From the North to the South, Ebudae unto Khartoum.

[firstgoldson]

WHO: Aurican, Crucible, and their riders and friends
WHERE: AMERICA, LAND OF THE BRAVE AND THE FREE.
WHEN: 8/28 - 9/15
WARNINGS: None; to be added!
SUMMARY: The most bizarre road trip America has ever seen.
FORMAT: Action spam?

[ It took a long time for Aurican to find a saddle of sorts.

Granted, it had to be custom made. It turns out leather is rather expensive to have, and to obtain it and then manipulate it so it can cover his massive girth became a major challenge. It took a little bit of cunning and the rather opportunistic idea of selling a few scales of his flank. He heard a few Krynnish rumors about scales of metallic dragons can be melted down into real metal. Who knows if it is true, but a few individuals seem to think otherwise. Aurican isn't someone who deals with underhanded trickery, but the behavior of some of the merchants made him not to regret the possibility that he has "ripped them off" in the long run, as the American slang goes.

Either way, he has a saddle now. It took a few weeks - a month, nearly - for it to be assembled. But the wait is worth it. The schedule will be tight, but with Crucible's magic, perhaps it is possible to have move along well enough.

Picking up his riders, he took to the sky alongside with Crucible, and they travel across the landscape that is America. ]

[ ooc: ok, this log will have several different threads that have a certain location and a time stamp, like August 27-29: Eastern Sea Board and so on. There you can pick a random location and have fun! ]

Comments

August 26: TAKE OFF

[firstgoldson]

[ Just before leaving! There are many things to consider, like how to put your bags on a dragon's back, or figure out plans for hotels. Just a little mingle before the big trip ahead.

And when it happens, enjoy the first flight of dragons. ]

[dragonlordbight]

[ Crucible was there alongside Aurican, he had made sure to be there before the others to ensure that none would have seen him in his human form. Instead not far from from Aurican he sat in his true form, a bronze dragon of massive size.

His mood his cheerful enough, readily greeting those who had chosen to travel with the two dragons. He was looking forward to the chance to get away from the city, even if for a small time.]

...wow sorry for the late!

[firstgoldson]

[ Aurican had to control himself from taking another look at Crucible. For a moment, he thout he saw Burll again, strong and strapping and as steady as the bedrock at the waves of the ocean clashed against it. He dipped his head in acknowledgement to Burll's descendent. ]

I see you managed to get a perfectly good harness.

Not a problem!

[dragonlordbight]

[ Crucible dips his head in respectful greetings to the gold of legend. At the comment he peered back to the harness he had managed to acquire. ]

Indeed, it was not so simple a task to acquire it. Although I have had experience with such harnesses a number of times, so it was not to difficult to construct.

[firstgoldson]

I have rather hope that is the case, because I am not used to it myself. My elven riders rode me "bareback" as the word goes.

[ Aurican looks over to the east, pondering. ]

I am think of going to the Eastern Coast and then fly south. How does that suit you?

[dragonlordbight]

The concept is similar to more..usual harnesses, although further adapted to our forms. To fight with rider a harness is of near necessity.

[ Crucible follows his gaze before returning his own to the gold. ]

I have no qualms with such a course.

[magicalworld]

[Calvin has shown up in a maroon cape and hood for flying. He tosses his bulging backpack onto the saddle and tries to loop a strap on it so it hangs there.]

This is going to be so great! I'm ready to go, when do we leave?

[firstgoldson]

When the rest of the riders show. Hopefully it will be soon enough. We are going to fly along the eastern coast first, then head toward the Southern States.

[magicalworld]

Fine. In that case, I'm calling shotgun! Serves the rest of them right for being slow.

[Calvin casually flies up to over Aurican's back and hovers there a moment, pondering.]

...which side is shotgun on you, anyway?

[firstgoldson]

[ Aurican is slightly alarmed. ]

Shotgun? Isn't that one of those loud metal tubes that inflict the most painful of wounds?

[magicalworld]

Yeah, but it's also the name of the seat people are supposed to fight over when they go on a trip.

[He plops onto the right side of the saddle]

I'm pretty sure this is it. Hey, this is comfy!

[firstgoldson]

[ ...comfy? ]

Why do they fight over shotgun?

[magicalworld]

[Being on top of a dragon plays havoc with a kid's standards of comfort]

Because it's so much better than having to sit in the back. You get a better view of the road and can bug your Mom or Dad more, if they're driving. There's lots more leg room too.

[firstgoldson]

[ Suddenly Aurican finally understands. ]

Do you mean taking a ride in those cars?

They look awfully cramped.

[magicalworld]

Well yeah, for you. But humans use them to get around all the time. I used to ride in them a lot, before the Porter let me fly.

[He loves flying so much Aurican]

[firstgoldson]

I assume a human form with magic when I need to enter the City. I do enjoy the restaurants when I obtained enough dollar bills.

[magicalworld]

[Calvin stands up in the saddle and tries to balance on the dragon. Just to see if he can.]

You could turn human before coming here? How do you like it?

August 27 - August 29: Eastern Sea Board

[firstgoldson]

[ Naturally, the eastern coast is the first place to go, as it is so relatively close! Where you want to go? ]

August 30 - September 2: The Southern States

[firstgoldson]

[ The Bible Belt. The Southern States. Aurican has never been such a humid place before, and this is just summer ending.

He's rather glad he decided to go on this trip in beginning of the cooler seasons. ]

September 3 - 6: Midwestern States

[firstgoldson]

[ After the trip down south, it's time to go north, to the Midwestern States. Vastly different from the cultures from the South, and it is in these changes that Aurican finds so delightful.

He's curious on how his riders are faring. ]

September 7 - 9: The Mountain West

[firstgoldson]

[ This is where Aurican always wanted to go, Colorado especially. He wants to see Yellowstone Park, especially. From the pictures from home, it looks remarkably like the Valley of Paladine.

Maybe there's an enormous grotto there, large enough to fit many dragons. ]

Re: September 7 - 9: The Mountain West

[magicalworld]

[Calvin loves Yellowstone. And when he loves something this much, it means a very hyper kid practically bouncing up and down on the back of a dragon.]

Look at this place! Did you know the whole park is on top of an enormous volcano? Wow! I want to see the Caldera! Hey, can we go lower?

[firstgoldson]

I did not know that, but it doesn't surprise me.

[ He glances around, looking for a good place to land. ]

Perhaps a little lower . . . and maybe we can find a place to land.

[magicalworld]

I heard it almost erupted last year! The whole continent could have been blown to kingdom come.

[Naturally Calvin thinks this is the best thing ever]

Once we land maybe we can find some lava or something.

[dragonlordbight]

[ Crucible for the time was taking in the sights of the park below him,the park below itself reminded him of Krynn.

A snort given as Calvin's words reached his sharp hearing even over the wind. The prospect of such a large volcano did interest him, a reminder of home, and if it posed such a threat he wagered that it would not hurt to have the dragon who had tamed the lords of doom to give it a closer look.]

There appears to be a sufficient clearing down not far ahead.

[firstgoldson]

I'll believe it. [ Aurican notes wryly. ] Back home, the eruptions of Darklady Mountain were something to be feared of.

[ Aurican takes note of the clearing Crucible has noted and glide down, making sure that there weren't any visitors in the immediate vicinity that he and Crucible might scare off. But then, it would be a little too late to be worrying about that, would there? ]

[magicalworld]

Darklady Mountain? Why was it named that?

[Calvin is asking questions even as they land. He hops off Aurican's back before the dragon has come to a complete stop, taking flight briefly to lower himself to the ground of Yellowstone Park.]

[firstgoldson]

Darklady Mountain was named after Takhisis, the godess queen of Darkness and ruler of the Abyss. It was said that it was through the volcano she spoke to her first five sons, causing massive eruptions.

[ Aurican folded his wings, looking around at the wooded area that surronded them. ]

Thankfully, we don't have to deal with that type of violence here.

[magicalworld]

Gosh. She sounds scary.

[He doesn't know most of what that means but it sounds like an amazing story. Calvin wanders towards the woods, but looks back over his shoulder as he does. He wants to hear as well as explore.]

What did she say to them? How do you talk through a volcano?

Whoops, sorry about that, didn't realise I'd put it out of order >.<

[dragonlordbight]

For good reason, the Darklady was destroyed in an explosion caused in part by its name sake bringing devastation for hundreds of miles around.

[ Crucible comments with a glance across to Aurican as they came into land, allowing the Gold to land before he too came down beside him.]

The Lords of Doom, three volcanoes that had formed from the ashes of the Darklady mountain were likewise held with fear for the lesser races, until they were tamed.

It's cool!

[firstgoldson]

She mostly told them to dominate the world. [ And to kill Aurican's mother and the rest of the matriarchs, but he doesn't think that would be appropriate for a human child. ] I suppose she talked through her powers - gods are greater in power than dragons, after all.

[magicalworld]

She was more powerful than both of you?

[On some level Calvin knows that god > dragon, but spending days around these enormous mythical beasts, in awe of their size and grace, has given him the impression they're basically untouchable]

Was she ever stopped? Did her sons take over the world?

[dragonlordbight]

Indeed, far more powerful.

[ Crucible casts his gaze to the child, dragons were above nearly all other beings, but gods were a step above. ]

She was stopped for good in my own time, yes. Her sons and daughters tried many times, however never have they succeeded.

[firstgoldson]

One would think, [ and Aurican says this very dryly. ] That she would have learn her lesson after her fourth defeat.

[magicalworld]

[Calvin flies up into a tree and perches on a branch so he can get a better view of the park. He loves what he sees.]

Wow, it's beautiful here.

It sounds like she was pretty dumb for something so scary. Who loses four times without taking a hint?

[dragonlordbight]

[ Crucible lifts his head up a small bit to gaze out over the tree tops. Enjoying the view for a moment before giving a snort at Calvin's comment ]

She was quite stubborn in that manner.

[dragonlordbight]

For good reason, the Darklady was destroyed in an explosion caused in part by its name sake bringing devastation for hundreds of miles around.

[ Crucible comments with a glance across to Aurican as they came into land, allowing the Gold to land before he too came down beside him.]

The Lords of Doom, three volcanoes that had formed from the ashes of the Darklady mountain were likewise held with fear for the lesser races, until they were tamed.

[magicalworld]

[Calvin looks back at the other dragon even as he runs around. After so much time sitting down, he's full of energy and eager to stretch his legs.]

What do you mean, they were tamed? I didn't know you could control a volcano. 'Lords of Doom' sounds kind of untameable.

[firstgoldson]

[ That is a very good question. ]

How is that possible? Magic?

[dragonlordbight]

Just as one would tame a wild animal, I likewise tamed the Lords of Doom. They still have a rather loud bark and bite but they no longer cover Sanction in a cloud of ash. They do still provide a constant flow of lava for the moats around the city however.

With the right talents and enough power you can and I have just that. So one would think prior to my arrival.

[ Crucible explains with utter confidence of his power in that area, dips his head to Aurican ]

Indeed, I have considerable skill in the ways of Geomancy, be it guiding or redirecting the flow of lava to calming the heart of a volcano or shaking the very earth beneath our claws.

[magicalworld]

[Crucible has Calvin's complete and total attention right now.]

Whoah, hold on for a second. There's something important I have to ask.

You've got cities with lava moats?

[firstgoldson]

Geomancy? [ Aurican cannot help but voice his awe. ] That sounds remarkably like the world-changing magic of the metallic matriarchs and the chromatic patriarchs.

[dragonlordbight]

[ Crucible couldn't help but rumble in amusement and a sense of pride at Calvin's comment ]

Indeed, Sanction is the only city on Ansalon that can boast to have as much. It makes for quite the sight from afar at night.

[ He dips his head with clear pride at Aurican's comment ]

It is no small talent, indeed, however it is far from the scale of that wielded by the Matriarchs and Patriarchs once wielded.

[magicalworld]

You know, if it wasn't for the evil god-volcanoes and everything else, I might really want to visit your world.

September 9 - 12: The Pacific States

[firstgoldson]

[ From east to west, from north to south, here is the final destination of the trip: the Pacific.

Here Aurican is rather tired from constant flying and he needs a small break. But there is much to learn here, much to explore.

And there is always Hollywood. He wonders why theatrics are so popular there other than the City. ]

September 13 - 15: Coming Home

[firstgoldson]

[ If Aurican was tired when he arrived at the Pacific region, he's absolutely exhausted by now. But, people need to be going home soon, and Aurican must help them before he can help himself. He's a dragon after all, he can fight off exhaustion a little while longer. ]