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Living with dragons

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    • Darkness.

    Groan. Fuck, my mouth felt like it was filled with cotton. What happened? Where was I?

    I was laying on something soft and something warm and soft was to my right. It smelled like Rengosa.

    Forcing my eyes open, I blinked in the dark. I was in a room of stone, laying in a bed, a fireplace burning happily.

    Only one of my eyes opened, something was wrapped around my head. I had gotten hurt.

    I didn't hurt, but somehow, I had gotten hurt. What happened?

    I didn't remember.

    Turning my head, I nuzzled softly at Rengosas long blue hair, "Mmm."

    She stirred and then quickly shifted to look at me, "Hey."

    "Hey," I answered with a small smile, "What happened?"

    She rolled onto her side, brushing my hair out of my face, "What do you remember?"

    "I…"

    We had gone to a Plane. We had met somebody. Planeswalker.

    Elf.

    Sakila.

    I sighed, "Most I think. We tried to leave, Sakila attacked us. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details though. I assume she got a good hit in."

    Rengosa nodded, "I had just gotten Sheila safely away. She managed to attack you by a plant elemental. I managed to dive in to snatch you away before it killed you," she said quietly and scooted closer, "…You were badly hurt."

    "How badly?"

    "Badly."

    I looked and suddenly I was very happy that I felt numb. Halfway up from the elbow, my left arm was missing.

    "My eye?"

    "Damaged," Rengosa said softly and rested her head against my shoulder, "Half a dozen broken ribs, both your legs were broken and so was your right arm. Your left arm was missing."

    Damn.

    "Everything else?"

    "Mostly healed," she said and stroked my cheek, "But neither we, our hosts or our healing potions can do anything about the eye or arm."

    I swallowed and nodded, "…It's fine. Alexstrasza or one of the Red can fix it. She healed damage just as bad as my eye on me before. Anyone watching?"

    Ren looked down at the bed before she shook her head in answer so I raised my arm and channelled my magic, summoning Paladin.

    She appeared in a flash of white magic and took one look at me before she started to cast healing magic.

    I closed my eyes and let the golden magic flow over me. Suddenly I felt a lot better as smaller aches I had not even registered melted away and I felt like I could actually move.

    Rubbing my face, I struggled to sit up, Rengosa growling at me for moving. This time however I ignored it. I needed to just do something. Anything.

    Fuck, I had gotten my tail thoroughly kicked. I almost died. More importantly, Sheila and Ren almost died.

    I rested my face against my hand. It had not even been close. Sakila had just demolished us, she just….

    Nothing I did barely even slowed her down, she turned my armour into flower petals for fuck sake!

    "…Where are we?" I finally asked and unsummoned Paladin, "How did we get here?"

    Ren scooted up to sit next to me, "You Walked us, you don't remember?"

    I shook my head, "No."

    "…You were barely conscious. You were aiming for Ravnica…"

    "Ravnica? That's way too far away from where we encountered Sakila and her people. I wouldn't do that in one Walk even if I was fully awake."

    "Don't ask me, you said it was close."

    Man, unconscious me was an idiot.

    …More of an idiot.

    "Where are we? Where is Sheila?"

    Ren slipped an arm around my waist, "We're on the island fortress Kinloch Hold in the country known as Ferelden. We landed a day or so west of here, a group of Templars found and helped us here. Sheila is meeting with one of the leaders of this place, a mage named Irving."

    "I see."

    I moved to get up and the world seemed to object strongly against that with the way it wobbled and spun.

    Ren quickly moved to stand, catching me and guiding me back onto the bed, "Atregos, we're safe. Lay down and rest, focus on getting better.

    Rest.

    Yeah, rest sounded nice.

    Okay, room spinning. Might not have a choice in the matter.



    AN// Unbetaed.
     
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    • Atregos sure goes to some "interesting" places doesn't he.

    On the other hand if the Azure Consortium can sell the people of Thedas other styles of magic, and if the people of Thedas can use those styles they could be of great help to the people of Thedas.
     
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    Hokay, Thedas is not happy about magic. During Dragon Age 1, very much not happy about magic. As in the Templars wanting to call in permission to kill all the mages. ALL the mages.
     
    Hiver said:
    Ren slipped an arm around my waist, "We're on the island fortress Kinloch Hold in the country known as Ferelden. We landed a day or so west of here, a group of Templars found and helped us here. Sheila is meeting with one of the leaders of this place, a mage named Irving."
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    of all the fucking places.....well good bye templars ,good bye darkspawn, hopefully good bye chantry, good bye solas and your stupid fucking plan. Wonder who the gray warden is gonna be....
     
    Oh my.

    Hope he gets a good look at the Veil; replicating the effect on small scale in more corporeal planes should have a useful antimagic effect.
    Assuming he doesn't break something poking the artifice keeping Thedas looking Earthlike rather than fairyland-like with a SCIENCE! stick.
     
    Gruntjerka said:
    Hokay, Thedas is not happy about magic. During Dragon Age 1, very much not happy about magic. As in the Templars wanting to call in permission to kill all the mages. ALL the mages.
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    To be fair, that didn't happen until AFTER D2, and I think the Fredlen circle wasn't an organization after that, except what was later absorbed by the Inquisition or Elder Ones forces, and a bunch of wild bands of mages drunk on anarchy. The RoA in DA one was only sought AFTER a mass take over by blood mages and the pride demon driving it.

    Zap Rowsdower said:
    Oh my.

    Hope he gets a good look at the Veil; replicating the effect on small scale in more corporeal planes should have a useful antimagic effect.
    Assuming he doesn't break something poking the artifice keeping Thedas looking Earthlike rather than fairyland-like with a SCIENCE! stick.
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    Probably won't have the same effect, only a few magic systems draw on the dimension of dreams and ghosts. I don't know if the green flight would thank him or curse him.

    ..... Actually a better question is, are any spirits of the fade going to make a trade with him. He can offer a lot more in trade than a willing possession of his body. Can probably pull them right into the physical world as some kind of elemental. No crossing madness risked.
     
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    • With the pain potions mostly worn off, I felt a hell of a lot worse. I didn't hurt exactly, technically most of my wounds were healed. Not that simple healing like some paladin spells and some healing potions put my eye and arm back.

    Nor technically heal broken bone, not on their own at least. They needed to be set first. Luckily, Sheila knew how to do that.

    Leaning against the stone railing of the balcony, I overlooked the cold water of the lake below.

    Yeah.

    I didn't technically hurt, but that didn't mean I didn't feel like shit.

    Forget getting hurt, I lost all my gear.

    It didn't even seem to have made any kind of effect, she kicked our tails so hard I bet Kalecgos could feel it.

    None of my gear helped. What wasn't destroyed, was left behind. Not that I expected anyone there to be able to use any of it to be honest even if they found any of it. Nobody else could use my weapons and the trinkets couldn't be used easily. Nothing I used worked.

    Maybe if I had had something ranged so I could outright shoot her like a Mana laser of… fuck a gun, then maybe something would have worked.

    I didn't have a ranged option.

    I had not really needed one so far. Summons had filled that role. But it didn't this time. Even if I had a magic gun, it might not even have helped.

    She handled everything else easy enough.

    Fuck.

    "Hey."

    I looked over at Sheila as she walked up next to me, "Hey."

    "How do you feel?" She asked and took my hand where I had it on the stone of the fortress, "You look a bit better."

    "As much better as I can be while missing pieces," I said and brought her hand up to give the back of it a small kiss, "But I'm moving at least."

    She cringed slightly and looked away.

    "Hey, none of that. It's because you and Ren that I got out of there at all," I said and stroked her cheek, "You're right that this is too dangerous to do alone. We need each other."

    Sheila shook her head and then put her arms around me and I hugged her tight, resting my head against the top of hers.

    "…Not that I helped," She said against my chest, "All I did was to get killed by a plant and then get in the way."

    "Bad matchup. Same for me and Rengosa."

    She shook her head and then moved to look at me with a frown, "No, I'm… Atregos, you, Rengosa and Zrazta are all stronger than me. I have my spells, but even when I can summon… well, even then, I simply can't keep up with any of you."

    I brushed some of her hair out of her face, "Didn't seem to help this time. I went squish as soon as my armour was down."

    Not that I was salty about that or anything.

    She shook her head again and leaned back against the railing as she crossed her arms, "I have thought about it a lot. I want to do it."

    "Do wha…" I started to ask before I blinked at her in surprise, "Really? Wait, no. I don't want you to feel pressured to go through the ritual just because you feel like…"

    "It's not that. I have talked with Jaina and Kalecgos about it. I have spent a lot of time on this and… I think it's something I want to do," she said before she smiled a bit, "This last incident just kind of gave me the push I needed. I'm limited in what I can do with what I got. I may have to start over with mostly Land magic instead of Fel, but the ceiling is higher."

    "We'll get it done for you," I said and gave her a small kiss, "Love you."

    "Love you too. Now, how about we get you back to bed, you look like you are about to fall over."

    I just nodded in agreement. She wasn't wrong.

    "Yeah. Thanks… mind giving me a hand."

    "Su…" she started to said before she groaned and covered her face, "By the light."

    I smirked at her, "Come on, no need to give me the evil eye over it. That was a perfectly good pun."

    "Stop it!"

    "It's not that bad. Always good to have a good pun at hand."

    Sheila shook her head, forcing a smile back as she put her arm around my waist, leading my inside, "Why did I marry you again?"

    "You were worried I couldn't handle myself?"

    I couldn't help but grin at the sound of her groan, "So you are saying you can't handle it?"

    "Stop it!"

    "Okay… it is getting a bit out of han… ow! Injured here!"

    As she shook her head, I laid back down onto the bed, pulling her along,

    "I do feel better," I said with a sigh, "I should be able to get out and about tomorrow, Walk maybe in a couple of days. Need to check, but it should be possible to get back home in two walks or so."

    She nodded and got comfortable with her head on my shoulder, "There are some things you should know about this place."

    "Like what?"

    I mean, how bad could it be?




    AN// Unbetaed.
     
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    • Hiver said:
    I brushed some of her hair out of her face, "Didn't seem to help this time. I went squish as soon as my armour was down."

    Not that I was salty about that or anything.
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    Riiiiiight....whatever you say...
    Hiver said:
    She shook her head again and leaned back against the railing as she crossed her arms, "I have thought about it a lot. I want to do it."

    "Do wha…" I started to ask before I blinked at her in surprise, "Really? Wait, no. I don't want you to feel pressured to go through the ritual just because you feel like…"

    "It's not that. I have talked with Jaina and Kalecgos about it. I have spent a lot of time on this and… I think it's something I want to do," she said before she smiled a bit, "This last incident just kind of gave me the push I needed. I'm limited in what I can do with what I got. I may have to start over with mostly Land magic instead of Fel, but the ceiling is higher."

    "We'll get it done for you," I said and gave her a small kiss,
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    Did she have any fel summons that werent actually that bad? or was it another fic?
    wonder what about life as a dragon she would enjoy most?
    the flight? enviromnental adaptations? (Imagine if shes the one to actually like swimming)
    magic?
    Hiver said:
    I mean, how bad could it be?
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    I could post THAT song....but instead i'm imagining him realising how he jinxed himself when things go horribly wrong...
     
    The reactions to the dragons being corrupted and leading the darkspawn will be interesting. Will they wait and call for backup, or smash what they can themselves?
    Wondering about possible encounter and interaction with Flemeth. Maybe she saves them like player, or has interesting reaction to their dragon forms.
     
    esotericist said:
    YAY! Finally!

    I mean, seriously, if you are human, and you have the opportunity to become a dragon, the answer is obviously yes.
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    Depends on if you're a villain or not and how snakelike the dragon is. If becoming a dragon means violating the Evil Overlord List, the answer is an equally obvious no.
     
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    • Walking through the hallway was mildly surreal. My arm ached below the cut which was just bizarre. I knew perfectly well what phantom limb pains was, but experiencing it was just very strange.

    This place was a prison/school for mages. Kept away from the masses of normal people for safety.

    Somehow this kind of worked and the mages had not rebelled. Honestly, I didn't know why. Maybe propaganda, maybe magic here really was that dangerous. But you would think the people able to shoot fire at people wouldn't put up with being locked away.

    There weren't really any guards either. At least not inside.

    Sheila thought they were going to induct us in their order as apprentices in a couple of days as we clearly knew magic but wasn't 'trained'. Maybe we should be happy they brought us here instead of attacking us as 'rogue mages' or something.

    We'd just have to leave before then.

    A couple of days and I'd be able to Walk. In all honesty, I didn't feel like trying to sneak out of here. This place was meant to contain mages, no way they didn't have ways to detect invisibility spells.

    …Of course, if we could get outside turning back and flying away was always an option. Didn't need all my legs to fly.

    But we likely still had a couple of days.

    I stumbled slightly, putting my hand against the wall for support as one of the mages walked past, I feigned feeling weaker than I really was. Not by much, mind you, but still.

    "You should go rest."

    I put my back against the wall and shook my head at him. I had seen him before, short brown hair and the same robes as everyone else here. Well, the mages anyway.

    "Been in bed for days. Need to move for a bit,"

    He frowned a bit but nodded, "Don't over exert yourself, your initiation is soon enough. You should rest up."

    I nodded and he moved on. I let my head rest back against the cool stone wall as I closed my eye.

    Screw this. We're going back home, getting healed and then I'm taking my Consorts on a vacation somewhere and everyone else can just fuck off. Maybe even risk Earth and get a month or two on a luxury hotel. I'm sure Mr Castle wouldn't mind trading the money for some magical stuff, he seemed to like that.

    Maybe Kaladesh if we wanted a more magical city. That or Ravnica. Just take a couple of months of no stress before starting again.

    Training. I needed it so badly.

    My train of thought was broken by another voice, "He's not wrong, you know. I seen injuries like those before, you should go sit down. Give yourself time for your body to adjust."

    I looked up to see someone else. Darker skin and hair, older, looking like he was in his forties. He was wearing a mix of metal and leather armour comfily.

    "Been resting for days. I'm as healed as I'm going to get. I'm Atreus."

    "Duncan," he said and put his hand on my shoulder, "Come on, let's get you sitting somewhere. Before you fall over."

    Fuck, I hated feeling like this. I bet Alexis don't have these problems!

    I nodded, "…Okay."

    Duncan moved to open the door next to me and lead me into the library and over to a desk and chair, letting me sit down.

    "Thanks," I said and then blinked at him, "…You're not wearing the armour of the rest."

    "I'm a Greywarden, I'm not with the Templars," he said and sat down across from me."

    "What's a Greywarden?"

    Now it was his turn to be surprised, "You haven't heard of us?"

    "Can't say I have," I said and then shrugged in explanation, "We're not from around here."

    "I'd say," He agreed, "The Greywarden resist and fight the Darkspawn. I'm here to recruit for the Greywardens."

    The fuck was a Darkspawn? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Still, I didn't want to ask anything more so I just nodded,

    "Ah."

    "So, what happened to you? I heard they picked you up after an attack," He asked and leaned back in his chair.

    "We were attacked alright," I sighed and rubbed my shoulder, "Can't tell you what mauled me though. Never saw it."

    "Was in monstrous?"

    "No clue. But sure wasn't a normal guy. It bit my arm off, I think," I told him truthfully, "Honestly, none of us really saw anything."

    He slowly nodded and got up, "I'm going to go talk to the ones that found you. We may have a forward party of Darkspawn on our hands. Get some rest."

    I nodded as he left before I looked around. Tired.

    But… library.

    Maybe just one book.



    AN// Unbetaed.
     
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    • Well if you stick around long enough, you'll head off Uldred's attempt to corrupt the tower while most of the mages are away, dealing with the darkspawn with King Cailan. I feel like you could learn a lot from Ferelden, from dwarven runes, tranquil enchanting, and the elves. Any of the party characters would be awesome summons, or even some of the Fade demons would be good.

    A Dragon Age story also is not complete without having a run in with Flemeth.
     
    If I remember right, the size of that library should hit his brain like a Holy Hand Grenade.
     
    A library full of books they've never seen is for a Blue is what an entire case of Pringles cans is to a pothead.
     
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    • "Okay, let's go," I said and shrugged the satchel on, "Before these people tries to induct us into their entire circle of mages thing."

    Sheila quickly nodded, "I haven't been able to find out exactly what it consist of, but something keep the mages here from just leaving," before she frowned, "Are you sure you can do this?"

    I nodded, "I think I have recovered about as far as I'm going to. I'm not tired and my magic is back to normal."

    Ren looked concerned, "Don't push it," as she finished getting undressed and packing her clothes away, "Don't try to get us home in in one Walk if it's far, rather stop in the middle."

    "Ren, I don't know how far away we are or even in what direction," I admitted and rubbed the bridge of my nose, feeling really annoyed at the bandage around my head when it got in the way, "I'm not even sure if there is an explored world we can 'middle land' on."

    Sheila shook her head, "Ren's right. Whatever is on the other world, we can handle it. Don't kill yourself trying to get us home quickly."

    "…Yes, ma'am."

    If I can do it in one Walk, I'll do so unless there is a safe landing in between. Ending up in a fight right now wouldn't be… viable.

    Both of them took my hand and I closed my eye to focus, channeling my magic. In all honestly, this world was interesting. Those books were filled with fascinating magic, I even found one on personal enchantments.

    This place was a prime candidate for a Branch, but it would need to be careful. Very, very careful. More a bunch of spies than traders with the way these people treated mages. Well… that or overwhelming force.

    They had some very interesting magic.

    The door to our room shuddered from a loud impact. They noticed the magic build-up. Time to leave.

    Reality shattered around me and was replaced with whirling uncreation. Where the fuck am I?

    Wow, that's…

    Direction and distance don't really exist in the not here, but I was in the opposite distance from everything.

    At least two Walks from even any explored friendly world!

    How the hell did I manage to get out here!?

    Yeah, Ren was right, if I tried to get home from here it wouldn't work.

    Heading towards home, I moved as far as I dare before I touched a infinitely large little dot of not light.

    Reality crashed down around me and I stumbled, almost falling over. Stupid unstable mortal form! Stupid arm didn't help as I tried to steady myself by catching a tree, instead banging my shoulder against it.

    Chirp.

    Chirp.

    Blinking, I looked around. Thick, hot, steaming jungle. Okay, that's not that bad. I should be able to turn back here and get rid of that fucking growing headache! I had been in mortal form too long.

    Hot and steaming is going to suck, but nothing had attacked us so far so it's good enough. Not going to Walk now anyway.

    Unshouldering my satchel, I dug out Ren's soulstone and triggered it before I did the same with Sheilas. As they reformed, I backed away and dropped my satchel and turned back into my real form.

    I almost fell over, but I quickly adjusted, shifting my weight to compensate for the lack of a frontleg.

    That's… frustrating. Can't wait until I get that fixed. It was even worse than the lack of dept perception. I wouldn't dare trying to fly like that. But the sudden lack of a headache made it well worth it.

    Letting out a relived sigh, I sunk down onto the forest ground.

    "Wow, hot," Sheila commented as she looked around, "I think that for the first time I'm actually tempted by that so called armor of yours," she said to Ren.

    Ren didn't look happy about the environment, but she nodded and didn't bother getting dressed, instead she just walked a bit away and turned back to her real form. Her headache had likely been as bad as mine.

    Sheila moved to get dressed with a frown, "Next time I'm packing some of those clothes from Earth I bought with Alexis. Like those shorts."

    Yes please!

    Ren dropped down to lay next to me, putting her head across the back of my neck and I shifted to lean slightly against her in turn.

    As Sheila finished getting dressed, she looked at us for a moment, "Are all dragons resistant to cold or is it just Blues? Zrazta don't seem too bothered by it."

    Ren shook her head, "Most dragons are a lot better at handling it than mortals."

    "No way I'll be a Blue dragon then," Sheila decided, "I like not to be miserable as soon as it get to being summer. The ritual work anyway, right?"

    I nodded, "Should, the blood of the donor decides the kind of dragon. But I will doublecheck with Kalecgos."

    Sheila nodded, "Good. Okay, let's get a camp up and running, we'll be here for a week and I want it done before sunset. If the sun here does set," before she patted Ren's snout, "You, stop lazing around and help out," she said with a smile, "You can do that when we have some shelter and firewood.

    Ren grumbled good natured but nodded in agreement.

    Sheila then looked at me and poked my nose, "You, stay right where you are and recover. Do some scrying as soon as you regained enough mana, we should find out everything we can even if we do plan on staying low until we can leave."

    "Yes, love."



    AN/ Unbetaed.
     
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