A Dark Age Dawns... (Please read warning in 1st post)

Nightfall · Dec 17, 2009 10:08 PM

((Guys, I won't be here from the 18th - 21st. Afraid I can't reply yet. Either you'll have to leave it for a few days, or just manage by yourselves. Sorry, I forgot to mention it before.))

A Guy · Dec 17, 2009 11:56 PM

Zeel was tired. He was having dreams of freedom, of soaring in the sky and hunting once again. It gave him a sense of bliss, that at least in his sleep he wasn't a slave.
,
However, it wasn't too hard to wake him up. He heard a faint voice in his sleep - "Zeel... wake... thouhidd...self...", and it sounded vaguely familiar. He woke up, a bit groggy and disorientated, and a bit disappointed to be back in reality, but okay enough to give a feeble "I'm here... here..."

He was curious as to why he was referred to by name. Usually he was just called "slave", unless a distinction couldn't be made with gestures, and even then he was called "You over there!" Then it made him wonder - "Is that Colum? Has he come back?" He could only hope that Colum came to bear good news, or that it was Colum at all.

Brom the Wise · Dec 18, 2009 12:04 AM

Colum was becomming very frusterated (and flustered by all the ugly looks he was getting from the dragons nearest to him).

"Zeel! Wake yourself and move your scaly hide! I gotta talk to you about something!," then it dawned on him that Zeel might be one of the dragon's who were chained, hog tied, or perhaps even gagged, making him unable to call back, much less move. "Errrr, if your stuck, lift your head so I can find you!" Colum shouted quietly (so it sounded much like a regular speaking voice).

A Guy · Dec 18, 2009 12:17 AM

Zeel had his arms and legs bound to the cage, but the rope was quite long, allowing him to move around a bit. He heard Colum's voice (he was certain it was Colum's) and lifted his head a bit. His wings were still bound, however.

Just then, a guard walked in. His armor looked somewhat decorated, he was obviously not a normal rank-and-file grunt. He immediately spotted Colum and demanded of him "Tell me your name and state your business here!"

Brom the Wise · Dec 18, 2009 3:50 AM

COlum took an instinctive halve step back from the gurad dragon, thinking, "Oh crap...", and hopeing that he wasn't wanted for a crime that he had or had not done.

"Ahhhh, well you see," said Colum, adopting a tone of easyness that he himself had very little of, "I'm in the market for a good slave. A beast of burden for moving my wares from town to town." Colum decyded that to make his story more beliveable, he would need to expand on it's peramiters, "It was only recently that my old ox died. She was a good girl, never gave me any trouble." Colum took a deep breath and sighed, trying to give off a feeling of saddness, "'Till one day she up and get weak and sick. I brought her 'ere hopin' that this being a city of beasts' an' all that you lot might know somethin' I diddn't about healing livestock." Colum blinked and looked at the gound, trying to build the moment, "She passed on wile I was bringin' 'er here. An' now I got to get myself a new animal to do the work that needs to be done..."

Colum gave a smile intented to mimic the stupid grins he had seen on the fue rural folk he had met in his lifetime, "Course I aint' planning on stealing no-one's property. I got permission from the owner of these beasts to take one. What he wants me to do is show him the beast I want and then we can strike up a deal."

shadowsfall · Dec 18, 2009 6:12 AM

(I'll be gone for a while until Jan 5 Forgot to say so ill see you guys later and pick up from there k.)

A Guy · Dec 18, 2009 9:48 PM

Immediately, the cage with Zeel in it began to liven up, with every dragon vying to get Colum's attention - anything to get out of their wretched conditions. The guard pointed his halberd at them and ordered "Calm down, you lot!"

"Anyways," began the guard, "If what you're saying is true, would you mind if I asked my employer about this?" The thought made the guard shudder a bit, he was never comfortable around Ulkna. "You still haven't given me your name."

Brom the Wise · Dec 19, 2009 10:01 AM

Colum blinked, thinking, "So, the same dragon who ouns Zeel also runs the guard, and will soon be training me..."

He shook his head, clearing his mind. "Pish posh," said Colum to the guard, "if names were important, you would have givven me your's to start with. No, no, I think I'll keep the field level if it's all the same to you my dear sir." Colum then took on a friendlyer tone, "although the talk of you talking with your employer is helpful. I would very much enjoy an escort back to him to make my purchace." Colum gave a dry look to the dragons attempting to get his attenction, "Last thing I wish for is for me to talk one of this lot out and have them run off on me. Leaving me with a bill and no means of work. With you comming with, I'm shure the wrech wouldn't dare make an excape"

A Guy · Dec 19, 2009 2:05 PM

The guard sighed and just said, rather simply, "Go ahead, take your pick."

The cage once again burst into excitement, with each dragon arguing which was better than the others, and who would make a better follower.

Brom the Wise · Dec 19, 2009 8:48 PM

Colum was slightly overwhelmed by the responce from the dragons, "My my," he said, "they are all so springy!"
"Lay down you scaly bastards," he thought, "I don't care if you all rot in hell."

"Ohhhh, blue is my favorite color!" excalimed Colum, getting an idea, "all of you who arn't blue please move to one side, or at least try and move out of the way."

A Guy · Dec 19, 2009 10:41 PM

Colum's words elicited many jeers from the dragons in the cages, including some profanity and threats. This would've gone on a while had the guard not stopped them. Although they couldn't move too freely within the cage, they moved to the sides as best they could. By the time everyone had moved, there were three distinguishable blue dragons, one of them being Zeel.

Brom the Wise · Dec 19, 2009 11:13 PM

Colum frouned, Zeel was neither the largest nor the (for lack of a better term) "cutest" looking of the dragons before him. Curseing Zeel's tiny stature and lack of natural beauty, the boy pointed at Zeel saying "Eenie," pointed at the dragon to the left of Zeel saying, "Menie," the to the right of Zeel, "Mineie", the back at Zeel "Moe."

Colum dropped his had and gave a large smile to Zeel saying, "Feel like making a deal, blue dragon?"

A Guy · Dec 19, 2009 11:41 PM

Zeel sighed a sigh of relief. "Yes, I'm ready," he said, trying to hide his foreknowledge.

"I feel sorry for anyone that ever asks you to decide something for them," said the guard. "Oh, well, let's get this slave out." He took out a key to disengage some bonds, then cut the ropes.

Brom the Wise · Dec 20, 2009 12:09 AM

Colum skittered to the guards flank, trying to get his attenction, "Excuse me," he bagan, bransishing his newfound muzzle about, "How do I attach this? And how do I know shure the beast doesn't run off when he's not shackled to something sturdy?"

At this point Colum was not acting, these were questions that he really wanted to know. He trusted Zeel as far as he could throw him. (that is to say, not very far under any circumstances)

A Guy · Dec 20, 2009 12:31 AM

"It's rather simple," explained the guard, "just slide it on until it's firm. Here, let me show you."

The guard took the muzzle, and before Zeel could protest it, it was stuck on his mouth.

Brom the Wise · Dec 20, 2009 12:48 AM

Colum noticed that the guard did not give any inforation about keeping Zeel from running off, "Well, I just can't be careless with him then..." Colum glanced at the binding on Zeel's wings, thinking, "if he can't fly, then he can't run...". The idea of forcing Zeel to stay grounded make Colum feel guilty.

Colum tugged on the leads of the muzzle, clicking his toung like he had done with his horse ages agao. The boy began leading the dragon, contemplating his decision between freeing him and keeping him. He was in such a deep thought that he did not notince if Zeel or the guard were following him. Or even if he was going toward the slave owner.

A Guy · Dec 20, 2009 12:53 AM

OOC: Oops, forgot that bit.

"As for running off..." the guard said, "you'll have to decide that on your own. Usually, we keep the wings bound to prevent them from flying, but if for some strange reason you want him to, I can give you a key. Anyways, if you're going to release the wing bonds, you may want to keep a crossbow or something to shoot him in case he runs away."

Hearing of Colum's distrust in him, Zeel began to distrust Colum more. "So what does he want me to do now?" he thought. "Hopefully nothing that he or I'll regret..."

Brom the Wise · Dec 20, 2009 1:08 AM

"Whoa girl," said Colum, halting Zeel with a tug backwards on the reings. He started to stroke the dragon wile opening his mouth to ask for the key to Zeel's wing bindings. He had a shock when he felt the scales and not the hair he was expecting. Calming himself and restraing the reaction to leap back and shout. "She's gone Colum," he wispered to himself, "and getting Zeel's gender wrong won't bring her back..."

Colum stroked Zeel's neck wile speaking to the guard, "Oh, but what is the good of a dragon without her wings?" he paused, and avoided looking at Zeel when he asked, "this dragon is a she, right?"

A Guy · Dec 20, 2009 1:15 AM

Despite being muzzled, Zeel still managed to make an angry groan.

"Already demeaning your slave, I see," said the guard. "Just try not to make him too angry, someone as weak as you won't last too long if your slave betrays you and you aren't prepared." The guard tossed Colum the key to the bindings.

Brom the Wise · Dec 20, 2009 1:44 AM

Colum caught the keys, pocketed them, then continued petting Zeel's neck. "I know you are a guy, but he doesn't know that I know that." Colum wispered to Zeel.

"Sir, can ask you to leave me and this beast alone for a time?" colum asked the guard, "I always like the first time I get a new animal fo it and I to spend some time alone. It helps create trust."

A Guy · Dec 20, 2009 1:59 AM

"Sure, I'll be right outside if you need me," said the guard. There wasn't any real damage that could result from leaving them alone if he kept a sharp ear. He walked out the door.

Brom the Wise · Dec 20, 2009 2:15 AM

When the guard was out of sight, Colum started trying to taek the muzzle off. He started with givving it a smart tug, all that did was force Zeel to strech his neck and give Colum an ugly look.
"Sorry, sorry!" crooed Colum, trying to undo the lacing on the sides of the muzzle. He managed to tighten the muzzle on Zeel's nose, generation many a grunt and glare, "HOld on, I'll figure it out evintually."

After a few more failed attempts, COlum uttered a curse word that I dare not mention and simply cut the lacing on one side of the muzzle, ruining it, but freeing Zeel from the mess Colum had created. The boy took the lead rope and tossed it about Zeel's neck in a makeshift harness.

"How do I know that the moment I pay for you, that you won't fly off?" asked Colum, in a voice that was more accuatory then questioning. His eye locked with Zeel's and he began to watch Zeel's reaction closely. Small movements, dialating pupil, a wrinkle line, anything to see if the dragon was lying to him.

A Guy · Dec 20, 2009 2:28 AM

"Because I owe you a favor,"" Zeel responded with a straight face. "Rest assured, though, I won't let you do whatever you want to me. I have my limits. How do I know you won't just sacrifice me like an animal when it's convenient for you?" he asked quitely.

Brom the Wise · Dec 20, 2009 2:35 AM

"Because you cost too danmed much to be killed like an "animal," answered Colum, his voice softening. "Since you brought it up, what are you'r "limits"?" asked Colum, letting go of the lead rope. "Oh! you don't mind me petting you, do you?" Colum alsked, in almost a laugh.

A Guy · Dec 20, 2009 2:42 AM

"Good question", Zeel responded. "To start with, anything that will be a senseless way of getting me killed. Basically, anything senseless... at least overly senseless."

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