Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The Wyverns' Next Stand (IC)

The kingdom of Guarlidian. A rather fine, wealthy kingdom, that consists of humans, Elves, and Werewolves alike, with the occasion of a few visiting Vampires that are quite friendly. Guarlidian has been successful in thriving through the land of Aridisione, guaranteed that it is the largest kingdom in this land.

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The Astral Forest. A vast, enchanted forest in the vicinity of the kingdom of Guarlidian. Wyverns, Dragons, Elves, and Faeries live and thrive in this suiting forest. Beautiful and mystifying sights are held deep within the heart of the forest. Though it may be diminishing, the Astral Forest has managed to recover, and rebuild itself around Guarlidian. It is indeed the largest forest to exist in the land of Aridisione, and many lumberjacks, and hunters come to this place.

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In the recent years, the Astral Forest hasn't been coping well with the Guarlidian kingdom constantly expanding. Many more lumberjacks chop down the trees, and an terrifying amount of hunters are heading in and rounding up more and more Wyverns by the day, and selling them to traders around the land, in exchange for priceless riches.

The population has been steadily declining for the Wyverns, and they haven't managed to recover from it. This is very grave for the forest, for if the Wyverns are to become extinct, the Astral Forest will die, without the Wyverns' assistance.

The Mother and Father of the Wyverns are doing their best to protect their subjects, and in need of their allies-the Dragons, Astral Forest Elves, and Faeries-to protect them. With their allies protection, they can slowly, but surely, recover from the declination that the people of Guarlidian have been causing.

Wandering from the East, away from his homeland of Veritae, Aeon checked his bag once more, fastening his black cloak before departing again. The journey had lasted almost a week, but he finally arrived to the kingdom of Guarlidian. Unsure of where exactly he was, he continued walking through some forest eastward, hoping to find a landmark or village soon.

Alimina rested against the soft, lush, and rather giant patch of exposed grass of the Astral Forest; her wings limp on the ground, and a few, cool breezes blew against her scales. The young Wyvern relaxed as she had bathe in the warm, exposed rays of the sun, which shined through the large and small gaps of the thicket of leaves and branches. It was like shining stars in a close up view, as Aliminia took a few, small breaths, which seemed like large gusts of wind to the people of Guarlidian, or just the 'small' people that had decided to wander in the forest; the Wyvern's tail stretched out, and atop a small group of colorful flowers.

The Wyvern was rather exhausted, after she was forced to exit, and go out to snatch some of the people's cattle once more. Aliminia let out a quiet yawn, which to the merely 'small' people, would've sounded like an eerie noise that would lurk in a cave. The young Wyvern yawned a few more times, as she'd start to close her eyes, and fall into a peaceful slumber.

Away from the warmth of the glowing day, a predator remained curled under the shade. It watched intently, tiny slits trained on the white and gold topped human. It remained as a statue as the traveler waded deeper toward Gaurlidian. It took in every detail as the distance betwixt them shortened. It noted the human's youth. He was a young hunter, if a hunter at all. He was travelling alone. A foreigner was likely to tread so brazenly. Perhaps he was skeptical of the danger the forest held. Perhaps he was aware, and hopelessly foolish.

Either was ideal.

From his finely picked patch of camoflauge, Vulekta opened his maw of jagged daggers. A misty, colorless fog seeped and spread low across the foliage as he spoke the unnatural tongue the human was most likely to understand.

"The hatchling who wanders alone, falls prey to a mere pack of dogs." His scathing, raspy echo mixed well with the faint yawns of another wyvern residing in the forest. "What exactly do you hope to find wandering here, hatchling?"

Upon hearing the voice Aeon halted imediately, eyes darting around for a source, but to no avail. He reached for a dagger from the inside of his cloak, but not drawing the blade, yet. He spoke calmly despite his innard fear of the voice's source, "I am but a humble young boy venturing from afar. Cast out from my home I ventured East towards these lands, I am merely seeking solace in my troubled times." He finished with a bow, a polite gesture from his homeland.

He told the honest truth to the voice, something he honored above status or wealth. Having been lied to for most his life he values honesty more so than others, vowing to never lie again, but he knows when to stop speaking before a horrible truth is told.

The fog built more so to pool at the calves of the human. The faint scents of Veritae flora rose from it, along with the distinct smells of metals and gunpowder. The source of the fog revealed itself: Vulekta's snowy body lumbered out of the brush with the thunder of breaking leaves and branches under wide, webbed feet. It coughed a laugh brimming with amusement. It may have been the bow.

"Trouble is the only thing you'll find here, boy."

The wyvern's horned skull rounded the last of the trees to fully reveal itself. He approached slowly, unwanting to send the human running before he'd satiated his curiousity.

"You will find that solace for those of Gaurlidian is lining your pockets with the gold bought from the corpses of this forest. You will find it tempting to join them in their short-sighted ravaging. Do you still wish to journey there, one who wreaks of the furnace's fire? Perhaps you may craft the spears which pierce my brothers and sisters. Perhaps it'd be for the best if you never reached those gates."

Seeing the wyvern come forward Aeon looked in awe, he had never seen a wyvern in person before, once the words of the great creature had hit him he was taken aback at the wyvern's accusations.

"Corpses of this forest? I can't see reason to hunt creatures, such as yourself great wyvern, when there are plenty of other means to obtain food and coin. Please don't see me as a creator of weapons, as I try and stray away from such... vulgar dealings." He said defensively, pausing for a moment. he looked the large wyvern over once more, intimidated by its sheer size, but he continued nonetheless, "If you must know I forge tools of creation and cultivation, as farmers and tinkerers mostly ask for my business, as I do not deal commonly with weapons of warfare and hunt. And each person's solace comes in different forms. I, unlike many, care not for cash or coin, but rather seeing the beauty of the night and rain amidst nature."

Seeing no reason to start fleeing, he eased up, sitting down, moving his hand away from his dagger and shifting his bag slightly, not wanting to risk upsetting the wyvern. Aeon's yellow eyes glimmered in the sunlight, unwavering in focus on the wyvern, intently listening to what it had to say in response.

After some time of her quiet slumber, Aliminia awoke, the Wyvern's eyes glassy looking for the slighest moment. The young Wyvern blinked a few times, as she had attempted to clear her far vision, and slowly sat up. Aliminia's tail thumped a few times on the ground; a few minor shakes accompanying the thumping.

The Wyvern lifted her wings for the slightest moment, before she folded them shut. The visible rays of sunlight continued to reflect off her blue scales, as the Wyvern yawned; one more louder than her usual quiet ones. Aliminia felt well rested, as she stood up, and felt as if her energy was temporarily replenished. She'd take a few steps forward, sounding rather loud to the 'small' people, until the young Wyvern had noticed the quite familiar fog, just barely in the far distance.

Aliminia stretched herself for a moment, before turning back at the distant fog. The Wyvern extended her wings, and slowly began to flap them, gusts of wind heading in numerous the directions. Aliminia stared at the fog, and slowly but surely, flew over to it; the wind rushing beside her scales.

Has Vulekta found another person, or maybe a wanderer, through the forest, again?

Sarquine had been creeping through the forest aimlessly before coming across the exchange between Aeon and Vulekta.

Seems that tensions remain as high as ever. He thought.

Sarquine began to slowly make his way closer to them, making slight noises here and there as he continued. His red eyes focusing on the wyvern more so than the boy.

The young Wyvern soon began to simply glide over to Vulekta and the gathering fog, unaware of who exactly was engulfed within it. Aliminia stared straight ahead at the fog, as a small, calm breeze blew past. The Wyvern then landed on the grass, and began padding over, her feet 'stomping' on the grass as she proceeded onward.

Now that I think of it... the young Wyvern pondered, It's more probable that it's another one of those vulgar hunters.. Or those unbearable lumberjacks threatening our home, than a seemless wanderer throughout the Astral Forest, Aliminia thought to herself. I haven't seen a person wandering through here for.. ages!

After she had approached a fine distance at the other Wyvern, Aliminia gently sat down, and her tail thumped down onto the grass. The young Wyvern politely stared, just a reasonable amount of feet away, and swished her tail; the grass flattening down repeatedly. Aliminia hesitated for the slightest heartbeat, before speaking; the young Wyvern's voice rather calm, steady, and in a tiny portion of a low pitch, as she spoke in the native Wyvern language.

"Greetings, Vulekta," the Wyvern greeted. "I suppose you've found another.. Another..." Aliminia paused for a moment, momentarily clearing her throat, as her gaze fell upon the gathering fog. "...another person that entered the forest..?" She'd continue for a small moment, her voice at a rather rushed pace this time: "Not that I.. Not that I'm not surprised."

The boy sat down. Plain as day, he sat before the beast which was capable of swallowing him whole. He'd begin to feel dazed, that near the mist laden ground. It was the easiest prey hunted in much of Vulekta's life time.

The wyvern was the one to break their stare down. His long neck bristled and twisted as he laughed. It was an unusual laugh, with his wide jaw now shut firm. It involved a claw on his left leg thumping incessantly with the guttural heaves, slowing as he regained composure. He lazily beat a wing to send a torrent past the human. What little of his breath he'd released began to dissipate into the surroundings. The sleeping forms of nearby squirrels and mice steadily broke from the spell, scurrying away from the area with panicked cries.

Now a few dozen paces away, he too sat. "Your elders have failed you by not warning of this place. That is most fortunate. Tis a rare specimen, I've found this day. Too ignorant to carry prejudice." His menacing voice softened a tad, its volume considerably more tuned to conversational purposes than prodding threats. "You speak to Vulekta, of the Astral Forest. What do you call yourself, Hatchling? I shall attempt to remember it."

So intensely trained on the foreigner, he'd only just noticed the arrival of the young wyvern. That wasn't even to mention the vampire he was completely unaware of. Vulekta let out a gutteral puff of surprise, before attempting to mask it with a response in their shared language.

"Do not sneak up on me!" He whipped his tail, displaying embarrassment only in a way brethren could discern. "...if you must know. Yes. This one is no bard or artist, sadly. A smith. Very strange. Very young."

Aliminia flinched for a moment at the tone of the more old Wyvern's tone, and gave a small nod. The young Wyvern would notice the movement of the tail at the last second, before raising a brow at Vulekta, her eyes filled with slight question.

Aliminia shook her head slightly, as she turned over to the thick fog. "A.. smith, you recalled..?" the Wyvern questioned in their shared tongue. "Hm.. That is rather strange. Are they by chance.. from here?" The Wyvern looked back at the other, as her tail stopped movement for a little bit. "...Because, that might confirm why I believe it's strange," Aliminia continued on, as her eyes momentarily fell back onto the fog, and then back to Vulekta.

And, it is rather interesting to 'meet' a newcomer... They are filled with question; shrouded upon by the mist that is a mist-ery, the Wyvern thought a little jokingly, as a brief chuckle escaped her mouth.

He drifted into a daze, trying to keep a level head, he held his head, trying to come back to his senses. Aeon spoke calmly once more, but he was starting to crack under the daze, "V-Vulekta, I am Aeon, Aeon Aurora, and if you will kill me, so be it, but I don't mean harm to you or your kind. And I can bear prejudice to only those I have heard stories and rumors of, but as for your kind no stories exist of them in my land. For how was I suppose to know what dangers awaited me when I was merely fleeing for some solace?" His voice trailed off, he reached for his bag, quickly stopping himself, unsure of what his fate with the wyvern would be. He then resumed holding his head, as he continued to try and keep steady with his thoughts, although it didn't help much.

He had the best intentions, unfortunately met by the worst of fate. Aeon was simply fleeing, an honest truth, but as to what from, not even he was sure anymore. The only stories he had heard was that East of Veritae lived a kingdom full of prosperous beings that lived in peace. It was the ideal place to lay low or seek refuge, something that Aeon longed for, but obviously those stories were false, or only half-true, after all Aeon had only met one being from the kingdom thus far.

"Indeed." The elder relaxed, returning to the common language between all three. "From a faraway land. Which, I can not say for certain. It has been decades since my travels... I'm sure a kingdom or three have adopted new names since then, anyhow."

He beat a wing several more times dispell the rest of his fog, and was careful to keep his mouth shut. Even so, he could ennunciate the human language well enough. "Stay lucid, now. I've not tired of speaking with you yet." He hummed thoughtfully at Aeon's fright. "You are no hunter. You've claimed so yourself. T'would be meaningless for me to kill everything that wandered here. It is much more productive to study, and learn. I will offer you my apologies. Accept them." It was more of a suggestion, than a question. In some way as Aeon was genuinely honest, Vulekta was genuine in not hiding his enjoyment, even when he was acting so hard.

"Perhaps you'd make for a gentler hand. I believe I'm frightening him." He turned to Aliminia, assuring her prescence was known to Aeon.

Aliminia gave a surprised expression at the older Wyvern.

"M-Me..?" she stuttered. "But.. uhm.."

The young Wyvern looked down at the now visible person. They did have an unfamiliar scent, now that she could identify it. Aliminia's tail curled for a moment, as she continued speaking in the native tongue; her gaze on Vuletka.

"Uhm.. I don't even know much in the human language..! H-How am I supposed to communicate with them?"

Aliminia looked back at Aeon while she spoke, her voice going rather rapidly. The young Wyvern then relaxed her tail, as it uncurled back into place, for a split second.

A closer look perhaps?

Sarquine began climbing up a nearby tree to get a better vantage point to watch this event unfold. He nearly reached the top and stayed in the leaves, using them as cover.

Aeon jumped, slightly startled by the sudden presence of the younger wyvern. He stood, giving a quick nod to Vulekta as he rose, eyes trained on the two wyverns. "I accept your apologies, and I greatly appreciate that my journey has not ended so soon. If I may offer my assistance to you I will see if I could help you and your kind in anyway possible." He paused for a brief moment, collecting his thoughts before speaking again, "You had mentioned hunters, and by the sound of your judgements towards them I could help to prevent more occurrences if it would please you." His eyes gleamed of determined youthful energy, wanting to help deeply.

He seemed concerned in the affairs of others, something he often did, trying to help in what ways he could. Offering help to strangers was a trait he got from his father, whom had always offered aid to those in trouble or need. For Aeon to turn away now would be lying to himself that he couldn't do anything to help.

" Bah." The elder huffed. "You'll never improve in the language, or any pursuit with that attitude. Go on. I do not plan on translating everything... but only because I may need a second opinion..." Vulekta relayed the gist of what the human had said. It was lucky for all involved he was not the mischievous type, at least in this case where sowing lies wouldn't yield an interesting result. He relayed how earnest the human appeared. There was little doubt in his mind Aliminia would do anything brash, but it'd be disastrous if she mistook that tiny dagger as a threat.

After a short while of pondering, he gave his own reply to the offer of aid. It was the first time Vulekta hadn't seemed ready with a response.

"Very strange." He repeated, now for Aeon's ears. "Very young. I wonder as to what length that offer extends. I wonder as to what solution the human has in mind for a problem so grand. I wonder..."

From where he lay, he raked at one of the countless trees with a nail at the end of one wing. It took very little even for Vulekta's dull razors to pierce bark. He scrounged the wound, satisfied when he pulled from it a fine layer of sap coating the nail. He brought it before Aeon.

"I shall inform you, then. This is the gold of this land. Thick in mana, the essence all that is. It flows in every trunk and branch and stem. What little I've here," The sap ignites in blue and violet by the magical beings will, "is enough to fuel dozens of rituals and spells the humans use only to obtain more. That is not to say of how rich the wood itself is, or the very leaves we tread upon. This forest is rife with power. And the Gaurlidians not only profit from its misuse, they hope to wield it with our demise." The flames extinguished as he slathered the remains on the wounded tree. He muttered in the elven tongue, and the very sap glows with a green aura. The wound was healed over with new bark hiding the gash.

Aliminia stared, still quite unsure of what to do, nor what to say. The young Wyvern watched as Vuletka had pierced the bark of one of the trees, and how the sap ignited. After the older Wyvern finished what he was addressing to Aeon, she'd attempt to communicate with the human language, her voice sounding rather struggled as the Wyvern spoke. She'd attempt to infer on what the older Wyvern had informed Aeon, and Aliminia continued to try to add on, attempting to improvise on the whole speaking situation.

"Vuletka is.. er, correct..? Oh, yes, correct..!" Aliminia said, a hint of nervousness mixed in her voice. "The forest's mana is quite.. potent..?" The young Wyvern pondered for a small heartbeat, before she continued, Aliminia's voice sounding somewhat quieter. "It's.. er, potent, in its magic. You see, uh.. our home s..started..? Er, started from.. from a rather... powerful yet.. questionable..? Yes, questionable magical substance. And, uh..." Aliminia's face burned, as the Wyvern made a signal that she was rather puzzled on what to say next with her tail.

I swear, I feel like I messed up already! Aliminia screeched in her head. The Wyvern's eyes shut tightly, and her teeth clamped on her tongue.

Aeon couldn't help but snicker at the young wyvern's speech, he nodded in understanding to both of them, speaking in a light tone, "I understand, but this... Mana, is it only found in living things? Where I am from mana, as you call it, is referred to as ichor, and is found in all living things as well as certain metals and gems, of which I can show you." He reached into his bag pulling out a sea-blue gem, the gem being slightly larger than Aeon's palm, glowed a soft blue as he held it in his hand.

"I have only begun to understand the world's magic and how it influences almost everything, but I can't help but wonder if all lands bear the same essence of magic, or if each land is different in how it holds and uses its magic." He trailed off in thought, snapping back to attention a second later. "I'm not sure as to what I can do, but I don't care. I just hope I can be of help in some way." He stopped, becoming silent as he looked around, having not taken in the sight of the forest until now.

These lands clearly aren't as peaceful as I once believed them to be, but they are certainly as... magical as I had imagined. I wonder if I can do anything to help, after all I'm only one boy, probably in over his head. he thought to himself, silently questioning several matters in his head.