October Prompt Event

Prompt One
Its a full moon tonight and you've just come back from seeing a picture show (with your friends or by yourself) and you decide to cut through the park. Its vacant right now as everyone is busy setting up decorations or attending parties and celebrations. the park is wide open, with tall trees all around, a fountain with the Queen in the middle. You decide to go over to look at the flowers that are starting to wilt and the new plants starting to sprout when something catches your eye. you see an unsavory creature digging in the middle of the flower patch. How rude! You go over to confront him and you actually startle him. He gives off a bad aura. "Oh...hello mortal, my name is Hyrax." You ask him what he's doing and he shows you an oddly shaped gem, yellow in color with...is that an eye inside it? It sure creeps you out. Hyrax explains that he needs it to plan a special event for the planet this year.

You have a feeling he's lying but who knows. He wants your help getting back to his house and out of the park without anybody seeing you. So...what do you decide to do?

-Put a sheet over Hyrax and sneak out of the park.
-Call him a liar walk and away. You don't have time for weirdos.
-ITS SO SHINY STEAL THAT KRIFFING GEM.

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Choice 3: ITS SO SHINY STEAL THAT KRIFFING GEM.
Stein huffed and easily split off from the group he'd tailed to get into the picture show - he was good at not having to PAY for anything, after all. No one had been the wiser, as usual. He stayed in the shadows without being obvious - staying on the edge of a crowd, minding his own business. He didn't look like anyone special, his nondescript brown hair was slightly messy, but not wildly so, his yellow eyes was a bit...odd...but contacts fixed that right up. The dragon wasn't interested in any of the parties - at least not in the way most people would have been interested. He had sworn off alcohol and so far, he'd lasted a few days. It had been a MISERABLE week - which was why he'd tried to distract himself with a movie.  He grunted and glared at the spirits store across the street, forcing himself to ignore it - he wasn't carrying any money anyhow for that reason - and walked a little faster. Honestly, the scent of the flowers in the nearby park often helped and it was late enough, not many people would be wandering that direction. Most were heading home. He frowned as he heard a sound and blinked as he turned a corner to find someone DIGGING in the flower bed. "Well you certainly aren't a gardener, not with that sort of skill," Stein muttered, then snorted as that had apparently startled the dragon.  

Stein looked up at him with a lifted eyebrow, then blinked at the GEM in the other's paws with a frown. It screamed BAD and the dragon wasn't sure he liked it. He should PROBABLY report that, but... the gem looked kinda pretty now. HUH. HOW ODD. He wondered how much it was worth. The other eyebrow met the first at this Hyrax's response and inwardly groaned. Yep. Up to NO GOOD, for sure. Nat should take care of it, not him. He wasn't Captain of the Guard for a REASON. "You want me to WHAT?" Stein snickered and shook his head. He didn't have time for this. The dragon sidled closer with a sigh. "Fine. I'll help, but it'll cost ya." He led the way out of the park, eyes flicking to the few passersby that materialized and absently shooed them off with a glare - he was GOOD at that, ok? The gem ended up in his pocket when Hyrax wasn't looking, distracted by Stein's voice as he began pestering the strange dragon with questions. 

Finders Keepers, right?

WC: 418

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Prompt Two
Somehow and some way you got out of the park. With or without Hyrax. Either way, it didn’t go too well as you’ve now found yourself in his company again. You and Hyrax walk for several miles (against your will or not). “We’re home,” he suddenly declares and you find that its not a “home” at all. He’s led you to a cave that sinks down deep into the earth. You get a bad feeling as he starts his descent.

“Well are you coming?”

You feel compelled to follow Hyrax and when you meet him at the bottom of pit, you are shocked to see Iron Horn Cultists standing around. What is the cult doing here? As you stand stunned you watch as Hyrax takes the gem and places it in an odd contraption in the middle of the chamber. Hyrax turns to you and says, “Have you ever gotten tired of listening to the crown? Have you ever wanted ultimate power so you can do things how you want to do them? Thats why we’re here tonight.” So Hyrax wants to overthrow the crown and do whatever he wants, thats definitely concerning as you find yourself surrounded by cultists.

You have several options here on what you could do. So what do you do?

-Fight for your life.
-Flee and go find help.
-YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, STEAL THAT GEM TAKE TWO!

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Choice 3: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, STEAL THAT GEM TAKE TWO!
Stein grumbled inwardly as he didn't find an immediate way to dump the strange dragon once they left the park. The gem was feeling very ODD in his pocket - maybe he should give it back... WAIT WHAT? How did it get out of his pocket? He blinked at Hyrax, calmly holding the gem as if Stein hadn't just palmed it earlier. Something was off about this guy. He lived in a CAVE for LUPA'S SAKE. "Firehawk's Left Nutsack, it's dark down here," the dragon muttered, finally shapeshifting upwards to feel better about following a DRAGON. He didn't want to get squashed, after all, and there were other voices coming from ahead of them. Where was Hyrax TAKING him? 

Um, ok. THAT couldn't be good. He WHAT? Stein backed up a step at the intense look the gray dragon gave him, but tilted his head and sat, as if mildly interested. Running would just get him killed. they were CULTISTS, dammitall. His ears flicked back and forth as Hyrax continued. Overthrowing the QUEEN? That was bad news. ULTIMATE POWER? Uh... oh, ok well that sounded not so bad. but CULTISTS. That was definitely bad. Fanatics didn't listen - or rather, they only listened to one thing: whomever was controlling the mob... which seemed to be this Hyrax character. It was mighty convenient he was still next to the dragon as the male set the gem on some sort of pedestal and continued monologuing. The others were more focused on him and as he passed the pedestal, he did a quick switcheroo with a random bag from his belt - a quick spell and it resembled the gem. Hopefully, Hyrax wasn't going to pick that up any time soon, but he needed to get out of there --- and FAST.

WC: 295

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Prompt Three
Try as you might to escape, fighting through the hoards of cultists, you find their masses to be overwhelming. However, your faith is strong as well as your courage, you're not going to go out like this. You need to get that gem away from Hyrax, taking a leap of faith, you decide to do just that. You're either taking it with you, or you're going to smash  it. You're going to fight for your life, you just wish you had some friends to help you. Running for the far side of the chamber, you find yourself snatching the gem from the contraption in the middle which causes lightning to strike. Hyrax screams in anger, you've definitely made an enemy now.  As you make it to the other side of the chamber, you see a set of an old stone staircase, they lead upwards and out. But to where? Not seeing a choice, you flee with the cult and Hyrax hot on your heels. Coming up to the top, you find that you're  in some kind of old temple. Was this hidden under the floor all this time? You're not quite sure but you only have mere moments to decide what you're going to do as Hyrax's glowing red eyes can be seen coming towards you in the dark. You move to the shrine in the old temple, knowing your only option is to pray to your goddess that she can help you.

A gently breeze blows by you, the gem in your hands hissing for the holy presence that seems to come to you. Then you hear a voice, soft but motherly. "Your goddess hears you my child. I answer your prayers and I offer you help, where help is needed." Whitelupa has heard your prayer as Hyrax comes up to the surface and had confronts you. "You runt...you're going to wish you never stole from me..." he hisses, taking an attack stance. Behind you, 3 mirrors appear in different colors, Whitelupa is here with you. She's giving you a choice and you have to act fast.

Which mirror do you choose to touch?

-The Pink Mirror With Tiger Stripes- it gives off a feeling of warmth and harmony, but there is great power to it.
-The Black Mirror With White Spines - it gives off a smell of ash and pine, but it is not threatening.
-The Purple Mirror with Fire Coursing Through It - it is the most intimidating of the mirrors, however it seems to be calm and collected, as if methodically thinking, almost humming and waiting for you to choose it

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Choice 3: The Purple Mirror with Fire Coursing Through It
"Well that's just rude," Stein muttered as he staggered up the steps, feeling as if he had less feet than he was supposed to have. Maybe he grew extra legs while he was down there? Cultists were WEIRD, maybe they could infect dragons just by being near them. He whipped his head around and spat lava at the cultists - for once not caring if it actually burned people - these idiots wanted him dead, it was VALID. Maybe if it destroyed a bit of their "temple" it would be good for them. He wasn't sure where he was anymore and Stein was DEFINITELY sure he should have had backup - again. He could already hear Nat in his head - or Annabelle, Lupa's tits, man. He'd never hear the end of this if he survived. Maybe he should have just let the lightning hit him. It would have destroyed the gem, too, right? 

The dragon's ears snapped up at the soft voice as he fell over himself at the top of the steps - THERE WERE TOO MANY STEPS - and blinked, glancing around as he spat more lava that melted the top few steps and temporarily halted the onrush of cultists trying to flood after him - how had there gotten so MANY? Did Hyrax just spawn them in at will? Did he carry a few dozen cultists around in a pocket somewhere? The dragon huffed and shook his feathers, then blinked as he came face to - well, not technically because it was a MIRROR. Three Mirrors to be exact. What were they DOING up here? Was he even in the cultist's temple anymore? It ... felt different. He glanced down at the gem that seemed to glare up at him for the effrontery of bring it closer to the...oh... 

Oh... 

Oh... HELLS. 

His brain would have stalled out completely for the PRESENCE if he hadn't heard Hyrax's threat behind him and turned towards the mirrors and catapulted himself into the purple mirror, glad he had only a nub tail that couldn't be grabbed by the demon behind him. "HAH! Take that frog face!" he crowed, skidding to a stop on the other side and his head whipped around to take stock of WHERE he was. Could Hyrax follow?

WC: 373

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Without any hesitation in your mind you smash that purple mirror to pieces. It bellows, a deep clamour erupting, sounding like horns or trombones. Great, something sinister is about to come out of that mirror. The mirror erupts in flames and then, a dragon larger than you walks out, with all the confidence in the world and no fear. With lava coursing through his veins, the mighty Hannibal has arrived to your aid.

Hyrax stops, staring at the mighty brute before him. “H-Hannibal…it cannot be!” It appears Hyrax is heavily intimidated by the far bigger purple dragon. Hannibal isn’t having any of Hyrax’s shit, smoke puffing from his nostrils he turns to you. “Stand back, I’ll deal with this beast. Protect the gem with your life. If Hyrax gets his paws on it, the planet is doomed.” Hannibal lowers his head like that of a ram and he charges headfirst at Hyrax. The fight is on.

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Prompt Four
Regardless of what mirror you chose, you find yourself in the company of a powerful ally, now ready to face Hyrax! The battle ensues, it's do or die time. Hyrax strikes first, but your companion is quicker and far more powerful and they strike Hyrax with their choice of magic. It sends him flying back, screaming in horror as the holy powers burn at his skin. He's a demon, they never win and as such are weak to pure good magic. He snarls, staring at you as cracks form along his skull plate. "You...you think you're special? Just because you have a friend of a higher power working with you?" He wants that gem from you and he's going to do anything to get it. He stands up and a blast of pure dark energy erupts from his maw, but with quick thinking you're able to cast a barrier to deflect it.

Your companion lunges, sinking their teeth into Hyrax's back. He cries out in anger and whilst you clench the gem close to your chest is seems to pulsate, as if sending out a distress signal. You watch as blood spills as Hyrax and your companion start a nasty brawl of pure strength. Your companion puts up a good fight but they hit the ground panting. Hyrax snarls, maw covered in his blood and that of your companion and he approaches you, looking like a madman. "R-Run!" your companion grunts, trying to get back to their feet. You clench the gem tighter as the eye inside blinks, is this the end? Hyrax is about to lunge when a portal next to you opens and out walks Annabelle. The dragon Queen cracks her whip like tail, standing before you, defending you. "Lady Annabelle!" Hyrax screams in horror and the Queen swings her long tail to send Hyrax staggering back. More of his cult followers rush up from the hidden passage and Annabelle lets out a torrent of blue fire. "Saving your hide again, huh? Did you not learn after your run in with Bal'Hammon?" she shakes her head before swiping at a cultist, blood spurting from his throat. "You have to get rid of that gem!" Annabelle exclaims. She can keep the cultists at bay, now its up to you to decide what to do with the gem. The eye stares at you, as if pondering what fate you are going to choose.

-Smash it to pieces.
-Swallow the gem, they'll have to go through you to get it now.
-Fuck that, hand it to Annabelle, you're not qualified for this.

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Choice 1: Smash it to pieces.
Hah. Stein took a step back as the mirror rippled ominously. He frowned, his ears and feathers pinning back and his scales grew cold at the image. Yep. Hyrax could follow. His head looked up at his new companion and blinked. "Um, actually, no. I've never thought myself special. Why do you ask?" Stein looked confused, his head twisting back to the demon as he oozed over the cooled lava obstacle. "I don't rely on luck, I rely on skill. It's worked so far." The dragon ducked, fire flaring at his paws and burned up the dark energy before it reached him or Hannibal. Well THAT was useful. Huh. A MIRROR that gave him an ally. Pity it had smashed when the larger dragon had come through, but Stein just gave himself a shake and looked around as he fought off the cultists following in their leader's wake. 

There was too many CULTISTS. If only there was a way to get RID of them. Stein belched lava again, turning to face them directly and pointedly ignored the screams as their flesh burned to a crisp. His lava was far more controlled now and didn't become a raging inferno any longer. Pity. His head snapped up as he heard a loud THUD and blinked as he saw the large black dragon down somehow - Hyrax HAD to have CHEATED, the little rat. He crouched, ready to meet the skull-headed demon head-on when another portal opened beside him and suddenly the white ass of his Queen was in the way. It was getting annoying how people kept portallijng in FRONT of him, but more power to them. She was larger than he was after all. 

"Heh.. Heh heh heh. Funny, you should mention that..." Stein trailed off. He wasn't going to get into the ramifications of what had happened to the horn he'd gotten from that night. Nope. Not here. Not with another demon. Hopefully, Annabelle hadn't heard his words as she yelled at him to get rid of it.

That was a damned pity. Stein frowned at the eye within, then held it aloft. He jumped up into the air, launching himself towards the wall, then leaped off it to another wall to get clear of the cultists, then higher, to another buttress and swung along a beam to regain his balance. Without hesitation, he reached out and threw the gemstone into the nearest wall, watching as it made a satisfying shatter and letting the shards rain down to the floor.

WC: 419

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Result: Hyrax engaged Annabelle as you stood there like a ninny trying to figure out what to do with the gem. A loud screech erupts from Annabelle, being struck across the chest she staggers backwards as her purple blood falls to the ground. She tries not to show Hyrax it’s phased her. Seeing no other choice as things come to a head, you throw that gem hard. Hyrax catches you doing this and his eyes grow wide with horror, “NO!” he screams as the gem screeches unholy as souls seem to rush out from it. The imprisoned souls leave the place through the windows and Hyrax finds that he starts to claw at his head. “No…no no no! He’s going to come after me for failing him!” he wails. He turns his gaze to you and snarls, “You welp! Meddling where you don’t belong!” he screams. But before he goes to attack you, he staggers. Blood begins to seep from his neck as he suddenly falls lifeless. The skull plate on his head falls off and to the ground. You don’t dare look at the scarred head beneath it. Instead you watch as Queen Annabelle flicks the blood from her tail scythe. One paw clenches her chest and the other picks up the skull plate and hands it to you. “Congratulations…you slayed a demon.” She looks down at the corpse, that slowly starts to turn to ash and wither away. “I don’t know who he was talking about…but this isn’t over.” She looks at you before limping to the exit. You have to wonder, just who and what is going on? You follow Annabelle, both of you hoping for answers.

Finale
You’ve all gathered back at the fountain where your night began. Hyrax is gone, for now, but many questions remain unanswered. Your companions and the Queen are waiting with you for the head of the Elder Council, Samson, to come and speak with you all. Samson appears, an immaculate older dragon gold and white in color. But he is not alone as the other elders of the council accompany him. The news they have been given from Annabelle has disturbed them greatly and for once, Samson doesn’t have an answer. “What do you mean you don’t know!?” Annabelle exclaims. She shakes her head and stars to pace. Samson sits on his haunches, holding his staff in his handpaws. “I tell you, that I know not what this darkness is.”  

“What’s wrong with me?! What happened to them!” she points at you. “What was that gem! It was filled with an unholy darkness!”  

Before Samson can answer, the sound of heavy wingbeats erupt. All of you look up and some of the elders even cower at the large foreboding shadow that is descending. A large black and white dragon with a pumpkin for a tail lands, his eyes appear to be bleeding but upon closer inspection, they are just markings. His teeth and underbelly are golden and he looks menacing. Annabelle knows very well who this is, but he has never once left The 9. Samson is just as shocked to see the ruler of the Fallen entering their domain. “Who are you?” Saelife inquires. The dragon laughs, his voice deep and it seems to echo. “Who am I? Mortal, do you fear me? My name is Namatufen.”

“The fallen god of war and conflict” Anna answers before Fen can even explain. Fen chuckles deeply, happy that someone knows who he is, let alone fears him. “My Queen, I’m flattered by your recognition. But as much as I’d love your devotion,  I come bringing terrifying news.” Anna is not intimidated by Fen, she actually looks rather annoyed by his high and mighty attitude, “Alright, out with it then. Explain what’s going on!” Fen laughs at Annabelle’s impatience, “One of Whitelupa’s children has gone astray. That lovely gem that was destroyed, it was being used to summon the god of Dread and Terror. Your problems are far from over, Bal’Hammond’s brother Bal’Berith is among us. The God of Dread and Terror is coming, looking to claim his next victim.”  

As Fen laughs, Annabelle and Samson share a concerned glance. Fen flies away moments later and you find you have many questions. Samson looks at you as does Annabelle, “I think it's about time you learned about more of the gods that fill our history books and inhabit our world.” Annabelle and Samson encourage you to come to the Council later so they can show you the ancient texts, but there is still more work for you to do before you can go. As you find yourself walking, you go past one of the taverns and you cannot believe your eyes as you see Fen, of all Arianians, flirting with the female Arianian mortals. You want to know what the sleazeball is up to so you approach him, confront him.  

Fen’s gaze turns to you and he chuckles. “So you want to know about me? The mighty Namatufen? Well…I suppose I can indulge you. I know I play a hard game, act pompous but in reality I am nothing of the sort. If I don’t act tough no one respects you, especially a fallen god. Do you understand little one?” Clearly you’ve misjudged Fen and it might be worth getting to know him. Perhaps he could prove a valuable ally. “Converse with me for a while, I could use the company as my siblings pay me no mind. If you do, maybe I’ll give you a gift for lending me your time.”  

A free gift just for conversing? Hells yes.

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