Joy calms down and the enormity of what's before her sinks in.
"Oh. Oh!"
And she has a thought.
I'll bet he hasn't had a hug in a long time!
Joy walks up to "Eldren" - and hugs him.
He frowned in thought at Dramm's confusion. "Well, it's perhaps not quite that simple. I'm not really here for more than short bursts of time but I am very real while I am here. My fate is intrinsically tied to your Imedren, should he parish, I would cease to exist entirely as well. It is therefore in my interest to keep him alive and as healthy as I can." as he spoke he looked at his younger self who was still glaring at him.
When Joy walked up to him and hugged him, Eldren's eyes widened in momentary surprise, then his expression changed swiftly from one of defensiveness to one of happiness. "Thank you for your kindness, Joy. I'm not so sure I deserve this moment of happiness though."
"I only have so many minutes at a time that I can exist within this timeline... if any of you have any lingering questions, now would be an opportune moment to ask."
At Joy's intervention the bubbling feelings of anger that Imedren felt towards his older self fizzled out, replaced with a dull resentment. He turned away from the otherwise heartwarming scene and found himself a corner to sit at.
Uruuna sits beside Imedren and places her hand on his. "Normally, I'd be pretty freaked out by all of this future self business. But I just spent a month in somebody else's body, so the bar for oddity has been raised a bit."
She smiles briefly, but it fades. "Are you sure this is safe, Imedren? Will you be okay?"
Joy lets go of Eldren and speaks up.
"Im...Eldren, do you have any advice on defeating the Long Mother or Katandramus? What do they have planned, so we can stop it from happening?"
"You aren't here for nothing. You can't have traveled back in time on a whim. What are you trying to undo, Imedren?" The question is laced with suspicion for the older man.
Eldren shook his head. "Those things are a lifetime ago... and my mind is largely linked with that of your Imedren's now. It's like trying to remember vivid dreams, and while I may be better than most at remembering... even those will fade eventually.
In my time, from what I remember of it and where I can see the lines leading to it, we were not as strong as we are now. The Hag came to destroy Crossings. We tried to help with the cities defenses, we even managed to save a few lives, but it wasn't enough. I used divination magic and saw our deaths if we pressed forward. I pleaded for us to leave the city while we could... but you, Anophth, Dramm, TaBog, and Uruuna, all of you refused to leave for one reason or another.
I was a coward and I wanted to run. I was tasked with keeping Nutmeg safe, and then together we left the city a day before its destruction." he sighed, and looked to Dramm.
"I don't remember Katandramus from my memories. Nor do I specifically recall you mentioning anything about this Long Mother. Everyone who stayed died. I can only guess that the cultist's plans were halted by Maera's success, and the Long Mother did not gain anything by your apparent death at the hands of another.
Through years of study, trial, and error, I discovered not only was it possible to travel back through time, it was also possible to change events. I was trying to change the past by more subtly altering events. The best place to start, I knew, would be within my own past."
Joy looks at Eldren with sympathy.
"Nutmeg made it out at least.", she says, with a touch of sadness in her voice.
"Thank you for your story."
"Thank you? No, this is the story of a madman. What have you done, Imedren?" Dramm's face gets stony as he looks upon the elder Sorcerer. "You fled your time, but the past is set. If you change it, your reality vanishes and you cease to be. You're not doing this to save anyone, you're committing suicide so that you don't have to live with your cowardice."
Somewhere inside Dramm feels a twinge of guilt at the hypocrisy, but he brushes it away. His emotions are raw and his mind frayed. It made judgement an easier choice. He turns to the current Imedren.
"That is a dangerous man to idolize. Do not allow him to drag you down with what 'should' be as if you can pick and choose, Imedren. He tried to control it all for a perfect outcome. If you chase the same promises, you'll only destroy yourself too."
Imedren lets out a sigh to help himself calm down as Uruuna asks her question. "I understand what you mean. But I've learned that just understanding certain kinds of magics isn't entirely safe. I had no idea you could manipulate time and move back through it, I was certain it was only possible to stop it, slow it, or move forward. No, it's not entirely safe. That arrogant bastard thought he could do what he wanted and he came here, he admitted to me that he'd been manipulating events. Nudging me in certain directions, leaving things for me to find all those times, then finally he came to me directly... but he said the wrong things to me. Now we're connected on a level I couldn't have fathomed." he realized the irony in what he was saying as he spoke about a man who was practically himself.
Imedren hunched over and rubbed his face in his hands for several moments before looking at Uruuna.
"He is here now and what he's done has given me an opportunity to change things. I'll be able to react, in the moments he's here, twice as efficiently. He wanted to change things, nudge them in different directions. Well he has, and now he's part of my time, part of our time. I can see many possible futures, I'll use him to take strides to a more desirable one."
The Elder Imedren, "Eldren", looked at Dramm as he made his proclamations. His expression turned enigmatic.
"Ah, so you share the same mindset as them. There are those, like you, who seem to believe that time and fate should flow in but one direction. They believe that there is but one determined outcome in the flow of time, one fate.
Dramm, you are making some vast assumptions about the nature of time magic. Do you even know how to use it? Have you lived it? Seen what others can do by traveling through it? I have.
Things can be changed. Outcomes avoided. When you know what the future brings, like through certain types of divination magic, doesn't that give you an edge? Sometimes you work to avoid it, we innately struggle against fates we don't like. If someone told you that you would die tomorrow, wouldn't you fight against it?
Time magic is another way to struggle against what has happened or will happen. Wouldn't you take it if you had a chance?"
Uruuna nods. "Alright. I trust you to know what you're doing. Just... As always, be careful, Im."
After several more minutes, Eldren disappears, going back to the future.
***
The rest of the first day of travel passes without incident. Aside from a long-lasting rainstorm, the second day is uneventful as well. On the afternoon of the third day, you reach the site of the ambush.
The destruction along the rail line above Mirror Lake is devastating. The rails have been twisted and warped by the explosion, with sections melted into slag. The cliff face has broken away and collapsed into the lake 300 feet below, where the train’s wreckage can be seen in the water. A trio of drakes the size of horses are currently picking through the mess to feed on the corpses of the crew. They haven't noticed you yet.
Handholds along the cliff make it possible to climb down.
Joy goes quiet for the rest of the conversation, thinking about all that has been said.
********************************************************
Joy looks at the drakes and whispers to the others:
"I'll get into the air. Fancy a lift, Sel?"
She will then enchant her broomstick .
Sel gets his bow ready and then sits down on the broom. I'm ready. What's the plan? Sneak past the drakes?
She looks around at the group:
"We should probably destroy them. They're eating people's bodies and they'll go after other people another time."
No, let's leave them be for now. Let them feast. If we're lucky, they'll overeat and get bloated and full and will have a hard time fighting us. We need to find those titans. Let's take to the skies and see if we can see anything. They've had a few days lead, but without the train it'll be hard to move such heavy equipment. Go up, Joy, up!
Joy nods.
"Okay, Sel. Let's go look!"
With that, they take to the air.
Joy and Selgaer lift off on the witch's broom and fly high above the wreckage of the train below. From the air, they can see where something large was pulled from the wreckage. Two flatbed cars have been dragged to the shore, the canvas and ropes that once covered them shredded and scattered to the ground. The tracks of some massive, heavy creature lead off to the east, accompanied by the footprints of a dozen humanoids. Another set of identical tracks heads off south.
The drakes look up at the pair and snarl, spreading their wings and preparing to move in on them. Suddenly, a enormous roar echoes over the lake, sending chills down your spines. The drakes cower and take off, flying away at top speed, as something much larger swoops down from the clouds.
The reptilian beast is 20 feet long, with a sinuous tail that extends to about twice its body’s length. Two leathery wings extend out from its shoulder blades, large enough to carry the heavy creature into the air. Its large head tips a long, flexible neck and boasts a crown of horns and an enormous maw filled with sharp teeth. This is no mere drake. This is a full-fledged dragon!
With another booming roar, the dragon swoops down towards Joy and Selgaer!
Joy's eyes open wide with terror as she speeds the broom away from the massive beast!
"DRAGON! DRAGON!" she calls!
No, Joy! Go up! Up! Get above it!
The roar rattles Dramm to his bones. He almost falls over when he jumps at the sound.
"Down! DOWN! Get out of the sky!" he shouts to his allies. He immediately looks for cover where he can prepare his defenses.
"How did I not see this?! How did I not see this coming?!"
"Eldren, like before."
Although shaking, Imedren had his faculties enough to conjure his older self again. The silver portal of mercurial silver shimmered into place and just like before, Eldren stood before the group. The older version was shaking as well.
"Hurry, we'll need to be at full-"
In a mercurial burst of time, Imedren grimaced at his older self, but began moving again.
"Time's Eye!"
Again, the strange blue eye opened on the center of both his and Eldren's forehead, even as a wash of golden light formed from the read scroll. Imedren's fear was diminished to a quiet voice and he scattered back.
"working capacity. Yes." Eldren interrupted. "Let's hope this will be enough."
"Can't have everyone panicking right now. With the blessing of High Lady of Summer, go forth!" The incantation burned with a golden flash of light and helped to calm those who were nearby.
A strong burst of energy escaped from him, showing exactly where he was.
Imedren summons Eldren, and the elder sorcerer hastes himself and then blesses the group. He, Dramm, and Uruuna scatter. Dramm wards himself with a force field while Uruuna fires two shots at the dragon, neither of which pierces its scales.
Selgaer tries to calm Joy as she steers the broom back towards the party. The dragon roars as it swoops down in pursuit, closing the gap between itself and its prey!
The Blessing washes over Dramm, and his shaking steadies. He glows with magical reserves as he emerges from his hiding place, and red and crackling energy washes over the dragon.
"We should not be fighting this!" Dramm calls out to the group. "We should retreat and wait for it to leave. We can come back to the train after."
Uruuna fires two more shots that fail to harm the dragon. "Damn it!" she curses.
Caught between Sel and Dramm's urgings, and her own panic, Joy hasn't changed altitude, but has brought the dragon closer. But fortune may yet favour them!
Trying desperately to escape the dragon's clutches, she tells Sel in elvish:
"Hold on!"
Then, she tries to reverse direction and dive under the dragon's path!
Imedren let out a short breath.
Get ready, Joy! Sel calls out, preparing to leap from her broom to the dragon. He sees the perfect spot, which will prevent the dragon from reaching him. One good hold on the scales and he can drive his spear right into its back.
He leaps from the broom and the wind hits him. His hair is wild, his arms spread out as he maneuvers through the invisible currents.
This f&%*er is big! And terrifying! But second thoughts aren't what Sel is known for and he's fully committed now. It's a long way to the ground if he misses.
The dragon shifts out of Sel's path, the giant beast is much faster than he seems! He's going to miss! He's going to miss! But then Joy flies down on her broom and the dragon shifts back to take chase, allowing Sel to grab a scale and pull himself on. Right where he planned.
"We're going to have to start cutting into this dragon's strength."
Amid the normal sparking red of chaotic energy, colorful flashes of light fired out from Eldren's hand, spiraling into a swirling chaotic before exploding at the Dragon.
Matching waves of energy shown around Imedren as well. He called upon a matching chaotic wave of energy.
Selgaer leaps onto the dragon's back, grabbing a hold of the scales behind its neck as Joy dives down beneath it. Dramm wracks the monster with destructive power before Imedren slows it and both he and Eldren blast it with chaotic energies!
Roaring in rage, the dragon flaps its wings slowly as it dives down towards Eldren. It opens it maw wide, spewing forth noxious oily fluid that ignites upon contact with the air and engulfs the future sorcerer!
Perched upon the dragons back, Sel tries to drive his spear into the beast.
Uruuna fails to pierce the dragon's scales again!
Eldren's 3rd eye foresight caused him some moment of hesitation as the Dragon closed in and the blessing of the Queen him some good as he dodged back and away from the worst of the creatures flames.
"Aagh!" he shouted in pain. "Foolish, idiotic, why am I so easily drawn into wanting to cause pain! I should know better."
Eldren's form became infused in reddish energy as he leaped into a corner of reality and came out further away from the Dragon.
He then called forth a faint shield of blue-green flames which surrounded him.
Imedren felt the pain of the flames as though he was also the one being burned. He grimaced in pain and felt the freedom of his boundless spell touch him as Eldren warped to a different spot while cursing.
Seeing how dangerous this dragon truly was he, even while being hampered, he set to seeing himself adjust his defenses.
Despite his pain however, Imedren knew they had to keep attacking and called upon chaotic power to continue the assault.
"Keep scattering!"
The waves of chaos flew around him but he managed to hold onto his power despite everything.
Dramm watched with wide eyes as Selgaer made the impossible leap to the dragon's back.
He's insane. He's lost his mind entirely.
Then the Faun found his hold, catching the scales and clinging tightly. Dramm let out a breath he didnt known he was holding. The relief is short lived, and he runs to Imedren to deliver a healing spell to Imedren.
The magic around Dramm twists wildly and he glows in warning. One desperate hand motions Imedren to move away quickly before the outburst. The dragon was sure to notice the explosion.
Joy continues flying to behind the dragon, then unleashes a ball of witch fire at its back!
Plenty to choose from! Please hurt it, please hurt it...
The broom appears to fly without a rider!
Imedren blasts the dragon with more chaotic energies, eliciting a roar of pain. As everybody scatters, the dragon flies up another 8 yards and musters its will, overcoming the fragility Dramm imposed upon it.
Sel spins his spear around as t deflected off the dragons scales. Using the momentum, he brought the tip around again and slammed it back down.
That fool is going to get himself killed. I need to bring it down before he falls so far that healing won't matter.
Dramm's knife point glows red and he carves a circle into the air, drawing lines inside it to shape powerful magic. The arcane image hangs in the air and hums with energy. With a final push of magic, Dramm touches two fingers to the circle and forces the spell to reach beyond its limits.
There are no bright lines, no burning sigils, and no multicolored lightning. Instead, the Dragon's flesh simply tears and rips as if ravaged by a flensing whirlwind. Its body was being rapidly and violently deconstructed. Dramm's shield buckles as a weaker backlash causes the arm to be thrown away from the image, and the magical circle quickly evaporates into nothing.
"That f#~+ing HURT!" Dramm growls. He grips the arm tightly and prepares for the counter attack.
"It's strong, too strong to kill quickly." Dramm brightens up at the idea and he calls to the other sorcerer. "Speed. Imedren! I need you to make me faster!"
"Thanks Dramm." Imedren said, then as the other sorcerer asked for his help, Imedren nodded.
Looking over his shoulder, he shouted at his older self. "Eldren! Recharge our spell energy, acceleration!"
A moment after, Imedren began to glow with a silver glowing outline covering his body as magic was restored. The moment he felt it though, he reached over to Dramm and drained the energy into him.
A mercurial silver flow of magic outlined Dramm now, shadowing his movements much like Imedren and Eldren's.
"Alright, Dramm, here's what you asked for. Hopefully we'll be able to outpace the dragon."
As Eldren's wounds healed, he let out a relieved sigh when his vision of the future began to open again with possibilities rather than closing.
"Tsk, fine. Whatever you say, young man."he said in annoyance, as his younger self had the nerve to give him direct commands, but realized it had to be for a good reason.
The energy flooded into him replenishing some of his spent magic, which was immediately drained.
He then turned his attention back to the dragon flying overhead as it seemed to shrug off whatever it was Dramm had managed to do to it.
Still strange to think they're alive again. he thought to himself.
Realizing they would need every advantage they could muster and with the most immediate example of not being prepared still a fading memory, he delayed his own offense in favor of powering their offense.
The outburst from him was small and manageable and he directed it safely away from them.
The world lurches for Dramm as it had once before back at the Thorn.
That will never stop being uncomfortable. Dramm thinks to himself. He gives his fingers an experimental flex and looks up at the dragon, gauging his odds. He decides to take a risk and draws magic into him, restoring his spent power.
"If I collapse, inject me." He says to Imedren.
Might die together. He leaves that part out.
Uruuna snaps off two shots, finally managing a glancing strike!
Despite its attempt to put distance between itself and the spellcasters, Dramm and Imedren continue the hammer the dragon with their sorcery, ripping scales and flesh from its body. It dodge Joy's witch fire, but Selgaer drives his spear into its back, wounding it and causing it to bleed!
The dragon folds its wings against its body as it dives back down towards Dramm and Imedren. Noxious fluid sprays from its mouth and ignites as the spews fire at the pair of sorcerers! "Look out!" shouts the invisible Joy.
Dramm avoids the worst of the fire, and he is ready for the blast. He immediately restores the burned flesh. It is a very disquieting sensation. He replaces his barrier and puts a little more distance between himself and Imedren.
Dramm explodes and scorches a large area of the grown a second time.
Uruuna once more misses with her first shot but lands her snap shot.
Alright, let's bring this beast down!
Sel runs along the dragons back to itsnwings and jams the end of his spear behind the joints; his basic knowledge of animals helps him find the right spot. Jamming the spear behind that right joint, he pulls back with all his strength and leans towards the ground.
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Imedren saw the flames coming but was able to dodge the worst of them this time, despite their intensity. Imedren was suddenly struck by an idea.
With a wave of black energy coursing over his body, Imedren began to flicker in and out of reality.
"Dragon!" Imedren called out to the beast above him. "There is no reason any of us need to meet our ends this day. I was led to believe you were intelligent. You must see this is a fruitless battle!"
Imedren saw that his words were going to fall on deaf ears with the Dragon.
No. NO! I have to go back. I have to try again! Imedren's eyes flashed with a dark blue and he felt as time itself shifted within his mind. It had been a future sight, the power came from within his mind and was unleashed by his third eye.
"Dragon! You are a mighty being, it would be a shame to see one so majestic fall to such an insignificant battle. Know this, if we but cease our hostilities now, we can work a way thorough this. If not... then there will be much wasted bloodshed and some of it will be yours. I have foreseen it."