middaeg | [Open] Soaring Silver

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critical role: vex'ahlia

[Open] Soaring Silver

Who: Vex'ahlia and YOU!
When: Late Full moons at the end of of Ieneuer (before and after the 28th)
Where: Aefenglom and the Wildes
What: Flexing her wings, Vex puts in some flight time in her dragon form, as well as seeking out any signs of mysterious missing citizens..
Warnings: Failed kidnapping attempt violence (see plot comment here). Other warnings will be updated here when applicable!

I. Flight So Fancy
[ With a solid meal the night before the Change, the silver dragon taking wing in the middle of the city has gotten used to using the roof top garden as a launch point.

With feathers fanning wide, even the cold weather doesn't put her off from taking literal wing!

The warm up lap takes her around the full length of the Bright Wall, before she veers away, though she'll certainly give a fellow flyer a good race - be they witch or monster, Vex is happy to test her speed! Otherwise, silver and blue make for a glinting shadow that skims over the thick banks of fog still settled around Aefenglom's farmland, the outskirts and about the woods close to a familiar Mirrorbound-run forge.

And with so much snow around, practising landings is easier.

(And softer, when the distance gets misjudged. Again.) ]

II. City Defender
[ The change doesn't prevent her from lending aid to the outer city's defenders. With the disappearances a concern for all and the numbers increasing, Vex is willing to offer flights to anyone wanting to patrol from the air: she can manage one passenger of reasonable size, and carry more weight than meets the eye. More people are holing up inside, meaning many streets are empty of the usual crowds - surely someone suspicious would be more noticeable?

Otherwise, she might be found skulking on the outskirts, wings folded tight and tail whipping back and forth, draconic frustration rising with the lack of clues as to where people have gone.. ]

III. Dangers For Dragons
[ ...And it is on the fourth day, when accompanied by her bear, that Vex herself near becomes one such victim.

Trinket bursts out of a side street, a clatter of plated armour and the scramble of paws on snow as he hard banks to one side, before he resumes a hurried dash. There are yells of surprise as he gallops past citizens more used to his ponderous ways. But when he spots someone seemingly capable, someone seemingly strong, or (even better) someone he knows, the bear will roar for attention and skid to a halt, eyes wide and face expressively frantic for an adult brown bear.

Help! Help! His Vex needs help! ]

IV. Wildcard~
[ Want some other encounter, in or out of the city? Non-dragonified form pre- and post- moon also available! You can hit me up here for plotting! ]

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[It was much too cold to be outside for a dragon weak to it, and yet Rude managed to push his limits every day and carry on as best he could while dealing with it. Extra layers over his suit, maybe an enchanted jacket to keep him nice and toasty so his body wouldn't shut down while he stood still in the cold outdoors. However he managed it, he did, because he had things to do and he was nothing if not professional.

Tailing someone wasn't exactly the most fun job in the world but if it got him the information he needed to complete his job and get paid, then he would do it just like any other job. With the utmost professionalism and patience imaginable. However, it made it really easy to get distracted by something with a little more...spice to it.

Rude wasn't expecting a large bear to come barreling down the street out of nowhere, that was for certain. His surprise registered for half a second before he realized it was on a path towards him and he raised his fists, spread his stance out for firm balance, and readied for an encounter.

Color him surprised when its roar didn't announce an attack but rather an attempt to catch attention before it skidded to a halt. It looked oddly scared or worried about something instead of upset or ferocious and Rude blinked at it behind his sunglasses as he waited for an attack that wasn't coming. Eventually he lowered his hands as he looked around, wondering what the hell could be going on, and not getting much in the way of help from the passerby--most were avoiding the scene and if anyone recognized the bear for a...pet or Monster??...they weren't helping Rude out by telling him anything for free.

A pity he didn't recognize who it belonged to or he would have reacted much more immediately. As it was, he stayed like a coil ready to spring as he stared oddly at the large brown bear--which, was strangely not that large to him at this point and that struck home a bit as he stood there. Being a dragon was strange sometimes.]

...What?

[He finally caved under the expressive bear's wild look and ...gesturing? ...wondering whether it was foolish to speak to it or not even as he did so.]

[ The number of times Trinket has been mistaken for a turnskin are a source of amusement for Vex. However, now would certainly be a time where his lack of human speech is a hindrance rather than a help. As it is, it's clear that the bear is frustrated when the fists are slowly lowered, then given a "...What?" -- he knows that tone, and his ears flatten back, a low moan given in response.

Please! He turns, looks back at Rude, then lumbers a few steps forward, before pausing. Waiting. Then that low moan again, still edged with worry. ]

[She's heard the random whispers around town, but... as per usual, Maria doesn't pay any attention to what is going on. So she's walking a cart with a cask of alcohol on the back, when a bear bursts out from the side alleyway. For a moment, she's not sure what to make of it, until she realizes she knows that bear, and a moment later, he's barreling toward her.]

Woah... Woah [It's not clear if she's saying that to him, or to the horse at her side that rears up a bit, snorting and nickering worriedly.]

You are... are you alright? What is the matter? Where's Vex? [She has a hard time thinking the woman would send her bear out this way for a prank, but what does she know.]

[ As the horse rears, Trinket skids to a halt, mincing in place as he grumbles unhappily. He learned from a young age to ignore "prey" in public city places, and is too well trained to deviate from the task set to him: to get help.

But he is no turnskin, and must communicate as best he can. Made easier when Maria mentions his mother's name. ]

Grooowwuu! [ He very carefully paws towards her, a dragging gesture, before he turns about and runs a short distance. Then stops, looks back, and calls again. ] Grooowwuu!!

[Rude couldn't belief it--but he was doing it anyway. With a small frown and furrowed brow, he started to follow the bear as it lead him away. The gesture was all too easy to read as it began to walk away and then look back as if waiting for him to follow. Like a dog trying to lead someone somewhere.

As strange as it was, it maybe wasn't the strangest thing in this city. With that thought in mind, Rude succumbed and reluctantly began to follow the bear. It did seem mighty worried, he was pretty sure of it now. It obviously wasn't looking for a fight and it had the presence of mind to ignore most people around it. But it specifically sought out someone to follow it away so--might as well see what the fuss was about.

If it was a trap, well, he'd deal with it accordingly. With fire and fists. Fighting would, at least, warm him up from this cold. And relieve his boredom.

So he followed.]

[Although not a willing volunteer, Lightning has been keeping an eye on the outskirts of the city following the recent disappearances. Nothing suspicious yet, but she does see the familiar outline of a dragon wandering about, looking more sullen than usual.

From behind, she makes herself known, calling out to Vex with a crooked smile. Now's not the time to be excited about anything, but she's glad to see that she's doing well, all things considered. It's been a while.]

Something on your mind?

[She doesn't really need to be able to speak animal in order to figure out what he wants to say - though she supposes there are probably spells for that.

Instead, she starts sort of in the direction he's going. What she's looking for, first and foremost, is somewhere to tie Abholos up, and secure the cart and its contents. Once she finds a good hitching post, and weaves a quick enchantment on everything to ensure it stays there, she turns back to the rather impatient bear. Probably best not to keep a bear waiting.] Alright. Let us go. Lead the way.

[ For all her perceptiveness, and awareness of the approach of someone else, Vex is startled to hear Lightning's voice, and the silver dragon's wings flip up and wide in startlement, feathered tail swinging about to tuck against her legs.

Then she relaxes, a shake of her body settling her. ]

Just frustration, mostly. It's been that sort of week, and the Moons are not helping. [the feathers on her head fan wide, then relax] Out for a stroll?

[ The bear stops and starts a few times, staying still only long enough to reassure itself that yes, the burly big dragonman is following, before reversing course and heading back the way he came. Even in armour, Trinket moves swiftly, his size belying the speed he can reach when truly pressed.

And if he's looking for relief from boredom, Rude will soon have it served directly: firstly, in the form of flying body that gets flung out of an alleyway, and the bear snarls in fury at the black clad figure.

Down said alley, heavy scuffling and shouts are audible, along with heavy leathery beats of what can only be a wing (singular?) striking out around it, and the muffled rage of something not human. ]

[ If you've ever seen a small child dancing place in frustration due to needing the bathroom, you might have some idea of the agitation on display as the bear minces about in place, waiting impatiently for one of his mother's allies.

The sigh he gives when she is finally ready is one of long suffering, before he turns and bounds back down the alley. If he stops, it is only to ensure he hasn't lost her in his haste.

Though the closer they get to an emptier, neglected part of town, the louder the sound of conflict sounds. There's clearly yelling ('somethingsomething the cwyld is a gift! somethingsomething ungrateful in the face of such honor!) and just as clearly something responding in a manner most physical, with the crashing of crates and the grunts and audible noises of something fighting against restraints.

Left turn, left turn, right and then: four humanoid-seeming figures in black strain at the end of ropes, one looped around a foreleg, another drawing tight a net keeping a wing bound, and two binding shut the maw of a furious silver dragon, blue feathers flared wide and eyes bright with rage. ]

Something like that.

[Lightning shrugs, a slow stride closing the distance between the two of them. They'll have to keep it down if they want to be even a little conspicuous.]

Had some time to kill, and not feeling tired enough to head home.

[She never can sit still, this one.]

Figured I'd keep watch for a while. You?

[ Vex is presently a shiny silver dragon with bright blue wings and feathers, and roughly the size of a small pony. Inconspicuous is most certainly off the menu here. ]

I thought I might find a clue just outside while patroling. In case there was someone getting sloppy when out of bounds, but so far nothing.

Since that idea was a bust, I've been keeping an eye on the water walk in and out of the city instead. Local families have been sending children to fetch clean water, since they haven't been part of the missing persons reports. [yet. yet is the concern, hence why she's here.]

[Maria is, luckily, very fast once she gets moving. Not just because she is tall and long of leg, but also because she has a strong affinity for teleportation spells. Which means whatever time they may have lost for her casting the quick security spells for her wares is made up by the time they wind through the alleyways and side streets back to Vex's position.

And lo, there she is, though Maria barely recognizes her (last she saw her dragon form it wasn't so... large. Or fully fledged.)

It doesn't matter. She knows the bear, she knows Vex is a Dragon, and she knows these guys seem to be trying to capture said dragon. Hopefully Trinket knows not to hesitate and to just attack, because Maria doesn't hesitate. She may not be armed, but that doesn't matter. She's been a Witch long enough to know what her most powerful weapons are in her spell arsenal, and more than that... the flame element is that much more powerful now that she has a fire dragon fueling its heat on the other side of her Bond.

She'll apologize for singed scales or feathers later, as she chucks something that might be called a fireball in the same way a .50 anti-material bullet is called a rifle shell right into one of them. She at least makes an attempt to hit the one furthest from Vex so as to minimize any flash-heat damage or splashback.

Swift, brutal, unmerciful. And absolutely not concerned with the lives of any of the black-hooded figures. She doesn't even hesitate to retarget the next closest and start to conjure up a second fireball.]

Damn...

[She looks to the gates, eyes scanning it up and down as if there'll be something there that will answer her next concern.]

Any of those kids gone missing, or they make it back safe?

[Families shouldn't be sending their children to fetch water during times like this... How are they supposed to fend for themselves in the event that someone tries to snatch them in the middle of filling up their containers?]

Last thing I'd want is my kid to get kidnapped because of me. Irresponsible.

No real youngsters being poached. And from what I've seen, any on the cusp of twenty are likely being kept home by force - that's a dangerous age to get impressionable ideas, after all. And better to lose some incoming for a time than lose your family.

[For the families that can afford it, at least.]

The Wilders have been keeping an eye on the trailer, so I offered to do a flyover earlier. The kidnappers aren't quite so bold when there's so obvious a target keeping an eye on things.

They would pick winter weather to do their dirty work in. [Her tail twitches, before Vex sighs and shakes her head] Well, that's how my day's been. What about yours? Still helping at the bakery?

[Rude slowed to glance down at the black clad figure where it landed. Something down that alley sure was pissed off. Ignoring the body, he rounded the corner to the alleyway and took a look at what was going on.

From the bear's reaction to the black robed figure Rude figured he knew which side it was on. Looking at what was going on, it wasn't hard to decide that the figure and its companions were being disruptive assholes. Even without knowledge of the recent kidnappings.

Besides, there was a certain amount of kinship to be had when staring at a fellow dragon trying to defend itself from a bunch of bullies attempting to capture it. Rude felt a rage build up inside of himself at the sight.

It didn't take him long to move into action. He went after one of the accosting figures in black, fist raised for a hard punch to the unsuspecting target that he chose to hit from behind. No honor for the wicked, just punishment.]

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[Open] Soaring Silver

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