Vanzerion deflected the charging elf's attack with ease, and charged himself, scythe at the ready, right at Draco. “TRAITORS! YOU ALL ARE MORTAL LOVING LITTLE TRAITORS! YOU KILL THEM! AHEHEHEHE YOU WILL DIE!” He swung fast at the dwarf, and as he did, the earth rumbled.
Draco was quickly on the defensive as he pulled the earth to try and block Vanzerion's charge. However his opponent seem to slice through the Dwarf's defensive wall with ease as it fell back to the earth.
Draco's body began to shift as he pulled strength from the soil around him, growing to near double his normal size and the whole of his body shifted in hue to a more earthy stone-like appearance[1]. His left arm expanded quickly until a thick shield like structure formed from the earth while the Draconian claw on his right remained firm but began to ignite and glow[2].
The Dwarf knew he'd not be able to block the blade of the scythe directly but if he could deflect it via the less dangerous shaft he'd have a chance of surviving his opponent's charge. Raising his shield arm, Draco charged forward hoping to catch his opponent off-guard[3a]. Once the pair were within striking distance Draco brought his shield around in an arch hoping to catch the scythe blade broadside and clip the shaft and perhaps Vanzerion's hand as well. He then followed by bringing his clawed arm into striking distance[3b].
The Dwarf hoped his spur of the moment attack would either damage the weapon of his opponent or force him to retreat. Giving him and hopefully the others a better chance of a breather. If not he was firmly planted and believe ready to take on the much older Black in combat, though he did not like his chances of survival against this much stronger opponent.
______________________________________________________________________ [1] Dwarven Stoneform combined with Warrior's Avatar ability. [2] Draconyxion's Tanking Appearance: http://www.wowhead.com/dressing-room#Vc0z0zJ8VqcMk9m8N2w808N4b87cmL4808zwH87cmpm808BAL808BlL808mpM808mpV808VKY808CkY808A [3] Protection Warrior's Shield Block and Intercept abilities followed by Shield Slam and then Revenge.
“How DARE you! YOU little red scaled B****! You think, hahaha, I want to be DEATH!? I find a scythe to be easy to twirl and dance with, thank you very much.” His last sentence almost seemed sane, until he started cackling again. “Aheahahaha! You LOWER my worthiness!? ME! Vanzerion! TO BE BELOW the traitor!? I AM FAR BEYOND NELTHARION! DEATHWING is no more, mind you. Good riddance. AHEHEHEHE!”
Kora tilted her head, “Sensitive aren’t we? Do not blame me for the fact that practically your entire flight betrayed the other flights. Do not blame me for the fact that your actions make you seem just like Deathwing, and definitely don’t blame me for your stupidity for showing your face in front of me!”
“TRAITORS! YOU ALL ARE MORTAL LOVING LITTLE TRAITORS! YOU KILL THEM! AHEHEHEHE YOU WILL DIE!” He swung fast at the dwarf, and as he did, the earth rumbled. Under Kora and Kersia, the earth heaved, ready to explode.
Kersia blinked, not a moment to spare. A mix of lava and ground sprayed like a fountain into the air. The lava rained down like a molten red shower. The ground fragments formed into spikes aimed for wherever Kersia and Kora landed. The lava and earth then congealed, taking the form of drake sized animated dragons. Each charged for Kora and Kersia, ready to strike, melt, kill.
Kora once again looked at the disguised man in confusion, “Are you sure you don’t want to be like Deathwing? Because your words sound awfully like his.” Kora leaped back, just as the ground exploded, the lava didn’t bother her in the least, what was lava but liquid fire and she breathed fire, “More fire, really?” Kora dipped and rolled to avoid the spikes, her armor forming around her just as she took a glancing blow to her side. She grunted, “That’s going to leave a bruise, nice show, is there an encore Deathwing groupie?”
Kora was growing tired of her enemy’s cowardly tactics, “Can’t fight me on your own so you have to summon your cute little constructs, you really aren’t making a good case for you not wanting to be like Deathwing.”
Sylstyx grew concerned when she saw the man charge at the others, and then returned her gaze back up to Morician. He made space for her to get on his horse, which she took. Awkwardly, the draenei woman managed to get herself perched on the horse's back.
“Vi needink du get du ze ozzerz! Zumtink iz ahmizz!” She patted Morician's shoulders to try and emphasize the urgency.
Morician grunted a bit as he scooted forward a bit more in the saddle, the movement jostling his healing injury. The saddle wasn't really made for carrying double, much less if the other rider was one of the taller races such as draenei. Thankfully though, the shaman managed to find a decent perch, and given how she was patting his shoulders she was ready to go...though her tone of voice seemed a bit off.
He glanced back at Sylstyx, his brow knitted in confusion as he tried to understand exactly what she was saying. It took a few minutes to figure out, but she seemed to be saying something about...needing to catch up with the others, because something wasn't quite right. At least, he was pretty sure that's what she said. "Right, I would agree. Too much magic flyin' around here for my tastes," he replied, nodding his head at the shaman.
Kersia blinked, not a moment to spare. A mix of lava and ground sprayed like a fountain into the air. The lava rained down like a molten red shower. The ground fragments formed into spikes aimed for wherever Kersia and Kora landed. The lava and earth then congealed, taking the form of drake sized animated dragons. Each charged for Kora and Kersia, ready to strike, melt, kill.
In an instant, where there was once the strange elf, there was now a black netherdrake. Her new form granted her more speed, and she was soon at Kersia's side. On arrival, she roared at the weird dragon construct. She wanted to help, to save everyone.
Reining Steel around at the sound of a small explosion, he readied his blade and growled. Another warrior had appeared on the battlefield, as well as some kind of draconic earthern constructs and another weird black dragon thing. Even worse--they all seemed to be after Kersia.
"Hang on tight!" he barked at Sylstyx, before tapping his heels against Steel's flanks and prompting the fidgety charger to surge forward into a gallop. He focused on the black dragon-thing first, hoping that he could close the gap quickly enough to take it by surprise. Surely it was the one in charge of the marauders, and taking it down would stop the attacks...right?
” He swung fast at the dwarf, and as he did, the earth rumbled. Under Kora, Richard, and Kersia, the earth heaved, ready to explode.
RIchard ran as fast as his legs could take him. He dove out of the way as the earth started to erupt, losing his footing in the process. Synthara just grabbed his collar and started to drag him across the ground. Seems though they managed to avoid the lava and spikes for the most part this go around. A few bits of lava singed his boots, but that was hardly something to worry about at the moment.
He got himself up and looked over at the panther. "Thanks, Syn." And then the ground turned into a dragon. Or something. They looked like dragons, though they evidently weren't. Then the masses of rock and lava charged at him and the others.
"Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic." He muttered. If he had to wager a guess his fire wasn't going to be useful and he didn't think the gun was either. If only he had his bags. He had his alchemy supplies in there but the horse bolted. Guess he was just out of luck.
Then another dragon appeared. Richard had no idea where it came from but he didn't like it, though it seemed to be roaring at the 'fake' dragons. Whatever the case he didn't want to be caught underfoot or around them. He slinked away a bit, trying to keep his distance from all three if it could be helped.
Baine and his Raptor mount moved as swiftly as the beast's two legs would carry it as the very earth seemed to warrant them to not reach the others. This seemed strange to the Tauren as he'd never seen such an event before. Surely the Earth Mother would not want to bar their way. This had to be the work of the dark cloaked figure Baine seen in the distance.
The Tauren pulled harshly on the reigns as the Elf started to struggle in his grasp and suddenly shifted back into her Druidic flight from. "Hey wait a-" There it was towering over the backdrop of the Northern Barrens. It has to be almost a Hundred feet long and made completely out of earth. He'd never seen such a creature or construct and it had to be unnatural. It first rushed at them with gaping mouth only to shift as quickly into seemingly focusing solely on the Druid.
Baine held tight to his raptor's reigns as the pair stopped dead in their tracks. "We have a job to do old friend. As much as you may want to we cannot leave her to this creation." The Tauren patted the beast on its side before reaching for his weapons holstered on the saddle bag. He then snapped the reigns as his raptor changed directions and charged back towards the towering serpent of earth.
Grabbing a pouch from his side he tied it to one of his arrows and notched it into his bow with several others. With a single pull of the string they were in flight all of them aiming for the large serpentine construct. Suddenly the sky grew dark as a black cloud formed overhead. A sound could be heard coming from the cloud quiet at first but began to grow louder as it expanded. This sound however was not thunder as one would expect. Instead it was that of screeching and the harmonic hum of... wings?
Baine smiled to himself as even he did not realize there we so many in the area. It happened slowly at first as one-by-one the black cloud fired off single crows before the bulk of the murder plummeted out of the sky and in attack formation. The single large cloud suddenly turned into a spiraling torrent of flapping black wings and squawking beaks that surrounded the earth snake and attacking it from multiple sides. The Tauren hoped the druid was aware enough to be out of the immediate area or she may be caught in the attack.
Draco’s arcing shield knocked Vanzerion off kilter and the man had to release his scythe and tumble to burst his momentum. The scythe was eaten by the earth and sprang up into his hands as he finished his roll. “Tricky little black blood… hehehe.” Vanzerion recomposed himself and cracked his neck. “Why not join us? Ahehe we would make you so free, so welcome.” He grinned widely. “Of course, all of the scaled are welcome if you accept our goal! AHAHA”
“Are you sure you don’t want to be like Deathwing? Because your words sound awfully like his.” - “That’s going to leave a bruise, nice show, is there an encore Deathwing groupie?” - “Can’t fight me on your own so you have to summon your cute little constructs, you really aren’t making a good case for you not wanting to be like Deathwing.”
“Except that b(bad word).” Vanzer pointed towards Kora but kept his eyes on Draco. “She can freeze. Ahahaha.” Sterixia appeared to challenge one of the dragon constructs near Kersia. Vanzerion shot her a brief side glance. “And the mutant freak can be eaten by the nether that birthed her. Hehehe.” Vanzerion turned all his focus back on Draco. “So what do ya say, brother of the scalehehehe?”
-----
Sterixia roared an airy roar at the construct dragon, but the stone was unliving and unphased. As Morician closed the gap in his attack on Sterixia, the stone dragon side swiped her with a claw, sending the netherdragon tumbling towards the oncoming charging deathknight.
Kersia retaliated by sending spikes of ice at the construct dragon, breaking off the claw that struck Sterixia. Her limb severing was short lived, however, as stone churned and reformed on the stump, forming a new claw. Kersia audibly growled and threw more ice at it. Every construct has a core… I need to destroy the core…. As her ice tore into the sand and stone, her eyes looked into every opening for something that could be the core. She had to pause to blink away from the lava the construct spewed.
“Find the construct’s core and destroy it!” Kersia called out, more pointedly at Kora but loud enough for others to hear too.
Sylstyx jumped off of Morician’s horse as soon as she saw Sterixia get hit. She avoided getting plowed over by the netherdrake and ran over to her. “Zderakzia! I halpzink yoo! Nu vurriez, ja?” Sylstyx called out as she reached the young drake. Water washed from Sylstyx’s hands and weaved its way across the gash on Sterixia’s side. The young drake was panting heavily in pain but seemed to relax when she felt the water in the wound.
---- Before attacking Kora again, the second dragon construct stabbed its tail into the ground. Moments later, the ground near Richard trembled and spikes sprayed upward. The construct reformed its tail and continued its onslaught on Kora.
-----
Vynianyx saw the crows forming. She had fought with hunters before and understood what was going on. She took the moment to dart across the battle field towards Kersia, who had just blinked for some distance from the stone dragon.
Vyn shifted into an elf, only for a moment. “Kersia, the only way is to cross the ravine but we have no bridge.”
Kersia glanced at her friend before turning her attention at the construct again. “We can make one. We need a distraction.”
Vyn glanced back at the crows and the tauren. “I may have an idea; shoot a fire ball to the sky when you are ready.”
Kersia nodded at the druid as Vynianyx took back to the sky. She scanned the field again, this time spotting the mounts. The fighting was a ways away from them. Vynianyx dove towards them and shifted into a bear. She worked to spoke the mounts to be closer to the ravine, a position that would be advantageous for a swift escape. Once she managed to get all the mounts she could gathered there, she took back to the sky and moved back towards the tauren. She shifted into an elf again as she landed next to him.
“Do you still have men, or that herd I overheard mentioned earlier? We may need a distraction.”
The Dwarf gave a quick smirk when his shield made its mark and his opponent lost his weapon and his footing. He did not have long to enjoy the moment however as Vanzerion quickly recovered. He then started asking Draco to join him. It was an intriguing offer to be sure. Though he was already free for the most part as is. He needed no help from some high on himself Black promising him something that he could not already deliver himself. What would Sir Bowen think of him if he joined other's like himself.
Suddenly a thought occurred to him. It was a stall tactic, He'd seen Sir Bowen use it many a time to turn the tide of battle. If he could keep Vanzerion focused on him, maybe he'd loose focus on the others or his dragon constructs. It was worth a shot. It also appeared the Elf lass had a plan of her own.
Draco started talking in his native tongue. It was unlikely any of them save the other dragons would be able to understand it, but he knew Vanzerion knew it well enough. "Oh you have not seen anything yet. I have learned a great deal from my time with the Dwarves. They are quite a hearty and powerful bunch given Their smaller stature. You're offer intrigues me. But I am already free. Have been that way for several decades now. You cannot give me what I already have. So unless you are willing to sweeten the deal, I am going to have to decline your so generous offer."
Moments later, the ground near Richard trembled and spikes sprayed upward
Once more the ground shook beneath his feet. He ran farther away from the scene of the fight, once more being harassed by spikes protruding from the ground. "I swear if I have to dodge any more spikes I'm going to just let them kill me. What is it with the ground and being spike laden today? And moreover, why are they continuously directed at me!" He heaved a heavy sigh.
"Also, why are there flipping dragon constructs and a real one I don't recall being told about any dragons and furthermore I've lost all my stuff unless I can find that darn horse. " He stormed off on the plains, leaving his companions behind. He didn't care where he was going at this point, muttering a bunch of curses and insults along the way. Synthara followed him wearily.
Sylstyx jumped off of Morician’s horse as soon as she saw Sterixia get hit. She avoided getting plowed over by the netherdrake and ran over to her. “Zderakzia! I halpzink yoo! Nu vurriez, ja?” Sylstyx called out as she reached the young drake. Water washed from Sylstyx’s hands and weaved its way across the gash on Sterixia’s side. The young drake was panting heavily in pain but seemed to relax when she felt the water in the wound.
Morician reined in Steel, screeching to a halt as the shaman jumped off. "Lady, what the fel are you doin'?!" he shouted, mystified at the events unfolding before him. The weird dragon was on their side, it would seem, or at least not friendly to the earthern constructs.
He hesitated as he watched Sylstyx begin attempting to heal the dragon, before tapping the charger's side and putting himself between the construct and the pair, hefting his runeblade in preparation should the construct attack. Perhaps he could help buy the shaman enough time to heal the drake.
Torin ignored the crazed dragon whom would be occupied with Kora for now. "The red can hold him off for now," He said looking at the construct. "We need to get out of here." He looked to Kersia. "Exit strategy! Now!" He demanded as he moved toward the construct that began attacking the red.
He began to channel energy into his sword as he dodged spike after spike. Jumping through the air he brought his blade around in a deadly arc at the dragon's neck. Upon contact the contained energy would erupt, hopefully severing its head and rendering it inert.
“Except that b(bad word).” Vanzer pointed towards Kora but kept his eyes on Draco. “She can freeze. Ahahaha.”
Kora rolled her eyes, “Maybe I went a little overboard, that’s all I need is some psychotic and obsessive black following me around.”
Before attacking Kora again, the second dragon construct stabbed its tail into the ground. Moments later, the ground near Richard trembled and spikes sprayed upward. The construct reformed its tail and continued its onslaught on Kora.
Kora nimbly dodged around the constructs attacks, the one good thing about her mortal guise is that it afforded her much more speed and agility than her dragon form. Dragons were more at home fighting in the air than on the ground, their size tended to hinder them on the ground. So it was with the construct, it just couldn’t keep up with her speed, “ If you were a true dragon I would feel more inclined to match you with my own dragon form, but as it is, you are not.”
Kora once again materialized her chain weapons and began spinning them in a deadly flurry, of course the red knew that any damage she did would be repaired almost instantly, but this provided her time to figure out how to get at the construct’s core. Let’s see, the most obvious place for the core to be would be in the same place a heart would be. He formed these constructs rather quickly so there shouldn’t have been time to plan out another place for the core, so let’s go with that.
Kora went into a deadly dance with her chain weapons, each time the construct tried to attack the whirling blades chopped it to pieces as Kora waded in closer. With each passing moment her weapons began to glow ever brighter, Kora could feel the sting of the construct’s rocky hide with every piece she chopped off, but the wounds weren’t enough to slow her. Finally once she was as close as she could get she spun her weapons in such a way that they began to resemble a drill. Using her magic to keep that form Kora let the weapon fly directly at the construct’s chest, exactly where a heart would be hoping that the core would be there.
Baine was in a heated battle with the Earth construct, firing arrow after arrow but he did not seem to be doing any damage. The distraction of his murder of crows worked for a time but even they could not outlast this creature. What crows were not dead littering the barrens had fled after realizing there was nothing to be gained here. The Tauren was grateful for their aid and made a mental note to thank the Earth Mother for having so many in the area for his needs--should he survive to do so.
"Welcome back Druid, I trust your flight was a successful one?" He'd ask of the Kaldorei as he loaded another volley of arrows from his quiver into his bow. It had taken him a moment to fully register what Vynianyx had asked him. "I do not think they would have moved on without my say-so. But the heard is another story. Being wild Kodo it is not so easy to corral them and keep them contained to a single area like horses or the smaller livestock many of your allies enjoy comparing my kind to."
Baine could tell even without looking at Vynianyx that she may not like that answer, though he suspected she'd know it was true just the same. There was no way the Tauren could guarantee they'd be able to use the herd as a distraction. If the heard had moved on his hunting party would have had to make a difficult choice. Stay with the herd and abandon their leader, or remain and risk loosing the heard and their hunt once more. Baine was a Brave of Thunder Bluff, but he was only one Tauren. Their Hunting party had hundreds to think about and should they fail, many could go hungry and without needed supplies.
Baine finally turned to Vynianyx as he gestured to a horn held at his belt. "One strong blow from this and if they are within ear shot, my band would be on us in moments. Hopefully with the Kodo heard leading the charge. But I cannot promise this will be the case. We wont know unless we try." Baine gave his attempt at a smile as he whistled for his raptor to rejoin him. Mounting swiftly he looked down at the druid. "Well you better tell me your plan if I am going to help."
Vynianyx listened to the tauren, her heart sinking slightly at the obvious reality that wild animals may not cooperate. Still, it was worth a try. She looked him over and mulled the options through her head.
"Well, with enough of a distraction, we could break free and cross the canyon." She spoke quickly. "Even without the stampeding kodo, I think the insurgence of the hunting party would be enough to buy my friends time to escape." She sighed.
"The mage, Kersia, can make a bridge, hopefully the other magically inclined will have enough sense to help reinforce it, but it wouldn't be devastating if they did not. And hopefully they would all be aware of the battle field enough to follow once we begin the retreat." Vynianyx thought of the plan a few seconds longer. "Go for it, blow the horn if you are willing. Hopefully enough aide comes to buy us time to leave." She glanced back at Vanzerion. "I cannot guarantee your party would not be targeted by the crazed man, but if the kodo arrive, I think the hunting party would be unnoticed." She looked over the tauren again, waiting for him to decide to blow his horn or not.
Baine did not know of whom the Druid spoke, but it did not take him long to realize it must be one of her allies currently in combat due south of them. The other name she mentioned must be their adversary. It seems this druid knows of him. This is something the Tauren would try and remember to ask about at a later time.
"I do not like this idea of using my men as bait for unknown travelers in our land. Many are warriors and will lay down their lives for our beliefs. But some are still young and inexperienced. I will signal the party and hopefully the movement of the herd, but I cannot ask them in good conscience to run interference for your friends. If they are to escape across the divide it will have to be swift and I cannot guarantee their safety as I have yours up until now."
With a sharp whistle his Frost wolf disengaged from the Earth construct and rushed to his side and that of Vynianyx's. "Move swiftly Druid. We will only get one shot at this. I will follow behind once I know my fellow Tauren are safe from harm. White Fang will accompany you to your friends."
Baine did not give the Druid much chance to answer before he snapped the reigns of his mount and was off across the Barrens. Once he found solid ground near the divide he hastily grabbed the horn from his belt and brought the large instrument to his lips. He waited several moments in hopes that the Druid made her way back to heir friends with ample time. He still saw no sign of the herd or his Hunting party. Still he knew that if they were still in the area, they would be able to hear his signal. Taking a deep breath he blew through the conch instrument releasing an echo over the Northern Barrens landscape. The sound lingered in the air for almost 30 seconds before the echo was returned...
Vynianyx smiled at the tauren. "I would not expect strangers to risk their lives for us, thank you though for trying." As the tauren darted away to take position, the snake construct fell apart. It had lost where the pair had gone, as the crows had destroyed the gems it had for eyes. Not seeing its use, it had returned to its natural state. Vynianyx changed into her antlered doe form and darted towards Kersia.
Vanzerion waited anxiously for the dwarf to respond, as his constructs kept the others busy. At least, he assumed the constructs were doing as he intended, as he could not foresee their failure. He was focused on his prey here, the little black hidden in the dwarf's guise. He failed to notice as Kora and Torin's attacks fell one of his constructs, or that his snake's prey had gotten away from it.
Kersia blinked away from her own adversary and shot a bolt of arcane energy at its head. The head exploded into a rain of stone and sand, before it quickly reformed and roared at the pandaren woman. Kersia smirked, glad she managed to drag its attention from the injured Sterixia.
Sylstyx worked quickly to mend Sterixia's wounds, her water weaving melding the gashes closed.
"Lady, what the fel are you doin'?!" Morician shouted at Sylstyx.
The shamaness shot him a quick glance. "Ziz iz Zderexia! Ziz iz frrendz!" A few moments later and the nether drake slowly stood, her head nuzzling Sylstyx for the effort. With her body still aching from the attack, Sterixia focused. Slowly her form shifted, and the strange elf form she had once taken had returned. A few moments after, Kora's amulet triggered, embracing Sterixia in a light violet robe. She hugged Sylstyx, then moved to hug Morician.
Kersia focused on the construct. She needed to kill it fast, as it appeared like Vynianyx was done conversing with the tauren. She had saw where Kora had speared the other construct and took aim at this one's 'heart'. With deadly precision, Kersia flung a bolt of ice at the construct. This one, however, learned from the former's mistake, and swatted the ice to the ground. It belched a stream of fire at Kersia, causing her to blink to safety. After a few moments of contemplating a plan, the pandaren focused her mana. A copy of herself shimmered into being and blinked towards the construct. This copy managed to gain the construct's focus, and threw bolt after bolt of frost fire at its chest.
With the construct distracted by the mirror image, Kersia pooled her mana. She formed a long and thin spear of ice, which hovered just above her shoulder. She took great care at aiming it, just behind the dragon construct's front legs, where it's heart would be from a side view. The mirror image suddenly vanished and the construct froze in confusion. That is when Kersia struck, her spear piecing through its side, shattering the core within. The construct dissolved into a pile of sand and stone just as Vynianyx arrived at Kersia's side. She shifted into an elf as she arrived.
Kersia looked her over and immediately started heading towards Morician, Sylstyx, and Sterixia, Vynianyx following behind. "What news?"
"We need to go, now! Our window is going to be brief. Unless you want this battle to go into scale versus scale." Vynianyx mumbled the last part as they approached Morician and the others. She glanced back towards Kora, Torin, and Draco, hoping the three had seen them begin to move. Richard already seemed to be heading for the mounts by the ravine.
"Morician, Sylstyx, Sterixia, we are leaving. Go, now." Kersia barked at the three. Vynianyx shifted back into her doe form and allowed Sterixia to climb on. Kersia never stopped moving and continued her fast pace towards the mounts herself. Sylstyx and Vynianyx were not far behind her.
"So unless you are willing to sweeten the deal, I'm going to have to decline your offer."Draco spoke to Vanzerion.
Vanzerion guffawed. "Sweeten the deal?" He grinned and twirled his scythe. "Ahahaehehe! How about sweeten the deal, by not killing you! You are a traitor! I am giving you opportunity to come back to your true self! Your calling to the earth! Who! You! Are! Meant! TO BE! AHeheheh! Not some mortal's little servant!" He rolled his neck and regarded Draco with his cold eyes. "Whelp. Guess you have to die! Ahaha! What a defective fool!" Vanzerion's stance shifted like he was going to charge forward, but then he seemed to vanish into the ground beneath them. Odd, his scythe was left, clanking as it fell to gravity.
The earth around Draco began to quake and shift. A large mound began to form several yards away. It swelled up like a dirt balloon, ready to burst. And burst it did, into a spray of sand and rock, revealing a great, black scaled dragon, with a golden underbelly. Though not as big as the aspects, his size easily dwarfed the dragons mortals often befriended as mounts. His size was slightly larger than that of Nefarion and Onyxia, though not by much. His back was covered in spikes of bone that went from his nose to the tip of his tail. His horns curved much like a ram's, coming down below his jaw and jutting forward past his nose. If he wasn't insane, or trying to kill everything, one could call him almost majestic, with a body that clearly showed his over twenty thousand years of life.
Vanzerion roared at Draco, who if he did not move would only be a few paces from where Vanzerion appeared. The black dragon inhaled and unleashed a torrent of molten fire towards Draco. "DIE FOOL! AHEHEHE!" He cried out as his inferno bellowed forth.
Just then, a horn echoed across the battle field, which caused Vanzerion to stop and glance around, his focus finally broken from Draco. "What?" He snapped.
Another call echoed the first, and the ground quaked as what appeared to be a dust cloud approached. Vanzerion spat, and turned his focus back on his little black dragon friend, failing to truly comprehend the approaching cloud.
A stampede of kodo rapidly approached his form, in a craze from the hunting party. They charged ever forward, ignoring of laws of logic, right towards the great black dragon. Within minutes they were upon him, smashing into his back legs before diverting around him. Vanzerion roared and snapped at the kodo, easily killing one of them. But their numbers outmatched him, and he had to jump back, away from Draco and the others. He roared, his attention focused on the stampede of kodo, and he chased after them. Their appearance would only distract him for a few minutes, but it was all the time Kersia needed.
Kersia focused her mana and tapped into the leylines. Ice erupted forth from the cliff face, creating a bridge across. The ice was not a solid sheet, and offered much traction as people walked across. She reinforced it with her arcane energy, helping to keep it from melting. Kersia would welcome any other spell caster's attempts to help reinforce the bridge and make it safer.
Sylstyx jumped onto her horse's back and urged it forward. Apprehensive, the horse bulked at the command, but the shaman held firm, muttering something in draenic. The horse calmed and began to cross the bridge. Vynianyx followed behind, but left her hippogryph for Draco if he needed it. The three; Sylstyx, Vynianyx, and Sterixia, made it across safely, and looked for the others to follow close behind. Kersia remained, as she continuously channelled her mana to protect the frosty bridge.
It seemed something was going on because the others were catching up to, and even surpassing him as he walked off. "Hey!" He called out, not knowing where they were going. "May as well follow." He sighed.
Well, it seemed to him they had planned this escape, because there she was Swiftwind calmer and more collected among a bunch of other mounts. "Well, how about that." He gave the horse a good look over. It seemed, most his stuff seemed to be in order. Well beggars can't be choosers and even if he was missing a few things, by large it was all here.
Well, they started to depart, he best do the same. He hopped on the horse and crossed the icy bridge, Synthara in tow.
The shamaness shot him a quick glance. "Ziz iz Zderexia! Ziz iz frrendz!" A few moments later and the nether drake slowly stood, her head nuzzling Sylstyx for the effort. With her body still aching from the attack, Sterixia focused. Slowly her form shifted, and the strange elf form she had once taken had returned. A few moments after, Kora's amulet triggered, embracing Sterixia in a light violet robe. She hugged Sylstyx, then moved to hug Morician.
Confusion crossed his face at the response. So the dragon-thing was indeed friendly--that was good. He did not, however, understand what her name was supposed to be...assuming it was a name.
The hug, however, caught him entirely by surprise. He simply sat atop his charger and stared in shock, though he was seated up a bit high for hugging to be very effective. Still, judging by the awkward look on his face, he would be blushing if he still had a pulse.
"We need to go, now! Our window is going to be brief. Unless you want this battle to go into scale versus scale." Vynianyx mumbled the last part as they approached Morician and the others. She glanced back towards Kora, Torin, and Draco, hoping the three had seen them begin to move. Richard already seemed to be heading for the mounts by the ravine.
"Morician, Sylstyx, Sterixia, we are leaving. Go, now." Kersia barked at the three. Vynianyx shifted back into her doe form and allowed Sterixia to climb on. Kersia never stopped moving and continued her fast pace towards the mounts herself. Sylstyx and Vynianyx were not far behind her.
"Right...um..." Morician shifted in his saddle, trying to put his thoughts back in order. He fell in behind the others, following their lead across the ice bridge.
"Oh yeah, not dying would be a plus in my book. But I have no intent on doing this day." Draco retorted as his opponent suggested killing him before vanishing into thin air only to leave his scythe behind. The Dwarf walked over to where the weapon lay unattended. "Now there is something you don't see everyday." Draco picked up the weapon to examine it as the earth beneath him began to shake. "Oh that's never good." Watching as a blister started to form nearby in the earth only to reveal the large imposing figure that was Vanzerion's true Dragon form.
"Oh I am sorry is this yours?" He would replay at the resulting roar of the great beast. "So sorry I will just leave this right h-" Draco was cut off as he was once again soaked in the flames of a Black Dragon. The Earth responded quickly to his aid as it domed over him creating a type of forward shield deflecting the flames to either side. "Why does this keep happening to me? You call that an attack!? You are just lucky I have to hide my true power." He'd reply from behind his earthen shield.
Just as suddenly as the attack started it had stopped. Draco looked from around his shield to see what was going on; thinking at first he was being played with. When he felt the earth shake once more and the approaching stampede he knew it was time to go. "Well there is something you do not see everyday."
Turning tail as quickly as his short legs could carry him the Dwarf darted towards the makeshift bridge that Kersia had formed out of ice. Not one of the Dwarf's favorite mediums but it would have to do. As he made his way towards the bridge the earth jolted out from the side of the divide and snaked across giving a much rougher platform while also stabilizing the construct of the mage's. "Time to go Panda child, I don't think our new friend will be long."
Torin had turned and quickly followed Kersia. Every step of the way he kept eye on Vyn to ensure her safety. When he got to the ice bridge he reached into the dream and grew thick vines to wrap around the bridge giving it support and traction.
"Go go go!" He shouted as he ran across the bridge. Almost immediately he looked with the crazy dragon who was being distracted by a stampede of kodos. "Well now," he said with a grin.
He looked back towards the overgrowth. "Be cautious. The nightmare still pollutes this land." His blade was still drawn as they would begin walking. Once everyone was across the bridge the roots would wither away and shatter it.