sirenspull | Entries tagged with !: aurican

[ The video starts out, as usual, after dark, the city's lights giving its usual whimsical yet stark lightning. Aurican's NV floats, trailing behind the massive horned and scaly head as Aurican walks down an apparent empty street. He doesn't look at the NV but straight ahead. Once or twice the gold lets out a puff of flame almost casually that incinerates a flying beast aiming toward his head.

Aurican is feeling the years beating down on him again. To those more familiar to the expressions of a dragon, he is visibly tired. He continues to walk, the NV following him closely, propelled by Aurican's magic.

At last he speaks: ]

My kind was the first race to be created, carved out in metals in godly might. Some fell wayside and turned corrupted and hateful like the chromatics; others remained bright and righteous, such as metallics as myself. We made out our own territories and watched the spirits of the stars fall and become other races, such as humanity. (Or so the tales are told.)

Power was - is - something that my kind held. A differing kind of power, yet somehow I managed to make that power available to all the peoples in my world. It is a natural resource, so to speak.

Which is why power here is so baffling here. So much so that I dare not use my more powerful magics here, for I fear of tearing this island apart. Other powers are mundane but still influential - such as our esteemed governor, or the CEOs of the two major corporations.

In someways, it reminds me of a certain song I once heard on the radio:

What's a mob to a king?
What's a king to a god?
What's a god to a non-believer?

(Even if the song wasn't very good, I thought those particular verses were very wise.)

[ Just as casually, Aurican steps on a ragged-looking Darkness dog and casually breaks its spine mercifully. ]

And how does one wield power, I wonder? Sly and carefully? Boasting and in constant use? Or don't use it at all?

returnsmagic

[ There is no video - just blurry darkness and a terrible roar, a roar meant to shatter nerves, to declare war, to bellow pain.

In this instance, it was the latter.

There is a blurring dizzying video of golden scales and claws and snarling and roaring. Then there's nothing but fire. The fireball was continuous for quite some time - perhaps a minute or two. The NV drops to the concrete and turns in a tight spin. It even bounce at the instance of two heavy booms of somethings massive hitting the street below.

When it finally slows down, it shows Aurican's massive claws, creating large scratch marks into the pavement. There's a heavy rumbling, growling noise -

and in between the space between Aurican's legs, you just might see a pair of red eyes and just briefly, a large form before it merges into shadow and moves away. Another roar, this time a challenge, and Aurican suddenly turns and runs, apparently in pursuit. His long tail lashes out and hits the NV, causing it to spin once more.

When it finally slows, it shows the dragon further ahead from behind with a terrible wound on his back, bleeding profusely. He rears up, wings flaring up, and let's out another cone of fire. His tail hits the NV one final time and the feed ends. ]

returnsmagic

[ It has been a long time, Siren's Port. Well, not long in dragon terms - a month in jail is like spending a day in jail for everyone else. But Aurican has learned to be sensitive to the issue of time, especially in a delicate place such as this.

Aurican is on the beach again, half submerged in the ocean. His NV seems to be hovering above his massive horned head, showing his strange, fish-like wings folded and partially submerged underwater. ]

All said and done, the jail cell I've occupied for the past month could have been worse. I was sentenced far longer than a month, but I was let go on good behavior.

Which shouldn't be surprising, as gold dragons such as myself tend to keep up with manners. Most of the time, anyway. [ Because if it was all the time, he wouldn't have been in jail in the first place. ]

I hope I still have my occupation. I do miss playing the harp.

balladeer

[ Aurican hasn't been on the network much. He made one or two passing comments, but mostly nothing of consequence. He knows his NV is largely confined so he won't be able to do much of private conversations even if he wanted to. ]

I've never been to a jail before now. It's quite the experience. I wouldn't want to repeat it, however.

[ And yes, he is wearing an obnoxious orange shirt. He doesn't seem to mind. ]

That's for a later discussion, however.

[ He has an even, steadying stare now. Even though he has the form of an old man, the shadow of his dragon nature is still there, ancient power and wisdom all coiled into one small frame of a body. He is perfectly still and unblinking. ]

I wish to speak of a man I once knew who died earlier today. He was very considerate to me, which is remarkable in the situation we were both in. I was in pain and he gave me an apple to eat, to regain my strength. Then he tells me of his morality and his reasoning behind why he likes to fight so much. He was even gracious enough to give me Spencer's name.

But then he grew tired of talk and allowed me the first 'swing', as it were. Might as well, I grew tired of being in pain constantly, so I turned into my usual dragon form and we fought. It's surprising how easily he managed to survive from being pressed down by many tons of muscle and bone, or his muscles seem to regrow after I torn them off with my fangs.

So imagine my surprise when I hear the news of his death.

I do hope it was an accident.

[ He is actually sincere about this. He wouldn't have if it wasn't for his talk with Aslan. ]

Back home, dragons are vengeful when their kin are murdered or slain in battle, and it is not something that is usually taken lightly to the peoples of Krynn. It is only recently that I come to realize that vengeance is more universal, and the bite it brings back to the avenger is more painful. Which is why I am in a jail cell today: I have been bitten enough by chromatic dragons and the Darkness, I don't want to bear more scars. Too old for that, you see.

I must go now. I have limited privileges in using this NV.

[ And with a sudden briskness, he turns off the feed. ]

returnsmagic

[ There's a scrambling noise, of something sharp and heavy scraping against the television. A heavy noise soon followed it, a noise that sounds remarkably like breathing, but ten times as loud, louder than a lion's and as loud as a fan of an air plane.

Soon, there is a bright light, a light that is reflected off of golden scales - a familiar sight. But these scales are different - some look like they are encased in frost, others burned away by splatters of acid or by the definite streaks of lightning burns.

The video shifted and there are claws that curved around the screen, dragging the NV to the muzzle of a gold dragon. He looks wearied, if it is possible to read the expressions of a dragon, especially with one that shows sign of chlorine gas poisoning: his golden eyes are swollen, appearing to be red-gold by the ruptured veins. His jaws are partially opened, revealing swollen gums and it soon becomes evident that Aurican's breathing is harsh, interrupted by coughing and hacking. His long fangs gleam in the morning light as he begins to speak, his usual deep voice sounding high and weedy. ]

I died . . . and I come home, only to die again.

There is an irony I sense in this, but I am in no mood for s-such nonsense.

[ Aurican closes his eyes, but barely. He opens them again after a moment of quiet. ]

No mood for any nonsense. Eurig is n-no longer needed, as my attempts to coexist as both dragon and human failed, obviously. I-I will be addressing myself Au-Aurican and Aurican alone. I am done with that lie.

[ It takes a lot of effort to speak, so Aurican is quiet for a long time, trying to gather his strength again. ]

I apologize for this lie. I thought I was being wise by separating a human's life from a dragon's life. A f-fool's errand.

Life is life. Nothing more.

[ He is suddenly interrupted with a violent series of hacking coughs, blood and spittle flying everywhere from his jaw. He stills, letting the episode past. ]

If anyone is so kind, I am in need of a healer. Dragons usually heal themselves, but the process can take decades. I-I'm afraid that at the end of the day, I will be dead. I have been struck by lightning a few times and I have inhaled a g-great deal of chlorine gas.

As usual, I am at the baseball field.

[ With several attempts at pawing for his NV, he manages to turn it off. ]

returnsmagic

[ For the first time, Aurican optioned for audio as he is mulling over a topic that never quite came to him before until now, and he rather not if anyone read any of his expressions and have the wrong impression. There are other sounds, such as the heavy breathing of his massive lungs or the sound of waves crashing into the surf. ]

I never considered holidays. When I was growing up, I was secluded from the world. I knew nothing of open skies and forests, of deer and birds and people creating their own cultures, and I learned on how to measure time from the elves eventually after spending several centuries with them.

My mother died centuries before I hatched. A god was my father, but I never really knew him - only that his purpose was the result of my own creation. Still, I never met him. There were only my nestmates for company and the bats for food. But a man by the name of Patersmith came one day and taught me everything. He told stories about my mother, my father, and taught me and my kin everything we need to learn before one day we flew out of that cave and saw the sun for the first time. He raised us as though we were his own children, and we thought of him as our father.

So a day to set aside to think of our fathers - well, I have lived for almost six thousand years now, and not once have I really genuinely celebrated a holiday. Neither Patersmith nor Paladine are here for me to -

[ A younger voice interrupted Aurican with a "hey!" ]

Yes?

Yeah, you! How about you give it up and let go of the girl?

[ There is a long pause as Aurican mulls this demand over. In the meantime, it was obvious that the man who interrupted Aurican isn't alone. ]

I am afraid I am not entirely certain what you are referring to. Are you speaking of the missing girl Violet?

Don't play dumb, Newcomer. Monsters always get what they deserved.

[ There's a rumble deep within his chest, clearly unamused. ]

I'm afraid that playing dumb is impossible for me to do so as a dragon. And clearly you and your friends must be very brave to face me . . . or is it foolhardiness? It won't do if you let both pride and fear to dictate your actions. That's how wars are created.

[ He says this gently, but it is very clear of his harsh intent. ]

Leave me. The sun will start to set soon, and I don't want to see you to be caught by the Darkness.

[ The man sputters. ] Is that a threat?

[ Before Aurican remembers himself and turns off the now eavesdropping NV, he replies flatly to the man: ] The forces of Darkness always threatens, haven't you known that by now?

[ Click. ]

returnsmagic

[ The last post Aurican made was when he was losing control of his rage at that awful woman and her memory-destroying ways.

He intends to make a better impression after that. So here he is, a golden dragon, but he is not in his usual haunts like the docks or the beach when in dragon form. No, he is somewhere that has more vegetation, the bright greet of leaves that tells the coming summer and the arrival of spring. The camera tips this way and that, massive golden claws sometimes in view, as Aurican manages to work to straighten his NV out.

In the confusion, it shows a newly slain deer. Aurican likes fine dinning as any other civilized being, but sometimes there's nothing like a newly slain deer to fill a dragon's appetite. But fortunately to Siren's Port's wildlife, such hunting is rare on Aurican's behalf. He's just giving himself a well deserved treat.

The NV adjusts it self and it starts to slowly moves upward toward Aurican's face, thanks to Aurican casting a spell of levitation to free his claws. ]

Greetings to all. I have noticed that once again, more arrivals have graced us with their company. I extend my welcome as well, and I will gladly assist those who need to travel by night for any reason. The Darkness is not something to be fought alone, after all, and you can call me on my NV if that is your wish. I would also advise that drinking a copious amount of alcohol and going outside in the Dark is possibly the foolish thing - and the last - you can ever attempt in this City. It is a waste of both lives and alcohol.

[ He smiles at the last part - it is Aurican's meager attempt at humor. But he's getting better, as he started off with no sense of humor at all. ]

I have also notice a certain plague that is starting to take root of this city. I am not affected, but dragons of my kind have never been succumbed to sickness, so I do not believe I am in danger of such a thing here.

As of yet, anyway. This is a very strange land after all.

returnsmagic

[ There's a video, with the crack of dawn rising behind the dragon, the lukewarm light casting a gray light on the dragon's brilliant gold scales. But instead of Aurican's placid expression gracing his muzzle, his lips are curled into a terrible snarl, brows furrowed into an expression of anger, eyes shining. His long canine gleam by the fire within the gold dragon. ]

My memories have returned.

[ Fire licks his fangs, leaking out of his jaws. ]

In my world, I would have hunted down the person responsible to such a heinous act and kill her, for the consequences for such modification would have been catastrophic by simply relaying on one particular memory for one person.

However, this is not my land, and it is not my power or responsibility to do so.

I want this woman to be found.

returnsmagic

[ The view shows the city after Dark, illuminated by its sparse, lukewarm lights that dotted the streets and the buildings. It seems like the recording device is floating in the air, thanks to this view. There is a heavy, repeating noise, like massive wings flapping in a steady, rhythmic beat.

The NV's owner is not seen, but he speaks, a heavy, clearly inhuman voice. ]

So much despair and bloodshed in these past nights. By evil or by evil's victims, it is hard to say.

In some ways I miss the evil of home, where it is clear where and how to fight. There the causalities, and they are either missed or celebrated in its demise. But here, the difference is not as so clear, even to me, who has lived for so long. A shame of my fault. As a son of Paladine, the god of justice and all that is good, I should have hold the wisdom to know the difference.

But I do not, it bothers me. So tell me this: how can you tell?