As the golems crumble to dust and you all descend on the remains to loot the ashes, the sound of clinking armor and heavy boots fills the air.

A group of soldiers wearing blue and gold favors rushes up. At the head of the pack is Baroness Charlotte. 

She has swapped her fine clothes for light leather armor. She wields a sword in one hand and has a shield on her other arm. The shield flashes blues and purples similar to a bug’s exoskeleton [OOP: Zuiigri recognizes the shield]. 

She has a slightly larger favor on her hip than the other soldiers wear, marking her as the baroness. She is dirty, bloody, and sweaty with knicks and gashes in her armor. The other soldiers flanking her appear much the same as they scan the woods around them.

“Baroness Jade! Heroes!” Charlotte calls as she slows to a jog and finally a walk. “I see we’re too late. Or… Just in time?”

She looks at the larger pile of ashes. “Was that the weapon? I saw it above the trees but then it suddenly fell and then… Nothing.”

She looks around at the heroes and calls over her shoulder. “Michaelson! See to their wounds!”

As she calls, one of the more lightly armored soldiers steps out of the group and approaches the heroes. He is also wearing a Foresetidale favor and looks as battered as his comrades.

[OOP: Healing Arts on each of you. I know you all probably don’t remember where your health was which is totally fine. This is for rp purposes only. The healer is going to individually heal everyone who accepts healing that does not have a darkness attunement.] 

 

When they arrive at the end of the rise overlooking the graveyard, they see the impossibly large dragon bones amid a dusty and dry myriad of slopes and rises. Wind blows through, knocking dust into the air in little whirlwinds. 

Winding their way through the gaps in the bones and wandering around the dunes are various creatures. There are giant beetles, gargantuan scorpions, small fire mephits, and many other creatures.

[Should you continue on, there will be combat and I will call a hold here and we can pick up at the event.]

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Jade smiles wide and responds with a chipper

"Most definitely! I am so excited to help with this."

Jade walks through with Balasar. They both travel to the dragon bone graveyard.

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Balasar smiles and claps his hands together.
"Perfect! I was hoping to have a chisel and a saw of some sort made. I need it to help remove something rather tough."
He lowers his voice just a bit as to not be heard over the activity around them.
"It needs to be able to cut through the dragon bones. I'm sort of hoping to dislodge the ritual and relocate it elsewhere. If anyone would know the right material for the job, I'm certain it would be you."

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Balasar nods as he follows Jade. 
"You make sure to stay safe as well, Zuigrii. I'll be sure to stop by and visit later if you're not busy."
He smiles, before looking to Jade.
"Shall we head through?"

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Zuigrii takes the parchment and lets them through to the portal. “Both of you stay safe.”

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"For now just passing through. Balasar needs to see the Tuatha dragon bones."

Jade passes Zuiigrii a peice of parchment sealed in purple wax.

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Zuigrii answers the door, lowers the wards, and lets them in bed raising the wards back. “Hello Baroness. Hello Balasar. Coming by to see me or just passing through?”

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Zuigrii chuckles. “If paperwork was important enough to stop me, I’d never make or use a weapon again. No, I’m not too busy. What kind of tools do you need?”

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Storm nods at Vesta and then leans in to whisper to Saige. She gives Vesta and Jade a quick wave good-bye and then turns to head towards the tavern.

"Let's go see what we can hear in the tavern tonight. Leave them to it."

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Balasar let out a breath of relief as he sees Zuigrii, quickly navigating his way over to him.
"Ah, Zuigrii, I'm so happy to see a familiar face. I was hoping to put in an order to have some tools made if the guild isn't too preoccupied with the war effort, and I've never been in here before so I don't really know how it all works."
He looks to the other member and the papers before looking back to Zuigrii.
"If you're not too busy, I would love some help. But if you're in the middle of something, I'd hate to interrupt."

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Jade does a lite jog to catch up with Vesta.

"I would like to go with you. I don't think you should be alone right now."

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“I see.” Vesta’s voice is flat. “Two months.”

Her expression remains unreadable, though she gives a slight nod as the words settle over her. She falls silent, lost in thought for a long moment, before giving Jade’s hand one final squeeze and gently letting go.

“I’m going to the vardo.” She glances toward the city gates. “You’re welcome to come with me, or look into Zukar first. Whatever you’d prefer.”

She turns toward the gates once more, only to pause and look back at Saige and Storm. A deep, weary sigh escapes her.

“I’m sorry. I’m not in a particularly sociable mood today.”

Her gaze shifts from Storm to Saige, and her brow creases faintly.

“Perhaps we can… catch up later.” She hesitates, looking as though she isn’t entirely sure why she offered. “Or something.”

With that, she takes a few steps towards the gate before stopping to wait, glancing back to see whether Jade will follow.

Beside Storm, Saige continues to pout, tugging her hood a little tighter around her head as she studies the Ramtovi woman. Her head tilts to one side, and her brow furrows.

After a moment, she looks down at her hands. She glances up at Storm, still frowning, before leaning towards her to whisper something else. Her fingers catch on the draconian’s sleeve, giving it a small, insistent tug.

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When Balasar enters the guild, Zuigrii is standing at the front desk going through some papers with another member. After a few seconds Zuigrii looks up and notices. “Well hello. What brings you in today?”

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"There is a metal that is useful against dragons. I think it's meteoric iron? I'll have to check and get back to you."

As they reach Zuiigrii's house Jade will approach the door and knock.

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As they make their way, Balasar speaks up. "I've also been trying to place an order at the Artisans guild for some tools to possibly remove the ritual from the dragon bones as well, like a saw or chisel, though I'm not sure what metal would work best. Maybe mithril?"
It isn't long before they make it to Zuigrii's home.

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"I didn't sick Kumara on anyone. He reacted when magic was cast in the embassy. I believe Vesta cast something but it was in the hall so I didn't witness it myself."

Jade thinks for a moment.

"I did try to send Vesta a missive about Roman's baby but it failed. So I sent one to Tristan after. He told me that he was trying to bring the information from the dragon letter up to higher nobility. "

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Balasar makes his way to the Artisans Guild. Seeing the hive of activity and the billowing smoke emerging from the top, he eyes the building uncertainly as he makes his way towards the door.

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Jade clears her desk and grabs her staff from a weapon rack in the corner. She stands excitedly.

"I don't have access to the ward in Zuiigrii's house, but I would love to join you."

Jade travels with Balasar to Zuiigrii's house.

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He enters with his notes tucked under his arm and a smile returning Jade's0.

"Hello, baroness Jade. I was wondering if you could accompany me to those dragon bones again, or just open the ward for me if you're busy. I haven't learned enough of the language to be completely fluent, but I think I've learned enough to translate the ritual and find out what it does."

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