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"Drakes react strangely to magic. Druidic magic is needed to properly enchant items to work with them. The Paladin's charms are made for the less healthy Y'kish. Those whose inner flames aren't strong enough. Luckily the enchantment would work due to their size. Assuming they don't try to dispell it. I'm aware Paladins have strong magic themselves." Jaqyl looks back to them as the temporary Drakes are mounted. Wilhelm nods.
"If they're keeping us alive I wouldn't dream of removing it." He says looking Jaqyl dead in the eye. The Y'kish goes back to looking at his niece.
"We should make the boarder by noon if we hurry. It's not that far for Drakes but you'll see it's nearly impossible to make it within two days without them." He says kicking the Drakes side and it begins lumbering forward.

The Drakes moved forward. They left the city and made their way around, to the mountains beyond it. They were on the road for several hours. They'd passed through a small outcropping of tree before getting to the mountains. By now it was late afternoon. They continued on their path, before the Drake's slowly came to a stop, before what looked like a massive wall of ice.

Jaqyl looked up the massive ice wall. It stood tall and powerful. An intimidating wall of natures construction.
"Seems we have made it. Time to dismount and prepare for our treck. Are you ready?" He says getting off the Drake. Wilhelm dismounts and his Drake wanders off to the side with the other.
"How far is the mountain tip from here?" Wilhelm asks.
"If we don't get hit by heavy blizzards about three hours. However the terrain and weather here is unpredictable."

"There's also dragons. Lots of dragons." Motiib said approaching the ice wall. It towered over them by a good eight or nine Meters. She placed a hand on the wall and an orange glow could be seen emanating from her hand to the ice. "If the weather on the other side is clear expect them to be territorial. Otherwise we should be fine." Motiib said. "If they're territorial why would we be fine regardless of the weather?" Jackie asked. "Wastes energy, and depending on the weather, could directly endanger the dragon." Motiib explained, as a large passageway melted into the ice wall.

Wilhelm looked with a happy smirk as the ice was altered.
"Impressive. As for the Dragons as long as we don't pose a threat and they aren't hungry they'll consider us a waste to attack. However if we pose a threat or their desperate we may look like a good target." Jaqyl moves through the ice. It went through almost nine feet. The ice wall was like a glacier.
"We should make haste. If what your suspect is true time is of essence." Jaqyl slides in. The path needing his size to move on his side and shuffle through. Wilhelm waited behind to follow.

Shortly after Jaqyl and Wilhelm went through, Alrick went through, followed by Jackie, then Motiib. Once on the other side, Motiib refroze the entry point, sealing the wall again. The path was set in a valley, with tall mountains and cliffs flanking its sides. Dragons could be seen sitting at their nests on the cliff walls, mostly being small Wyverns who carved a den out into the cave wall.

The wind was blowing, hard, down the mountains into the path. It was already incredibly cold, as expected, though the wind wasn't helping.

Unbeknownst to the paladins and the Y'kish, they were being followed. High up on the cliffs running along the pathway, was Ingar and his orcs. They're Chimera remained with them. Moving almost silently thanks to the snow muffling its foot steps.

The Orcs shivered in the freezing cold. They didn't seem to notice the Paladins in the distant below ravine.
"How far till dis place?" Rogg asks. The other Orcs with them disliking the cold. Though they could endure it thanks to body fat and muscle. It wasn't enough to keep them alive forever here but stopped them freezing over dead. Smaller Wyverns nearby hiss at them as they pass. The large troll Chimera lumbers along. The Wyverns pull away back into their burrows. Most of them were fairly small. About the size of a cow and some large cats. "Bloody freezin."

"I thought Orcs didn't whine?" Ingar hissed walking close enough to the cliff's edge to watch the group far below them. If he could feel the cold, he wasn't showing it. "Oi! Me armors got bloody ICICLES 'ang'n onto it!" Grunted one of the orcs. "Oh. I'm sorry. Do you want me to light a hearth for you?" Ingar said dryly. "'Ow we go'n ta stay warm at night in this?" Asked another Orc.

"I doubt we'll be here over night. And if the Paladins don't stop, neither do we." Ingar said. The Wyverns continued hissing at the Orcs and Ingar as they passed, fallign silent when the Chimera came into view. They could feel the dark magic that held this beast together, and knew it was unnatural.

The Paladins continued walking down the pathway, with Jackie between Jaqyl and Wilhelm. "Did anyone ever rebuild the Village I lived in?" She questioned. She could barely remember the village she was born in, well she remembered the smoldering ashes of the village, but that was it.

Jaqyl shakes his head.
"It was too close to the boarder. Designated as 'no mans land'. Everything on both sides within five kilometers of the boarder was left barren. You probably saw what ruins remain. Fires claimed most of the wooden structures." He explains. Wilhelm gave a solemn nod.
"It's true. The whole country side was left. It was barren for the most part as people considered it too dangerous in case one of the others attacked. We passed through it. The barn we saw was on the outskirts of your town." They trudged through thick snow and hard stone as they made their way through the ravine. The cries of Wyverns above reverberated off the rugged walls. The ravine looked like the earth itself split.

"So no one ever even tried to move back to the villages on the border?" Jackie questioned. "No." Motiib said. "Besides the issues with the border, plenty of wild animals moved into the areas the villages used to be in, making the land even more hostile." Motiib said. Before Jackie could respond, a loud echoing roar was heard in the distance.

All the dragon and Wyvern calls fell silent as they went to hide in their dens. A shadow passed over the ravine, beloning to a massive, serpentine creature soaring through the sky. "W-What was that?" Jackie questioned. "I assume the Mystic's Chimera?" Questioned Alrick. Motiib nodded. "It'll give us a chance to show it that htingy before it attacks us right?" Jackie questioned. "Yes. Relax child. It maybe a guard animal, but it acts more like a giant House Drake once you're on its good side." Motiib said as they continued on.

"Look at the bloody size o' that thing!" Said one of the orcs in astonishment as the Chimera flew overhead. "Never seen anyth'n THAT big before..." Another said. One of the Orcs walked over to Rogg. "You really think this job's worth the trouble?" He asked Rogg quietly. "If the bloody cold don't turn us to ice cubes, that monstrocity'll surely swallow us all whole." He said.

Wilhelm felt like time froze for a moment. The massive beast flew over and moved with great speed yet its shadow lasted countable seconds. The creature seemed to be around a hundred meters long or more. To know that was a chimera sent cold chills up his spine. Imagine if these necrotic chimera got that mighty. He wiped his face and kept moving. His beard catching specks of frost from the chilled air. The Drakes and Wyverns hissed as they went by and after a few minutes emerged once the chimera left. Jaqyl told them how much further.
"Through the ravine is an ice bridge leading to a staircase up the mountain. A good hours climb if you don't tire and we'll reach the top where the Mystic resides. Though the chimera will stop us at the bridge to see if we're able to enter." As they worked he gestured around. Continuing he pointed out several things to do with the fauna and flora to Jackie. Seemed like he was making up for lost time. Wilhelm narrowed his eyes back to him discreetly. He shouldn't be getting so attached. He thought to himself as they walked.

Rogg looks over to Ingar.
"'Id you know it was dat big? I don't think yours measures up." He says hinting to the troll Chimera. The chimera lets out a deathly grown that unsettles even the Orcs.

Alrick nodded as they continued on. Jackie was clearly fascinated by everything pointed out to her about the wild life. Back in Amestra Dragons had always been feared, but respected for their power, and the Empire even used a Dragon as its symbol, but she had no idea how diverse Dragons and their relatives could be. Between the dozens of Wyverns nesting in the ravine walls, to the Dragons living atop the mountains, the sheer variety of the creatures was astounding to Jackie.

"If I did, what does it matter?" Ingar asked. "Besides, you needn't worry. We won't be battling the beast." Ingar said. Ingar doubted his Chimera would be much of a threat to the real Chimera in the area. But it would be enough to distract it. Once his Chimera were dead it would rapidly rot away into the tar, which would further hinder the true Chimera, even if it wouldn't kill the beast, allowing him and the Orcs to get through.

"What about dat rock you afta? You sure it'll be nearby? Maybe it's on the big beastie?" An Orc asks feeling his typical orcish pride and sense of battle wane at the sight of such a massive beast.
"The big bone man knows what he's doin. Now shut it before I give your head a smaken and take your pay." Rogg growls back.
"What eva ya say boss." The Orc grumbles back as they keep moving. The Orcs strusting Ingar less and less. Even Rogg was questioning him.

The Paladins and Y'kish continued on, only just getting out of the Ravine. As Jaqyl said, the ice bridge wasn't far from them. By this point, the cliffs had gone into a slope that lead to the ground. "I assume the Chimera will be arriving momentarily?" Asked Alrick. Motiib nodded.

Ingar and the Orcs were behind the paladins, within visual distance, but with the roaring winds, they couldn't be heard until they were upon the Paladins. Ingar grinned, drawing his sword. "Kill." He ordered, pointing the blade to the Paladins and the Y'kish. Without a sound, the Troll Chimera shot forward.

Motiib's ear twitched. Even with the wind, the Troll Chimera was too large, and too loud, to remain unnoticed for long. Motiib glanced over her shoulder, immediately spotting the Troll Chimera closing hte distance between them. "WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE SPIRITS IS THAT?!" She yelped, immediately preparing her Halberd.

Wilhelm turned and immediately realized what he was facing. The creatures smell was hidden by the downward wind but it's horrid black and grey flesh and dripping pores were enough to let him know.
"Chimera!" He cried and drew his blade. Jaqyl drew forth his blade and went to assist Motiib who's Halberd lodged into the beasts chest. But it didn't falter. Letting loose a shriek it swung it's taloned hands at the two barely missing. A massive tail whipped around behind it. Jaqyl drove his blade into it's gut but the smell of decay shot out as the thick tar like blood oozed out. The smell caused him to cough.

From the chilled winds came the rest of the Orcs. A dozen armed with clubs and axes all made for smashing a foe to a bloody mess. Letting out war cries as they charged forward drew Wilhelm's attention. He snarled and looked to Alrick and Jackie.
"Blades ready!" He says noticing Ingar in the back. "The bastard." He snarls and as an Orc lunges for him he parries it's strike and with a forceful swing lops the Orcs arm off. The force cut through bone at the elbow and left the Orc screaming. Another swipe removed it's head. Four more Orcs came for him while the other seven went for Jackie and Alrick. Rogg was back with Ingar.
"Those Paladins are killin my boiz?" He snarls. "My boiz! Get ya own!" He roars and starts lumbering into the fray.

Jackie and Alrick drew their weapons. "Where did they all come from?!" Jackie yelped. Motiib spotted the Orcs charging at Jackie and Alrick. She moved to intercept them, but was grabbed by the Chimera, who lifted her into the air by her tail. It roared, before throwing her at Jaqyl.

Jackie shot her hand out as the Orcs charged at her and Alrick, blasting her blizzard spell at them. Two of the Orcs were hit, and were frozen solid. The others stepped out of the blast range and continued forward, quickly closing the distance between them and the paladins. And Orc sung its blade at Jackie, who managed to duck under the swing.

Despite his age, Alrick was shockingly nimble. He easily avoided the Orc's frenzied attacks, managing to get in a few strikes in on the orcs, though he wasn't strong enough to get through their armor.

Ingar walked forward, headed to aid his Chimera with the High Guards.

"Motiib!" Jaqyl cries as he sees her be thrown. The Halbered was knocked out as well clamouring to the ground. Raising his hand he shot off three sharp icicles that stab into the Chimera's hand. The several thin bits of ice managed to severe three of the finger talons. Black blood spat out onto the snow and the stench was like a dozen rotting bodies. The heat melted into the ice. With his blade in the Chimera's gut he swung it aside attempting to disembowel the beast for a quick kill.

Two of the Orcs after Alrick and Jackie were frozen and another was managing to endure blows by the older councilman. Two more ran for Jackie one with an axe and the other a club. They roared and charged her. The other went after Alrick while he was caught with his ally. The Orc he was grappling has a round headed club but the one charging had a chipped war axe. With his sword razed he charged the four coming for him. Three with axes and one a club. One of the axe orks had two hand axes compared to the larger ones of the others.
"Holy Nova!" He cries and his sword is engulfed in light. Slamming it into the ground a column of light shoots forward and blasts the two Orcs on the right away. The club and duel axe Orcs went flying but survived. The larger axes slammed on Wilhelm's side. An audible twang went out as his armour took the blows with ease. He glared at them with a fury filled gaze and pulled his sword from the snow. The Orcs roared at him in retaliation.

Motiib got to her feet, turning to face the Chimera, before spotting Ingar approaching. "What in the name of the spirits is that?" She asked. Jaqyl's blade didn't cut far, before the Chimera swung its arm into him, sending him flying.

Jackie's sword clashed with the axe of the Orc she was currently busy with, before she noticed a few more charging her and Alrick. The metal spikes on the armor on Jackie's tail grew large icicles on them, before she whipped her tail into one of the orcs. Thanks to how strong her tail was, and how sharp the icicles were, they broke through the armor, penetrating the Orc's flesh, before they broke off the tail armor.

Jaqyl was sent flying and the Chimera tore out the halberd and tossed it aside. Slamming it's fist now missing three talons and the tar like blood melted the ice around it. It charged at Jaqyl with head lowered for a headbutting attack. His armour rang out like a clang as Jaqyl was thrown several meters into some rocks. The Chimera seemed dazed. Letting out a groan of confusion it stumbled for a moment as Jaqyl pulled himself from the rocks. His body bruised heavily under the armour but nothing to keep him down.

The Orc that Jackie stabbed stumbled back as it cried in pain from the icicles within its flesh. The ice was staining red and despite the warm blood not melting due to it's magical creation. The Orc dropped its weapon and fell back unable to move. Where they stabbed made movement near impossible and removing them would only cause greater issues. The chill they sent into his muscles only added to his inability to move. The one clashing with Jackie roared in her face. Hot breath that smelt like the direwolves kennels after a bad night wafted into her face. The smell was repulsive and the globs of hot saliva didn't help. Thrusting forward the Orc tried to stagger her as it raised it's axe to cleave down. Meanwhile the one clashing with Alrick lost part of it's footing and trips backwards falling prone on the snow covered ground.

Wilhelm lunged the Orc. Swinging back with his sword he slipped under the Orcs heaving axe and slashed it across the chest dropping the beast into the snow in a red puddle. The two Orcs that were knocked back had gathered their weapons and charged as him. The mace and duel axes were held off but the sheer size of the Orcs made it a difficult task even for Wilhelm. Pulling back a hand from his sword he thrusts his palm into the Orcs faces and cries.
"Illuminate!" From his palm a blinding light flares up and the Orcs drop their weapons to shield their eyes. Closing his palm Wilhelm moves in to quickly strike down the Orcs. Taking a moments reprieve he turns to see the battlefield. Ingar heading for Motiib and Jaqyl while another somewhat larger Orc came for him. He snarled and spat to the side. A little bit of blood in it.

Motiib rose to her feet, about to charge the dazed Chimera, before she was suddenly lifted into the air. She let out a pained scream, before Ingar's blade came from the left side of her stomach. Thankfully the blade didn't actually hit anything Motiib couldn't live without. Ingar withdrew his blade, preparing to stab into Motiib again.

Jackie was barely able to hold the Orc back. By now her body had instinctively been creating and forcing smoke out of her. This was mostly an unconscious reflex mostly seen in children who weren't able to generate fire. Due to Jackie's maturity, a few embers and sparks came out with the smoke. She coughed a few times before a thought entered her head. She inhaled through her nose, before blowing smoke into the mouth of the still roaring orc, who immediately began to gag and cough when he took a breath. The ORc staggered back trying to catch his breath. Before he could, Jackie slammed the other side of her tail that still had the icicles on it into the Orc's side.

Alder immediately took his chance once the Orc was prone. He thrust his blade forward, stabbing through a gap in the Orc's armor and into the Orc himself.