scotland ♔ yet how the wind revives us here

[untethered]

♬ Presentiment - Manami Kiyota

WHO || Belle, Gold, Emma, Hook, Lila [closed]
WHAT || Several Knights take a secret journey to try to help Amara...
WHERE || Oakhurst, Scotland
WHEN || January 15th, 2014 [forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam

It's probably a very good thing that Gold sweet-talked them a car in the nearby tiny Scottish village of Oakhurst, because it is freezing cold out and snow blankets almost everything around. Walking the seven miles up the Old Road to the ruins would be a bitch and a half.

Instead, they comfortably drove past rocky downs, near stands of old-growth oak covered in snow, and past two farms that looked abandoned. No other travelers were visible on the lonely road, which finally curves, passing east of a narrow ravine. Belle signals for them to pull over here, where, at the road's closest approach to the cleft, several broken pillars jut from the earth where the ravine widens and opens into something akin to more of a deep, but narrow, cavern. Two of the pillars stand straight, but most of them lean against the sloped earth. Others are broken and several have apparently fallen into the darkness-shrouded depths. A few similar pillars are visible on the opposite side of the ravine.

Comments

[bittersweeter]

[ quietly, with some laughter: ] Did you really just say "take us to your leader"?

[undealt]

[UNDER HIS BREATH] I did warn you.

[uncurse]

Oh, shut up. [ she's biting back a grin as she gives lila a little elbow nudge while she straightens up. ]

[unhand]

[Hook quietly hands Lila back her flashlight. He isn't drawing his sword again... yet. But as harmless as Meepo seems, he doesn't want to be caught with full hand if his friends aren't quite so harmless. Just a precaution.]

[untethered]

It can't hurt to try the diplomatic approach. [ she gently reminds gold, as meepo perks up completely, practically jumping up and down. ] "Big people help Meepo! Calcryx, Meepo will find you!" [ he immediately starts scampering to an archway directly across the chamber from where they entered, and belle starts to follow him, down a very long thin hall where they pass a hall that branches to the right and a few more doors. ]

[undealt]

I suppose not. At the very least, it might spare us from wandering aimlessly. [He shoots Belle a sheepish look- oh look, he'll be contrite around her.

He does, however, lower his voice in a warning to the rest.] Don't let your guard down- that one may be pure of intent, but intentions mean nothing. They're resentful, cunning creatures, and the rest of the clan may not be so eager to repay a debt to humans.

[untethered]

[ several paces ahead, at the edge of the flashlight, the kobold squeaks: ] "Meepo can hear you!"

[ belle looks way too amused, and doesn't even hide it. ] This one might get resentful too, if we keep expecting the worst from him. Poor dear.

[bittersweeter]

[ lila snickers softly, tugging her other glove off with her teeth and shoving it in her pocket. ] Oh I like him.

[uncurse]

[ emma will quietly take gold's advice, at least, and keep her hand on her gun as she follows them all down the narrow hallway. better to be prepared. meepo, she trusts, is harmless. ] So, if you're the keeper of dragons, you've probably seen this thing. How big is it, exactly?

[untethered]

"Big! Big big dragon to help kobolds take over citadel! Mascot! Very important." [ he turns to put a finger to his mouth ] "But shh! Better if guards don't hear humans. Less to explain for Meepo."

[unhand]

[Hook doesn't much like the sound of that, either, but it seems sage enough advice. He keeps quiet as they move, pausing only to shoot Emma a worried look.]

[undealt]

[Basically, Gold was right and this is shady as hell, but he is not talking anymore. Lay on, MacDuff Meepo]

[uncurse]

[ whatever the check is to ~feel~ if somebody is watching you without looking, emma got a nat 20 so she is AGGRESSIVELY IGNORING HIS WORRIED LOOK AND SILENTLY SOLDIERING ONWARD. ]

[untethered]

[ they emerge into a long wide hallway, and immediately to their left see a short throne near the west wall, constructed of fallen bits of masonry stacked against an old altar. a small, horned figure in red-dyed robes sits in the throne, and a force of six similar creatures guards her. the altar's top contains a variety of small items, while the portion of the altar that serves as the throne's back features a carving of a rearing dragon. a metallic key is held firmly in the rearing dragon's open mouth.

when the kobold leader sees meepo, her eyes roll in obvious annoyance, but that cuts short when the others follow him in moments later. she sits up straighter, the guards lofting their little spears, and she barks something at him in a weird yipping language. ]

[unhand]

[Hook looks over to Belle. If he's learned anything about this mission so far, it's that she's super smart and knows weird languages.]

Do you know what they're saying?

[untethered]

[ she nods absently as meepo barks back at the leader, waving his hand at them to explain. she speaks in a hushed voice: ] He's explaining that we're here to help rescue the dragon... but I've the feeling he's lost some status in his clan from losing it in the first place.

[undealt]

[TISH, THAT'S DRACONIC. aka random.org says gold failed his will save to not be endeared to belle's translating skills and his eyes are all on her. senpai is s-so sugoi.]

[bittersweeter]

[ OMG REALLY BOYS, IS NOW REALLY THE TIME TO GET YOUR DOE EYES ON? but don't worry, lila is here to judge you both. again and always. her eyes flicker between belle, meepo, and the kobold on the throne, fingers absently fidgeting her necklace against her scar. ]

[untethered]

[ the kobold leader finishes listening to meepo's tale and looks over the humans, before yapping in English: ] What brings upworlders to this place?

[uncurse]

[ awkward. emma glances around at the others before answering. ] We want something that the goblins have. Same as you. We were hoping maybe we'd be able to help each other. [ diplomacy 23. ]

[untethered]

[ she nods, as if that makes perfect sense. ] "Kobolds make deal. You help us get dragon back, we kill more filthy goblins!"

[ belle pipes up. ] May we ask what brought the kobolds here in the first place?

[ she pounds a scaly fist against her chest. ] "As all know, kobolds heir to dragons. As the mightiest among my people, Yusdrayl has led brave few to this ancient holy site, where dragons once revered many years ago."

[uncurse]

And as the mightiest among your people, do you happen to have anything that'll knock out a dragon? [ look she can't be the only one who's thinking HOW THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO CATCH IT. slay a dragon? she can do that. sure. slay the dragon. capture not kill is a little bit - a lot, actually - harder. ]

[untethered]

"Did not say was easy task!" [ meepo yips something at her and she rolls her eyes again ] "Meepo thinks reward should be greater, then. Fine. Yusdrayl will grant you key here, or any two treasures from altar should you return dragon. Very good deal. And will send Meepo, Keeper of Dragons, to assist." [ meepo's eyes go wide, and he starts to protest, but she holds up a hand. ] "Meepo deal with dragon before. Can help. Took care of it. Meepo will go."

[unhand]

[Hook's eyes light up at the mention of treasure. He may technically be very well covered by the Knight's credit card, and he really did go on this mission to help Emma and Charming, not because he was hoping for some reward. But he's a pirate. Some things just always sound good.]

I like the sound of this deal. Good negotiator, that Meepo.

[undealt]

Then let's not waste any time. [He pauses, realizing that given his general disregard for Meepo's life that might sound harsh and impatient, he adds, a bit too sweetly:] The sooner we leave, the sooner we can have your dragon safe and back where he belongs.