the bane of the northern mountains (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tohaveandtohoard) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
shamelesshookery2016-03-21 05:35 am
tohaveandtohoard) wrote in shamelesshookery2016-03-21 05:35 am
(no subject)
A dragon post for dragons.
| [Things went differently, for Tree Tree and She is still herself, and herself alone. Fray didn't leave her, but she hasn't called upon her either, reaching a hollow medium of abandoning ship, just as Fray wanted. They could be together at any time, they could trade places, but for now Tree still wants to have the reigns, and keep her darkness at bay rather than let it consume her. Still, she travels far from Eorzea, to a distant land in the opposite direction of Doma. Out of reach of even the Garlean Empire. She breezes through the occasional village, dressed simply, armor and features hidden by a truly ratty cloak. Au Ra are rare enough in Eorzea. She doesn't want to be followed on account of being exotic. Though she can't do much about her eyes, glow cutting sharp through the dim shadow of her hood, they make her intimidating enough that her size doesn't paint a target on her back. Bandits only come after her once per region, and none try again. She avoids populated areas for the most part, simply stopping by pubs once in a while to get a feel for what threats lie in the wilds. It's better to be prepared, than to stumble upon some beast's lair. Despite her efforts, though, that's exactly what she does, venturing deep into the territory of the Bane of the Northern Mountains, letting her footsteps take on the sort of trudging exhaustion she'd been masking for fear of showing vulnerability to people.] |
[ unfortunately for her, he keeps a close eye on his domain— and one of the advantages that comes with age is being able to do so without needing to do the looking in person. the sudden snapping of a magic "tripwire" lets him know of humanoid movement through the forest, and once alerted it's simple enough to scry on her through whatever reflective surface has the clearest view— water drops and the eyes of smaller woodland beasts, mostly, since her armor is covered.
what he sees is almost— almost enough to rouse sympathy. she's clearly not there for his blood or his hoard... but he's a dragon, not an inn-keeper. if she's foolish enough to all but come wandering in his front door, then she deserves the consequences of that.
he waits patiently until she's made camp and fully settled at the mouth of one of the caves connected to the hollowed out tunnels and halls of his lair, and only then does he chuff once, twice, and exhale with an enormous creaking rumble: easily loud enough to trigger a cave-in or two in the more unstable exits, even if it didn't sound like the beginnings of a landslide all on its own.
...maybe if he's lucky that warning will be enough, and he won't even have to get out of bed. ]
what he sees is almost— almost enough to rouse sympathy. she's clearly not there for his blood or his hoard... but he's a dragon, not an inn-keeper. if she's foolish enough to all but come wandering in his front door, then she deserves the consequences of that.
he waits patiently until she's made camp and fully settled at the mouth of one of the caves connected to the hollowed out tunnels and halls of his lair, and only then does he chuff once, twice, and exhale with an enormous creaking rumble: easily loud enough to trigger a cave-in or two in the more unstable exits, even if it didn't sound like the beginnings of a landslide all on its own.
...maybe if he's lucky that warning will be enough, and he won't even have to get out of bed. ]
| [She had chosen a very stable exit, mostly for peace of mind... which it seems she won't be getting. The thunderous sound has her on her feet immediately, the cloak disappearing in a flash of... magic? It genuinely disappears, and under it is a small woman in full armor, complete with the sword taller than her, which couldn't have possibly fitted under that cloak. She's not brandishing it, yet, doesn't even have a hand on the hilt of a weapon which clearly would take both hands to wield. She's on the defensive, but not running, instead peering into the gloom of the cave. That hadn't been close enough a sound to be a beast about to strike at her, so there is at least a little time before she need draw her sword... if the Bane of the Northern Mountains can't be reasoned with. Still, she doesn't quite have the words right now. Nothing she can say sounds reasonable right now. So she waits, watching the gloom, waiting for his next move.] |
[ ...perhaps that had been too much to hope. still, that that sword has remained sheathed is promising...
he's not going to shout down the tunnels like an uncivilized beast, though. warning rumbles are one thing; discourse another. the acoustics of his home are familiar enough that setting another spell to bend them takes hardly any thought at all; the soft, deep voice that breaks the ringing silence sounds as though it could be coming from right behind her. ]
You are trespassing, traveler.
he's not going to shout down the tunnels like an uncivilized beast, though. warning rumbles are one thing; discourse another. the acoustics of his home are familiar enough that setting another spell to bend them takes hardly any thought at all; the soft, deep voice that breaks the ringing silence sounds as though it could be coming from right behind her. ]
You are trespassing, traveler.
| [Tree whirls abruptly at the voice behind her, surely he couldn't have-- But he's not there, and so the hand that twitched towards the hilt of her sword drops again. She puts her back safely to a cave wall.] I see. I did not realize this cave system was inhabited by someone with reason. My apologies. |
That you failed to gather information about the land you were journeying through is no concern of mine, and a poor excuse besides.
| I do believe I've heard of you... Still, I was careless. I'm sure this isn't a good time, or way to do this, but... I'm tired. May I stay the night? |
[ ...briefly entertains himself with the thought of making a petty retort. clearly she hadn't heard enough if she thought him to be a mere beast... ]
I am not an innkeeper, traveler. What will you offer me for my hospitality?
I am not an innkeeper, traveler. What will you offer me for my hospitality?
| ...If you have any task you wish done, I will gladly assist you once I've rested. |
I have no task needing completion that I would not rather see done myself.
Edited 2016-03-22 02:16 (UTC)
| I can also weave, or cook, or craft with alchemy. |
What use would I have for any of those trades?
| I wouldn't presume to know what you may or may not have use for. |
[ a soft, sibilant noise— a suppressed laugh, although without being able to see the accompanying body language she likely wouldn't be able to tell ]
Have you never dealt with arrogant lordlings before?
Have you never dealt with arrogant lordlings before?
Then I suggest you think along those lines.
There are enough similarities. Particularly as far as needs and desires go.
| So you need for nothing, yet want for everything? |
Closer. But you're still missing an important detail.
What the poor can often ill-afford, and a craftsman might starve to go without.
Edited 2016-03-22 06:35 (UTC)
There are very few things I will give freely.
[ including answers. ]
[ including answers. ]
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