ORIGIN

Somehow, by virtue of whim, Mercurius had been roped — lassoed — into participating in the strange ritual of the caves' annual Olympics. He wasn't particularly intrigued by it but figured he may as well visit the event. One thing led to another and here he stood at the base of the spire, mane crackling with live magicka. Above the thick buzz of energy, the lion cast out a tremendous roar, echoing caves over. Perhaps drawing the competitors from the shadows. As they arrived, the male rolled back onto his haunches and tried (to little avail) to straighten his posture. His head would be kept up, at the very least.

Once his crowd was gathered, he rumbled softly and chuffed to the group in greeting, "welcome to the magicka section of the second Olympics." Moonlit eyes flickering across the crowd, he quietly praised the lack of deer within it. He steeled himself and took a deep breath, he continued. "Before the Spire, you will be putting on your most dazzling show for myself — and other judges, should they arrive soon. I will be looking for creative, impressive feats." He paused, taking a breath. "You may use your surroundings to your best abilities, but please do be mindful of those of us within them."

"Sharp-tooth," he gestured towards Dragon, "you are first."

@Dragon

The alligator strode forth nobly. Or so he'd like to believe. What he actually did was limp-hobble to the edge of the baubled stones ringing the area, his damaged hind leg and his scar slowing him drastically.

He was not here to win, exactly--well, he was--but it wasn't for these foolish games, no. He wished to show them power, to draw attention, to gather others to his cause once more. It wouldn't work, probably, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

Probably.

As he reached the center he broke into a spring, rushing over the rock in a burst of speed, inhaling deeply. His maw hung open, fire guttering up within, but first, he called upon that strange gift the birds had given them. Vast blood-red wings spread out to either side, flaring and flapping powerfully but moving no air, no wind, and he bellowed.

"I AM DRAGON!" he roared past the orange embers smoldering in his gullet.

A good beginning. Now--...

((post 1 of 3))

Spectral red bat wings broadly-spread, the alligator then focused on his fire. He had two things he intended to do in quick succession. He would need to control it--but at the same time, embrace it. One was something he had never tried, before.

First, however, on the heels of the spreading wings and still posing over the stone, he inhaled further and then--nothing happened. The fire guttered and simmered in his belly, but did not erupt forth as intended.

No, not NOW. The alligator huffed, freezing for a moment. PRETEND YOU MEANT THAT. 

Without pausing for more than a moment, the alligator just moved on to the final part of his intended display... Hopefully that, too, would not simply fail.

Dragon drew upon the magicka, anger and embarrassment fuelling it, though of this there was no sign. Rather than out through his mouth, he tried to call it all over his body, over his flesh.

What he managed was not a display of fiery torches, however, but more tiny candleflames all over his hide. What was worse, they hurt anyway. They were only tiny lights in the dark and they were singing his skin.

He didn't wait around; instead he turned, charging off toward Polaris's river to put them out, limp-dragging his way as the ethereal red wings faded.

It wasn't a particularly impressive display. Hell, it might be hard to even tell what he was trying to do.

@Sebastian

Perhaps, this wasn't his great idea.

He might have been a bit too eager to enroll with the Olympics. But they had sounded so fun! Sparring and showing off and doing an obstacle course. But now, staring out at the crowd, he felt like he might have a heart attack. Thankfully, he wasn't going first. Unfortunately, he was going second.

An alligator was first, the lizard moving rather slowly and awkwardly. But his first spell was rather impressive, and made Sebastian startle. He bellowed loudly, forming blood-red wings.

Unfortunately, the rest of the alligator's performance didn't go off quite as well. There was a long moment where nothing happened, an awkward silence. His last spell was a bit weak, little sparks dancing along its scales. As the lizard lurched by, Sebastian called out, "Good show!"

And then it was his turn. The puma took a deep breath, raising his head high as he strode proudly into the performance area.

He channeled his Magick, taking a deep breath. Sebastian hadn't had much of a chance to practice the spell...

and it showed. The spell didn't work, and for a moment he allowed his ears to flick back in embarrassment.

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

Sebastian took a deep, steadying breath. Alright, this wasn't going well. But... second time's the charm, right. He took another deep breath, beginning to channel his Magick once more. 'Please, please work...' he thought, thinking for a moment he felt his Gem twinge.

And... nothing happened again. He gulped, ears flattening against his skull.

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

Sebastian took a deep breath, feeling a lump form in his throat. Of all times for his Magick to fail him, it had to be now! He closed his eyes, desperately trying to get his Magick to obey him, 'Please, just this once.'
His Gem seemed to glimmer, twinging in his shoulders. This time, he focused not on his fire, but on another element, one he had yet to nourish. Shadows dispersed from his pelt, casting him, and only him, into shadow. The shadows reached to the edge of the rock, and his dark pelt made him seem to vanish from sigh.

The Puma snarled, ears flicking, and leaped forward. He seemed to simply melt out of the shadows, landing on top of the rock and dropping his jaw to roar loudly.

As the sound echoed, he leaped back down, padding into the shadows and seeming to vanish from sight as he slipped back into the crowd.

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

@Rift

Rift's ears flattened with pity at Sebastian's display. He had wanted the puma to succeed so badly, but it didn't look like he had done what he wanted. But it was his turn now, and he had to focus. He remembered the feeling of growing the tree above Reighn all that time ago. He had to focus on that feeling now as he stepped out in front of the judges. He gave Sebastian a quick lick on the ear as he passed him.

Taking a deep breath, he focused on the gem over his ear and began to tug at the magicka. The flow began, warm and reminding him of his home in Eridanus. He stepped forward and touched his nose to the earth. He felt seeds quivering under the dirt and they began to rise, first sprouting as little saplings. He stepped away and breathed out slowly, backing himself towards the judges so that he was in between them and the tree he was rising from the ground.

Slowly, he coaxed the tree into rising. The sapling turned into a small tree, then a larger one, until it was a full oak tree, with sprawling roots and a big, leafy head. It wasn't as big, or quite as ancient as he wanted it to be, but the flow of magic had been too much and he released it early, breathing heavily. But it was a tree, nonetheless, and it would serve its purpose.

___________________________________________________________

"And if it ever starts to feel sad little fang"
Remember that your gifts are your gain.

tags: here
notes: here

Next, he needed to decorate the trunk. He had tussled with how he was going to do that. Should he use glowing moss or the mushrooms Kera had grown when the cave was dark? He had settled on the mushrooms, even though he was less comfortable with the magic of rot, mainly because they were brighter and more colorful.

He stepped up to the trunk and pressed his nose against the side, sending his magic through the bark. After a few moments, the length of the tree lit up with many bio-luminescent mushrooms, as well as others that gave the tree an older, ancient feel that had been lost in his initial Flourish. There were all sorts of colors covering the bark, but the point was to get it to glow somewhat. His ears were perked with excitement and joy at having succeeded all his spells. He just needed one more to make it perfect.

___________________________________________________________

"And if it ever starts to feel sad little fang"
Remember that your gifts are your gain.

tags: here
notes: here

Game Master CJ

Mercy

Dragon

Dragon

Dragon

Sebastian

Sebastian

Sebastian

Rift (Original)

Rift (Original)