[video]

[goldengeneral]

 [ A beautiful elf maiden's face appears on the feed. She has a delicate appearance, but from all the grime, dirt and blood marring her features, it's obvious that she's far from defenseless. The video is shaky because the hand holding it is trembling in fear. She's wearing a firm, authoritative expression however -- the expression of a no-nonsense General.  ]

My name is Laurana. We can exchange pleasantries when this place is safe.

I've noticed competent men and women took up arms to keep them off, but what about people that need help? Is there a closed, walled off space where non-combatants and children could be safe? I will volunteer to keep such a place together. All I ask is cooperation, especially from healers and people that know how to fight.

If there is one already, then I would like to help as much as I can. Another bow to the numbers helps.

[ When she's done, she gives a polite nod and the feed goes off. ]

Comments

[governorkang]

[Kang is tempted to say 'I told you so', but doesn't, and refrains from rolling his eyes.]

If we can't find anything in the next five minutes, we'll have to burn them.

[goldengeneral]

[ Laurana scrambles around the area for something to keep them steady, but finds nothing. She looks at Kazu with sadness and guilt in her eyes and says: ]

S-set them on fire.

[inline]

[He knows what Laurana's going to say. It's become painfully clear that they're barely managing to delay the inevitable, but it's the look in her eyes that sends Kazu kicking into action—this is hard on her too, so the least he can do is not hang around waiting for her to finish giving the word.

Sparks spitting from his heels, he cuts across the heads of the seething horde once, twice. Fire leaps after him in a hungry roar, fed to fury first by the cape, then by the distinct reek of charring flesh; and if Kazu stumbles on his landing, he's otherwise steady on his feet. He doesn't turn around, though.

At least the cape's made it easy to go for their heads. This ought to be over in a few minutes.]

[governorkang]

[The smell makes Kang's snout wrinkle, but he's otherwise unaffected, keeping a lookout for any more that may be drawn by the flames.]

We won't be able to use that trick again.

[goldengeneral]

[ Laurana takes a moment to mourn the poor victims before walking up to Kazu, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ]

You are a very brave and kind man. Keep that light in your heart; it will make you strong. Thank you.

[ She steps back an looks at the passage ahead. The coast looks clear. ]

We must make haste.

[inline]

[Kang's right, having the cape to work with was a real stroke of luck. It reminds Kazu he should be helping to watch out for trouble, but try as he might, it's hard to look up from the shadows grasping at his own—limbs gnarled and twisting still in the firelight.

Laurana's touch helps jerk him out of it. It's gentle, as are her words, and so guilt scrunches his shoulders against her kindness because he's not feeling very brave at the moment. He does nod at her though, mouth scrubbed with a fist as he inhales a lungful of stench and forces himself to swallow. Breathe. She's right too, they've got to hurry.]

...S'not far from here now. [ Louder: ] This way.

[He digs a heel in just to feel the ground grit under it—firm and impassive and nothing like flesh—before taking off. They should see an impressive red dragon silhouetted against the sky once they manage to get around this block.]

[governorkang]

Towards the dragon?

[He's eyeing that dragon cautiously, having caught a glimpse of red scales from the light of the fire. It doesn't look like any red from Krynn, though, and even though he'd fought on the same side as the chromatics, he wasn't all that fond of them. He knew they weren't very fond of draconians, either; what happened to one clutch can and did happen to another.]

[goldengeneral]

Kazu said it's safe. And if it is not, I have a dragonlance.

[ She said with absolute fake confidence. As a General, her job is to inspire and keep her fears to her own. Laurana follows the party, and watches the dragon overhead. Her thoughts are similar to Kang's: it doesn't look like it's from Krynn, and as far as she could see, it has no rider, Dragon Highlord or otherwise. ]

[ Kazu said that the clinic was near the red dragon... ]

We are almost there?

[inline]

[Oh yeah, Kang hasn't heard about the dragon yet (isn't he one though, Kazu wonders), so he tosses a quick explanation over his shoulder:]

It's guarding the clinic so people who can't fight can stay there. There's gonna be fire in the windows, but uh, it won't hurt you—just don't ask me how that works!

[To answer Laurana's question, he points ahead at one of the buildings dwarfed by Alexstrasza's shadow. Kazu hasn't realised the woman who told him about the shelter and this dragon are one and the same, but that's her all right.]

[governorkang]

Magic.

[He says it dryly. Throwing one more cautious glance at the dragon, he turns his attention to the building itself.]

[goldengeneral]

Magic. [ She repeats. As long as the mage casting it seemed well-intentioned enough, then she doesn't care. ]

[ When they reach the area, Laurana finally has the chance to regain her breath. She smiles at Kazu wearily. ]

Thank you again for your assistance, my friend.

[inline]

[Magic... Even taking the whole freakin' situation into account, nothing upsets his sense of reality quite as much as hearing other folks treat this so matter-of-factly.

He sticks with them right up to the door but makes no move to go in, shuffling awkwardly on the spot.]

No problem. What're you guys gonna do from here?

[governorkang]

[Kang is still a little wary about the flames, and he cautiously puts a hand near it to see if it puts off any heat. Feeling none, he moves it into the flames themselves, and relaxes a bit when there's no damage or pain at all.

He looks at Laurana questioningly.]

I'll follow you, General.

[goldengeneral]

[ She looks at Kang authoritatively. ]

We hold this building and help those in need of shelter. That's all we can do, until someone finds out a more permanent solution to this outbreak.

[inline]

Be nice if they'd hurry...

[It worries Kazu to see responses to the attacks so disorganised, and where's the Initiative anyway?

At any rate, those stuck at the shelter could definitely use a few more sets of helping hands around, especially if those hands belong to fighters. He gives them each a quick nod before excusing himself.]

I gotta get back! [ He jerks his thumb back the way they came from. ] You guys... be careful.

[governorkang]

[With a look and a tone like that, it's no surprise an elf girl like Laurana had gained so many followers. Kang smiles and nods respectfully, and does the same to Kazu.]

You as well.