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[onblackwings]

[ This lady's looking a little different, for anyone that's spoken with her before. Not any older, but there's a sort of crooked quality to her nose, like it'd been broken and healed some time ago. She's lounging in the Initiative apartments, looking like she's recently made friends with a superiority complex. ]

I want to speak to those of you who have seen a war before. Not the skirmishes that the Initiative sends us on here, but actual war.

And failing that, I'll take anyone that knows magic — and can teach it. That part is important. Don't waste my time if all you can do is cast it.

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[onblackwings]

There are a few of us here from Azeroth.

[ That sounds distracted, namely because she's a little disconcerted that someone had already told him about her. How much did they say? Did they include her species?

A little cautiously: ] But as for that other— odd. What would you have said to her?

[dragonlordbight]

A fortunate thing indeed then it seems.

[ Bight takes particular note of her sudden seeming distraction. Curious, particularly in the direction she takes the topic, though he appears to pay it no mind. ]

I had been meaning to meet and get to know the woman, those from Krynn are still yet few it would seem.

[onblackwings]

[ Is it just curiosity about someone else from his world? That wouldn't be so bad, but she's reluctant to trust it's as harmless as that. It's never as harmless as that. ]

Why would a Dragonlord bother? I'm sure she's no one.

[dragonlordbight]

I would not be so sure of that, even as a Dragonlord I do not disregard people so easily, particularly those who I would protect and indeed potential allies.

[ He says as much in earnest before going on. ]

Besides as a mage, I would hardly call her the definition of 'no one'.

[onblackwings]

[ Her eyes narrow slightly. ]

How do you know she's a mage? And if she is— what makes you think she would need your protection?

[dragonlordbight]

[ Well that drew a reaction, almost as if she was taking it personally, interesting. ]

One who mentioned her name also mentioned that she was a mage, if she is indeed, she could make a potent potential ally, should she be willing.

I would merely offer my protection should the need for it arise.

[onblackwings]

[ The thought of being allied with one of Paladine's makes her lip want to curl in disgust, but... it was Wrathion that pointed out that neither of their gods were here. And her experience with Laurana hadn't been all that bad, had it? It was nearly pleasant, even.

If she's careful, it wouldn't be a bad position to be in.

She glances away, forcing a chastised, reluctant air over herself. ]

She might be.

[ "Ally", at least, which she understands to mean that they would make use of each other until he inevitably turned on her. ]

[dragonlordbight]

[ He leans back in his chair at that, well, that was progress. For what reason she had decided to hide her origins he did not know, she had him curious however. Though put that aside for another day as he went on. ]

Is that so? If she were, I may be willing to aid in advancing her understandings of magic. I have picked up much over the years.

[ He offers, watching her reaction carefully. ]

[onblackwings]

[ Her gaze flicks back up to him again, thoughtful. ]

What would you ask in return?

[dragonlordbight]

[ He considers for a moment as he regards her. ]

A simple exchange of sorts, knowledge for knowledge, whether of spells or otherwise.

[onblackwings]

[ There's no harm in that, as far as she can tell. Obviously she can hold back the damning information, if it gets to it. So she nods, cautiously. ]

Alright. [ A beat, and this still feels strange to say: ] Allies, then?

[dragonlordbight]

Allies, indeed. I look forward to working with you.

[ He dips his head in turn slowly and with a slightly formal air to it as he acknowledges that. That seemed to have gone well at least, seeming to relax a measure as he went on. ]

I am curious, what year was it on Krynn when you were taken, so many here have been taken from vastly different points in time.

[onblackwings]

[ She glances away, considering. She'd never bothered to ask the nyphids what year it was, and doubts they would have kept track of things like that anyway. Had Led ever mentioned the year? Or Pteros?

Eventually, with a small frown: ] I'm... not sure. Somewhere around 300, I suppose.

[dragonlordbight]

[ He cants an eyebrow at that slightly, finding it curious that she did not know the date, but then there were towns and societies where the date mattered little to the every day citizen. The time she named however was a time he was all too familiar with.]

Indeed, it would seem that you are from a time over a century before my own, it is 425 AC prior to being taken, though I remember that period well.

[onblackwings]

[ He's from the future? She looks interested. ]

Then you can tell me — were the rumors of war true?

[dragonlordbight]

[ He notes her interest and nods with a more somber expression.]

They were, the Dark Queen then has likely already begun the creation of five dragonarmies in your time, one for each breed of Chromatic dragon, red, green, white, blue and black.

It may be many years yet before the hostilities begin proper in your time.

[onblackwings]

[ Her eyes brighten to hear that, and she even looks a little greedy. There were dragonarmies — looking for the Black Wing wouldn't have been in vain. She'd have found it, have proved her worth, and have fought for and brought glory to the Dark Queen. She closes her eyes for a moment, envisioning it, and smiles. ]

That's good.

[ Whether she means about the armies or that the fighting hasn't started yet is unclear. ]

But what about the metallic dragons?

[dragonlordbight]

[ Now that does take his interest, though he keeps his expression neutral. From her expression it almost seemed she welcomed the knowledge, and indeed recognized some measure, whether reference to the Dark Queen or the dragonarmies.]

Indeed.

[ As if assuming that she meant the fighting hadn't started. ]

The majority will not join the war for some time, prevented by an oath they took to one who could not be trusted. Some however did not take the oath and already walk Ansalon.

[ It was clear from his tone that he certainly thought less of those who had taken the oath. To think that they even for a moment could have thought the word of Takhisis could be trusted. ]

[onblackwings]

[ The pleased look drops away, and she just looks puzzled instead. That isn't anything she'd ever heard about. ]

An oath? What was it? And who was it pledged to?

[dragonlordbight]

[ Crucible considers for a moment, whether or not to explain that particular issue, before deciding to proceed. It appeared at least she knew not of the oath, so that was a marginally good sign. ]

The Oath of Neutrality, to remain neutral in the coming war in order to "protect" their unborn children, eggs stolen away by the servants of Takhisis, the oath pledged to that self-same goddess.

[onblackwings]

[ Pteros had never said that. Maybe he hadn't known it. All he could say was that Takhisis sent them away to sleep beneath the earth until they were next needed, which of course she'd already known. She considers it a few seconds, frowning. ]

And she broke it?

[ Maybe she shouldn't be surprised that Takhisis had broken it, as they were only metallic dragons. It isn't like she would break her word to her own children, or anything important like that. Right? Still, it seems... ungodly, perhaps. ]

[dragonlordbight]

[ Crucible inclined his head solemnly to the affirmative. His voice solemn as he spoke. ]

She never intended to keep it in the first place, but rather use it two fold, to keep the metallics from war, while she twisted their eggs to form her shock troops, while they waited and did nothing on their isles.

However the Metallics were not the only ones to have their eggs used in such manner, when the surviving eggs were rescued, Takhisis and her minions turned their experiments in turn on the eggs of the chromatics.

[onblackwings]

[ Her eyes widen for a moment — and then narrow.

She doesn't particularly care for the eggs of her own kind, not past the vague understanding that an egg like that could have been her. But that Takhisis would create a creature like Kang out of her own children? An abomination like that? That, she's truly shocked to hear. Right up until it occurs to her that this broze must be lying. It's impossible, isn't it? The chromatic dragons are Takhisis's own, she would never.

Nevermind that he doesn't even know she's a chromatic dragon, and would have no reason to lie to her. She doesn't stop to allow that thought to occur. ]

Did she. [ A skeptical tone, and an arched brow to match. ] Why would she do that?

[dragonlordbight]

[ Crucible took particular note of her reaction, curious. Throughout his explanation he remains sombre and grim. ]

Indeed, I have met a number of those draconian's who resulted from her experiments.

As to why? Who can truly say, whether power, or out of desperation in a war she was gradually losing. Whatever the why it was not out of any concern for her 'children' that much is certain.

No matter the reasons however, the experiments did not go as planned, the draconians created unlike the original draconians who were drawn to her service, the 'noble' draconians were rather drawn towards Paladine.

[onblackwings]

[ Now that she's decided he's lying, there's armor against anything she might feel in hearing it. The statements are still filed away to be remembered, but only to be better evidence of his lies. ]

I find it very difficult to believe anything from Takhisis would turn toward Paladine.