[BACKDATED RL after Rueloon Tournament - Philomel and Darc in Drakyrnia/Dragon Bone Valley]

[halfdeimos_king]

Darc awoke the day after the tournament in the Rueloon inn. Although he was tired, he felt satisfied for having hosted his first successful public event. With a long, languid stretch, he rose from the bed and went to get ready - he had a trip to go on today.

Some time later, he awaited Philomel outside of the entrance of the inn/tavern. Escorting and protecting someone was somewhat familiar to him, as he had been Lilia's protector several times during their travels. It was this new charge that he would be watching out for that was unfamiliar. All he really knew was that she liked dragons and happened to be an artist. She seems okay though, thought Darc. With an inward shrug, he figured that he would just let things ride out.

So with a smirk at the occasional "hello King Darc" that passed him by, he waited.

Comments

[dragon-scholar.livejournal.com]

Philomel emerged, awake and as well-equipped as she'd been able to manage before leaving for the tournament. She was in sturdy boots and practical clothes, with a pack full to brimming of supplies on her back.

She pushed her glasses up her nose and blinked in the sun, glancing around and approaching Darc when she spotted him. "Hello!" she said brightly, bobbing a greeting.

[halfdeimos-king.livejournal.com]

"Hello," Darc returned the greeting. She really did seem nice at least, so that helped. But he was still a little unaccustomed to such cheery people and smalltalk. After a moment, he realized that he hadn't said anything else.

"So, are you ready? We're going to ride on the Pyron to Ragnoth - that's the continent where Dragon Bone Valley and Drakyrnia are."

[dragon-scholar.livejournal.com]

"I am, yes," she said, inclining her head again and hitching her pack a little higher. Her head cocked to the side, then. "Pyron? Forgive me if I don't know quite what that is..."

[halfdeimos-king.livejournal.com]

"That's fine. You'll see it soon enough."

As their trip began, Darc lead Phil away from the town and through a lush field. (Luckily they managed to avoid monsters along the way - not that the beasts in that area were of any threat to the Deimos king.) Eventually, they came to a small, tranquil marsh, and they stopped at a stream with many lush plants growing on its banks.

"There it is," said Darc, pointing to a creature that really didn't have to be pointed to in the first place. It was about the size of a horse, and drifted along eating the plants. Upon hearing its master approach, it did a little dance in the air. "We're going to Ragnoth, Pyron!"

With that, the creature burst into the air, and when it came back down, it was massive. Pyron held out its hands for its guests. Darc hopped on, then turned and held out a hand to help Phil up.

((OOC: Pyron can change shape at will. I think that's sort of middle-sized Pyron in the pic there - it was smaller when they first saw it and it's bigger now. Also it's spazzing in the image, hence the arms splayed out.))

[dragon-scholar.livejournal.com]

Philomel couldn't help but stare at the creature--she'd never seen anything like that, though that wasn't that surprising, after all. "Quite impressive," Philomel said faintly, rather overwhelmed. She shook her head and squared her shoulders, though, and accepted Darc's hand, stepping up into Pyron's palm.

((Holy cow, the nose on that thing! XD))

[halfdeimos-king.livejournal.com]

Once they were both secure, Pyron zipped into the air and turned Rueloon into a distant dot within moments. A new continent spilled out below them, and the Pyron once more landed in a nearby marsh, shrinking once its passengers left its hand.

Once again Darc lead the way, fighting off a monster or two until they began to climb a mountain pass. Snow was on the ground, and high above in the peaks they could see Drakyrnia carved into the rock. Soon they came to a fork in the path.

"Well, now we pick where we go first. In Drakyrnia, we can ask for more information about the Dragons. My...grandfather," Darc paused, seemingly unused to the term. "Must know something. Dragon Bone Valley has the cave used for the Dragon Ordeal."

((OOC: There are no warnings when Pyron appears either. It's just suddenly there. Just letting you know that from here on in, I'll more or less be wingin' it.))

[dragon-scholar.livejournal.com]

Philomel had flown before, a number of times, in planes and helicopter, and even once, briefly, with a pair of wings lent her by Daisuke. This was different from all of those, exhilarating and thrilling, and she couldn't help clinging to Darc during the ride.

She followed him into the mountain, glad for the comfort of the boots and just a little disconcerted at the casual way he fended off the assaults. She didn't remark on it, though; this was another world, after all.

She murmured a thoughtful noise as the choices were presented, considering. "The Dragon Ordeal?" she asked finally. "What could you mean by that?"

((Gotcha! That sounds good~!))

[halfdeimos-king.livejournal.com]

"It's how aspiring Drakyr leaders prove their worth. There's a cave in Dragon Bone Valley, and inside is the Dragon Master Crown. If a Drakyr can get the crown, then they become the new leader of the tribe."

"If that's where you choose to go," continued Darc, glancing in the direction of the valley. "Then I'm going to take you to that cave to speak to the Dragon spirits there."

[dragon-scholar.livejournal.com]

"Spirits," she murmured musingly, nodding as she took in his words and considered them. "Yes, I think I'd like to see that first, please."

[halfdeimos-king.livejournal.com]

"All right," he answered with a nod. And so he lead her to Dragon Bone Valley, not far from the fork in the road. When they arrived, Darc stopped just outside of the cave. "I don't think a human has ever set foot in the cave before. You're not here to do any harm and you're accompanied by me, but just in case, stay close."

The cave was simply one chamber, not very deep at all, and very circular. At the end opposite of the entrance was a shrine upon which sat the Dragon Master Crown. A Dragon statue sat on either side of the shrine. Some strange design was drawn into the wall behind it.

"Dragon spirits, we've come to learn about your race and hear your wisdom!"

There was a moment of silence before a light, disembodied voice began to speak to them.
Darc...King of the Deimos...
You bring...a human with you. Human...identify yourself...

[dragon-scholar.livejournal.com]

Philomel nodded solemnly, trying to cover the thrill that ran through her as he told her that. She followed on his heels as the entered the cave, and looked around with wide eyes, her mind's eye automatically cataloging everything she saw, filing it away for mental examination later.

Taking a step away from Darc, she let her eyes fall on the shrine and statues, lingering and absorbing it, and jumped when she heard the voice speak. She hadn't expected that--!

"Er...h-hello. My name is Philomel St. James."

[halfdeimos-king.livejournal.com]

((OOC: Slight correction now that I've double-checked: it's a Dragon fossil in the wall and its eyes light up, not a design. My mistake!))
Stepping up to help his companion, Darc spoke once again. "She wants to learn about the Dragons. She's no threat to you or the Deimos - just a knowledge seeker from another world, and a friend!"

The Dragon Soul who spoke to them was quiet as it contemplated his words.
A human, friend to Deimos and Dragon.
You are different, Darc who possesses a Dragon's soul and a human's.
...Very well.

Both of the Dragon statues - one gold, one silver - came to life, stepping away from the shrine to sit with the nobility of their race before their guests.

"What do you want to know, Philomel St. James?" they asked in unison. Darc's right hand was ready to reach for his sword if need be.