touch of the sun. Not unusual. It also had the touch of a human hand. The lacework answered easily, denying the human magic any sort of hold here, any ability to destroy or upset that which the valley protected.

Drawing in a deep breath, the dragon rose. Wings of sooty black folded in the tail uncurling from around the tower. For a moment the dragon just stood, head curled into a lovely S and talons neatly held. Then the muscles coiled, moving and bunching under the glossy scales. A moment later the dragon leapt, wings opening with a thunderclap of sound. Spread to their full width the membrane was in his opinion even prettier. Thick enough to withstand the massive strain it still managed to be thin enough for the veins and delicate bones to be visible to those below as he crossed over the sun.

Catching on the updraft that the valley below provided he swept around to the side. The scan was from high up, sweeping from the start of the valley all the way to the path where he finally found the disturbance. A knight, clad in armor that bore the mark of an elvish hand. Not liking that, or the fact that the knight was as close as they were, Shou snapped his wings around.

The landing was pretty, wings drawn up into full display even if the backlash of wind could knock the weak from their feet. The power of that was intentional. Shou could have landed with hardly a ripple of the grass, or could have uprooted trees as the back feet touched against the ground. He would allow some leeway however. Just because other humans had always come seeking his horde, or seeking the glory that came with slaying a dragon, didn’t mean that it was impossible for there to be other motives. This knight had traveled, had touched other cultures. Perhaps they had come for knowledge, or to strike a deal for a weapon forged in dragon fire. That hope was also the reason why he landed at the top of the climb, rather than proving that he could in fact cling to the side of a cliff.

Settling onto all four, the dragon resumed the pretty pose with the curved neck and high held head. The tail he kept raised, sweeping from side to side as the wings folded loosely to his back. Now, without the illusion of distance and the grandeur of the castle, the dragon’s true size was revealed. Most of the drakes that the humans were used to ranged somewhere between 20 and 40 feet, a rare few managing to break the 50 foot mark. Shou meanwhile from the chest to the tailtip was just shy of 80 feet, his wings fully spread almost three times that length.

The tail snapped, a hint of impatience as he waited for the human to reach the top and declare what their intentions were.

 

[InkedFox]

The gully that led up to the summit of the cliff laid strewn with bones and ruined armor, and the Knight did their best to step around these ghastly obstructions, careful not to wake the dragon at the top. Yet the sound of massive wings unfurling and beating into the sky caused the Knight to pause in their steps. Dread crept over their heart as they heard the swift and effortless swoop of something huge, sailing over head. The knight peered up just in time to see the black mass blocking out the sun. It's form, though fearsome, held a terrifying beauty with the way it maneuvered through the air, as if the colossus of sinew and flesh weighed nothing. It was determination that over took the dread, and Knight pressed fourth, knowing full well, that the dragon was awake, and expecting their arrival.

The armor clad warrior broke into a sprint knowing that any hesitation in their steps would cloud their judgement with doubt. Confidently they strode down the path, sword in hand and ready to face the shadowy beast. As they reached the next summit, the Keep came into full view and the knight's heart swelled with excitement-- it was so close. Yet, in the next moment, the Knight's gaze was blocked by the sight of the dragon sailing into view. It landed with a powerful gust kicked up by its shroud like wings, and the Knight had to plant their feet to fight the force of it. The knight managed to hold their bearing and stood stone still, shielding their eyes as the wind rushed past them. Slowly they peered up beyond their hand, and yet, had to peer up further, craning their neck almost painfully to come into eye contact with the monster before them.

Though as deadly as the beast was, it held an other worldly elegance, and now, at this distance, the Knight could fully see the threads of its black mane billowing in an absent breeze, and catch the deep violet sheen of its glass like scales. The very energy that emitted from it felt forbidding, and it made their skin beneath their armor feel as though it were humming. The knight was surprised when the beast did not attack but instead held them in an almost arrogant and haughty gaze as they approached. Its tail, a long and healthy whip like obstruction barred the Knight's path around the dragon and into the keep. In fact the brute was sizeable enough to choke up the entire pathway, but instead it held himself with a perceivable air of refinement and stared them down. Its tail swayed and suddenly whipped, breaking the air like a slaver's whip.

This was the final leg of their quest. They had fought for so long and so hard just to get here, all just for the sake of proving their worth to their kingdom. They would not turn back without the gem, and there was no way a beast such as this would simply let them walk in and out with it. Especially if it was here to guard the gem like the stories had said. With that presumption settled firmly in place. The knight gave no words. In stead, they stood square in front of colossal dragon, and retrieved the shield that had been strapped unto their back. It was black as pitch and it mirrored the sheen of the dragon's own scales. It was known as the 'Ebon Shroud'; an enchanted shield that hummed with a vampiric hunger. The Knight regarded the Dragon with a steely gaze as they squared up, and with the shield in place, and their sword drawn in the other hand; they beat their sword against the blackened metal, as if sounding a war drum, and inviting the foe into the fray.

 

[AceofRoses]

For a moment hope swelled in the dragon’s heart, the mane spreading out into a ripple of motion. Not that the length was the only indication of the interest that came form the sight of the shield. The wings shifted, resettling against the scaled hide and the tail sweeping through the air. Had this knight actually brought something for Shou? Had they actually brought an item instead of seeking only to take?

The shield was after all, undeniably a thing forged in a dragon’s fire. The heat, the magic that wove through their very being and breath produced a particular sheen to anything that held their touch. It also lent metal that would otherwise be limited with magic a certain hum. Nothing overtly magical although he wouldn’t doubt it had some spells and tricks woven into it. Rarely did a dragon forged weapon exist without either having those traits or picking them up. Not as impressive as a few of the other items in his horde, and certainly not worth trading for some of them though. There could be bargaining for a few minor items, his mood lifted to generous by the thought that a human would actually come to trade. Perhaps the waterskin that never ran dry, or armor that restored itself to a pristine condition. That bore the touch of dragon fire too…although it had been added later when Shou set to entertaining himself by seeing just how much damage it could take.

The clap of metal against the shield broke through the dragon’s elation. For a moment the being stilled, and then the tail snapped. The motion was out above the cliff, more a subconscious expression of the same boiling anger that slicked the mane to his scales, revealing the curving horns and ridges contained therein. It was that which truly revealed his age, the substance harder than a human’s sword curling back in elegant sweeps that protected the delicate scales behind his jaw and over the veins. The wings flared out slightly, another subconscious reaction. Some thought it had to do with looking bigger, although in Shou’s case he was more of the opinion it was to brace against the blast that his fire could cause. Not that he was going to be doing a lot of that against this knight who ha come to take yet more. They had brought a dragon forged shield against a dragon, odds were that it was designed to withstand the intense heats and burrowing magic. Even then however…a human did not grow up with the idea that they were immune to the flames, did not dance on them as a right of passage. They would still flinch back.

The dragon drew up, the flame showing in a glowing light that escaped beneath and between the scales. Similar to a snake the dragon’s head swayed, a perfect S for just a moment before he drew back, jaws parting. This dragon’s flame was somewhat different than many, showing his title as a dragon mage to those who knew of such a thing’s existence, or who thought to look. Instead of the all consuming cone of fire straight from his throat the fire was close and small until it touched against his teeth. The spell woven there amplified it with a rushing sound, the fire burning near to white hot at its center. The effect was much the same, except that his spread was greater, more controlled, and because it only used a thread of what he bore inside him, it could be held for indefinitely longer. Of course, what rested inside him could outclass many a drake anyway, a byproduct of age and size.

The fire this time was smaller than it could have been. It was after all only a pretty show and a test of the shield. An argument could be made for the display being fueled by his anger as well but he dismissed that for now. His real objective was to snap the tail around. The shield after all, only provided protection from the front and perhaps the side. The whip crack could leave ears ringing even if the flesh itself missed, leaving the branches or bones it its way intact. It might be enough to stun, to wrap his tail around some piece of the knight and send them off the side of the cliff in a single clean motion. It had worked on no shortage of knights before although he thought that this one he would go after. Their armor would suit quite well at the head of the valley. Assuming he wasn’t still in enough of a mood to drop it into the nearest village and demand an offering of gold and silver in addition to the shield.

InkedFox

 

[InkedFox]

The knight could see the beast awaken within the creature at their gesture of war. With arrogance came deadly pride, and the Knight had obviously stirred something within the being, as its tail whip-cracked in an angry display and it began to rear back; smoothing its mane in a terrible fury and revealing countless ebony spikes curling from the length of its swan-like neck. Excitement and terror both welled up into the knight's chest, and they readied themselves as the ember of onslaught glowed to life with its maw. The dragon seemed to puff up to full size; it no doubt would try to make use of its breadth.

The knight anticipated the first attack, and fully expected to meet a cone of flames, but what came next had taken them off guard. This was the first elder dragon they had come to meet-- it was evident of its status by the number of horns the beast had grown in its lengthy life time. But the flare that erupted from it was fearsome, and as the white hot flames licked the shield, it hummed ravenously. If it had been any other run of the mill shield the knight was sure the metal would have melted to their arm with that single blast. But instead-- this shield dispersed the blast, and lessened the knock back. It felt like it was parting an ocean wave, and the Knight fought through the under tow. Searing flames cascaded around the small protective shell of the enchanted shield, but the flames lashed painfully around the knights legs and back.

There was no turning back at this point, and they couldn't afford to be stopped here. Attacking the dragon directly was never their plan to begin with. They just wanted to goad the beast into a direct attack; just to be able to find a way around it. In this case, as the dragon planted and braced for the blast of bright flames; its stance widened beneath it, creating a stable foundation for the controlled eruption. The knight saw the opening, and their heart swelled-- their determination was maddening and its why most had thought they were touched. No matter how many times the knight had met failure or life threatening situations they refused to back down and in this moment; not even lava would deter them.

Feverously they push forward, through the flames, ignoring the searing burning pain that grazed their back and sides of their calves. The fire became smaller the closer to the beast's maw they came. Using the shield to split the eruption they charged fourth, even as the fire lashed them mercilessly. They dove to slide beneath the towering beast just seconds before its lengthy tail whipped around with a break neck speed, aimed at the spot they had just been standing. Their ears rang with the empty impact. --But the armor clad warrior managed to skitter to a stop just beneath the beast's belly, and quickly rolled to the side to avoid being crush. Remembering the dragon artifact and its intense humming from draining such a powerful source of magic, the knight invoked the weapons true power. With in the blink of an eye, the Knight's form shimmered into nothingness.

The knight's true intention was to make it into the keep. The gem was their only true goal-- if they could retrieve it, they could use it to drive the guardian away. --Or at least that's what the knight hoped. Either way there was no turning back, --now invisible, the warrior sprinted for the cover of the massive keep. They hoped that it would take the dragon some time to figure out what had just happened, but they knew better then to under estimate the brute's intelligence, nor ignore the possibility of booby-traps within the keep itself. The knight retrieved 'Rapunzel's Locks' from their belt-- although the air around them would not answer to it. The knight could channel the mana of one vessel into another for a temporary time. They'd have to be mindful of the mana flowing through the shield in case they needed a quick getaway. Luckily the dragon's display of dominance had the shield more charged then the knight had ever seen before. It practically pulsed with life against their arm.

The entrance was a grand hallway that echoed with the massiveness of its size. It looked like it had been hollowed out for the guardian and then some. But it provided many crevices and spaces to skirt around through.

AceofRoses

 

[AceofRoses]

That the shield caught the flame was far from surprising. Even the hum was on par, although the tone was different. A twin note, indicating that it not only served to block and dampen the fire but to do something else. Rather than dwell upon the significance of that now, Shou focused on the knight that was advancing. At least that was different, the human rushing forward through the flame. That in and of itself was a feat, and one that saved the human. It also worked impressively well to get the knight to a position that would be dangerous for a dragon. The scales over his belly were large and thick, but that presented wider gaps. The joints too were covered in thin scales that moved easily but could also be pierced easily.

Rather than drop or twist around into a knot, the muscles rippled and bunched. The wings spread out and the dragon leapt. The amazing nature of a vertical takeoff was generally lost on anything that didn’t have wings, the beings not understanding the kind of sheer power that it took to leap two body lengths in the air, the wings snapping down with nearly twice that strength. Young dragons, those without two centuries to hone their power simply couldn’t, and even most of the full fledged preferred not to do it that often.

The dragon went straight up, and then twisted, wings folded to hide the membrane from any kind of arrow while he got far enough from the cliff to maneuver. When he came back up however in a brilliant display, there was nothing there. The mane flared out, eyes of the glittering shade of purple gems sweeping the expanse. Then he turned, wings snapping down. He didn’t know how the knight had slipped away from his sight, whether it be an effect of the shield or another magic item. Right now it didn’t matter. What matter was the only reason one would work so hard to be invisible was if fighting the dragon wasn’t their goal.

Despite the massive size, the dragon could move when he chose. An advantage of magic. The shout that he let out was amplified by magic as well, not that the knight was likely to recognize what it was. The language of dragons, and to an extent of magic. Certainly if one had been capable of hearing it the tone was reminiscent of elvish. The volume made it into something else however, the sound echoing off the cliff like close range thunder. The castle responded brilliantly, dismissing any idea that he was simply roaring. Runes flared across the arched entryway, the floor cracking in a perfect line. A slab rose, living stone that would perfectly seal the entrance even as metal dropped down in finely woven grates that even a fox would be hard pressed to slip out of. It left only the tower entrance, the dragons form darkening that entrance. The human was already gone from the path, or the magic’s reaction would have been completely different.

Doing little to stem the rumbling growl that flowed through him, Shou stalked through the tower and into the highest ledge of the gathering room. At least the lower rooms were locked, the only slightly larger than human sized doors kept secure for just this purpose. The jewel toned eyes swept over the place, nostrils flared wide and senses stretched for the whisper of magic that wasn’t normally there. For now he moved slowly as he passed down the ledges that for something his size served well as stairs. The bulk didn’t look quite as big however, and never seemed to touch the finely worked walls. He could use fire again, if it proved needed but he'd rather not, and was of the opinion it wouldn't be any more effective. Finding the knight and using fang and claw on them seemed far better.

InkedFox

 

[InkedFox]

The Knight had already started up the oddly shaped stairs to the top of the tower where the gem was said to be kept under open skies so that it could absorb the moon light-- or some other such nonsense. All that mattered to the knight at this moment was reaching the tallest spire of the tower. It was evident that the dragon had taken notice of their disappearing act and was none too pleased as a deep rumble shook the entire tower.

Though this roar almost mimicked spoken words and soon enough the tower began to vibrate as most of the exits became magically sealed off. It was no matter, the only way they needed to go was up. Unfortunately the dragon's massive body was still able to maneuver there before the Knight could, and now the beast was barreling back down upon them. They had to do something quickly or else they'd be knocked from the staircase by the beasts sheer size.

Looking down at the golden rope in their hand, they quickly thought of what to do next. The rope was unbreakable if magically charged, but a beast that size would quickly drain the cache of mana built up. Still there was no other choice. It was a risk they needed to take. They quietly scrambled for the dragon. Watching its angry features for change, looking to see if it noticed them as they closed distance. So far the invisibility spell completely erased their presence. Looking around they located the thickest pillar they could see in the room, and then took a deep breath as they set their insane plan into action.

In the center of the room was a large load bearing beam that was almost as thick as the dragon's body. The trick to 'Repunzel's Locks' was it's ability to tether to any solid or stable surface. All that needed to be uttered was the right words. Running towards the beast, the knight whispered the words, then tossed one end at the dragon's neck which anchored onto it with a golden light sparkling at it's end. Then the knight quickly tossed the other end at the large pillar. The line of golden rope attached to it immediately, and the knight cast off his invisibility, knowing the rope would need all the magical strength in order to hold the beast in place while they maneuvered around it.

AceofRoses

 

[AceofRoses]

Whatever trick of invisibility seemed to still be in full effect, the dragon keeping the higher perch for now as eyes the color of gemstones slid shut. The nostrils flared, scenting for the human even as the mane shifted to reveal the ears swiveling around to catch the faintest clink of metal. There, moving up the staircase. For a moment it flickered through Shou’s mind that the knight had some trick and had meant to trap the dragon within his own keep. A fair plan actually, although it was dismissed a moment later as Shou considered what lay beyond. The knight was unlikely to have thought about a dragon being capable of sealing off entrances, or of fitting through the tower entrance. It was after all, meant to fool the eye into thinking that it was small.

Head arching up even as the tail snapped around into the same whip crack as before, the dragon ruffled through its memories. The main hall and dining rooms lay on the main floor. A few antechambers that would fit medium dragons lay scattered on the higher levels, with the largest meant for his siblings set in the lower chambers where the walls were crafted from the living stone. The human sized rooms lay down there too, the twisting passages filled with chambers meant for potion making and magic. A few of the treasure rooms sat below as well, holding the offerings given by various towns as well as the gems he had collected throughout the decades. Some held those magical items that were either harmless enough to use as decoys or those that required a labyrinth to keep them from any being that would use them.

Those that fell between he kept high in the tower. Dragon forged items mostly, or items that could turn even a hedge mage into a force that would shake the battlefield. Those items sat in a number of insets above the nest of furs, reeds, and other soft things that made up his sleeping chamber. A few others sat upon the opposite side, gems that caught the light and reflected it nicely, or which required the presence of either sun or moon to remain fully sealed. Shou drew up his wings, taking a step back from the knight as he put his body between the being and the doorway, blocking it with sheer size. None of those could be moved, let alone taken from this place without dire consequences to both dragon and human.

His thoughts had swept to a specific stone, distracting him just enough that it came as something of a surprise that there was suddenly a rope. The snarl rolled through the stone under him even as Shou reached out. This human thought that some parlor trick would work on a dragon mage? Wings spread farther, the magic that coursed through them nearly visible as it arched across the wingtips in purple lighting. Then it hit the rope, feeding it more energy than it could ever take, overloading the fine lines that existed there. Even as the strands began to unravel the dragon was twisting his head around. Forget his preferences, forget the handful of items he would have to replace. The fire that erupted from his maw was red and orange this time, spilling across the stone like it had been soaked in oil. Not hot enough to actually melt the stone it did set a handful of wooden decorations on fire just by presence. It would light the reeds of his bed as well, although the furs were set with magic against just this sort of thing.

InkedFox

 

[InkedFox]

The dragon, in its furious might, made a ferocious display as it turned and whipped its body, wildly thrashing against the bindings of the magic rope. It reared back catching full sight of the Knight ascending the massive stairs and once more its maw split open allowing a plume of fire to come flooding down the only path towards the tower's highest chambers. The relic itself was also lost, as the beast surged with an unearthly energy that sent crackling sparks into the air like fire works. The knight was awed, and also struck by fear, seeing the giant beast well up terribly as if to devour them in its next bout of fury.

With the rope gone, there was no need to drain the mana pulsing from their shield, and yet invisibility was useless in the face of the reptilian blockade. Their heart sank as the fire rained down upon them, and they held their shield fast above their head to keep its furious licks at bay. The heat washed over them and their knees buckled under the tremendous weight of the fiery blast. Was this it? Would this be the end of them? If they retreated now they would only be snapped up and eaten, and yet retreat itself seemed even more shameful then death itself. No! This would not be where they ended their journey! It was so close! Right there---! The knight could feel the triumphant end beckoning to them just beyond the dragon's stoic figure. There had to be a way! There had to be--!!

Then the idea suddenly came to them. A last ditch effort that they held as a close secret. From under the breast plate of their armor, they tugged a feather. A large brown plume, tipped in deep red and streaked in black. A mythical feather, from a legendary beast. A Roc's plume, though many believed that the feather itself was a hoax, and had no real effect; none had dared invoke it due to the terrible curse it was said to host. That mattered little to the knight in this moment --glory was but in arm's breadth and if it was as powerful as it was said to be, then perhaps it could give the knight the edge it needed to pass the beast.

The quill of the feather snapped between the knights fingers, as their other hand struggled to keep their shield high and the flames stemmed. Suddenly, a violent gust of wind erupted through the tower, sending lose furnishing and tapestries twirling about though the air and whirlwind welled up, through the full height of the building. The Knight, them self, had vanished once more, and they felt their body weightless, and intangible as it was swept up in a gust of wind that seemed to follow the knight's desires as it flooded around the dragon; racing past it in ribbons, beneath its tail and around it long neck, catching in it's billowing wings before sliding around and leaking into the room beyond. The feeling was indescribable, as if the knight had taken flight or become the wind, itself. The mischievous breeze carried the ghostly knight towards the higher chambers, and the closer the highest room became, the higher the knight's heart rose. Were they dreaming? Had they finally done it?

The spell came to an end dropping the knight in full fleshy and armor clad form before a pair of large ominous looking doors that demanded the knight's interest. With out giving much thought into the consequence of using the Roc's Feather, the knight raced for the doors, knowing that the dragon no doubt would be on to them again soon. The entry way was heavy, and took much effort to pry open, but with enough strength, the gateway drew open and in side sat the relic the knight had sought after. In the center of the room, where the ceiling gave way to afternoon sky, sat a pedestal-- and upon it floated a crystal that, although was pitch black, shined with a myriad of rainbow colors. The knight drew closer with out even realizing it, their hand outstretched almost locked in trance by it. --Finally... after all this time--- after all the searching and the doubters--- here it was... Within it fingers grasp--

AceofRoses