K'bet had been many places and seen many things before he'd Impressed, from icy cotholds to a Nabol flit breeder who was far friendlier than her surroundings. It helped with geography lessons, if not the fear that was currently creeping around in his stomach. In the unlikely event that he mixed up all of the things he'd experienced in class, at least he wouldn't... die.
"Once lost, you're lost forever," he muttered. "That's not the most ominous thing I've ever heard, but it comes close."
Between won't be the end of us, Rubiginth said with a cheery toot. While the blue countered much of his outright anxiety, Rubiginth couldn't stop it all. It was up to K'bet to kill them both...
You're not going to kill us! Come on and show me where to go.
With a nod and a sharp inhale, K'bet focused and they disappeared.
Quote:
sevenday one || western hold || roll one 7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
The simultaneous full body shivers by both dragon and rider were far more effective at nearly knocking them out of the sky than going Between could ever be.
"If only the death void wasn't so cold."
That we can agree on, Mine. Are you ready to move on?
K'bet nodded once more. "Solace is pretty, but the sooner we're home, the better."
Quote:
sevenday one || western hold || roll one 7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
sevenday one || solace hold || roll two 7-20: Success!
Did I ever tell you about the time I nearly drowned at Black Sand?
Rubiginth chuckled, his eyes gaining some merry blue to cheer their yellowish-green. No, you haven't, but I'm sure it's a wonderful tale! You can tell it as a reward for making it back to Western.
I'm not sure it's a reward, especially not for me.
I never meant it for you anyway. You can have... a firelizard performance of Thread Begins, I End? They really have gotten quite good, you know.
He had to hand it to his dragon, Rubiginth certainly had a way of making him forget about their impending doom. With a laugh of his own, K'bet carefully pictured their next destination and tightened his grip as they blinked Between.
Quote:
sevenday one || western hold || roll one 7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
sevenday one || solace hold || roll two 7-20: Success!
sevenday one || black sand hold || roll three 7-20: Success!
Kind of? It looks like a hold. K'bet swallowed, looking down at the people scurrying around below. Maybe we can visit after we've graduated.
Hm. Promise?
I do. It was getting easier by the second to imagine they were going to get out of this. A promise or two wouldn't hurt.
Quote:
sevenday one || western hold || roll one 7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
sevenday one || solace hold || roll two 7-20: Success!
sevenday one || black sand hold || roll three 7-20: Success!
sevenday one || white cliff weyrhold || roll four 7-20: Success!
Safely on the ground, Nonami had dismounted on shaky legs. Hands clung tight to straps, nearly clinging as if the solid warmth reminder that they were there with Negoncath, that they were safe and warm and alive, would ease the trembling fear of such a close dance with death once more. Warm, alive. There's but a breath of cold air before Herb is winding her way into the collar of Nonami's riding jacket, trying to soothe her owner's distress.
At Kleoth's voice, Negoncath perked from where she'd been nosing her rider gently, her wing partially sheltering them away beneath a wing. As I am ever so delighted to see you and Yours safely home as well, kindest Kleoth. Looking resplendent in triumph from today's drills. The small green trilled softly, the warmest affection in her tone like sun-warmed honey. The wisps of affection curling but never quite overtaking the worry in her eyes. I am faring. We had.. a few scares. She pauses, as if considering her words. Never one to be vocal of her own woes, Negoncath tucked a wing -- and thus, her rider -- close to her side. Too many close calls, but much better to hesitate and check, hm?
X'teis of Brown Damisath - Week 1 [Grid 1, Western Hold] Distraction/Intensity: 4 Exhaustion/Alertness: 2 Memorization/Visualization: 4 Anxiety/Confidence: 2 Slacker/Studious: 5
X'teis had barely slept last night. He'd been up studying, despite Damisath's increasingly insistent suggestions that he go to bed. With some cursing. As a result, X'teis was not only exhausted...he was also worried. Did he have what it took to do this?
As Damisath took to the air, X'teis squeezed his eyes shut for a second. He brought Western Hold's coordinates to mind, checking them for detail several times over, before Damisath interjected with, Are we going, or not? Come on, X'teis--fine, one last check. But then, we're going.
X'teis sighed, running through the coordinates a final time, before making the jump...
As they emerged, exactly where they were meant to, X'teis let out a whoop of delight. They'd made it! They'd survived their first jump, and done it so well, too! Well, what else did you expect? Come on, X'teis, we've GOT this.
Quote:
7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
His worry would be the death of them...except it wasn't. He panicked as they jumped to Solace Hold, and it seemed to take forever between. Were they lost? Were they lost between? When they finally emerged, X'teis hugged his dragon's neck, trembling. That was...too close.
Damisath didn't seem very shaken, as he glanced back at X'teis. We just need to be a bit more careful...I guess. We've still got this, though. Come on, X'teis, don't lose hope!
Quote:
3-6: Mostly success! Some potential failure!
If this is your first roll for this circuit, and you have an anxiety level of 1 or 2, you find yourself in dire straits and panicking during your first jump. If you have a 2, you make it out, though it certainly took a lot longer and you're now feeling extra-stressed about this entire affair. If you had a 1, you get lost forever... unless you get your coordinates double-checked.
If this is your fourth or fifth roll for this circuit, and you have a confidence level of 4 or 5, a distraction level of 1 or 2, a Visualization of 1 you find yourself struggling and in need of assistance! If you don't take it or get it, you'll fail your trip Between and wind up lost forever. Whoops!
Alternatively, any of those deaths can be avoided by getting coordinates checked =or= taking a Scare. While it takes way longer to get to your destination, you manage, albeit are shaken. Your Visualization Levels drop one point though, because clearly, you're not doing so hot at this and now are beginning to doubt yourself.
2. Solace Hold 3. Black Sand Hold 4. White Cliff Weyrhold 5. Western Weyr
1. You failed. Somewhere along the way, you absolutely botched this jump. You go Between but find that it takes a lot longer than three coughs to get out. One, two, three, four...five..!... six!! Oh shaffit all! You're stuck! You can't feel, you can't breathe, and you and your dragon start to panic. But nobody hears your cries in the cold waste of Between.
Dead.
=Alternatively= you may opt out of this tragic fate by having your weyrling double check their coordinates with an assistant. It might be shameful but better you live another day, yes?
If you roll this 3 times or more, you will be enlisted in remedial lessons =and= an NPC has died. Please let Uta know so they can suffer the fate that should have been yours.
Are you nervous?
Tosk ran a gloved hand through windswept, blond hair, bowing his head. Nervous wasn’t the right word… stoicism ran through his veins, a slow, cold trickle to accompany the blood for which he cared little.
Why do you hesitate?
Impossible to say. He stayed mute, but as he stared into the distance he saw, very visibly, the faces of his beloved siblings... left to their own devices… were they well? Did they need him?
Tosk… The Western Hold you imagine is wrong. I will ask Orioth for better coordinates. The voice was gentle but certain, filled with unwavering confidence. Tosk laid his hand on that beautiful, striped hide, and leaned on the bronze for emotional support. His heart twisted in an unfamiliar manoeuvre- a surge of raw emotion causing brows to crease.
Compose yourself. Your clutchmates are well. Come, let us fly. Ussurianth crouched low, and Tosk pulled himself up with ease, shaking his head. He needed to focus if they were going to survive. The weyrlingmasters had made it quite clear that they could die if they messed up.
And he couldn’t help his siblings, or his aunt… if he was dead. And what of Ussurianth? He deserved life more than anyone. I’m ready… and… I’m sorry.
It’s okay.
Ussurianth flickered Between. Three seconds passed, and Western Hold appeared beneath them.
Tosk exhaled; both dragon and man were proud. See, it is not so challenging after all. The dragon soothed his rider, sending a small wave of affection his way.
Solace Hold is next… Tosk whispered to his partner across their bond. He reconstructed the Hold in his mind’s eye, determined not to get distracted again. There was a time and place for emotion, but now was not it.
After a pause that lasted almost too long, K'bet squeezed his eyes shut for a lengthy blink, then scrubbed a gloved hand down his face from forehead to chin.
All right. Ready to head home?
Oh, yes! I'm looking forward to that Black Sand story.
K'bet laughed, mostly to himself, and pictured Western once more. There. He leaned close to Rubiginth's back, took a deep breath, and... a dark green firelizard smacked him in the face.
"Scarf? What... stop!" K'bet flailed silently at the flit, trying not to attract too much attention from his fellows. This was a breach of protocol that he didn't want to have to deal with, not now. Rubiginth went as quietly nonchalant as he could manage, flapping so as to jostle his rider as little as possible. The scuffle was brief, but it left the pair unsettled and unsure.
"What in Between was that?" K'bet huffed, leaning close to his blue's neck.
Should you check our coordinates?
Yes. Definitely. He disliked doing so, but it was better than dying.
Quote:
sevenday one || western hold || roll one 7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
sevenday one || solace hold || roll two 7-20: Success!
sevenday one || black sand hold || roll three 7-20: Success!
sevenday one || white cliff weyrhold || roll four 7-20: Success!
sevenday one || western weyr || roll five 1. You failed. Somewhere along the way, you absolutely botched this jump. You go Between but find that it takes a lot longer than three coughs to get out. One, two, three, four...five..!... six!! Oh shaffit all! You're stuck! You can't feel, you can't breathe, and you and your dragon start to panic. But nobody hears your cries in the cold waste of Between.
Dead.
=Alternatively= you may opt out of this tragic fate by having your weyrling double check their coordinates with an assistant. It might be shameful but better you live another day, yes?
3. Black Sand Hold 4. White Cliff Weyrhold 5. Western Weyr
7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
Solace Hold appeared beneath them, and Tosk gritted his teeth, lips curling in an approximate smile. One fist clenched around the riding straps, and his heart beat with renewed vigor.
Focus, Tosk. Black Sand Hold is next. Share your coordinates with me.
If this is your first roll for this circuit, and you have an anxiety level of 1 or 2, you find yourself in dire straits and panicking during your first jump. If you have a 2, you make it out, though it certainly took a lot longer and you're now feeling extra-stressed about this entire affair. If you had a 1, you get lost forever... unless you get your coordinates double-checked.
If this is your fourth or fifth roll for this circuit, and you have a confidence level of 4 or 5, a distraction level of 1 or 2, a Visualization of 1 you find yourself struggling and in need of assistance! If you don't take it or get it, you'll fail your trip Between and wind up lost forever. Whoops!
Alternatively, any of those deaths can be avoided by getting coordinates checked =or= taking a Scare. While it takes way longer to get to your destination, you manage, albeit are shaken. Your Visualization Levels drop one point though, because clearly, you're not doing so hot at this and now are beginning to doubt yourself.
One… two… three… four… five… No.
No.
Tosk began to panic.
He felt Ussurianth beneath him. He sensed his hearts, his hide, his mind, his reassuring presence.
And then he felt the sunlight upon his face. He craned his head upwards, ensuring Rukbat was real, then stared downwards. Black Sand Hold, just as he’d… just as he’d imagined it, right?
Don’t lose focus, Tosk. We must do this.
The success of Solace Hold had left him, perhaps… overconfident. Now he had to be more careful than ever.
1. Western Hold - 1 (1/3) 2. Solace Hold - 16 3. Black Sand Hold - 6
4. White Cliff Weyrhold - 13
5. Western Weyr
7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
He took his time composing the mental image of White Cliff Weyrhold. Ussurianth waited in silence, a patient, reassuring force. Tosk breathed deeply, then conveyed the picture to his dragon.
Together, they made the jump to the Weyrhold. A watchdragon greeted them, and Ussurianth returned the call. We did it. Tosk said, a small hint of triumph in his own mental voice.
1. Western Hold - 1 (1/3) 2. Solace Hold - 16 3. Black Sand Hold - 6 4. White Cliff Weyrhold - 13
5. Western Weyr - 11
7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!
Tosk squared his shoulders, as if ready to tough it out with the dark of Between. Western Weyr was a familiar sight now. He couldn’t mess this up. The arrangement of wallows, the fireheights, the pens, the lake…
Don’t put too much detail into it, okay? I know you can do this. I believe in you.
Tosk had to chuckle to himself. He was a dragonrider and didn’t even believe in himself yet. Good thing Ussurianth was always there now.
Western Weyr was but three coughs away, and Ussurianth took them there without fail. Thank you, for helping me when I need it.
Sevenday 4 - Grid 3 1. Waters Edge Cothold (Cothold beholden to Black Sands Hold) 2. Oasis Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Rivercrest Hold) 3. Stoney Tower Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Redoubt Hold) 4. Green Plains Cothold (Cothold beholden to White Cliff Weyrhold) 5. Western Weyr
Quote:
You're good to go!
After the catastrophe that had happened the last leap Between they'd made on the previous sevenday, X'ael and Cucuaranath were both hoping for something reasonably easy. At the very least not timing it by accident once more, especially with the smaller Cotholds being much harder to navigate. Thus far, no issues, the leap was smooth but both had flinched like they were hit upon arrival.
I think this will be my least favorite part of anything. The blue's voice was morose, a tone X'ael had never heard before when he'd spoken.
Sevenday 4 - Grid 3 1. Waters Edge Cothold (Cothold beholden to Black Sands Hold) 2. Oasis Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Rivercrest Hold) 3. Stoney Tower Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Redoubt Hold) 4. Green Plains Cothold (Cothold beholden to White Cliff Weyrhold) 5. Western Weyr
Quote:
If you have a a 3 or less in Slacker/Studiousness levels, perhaps you needed more fear of Between because something goes wrong and you fail to return and are lost forever... unless you get your coordinates checked. If you don't want your coordinates check, you can take another Scare and lower your confidence level by one point.
The next one certainly sounded pretty and X'ael remembered fairly well the feeling of landing in Rivercrest when he'd first arrived on the Western Continent. Maybe that was what made it take longer, as the heartbeats kept growing past three, as the darkness crept in on them both and his dragon's hearts began to beat faster in his panic.
He'd begun to think them lost once more when they appeared above Oasis Hold, hearts in both of their throats and ready to just call it a day.
I agree with you, this is my least favorite part as well. Cucuaranath snorted to show his agreement and both decided this was a good place to take a breather for just a moment or two. The rest of the circuit was waiting them but neither was ready to go back Between at all.
