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Spread your wings.

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Baughn said:
Getting a crossbow bolt in your chest would generally make staying on harder.
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I would assume the troll was smart enough to strap him/herself to the netherdrake. I hear you have to go through a lot of effort to get one and to end up dying because you slipped off its back would be very embarrassing. But this whole discussion is kinda moot cause as you said: Chunky troll salsa.
 
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    • I let the water flow over me, only my nose above the surface, letting the cool water wash over me. My first real opportunity to take an actual bath since leaving Northrend.

    No, flying through a cloud and splashing through a swamp does not count.

    It felt bloody amazing as I relaxed, letting the current pull at my relaxed wings, easing the tension. Damn, pulling up that fast from that dive really strained them.

    Tomorrow was going to suck if I have to fly.

    I really hoped we had a days rest.

    At least there had not been much yelling. It seemed almost like mister 'I hit things with swords', understood that he had acted stupidly.

    Yeah, like those two could have missed us. Yes, we might have been able to go to ground and hide... somehow. They wouldn't have been able to spot our exact location easily at that range. There were a couple of trees, we might have been able to avoid detection.

    But if they did...

    Out in the open field, facing a pair of mages, flying on dragons... it's just about the worst possible tactical position in the world.

    For somebody that has faced dragons in the field, it was downright idiotic. There had been yelling for disobeying orders, but that was pretty much it.

    I really couldn't be arsed correcting him on how much of a idiot he was.

    Venir, however, did a pretty good rattlenake impression.

    Snorting in annoyance I rose from the river, sloshing out of the water as I walked onto the tall but trampled down grass, shaking the water off me while looking around, trying not to move my wings too much.

    We were on a flat and grass-covered section down in the canyon next to the river. Maybe a hundred meters long and twenty wide, it was at a bend in the river.

    They had put the tents up close to the wall and had a fire going already.

    Night had already fallen, but the fire was safe. With the canyon like this, unless somebody flew straight above, they would never see it.

    Letting out a sigh, I collapsed onto my stomach on the soft grass, resting my head on my frontpaws. Tired.

    Flying all day and then getting into a dogfight really takes it out of you. I was actually getting hungry, which was a bit odd. I ate yesterday.

    Hearing footsteps, I opened my eyes just in time for Venir to sit down, leaning her back against my shoulder.

    "How are you feeling?" she asked softly.

    I sighed again and shifted to put my head across her lap. "I am mostly fine, for now. Tomorrow, though... I think my wings will hurt. They were quite strained during that dive. But I should be asking you that, I was never hit."

    She scratched behind my third horn and I half closed my eyes as she glanced at her left upper arm and the bandage around it. "I'll be fine tomorrow. Shieldforest and his healing and potions do good work."

    "Should have told me a fireball brushed your arm."

    Venir smiled and kept scratching. "You were busy. Beside, I didn't notice that it actually went thought my armor until the fight was over."

    Adrenaline is one hell of a drug.

    The sound of footsteps pulled my attention to the side again to see Marcus approaching.

    "Venir... Can I talk to you?" he asked.

    She hesitated for a second before she nodded. "Atreus?" She asked and I lifted my head so she could get up, walking over to him and they headed towards a rock outcropping blocking sight from me and the camp.

    I sighed and put my head down on the grass again.

    That will never end well. Perhaps I need to have a talk with the warrior. If he hurts her, I will floss my teeth with his spine and it is important that he understandsthis.

    A bop on my nose caused me to flinch back, my eyes flying open in surprise and Sheila laughed. "Thinking deeply?" she asked as she sat down, taking Venirs previous position with her back against my shoulder.

    I put my head down on her lap without really thinking about it. "Apparently."

    She glanced towards the rock outcropping from the canyon wall before she nodded, scratching behind my second horn.

    Oh that was nice.

    "He is a good man you know. Everyone makes mistakes." She said after a moment before she continued, a bit more quietly, "You love her?"

    I glanced up at her. "Yes. But... not the way you are thinking. Did once... not sure I do anymore. But do I love her? There is no doubt. After everything she's done, being who she is? How could I not?"

    Sheila nodded. "He won't hurt her."

    I snorted. "He will. Despite my personal opinion that the man is an arse, even if you are right, he will eventually hurt her. Even if everything goes well, we all survive this adventuring business and they settle down in a safe city, have two point five kids... if draenei and humans can even procreate without serious magical attention... and a white picket fence. He is human and she is not. She will look like she does now when he dies and turns to dust. There is no happy ending to this."

    "Well, aren't you mister optimistic." Sheila said and rolled her eyes. "Want to get some practice in? Might distract you from eating him when they get back."

    I chuckled at that. "What is it with people thinking I eat people? Is it the teeth? It's the teeth, isn't it?"

    She shook her head with a grin. "So what do you plan to focus on today?"

    I thought for a second. "I wasn't, but you are right. Just because my wings ache it doesn't mean I should give up studying. How about Counterspell?"

    Sheila nodded and slid out from beneath my head. "I'll go dig your book out."

    "It's in the second satchel, next to the bowl."



    AN// Many thanks to The Grey Rook for betaing this section.
     
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    • 27
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    • There was no extra rest. The next day we took to the skies again, continuing north.

    Two days later, my wings still had a dull ache in them as I rested on the thermals, flying above the plains and canyons of Nagrand.

    Halaa had been a bust... almost. We didn't even stay the night, they just listened around and we left again in a couple of hours. Nobody knew where the group... the cult... was stationed, but several had seen them before.

    A human trader said that he had seen riders with those colors in the Blades Edge mountains.

    So that's where we were heading.

    "... Now that's a landscape." Venir said, barely audible over the wind.

    She was not wrong.

    The place was aptly named. I couldn't even begin to guess what process create needle like rock spires at angles, jutting up into the skies for hundreds of meters, sometimes kilometers.

    Flying in that place would be... interesting. But at least it wasn't foggy.

    Ignoring my aching wings I beat them a couple of times to maintain altitude before resting on the thermals again.

    Something had been bothering me about the ambush, but I had a problem putting a claw on exactly what.

    There were so many things that simply didn't make sense.

    For one thing, how did they know where we were?

    Another was... why only send two dragons? Yes, it might have been enough, but why take the risk?

    Third, why did they even care? And how did they even know about our mission?

    No, there was something very fishy about the entire thing and even though I had not voiced my concerns, I think some others in the group had also noticed that something was off about it.

    It was like I was missing a couple of pieces of the puzzle. One of the major ones was that damn box. What was in it and why would a bunch of bandits... a cult... want it?

    Something told me that it could be some bad mojo.

    There was a lot of secrecy about the entire thing. Which meant valuable, dangerous or both.

    Considering that according to the trader, they were a cult and not a group of bandits, my bet was on magical MacGuffin.

    Which meant dangerous or both.

    Which in turn meant bad news for everyone if we didn't get it back.

    I growled softly and then glanced up and back as it caused Venir to pat at my neck.

    "Something bothering you?" she asked.

    I shook my head. "This... situation. It smells fishy. When there's just bandits, it was one thing. Cultists? That means something very bad. Especially if they are as organized as they seem."

    Venir was silent for a moment before she laid down against the airstream, putting her arms around my neck, making it easier to talk.

    "I know. My father fought both here and in the final phases against the Lich King. There were a lot of cults... both worshipers of the demons and the Lich King. He didn't speak about it much, but he said that those were the worst. They were not monsters... just people seduced by power."

    I was silent for a long moment. The Lich King was not the only one with cultists. The Flight also had mortals worshiping us.

    Malygos had a lot to answer for.

    "Yeah."

    There was a loud whistle from ahead, pulling my attention to see Marcus wave his arm from his place on his gryphon, motioning for us to land.

    I looked around the the sharp spires all around.

    Well, the sun was setting, but land? Where!?

    Venir sat up as I mentally shrugged and followed the rest of the group into a shallow dive.

    Oh... well, that was pretty clever.

    The group headed to land on a relatively flat area on one of the spikes, it was almost horizontal. Yeah, I guess that would work.

    My claws dug into the stone as I came in for landing, folding my aching wings with a sigh as I laid down to let Venir climb off.

    "This is a bad idea." She said as she put her hooves on the slightly sloped surface. "We are going to roll off in our sleep. We can't put the tents up here either. Toohard."

    "It's not that steep." I said and tried to lay down across it. Maybe ten degrees. Workable. "Just set up above me. If you roll, you just roll into me instead of, off the cliff."

    Venir sighed.

    Sheila on the other hand stayed on her carpet. "Marcus, they have a point. We should head down to the ground instead."

    He grimaced and climbed off his gryphon. "I would prefer that too, but these areas is crawling with Ogre tribes from everything I have heard. Camping on the ground is too dangerous. Besides, it's only for tonight. We should be able to reach Sylvanaar tomorrow. There is an inn there."

    "Well, I'm sleeping in the copter." Sparklight said, leaning back in his seat. "I'm good right here."

    Shieldforest simply perched on one of the stopped rotorblades and tucked his head under his wing.

    I glanced at Venir who sighed and shrugged before she started to unpack her gear from my satchel.

    Yeah... better keep an eye out tonight. Having somebody fall off would be bad. At least tomorrow there would be level ground.



    AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for this beta effort.
     
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    • firefossil said:
    Says he's gonna nerf SI. Turns him into a dragon.
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    Compared to having a Planeswalker's learning speed that could be likened to being a PC with Ten times Xp it is a nerf. Though it's also a nerf that seems to detract from and defeat the purpose of the original cross. And breed impatience and expectation in the audience that might be detrimental to enjoying the work.
     
    Larekko12 said:
    Compared to having a Planeswalker's learning speed that could be likened to being a PC with Ten times Xp it is a nerf. Though it's also a nerf that seems to detract from and defeat the purpose of the original cross. And breed impatience and expectation in the audience that might be detrimental to enjoying the work.
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    yeah this is kinda my problem with the story right now, i want him to be learning real magick not that stupid wow shit(stupid blue dragons for offering him a cheap quick method of learning their magic). its a problem but not one that will keep me from reading.
     
    While the actual writing of Hiver is as good as usual, the story architecture has issues that annoy me:
    1. Writing an SI with amnesia defeats the point of having an SI. Its effectively just the Trapped In Another World trope instead.
    2. Watsonian explanation as to why an SI can't use their powers to their utmost, rather acting suboptimally, is still just as frustrating to watch. It also only delays the SI's inevitable point of becoming overpowered.
    3. There are several violations of KISS. SI has neowalker powers, is a dragon, has amnesia. Moreover, the concept of "Warcraft-verse discovers or gains access to color magic" is an interesting premise in it of itself.
    4. The SI is still faffing about, as is often the case. While you might be able to make "SI faffs about, interacts minimally with setting plot" be more interesting than most, such is also frustrating.
     
    I did say when I started that the story that it will develop slower than normal. In the next story in the series, there will be travel to other worlds.

    Anyway, next part is ready for betaing.
     
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    • Level ground was indeed nicer. Grass also has a nice charm to it over a hard rock spire.

    The rain? Not so bloody much.

    I watched the tree walk by, shaking water from my wings. You would think I would stop being surprised over things like these sooner or later.

    Was not ready for walking trees though. Well, it had stopped raining at least... and I was able to keep most of the rain off me with the thick tree.

    While the nightelves at the outpost were actually willing to let me inside, the fact was that the only place I would really fit was the stables.

    Yeah, would have been a bad idea.

    Those big cats they ride didn't really like me.

    Luckily, Night elf architecture like very big doorways with no actual doors as well as airy architecture.

    In other words, I actually got a roof to sleep under for once. Well, a balcony, but still.

    Not that it stopped me from getting soaked when getting out... just for it to stop raining moments later, still leaving me soaked.

    Bloody. Wonderful.

    I shook the water off me the best I could, again.

    "Hey!" Venir laughed and I looked to the side to see her pretty close already, "Stop that!"

    Oops.

    "Sorry. Ready to head out?"

    I nodded. "Any new information?" I asked as I laid down in the wet grass so she could climb into the saddle.

    "Yes." Shieldforest said as he walked up to me. "And Sparklight is not happy." He continued, looking amused.

    I titled my head in curiosity at that. "How so?"

    He shrugged. "We found out where the cult is holed up. Apparently they drove an ogre tribe out and dug out a base close to Gruul's Lair. They haven't caused any trouble for anyone else so nobody bothered to go dig them out."

    I perked up at that. This fools quest was actually getting to an end. "So we can go scout them out and then call in the army to handle them?"

    "That's not the mission." Marcus interjected as he arrived along with Sparklight and Sheila, leading Gar, "We have to get that chest back."

    Through a fortress full of crazy cultists. What was this, Dark Heresy?

    I looked down at the gnome. "I take it that you think this is as bad of a idea as I do?" I asked.

    He nodded and answered: "Yes. But the worst thing is that I have to leave my copter behind. Too loud. I don't trust that beast." He added and glanced up at the gryphon.

    If I could have facepalmed, I would have.

    Venir patted the side of my neck. "Don't worry, we will just check it out. If it looks too dangerous, we just have to abort."

    I guess that seemed sensible.

    "Ready to get going?" Marcus asked and climbed onto the Gryphon. "It's a two days flight from here and I want to get moving sooner rather than later."

    Venir nodded and stated: "All ready here." as I yawned, stretching my wings again while watching Shieldforest turn into a bird and flap up to perch on one of the lower branches of a nearby tree.

    I really should talk to him about how he did that. Using the Green I could apparently use druid spells.

    Maybe I could learn and adapt what he is doing to regain a human form.

    Sheila unrolled her flying carpet and climbed onto it as Marcus reached down to help Sparklight onto the gryphon behind him.

    If I was the gnome I would also be cautious about that gryphon.

    Flying on the back of a animal, not knowing what went through it's head at any time. Hell, gryphons were from what I had been able to read about as smart as chimps.

    Semi sophonts.

    Riding around on something that can decide to throw you off at any moment just seemed like a bad idea to me all together.

    If I knew that back in Westfall, I would have walked instead of taking the flightpath.

    Venir leaned in to pat at the side of my neck again. "Ready?" She asked.

    I glanced up and back at her before I nodded. "Ready."




    AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
     
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    • what not a bucket of thanks for grey rook. was his betaing subpar for usual. also speaking of likes i dont like the new system for likes they just instituted
     
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    • Shit, shit, shit!

    "Get that door closed!" Marcus yelled as I ducked in through the gate, a fireball slamming into the heavy stone just next to me as I quickly did my best to get through the doorway into the room before turning and slamming my shoulder against the door, helping Sheila push it closed, Venir pushing the crossbar into place across it.

    Something slammed into the heavy oak gate and I kept my shoulder against it as Sparklight dispatched a briefly very surprised-looking mage.

    Marcus sighed and collapsed, sitting down with his back against the wall as he pulled off his armor. "We have to keep going. We have to stop them. That's our only chance to get out of this." he said, "Rest up. We continue in a couple of minutes."

    I laid down on the floor, keeping my shoulder against the door to make sure to keep it closed.

    Venir walked over and sat down next to Marcus as I laid my head down on my front paws.

    Sparklight dropped down, leaning his back against a crate. "Well. That went well.".

    We found them easily enough. We were even able to snatch one of them without being noticed.



    XXXXXXXXXX



    Marcus crossed his arms, looking at the human in the yellow and black robe hanging upside down from a rope around his ankles thanks to one of Venirs traps.

    "How many of you are there? What is the schedule for the patrols?" He asked.

    "You wont get anything from me, heretic! The glorious masters will rise and smite you!"

    "This won't get us anything." Sparklight said, pulling his right dagger. "Kill him and be done with it. We have already seen over fifty of them. That's too many. We have to abort."

    I couldn't help but agree with the gnome in this instant.

    However, something about what the cultist just said worried me.

    Moving from next to Venir I approached the upside down cultist. "What 'Dark Masters'?" I asked with a small growl in my voice.

    The cultist cackled. Actually cackled.

    "You don't know! You will never know, beast!" He laughed. "They will kill you all!"

    I glanced at Sheila.

    She grimaced and then sighed, nodding. "Yeah. Crazy bastard."

    "What's in the box?" Marcus asked.

    "Never tell you!" the cultist yelled. "Never find out in time! We will finish the work of Gul'dan!"

    Now THAT was worrying.

    Gul'dan. Orc Warlock that first seduced the Orcs to join The Burning Legion. To create the Dark Portal.

    That these crazy bastards were thinking that they could finish what he started...

    I snarled and lashed out, hooking my claws into his robes to pull him down further, growling in his face, giving him a good view of my sharp teeth. "I am hungry. Give me a reason not to eat you right now."

    Venir leaned against my side, crossing her arms. "You might want to tell him what's in the box. He's cranky as he haven't eaten anyone today."

    Growling, I tried to look at hungry as possible, tensing my paw to make sure that my claws caught his skin.

    "The head of the staff! The head of the staff of Gul'dan!"

    So much for never talking.

    Suddenly Sheila was right next to me, grabbing him by the robe and pulling him from my claws, "What does it do!"

    "It opens the new portal! It lets the Legion back!"


    XXXXXXXXXXX


    Needless to say, that was somewhat disturbing.

    Sparklight took care of the cultist as the rest of us discussed what to do next. We decided to pull back.

    Sadly, that didn't go so well. It started when a patrol of five gryphon riders caught us and we had to run.

    Things went badly.

    Then they went worse. Gar took an arrow to the wing. I was barely able to snatch up the gnome before he started to plummet while Marcus was just able to jump onto Sheilas flying carpet.

    Gar did his best to stay in the air with the decreased load, but...

    Last I saw the gryphon he was plummeting towards the spike covered ground far below.

    We could no longer escape. So we did the last thing they expected. We assaulted their fortress.

    Well, it kind of worked. At a dive we were able to get in through the open gate before they were able to react to what we were doing and slam it closed.

    However, that left us where we were now.

    I lifted my head and glanced to the side, towards the door. They'd just stopped hammering at it.

    "They stopped." Venir said, looking over at the door.

    "It won't last. They are getting ready for something." Marcus said, getting up as well, pulling Venir to her hooves with him. "We should get moving." he added, pulling his sword.

    I nodded and got up, looking down the hallway in the other end of the entrance room, "Should I stay here and cover your backs?" I asked as I got out of the way of the door just in case they decided to try to blow it up.

    Marcus shook his head and said, "Atreus, you take point. If anyone get in our way, they will have to fight a dragon in close quarters. Never a good idea. We will cover your back... our best chance to survive this is to get through and finish the mission... and hope really, really hard that Shieldforest managed to escape to get the message out."

    That's what pretty much the only bright spot in this entire deal. When we were being herded, Marcus shouted a order to Shieldforest. We had to get the word out and his smaller birdform would make it possible for him to escape.

    Last we saw of him was that he disappeared into the forest where the riders could not follow.

    Marcus sighed. "I don't need to tell you what will happen if this cult actually manages to do what they say they are trying. If the Legion returns..." he said and pulled his shield from his back. "We need to get that staff."

    Sheila nodded before she looked up and down the hallway. "Atreus... did you feel that?" she asked.

    I looked that direction as well, slowly nodding. A gloomy feeling. A sudden feeling of doom.

    "Yes."

    It had already started.

    Oh.

    Crap.



    AN// *Sholves Thanks over Grey Rook who is sitting there with a umbrella and to many Thanks to know what to do with.*
     
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    • I foresee a heroic (draconic?) sacrifice coming up.
     
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