[ORP] The Dragon Crag in the woods

[Lorthem]

Lorthem is deeply saddened by hearing that the beings of Fenia make marks and scar the land to show their territory. Such acts would never have occurred in Wyr, though perhaps that is why his home has been destroyed. "Your kind spoils the land by marking it, by scarring it to show your territory. The impudence. The land is alive, such acts merely befoul her."

If these creatures wanted territory to be clearly marked he would do so. Though he was far from agreeable on that notion. Calming his self he goes back to speaking so as not to alarm her further. "If markings is what you wish, markings you shall receive. Though I am believe the matter rather moot." He takes to the air fiercely in a torrent of flaps from his wings. He first flies north across the small wood and unleashes a torrent of fire upon the bordering meadow. Turning west, then south, then east, and finally north again he baths the entire perimeter of the woods in a violent raging inferno. This one small wood would be spared the further crimes of any who would seek to damage it. No more would lumberjacks, or hunters, or any other creature who would befoul the beauty here touch these trees. Any who would dare to cross the ash line that would soon surround these woulds with intent to harm either the dragon, or the woods would meet a fate most foul.

Returning to the clearing he glided in to land as softly as he could. "The deed is now done. These woods have been marked to showed ownership. Let all know, any brave enough to cross the ashen line with evil intent in their heart for these woods will be met with dragon's breath. Though I seek not to stop the occasional hunter like yourself, nor those whom would walk the wood, nor those who would visit me." Though he spoke with a stern commanding voice on this point he was sad, and wished not to harm anyone. Wyr destroyed, kin slaying, and the lose of his home. He only wanted peace, at least for a while.

With any hunger he may have had now replaced by the taste of bile and remorse he transformed back into his human form and sped off at full speed running through the woods.

[Morghain]

She'd been surprised by the sudden anger in the dragons voice, more so when he'd taken to the air and set a large swathe of the fire.

A spark of rage ignites within her. For one, she HATES fire with a passion. Secondly, he had just mindlessly destroyed the homes of many creatures and probably killed not a few, merely to mark out his boundaries, and he blamed it on her!

She'd on occasion been called barbaric and blood thirsty because of her ways but even she knew of the importance of maintaining balance, hence her presence in these woods to start with. What a horrible creature that dragon must be to do such permanent damage just to claim the area when spooring, tree scratchings or even just leaving signs would have been sufficient. Admittedly these methods required regular maintenance, but that was part of caring for ones territory.

Heedless, of the danger to herself, her anger overtakes rational thought as she takes flight. She would follow that dragon and give the foul creature a piece of her mind!

(hehe go those cultural misunderstandings between creatures)

[Lorthem]

Lorthem went straight to his crag. Flying up to the opening in the cliff face he slowly entered. He made straight for his treasure room and buried himself deep within the gold pile. He knew the woman Morghain was following him, and he wanted to see what she would do if she discovered his home.

He sat and watched in silence as he peered out into the darkness. He had no intentions of harming her, but he would defend his home if he felt she was a risk.

[Morghain]

Once again she found herself madly dashing after a dragon. If she'd paused to think about her actions, she'd have realized that this was probably a very silly idea. It was, after all, very easy for a great big dragon to either crush her delicate self or to burn her to a crisp like an over cooked bar b que chicken...neither was a way she intended to meet her demise. Alas, once again, she had not stopped to think before taking action, and now it was too late. Her mind and her course is set.

She flies clear of the trees and up towards the face of the large cliff just in time to see the dragon flying towards a crag. She beats her wings to get more acceleration and manages to catch some favorable air currents that give her just the lift she needs to get to the crag. She sees the dragon disappearing into an opening. The ownership of the tract of forest where they had both been hunting may have been questionable, but she could not argue that the dragon she was chasing had laid claim to this piece of rock, high above the territories of most other creatures. Every lesson she'd ever learned in politeness prevented her from just waltzing in as though she had a right to be there. Not even her anger could over come years of discipline and learning. She may have been angry at the dragon...but as yet he was not an enemy and she did not hunt him. She could not enter his home without invitation.

So instead of flying in after him, she bobs up and down outside the opening indecisively. An odd notion for such a self assured and arrogant creature. Yet here she was staring at a large hole in the cliff face and not having the least notion as to what to do now.

[Lorthem]

Lorthem sat deep within his dug out treasure room deep within his crag. He looked out upon the woods with his mind and sensed the being outside the entrance. He knew she would follow him here, but the question is would she be brave enough to confront him in his home.

He decides it best to test her wits and bravery and changes back to his dragon form, and moves slowly and as softly as his massive form will allow towards the entrance of his crag. He could see her silhouette in the sun, and decided it was time to test her bravery. He roared loudly, and seconds later a torrent of fire rushed out of the entrance of his crag. He assured it wouldnt strike the being, but would come close enough to feel the heat.

[Morghain]

She'd been about to turn away and head back home, deciding that she would meet the Dragon on another day under more satisfactory circumstances when a loud roar comes from the cave, followed by a blast of flame. The blast comes close to her, but does not touch her. Only the heat of it reaches her but this is still enough to anger her once more. The only thing she hated more in life than fire was when someone was flinging it at her.

With a much less impressive roar of her own, she dives towards the cave opening, zig zagging at random to provide a more difficult target should another blast of flame follow the first. Having been hunting, she'd only brought her daggers and short sword with her. Drawing the sword in her right hand and the dagger in her left. She lands just inside the opening of the cave and tucks her wings safely behind her so that she can duck and weave her way deeper into the Dragons lair.

[Lorthem]

Lorthem is surprisingly amused by the boldness of the small creature. "Your brave little one!" his thoughts echo outwards towards her. With a quick lash of his tail he strikes the wall causing the crag walls to tremble brutally.

"You have courage. Why do you dare to enter my crag?"

[Lorthem]

Several months had passed and Lorthem had settled down well in Imperius. He was happily serving the Queen in the castle, and in his free time he had managed to carve out the top of the cliff to serve as a more solid home.



There were several rooms, and more then enough room for him. A causeway wrapping about the entirety of the town extended down into the former crag, and from there a stairwell was erected leading to the forest floor. A large central room existed at the highest point of his new home. This was the treasure room where piles of gold, and numerous trinkets and chests were strewn about.

There was a kitchen, a dining hall, a large sleeping chamber for Lorthem, and several smaller rooms for guests. A large room was left with the southern wall missing giving Lorthem a beautiful view of his forest and the capital, as well as a place to come and go from his home by flight.

Excited with its completion he flew off towards town with the hopes of purchasing furniture to decorate the various rooms.