[center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5312701][img]https://i.imgur.com/4grpYJC.png[/img][/url][/center]
[h3]--The Dragon Arrives--[/h3]
[@13org][@Shirly Swad][@Medili]

Srkandi felt it. A sudden rush of wind, the feeling of dread rising within her. She is not intimately familiar with this feeling, but her brain is already scrambling to figure out potential solutions. This is incredibly bad, she knows that an imminent danger towards herself and her party is coming. She has read many a tome inside her family mansion's library, stories describing a dragon's arrival, and the might the dragon wields when humans are obstructing an objective the creature has to go through, whole villages torn apart. Cities burnt to ashes, and only a combination of magecraft, martial ability, and a little bit of luck is enough to kill the rampaging dragon.

This group only has 2 mages, an alchemist, and 2 warriors. This is not a combination that she feels any confidence on facing a dragon. Even a younger dragon would be a mess to deal with. If it is an elder dragon...

[color=50c8ff][b]"EVERYONE!!"[/b][/color] She turned towards the party. [color=50c8ff][b]"We must get out of here, does anyone know a place where we can hide? I know when we're in danger and my senses are telling me that a dragon's quickly arriving. We must find a cave of we're-"[/b][/color]

A sudden, massive roar cuts Srikandi off, as a massive snowstorm suddenly blew snow all over the party. Blinding everyone for a second, before Srikandi felt her stomach drop seeing the creature that made that little snowstorm...

A dragon, yellow in color. Standing many feet tall above everyone, surveying the damage brought forth by their little skirmish a while ago. It looks like a Younger dragon, so Srikandi felt [i]some[/i] comfort in that fact, but should he (is it a he?) opens his mouth and blasts everyone with an electric current. There is [i]very little[/i] she can do to protect them. And Srikandi has no interest in dying right now, she has family, she has friends, and she has this party of hers that she needs to protect. All of them (except that half orc) are good people, and the adventurer quickly put her mind to work, trying to devise a plan that can get them out of this mess ASAP.

[color=50c8ff][b]"Anki... Anki"[/b][/color] Srikandi whispered towards the automaton as the dragon slowly combed through the dead kobold. [color=50c8ff][b]"Can you silently prepare a ward spell? Like a magical shield that can protect us? Please make it as discreet as possible. I don't want to tip the dragon on what we're preparing.[/b][/color]

[color=760909][b]"You know that this is no use, right?"[/b][/color] The dragon suddenly turned towards them. [color=760909][b]"Do what you want, mortals. But those kobolds are the trip-wire for anyone daring to enter these mountains. I am pretty sure, that that little meteor that hit our great table is the cause for your party's presence, and honestly? If you just paid the Kobolds the toll, none of what I'm about to do to you now would've happened."[/b][/color]

Everyone felt a sudden ping of dread inside themselves. [color=760909][b]"But, I am a merciful one, despite you killing my minions. I highly respect an adventurer's party that can show strength like that. So, let me repeat what the Kobolds might say when you entered this particular valley then. Pay the toll, and I will let you go."[/b][/color]

[hr]
[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/brausepulver-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/211126/aace1e560f997c5e9315e2012670d064.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center][color=1A9D60][i]"What in the world is that sound?"[/i][/color][/center]
[@deadpixel101][@King Cosmos][@DracoLunaris]
[hr]
[color=1A9D60]"Did you hear that?"[/color]

The roar was felt even as far as the Great Table itself. With everyone suddenly turning their heads towards the sudden rumbling and roar that even shook the plastic table. Everyone, with the exception of Galmira herself, was now much more tense than usual. [color=1A9D60]"Uhhh, Galmira. Is that one of yours too?"[/color] The Captain asked. [color=fff200]"Most likely."[/color] She replied. [color=fff200]"A younger dragon by the sound of it, much, much younger than me. Only a few centuries old, probably out there charging tolls to adventurers entering the Dragonspine."[/color]

[color=1A9D60]"Wait, adventurers? There are adventurers in this world?"[/color] Almira asked again. [color=1A9D60]"This is really a fantasy world isn't it? We just crashed into a fantasy world of swords and magic and dragons...[/color]

[color=fff200]"I may not be familiar with what you refer to as 'fantasy' Almira, but yes, we do have swords, magic and dragons. Why do you ask?"[/color]

[color=1A9D60]"I... nevermind that, since you mention the taste of humans. I take it that this adventurer's party probably consists of humans as well, right?"[/color]

[color=fff200]"Most likely, yes."[/color]

[color=1A9D60]"Then I need to prepare a small expedition. You can't seriously expect me to just sit by and watch a group of humans getting mauled by a dragon right?[/color]

Galmira then went silent for a while, a silence that seriously did nothing to make Almira anymore comfortable. Just as Almira was about to turn to Q-T and tell her to prepare the rovers for a combat expedition, the female dragoness turned her head once more, her eyes locking into Almira. [color=fff200]"You know, perhaps I can be of help. I am well aware that my silence may be uncomfortable to you, but dragon to dragon fights are generally verboten among us. Even with that, I can still take you there. It will certainly be much faster than riding your... self driving carts around in this terrain."[/color]

That last sentence stunned Almira. Is... is she really going to do the trope now? [color=1A9D60]"Wait, you aid that I can ride with you? Like? On your back ride with you?"[/color]

[color=fff200]"Exactly. It will be much faster, and if that brat takes a shot at me. Then the rules will be broken and I can assist you in the fighting."[/color]

Almira knew this is a bad idea, riding a dragon on her back in this snowstorm is a surefire way to kill yourself, the workplace safety department will have a fit should they hear what Almira is gonna do here, and she has to set a good example for the crew as well. She is playing fast and loose, and the reactions of the crew will be all over the place should she take up Galmira on her offer...

[color=1A9D60]"Alright, so, anyone else wanna ride on the dragon's back?"[/color] She asked everyone present. Galmira not bothering to interject. [color=1A9D60]"I'm going to bring my assault rifle and some combat gear, Q-T, inform the security team to set up an expeditionary force, and then tell me whether you want to ride the dragon on her back or not. Okay?"[/color]