Erebus is the nightwatchman! He isn't particularly experienced when it comes to mimics-- nor is he actually the best fighter, despite his appearance. He mostly just relies on sheer intimidation to send all the creepy crawlies of the night skittering away. He'll pick some little bug up and toss it away into the brush, but that's about it.
Proioxis, however, has the bite to back up her bark. The one bit of trouble is that she tends to be a bit...
overenthusiastic when it comes to dispatching monsters. Beware of collateral damage, and don't expect many familiars when she goes romping through the various venues of the Coliseum-- it's rare for a monster to truly want to befriend her.
Finn seems to have the best of both worlds. He's got roguish charm for friends, potent illusion magic for foes, and Lightning magic-- obtained via his reverence for an ancient deity of thunder-- for his worst enemies. Except there's one small snag...
"I still don't think these mimics exist," drawled Finn, leaning against the waypost that marked the edge of the lair proper. "Sounds like a hatchlings' tale."
"Well,
Veilspun sure sounded like a bedtime story, and now look." Erebus rumbled, gesturing back towards where a couple of Veilspun flitted around the head of an Imperial, getting some last-minute tasks done before sundown. "And besides, you yourself are a Nocturne. Shouldn't you be familiar with the rituals that mark the rising of your kind?"
Finn scoffed. "I'm a scroll-born Nocturne, stupid. I only swapped myself up because my fur was so bulky before-- now I can get away with almost anything!"
"Quiet," Proioxis growled, from her perch up on a ridge. She squinted against the fading sunlight, looking out over the valley. "There's something out there. Come on!" She charged forth, and it took Erebus and Finn a moment to follow along.
The party halted by a strange landmark-- a
small spear, stuck into the ground. Proioxis studied it for a moment before delicately plucking it out, examining it as one would examine a borrowed pencil for bite marks and chipped paint.
"Among most clans," Proioxis rumbled, "this would be an intimidation tactic, or, worse, a declaration of war."
Finn sidled up to her side, a little incredulous. "Wait, wait, hold on-- war? This is the
Plateau, Proi." Proioxis bristled at the nickname, and regarded Finn with a sidelong glance. "I'd get it if this were, I dunno, Rotrock Rim or something, but Wind clans don't just
do stuff like this, let alone our neighbors. Last I heard, one of them was setting up a petting zoo for their hatchlings. I'm not ashamed to admit we're a bunch of namby-pamby cowards when it comes to fighting."
"I suppose so." Proioxis set down the spear, groaning as if about to rehash a long-rehearsed argument. "Wind dragons are famously peaceful, that much is true. But they are worth protecting, and it is that much more important to be ready to strike in their-- our-- defense. Although I suppose you don't care that much about such lofty ideals, focused as you are on such low pursuits."
"Gambling isn't
low! It's an art and a skill! And, furthermore, maybe you'd--"
"Ah, you two--"
"--learn a thing or two about the practical application of probability and social manipulation--"
"Me? Learn? You're the one who needs to learn proper battle tactics--"
"Oh dear, what is
that--"
"I
do know proper battle tactics, you just don't respect them--"
Erebus
shrieked, and Proioxis and Finn whirled around, shocked out of arguing.
"Wait, did
you make that sound, Erebus? I could've sworn it was a startled goose," Finn chuckled. He glanced up to Proioxis to see if she found his joke funny. Predictably, she didn't-- although it wasn't for the reason he thought. Her steely gaze was fixed on a point somewhere over by Erebus.
"Uh, Sornieth to Proi? You all good up there? I mean, I kinda knew you didn't know how to appreciate comedy, I just didn't know it'd short-circuit you this badly." He chuckled again, but the grin got all but wiped off his face when he looked forward.
The spear which Proioxis had found was now floating in midair, blade-down, the banner on its tip undulating gently. Behind it, a
legion's worth of animated spears opened their glowing eyes.
There was a breathless moment, and the spears abruptly whistled towards the party. Proioxis drew her sword, Finn prepared an incantation, Erebus opened his wings, and the battle began---
((...Took me a moment to realize this wasn't one of the lore prompts. Oops! Have some lore anyway!))
