The Box Death Came In (Ryan GM)

[Cara Dunn]

After taking Xapham's advice on handlign the snake's remains with care, Cara had wrapped up the creature and put it in a sealed box, carrying it with her as she headed out right after towards Terrritory Two.  Dragonhearth.  It was weird to think just how close to home the place was, south of Cabal's borders, but they weren't as much a pain as other places were.  Hopefully the people were the same way.  She wasn't entirely sure what to expect here, but Cara figured she could get an idea of hte creature's habitat and if anyone dealt in exotic pets, if nothing else.

She made her way to the main city of the territory, humming quietly to herself.

[Lucifer]

She found the city was surrounded by an enormous wall. There seemed to be a single gate, with a line of people, carts, and caravans waiting to get in!

[Cara Dunn]

She slowed at the sight of teh line, stepping up towards the closest person in line as she tried not to be overwhelmed by the sheer size fo the wall. It felt like it went on forever.

"What's the hold up? Someone try to smuggle something?" There was no way this could be a normal customs check.

[Lucifer]

The person she approached shook her head.

"No, someone initiated the right of combat. Entry and exit is barred until the fight is over."

No sooner than the words exited the woman's mouth a dust cloud erupted from in front of the gate with the roar of what almost sounded like a Qi beast, but one that was far larger than any she had seen. But there was no visual sign of it. But she could see commotion closer to the gate!

[Cara Dunn]

Seriously? Cara eyed the area up ahead with a small sigh. It made sense that the entrance was barred, but it was a set back.

"What for?" She didn't expect an answer, the question coming from frustration, already on a lert at what sounded like a massive qi beast. Did it burrow underground, or was it some kind of trick?

Curious, she would head closer, arm wrapped around the container she had brought with her as she tried to get a better look.

[Lucifer]

"The Dragonflame."

Was the reply that she would get before she moved to get a better look. There she would see two men fighting. Though one of them looked to be as much beast as man. While the other man looked more freaked out to be there at all.

"Come on, please just give up. It doesn't have to happen this way."

The freaked out man stammered as he looked over the wolfman who was on the ground. The wolfman snarled and unleashed another howl with enough force to push everyone back a few steps except the freaked out man who was in the midst of having a panic attack as he ran toward the man, with his arm outstretched before clamping it over the wolfman's snout. A flash of blinding energy erupted from the two of them, and when it was done there was no sign of the wolfman at all.

[Cara Dunn]

So it wasn't a trick, but not a qi beast other, whih meant -- HOLY HEAVEN AND EARTH WHAT WAS THAT HAND? She'd seen qi users transformed by qi before, but not to the extent of either of the two man. One that seemed half beast and...she was afraid to know if the hand was its own person or if it was random body bits on those fingers.

Cara had no idea what the Dragonflame was, but it sounded important. It also wasn't the most important thing on her mind just then as sound and light filled the air, leaving the nervous man alone. Squinting as her eyes tried to adjust, she found herself staring, instead.

"Did he...eat the wolf man?" There was a damned mouth on that palm. Nothing made sense.

[Lucifer]

"Oh Mathew, Oh Leon, Oh David. Why. Why didn't he just quit..."

The nervous man sank to his knees mumbling to himself in horror as the mouth on his hand let out of loud belch. There were some freaked out murmurs from some of the traders that were in line with Cara, but those that looked like locals just began moving along like it was normal. Moving past the nervous man and into the city. The lockdown was concluded.

[Cara Dunn]

Who? It took a second for her to realize the man was murmuring names that seemed normal enough, but paired together were kind of hard to miss, especially in a place named "Dragonhearth." There was a lot to unpack there, but she was glad to see hers wasn't the only face of shock while others moed on with their lives as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Personally, she still had a queasy rumble in her stomach from the understanding of what she saw as the hand belched.

"Does it...do that a lot?" She wasn't quite sure what to say to the man, if anything, but he was also clearly shaken.

[Lucifer]

The man took long, slow breaths trying to calm down while the eye on the fingers turned to stare at Cara, it's tongue licking it's lips.

Every time he opened his mouth to say something his throat tightened and nothing but a squeak came out.

[Cara Dunn]

Cara was still a little green n he face, herself. She couldn't blame him for the struggle to evey speak, but her gaze went to the hand's eyes that were considering her.

"Don't you lick your lips at me," she scolded. "I'm not your dinner." That or it was happy with what it had, but then there's the face that she was rationalizing whatever it was in her head. Somehow. Otherwise she was going to carry that with her for life.

Forcing herself to look at the man in his actual eyes on his face, she took a deep breath and tried to continue.

"Sorry. I was just wondering what was going on. Someone said something about a dragon flame?" That's what it wounded like, anyway. They way she said it showed she wasn't aware of it being a particular title rather than it being just a name for what it was "You gonna e okay?"

[Lucifer]

It took a little bit. But he would nod.

"Yes, I was chosen to consume the Dragonflame this festival. We honor the saviors of the world and this time it was my turn to consuming or be consumed by the flames. Donovan wanted to have the same honor. And so one of us needed to die or surrender."

He swallowed hard.

"I will be okay. I just need to last a little longer I hope."

[Cara Dunn]

She took the nod at face value from a stranger who seemed to at least know this was a thing that could happen, even if he didn't like it. She nodded once, but paused after at the mention of what the Dragonflame could do.

"Good to hear. Hope it's not too much longer, then. What happens if if you consume the flame?" Being consumed by it seemed fairly simple, though now she had to wonder if it would be the man consuming it, or his hand.

[Lucifer]

"If I am worthy then I will overcome my inhumanity and the wrath of the Great Dragon to be blessed with a form of my own. If not, I will die like the weak pathetic maggot I am. Or I am killed before the ceremony and my killer will be given the honor."

[Cara Dunn]

It sounded like a great honor, but it was the way the man phrased it that had her brows knitting together.

"How are you supposed to be worthy and overcome it if you already think of yourself a weak and pathetic maggot?"