Roleplay

(This thread is part of the Scales roleplay group. We are open and accepting.)

The ground of the Borderlands is trampled by the talons of many, many dragons, but a small copse of trees on the far edges offers some shade. This is generally where traders set up during the day to offer their clan's wares to the other dragons that make the trek from their home territory. There is also a large podium or stage placed dead center in the vast clearing, made of huge rocks mortared so tightly together that it has stood for nearly a century without needing repair.



Reeperbahn tries to make it a point to visit the Borderlands at least twice a month; many of the artisans of even Clan Augur have come to depend on him to take their creations to the upperworld, since the Wildclaw can always be trusted to bring back their profit with only a small commission taken out. Traveling from his home in the main cavern of the Underworld takes a day and a half, but Reeperbahn is a gregarious creature, and thinks the length of the journey amply worth it in return for the gossip he can collect - though he usually does try to coerce a clanmate into travelling with him.

Having reached the exit of the Far Tunnel late the previous afternoon, Reeperbahn spent the night in company with the guards posted there and only left the Underworld in the early hours of the morning. Used to the static temperature of the caves, the heat of the Borderlands always strikes him anew, but he adjusts quickly enough. Come mid-morning, when many of the dragons from Clan Solar and even a few from the Peaks start to show up, Reeperbahn is already cosily ensconced among the shady trees, with the goods he bought for trade spread upon a large, handsomely woven blanket. Reclining comfortably, he monitors the appearances of the others with interest.

@Loquaciousky @Rhyvendra @Combichrist
(Anyone is welcome to jump in here. Reeperbahn would certainly enjoy a clanmate to chatter to, or anyone else, for that matter.)

@nihill [quote="Delora"]The coatl huffed, fluffing her feathers out in an attempt to cool herself down. The heat of the Borderlands felt even worse than usual to her, and she nearly regretted travelling this far. However, her lair was becoming overrun by the trinkets and pieces of art she had made, so it was definitely time to clear everything out and sell it. The trek to get here had been strenuous, so the coatl took a moment before she set up her area. Carefully, she preened her feathers, making sure each one was in place. She looked over herself one more time before she nodded. She laid her cloak out gently on the ground and set her knapsack down beside her. She began to carefully unwrap each object, placing them on her cloak. She turned to Reeperbahn, smiling slightly. [b]"Y'know, if I had known I'd be travelling to and from the Borderlands, I might have payed more attention and participated in those little games you had us do. I'm still sore from the last time I came up here."[/b] Delora said.[/quote]

[quote="Reeperbahn"][color=indigo]Looking away from his stranger-watching, Reeperbahn gives a snort of amusement for the way Delora is ruffling her feathers. It must be quite inconvenient to have such insulation: Reeperbahn has never found himself minding the cold, and heat only sometimes makes him sleepy. It is doing so now, to a degree, and usually he would be irritated by the relaxation, since it might take the edge off the wariness every warrior is taught; the Borderlands are under a truce that none have dared to break in many years, though, so he need not fear attack here. [b]"You never did enjoy the endurance marches. I still remember the time you volunteered to go in the vanguard, simply so you could cheat by flying, and you thought I wouldn't find out. As if I wouldn't notice the complete lack of claw-prints in the tunnel sands!"[/b] The memory brings a peculiar noise of mirth from the bottom of his long throat: half purr, half growl. [b]"Not that I blame you, really - those stumpy legs of yours must make it hard to get around on foot."[/b] There is no malice in the words, even if they are teasing. Shifting a bit, Reeperbahn idly flicks his tail back and forth, a movement to prevent him getting drowsy. He eyes the baubles and accessories that Delora unwraps to set on display appreciatively. [b]"Your current occupation suits you much better, though, so I suppose it all worked out for the best. Have you made any more of those elaborate chain-mail collars? My mother is very fond of the one she got from you."[/b][/quote] @Brains @Loquaciousky

[quote="Delora"]Delora nodded happily, laughing. [b]"Oh yes, I remember that." She chuckled, blushing slightly. "If I had thought that part through, I might have gotten away with it."[/b] She placed the last trinket on her cloak, looking over them to make sure everything was organized just how she liked it. "It really does, I seem to have a knack for creating pretty things." She picked up a small trinket, observing it. It was a tiny dwarf unicorn made of wood and painted with juice from berries. [b]"I have, actually. Unfortunately, I left it at home. I was doing some spring cleaning and by the time I found it, I already had far too many things I was already bringing here."[/b][/quote]

[quote="Reeperbahn"][color=indigo]Reeperbahn snorts again in amusement for the offered defense - such as it is - and shakes his head lightly. [b]"I'm glad to know you esteem my tracking skills so little. Still, some of the new batch of trainees could take a tip or two from you - they don't even bother to go out of sight before attempting to trick us trainers."[/b] Cocking his head to one side, Reeperbahn inspects that unicorn more closely, appreciating the detail that went into it. [b]"Oh, well; I'm sure you can find plenty of willing buyers in Deepheart for those. They're just militant-looking enough to appeal to Vars, without making them feel too vain."[/b] There's a hint of teasing in his tone here; the peculiarities of his own clanmates and the way they disparage Augurs' vanity, while secretly fussing of their own looks, never fails to amuse. But then, it's easy to amuse Reeperbahn. [b]"If I may suggest it, I think a similar piece for the tail would be nice, also. Oh, look - is that somedragon from the Peaks?"[/b] The warrior points with his nose across the broad clearing, to a dour looking dragon who is hesitating on the point of actually entering the Borderlands. It isn't completely rare to see a Peaks dragon here, but they usually acted as if they were doing everyone else a favor by showing up.[/color][/quote] @Brains

[quote="Zamira"]Zamira looped down into the clearing, careful to keep her wings close and her tail coiled to avoid smacking any unfortunate groundlings who weren't clearing way for a Spiral. It wasn't often she dropped in at the marketplace-- only occasionally for gatherings and even more rarely for actual [i]business[/i]-- but even a ranger needed social contact every now and again. Besides, her skullmask had held up reasonably well and shielded her eyes for years. The dragon who'd sold it deserved a little more custom, if he had anything similar. The Spiral wound her way through mid-morning crowds, searching for-- ah, there he was. Booth monopolized by some hulking beast of a Guardian, though. As the brown dragon spoke, Zamira ruffled her wings. The sun wasn't stifling to her, even if it was a bit warmer now that she wasn't streaking through high, thin air; it was gentle comfort on her back, a reminder of the open sky. She eeled around the larger dragon to find the black Wildclaw. [b]"If you're not further occupied with this one--"[/b] she flicked the tip of her tail to indicate the Guardian-- [b]"have you brought any other bone-armor up this time?"[/b][/quote]

@Brains @Slimewizard @Loquaciousky @Deoxyriboss [quote="Reeperbahn"][color=indigo]Reeperbahn's amusement grows as the Guardian he was eyeing continues into the clearing, and her behavior accords in every way with his previous comment about Peak dragons. However, he isn't tactless enough to [i]show[/i] that amusement, but returns her brusque nod with a more courtly one of his own, even condescending to bow his own head lower than hers; an unusual move for a senior warrior, but Reeper is not one to stand on ceremony here in the Borderlands. Soon enough, he's distracted from this subject of mirth by the familiar-looking spiral who approaches on his left. Repeating his respectful bow, Reeperbahn then eyes the blue dragon closely, until his memory clicks. [b]"Ah! Zamira, yes?"[/b] It's a secret source of pride that he rarely forgets a face, or the name to go with that face, which is quite a feat among all the warriors and trainees he sees day to day, not to mention the creative creatures of Clan Augur who share the cavern with his own clan. [b]"I think I did bring along a few items - though sadly, the artist who makes them is quite enthralled with a new project, and his apprentices don't do work half so fine. What were you looking for, specifically?"[/b] Reeperbahn couldn't begin to guess - there was always [i]so much[/i] of a Spiral, who knew what parts needed armoring. As he speaks, he turns back to one of the large satchels he brought with him and starts rifling through it. The large clearing is starting to get much more busy, now - though one couldn't rightly call it [i]crowded[/i], especially when compared to the all-clan gatherings that happened sometimes - and all the activity completely demolishes the sense of relaxation Reeper had started the day with. Trained well and early, the Wildclaw reacts to such situations instinctively, staying alert and intently aware of all his surroundings, no matter how engaged in conversation he might seem. Thus, he spots the second Spiral losing control of her long form and on a crash-course with Zamira, moments before the actual collision takes place. He only has time for a shout of warning - [b]"'ware!"[/b] - and though it is one that every Var-trained warrior would react to without thought, it probably won't do much good for this crowd, except perhaps for Delora (if her instincts haven't abandoned her after all her time in Augur).[/color][/quote] (Sorry if that's a bit muddled; I'm still waking up.)

[quote="Delora"] [b]"Hello, and a good day to you too, ma'am!"[/b] Delora said cheerfully, [b]"Of course you may. I understand completely about the heat, if I didn't need to get rid of all these crafts, I don't think I would have come today. I prefer the cooler weather." [/b] She looked down at her trinkets, counting them all. [b]"These are all the ones I have for today. This here is a ring," [/b]She picked it up, managing to fit her entire wrist through it. [b]"Well, for larger dragons anyway. For smaller dragons it could be a necklace or a bracelet or something like that!"[/b] The jewelry had a single blue gem set into the metal, with intricate designs wrapping around the ring. [b]"I also have-"[/b] She was interrupted by a shout of warning. She dodged to the side, thankful that her instincts hadn't left her completely. However, she was unable to save her display from the crash. [/quote] @nihill @Deoxyriboss @Slimewizard