Why the HELL am i here!?

[fluttershy]

"Nia, of all the places in the world he had to bring me to this godforsaken place, surrounded by water... with nothing more than the fish we catch ourselves to eat. Ugh... WHY THE HELL ARE WE HERE THAMIEL!" Keter ended yelling to the sky though no response came from the mysterious dragon whom was meant to turn a tide in this war. Though for which side who could say. They had been forced to catch their own fish on this place of rock. But what was the point of being here?

Keter could not figure it out, though after some hours the might dragon that was to be his keeper landed. Its eyes burning brightly as it dropped fish onto the ground, as well as a dolphin, which it proceeded to crush and eat in merely a few bites. Discouraging Keter from his attitude almost instantly. Almost.

So why are we here Thamiel, this isn't a place where a war can be staged, or the enemy can be attacked. This is out in the middle of nowhere... There's nothing here...

But the Dragon';s silence maintained in Keter's mind, thoughts were travelling across its mighty brow, and the glyphs upon it's body were lighting up, which was a sure sign of the creature using its dark magic. Keter gave up, and proceeded to call upon the power and will of water and fire upon one of the fish. Using an ingenious combination to bring all the fluid within the fish to a boil rather than setting the kina ablaze to cook the meat within it.

Keter at one point in time prized himself for such feats, but no more. This was dime store magic to the beast before him. Magic which was better left to magicians and not dragon riders. But it kept Keter fed and healthy, which was something in of itself in this hard time... An hour passed, and it took that hour to come to the realisation that the dragon before him was looking in his direction.

"There's a town across there BOY... one with guards and a light armed force capable of barring our way to our path... You and I are going to destroy it... and leave no stone unturned. And no soul still living in their fleshy hosts"

Keter felt his stomach turn... must his life be filled with so much death!? he hated it, he knew his dragon felt his hate of it. But Keter gave in, this was not a fight he NEEDED to resist. He had to give in this time. at the cost of lives... if only there was a way to warn them ahead of time. But such would potentially cost his own life in the assault. Keter looked to the scars up his arms, on his chest, around his neck and in other places he had mutilated only to be healed at the cost of his dragon's objective.

Alright... the town on Beirland Island is not a big one. But it could be wiped out with just the two of us. Not without difficulty mind you. But it could be.

It has to be... That's all you need to know weakling Magician. Now, sleep. I shall take flight, and scout the other islands until you recover your strength mortal.

With that Thamiel took to the wing. Leaving Keter alone, on the barren rocks of Nia, wishing and cursing the dragon above him with all of his might. Though speaking them aloud and never letting them cross his mind was one way to ensure they were not read by the beast. That made him feel a little better, so long as his every word was not able to be traced, he felt a little free. Keter had thought of using this chance to send them a message to get to safety, but where could they run?

If they attempted to escape the island, and bottle themselves into their tiny ships, they would be like shooting fish in a barrel. IT would be better for them to at least fight and die with pride... it was a dark time, death was to be expected.

[Jay]

Jaygon walked quickly through an island town as Turma hid herself in the clouds above. He wore a pure white cloak around himself and a hood to hide his elven features. The old elf kept walking towards the north part of the island town where he had hidden an ancient artifact that held power to those with the knowledge and power to unlock it. So far so good Turma. Just keep hidden for a little while longer,[/b] Jaygon told Turma through their mental link.

Turma expressed her distaste at the idea of having to stay hidden, but Jaygon just laughed and tried not to draw attention to himself. Suddenly something didn't feel right. Like a great evil was coming on the wind, but it wasn't the Shade or any from her army. Jaygon considered that it might be a new threat, but quickly dismissed it telling himself that he was paranoid.

[fluttershy]

"THREAT!" Echoed loudly in Keter's mind as he awoken. His dragon sensed another source of draconic magic. Bright and luminous, though it was high in the clouds, and he could not decipher its precise location, Thamiel with a single stroke of his massive wings coursing with dark magic shot himself high into the sky, high enough to pierce the canopy of the clouds and become silhouetted by the sun above them, looking down for any trace or shimmering sparkle of sun on scales.

The mind of the great Shade dragon reached out to the clouds beneath them, and what sounded like a roar Identified himself to the area, as the Arch dragon Thamiel, pronouncing himself, even in his young years grander than all other dragons. The markings between the scales of the dragon began to shine a furious red as he demanded with a second roar for the one within the clouds to show itself.

Keter could hear the Roars of his dragon from where he lay, it woke him from his slumber, as the sun above him began to take a red tint... Something was happening, and there was some sort of threat nearby... It came to Keter instantly that there was a great prize on these islands... the floating crystal. His eyes widened with an amount of shock as he began to summon a spirit, though he was not far away from the main island, he needed to get there fast. It was not long before he had bound a couple of lesser spirits to his whim, grabbing them, and using their power, the power began to well up around him, he pictured where he needed to be...

Power began to erupt, as the area around him began to shake... if he did not keep the crystal from the others here, Thamiel would be pissed off, though would it be better or worse for the dragon to get a hold of it? With it in their position, he could attempt to use it for great good, and maybe expel the dark spirits from Thamiel's body. It was a gamble, but hope flowed through him as Keter with a flash of white light, was suddenly no longer where he once was.

Instantaneously transported to the main island, he shook his head, a little tiredly, around rocks in a clearing. The spirits were no longer in his hands, but that mattered little. I know what we're after Thamiel, I'll try and get my hands on it... Do you think we've been found, another dragon rider? Resistance Rider? Keter asked to the sky, but also out loud. Drawing his double ended lance and beginning to stalk the area for any sign of life.

[Jay]

Jaygon in his white hooded cloak walked up silently behind the boy who had just awoken. He leaned heavily on a walking stick as he threw on the guise of an old man. "Who are you talking to," he asked in the voice of an elderly man who had seen too much. "It's been a long time since I have seen one talking to the sky. Do you have a companion up there?"

Turma heard the roar of Thamiel and loosed her own savagely beautiful roar as she reached out from the clouds where she hid. Turma identified herself as the offspring of an Arch dragon, as well as the Arch dragon, Turma, last of her kind among the bonded dragons, and the shining light of the North. Turma roared a second time, stating that she did not recognize Thamiel. All the same she showed herself, her pure white scales shining in the sunlight as she faced Thamiel.

Jaygon looked up still leaning on the walking stick. "There seems to be a shift in the wind..." he said ominously.

[fluttershy]

Keter looked to the old man, though he could sense something a little off about the old cloaked man, it was not anything that he could put his finger on. Keter was not well versed in elven magic, though he could pick up that there was a slight hint of magic whirling around the old man, but trace amounts. No more that the average magician, the man asked an odd question but as Keter heard the second roar, he became a little interested.

Fate, was a peculiar thing, an old ageing man travelling outside the village, as suddenly two dragons high in the sky confronted each other. It was not something that Keter was willing to take a chance on. This old man, may be the rider of the other dragon in the sky... If so, there was a chance that Thamiel may be in a spot of trouble. Though he had magically forced his own ageing process with his dark power, Thamiel was still not what you would call a 'large dragon.' More built for superior speed and lightning-like movement in the sky as opposed to sheer size and physical might.

But keter was an honest person. I'm the Rider of the dragon up there... Though in a bout to be clever he did not say which one. If this man was not the other rider, Keter 'might' be able to get away with naming the other dragon as his own. But it seemed there was going to be a fight... That much seemed unavoidable.

And what might you be doing out here old one? It's dangerous... You should get as far away from here, or this island, as fast as you can... but first... would you do me the honour of showing me your hands?
Keter gripped his weapon instinctively, looking at the elderly man, he hoped his instincts were not playing up when he said this, but that trace magic, the coincidence of an old man being out here, the sudden appearance of another dragon. It was just a little too much for Keter to be able to take in all at once.

Meanwhile high in the sky, Thamiel was not about to give a warning. Though he was not dwarfed in size by the dragon before him, there was a notible difference. But Thamiel had tricks this dragon before him did not. Black smoke began to flow from his mouth and cover his body in thick smog, which fashioned into an armour of dark magic. Shade magic combined with draconic magic whipped around his form as flicks of black flame could be seen amongst it. An almost metallic Darksteel helmet materialising at the epicentre of the ability.

The Floating Crystal of Eoam is mine fair dragon... And with it these islands will burn black with my flames. If you get in my way... I shall show that even a dragon can be burned to ash by my black flames.

Thamiel replicated sound with magic. the voice cracked like lightning and power, though words were discernible from it. Fighting another dragon was risky, even for Thamiel, and he did not take the risk lightly. But in his eyes there was only one reason why another being would visit these islands. The crystal, the wild magic from it, was said to be more powerful and dangerous than any living spell-caster.

[Jay]

"My hands?," Jaygon asked the boy. "Of course, would you like to see the back?" he asked showing revealing his hands palms down. The back of his hands and fingers were covered in what appeared to be white white dragon scales and his each of his fingers had small talons at the tips. "Or the palms?" Jaygon flipped his hands revealing pale skinned palms in the middle of each sat a gedwey ignasia. Smiling he said, "Before you ask both my hands touched the hatchling at the same time resulting in this." Both of his palms glowed bright white for a second before white beams shot up into the sky towards Turma.

Turma roared and mentally shouted at Thamiel, I think not Thamiel![/color] The white beams that Jaygon had shot up into the sky split and surrounded Turma seemingly wrapping her in intense white flame. The flames soon took shape into what looked like dragon armor however still remained to look like white flames. My rider is Jaygon Islingr, master of both Light and Dark magic. Even If I fall here he will stop you. For the good of many he will place a barrier keeping you from the Floating Crystal of Eoam,[/color] she said roaring again.

Jaygon stopped hiding himself with magic allowing his elven features along with the changes he had sung upon himself to return to normal under his cloak and garments. "Please child, for your own good, stand aside," he said dropping the walking stick.

[fluttershy]

Keter gripped his lance tightly, his knuckles white under his gloves. This elf, was the dragon rider. He was an elf, so he was definitely one of the alliance against the shade riders. But, he showed a complete lack of empathy, he did not understand, he could not understand.

No, You don't get it, my own dragon has me prisoner, that crystal may be the only thing in this world that can balance out the power of him and I... I need it...

Keter stopped shaking and his eyes turned sharp with resolve, this elf, he would try not to kill. But if he could drive him to retreat... That would be enough. He may be a master of dark magic, but A sorcerer did not need to be a master of anything. Especially when his dragon was possessed by dark, and powerful spirits.

Aiedail du blödh!

Throwing Keter's arm out it was not a bright light which exploded out from the palm of his hand, but a deep resounding red, a rippling flame, like a combination of fire and water traced his palm and fingers. As a powerful bolt of raw solar energy rocketed toward his opponent's chest.

Keter preferred the arts of astromancy, they were so rarely used, and powerful to boot. Any sorcerer summoning a spirit powerful enough to perform the act would almost certainly become a shade. But his dragon already was one... the spirits of which were powerful enough to rip a soul back from the afterlife and reanimate the living. Or strong enough to legitimately try.

Thamiel looked at the ancients' dragon and from his high position spoke the same words in tandem with Keter. Though the fire which would have appeared in his hand, instead appeared in the sky. Small fist sized comet like flares would begin to rain down on the area. their kinetic force strong enough to even make a dragon wince in pain on impact, or strong enough to bullet through the thin skin of a dragon's wing. The setting of the battle had changed as fire rained from the sky. And Thamiel attacked the ancient dragon.

Thamiel's mouth filled with dark magic. And with a breath it was not dark flame which erupted from its maw. But a devastating array of black lightning, conjured to bypass his opponent's fiery defence.

[Jay]

Jaygon observed not only through his eyes, but through Turma's as well as they use astromancy. He felt the energy they manipulated to make it work and the way they manipulated it. This was powerful indeed more so than anything that he could stop with his bare hand this time. Jaygon sighed he was hoping not to have to reveal his secret weapon so soon if at all. He closed his eyes very briefly shifting ever so slightly. His cloak shifted revealing two curved swords on his right hip one just above the other.

Jaygon began to speak quickly and softly in the ancient language, "Take this energy and revert it to its original form then send it back to the source." He placed his hand on the lower blade. "Absorb and reflect!" Jaygon shouted half unsheathing a clear curved blade. The as the solar energy made contact with the blade the clear blade began to absorb the light. The energy soon began to tax his strength and Jaygon quickly switched the energy that supplied the spell and the wards surrounding Turma to the four large ,energy filled, diamonds on his belt. Jaygon sheathed his sword for a second panting briefly.

Jaygon swung his sword upward toward where through Turma's eyes Thamiel was sending the solar energy the blade had just absorbed towards him. He sheathed his blade again.

Turma felt through Jaygon as the wards around her, especially her wings, deflected the comet like flares. Turma rolled under Thamiel and released scorching white flame from her maw. Someone like you will not touch me![/color] Turma exclaimed. She dived through the clouds as the solar energy Jaygon released flew straight at Thamiel's underbelly. As Turma dived towards the ground she breathed intense hot flames in a circle around the boy and quickly flew back up to fight Thamiel again.

Jaygon sighed again looking at the circle of flame. "Boy... there is much you have to learn about magic. The crystal won't balance him out. Your shade dragon will feed off of it and wreak more havoc becoming too powerful to defeat." Jaygon began to walk away stopping for a second, " If you think I don't understand, you're wrong," he said seemingly to read his mind. "But there is a better way to balance him out and perhaps even drive the evil spirits out of him without killing him. Return him to the way he was before, but it would take time and someone would have to stop him from achieving any more power." Jaygon began walking away again, "Please try to understand. I was once in a similar position, but we must do this for the good of many."

[fluttershy]

I dont need to touch you, Wyrm Thamiel cursed as he spoke aloud as with quicksilver speed he dove to the side seeking the sanctuary of the white cloud before arching above the cumulus canopy. Avoiding the bright Ivory flame of the platinum scaled dragon.

The blast hurled up and collected Thamiel in the gut, causing the dragon to recoil with the power of the blow. The bolt hurled straight through him, dealing what would normally be considered a substantial wound. But as the beautiful white drake arched itself up to meet what would be Thamiel's fearsome gaze it would find nothing but a whiff of smoke where it once would have been.

Instantaneously transporting himself through dark magic Tamiel appeared on the ground before the ancient and with a single arm arched a massive open clawed strike for his general area with such speed even an accomplished weapons-master would find it difficult to get out of the way from. Breathing in deeply Thamiel looked like he was about to breath his black flame, but it was a rouse, he was only gathering it, compressing it...

Keter Bought his hand to his lips as if he were about to bite into a fruit grown from a tree. But what breathed out of his lungs was black high pressure dragon-fire. His much smaller mouth magnified the normally outspread force of the flame making it more like a fifteen meter blowtorch as opposed to a flame thrower. Keter swept it in a hundred and eighty degree arc for the ancient.

Had he made a mistake dedicating himself to this fight...? whoever this was seemed to be old, ancient even, and his skills in magic were strong, he didn't seem to rely on summoning spirits which was rare considering how powerful he seemed to be...

Thamiel... I think we had better let this man go. He's older and grander than he seems, and I think i saw what seemed to be several dragon hearts on his waist, though I could be wrong...

Thamiels eyes would burn a hole through Keter at the mention of something that could be mistaken for mercy.

Dont get angry, just think of the risk, we have all the time in the world to accomplish our goal... why endure a fight even if they only had a thirty percent chance of victory... the risk is not worth it...

At that Logic Thamiel seemed appeased, and Keter looked at the man with a slightly sorrowful look of defeat. But the townspeople would not give up their most venerable treasure to any outsider, not without a fight. Ancient elven dragon rider or no. He would have to level all resistance first, otherwise Eragon would have claimed the stone long ago...