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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 20, 2016 18:41:12 GMT -5
Ironbark brought his head right down to the two and turned so that his one eye was right in front of Yuki, looking at her. "You don't look like a Snow, are you sure that's your name?" He asked, his tone still friendly.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 20, 2016 18:49:12 GMT -5
Yuki smiled nervously, "Yep, given to me by my parents. Pretty sure that's the name I'll stick with." She smiled wide and looked over to Venti again.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 20, 2016 19:13:34 GMT -5
"Come now Elder." Venti said with a nervous laugh. "Stop kidding around." Ironbark gave out a chuckle that moved the pages on some of the books and brought his head back up. "I heard you were looking into the Skull Dragons." He said, lifting his claw and guiding a finger across one of the bookshelves. "I can't say I'm pleased at the idea of a youngling like yourself studying such a grave matter, but you never were one to shy away from our history." He took out a book almost as large as Venti. "This should contain some of the earliest records about them." "Oh, yeah, about that." Venti said, her nervousness gone. "I'm actually studying something else right now." "Really?" Ironbark said looking down at her. "It's not like you to change subjects so easily."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 20, 2016 19:23:28 GMT -5
Yuki just kept grinning, trying not to call attention to herself, but not feeling much better given Venti's nervousness as well.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 20, 2016 21:12:40 GMT -5
"It kinda just popped up, you know?" Venti explained. "But I'd really like to know everything there is about humans." "Humans?" Ironbark asked. "That's a rather strange subject. If it's about our enemy I can tell you that their past will not help much in understanding them. They have changed too much and we have lots of books about how they are now." "No, it's nothing like that." Venti said. "I want to know how humans were back then, before they changed." "I see." Ironbark said looking at the books around him. "We do not have much knowledge of humans in one book. It's mostly small facts and myths from here and there. What is it that you want to know?" Venti nudged Yuki to ask him.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 21, 2016 11:08:46 GMT -5
"Umm." Yuki said, suddenly put on the spot, "Could you find stuff on their society. Like, what kind of people they were and how they lived?" She asked, coming up with the first thoughts that popped into her head.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 21, 2016 14:07:07 GMT -5
"Hmm." Ironbark said thinking deeply. "If I recall they were for the most part a friendly people. The ones that would visit the dragons. They were very open with us, with all the tribes, and was invited into the homes of dragon, dwarf and elf. I can not recall many tales of their society, but I do recall tales of strong friendship with some of the dragons. The betrayal created a very strong wedge between us and them though and most of the stories passed down were filled with anger, although we know there was a time when there was no anger. For our size our hearts can be quite small." Ironbark laughed and tapped Venti on the nose with his finger who also laughed.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 21, 2016 17:13:16 GMT -5
"I see..." Yuki looked down to take in the information before looking back up, "Elder, what about this spell I'd heard about. The one that turned them to undead. Do you have any information on that and why it affected them the way it did?" She said, getting into the story and lost to her thoughts.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 21, 2016 17:33:36 GMT -5
"We don't know much about the magic of the elves." Ironbark said. "Even less when you consider how secretive they were. But from everything we could learn it seems like the cause was the darkness of their hearts, the lust for eternal life. We're not sure if something went wrong with the spell or if it was always a curse, but it did curse them with eternal death. The elves always wanted eternal life and perhaps the the dwarfs only succumb for that moment. But it's strange, don't you think? For the humans, of who our stories tell didn't regret their short lives nor were jealous of our long ones would fall under this curse."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 21, 2016 17:43:50 GMT -5
"I suppose that information is lost to the past, huh?" Yuki mused to herself. She lost herself in thinking on the story and stopped asking questions when something popped up in her head. She tried to think of how to word it, "So, what actually protected the dragons? Did none of the dragons fall to the curse of undeath?"
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 21, 2016 18:37:43 GMT -5
Venti visually flinched when Yuki asked about the dragons being cursed. "Ah yes." Ironbark said. "The spell was never suppose to be cast on dragons. It was after all a spell that was meant to make them immortal so they can outlive us. The elves were the wielders of the magic, it was their spell so they had to cast it. The dwarfs were needed to create the mechanism that would focus the magic and only they had the skill to make it. And the humans were to act as a catalyst. Through them the magic would reach all elves, dwarfs and humans, turning every single one immortal, or curse them as was the case. So the spell was cast and the Darkening began. That is why only they and their lands were effected by the spell. The dragons, our lands and all the other creatures did not fall under the curse. After the Darkening however the elves that had turned into necromancers started turning all other creatures and living things into undead. Jealous of the living they would destroy it all, make everything like them. Even dragons. They captured them, turned them, and then became the Skull Dragons. When the others found out our old blood of destruction boiled and we destroyed the necromancers, wiping out every single one. But our brethren were lost, cursed to suffer the same fate as the other tribes." He tapped the book he first gave to Venti when they arrived. "And ironically they are perhaps the only ones that still know the true history of the humans, as they were there when the humans were there."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 21, 2016 21:21:23 GMT -5
"What became of the Skull Dragons? Did they turn evil too?" Yuki asked, a little saddened.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 21, 2016 21:41:46 GMT -5
"We're not sure." Venti answered next to her. "Indeed." Ironbark continued. "The Darkening changed the elves, dwarfs and humans. Not just their appearance, but their very being. However the necromancers did not use the same spell on the creatures they turned undead. The creatures that was turned however adapted to their no macabre way and so many dragons that know about the Skull Dragons believe they also adapted to their new life, becoming what they look like." "Like Lance." Venti said. "But I don't believe that." "Yes, there is evidence, although very little, that the Skull Dragons retained their original nature. It is once mentioned that they themselves choose to live apart from other dragons to spare us living with them. Although it is true that they can not be saved and living in the Ridge would mean certain death. It is a difficult point to take as we've never seen the Skull Dragons since the Ridge was sealed."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 22, 2016 9:19:18 GMT -5
"Oh, I see." Yuki again dropped her head in though, this time not raising it back up with further questions.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 22, 2016 10:06:18 GMT -5
"Elder Ironbark?" Venti spoke up. "Yes?" He answered back. "Was there ever a time or have there ever been some kind of incident where a human turned into a dragon?" Ironbark took a long look at Venti, his expression unreadable. "No." He finally said. "There has never been a recorder case of anything that wasn't a dragon turning into one. But, it's not impossible."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 27, 2016 8:50:17 GMT -5
"Not impossible?" Yuki said, looking back up, "But how could such a feat be accomplished. It seems pretty impossible for me, though I suppose after the story I'd just heard anything should be possible." She added doubting her asking in the first place for a bit.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 27, 2016 18:15:10 GMT -5
"Now I don't want you younglings to go and spread this around and upsetting everyone." Ironbark started. "But it's been known for a while that our enemies have been looking into creating dragons that could enter the Ridge on their behalf and it seems that the it's possible to do such a thing using the Dragon Tears." "But Dragon Tears grow underwater." Venti said. "They can't get to it." "And they would also need a living creature for something like that to work. The living creature will also need to agree to help them. Not to mention a transformation like that is only temporary. So it's very unlikely that they would ever be able to do something like that and why I'm asking you not to spread this around."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 27, 2016 18:23:56 GMT -5
Yuki was following fine until the Elders reply to Venti at which she fell silent and looked out into nothing. She was suddenly overcome by a weird combination of confusion and fear. Each comment the Elder made brought a thought to her mind. Thoughts she didn't want to think about and could only hope weren't true. The turmoil in her mind was belied by her blank expression.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 27, 2016 19:57:17 GMT -5
Venti saw the expression on Yuki's face and decided that it was time to go. "Anyway, thank you for the information Elder Ironbark, I'll be sure to remember everything you taught me. And thanks for this." She said grabbing the book about the Skull Dragons. "This will help me a lot. We better get going, I want to introduce Snow to my dad and you know how he can be." "Venti!" The Elder said in a tone that stopped her. "You know that I strictly forbid you do go outside. So does your dad, your friends, the soldiers and the other elders. But you probably know more about our rules than any youngling your age, heaven knows you've broken them enough times." He reached behind him, at first it looked like he was going to bumped into the bookshelves and throw them over, but he didn't even so much as nudge one despite his size. He grabbed a book and brought it all the way around towards Venti. "Take this book with you." Venti took the book and placed it on the other. "Uh, alright." "It was nice meeting you Snow. I hope to see you again." The Elder said. "Strange name, perhaps I'm pronouncing it wrong."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 28, 2016 9:26:29 GMT -5
Yuki was snapped from her thoughts at Elder Ironbarks voice and her attention was now on him and Venti. She smiled a small nervous grin when the Elder addressed her and looked up to him, "I think you pronouce it just fine. And thank you for all you've taught us, Elder Ironbark." she said following suit with what Venti had said and ready to get out of there. She was feeling a bit feint, or flush, but tried her best to push through and not show it.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 28, 2016 11:43:34 GMT -5
Venti led them back up the path and when they almost arrived at the waterfall and Venti thought they were far enough from the library she turned to Yuki. "Are you alright? You don't look so good?"
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 28, 2016 12:12:21 GMT -5
"I... I think I just need a spot of fresh air." She said half lying. She wasn't sure how to relay what she was really feeling and thinking.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 28, 2016 14:28:38 GMT -5
"Oh, alright." Venti replied. "We're almost at the exit. Let me just grab a bag for the books." She said heading towards the shelve with bags on this side of the waterfall.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on May 1, 2016 12:21:16 GMT -5
Yuki's gaze drifted to the floor as she again drifted in though. What if she was this secret agent? What if she would betray the valley? What would Venti think? And Bliss?... Her thoughts raced and churned in her mind, and she wrestled with them.
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Post by Bio Plus on May 1, 2016 17:19:42 GMT -5
ooc: It's Dragon Tear, not Dragonheart. Why don't I double check these things. I'll edit my previous post. "Done." Venti said coming back with a bag and walking through the waterfall. "My dad can be a bit strict when it comes to etiquette so it's probably best if you're on your best behavior when we meet him. Don't talk out of line, answer when you're spoken to and always call him Radiant Typhoon Long. At least the first time you meet him, after that you can just call him Typho."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on May 1, 2016 18:42:47 GMT -5
Yuki quickly snapped from her thoughts when Venti spoke and nodes her head, "Of course. I'll do my best." She said with a quickly thrown together smile, probably out of habit or instinct.
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Post by Bio Plus on May 1, 2016 20:10:54 GMT -5
"It's going to be fine." Venti smiled. "Let's get going, it's still a bit further before we get home." Outside she flapped her wings and took off.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on May 1, 2016 20:17:50 GMT -5
Yuki nodded and followed along, ask the while quietly thinking to herself. She didn't show it on the outside but she was reading herself up inside with fear at this point. Luckily, flying had become a real joy for her and helped break the chain of thought.
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Post by Bio Plus on May 1, 2016 21:39:49 GMT -5
As they flew up the mountain they saw more and more carvings in it. Patterns that surrounded a window or balcony and then pictures of dragons and landscapes, like a giant storybook ingrained in the side of the cliffs. At last Venti landed in front of a beautifully carved door even larger than the one at the library. It wasn't just a door either, but their was paved walkway with a fountain in the middle, small gardens at each side and even a few animals that looked like ferrets running around. "Here we are." Venti announced. "Home."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on May 2, 2016 16:44:31 GMT -5
Yuki looked around as the surroundings came into view, "It's beautiful. I guess that's to be expected though." Yuki said looking to Venti. She was a lot calmer not then when they'd set off and was content to fly and take in the scenery now.
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