September Event: Burning Alive

[lifeaftr_mods]

SEPTEMBER EVENT: BURNING ALIVE

Who: Everyone!
What: HOLY SHIT A FUCKING DRAGON
When: September 12th to September 19th
Where: Both Nastrandir and Ensō!
Warnings: Violence, potential injury by fire, potential character death. If anything else comes up, tag as you go!

Now I'm Ready for War
If you don't see the calamity, you'll probably hear it - the furious roars of an enraged, hungry beast, paired with the loud crash of waves as a great deal of water shifts, all at once.

If you're on Nastrandir, you'll have a massive, three-headed, fire-breathing dragon to contend with, as well as its watery counterpart. Either focus on staying alive or take the fight to the creature directly. If you choose the latter option, bear in mind that the massive water-serpent will be dispensing weapons for your use, and that these weapons will be the most effective against the beast's scaly hide. You have full mod permission to injure Ahidalga in whatever way is feasible for your character. We won't be policing anyone's participation in this fight! If it's plausible for your character to help the water-serpent in putting this beast down, you have our full blessing! If you're on Ensō, your task is a little less direct. Your job entails putting out fires and fighting Ahidalga's smaller (but no less vicious) brood. You will be receiving help from the Storyteller's paper birds, and those who wish to stick to their temple for safety are free to do so. Bear in mind that it is the weapons shed from the water-serpent that will be most effective against these smaller, draconian critters.

The days that follow, and the actions you take, will decide whether Nastrandir will be saved...or whether you're willing to let it, and all the history it carries, burn in the fire.

---

In the meantime, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC Event Info and Plotting Post
[ ♆ ] Nastrandir's Island Intro
[ ♆ ] Nastrandir's Locations Page

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] September 12th: Ahidalga appears, and their offspring begin ravaging the islands
[ ♆ ] September 19th: Either Nastrandir crumbles beneath the strain or Ahidalga is slain
[ ♆ ] September 20th: Monthly Storytelling occurs; characters who have died are revived in time to participate
[ ♆ ] September 24th: A new NPC makes contact with the islanders

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[shatteredlenses]

It feels nice to be able to stretch your legs, doesn't it?

[Ignis isn't laughing, but the corner of his mouth is turned up in a grin. This is a seriously dangerous situation, but the adrenaline rush of that successful strike is just a little intoxicating. They do still have to be careful, very careful, but it feels good to have actually hurt such a powerful beast.]

Lets try that again, but not the same place. It will be too predictable.

[scourgingstars]

I'll follow your expert strategy. Perhaps a strike to the side, then?

[shatteredlenses]

Yes, I think that would be a good idea. If we randomly hit between the two points afterward, we can make a more significant wound without being too easy to swat at. Just watch that wing to be sure we don't end up pinned to its side.

[scourgingstars]

Easy enough. Are you ready?

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis shifts the dagger from one hand to the other for a moment, shaking out the hand that had been holding it before switching back. Even with the added help of the special weapon, punching through those scales caused quite the impact. Once done, he nods back at Ardyn.]

Ready!

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn didn't hesitate, throwing the trident again and carrying them both in its wake, slamming into the dragon's side with a cold, vindictive smile.]

[shatteredlenses]

[This strike actually gets the dragon's attention. The first had only been one and smaller, easily lost to hunger and rage, but a the second is larger since they have a better idea of how much energy needs to go into the strike to go through scale and how much can go into widening the wound. The bellow of anger and pain as they retreat again is honestly, rather satisfying.]

It felt that one. The next strike will not be as easy, I suspect.

[scourgingstars]

We're liable to draw its fire after another, to pardon the pun. Shall I charge forth on my own, or should we continue as we are?

[shatteredlenses]

I'm not leaving you to fight a dragon on your own!

[The answer is sharp and quick, more Ignis' pride than anything, something he seems to realize after a moment.]

Lets try one more attack together. We'll see how it reacts and go from there.

[He really doesn't want to make Ardyn fight alone, but he also is well aware of the fact he is much more mortal than his beloved.]

[scourgingstars]

I'm touched by your concern, but do remember I'm a touch more durable than most, much more angry than the average dragon, and I've fought bigger things. But that said, we'll do it your way.

[Arm securely around Ignis' waist, he threw the trident once more for another lightning-fast strike to the dragon in question.]

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis barely has time to resist rolling his eyes and they are off again. It is only after he and Ardyn have dug their weapons into the dragon's scaly hide once more that Ignis realizes he, perhaps, should have listened to Ardyn's suggestion a little closer. It's not fire that comes at him, but teeth and he has just enough time to pull the water dagger free to use it to protect his head before those teeth make contact with him, raking their way down his left arm, side and leg before pulling back for another strike.]

[scourgingstars]

[A flash from the Armiger and those teeth were met with a shield, the vague shape of golden wings bursting from Ardyn's shoulderblades like an avenging fallen angel as flashing teeth met gold shield.]

I don't think so.

[It was perhaps almost funny how blinding fury could be communicated without Ardyn raising his voice. The dragon pulled back again and the shield vanished, Ardyn moving as fast as one could to literally sweep Ignis clear off his feet and warp out of immediate range.]

[shatteredlenses]

[As many times as he's been badly hurt now, one would think that Ignis would be used to the disconnect that comes with feeling so much pain, but maybe there are some things one just can't get used to. After all, he should be planning on how to best deal with his wounds as soon as Ardyn has them safely out of the dragon's reach. Instead, he can't help but find himself being distracted by the surge of pride he feels seeing Ardyn pull out and use that shield from his trial.

Oh, how far they have come.

He grunts softly in pain when they finally make it to the ground in a quiet corner away from the raging dragon. It's only a matter of seconds before he catches sight of Leo rushing toward them with the strap of his backpack held tightly in his mouth.]

Pass me...the pack...

[scourgingstars]

Don't move so much. [He glanced back at the dragon as he took the pack from Leo, pressing it into Ignis' uninjured hand. Once he was sure the advisor wouldn't fall over and the dragon wouldn't be chasing after them, Ardyn pulled his own gloves off and laid his hands on the worst of Ignis' injuries.]

[...Later, it would register how strange it was that he didn't even hesitate an instant this time. But at the moment he wasn't thinking much of anything except closing the wounds even a little--healing magic running through his hands and beginning to cut black streaks into his own skin under layers of clothes.]

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis doesn't fall over so much as he sinks to the ground, left leg not wanting to hold his weight and the rest of him not really wanting to be upright either. He manages to set the bag beside him so he can start to dig into it for bandages with his uninjured hand, but stops as soon as Ardyn sets to work healing him.]

Wait...you don--

[But he is in no condition to stop the determined redhead. It's not that he's not grateful for the lessening of the pain or the slowing of blood loss, but he also is worried about the dragon changing its mind and coming after them anyway. At least one of them needs to be able to move fast and it certainly won't be him.]

Beloved. It's okay. That's enough. H-help me with the bandages now.

[scourgingstars]

Stop talking, this is...already difficult-

[Ardyn faltered himself, eyes running black from the damage and strain alike. But he was satisfied enough that Ignis wasn't completely bleeding out, doubling over and pausing to catch his breath while pointedly ignoring the miasma coming off of him like smoke. Probably not the wisest idea to dress open wounds in that state, but...well, if anyone could treat a potential case of Starscourge.]

[Hands a little unsteady, he reached out for the bandages and started to work on wrapping Ignis' arm.]

...Sorry. That one was my fault, I should have insisted a bit more.

That icon makes me so SAD! How dare!

[shatteredlenses]

[Truth be told, Ignis should be more worried about possible infection than he is, but he's been around Ardyn for years now. If it was going to happen, he has to believe it would have happened long before now. Besides, he doesn't have a whole lot of options. He's lost a lot of blood and that is not so easily healed with the methods they have at hand.

Ignis is quiet for several moments, focusing on helping Ardyn treat and bandage the worst of the wounds. When the redhead apologizes though, he can't help but huff softly.]

I carry as much of the fault as you do, beloved. I am too stubborn for my own good sometimes.

[He winces as he shifts.]

I a-apologize for ruining your fun.

:3

[scourgingstars]

Don't be a fool.

[The blackened marks retreated as he worked, color slowly returning to Ardyn's face. The injuries would take a bit longer to regenerate, but hidden as they were that would be fine.]

I'll take you home. Hresvelgr and your own menagerie will see to keeping you safe, and I'll return to help these poor flailing imbeciles handle the rest. How does that sound?

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis chuckles softly, wincing again as he does, but not regretting it.]

I don't think I could stop you, not that I want to. Get a few hits in for me, please?

[scourgingstars]

Why, I was planning on doing nothing less. Aren't I thoughtful?

[shatteredlenses]

The very most thoughtful.

[Ignis grins at him before digging a small cloth wrapped bundle from his pack. He pulls one flower petal from it before dropping it back inside.]

I'm going to take this for this pain, but it's going to put me to sleep pretty quickly. Transporting me back will likely be easier on us both that way.

[scourgingstars]

Do as you will. You can trust that you'll get home safely so long as I'm with you.

[shatteredlenses]

I know.

[He takes one more look to make sure everything has been packed back into his knapsack and then eats the petal, blinking when he realizes they weren't kidding about how fast it starts to work. He motions Ardyn closer, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek when the redhead comes.]

Not exactly how I wanted to get you carrying me again. Sorry, beloved.

[scourgingstars]

Nonsense, my dear.

[Ardyn laughed softly, trying to hide the lingering ache from still-healing wounds as he picked up Ignis.]

You're scarce any burden worth complaining about.

[shatteredlenses]

[A sleepy smile crosses Ignis face. He snuggles into Ardyn as much as he can without jostling his wounds and once settled, softly speaks.]

Love you.

[And then he is out like a light.]