To the North (CS)(accepting characters)

[Eskevar Fire Cross]

Sadira nodded. Her painfully light eyes reflected Shinra's pain. " Yes... I can hear it a little too... not as much as you but.... This is a big hurt for the Planet."

Badr bounded over to where his sister stood conversing with the Ancient. He to made his bow politely. " Shinra. How is your wife? Lady Lucretia was kind to me when I was last in the capital." He sighed, as he turned to the one topic that haunted all of their minds. " It seems we are destined to meet in dark times, although none so dark as this previously," he said with irony coloring his silky voice.

" I was wondering if he was coming to the council," supplied Sadira. Badr nodded. Ariel and Rayhan came up behind. " One of us is going to the north, the best suited I suppose. One is going back to Niebelheim, another to Cosmo, and a third to the plains to bring the council's decision to our people. Do join the council," she begged.  

[Ermak Lorde]

((Um.... Natsura... you need to submit a bio for any character(s) you decide to control. Please Post a bio in the specified topic... and if you haven't already read the Role Playing Rules topic.))  

[Ermak Lorde]

((I'm assuming the rest of you are at the "forgotten capital"))

Carmine swam for what seemed like a long time. Methodically weaving his bulk through the water, much resembling one of his serpentine cousins. Even as deep as the ocean was at this point, the glistening crimson ridges on Carmine's back were visable from the shore. The great dragon was not worried though, imposing mountains rose just past the stretch of sand, blocking the sea from mortal eye, and blocking Carmine Anguis from pausing to rest. So it was that after the long stretch of swimming around the small continent and past the mountains which stretched acrossed it's eastern edge Carmine was very weary when the stone finally gave way to stretches of forest and plains. His claws sank deeply into the soft sand as he heaved his bulk from the blue depths. the fine stone particles clung to his wet scales painting him the uniform tan wherever he touched them. Too tired to seek out a proper hiding place Carmine dropped and rolled around on the beach, pulling himself out of reach of the waves before half-buring himself in the sand. with just his nose uncovered, and that tucked under a partially submerged forleg he drifted off to sleep.  

[Eskevar Fire Cross]

The council of the Ancients met in a natural ampitheater. Seats were packed with ancients, humans and thos like Sadira. All were talking and discussing what should be done. Some favoring instant attack, other exploration, some in favor of contact. The aged leader of the Ancients stood, the hall silenced. He was wizened and faded but his step was strong and his eyes sharp. The council proceeded orderly, many speaking and arguing. The sun traveled through the sky slowly until it began to sink below the rim of the cliffs. Finally the elder had made a decision. " Many of you have spoken, there has been much wisdom shared. I and the elders have decided it is best if we investigate this menace, for from the magnitude of the Planet's pain it can only be a menace. This will be voluntary, those of you who feel called meet at the gates at dawn. We shall choose from those who come, those who will continue to the north." When the elder's strong tones died out he sat as if drained.


Sadira sat eargerly hanging on every word in the council. Her tail twitched and her eyes blazed. Her brothers too paid close attention, each wanted to go north, was eager to go. As the lion's paw retired from the ampitheater they wandered to a cleft in the rock.

" Who will go?" Sadira voiced the question all felt. Eyes turned to Badr who had through tacit approval become the leader after their older brother's death.

Badr sighed, his dark eyes resting on each of his siblings in turn. After a momment that seemed to stretch to eternity he spoke. " Sadira wil go. She is the fleetest of foot and they will need speed. Rayhan you are the strongest, but slowest you will return home. Ariel you are the wisest, you shall go to Cosomo, I.... am the shadow I shall go to the plains." The lion's paw accepted his decision with only slight congratulations and advice to Sadira who was fairly bursting with pleasure. They retired for the night and it was Sadira among the well wishing of her brothers who headed to the gates at dawn.  

[Ermak Lorde]

Dawn rose slowly for Carmine, the chill of night still soaked through his scales making the great beast reluctant to rise, his blood was sluggish to warm his massive body, and his movements were slow and stiff from the exertions of the previous day. still caked with sand Carmine started again on his way, heaving his bulk across the lands. The plains stretched on seemingly endlessly before him, and his heart quailed, still aching from the loss of his previous home. As the sun continued to rise, it finally began to warm the great scaled beast, and travel became more pleasant. The clumped sand began to dry and dust off his hide, until it became a bright if dusty red once more. The Darkol made slower progress on land than he had in the ocean, but his pace was none-the-less steady.  

[Misander]

Green slitted eyes blinked at the harshness of the sun as a bleached silver beast drew himself from the darkness of the crater. The Goddess had been most generous to him, healing him after the cruel humans had attacked him forcing him off into a mako vent. Long he had drifted through the lifestream, feeling the raw energy poisoning him, eating away at him whilst he was still alive. And then She came, and made all his pain go away. She told him what he needed to do to lead the way to the Promised Land, the first step would be eradicating the humans who were feeding from this Planet. The Goddess had shown him what a curse that would come, how humans would begin to devour the world until nothing remained but an empty husk. And when he completed her divine task, she would take him in and show him paradise.  

[Saerenna]

Shinra decided to go with the ones venturing north. It had been his original plan anyway, and maybe this way it would be a lot less difficut. He met at dawn at the said gate, wondering who else would be joining him. After all, if he was to make this planet a permanent home, it would be much preferable to have it in a safe environment. Even though he was very much a self-centered person, he still thought about his wife and soon-coming child, and he wanted all his posterity to grow up away from any potential hardships. He approached Sadira when he saw her, nodding in greeting. "Good morning."

Lucretia sat at home, trying not to dwell on the cries of pain eminating from the planet. It was like it had been stricken with a dying disease. As if the planet had not only been gashed into, but the wound left behind was festering and slowly poisoning the rest. The thought of an entire planet groaning in pain made her feel sick herself, though she attributed it mostly to her greatly progressed pregnancy.  

[Eskevar Fire Cross]

Sadira bounded the rest of the way towards Shinra eager to be off. Before she could reply to his greating the Elder arrived at the gate a few moments after Shinra. He looked frail and worn, as if the weight of the planet's wound was pushing down on his shoulders crushing his withered body. He looked from Sadira to Shinra with wise, but sad eyes. " So you children will go.... it is enough. May the planet see you safely and may you find the source of this cancer."

The young warrioress managed to bow respectfully before prancing out of the gate, concious that the dawn tinged her fur a becoming gold and glittered off her battle array. She could see out of the corner of her eye Badr's encouraging nod and hear Ariel's whispered benidiction, Rayhan's enthusiastic wooop was hard to miss. She smiled mentally, they had all trusted her, just her for the most important part of the mission.

Once out of the gate Sadira settled into a comfortable lope that was easy enough for Shinra to keep up with. The two struck out over the trackless desert heading for the sea port. They had been traveling for a few hours when Sadira, even with her poor vision spotted an odd reddish colored hill. Curious she bounded away with only, " I'm gonna check out that funny hill," to apprise Shinra of the situation. She arrived at the odd hill in scarce momments. She circled it slowly, a strange musky scent came to her sensitive nose. It smelled sort of like.... ruby dragon.... sort of... but was different. Fascinated she moved in closer for a better smell.  

[Ermak Lorde]

Carmine paused shifting his hindquarters as they sank into the soft sand, gazing at his surroundings patiently as he slowly caught his breath. the sun was rising, Carmine had walked through the night to avoid the heat but now it had finally caught up with him. With a sigh he glanced over the unforgiving dunes and endless hills, he saw no respite from the growing heat and was under the distinctly uncomfortable oppinion that he would be forced to sleep under the sand once again. As his mind wandered a small creature drew closer, and finally the dry wind threw Sadira's scent to Carmine, glancing down slowly he gazed at the small rust-colored cat-beast as it explored around him. He was vaughly curious, until he scented the human scent upon her as well, His slitted eyes narrowed, Humans? Here?? His talons descended wrapping confiningly around the beast and pressing her into the deep sand where she could not struggle against him. She was actually larger than his for-claws by at least three times but Carmine's strength made short work of her struggles, effectively pinning her as he glared. "Who are you?" He asked simply, his voice hissing with the unpleasant common speach.  

[Saerenna]

Shinra watched the cat-being bound away to the hill-like structure with curiousity. Something seemed strange about it. Just when he had started venturing forward himself, his travelling companion was grabbed and subdues easily by this strange monster. With a glare and an almost beast-like growl, he strode quickly and purposefully forward, brandishing a sword menacingly, his hold on it showing that he knew how to weild it, but was not extremely used to or comfortable with a blade quite yet. He had shown no one his other weapon. Not even his wife, as it was a very controversial one, and it was more than likely he would be shunned for even thinking to use such a thing as the planet's own life for weapons. Therefore, he kept his gun hidden and secret, until it was absolutely necessary to use it. "Unhand her." He told the giant being, in a tone that said he would not tolerate any behavior otherwise. He was used to people doing what he said.  

[Eskevar Fire Cross]

Sadira had no time to react as the "hill" suddenly came to life showing it was no natural phenomena but a creature. Claws closed about her preventing any movement, she struggled vainly against the thing's great strength. At first she thought it was a ruby dragon attackin her, but when the beast questioned her she realized she was dealing with something quite different. Vauge recolections of stories involving dragonish creatures occured to her, but she could not recall much.

She grunted at the beast's question, it was kind of hard to breath but gave no answer. She looked as Shinra rushed to her rescue. Taking advantage of what she hoped would be a distraction sunk her death into the nearest finger. She was rewarded by encountering a hard crapace and a mouth full of sand.
 

[Ermak Lorde]

Carmine glared at the cat-beast, but turned slowly at the approach of the human, his eyes widened dialating with fury as he hissed at the man. "Accursed humans! Are you so foolish as to think I would heed words from one of your kind? hairless beast of two-legs, nothing but lies ever leave your mouths, Come closer man-beast and I will kill your freind." As if in warning his claws tightened around Sadira, she was now unable to move yet the pressure driving her into the sand eased and she was again able to breath. Carmine's tail thrashed it's armored whip-like length striking dangerously close to where Shinra stood.  

[Saerenna]

Shinra stopped his approach, looking warily at the poor position that Sadira was in, and glared at the large beast. "Lies? I'll take it that you've had some bad encounters, then." the man said, his voice betraying his anger. "I warn you, beast, that I am not lying when I say that the humans you so despise will become much more than they are now. You and your spieces will become exstinct and insignificant of you continue in your hatred." he said, speaking his mind directly rather than thinking about what might happen from his words beforehand. Meanwhile, his eyes scanned the massive creature for any spots of weakness.