Rashn

[Arizae]

Note: Dragons are only available through the Sacred Font board.

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((picture coming soon))

Name: Rashn

Age: 496

Race: Dragon

Rider: Kamon Cosal

Occupation: Warrior

Allegiance: Order of Riders

Physical Description:

Rashn can lay claim to what many of his fellow Ilirea dragons cannot, slight respect from the wild dragons. He hatched nearly half a millennia ago and has not been idle during that time. As a hatchling he was ferocious and at times, mean spirited. After all, both his parents had wild blood. He grew rapidly, quickly outdistancing his brethren. Needless to say Kamon had her hands full. For a long time the speed with which he grew kept him off balance and reduced him to a clumsy mess, it took him nearly a century to grow into his own. Once he did come to terms with his growth Rashn quickly became respected as one of the finest fighters of his age. Balancing his strength and speed to take out opponents with practice and gut.

After awhile his growing slowed down, though it is still more rapid than many his age. Today he stands from the bottom of his foot to the top of his shoulder, at just under fifty feet. It is quite easy for him to simply pick up Kamon and carry her when he wishes. Rashn has been through numerous battles, not only with Urgals, but also with those rare Lethrblaka and of course, numerous dragons. His body is heavily scarred, despite the incredibly strong magic of his own rider and the healers among Ilirea. The scales coating his body are a luscious, yet bloody red; sparkling at times, though often dull from scraps and heavily scratched. Kamon says his color is the same bright red as fresh blood, though it does darken slightly to that dried blood color in some spots and shade. From a distance they appear smooth and glassy, taking on the jewel like quality dragons have to their scales. Up close however it can be seen that many of his scales are scuffed and bent from place. The scars covering his body are many and in a few places it can be seen he is either missing a scale, or a group is mashed together.

The most obvious of all his scars is the one on his neck. His great battle with the sea snake ended in victory, but he paid a price. Even though his neck is heavily armored by scales, one can still pick out exactly where the snake’s teeth sank into the dragon. The bite diameter of the sea snake is enormous, larger even than the jaws of Rashn himself. Along that curved line scales are missing, bent or broken. The large dragon is still recovering from his battle, and Kamon still weaves magic to keep healing the wound. It pains the large dragon to breathe flame as the flesh within his throat is still recovering. The scar tissue building within has given him a slight rasp as well, though Kamon does her best to keep down the buildup with magic. Besides the neck wound he still has numerous deep wounds from his battle and they have been breaking open. Healing is slow due to his size and the venom of the snake, but he won’t slow down despite the pain he is in.

Rashn is built like a tank, and one advantage he has when fighting against his betters is his ability to take a hit and keep going. He will let a dragon claw at him, if only to bring them into his embrace and tear them apart. Many have believed him finished from grievous wounds only to find themselves at his mercy. The red dragon’s scales are like overlapping plate mail, small shields when compared to an elf or human, all interlocking and moving with him. He will never be the fastest in the air, but he does well for one his size. Rashn’s strategy will never be to weave around his opponent, instead he must play a smart close battle, wait for them to get in near and hold on while he shreds them. His grit and determination help him in this endeavor. Rashn hasn't let an opponent leave his grasp once he has hold of them.


Personality:

Originally Kamon named him as a joke. As a hatchling the young red would rush into danger and trouble whenever he wished. Rashn could be found nipping the heels of incredibly old dragons, just asking for a fight. He would challenge elves with a snarl before he could speak and unfortunately took out numerous cats and even larger dogs before he could fly. The young hatchling would even escape to the forest in search of his own prey, and when Kamon found the week old Rashn gorging himself on a deer she nearly gave up on his vicious and brutal ways.

Overall that base of pride, rashness, and determination has not changed. Rashn has merely learned some temperance and control for his wild ways. So his name was no longer a joke, and he took it with pride. Humans would think him rash, let them, he was and they should know it as a warning. He doesn’t know fear, and that can be a dangerous thing. More than once he has almost lost his own life and that of his rider’s to his pride. It tears at him that he will never be as great as his wild cousins, but he has come to accept it with Kamon at his side.

The large dragon sees ‘fleshlings’ or ‘meatbags’ as toys and simple amusement. He doesn’t mind watching them for pure enjoyment at their funny ways. Scribbling at paper, chipping at stone, forming their policies and warring against each other. To a point Rashn sees them as children, little hatchlings that will never grow to full size. It is difficult for him to respect elves and humans in that way, and many times he will only pay them mind if they are particularly amusing or if they have shown some gut. Kamon is a different matter however. She earned his respect the moment they met and he treats her as his equal and friend. A fellow dragon to fight alongside, and sometimes with. He will often mock her diminutive size, but if anything they are the best of comrades. A tag team that has fought and bled for each other on numerous occasions and he would be torn if anything happened to her.

Rashn is not only quick on his decisions, but he is also extremely determined. Many might think him dull or slow witted, but he takes things as they are. He will speak about things as he sees them and avoids trickery. If he doesn’t like something, he won’t hide it to be polite. Rashn knows where he stands and sees through the muck and web of political intrigue. Get matters done and be done with it. Not a simple mind, for he does analyze things to a great deal, but he believes in a simple way of dealing with things. In that matter he is incredibly determined as well, in battle and in speech. Rashn does not like to back down. He speaks from the heart, and he is willing to spill his blood in any battle, and so Kamon will often simply call him Guts.


History:

Egg Days

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Rashn has had a long fulfilling life, but he doesn’t expect to be finished with it anytime soon. His parents were both wild dragons, it is not well known to any besides Rashn and Kamon, but his father was Vanilor. This was a deal brokered to foster peace and was one of the things mentioned by the white dragon that made the treaty with Eragon. In a measure of good faith Vanilor let one of his offspring go to the care of the riders once the White Dragon asked it of him. Eragon and Bid’Daum kept the deed secret so that the wild dragons would not think less of their leader, and put the red egg among the limited first group.

When the spell was first woven over the egg he was furious at being trapped under some ridiculous rule. He did not want to have his life bound to that of a weakling elf. They didn’t even have fur to protect their skin! Nothing but pinkish flesh with jelly inside. He was a dragon, with a gut of fire and a heart of stone. Such a travesty was to be abhorred and overruled. So when the first few elves cautiously came to see if they would be chosen he tried to lash out at them, which created the appearance of him hatching as the egg rocked to and fro. But he was trapped, for he had not accepted any of them. For ages he cursed his luck and all that came his way, he grew tired of lashing out and his frustration grew. The only way to be free was to give in, and it took an age or more for the hatchling to be able to submit even to the level of cooperation. When he finally came to terms with his imprisonment he hatched a plan. Rashn would wait for someone weak and timid, perhaps a humble soul that hated violence. Then he would hatch for them and destroy them so that he might be free.

Then he scratched that idea, he would not be a coward and face a weak foe just to make it easier on him. He wanted someone brave and strong, perhaps more rash than they should be, and confident of themselves. So he waited, and many elves passed by that did not fit his criteria, he believed them too weak, perhaps not of body, but of mind. They all wanted a dragon to make themselves stronger, to help their people and all these other silly things to do with justice and keeping peace.

Until he met Kamon. As her hand glanced over his shell he could read what her heart held and was immediately impressed. There was fire in her gut, and a hatred for dragons. It was interesting, she had seemingly been forced to come here, did not wish to be bound with any creature that had so harmed her people. She was young compared to the age of his egg, but somehow tales of her family had been passed down. The hatred she bore was not her own, but the fuel built up from centuries of being a broken house. This elf wanted to fight and end the foolish dragon riders, a young elf, foolish and rash. But to Rashn’s eyes she was also brave and strong, she actually thought she could destroy him. Kamon was confident in her abilities and hated the thought that she might need a dragon to help protect her people. In her eyes she needed to protect the elves from the dragons, they had destroyed once, and would do so again. She walked away and the unborn hatchling took more weeks to think on it, but the more elves he saw, the more he knew that Kamon was the one he wanted.

At that moment he was able to free himself, decision secured, mind made up, and the force that had been holding him prisoner flexed to allow him freedom from his prison. He went about it methodically, as if attacking an enemy, weakening the egg at certain points, letting the cracks spread, and then all at once he tensed his limbs and wings to burst free from the shell. Dripping in egg goop and sitting on a pedestal he peered around the room he was still confined in. The one he had chosen was absent, in fact, the room was filled with many new elves ones he just realized had just finished touching all of the eggs. He had been too occupied trying to make his decision, and exhilarated at new freedom, to have noticed this new turn of events. At once all the elves looked at him in question, a few dashed forward, confident that he had hatched for them. They drew close to him, all smiles and grins, holding their hands outstretched for some odd reason.

The blood red hatchling gripped his pedestal and snarled ferociously at the lot of them. Deep black smoke curled from his nostrils and his glittering orange eyes seemed as if they would ignite. One foolish elf drew too close, had missed the warning smoke and lashing tail. The young hatchling did not think, he reacted, and he lashed out at the hand, crushed it between his maws even as the egg goop dripped from his chin. Embryo mixed with blood and his fangs were stained red as he shook his head and tore. The elf screamed and drew back his hand, flinging the young dragon across the room, the only reason the hatchling went flying instead of holding on, was because he was swallowing two fingers and a piece of a palm as he hit the wall.

Immediately he was swarmed, not by hopeful glances and smiles, but by murderous glares and bared steel. He delighted in the challenge, and kept his back to the wall to keep them from circling him. Snarling he snapped at any that came close and flared his wings to appear bigger than the house cat size he was. Tail lashing he attempted a roar, though the sound that emanated was rather pitiful, so he continued his snarling as smoke poured from his mouth and nostrils. None of the elves would draw close enough for him to strike, but it seemed that at any moment one would lunge forward to try and end him.

His world went in slow motion as one of those metal things came towards him, flashing in the light. The hatchling wasn’t sure what it was, but a thin memory that wasn’t his told him it was dangerous. Without hesitation he jumped, and the metal thing cleared his feet by a hair. He flared his wings and lunged forward just as his feet touched the ground, but his snarling teeth were caught on the edge of pure white blade that lunged at him from his blind spot. Growling deep in his throat he held the object, tried to crush it with his teeth, though his eyes were focused on the leg of the elf he had been aiming for, just an inch before his nose.

Then he heard a voice, filled with anger and authority, not a dragon’s voice, but it made him listen as if it were.

“OUT! Every single one of you!!!”

It made his head ring, and he watched in delight as the elves went dashing from the room as if whipped. Instinctively he growled and gripped the bright white blade in his jaws, his teeth and strong jaw protecting him from its bite. The elves were gone in seconds, and as soon as they left he heard a loud sigh emanating from the being standing above him. Curiously he looked up, piercing blue eyes intrigued when he saw another elf. Though this one looked ages older, and…there was a different feel to him. He realized then that the creature held the sword, and its other palm glittered strange silver. As if feeling his gaze the elf looked down, and frowned. It was then a strong, yet incredibly soothing voice spoke to young Rashn’s head, and also, it seemed, to the elf.

This one’s chosen is not here Eragon…and his lips are already stained red. A blessing those foolish young ones didn’t harm him? Or a curse that he did harm one of them?

The young hatchling reached out to the dragon, he was too young for words yet, had been furious in the egg to learn in that time. But he gave feelings, pictures. The feeling of hate towards being trapped, joy at finding a strong one to face, surprise at so many elves, and furious anger at being approached. The pictures flashed, chronicling the events and as he told the dragon in his own way, it seemed the Elf’s eyes registered it as well. They went wide when the young hatchling surrendered a vision of the one he had chosen, not so much physical appearance, but a summary of what he had garnered from her feelings.

…We shall see Bid’Daum, blessing or curse…but is it true? Kamon? Kamon Cosal? I know how she acts…but she is still fueled by hatred. Is it wise for her to be with this one? This is after all,[/i]
Yes Vanilor’s child[/i] the dragon hummed deep in his throat as if in thought, If any two deserve each other it is them. Let them work through their hatred.

The elf seemed to just notice that the hatchling was still trying to gnaw through his sword, and he grinned. “It will be many years before you can so much as scratch one of Rhunon’s blades my friend…even if you are Vanilor’s son. Will you let go? The one you are looking for will be here soon.” As if to comfort him still the one called Bid’Daum sent him calming thoughts, and an image of Kamon running towards them. The hatchling didn’t think it would hurt much if he let the glittering white steel go, so he released it. Blood from his tongue and maw leaving a smear, the elf’s blood of course, but that sharp thing had left a mark on his lip. Then he heard the footsteps, the loud thunderous noise coming from the hallway, and his lips peeled back in a snarl once more.

White teeth stained red, blue eyes shining like fire he turned towards the sound. He put his head low to the ground and pinned his wings to his back, preparing to lunge for the throat of whatever threatened him. A young elf came flying through the doors, short black hair spiked, clothes with some symbol and two swords buckled on her back. Even to the hatchling’s eyes she was young for an elf, younger than the others, but he knew her. Had chosen her, and lunged for her throat. With a flash her head turned to spot him and he felt the hatred in her eyes. She moved liked water never ceasing in the as he flew over her, but she kept spinning and with a backhanded snatch she grabbed his tail drew him in and pinned him beneath her arm. He thrashed, enraged that his attack had failed, and twisted his neck to bite her but the chainmail she wore turned his talons and fangs. Kamon had never stopped moving, her movements seemed crazed, but in the end they were precise and fluid. Before he knew it she had his neck, had grabbed him right behind his head and twisted it back on his body to face forward. Reduced to snarling and snapping black smoke poured from his nostrils in anger. The young elf looked down at him gleeful hatred burning in his eyes. A large face splitting grin of satisfaction as her hand clawed towards him to break his neck. Young Rashn never felt the fear of that moment, merely lunged to bite that hand, but fell short as his snout grazed her palm.

Fire spread from snout to skull to tail, pain like nothing he had felt washed over his body as her mind melded with his. Together their fury and anger spun together growing greater, until he realized through the dull throb that he could feel what she felt. The hatchling had knicked her palm where the silvery sign was slowly burning, and he could feel the pain of that blood flowing. Somehow he knew she could feel the hunger in his belly and for a long moment they simply looked at each other in shock. Kamon threw him away from herself, as she tried to scream in pain, gripping her hand as if it were on fire. The young elf shook her head, as if trying to rid him from her mind. At that moment he felt her fear, knew that she could not bear killing him, and he could not bear killing her. Yet that bite of hatred remained, and he snarled while her countenance took on a growl of its own.

From the back of the room he could here Eragon chuckling, and Bid’Daum’s voice came echoing in the hatchling’s head.

A blessing then…if Ilirea can weather their fight.[/i]


Egg Days – 150[/u]

Growth was an awkward thing for Rashn. His limbs, wings and neck never seemed to be on the same page. One or the other would always be larger or bigger until the next had another growth spurt. So though he had a good showing when first hatched he appeared clumsy and quite out of proportion as he grew. One week he would be used to how everything was set, the next day something else would grow larger setting him off balance. Fire came extremely early as well, and it only added to his troubles as a young dragon. Rashn’s first year was immensely frustrating for him. His rage and spirit wanted to fight and prove he was the best, wild blood of proud dragons ran in his veins, but he was simply growing too quick at all times. When he began to fly he was off balance and would crash or plummet out of the sky often. Many within the young riders knew to avoid him when he took flight or simply walked. Talons and limbs were always tangled despite his trying to keep balance.

His relationship with Kamon was the same. Some days they would get along and everything would feel right. On others it was a surprise they hadn’t killed each other out of a misunderstanding. Both believed fervently in their causes and thought they had no need of their partner. Even after the other dragons of his age began soaring and breathing flame expertly Rashn was left floundering. His only help against them in the bouts he had was his size, though he was beaten for most of his fifty years of life. For some reason that wild blood was contending with the spell of the riders. His body wanted to grow just like the wild dragons, and it achieved that to a point, but the young dragon didn’t know how to deal with it. So Kamon and Rashn were delegated to simple tasks, ones no rider would ever really want to complete. Their training continued. Rashn studied and learned, watched and questioned. Despite his frustrating situation he did not want to be left behind, so he took every mistake and every battle he witnessed and committed it to memory, storing the information and learning.

They achieved full rider status and Kamon was presented with a rider’s blade, made by non-other than Rhunon herself, and still Rashn grew. However, at about one hundred years of age his wings and limbs finally seemed to communicate, everything started to tie together, and gradually any sign of clumsiness faded away. During his next fifty years the riders began to rethink everything they knew of Kamon and Rashn. For one, the relationship between dragon and rider had become strong. Through the trials of Rashn’s growth they had become closer and were finally learning to depend on each other. As Rashn entered his one hundred and twenty-second year he was seen for the monstrous beauty he was.

Wings, head, talons, neck…everything the exact proportion of a true fighting dragon, and huge to accompany it. The growing pains were over for him, though they had been incredibly long and arduous. His studies and learning came to play, and he was feared in all bouts. Dragons that had trounced on him before steered well away from his practiced fire and claw. He was larger than all his brethren, and yet he was not a hulking beast without talent in the sky. Rashn would never be the most acrobatic or fastest in the sky, but that was simply because his size couldn’t keep up with the more slender more feminine dragons. All they could do in battle was run however, for he began to put his experience to use. By his one hundred and fiftieth year Rashn and Kamon were well respected and sent on some of the most challenging missions, used as a backbone in numerous battles. The wild blood sang in his veins and his memories of youth carried on as he fought.


150-225

So began the slow transition from young inexperienced rider to the role of teacher, if not quite an elder. Rashn and Kamon never liked being tied down with new dragon riders, but the world simply was not so dangerous that it needed them fighting as they so loved. When rumors of lethrblaka were whispered Kamon and Rashn would take off before the council gave them leave, which would always come back to bite them when their punishment was training the new riders. The battle E62020 and will to win were still within the dragon and rider, and they were by no means elder riders. Many small troubles came and went by and Rashn constantly updated his urgal kill count. When they could escape the overbearing older riders they would fly out as far east as possible and find battles to join in.

More than once they were in over their heads, and Rashn and Kamon have the scars to show for it, bits have been worked with magic but can never truly be taken away. One thing they did not mind doing for the elders, and that started during this time, was being ambassadors to the wild dragons. Rashn was on good terms with many of his larger brethren as he could stand toe to toe with some of them. They knew his origins, even if he still kept the secret from Kamon. Though they did end up in more than a few fights with wilds, they at least came out alive at the end. More often than not Rashn’s pride would get in the way and some older mother dragon would have to put him in his place. Still they were much more successful than numerous other patrols and were able to get a few eggs for the riders.

At times Rashn would go to find the wild dragons simply to try and learn more from them and take part in some minor skirmishes to learn their techniques. Many times he was answered with fire for being a leashed dragon, but at other times his hubris served him well and he learned various tricks that became very useful. This way he brought strength to the riders by sharing his knowledge and learning and did his best to bridge the gap between the dragons bound to riders, and his free kin. Numerous adventuring and near deaths continued, and before Kamon or Rashn could believe it, they became known as an older and more experienced duo.


225-456

Rashn and Kamon became a trusted and well respected team. Though they did have their faults. For one, Rashn could be incredibly difficult to work with when it came to humans, elves and even other rider’s dragons. Kamon and he worked alone, had faced death alone and did not care for the help of others. After all, many took the red dragon’s name as a warning against his rash and unpredictable nature. Another was simply their pride, Eragon, Bid’Daum, and the other elders berated them on these accounts numerous times. They could have been more respected teachers, perhaps even vying for a council seat at their ages had they considered it. But Rashn and Kamon would not hear of it, they felt they could not live without the action and excitement of battle. Even after over half a century of sticking their necks out and facing stacked odds they continued to forge ahead. They were the go to pair for those tough battles and nearly everyone consulted Rashn on how to rend a lethrblaka into pieces, but at times they were still too rash and risky. Something that could get them killed if they remained overconfident. There were some humbling experiences, and despite their seeming recklessness Kamon and Rashn began to wisen up in their own ways.

Their friendship with Anurin and Almalexia grew; they were nearly the same age as the more respectable pair and had been known to get them into troubling situations. Kamon loved getting Anurin in trouble and Rashn could never give up the chance to fight Almalexia. They were unruly when ordered about by other older riders, but if either Eragon or Bid’Daum asked something of them they would see it done. Rashn and Kamon remembered the day of their bonding, and above all they respected the leader of the riders. Over the years they tempered slightly. Taught more and fought less, if only because the challenges were not as varied and fun as before. Everything they came up against they had already seen. For another thing, Rashn still grew faster than his brethren. Not to the size of a wild dragon his age, but not too far behind and a good deal further ahead than many his same age. None that had defeated him as a hatchling could stand up to him, though many were faster in the air.

Slowly Kamon and Rashn turned more to becoming ambassadors. Even if it left a bitter taste. So at three hundred and thirty-one years of age Rashn became the official ambassador to wild dragons even if he rebuked the Council seat. The pair’s wisdom began to show through their blood E62020 and they taught numerous students. The love of battle remained however, and they would occasionally take off on adventures none would dream of a pair their age doing. Simply because it should have been beneath them, the tasks were too simple and they could do more good teaching new riders. After a century of interceding between wilds and riders for official council business Rashn and Kamon began to dream of ‘retirement’, sure they hadn’t worked long for dragons, but they couldn’t stand the dull work when it compared to flying free. They knew they must work with the riders for life, and had much to learn from Eragon and Bid’Daum, but they wanted to fly further than any others, explore and seek out new lands. Anurin and Almalexia helped keep them in place, for they did consider the other pair dear friends. But those two were already way to interested in the council as far as Rashn was concerned.

They were forbidden from adventuring after disappearing for three years, and the Council was furious at them for abandoning them to deal with wild dragons on their own. Facing the disappointment from Eragon and Anurin Kamon and Rashn stepped down from the semi-council position when the dragon was five hundred and fourty years of age. They were made to be teachers once more, taking on students, but still they felt trapped. They felt they deserved a chance to be free of these duties for a while. And secretly began to plan with each other to leave Alagaesia once Rashn had reached half a millennia in age. Truly an astounding time to be alive considering all the risks they had taken. They were a hardened pair, used to the death of comrades and the squabbling of nations. Needless to say, they were not surprised by the actions of Palancar in Rashn’s four hundred and fifty-sixth year.


456-495

They decided to keep their opinions mainly to themselves. Rashn had always been proud and not too fond of the short-lived humans. Over the span of his life he had garnered some respect for elves, but not near as much for the shorter humans. All the same Kamon and Rashn would never speak against Eragon and would always follow him no matter what happened, though Anurin’s loud opinions began to wear a bit thin. They yearned to fight in the war, Kamon to help her brethren, for she still had family living, and Rashn would do anything to help his other half. For they had grown inseparable during their time together. They knew each other too well to be anything but the closest of friends. It tore Kamon apart seeing the elves die, but they would not move against Eragon, so they remained silent and did not voice their opinions.

They kept their mission as ambassadors to wild dragons going during the tumultuous time. After all, it was of concern to the wild dragons. They would want to know if their children would be bound with humans. The wild dragons were a part of the pact in their own way, so Rashn and Kamon had to help the situation stay calm there as well while Eragon worked on his pleadings with the elves. Rashn and Kamon kept their work trying to explain to wild dragons and gain their support for Eragon. Unfortunately while they were off visiting with wilds Eragon passed away. It was a shock for both Kamon and Rashn. Their mentors and friends had been aged, but elves could live forever correct? They mourned, and Rashn launched into a rage, nearly entering the war right then and there. Fortunately Kamon was able to make him fly to the Hadarac where there was vast open space for him to let out his frustration. Needless to say there is a large span of glass were once there was sand. A curious site in the desert.

They are still mourning for their loss, but eventually the war ended and they went back to living how they did before. Things were changing for sure, and they were preparing, but grief was still heavy, especially when they witnessed the hatred harbored towards riders and dragons. Then began the whispers, the rumors of blight off the coast of Teirm. A great monster of the deep, something risen for the ocean and come close to shore. A snake that could crush ships and generate waves to cause destruction on land. Some large and ancient beast that sank trading ships simply by surfacing near them. The riders were needed, if only to investigate these wild claims. They knew of sea snakes from the tales of the mighty Fundor, but something like this had never happened in their time. So in his four hundred and ninety-fifth year Rashn took off with Kamon, to see if the creature of Fundor’s legend was real.


The past year[/u]

The council believed sailors were doing as they always did, enhancing the truth and bringing forth an ancient evil. To be careful however they allowed Rashn and Kamon to attend to the matter. If they had known what they had faced Rashn himself would not have been sent alone, something that had not happened in decades. Kamon and Rashn were welcomed by the people of Teirm, and a ship was quickly sent out, though a crew was difficult to find. No one wanted to sail the waters actually hunting for the beast. However, Kamon believed, and rightfully so, that she needed to accompany Rashn and it would only endanger her and make whatever battle might happen more difficult if she was riding Rashn. She simply couldn’t hold her breath as long as he could, and she would be his weak spot, the one he tried to protect. They had fought battles at sea when they were younger, and they had made the mistake before.

They were not prepared for what they met. It didn’t take long for the creature to find them, and it nearly sank the ship before Rashn was able to draw it off and attack. Kamon supported him as much as she could with magic and the like, but after seeing the size of the beast…the best she could do was lend all her strength to her dragon and hope they survived. It was their hope that Rashn could entice the creature away, so they could make port and send for more riders, but it was not to be. Rashn’s pride would not let him back down, and soon it became apparent that the beast would not let any of them go. So the monstrous dragon fought with the great sea snake, and the ocean boiled and foamed for over two days as they strove against each other. In the end Rashn was able to win, but he was mortally wounded at the end, humility finally coming to him in his final moments.

He disgorged his Eldunarí in the hopes that he could remain there for Kamon, but she had not given up. Though she grasped his very being in her hands she fought to keep his body alive as well. Floating out on the ocean, with a crushed ship and dying hope she poured her entire being into healing Rashn, and at the edge of death herself he drew breath once more. Both were incredibly weakened however, and the ship had been destroyed, the crew dead or treading water nearby. Healing the dragon had taken hours, and Kamon had only strength for the mortal wound. Rashn still bled and was broken, merely able to float as Kamon stayed close to him, clutching the Eldunarí close.

They would have perished there if not for circumstance. For against all odds a human of magical talent had seen the great snake and he had made a Fairth of the encounter. He was able to show the dragon riders what he had seen, and they immediately sent out many more riders to warn Rashn and join him in the battle. It was one of those riders that discovered the great dragon and his rider, spending what they believed to be their last moments together out at sea. Fortunately the rider was able to heal both of them, not to full health, for Rashn’s size was great and such magic would be immense, but it was enough. So with the scout, and soon the entire retinue Rashn was able to rise from the ocean and fly back to Teirm with Kamon.

Since the battle the tale has been kept quiet, the crew perished and only the riders truly knew what had happened. Kamon and Rashn asked the riders not to spread their tale, but to let them be. They gave their report to the Council, and were granted their wish. Among sailors the tale of Fundor flying out from the sea and destroying the evil that had assaulted them spread like wildfire, and Rashn’s new found humility was happy to embellish the story. They met a foe that would have destroyed them and they faced death together. At the moment they are weakened, still recovering from that great battle and have been oblivious to many of the happenings in the world. Rashn and Kamon spend their days together, as the dragon adjusts to having Kamon safe guarding his Eldunarí. They have been offered seats on the council, a new young council that could benefit from their experience, but they have not done much yet for they are still recovering. The times will not let them rest however, and they know that soon they must come back to the action.


Roleplay Example:

Air. Needed to breathe. His lungs did not ache they burned, how long had he been down? It didn’t matter, he had to get free. Wings were pinned and torn; he was falling down, being taken deeper. Water filled his nostrils, stung his lungs as he gulped involuntarily. He would have roared in pain, shouted a challenge to the foe that bound him. Clawing furiously he tried to climb. Through the mass of bubbles drifting up he could see the sun glittering, it was dim, muted in this murky abyss. Salt stung his lungs; his body cried for air, the blood in his head hammered, making his vision go dark. Then he felt it, he was not alone in this fight. The great snake was wrapped around his body crushing him and bringing him down. His talons found purchase in that thickly scaled skin tore through it as the creatures flesh writhed. He was not alone. Had air filled his lungs he would have roared, bubbles issued forth past his teeth…not daggers…but swords as he bit the sea snake crushing him. Blood filled his mouth, the flesh within his jaws quivering as he shook his head tearing the beast apart.

Far below bubbles issued forth from the great maw of the creature, it was head down, swimming further into the ocean’s depths as it screamed, its deep throated voice suited to this muted world as the sound went out like a low hum reverberating through the murk. His head rang, lungs still screaming, yet he bit again, going deeper into the wound he had already opened. Deeper into the ocean, deeper into flesh he dug. The creature writhed and constricted binding him tighter. It was too much, his bones groaned, he could feel them bending, about to snap and his head lashed up in a gurgling scream.

RASHN!!!

The voice rang within his head, his rider, his friend, his life. She was holding onto him, screaming to him in support, and then he knew, her own thoughts were turned against the snake that held him. Hammered at it, confused it. She could not speak with him more right now, she was invading the mind of the devil that held him, crushed the life out of him. She was far above…surface…boat…safe?

Kamon…

His own thoughts were dull, but just remembering her name brought strength to his limbs. Kamon…he could not leave Kamon…could not let this devil snake have her! The snake would destroy her if he failed! He struck, all four of his limbs finding purchase in the creature, talons driving deep, he brought his head back, opened his mouth wide in a silent roar. Rashn could feel the fire in his gut, the flames that sustained his life mixing, and reflexively he unleashed them. Water hissed and steamed as fire itself seared through the ocean’s depths and burned the sea snake. It was pain the creature had never felt before, and as the flames consumed its flesh the snake released the great dragon. Miraculously the dragon kept up the assault, it was as if lava bubbled from his gaping maw and poured onto the deep wound of the snake. Rashn’s eyes were murder and strength, fire blazing within their depths.

Surface…you need breath…

The dragon wanted to swim after the sea snake, destroy it now, burn it, skin it alive! His limbs ached, wings drooped, and he hung in the water, flames finally dying, and then knew he must listen to Kamon, must reach the surface. Join the air where he was home and breathe. Without hesitation he soared, wings beating beneath the waves just as they would above, his entire body moved fluidly, tail a rudder limbs pinned. Moved like the snake…ignoring the protest his crushed wings gave. He dared not look below, he could feel the presence of the snake as it drew closer, it had recovered, and enraged it gave chase. Rashn swam furiously, shriveled lungs screaming, but Kamon drew closer, he was almost even with her…even as she hammered at the snake with her thoughts.

The great dragon’s head broke the surface, and he retched before drawing breath, the sound booming through the air as water fell from his mouth, but he had not stopped swimming…flying now as his wings broke the surface and his body went shooting into the air propelled by his momentum. Water showered from his glistening red scales blood and bile streaming from his mouth as he retched again. Waves rocked the nearby boat; nearly caused it to capsize so great was his size and strength.

Rashn could not recover, for the snake followed furiously, and it’s body broke the surface like a great winding ribbon it’s flexing body soared gaping maw stretching, about to close on the dragon in the sky. Rashn roared in challenge and wheeled his head around to face those sword long teeth. As if in slow motion the great dragon once again let flame pour forth from his jaws, directly into the maw of the snake. The sea snake’s mouth closed with a snap, even as the dragon poured red fire down the creature’s throat. Rashn roared, the sound changing to a gurgle as the snake’s mouth snapped shut on his neck. Slowly they fell, the dragon swinging his body down as his front talons gouged out the snake’s eyes, lower feet raking deep wherever they found purchase. His wings collapsed, streaming behind as the ocean beckoned.

The snake fell; smoke streaming from its nostrils, bleeding profusely from the numerous wounds inflicted by the dragon. Mouth latched onto Rashn’s neck as the two struck the ocean surface as one. The resulting wave soared twenty feet casting a large shadow over the ocean as it easily picked up the large ship, and smashed it. Wood cracked; the mast broke in half, the boat shattered. Sailors went flying in every direction as the tumult of water engulfed them, tangling them in with the floundering sails and flotsam.

Rashn could see the thrashing bodies from where he sank deeper into the ocean. The snake convulsed, and its maw relaxed as shuddering death took it, fire still raged within and its body steamed and hissed beneath the waves even now. It’s flesh peeled back and its teeth finally released their hold on the dragon as it rose lifelessly to the surface flames now visibly licking its lifeless flesh. All Rashn cared for was Kamon…and he had failed her…even as he felt life seep from his neck he let out a soundless gurgling roar for having been the cause of her death. For the wave had taken her…he could see her body floating.

Suddenly, he felt her mind…and he felt hope…she was alive! Her thoughts were reaching to him and screamed in fury at his pain. His eyes went dim as he knew what he must do…His body shuddered as he brought forth his Eldunarí. As his essence filled it the jewel burst forth in red fire, past it’s brilliance he saw her swimming towards him. The light calling her on. She grasped Eldunarí firmly in hand, but didn’t surface. Clinging desperately to a spike on Rashn’s neck Kamon’s magic flowed, healing.
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Note: Dragons are only available through the Sacred Font board.

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[Emma]

ACCEPTED. IT IS FANTASTICNESS!