Donald's Dangerous Dragon Doings

[Rowan Harlow]

The Executive of Trump Productions on Arkania was a man named Paulson Manafor, a brash man who seemed to say to hell with any consequences of his actions. Perhaps he'd been stuck on Arkania to keep him out of trouble, yet it should have been expected he would find some way to disappoint others even here. Seems like the man went on a trek to find some Dragons, despite the common knowledge that they had been extinct for generations. Brash and impulsive, he'd gotten a whole team together to go off into the mountains. That had been near a week ago.

Manafor needed to be found and saved to gain his confidence or his body needed to be brought back so another could take his place. Even if it turned out to be the latter, Rowan was sure that a more level-headed person would be easier to blackmail, yet if he saved the man he knew he could hang that over him in a way that most people never could. To cover more ground he had brought a couple of his companions from the Venatori to help out, having just touched down on a ledge they could land on close to where Manafor's last location was logged. There was an odd shriek to the wind, almost like a Dragon's roar. Hopefully that was just nerves.

OOC Note: I'll create a dice thread for us. The first round of posts are the introductions, the rolls begin with the next post. Have fun!

@Nightfall @Axym

 

[Darth Inheris]

Arkania's atmosphere chilled Saorise to the bone, even through her many layers, a few nicer pieces saved from the family wardrobe on Kuat. They were finely cut, but kriff if they couldn't use a little more insulation. It took a great deal of effort not to just let her teeth chatter away, of which she had no intent in doing. Not the look she was at all after.

That said among the trio she was glad to know that at least they were all ones she had worked with before. Made it easier for her to keep focus on the task at hand, a search and rescue. Or recovery, anyhow, depending on how foolish this Manafor had managed to be. And from all accounts it seemed that possibility was ever so high. She hoped they wouldn't follow suit. She certainly didn't plan to,

"Down there then?" she called through the winds as they peered over the ledge. For now at least, this was just like any other event she'd been called into, hopefully this one ended a little better than they often did.

No promises, however.

@Axym @Insalius

 

[Sythe]

Sythe had been sent on this “mission” to help locate some person he didn’t even know.
The weather was cold... so he wore a long black fur-lined parka, but it still didn’t ease the thought of having to trade through snow and the like to find this... Manafor idiot.
Why would anyone come to this forsaken land in the first place was beyond his comprehension.
But he was there nonetheless to do the job. And he would do that job the best that he could.

As far as his other two companions, he knew Kallig, he had worked with her before. The other man he didn’t know... but in truth he really didn’t care who he was working with, as long as they could get the mission done successfully.

He stood next to Kallig peering over the edge of a huge chasm. “Anyone bring rope?”

@Nightfall @Insalius

 

[Rowan Harlow]

"Worry not, I brought the essentials for climbing. Rope, picks, the whole gamut. Here, let's see if we can find where they went down...Aha, tracks, always a good thing." Rowan, despite his noble upbringing, had also been trained as a soldier and special operative even before he went to the academy. That had included wall and mountain climbing, as well as tracking his prey in rough terrain. His eyes managed to spy the older tracks that Manafor and his people had decided to use, using their own path to secure theirs as the rope was laid down the mountainside. It looked like the Harlow wasn't out of touch with his training, as the path was quickly created without any issues of loose connections to cause problems for his companions. He wouldn't want them hurt in an accident before they actually found their mark, after all.

And found him they did, though at that moment Rowan had hoped that the man had just been dead. Inside the secluded mountain cave was indeed a dragon, a sleeping one at the moment yet a dragon nonetheless. Manafor seemed to be huddling in a small crack in the wall on the far side of the room, looking famished and dehydrated from this stay yet still alive. The rest of his crew seemed to be scattered in pieces all around the room, perhaps their ample flesh having given the dragon enough sustenance to slumber for a time. Rowan would wait for his companions to join him before planning their next move. Trying to retrieve Manafor and leaving without waking the dragon would seem the easiest bet, though perhaps striking while the dragon was sleeping could just end the threat entirely. He'd follow the lead of his companions, whatever they chose, as he became ready to draw his weapons as needed.

@Axym @Nightfall

((OOC: Feel free to roll attacks or otherwise on your turns, my turn made it so you could get in without rolling))

 

[Darth Inheris]

Rappelling down the mountainside alongside Rowan, Saorise held fast to the ropes and followed his lead. The Harlow knew what they were doing and she wasn't about to break ranks and try anything silly. Quick, easy, efficient. Just the way she liked things. And, as they rounded the cave entrance only discover the resting Arkanian Dragon, she prayed under her breath that it would stay that way. Perhaps cursed under her breath would be a more accurate word though for some of the words she let out, happily catching herself before any real danger begun. For now at least, things were safe. In the corner, Manafor, keeping his head down. Smart man,

"I'll try for Manafor" Saorise said in a whisper, nodding to the huddled man by the crack "Perhaps we can get out of here without waking, maybe even keep it subdued somehow while we try to get him out?" she offered as an idea before her eyes darted across the floor, trying to see if she could make it in silence. Loose stones and bones fell across her path, threatening to wake the sleeping giant.

Feeling the force in her arms, she drew it to herself, and covered her legs in a silent bubble of energy, muffling the sounds of her steps as she passed across the cave floor, her every pace no louder than the wind beyond the cave walls. The creature at least detected nothing for now, and she passed without trace, bringing herself round to Manafor. Hopefully he'd react alright, and with her companions help they'd be out of here before the beast belly called for more.

@Insalius @Axym

 

[Sythe]

Sythe followed the other two down the rope and into the cavern. The dragon is what caught his eye... even in its slumber, the beast exuded strength and power. This would be a worthy kill if it ever came to it. The thought briefly crossed his mind to go to the beast and stick his lightsaber through its skull...

But Sythe was no idiot. The mission was to get the weakling Manafor back up to safety. Not pick a fight with a dragon.
So he watched as Kallig went after the feeble little wretch of a man, and also kept his hand on his twin lightsaber hilts in case things went sour.

Another thought came to Sythe’s mind too... the rope was, so far, their only way out of the cavern. So he began scanning the walls to see if there was any other way in or out...

@Nightfall @Insalius

 

[Rowan Harlow]

Well so far they had made sure not to wake up the Dragon. He would be sure to congratulate his companions later for their decision to focus on stealth, as sometimes discretion was the better part of valor. Saorise was already working on getting Manafor and it looked like Sythe was looking for an alternate way out. Good initiative, it didn't look like the executive was in any state to climb. That meant either potentially noisy work to rig the guy to be pulled up or they'd need that alternative exit. As he started to look around, Rowan noticed a camera still in the dismembered arm of one of the cameramen. Potentially useful information, that would be.

As he moved over to pick it up, though, the Dragon gave a loud snore and shifted a bit. Focusing on the creature's head to see if it was waking, Rowan didn't see the tail whip around in perhaps a twitch in sleep to swipe him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, though he managed to not make any grunts of pain as he lay completely still in case the creature was stirring. When it was obvious it was not he quietly got to his feet, still a little stunned by the move, and took the camera to pocket for later. Hopefully they could leave soon.

@Nightfall @Axym

 

[Darth Inheris]

The odd silence of the cave was actively discomforting, it almost made it harder for Saorise to focus as she approached the huddled man. As she lent down, she glanced about her surroundings. Unless one of the others found an easier way out, they'd have to spend more time in the presence of the dragon, and that was a real test of her patience and skill. Quiet as she could be, this was a hell of a way to test it out. Even as the dragon stirred and Rowan was knocked to the ground, she flinched, holding her breath tight to keep the quiet as long as she could. Hopefully Manafor wouldn't cause too much trouble,

"Sir, hello. We're here to get you out" she spoke in a whisper, right at Manafor. However, whatever he'd witnessed and been subject to kept him far too shaken to respond just yet beyond anything more than a simple glance up before his eyes darted back to the floor. This was no happy camper. Too bad there wasn't really time to coax him out and make him find his voice again, he needed to be out so Rowan's plan could succeed. And that meant something a little more direct,

"Just... don't squirm, alright?" she said with a roll of her eyes as she began to wrap the force around the mans figure, suspending him in the air even as he remained shaking. Her hold was fast, unless something startled her he wasn't going anywhere. Instead now she looked at her friends, her eyes saying something that could be rather easily read as

'now what?'

@Axym @Insalius

 

[Sythe]

Sythe looked around for any sign of another entryway in or out. Whether the snow around them was hiding it, or blinding his eyes to another exit, he couldn't tell. What he did know was that he couldn't see any other way out other than the rope.
"There's no other way, that I can see... looks like the rope is our only option of getting out of here." He took care in whispering, but as he stepped toward Kallig to help, a sickening crunch was heard under his boot. it echoed through the cavern and made him stop in his tracks...

Looking down, Sythe saw that he had accidently stepped onto a human skull. He looked up at his cohorts, and then to the sleeping dragon...

@Nightfall @Insalius

 

[Rowan Harlow]

And that was that, the cracking of the skull echoed off the walls of the cavern, making the dragon's ear fins wiggle at the sound. It woke up, blinking as it stirred to life, it's draconic expression becoming dour as it saw the other invaders to it's territory. It gave out a piercing roar, spreading it's wings as it took to it's feet. Rowan didn't blame Sythe, it was bound to happen sooner or later. The important thing now was that he kept his companions and Manafor alive, despite this new threat. He was the closest, with Saorise and Sythe still having a clear run to the rope. His job as their leader and employer was clear, yet he didn't feel fear. He knew this was his role and he relished it. Gathering the Force to himself, he gave his charges a look and their orders.

"Get out of here, I'll hold him as long as I can."

Heart of Fire​

The dragon's head lunged forward, intending to snap Rowan in it's crushing jaws. The young man had been expecting that, though, and his reflexes enhanced by the Force had him leap just far enough to sail over the fangs. A flick of the wrist brought out his vibrodagger, not wanting to reveal to Manafor that he was a Sith just quite yet, and with the little clearance between the leap and the draconic head below him he slashed the edge of his blade across the left eye of the beast. It roared in pain as Rowan grabbed a spike on it's back, using his momentum to spin around and change trajectory to land in the newly created blind spot. His other hand shot to his blaster, the weapon twirling once like a gunslinger as he drew it from the holster before firing two shots into the dragon's flank. It turned to him again with a sweep of an arm, though it's unexpected partial blindness marred it's accuracy. Rowan leaned back, the claws nearly swiping across his face as he used the dagger to deflect one low digit and make sparks fly. The dragon's attention was solely on him, and with how the creature had been turned the blind eye was facing where his companions had to go. If they wanted to get out of there, this was their best chance while their leader was distracting the creature.

@Nightfall @Axym

 

[Darth Inheris]

Even as she balanced Manafor precariously above the dragons head, as the beast rumbled and Rowan called out to send them outside, she knew she needed to hold her focus on the man, or else drop him into the maw of the dragon. For now atleast, the dragon kept its eyes on Rowan, who leapt to the side and out of the way of its jaws with ease. This was the first she'd caught of him in action, and he certainly seemed to know his way round a blade. Perhaps, should they all make it out, she'd offer to spar. It'd been too long since she'd had a real practice, wrapped up in Kuati politics for days at a time. She would have counted this as a good break before that, but now it seemed a little less pleasant,

"Sythe! I've got Manafor, let's keep moving" if she could get the man out the door and away from the cave she'd try and give some assistance, but for now her goal was clear.

Even as the dragon flung itself around in search of it's prey, Saorise drew Manafor to herself, swinging him round the back of the creature as it swiped at Rowan, the thing now a few blaster bolts worse for wear. Keeping him close meant she could keep him afloat more easily, he certainly didn't seem in a state to walk anytime soon.

Throwing herself out the door of the cave, she flung Manafor out by her side, dropping him down on the stones nearby, the rope close at hand. Carrying him up wouldn't be easy, but perhaps she'd get some help and this dangerous little expedition would soon be done.

@Axym @Insalius

 

[Sythe]

Sythe turned originally to face the dragon, but Rowan was doing such a good job of distracting the huge beast, that anything that he could do to help, would probably end in making things worse for Rowan.
Even though he really wanted to fight, and kill the dragon, his better judgement won out in the end. He turned back and ran to help Kallig with getting Manafor up the rope and to safety.

As he jumped down out of the cavern and to Kallig's side, Sythe quickly helped secure Manafor to the rope and then began climbing up. "I'll get to the top and start pulling him up. Climb up beside him to make sure he doesn't freak during the climb."

Channeling the force, Sythe climbed as fast as he could up the rope and to the top. Once there, he braced himself and began pulling the sad little weak man up the side...

@Nightfall @Insalius

 

[Rowan Harlow]

Rowan gave a grin as, despite the danger, he was managing to stand toe to toe with a goddamn DRAGON. The wounded creature thrust a clawed hand forward, trying to grab at the Alderaanian noble. He moved so quickly he seemed to shimmer through the air, ducking and weaving through the deadly digits as he parried what he couldn't avoid with the vibrodagger. The tail came swiping at him again, turning and twirling under it as he grazed the underside with his blade. Another roar of pain erupted from the draconic beast, causing it to lunge in again with it's maw. Landing on a hand, Rowan pushed off and caught the flat of a tooth with his foot. He jumped up, leveling a harsh punch in the hole the Dragon's eye had been previously before he had cut it. The creature staggered back, hitting the far wall and glaring at him balefully. For now, he was still succeeding at his goal, though he was starting to feel the fatigue of his use of the Force. He hoped his companions would be free soon, so he could end this.

@Axym @Nightfall

 

[Sythe]

Sythe's arms strained against the weight of Manafor as he tried to pull the man up the side of the cliff. For a scrawny little man, he was sure heavy.
After a few moments, Sythe had enough. He called upon the force and used it to strengthen his muscles for each tug on the rope. Gritting his teeth, Sythe felt the force flow through him and into his arms and back.
With each tug, Manafor got lighter and lighter... And soon Manafor reached the top and Sythe pulled him to safety.
"I've got him." Sythe said over the com as he tossed the end of the rope back over the edge for the other two to use for their climb back up . "Do you need more help down there?"


@Insalius @Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

Saorise looked back at Rowan as he danced aside another dangerous blow from the creature, twsiting round its tail and out of the way. Manafor had been safely extracted, Sythe had done good work there. She knew both now to be most reliable, a trait she very much valued in her allies. There was little time for such thoughts though, she needed to do something, and she knew exactly what,

"He's ours, don't you worry!" she called back up to her shadowy companion. A quick look into Rowan's eye told her all she needed to know about her next move.

Reaching down to her belt, she fingered her lightsaber from her belt and tossed it into the air, sending it flying over to Rowan. He was up to something, she could tell, and she meant to lend a little helping hand. Or two. With a deep breath she focused her mind upon the beast, on its violence, anger, danger to her and her allies. She felt her feelings bubble beneath the surface and channeled that feeling to her fists. The force had no choice but to follow, rapidly encircling her hands with energy, though it wouldn't stay there long.

Instead, she hurled it from her hands and onto the beast, wrapping round its body with all the strength she could muster, and forced it into the ground, keeping the kriffing thing from moving an inch as she kept its body close to the ground, holding it and crushing it down. The beast was going nowhere,

"All yours Rowan" she let out, it was time to end this little excursion.

@Insalius @Axym

 

[Rowan Harlow]

The dragon roared in anger, shaking the cavern with it's ferocity and rage. As for Rowan, though, he merely tipped his hat to Saorise as he caught her lightsaber, vibrodagger slipping back into his sleeve as he flicked his own ruby lightsaber into his hand. It was time to end this, the Force flowing through him even as he fed off the pain and frustration from the draconic beast. The Force suffused him, flowing into his muscles as his strength and speed were enhanced as he'd experienced at the Academy. His eyes glowed red as he watched his impending prey flail around. When it's eye refocused on him, that was the cue to end the fight. Both lightsabers sprung to life, held by a skilled hand, and he started to seemingly walk to one side.

He wasn't just walking, though. He was moving so fast thanks to the Force that it only seemed like he was walking. He was moving so fast that he was leaving afterimages that confused the single-eyed dragon. It lashed out, hitting nothing, as Rowan's laughter mocked it into further anger. Then he struck, slicing forward with lightsabers leaving a trail of crimson and ruby behind him. It cut the dragon deep, but that wasn't the only one. The various afterimages leapt forward, jumping through the air, sliding over wings and back, ducking and rushing under claws and tail, it was like a rave of slashes from the Sith. In the end, it seemed like every afterimage struck at once, hitting every vital spot on the Dragon until it fell over, dead. The weight of it hitting the ground started a rumble that told Rowan it was time to go. Finding the rope to leave, he swung up the rope and climbed to safety. With a wink he tossed the lightsaber hilt, deactivated, back to Saorise as he looked up at the snowing sky. One executive saved, all his comrades safe, and and a dragon slain. A productive day. He'd give himself a gold star.

/Endthread