Nap Time with Friends [Great Hunt]

Bergamot had a rude awakening. The ground whipping by far below him, teal wings fluttering in and out of the corners of his vision, awareness returning just as slowly as his eyesight did. He swung his bruised face to try and sort through the situation. Someone... some *mage,* judging by the constant buzz of magic in his head, was carrying him off. Guised in the form of a great lizard, but a runt at that. He struggled in the claws that grasped him and willed his own magic to pour out of him, surprised when it worked. The frame of a man warping and twisting till he was too large to be held in this mage's claws. A beast of gold that reflected the sun replaced that of a bandit

He fell. Plummeting till it almost looked like the ground would swallow him whole. Gilded wings jutting out right before he struck the ground. A sharp pain as the wind caught his weight and strained his muscles.

The next thing he knew, he was airborn. Gliding along easily- away from his kidnappers, and back towards Mead. Not to land and make himself an easy target for the guards that swarmed that place like a hoard of  flies, no, but to survey. Try and collect in his fragmented mind what had happened. The last thing he recalled was sitting in a tent, Kree nearby. Promising to keep watch and clearly a dissapointment. But now? How had he been unfettered? Who was stupid enough to uncap his dragon's blood, to let him fly again?

The dragon made a low pass over the fields of Mead. The tourney grounds swallowed by some sort of haze- but his emerald eyes saw what it truly was. A fog of a million eyes. each and every inch of that mass shimmered with corruption, made his head ache with the power, and there at the center stood another behemoth. A mage turned monster. The second so closely following the appearance of the scourge.

All around the grounds swallowed by the fog, lay people. Downed, dead? Who could be sure. He made a wide pass, avoided the densest haze. Looking for any who stood alert.

--

Amanita's mind was still whirling after her rather embarrassing encounter at the tournament. Different scenarios ran through her head of what she could have done instead, for better and for worse. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that it wasn't until she was far outside the city of Mead, that she felt something was wrong. It began with a prickle, the kind that gives you goosebumps and raises the hair on the back of your neck. That's when she realized just how *silent* everything had become. Something was *wrong*.

There should be some kind of noise, whether from the clattering of people gossiping about the days events, screaming about it, or even just children running about screaming. But there was nothing. Not even birds chirping. She whipped her head back towards the town, her red and white mushroom hat bobbing with the movement. Instead of seeing the town of Mead, there was only a dense fog. She could only just make out the colorful flags indicating where the gates should be.

That's when she saw it. From the midst of the fog rose a giant, purple giraffe skull holding an eyeball in it's mouth. It was a monster that nightmares were made of. Immediately she thought of the stories of the silver scourge, the corrupted mage who had terrorized Anathema not long ago. This must be another mage lost to their own magic.

What happened to everyone though? There were no screams of anguish or fear. There was nothing. For a long moment, Amanita stood there frozen, debating on if she should get involved or leave it to stronger mages. The healer in her couldn't leave people in need though. Somewhat begrudgingly, she headed back towards Mead. She patted her puffy, green dress and looked in the brown leather pouch to see if she had some mushrooms ready in case she needed them and thankfully she did.

As she approached, so started to notice what looked like...eyeballs floating about in the fog. Disgust welled in her stomach at the thought and she had to fight back some nausea momentarily. Still , she moved forward and began to make out people in the fog, laying on the ground. they were much too far to tell if the were deceased or not. Being cautious of the fog, she walked around the outskirts of the city so see if there were any other mages nearby who may have an idea of what is going on. 

---

*Eryngo | He/Him | Order Mage*

A chalice of gold rang with a metallic twang as the man at the head of the table tapped against it with an equally valuable fork.

“Attention! Attention if you please!” He said, calling out to all those gathered. Eryngo had been staring at his own plate before this happened, trying to keep his head down as soon as he noticed the first famous face among the many that attended. He recognized several others’ voices here too. Everyone here was a *somebody*, and not just anybody, but one whose name was known throughout the land. But here Eryngo was, a complete *nobody*, and he just couldn’t understand what he was doing here amongst all of these prominent figures. Nor could he figure out how he had even gotten here in the first place. *How perplexing…*

Wasn’t he just somewhere else? He remembered… music, though that was certainly here too. But it was louder, and far more boisterous than the graceful, smooth notes that were played in here. The smells were stronger, sweater, but here it was all faint flowery perfumes and quality seasonings. Even the tactile sense was different. No more dusty earth that caved beneath his heels nor the gentle brush of a breeze against his skin. Instead his feet were grounded against solid stone, or more accurately, the intricately woven carpet that laid beneath the table. No wind was felt, for none could penetrate through the walls about them, and due to the fact that he sat nowhere near the nearest window.

Suddenly, arms tangled themselves about his shoulders and neck, and Eryngo nearly leapt from his seat in surprise as a result. His heart hammered inside his chest as he spun about; a difficult task given the stiff, Elizathian ruff collar that cupped his entire head. He didn’t even get the chance to wonder where his lab coat had gone when he saw just who it was behind him.

'NGgHh??!” The mage couldn’t even come to say her name, his words twisted into a strangled, confused whimper as if the ruff around his neck was too tightly bound for speech. Crocosmia was as beautiful as ever. Her gentle eyes glittered like pond water, yet so too did they have an oceanic-like depth to them; one that only those who had studied them meticulously would ever come to see.
She rose a finger before her lips, the phalanges encased by skin tanned from long days under the sun and calloused from the frequent grip of a hilt or shaft. He came to know them well, from whenever they met in the winding tunnels beneath Namarast, sheltered from spying eyes by the shadows.

“Shh…” His fellow mage hushed. “Our King is about to speak. You need only hear him out, my love, and all will be understood.”
The corners of Eryngo’s mouth twitched, his cheeks turning an embarrassingly obvious shade of red. He had always wanted to hear her call him that. But… now?! And physical affections too, no less? In front of all these people?! He glanced at those sitting beside him from out of the corners of his eyes, but no reaction came from either of them – except maybe a small, knowing smile from Andel – nor did any come from the ones that were seated another seat over. This… this wasn’t something that was… typically acceptable…wasn’t it?

*Wait. Did she say the King? Someone cleared their throat, drawing the mage’s attention back to the person who had just called for everyone’s attention. So this was him? The King? Eryngo never had the chance to meet with him in person, though certainly there were paintings here and there of the royal. But he found it almost impossible to believe that he would ever come to meet him face to face. And if he did, it would have been from the sidelines where he was only an accessory for the truly important. But here? Now? The King was staring directly at *him*.

--

Kree had clung to Jura’s feathery form, high above Mead and swiftly leaving the area after their escape. Ahead, Maxin held the unconscious form of Bergamot, the girl’s brows furrowing as she wasn’t fond of how roughly they moved him about. It seemed like they would escape with no opposition once high in the sky, the guards on the ground scared off by the now blue-green dragon, with a bit of help from his dust magic. She’d quickly look down to see how high they were, nearing the clouds.

She thought that perhaps heights this high would have scared her, yet she felt a thrill making her blood pulse and had to fight the urge to let her arms feel the sharp winds as the dragons ascended. It would all be fine, she’d be sure of it. Yet as she thought that a massive cloud of mist boiled up like a spring from the tourney grounds, swelling like an eruption of a volcano and spreading like a flood through mead. The entire town coated in the strange fog and a large dark shape forming in the center. Her excitement was replaced with dread, that was a monster - someone had corrupted. There would be more death- The girl would turn back ahead to check on Bergamot, the dragon-bandit struggling in Max’s claws and wrenching free. Then he’d fall.

Kree would lurch forward, on instinct, as if she could grab him despite their distance, he’d swiftly drop out of view and the child would lean over Jura’s side to see the man shimmer in gold and take to the sky as a massive Wyrm. He’d almost struck the ground before his wings would unfurl, breaking the fall. “BERGY!” She’d yell, taking a brief look at Jura and Max before continuing, “I’ll be back! Please wait!” She’d then leap off the feathered owl-dragon, the wind catching her form and slowing her descent- now or never she’d think as she clutched the scale at her chest.

Bergamot likely wouldn’t care about her, but she didn’t want the man to think she failed in protecting him, she wanted to prove herself, even if the person she hoped to please could care less. Her mind wandered to willfully leaving Jura, letting her reckless thoughts take over, and if she fell and died- No she wouldn’t let that happen. She didn’t want anyone to die, not even the monster. With a frustrated yell her own form would coat in sharp scales, pinks and purples to mimic some of those that already plated her form. Then she felt the sharpness in her back as wings sprouted, those she already had shedding their feathers and replaced with sharp spines and leathery skin. She’d flutter briefly like a stricken bird, before folding her two sets of wings to dive. She’d see the hawks do it, peregrine, how they quickly caught up to their targets.

The golden dragon swiftly came into view, growing in size as she approached to be immense, her descent so fast that her eyes squinted from the wind. she’d nearly crashed into him like an arrow, but unfurled her wings and twisted to the side, barely avoiding his back, but using a few dagger like claws to hook onto the scales of his neck. She’d then yell, as loud as she could, “WE GOT YOU OUT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! BERGY!” 

With her grasp secured, her fingers aching, she’d climb up the side of his neck, trying to reach the row of spines and a more level position. She couldn’t see much where she was, and as it was, the golden wyrm was massive, far larger than she even imagined. Her own dragon form was minuscule in comparison, dwarfing even Jura and Max. Curse her for always being small.

From what she could gather, Bergamot was surveying, and from the closer vantage she too could see the vague forms of bodies on the ground, guards and civilians alike. Bergamot would stay above the fog, but she’d worry that they were dead, as still as every shape in that mist was. What was this magic? Poison?

--

Bergamot made a wide, slow pass over the grounds of the tourney, overtop the fog choked rooftops of Mead. Head and eyes pointed down like a hunting hawk. Searching, and failing, to find anyone in the fog that still moved. Anyone fighting. Mages, the order, the kinds guards even? There wasn't a single person upright, running, screaming or fighting.

Was this fog  of illusory eyes a type of poison? Emanating out of that damned skeleton like a miasma- while it stood stationary in the center of one of the fields. He noticed half a leg atop a colorful tent, thought it had not been crushed by the  immense size of the monster.  

With a snarl the golden dragon lifted his head abruptly, angled one of his eyes towards the object of his ire. His circling growing tighter, quicker. He'd make a dive, but first he had to climb higher. See if he could strike the skeleton with the sturdy leading edge of one of his wings-

Something was screaming at him.  Bergy.

Kree?!

Coiling his serpentine neck to look behind himself, he located the sound and the tingling feeling of claws against his golden hide. A small, prickly and pink scales dragonling clinging to him for dear life.

"Child!" He bellowed, deafeningly, while actively reversing  his own ascent. Wings angled sharply forward so the drag of  wind pulled against him- followed by him plainly folding them against his flanks so he dropped towards the ground like a rock. His hind legs extended to catch and buckle under his own weight in a motion he was well accustomed to. The giant reptile slammed into the ground just outside the bank of fog, dirt and dust flung up around him as he brought his wings down sharply.

 "What are you doing?!" He snarled again, baring pointed white teeth towards the little thing hanging on for her life, his hooked beak deftly snatching her off of himself before he dropped her, a short distance, to the ground. Only then did he notice another here, alive too. A woman dressed like a toxic mushroom...

---

*Eryngo | He/Him | Order Mage*

“Greetings my fellow guests! I am pleased that you all were able to attend. Especially so for our guest of honor.” Gladius raised his chalice to a round of mumbled approvals and nods, yet did not yet sip from it. “Now, most of you already know as to why you’re here. But as for those who do not, allow me to fill you in on the details.” He gestured towards a youth who had stood by the doorway, his hands clasped about an object draped in red cloth. Unlike everyone else here, his clothes were simpler, so Eryngo had a pretty good guess that he was likely one of the king’s many attendants.

“This kingdom has faced many challenges throughout its existence. From wars, to famines and droughts, to the mysterious nature of corruption that our unfortunate mages must battle all their lives.” Gladius rested his chalice down before continuing, stretching his arms out to all who sat at his table. “For years, I have watched my people helplessly as they lived their lives in fear of the unknown, dreading the day that they might join the ranks of the corrupt, or fall beneath their power! And, for that, I must give my praise to our Archon and her witchfinders for protecting the populace where my guards could not.”

The attendees applauded, and Eryngo joined them after glancing around him quickly. It was only now that he noticed that said Archon was here too, bowing her head to the King out of both respect and appreciation.
“But today we enter a new age!” The King began again, reaching now for the shrouded object. “For the solution I and so many others sought for our dear mages has recently, and finally, been found.”

And it was at that moment that everyone, each and every person in that room, turned their gazes to the unremarkable mage still entangled in the witchfinder’s arms. “Huh?! Wha-? I-I- er…” He fiddled with his hands, staring at them to avoid the stares upon him. “As much as I am inclined to claim credit for this accomplishment, your majesty, I must say that I do believe that there might be a… er, *slight* misunderstanding. I… well- *erm*…” *Have yet to achieve anything of the sort.* He wanted to say but couldn’t, trailing off instead.

“Nonsense!” The King barked a laugh. “I understand that you have only prepared your first batch for the public thus far, but there is no need to be discouraged, my dear fellow! I am confident that, in time, every mage will have received your miraculous concoction.” With the object set beside his drink he clapped, then waved Eryngo over. “Now come! For I have something I wish to give to you.” The mage was hesitant, but with Crocosmia’s encouragement he eventually rose from his seat, approaching the king with wary steps. Gladius, meanwhile, was in the middle of drawing back the cloth, revealing a small black box tucked inside. And when the king opened it, Eryngo could see that it held a scroll, a stamp, and a feather quill.

--

Shouting broke the eerie silence of the city, startling Amanita. Her eyes flew up towards the sky where she caught a glimpse of a huge golden dragon hurtling towards the ground with something pink in it's grasp. His wings beat with such force, the wind nearly blew Amanita's hat away, causing her to cling onto it. They were the first sign of movement she had seen since the silence began. The first sign of life.

Her first instinct was to run towards them; to find out if they knew anything and see if they were unharmed. She didn't though. She had never met these dragons before and certainly wasn't ready to meet a fiery end of the stories she had heard of dragons were to be true. Instead, she approached them calmly and in the most non threatening matter she could. Not like someone as small as her would be even a remote threat for the dragons.

She took note that the dragons stayed away from the fog, as did she. Yet those who were visible within the fog lay on the ground unconscious...or worse. The eyeballs within the fog bounced around, staring at her. They were really quite disgusting and she had to turn away as she headed towards the dragons. "Hello, uhh, dragons! Are you both okay? Do you need any help?" she shouted and waved at them.

It may have not been the wisest decision, but since they were the only other creatures actually moving about, she figured they were going to be her best bet for figuring out what was going on.

"I-I was just leaving the tournament to go home when everything fell silent. I thought it was odd, so I turned around and came back and I saw the strange fog and all the eyes and...and that *monster*. You two are the only other ones I have seen still conscious so far. Do you have any idea what is going on? Did you see anything from above?" She looked around nervously as she approached the pair, hoping they wouldn't decide to burn her alive. 

--

Bergamot continued his pass just over the mist, swallowing the town as it spread and his wings casting a dark shadow over everything below. It was hard enough with the wind buffeting her, the small dragon’s eyes squinted for lack of the ability to water. At least from what she could tell, Bergy also noticed the myriad of bodies, and after a time she’d stop looking, curling her now pointy snout towards the scales of Bergamot’s neck. She’d only lift her head as she felt his muscles contract, finding the massive wyrm curling his neck to inspect the pest clinging to him. He’d then bellow, nearly having her jump out of her skin, and then he dropped. Her tiny claws were pried free of the scales she clung to and she’d swipe a few times at air before latching on again, folding her wings to follow his descent.  He’d land with a thud, the girl’s nose smashing into his back before she finally lost her grip for sure and slid off his neck and into a ball in the webbing of his curled wing. She’d struggle to roll onto her stomach and then once righted she’d listen to his words. Of course he’d ask what she was doing, ignoring her own question.

'OWCH.” Kree would grumble, holding her spiny snout in her claws as she looked up to the massive dragon. “WHAT YA MEAN? What are you doin?! I thought ya wanted to escape!?” She’d sniff hard, tasting some copper before letting her spindly claws drop, eying his side for a way to a higher vantage and out of the mist as it crept back in the wake of the dragon’s wings and wind. Her barrage of questions would have continued if the unfamiliar voice of a woman hadn’t interrupted. Instead of answering she’d scramble like a gecko up the golden scales to perch atop the gold wyrm’s spine and then arch her back like some failed cat. The woman herself wore some sort of giant mushroom hat and while seeming nice, Kree was immediately suspicious. What were the chances of non-order mages running up to them?

The woman would start explaining things, asking if they were well and that they were the only ones aside from the monster. That was never good. “I DUNNO!? ARE YOU ORDER?!” Kree would try to yell but it sounded more hiss-like than any bellow that Bergy summoned with ease. For now it didn’t seem like the woman was any wiser than them on the situation, but she’d mention eyes and that had Kree look around and spot the floating hazy orbs in the mist. She’d grimace some before squinting back down at the mushroom lady. Maybe those people weren’t dead after all, with Amanita mentioning ‘unconscious’. The pink and purple dragon would then glance at Bergamot’s massive head, specifically the one eye she could see. Wondering if the bandit lord would just scare her off or work together. That mushroom hat looked like a poisonous kind she knew of in the forests around the farm, but that didn’t mean the woman had a magic that could harm Bergamot. 

---
"Later-" The golden scaled beast snarled at the little pink and purple tick that had scrambled right back up his golden scales and now perched on the high arch of his neck. She was wise to pick a spot along his spine where he could not reach her with his teeth, so his emerald eyes instead turning from Kree and to the woman who had the gall to approach him on the ground. Lucky for this mage, he had wondered the same thing and really had no care about her affiliations. He remembered a brief bout of unconsciousness, and when he'd come to, the entire town had been cloaked in this *vile* magic.  "It is corruption, a sleeping spell?" He said firmly but the tail end of his words carried an uncertainty.

Bergamot then swung his bruised head back around to peer towards the fog bank that existed not so far off from him and made his skin crawl, Kree likely going for a ride. Distantly, he could see the hulking shape of the monster that had cursed these grounds, "The people in the fog are asleep- but the longer they remain within..." Was it needed to be said? They would die. Starvation, the weather, dehydration... any number of things could happen.

Turning back to woman, he lowered himself so his lower jaw touched the dirt of the field with a dismissive sniff. She buzzed with magic just as much as everyone else did- not so much to make his head ache, but enough for him to detect through everything else. "There is a monster within the clouds that surround these grounds. It's magic is sleep...*and* something else." He couldn't quite tell the true nature given how twisted it all was, but predominately it would knock anything out that walked into it. Perhaps someone with a strong enough will could endure, but he wasn't so sure on trying that himself. Not with how his health was.

--

*Eryngo | He/Him | Order Mage*

The youth returned then with a stoppered ink well, and Gladius patted his head after taking it. “A fine mage and researcher such as yourself would benefit greatly from having his own staff on hand, would he not?” He said, smiling.
“I er, well…” Eryngo started, averting his gaze from the king as his eyes of amber skittered across the piece of parchment instead. “Of course he would, but–” He froze. Heart skipping a beat, eyes widening as they landed upon the words in bold.
“I would like to reward you with this deed to a spacious estate near the capital, complete with your own lab where you may practice your craft as you please.” The king continued, pointing to the bottom marked with an x with an ivory gloved finger. “All you need to do is sign, and on the morrow I shall announce you before the people as both Royal Physician and Head Researcher of Magical Ailments!”

This can’t be happening… *But it is.* It couldn’t be real. *But it was.* The mage did have *eyes*, after all. And besides, this wouldn’t be the first time he had forgotten something important after an experiment gone wrong.
Eryngo took a deep breath, and then, almost all at once, his anxiety was gone; pouring out of him in the single exhale that followed. As for what remained? Well…
He cleared his throat several, noisily times, as his chest visibly swelled with ego. He then clapped a palm against his chest, and bowed as deeply as his achy limbs would let him. “Why thank you, sire! I am most grateful for these generous gifts you have bestowed upon me, and will make certain that they are put to a most advantageous use.”

“Splendid!” The king said, shifting the inkwell, with the quill inside it, closer towards the mage. He took it eagerly, signing his name with more flare than he ever bothered to do for his notes.
The rest of the day was spent in fine company, dining upon foods he’d never dream of tasting, and drinking from aged bottles he would have never been able to afford. What an amazing day it had been. With just the flick of a wrist, he had gone from the one they all had shunned to being the one that they admired. No longer would he be the nobody that others claimed him to be. But instead the genius who finally acquired the attention that he deserved all along.

Took them long enough to recognize my brilliance! Eryngo thought with a wry smirk as he swirled about his glass. Still, it was strange. All this and not to remember any of it at all. Ah well. I’m certain it’ll come back to me as soon as I return to my lab.

---

Amanita quirked her eyebrow at the little pink thing that was screeching at her. "Well, technically, I suppose I am. Though I think we have other matters to worry about right now?" She listened carefully as the golden dragon spoke. Sleep magic? That would make sense and was quite honestly the best case scenario at this point. She realized that since those who were asleep were within the fog and they were still awake, it must be magic within the fog itself.

After a long moment, she looked at the dragon. "If it's sleep, I have something that may help. It's a plant essence that wakes people. Usually I use it to keep people's wits about them in critical injuries, but it should work in this case. I also have caffeine extract to help keep those of us who are awake, awake. Though, I'm not entirely sure how much you would need. I've never administered it to a dragon before..." she trailed off looking the dragon over. Then she looked back over at the silent town.

"Of course, we'd have to be able to get someone out first and that requires going in there. Though a suspect if we breath in the fog, we'll end up just like them. Do you have any ideas?

Rummaging through her pack, she pulled out a couple of her mushrooms. She pulled off a piece of each and began to crush one of them with a mortar and pestle she had pulled from her pack as well. She ground the piece of mushroom with the adrenaline-like compound into a powder, something that would be easily administered to a sleeping person. The other one she took a small bite off and immediately felt her energy restoring to her. That one was definitely the caffeine extract and even a small bite was rather potent due to its concentration.

She only had 1 mushroom of each compound and they weren't huge, so they would have to use it sparingly. Both extracts were great to keep on hand, though she didn't have to use them very often and didn't keep much in stock. Though she knew of a few local plants that grew nearby they could use in an emergency.

She looked at her reserves again and then back at the dragon, frowning. "My name is Amanita by the way, I don't think we ever properly introduced ourselves. Also, you wouldn't happen to have a humanoid form would you? I'm not sure how effective my extracts would be on dragons to be quite honest."

---

Kree continued to crouch on Bergamots spine, listening now as the golden dragon took up conversation with the evil order mage. She's scowl but it just seemed to show a row of sharp teeth, lacking the petulant expression she likely hoped for.  She heard the start of something about mushrooms before Bergamot swing his head to get vantage of the fog.

Barely hanging on, at the peak of his movement her sore claws slipped and off she went, into the fog and careering towards the ground. Instinctively she curled up, forming a tight spikey ball of a dragon, akin to a pangolin, bouncing off something softer than she expected. Worried for the fog she remained in her rolled up state. Maybe Bergy would notice he just sent her cannonballing off into the mists. Though... she should have at least shouted to alert him.
--

*Eryngo | He/Him | Order Mage*

“And so there I was! On the brink of my greatest, and most stupendous accomplishment yet,” Eryngo had continued, reaching out with his fingers outstretched before him. After a long night of feasting and chatter, his cheeks had adopted a soft shade of red, and his eyes sparkled just as they often did when he chanced upon a new discovery. Several listeners had gathered around him, hanging on his every word as he spun the tale of how he came across the solution to all the mages’ problems. When he first started he was practically sweating like a pig, pulling at the collar that seemed too tightly woven about his neck as he prattled on whatever came to mind. He was a phony, a farce! How did any of them even come to believe that he was the one behind the cure? And yet… they *believed it all*. With each minute the mage grew ever bolder, until the lies he once tripped and toppled became as smooth and sweet as honey.

But what happened next was the *complete* opposite of that. First thing he knew, someone had spared him yet another a compliment, and the next he felt something **slam** against his side. “AIEE!!” He sat up with start, only to come face to face with eyes far less admiring and far more *unblinking* than the ones he had met before.

“What is the meaning of–?! *Of…*” Words once furious at the interruption trailed off as the dreamer’s haze faded and the world again became far much too real. And he really *really* didn’t like the way those *things* stared at him. He slid back and away ever so slowly, until he felt where the earth was soft enough for him to dig in his fingers. And dug he did, grasping at them like the talons of a raptor before he shut his eyes and *flung* the dust and pebbled as hard as he could at his pursuer. Eryngo then whirled around, bolted for the first opening he saw, and…! *Tripped.* Right over the very mage that had awoken him in the first place.

--

The potency of a mushroom did bring about some doubts in his mind, but Bergamot figured anything was worth a try if it spared him an unwanted nap. Sure, he probably- *desperately*, needed one, but now wasn't the time for it. A plant that produced something akin to caffeine. Quite the magic, If rather peculiar. Would too much consumption have the same effects on the body as drinking a whole pot of coffee on a cold day? Send one's heart into a fit inside one's chest and their thoughts scattered about by too much energy?

The little woman with her mushroom cap suggested he was too large for what she had on hand, but he simply snorted at her. Buffeting the poor girl in a gust of hot air. "Bergamot." He said simply, "It is better for both of us that I remain the way I am."  Idly watching her grind her little plants into a powder. Only in that moment of pause had he realized he no longer felt Kree's claws pricking at his own hide, lifting his head abruptly form the dirt as he looked for her.

Towards the edge of the fog, but still inside of it, he saw that little ball of pink spikes. Curled up like a pinecone- and another, a mage, nearby. He shifted his massive body carefully in her direction, extending his serpentine neck out to scoop the girl into his jaws like a watchful mother crocodile. The other figure joining Kree in his half open maw just by virtue of being too close for him to leave him behind. Bergamot held his breath as he did so, and keenly felt for how the corruption would affect him. A haze across his senses, but not one that lingered when he tugged his head back away and deposited the dragonling girl and the stranger before Amanita.  

"Girl." He said to Kree, curling the point of his tail around his bulk to prod her, "Are you conscious?" He then shifted his head to regard the man, "And you-"

--

Someone spoke, someone unfamiliar, she'd crack an eye open just as she felt a food collide with her and then someone fall, her vision blocked until she wriggled her way out a bit. Her efforts seemed in vain as instead of seeing  the face of the man who she fell on and presumable fell on her, it was nothing but the teeth and darkness as Bergamot scooped her up in his maw. She was vaguely familiar of crocodiles yet she felt a bit worried to be eaten. The only thing grounding her was the idea that she was a spikey ball of probably throat pain and also like eating an ant to him. Not worth it.

Then she felt the hardness of the ground and a prod at her hide, she'd uncoil and stare up at the massive dragon, "Yeah!" She'd turn immediately after to try and spy Eryngo, another complete stranger and surprisingly not covered in slime.  "Who's that?"

--

Amanita only had a moment to look over the two mages that Bergamot had put in front of her to note that both were still breathing, before the stranger jumped up and freaked out, trying to run away, only to trip over the little pink critter.  The little pink one was recovering quickly as well as she uncurled and began to speak. Amanita strode over to the startled man who had tried so quickly to run away. "Hey, hey, you're okay. Bergamot here just pulled you out of the town. There's some kind of magic fog in there causing people to sleep we think. Just take a breath, we're not here to harm you. Can you tell us what you remember?" she extended a hand out to him as a gesture to help him up.

She eyed the small pink creature and golden dragon again. "You may not need this, but I have some caffeine extract in these mushrooms. If anything helps to fight off sleep it's caffeine..." Turning to the pink one she teased, "though I'm not sure you'll need it, you seem quite energetic all on your own." 

--

*Eryngo | He/Him | Order Mage*

Face down in the dirt, Eryngo was unable to see at first that which plucked him from the earth. Arms flung forwards, fingers once more reaching for the soil in a pitiful effort to cling to it. But his attempts to stay grounded proved to be in vain, and so he twisted about in the dragon’s grasp, scrambling for the tools that lay in his belt for something, anything to pry his attacker’s grip off him only to catch sight of the sheer size of the one who nabbed him. ‘A monster?!’ Eryngo whimpered incoherently at the sight. ‘No- no wait. Just another mage,’ he realized. “R-release me this instant!” He cried out, only to then grip the teeth himself as he saw yet more of the strange floating eyes below him. “On erm, second thought. *Don’t* drop me.”

There was a girl too with him in the dragon’s jaws. Eryngo didn’t recognize her, and neither did he the several strangers he spotted when the dragon-mage turned his massive head towards his backside. Eryngo was unceremoniously dropped beside Bergamot and the others, taking longer to get to his feet than Kree. He was in the middle of dusting himself off and patting down his coat when the dragon addressed him. “I am of more than adequate volatile functioning, if that is what you were going to ask.” The scrawny mage said in a tone that perhaps wasn’t quite as grateful as it should have been. “Eryngo, if you please.”

It was then that another mage approached him, her head topped with a large scarlet fungus for a hat. Unlike the other two, she did not start with questions, instead opting for soothing words and reassurance. Eryngo raised a brow at her, but his scowl did become a little less intense. “Oh right, yes. The *town.*” He said, scratching at his head as he filed through his memories. “Hrmm… well, I was here on the pretense of gathering qualitative data, you see. I believe I was in the middle of interviewing contestants who had utilized their magic in the violent altercations structured entirely for the purpose of entertainment, questioning each willing participant in my research as to the effects.” The mage rambled, for he had a tendency to use as many complicated words as possible when he spoke.

He tapped his chin in thought. “I am not certain as to what happened next. It’s all a nonsensical haze… Hrmm… Perhaps it could have to do with that fog you alluded to? Of course, one would need more than a single sample to receive a more concrete analysis, but based on both my personal experience, I’d hypothesize the fog, or perhaps the oculi hominum floating within, to be responsible for said symptoms.” Eryngo risked a glance down to the earth below, shivers crawling along his spine at the sight. “But as for what caused those, well, I can only assume them to be either a very powerful mage, or one consumed by corruption.”
--

Bergamot listened to the ramblings of what he considering to be a pretentious little twit, his head angled ever so slightly to one side so he could keep one bright green eye on them and their discussion.

Neither of them screamed wild mage to him, so he'd keep any information about the corrupted magics affects on himself to a minimum.

"As I've also concluded with Amanita prior to plucking you out of the cloud, and in a *much more concise manner*-" The Golden dragon said with a heavy hiss,  "This fog is from that skeleton." As he said this, Bergamot shifted his attention and his gaze so his far eye focused to the distant shape. It hardly moved, even with them being so close. Towering over the fallen bodies of mages and non-mage alike. Was it worth it to afflict himself with more brain fog when he already had a fair bit to content with on his best days?

Sniffing in disgust at a thought that floated through his head, he returned his attention to the mages below. Head lowering so the point of his lower jaw was nestled into the dirt. Slightly less taxing for him while he was idle, and close enough to the ground for Amanita to toss one of her little mushrooms.
--

"Hmm, maybe you should put him back Bergamot, he talks too much," Amanita said sarcastically. She eyed the disgruntled mage as he rambled about research nonsense, probably thinking he sounded smart with all his fancy, long words. She was raised in the order and could follow him, though she tuned him out simply out of boredom.

When the mage was finally finished yammering, she said, "Anyways, I think it's safe to *hypothesize* that the fog is at least somewhat responsible and most likely created by the giant purple giraffe skeleton. Anyone have suggestions on next steps? It seems that they woke pretty quickly once they were pulled from the fog, and those who go in the fog fall asleep pretty quickly. So, how do we get people out, without falling asleep ourselves?"

Noticing Bergamot had lowered her head to her, she tossed a piece of the caffeinated mushroom towards him, and held out pieces to the other two as well to see if they wanted any.

--

Kree could feel a momentary confidence in being a ball of energy, and aside from straightening her posture as she sat up more she otherwise kept it to herself. Lizards were hard to read after all. Eryngo's speech had draw her attention however, and she'd narrow her eyes visibly. He said too many big words, "What's qual-qualitateev?" If he said it again she could maybe try saying the big strange word, but the man had gone on with his rant and she hadn't particularly spoken loudly to get his attention either. He sounded like another order mage.

The tiny dragon would debate interrupting him on his second round of big words, something about floating oculi hominum. She thought oculi sounded like oculus and that made her think of eyes, but she hasn't seen any. With a sharp turn of her head she stared off into the mist. More corruption, mages turned monster. No one to try and help them.

Bergys words had her actually paying attention again and Kree would swivel back. They had seen a skeleton? Her own head felt a bit foggy but she wasn't tired like Eryngo or anyone else seemed. A little stretch and she imagined her mind would clear, that or a strong sniff of something sharp like vinegar.

Mushroom lady had more easily understood words and with a little grumble she would rise to her feet and make her way over to Bergy, intent on climbing back up on a perch and this being inaccessible to any order mages. The mushroom offered her way was tempting, but also against what the lady said, regardless the tinier dragon would grasp it with a wing claw and continue her ascent.

--

*Eryngo | He/Him | Order Mage*

Eryngo’s eyes widened at Amanita’s proposal. Whether it was sarcasm or not, it was still a contemptible thing to say. Not to mention highly impertinent! “I–” *‘beg your pardon?!’* He nearly shouted, only to feel the dragon’s breath as he hissed through teeth as large, if not larger, than the order mage himself. The finger that Eryngo was about to point accusingly at his fellow mage fell back to his side faster than it had risen, and he quite promptly shut his mouth before Bergamot could think about doing the same around *him*.

Now that he had given them more room to talk, the two others then continued on, clarifying that this was indeed caused by a monster; a giant skeleton one at that. Eryngo looked around, trying to see if he could spot the creature, but it seemed that the fog was just too thick for anyone to make out anything more than the vaguest shapes. He brought his attention back to the group just as Amanita asked them all for suggestions, only to glance at her before turning towards the others. *Are you asking me?* The mage wondered. *Am I to be included in this formulation?* His eyes darted this way and that, back and forth and side to side before he dared speak up.

“Well…” The mage began, stepping forwards. “If their dreams consisted of anything similar to mine, it is, erm… *possible* that they might refuse our aid.” He pinched his chin between a finger and thumb, staring off into the distance in thought for a long moment before nodding and returning his gaze to the rest. “What we *need* is to evacuate the premises and then return with reinforcements. Only with more to our numbers can we have any hope of eliminating that which is the source of this whole mess!”

--

TBC