Kneel, Baldirak Che'le. Rise, Baldirak Sapiens Draco (Open to all)

The Twilight King's nostrils flared. Kenina hadn't come home. His eyelids lifted, allowing his pale blue irises to be greeted by the sunlight shining from the hole in the ceiling. The rays hit the Moonstones that made up his Knowledge Circle. The light from them struck the Moonstones embedded in the walls. Some of them were white as well, but most were green. Their lights danced on the ceiling. Baldirak rose slowly, his right foreleg horrendously sore from bowing to Astral. As a result, he kept the leg up higher to keep from putting pressure on it, which made his limp even more pronounced. There was a shallow pool at the back of the den, large enough to lay in; there was a rock divider in the middle so the water would be cleaned as it flowed to the other side and be fit for drinking. Baldi lowered his head to the right side of the pool--the drinking side--and lapped up some of the cool liquid. Next, he moved to the left side and rinsed himself off. After shaking the water from his scales, Baldi left the den. Outside, he found Hapax and Hamnet still sleeping. He woke the twins with a thawk of his tail against the ground. As they jumped up and looked around, the Earth King took to the air.

Baldirak flew to the Ebonwing Isles. Last night, Astral had bid him to spread the world about her return, that she would begin protecting dragonkind from the monsters. Baldirak knew it would take a great deal of convincing, but perhaps learning that their King had retaken his title would help. The Prophet of Knowledge was back and prepared to do what was needed to see his Goddess' will done. Upon reaching the Isles, Baldirak flew to Tenebris' citadel. He landed on the roof and let out a loud roar that would sound across the territory to summon the Twilight Remnants.

In essence, when one hunts the hunter they had better be prepared for the consequences. When the hunter is hunted by a dragon, they had better be ready, but when said hunter was of the Denti Magni or "Great Scales as they were notoriously known as they were a certain threat. It wasn't hard snatching then up, the poor things couldn't see a dragon from far above, but when in the clutches they can twist and turn and strike. That was the first ever serpent of those kind a dragon learned it's lesson from. It was far easier to crash down on the creature, crush the head and cripple it severely and a meal is served.

In his recent years Ragnarok went from a Royal Guard to Advisor, in recent months he went from just killing these monsters to actually studying them so he best knew how to deal with them. Yesterday's study was over the great serpents, a voracious hunter of dragons. He stalked one carefully as to not get noticed, the very thing he realized after watching it before and after his duties were how strange it acted. The Denti Magni acted just like a snake, it didn't show the murderous intent like the invasion, no no. Writing in his scroll, Ragnarok recorded it's behaviours and any information useful for future use.

Taking off that day, many revealing things came to light. Shadow Hawks and Tower Cardinals, they acted like regular avians of their kind. Certain creatures seemed to act as if they really were of this world, unconcerned of the very realm they invaded but if they acted as if any other animal what was so different about the invasion? Many a deal of those beasts, if dragons weren't beasts themselves, shown little concern of a meal and rather attempted genocide. A trip to the old Imperium city and studying it revealed that yes, there were still plenty creatures there but again they've shown the very habits other animals do. As of any other on the plain of existence, they had shown prey and predator to one another. The only things Ragnarok could find otherworldly were the Ogres, they were like humans except primitive and of course disgusting things.

Shaking his head of this mornings flight, Ragnarok carried in a large sack empty and full scrolls, each one marked with whatever information it possessed. He knew the king usually awoke this hour of the day, very few occasions he slept in, but the Advisor was always up the earliest. The breeze felt cool against his tough scales, but alas, if only he could remove this metal he'd love the feel of the wind all along his body. As he approached the Ebon Isles, ready for servitude Ragnarok saw the king fly atop Tenebris' abode and give a massive roar. It seemed he was summoning dragons this day, and to the Advisor it seemed the king wanted the Arc- NightWing "Leaders" attention. Though, Ragnarok meant no disrespect, the most that Nightwing did was throw a party of customs and... Things didn't end so well.

Landing near where the King Baldirak was, Ragnarok awaited further instruction as he gave a bow, still as ever tone deepened and more vocalized than need be, he couldn't control, "My liege, a fine morning to you. I trust yours is quite well?"

Time on the training grounds flew by. Despite liking the solitude of patrol, there was nothing that could get her satisfaction like a good and well balanced fight, even if it was just training. This was probably one of the only places where she seemed remotely approachable and friendly. It was always a good place to earn the respect of her comrades and congratulate their skills as well.
Àlamei liked to stand out for her fighting skills, she liked to challenge other dragons and prove her strength and wits, but she was able to respect another's skill and strength, if she found reason for it. Most of the dragons she actually got along with had earned this respect of hers and were now officially safe from hotheaded duels and strength comparisons. But ever since she had duelled her father and won, it seemed that those battles were much less needed. The other guardians met her with more resepct, as if finally believing in her competence and not only viewing her as a little, much too ambitious girl.

She was watching a training round of two other Firewings, when suddenly a roar disturbed the sound of the training grounds and brought everything to a halt. Instinctively they had all turned their heads toward the sound, until it subsided. For a second she looked back at the dragon next to her, searching in his eyes for the same notion she had and when he nodded, they pushed off the ground simultaneously, rising in the air to go meet their king wherever he had released that roar from.

Noctis hears the roar from the one whom claimed to be the king of the EarthWings, the one whom caused the recent festival to end rather poorly. Noctis continues fishing catching one after another and stacking them neatly into an expertly crafted net woven with holes small enough to keep the fish inside. He has caught several bass, trout, flounder, catfish and a couple large eels. "That should do it, at least it will be contributing. Can't fight on an empty stomach." Noctis tightly closes the net and ties the corners together, he grabs it with both forepaws and starts flying to where the roar came from albeit slower due to the weight of the fish.

Tomaigh had been taking a break for once in his life. A forced one. Apparently the lead scout had said he was working "Too hard" and would "Get himself killed." It ruffled his feathers. He then heard a familiar roar though. This king! He spread his wings and quickly began to fly that way, then landed next to Ragnarock before bowing. "Your Highness. Adviser. Pleasure to see you."

Meanwhile, with the Nightwings, Cyclone and Typhoon were both panting, from another hard training fight. The guardian training them just grumbled before hearing the roar. "You two are lucky. We were about to get it ability training. Come on." Soon, he and the half-hydras flew their way to the roar.

The new Scholar was happily performing his new job in the newly acquired library. Humming a self made tune he was putting some recently acquired information about monsters in their rightful places amongst the sea of knowledge. With full concetration the large dragon was putting iin the last piece of he puzzle. Just one more scroll and the new collection would be whole, complete. At the exact moment he was putting in the last piece a mighty roar disrupted his concetration for just enough for him to knock over some scrolls, which promptly hit his head before falling onto the ground. "Of course it would happen at this exact moment" Neltharion exclaimed with a sight and turned around to a window to gaze outside leaving the scrolls on the ground for now. "What does King want now?" He asked himself, after thinking for a moment the large dragon decided to see what is going on and proceeded to quickly leave everything and left the library to fly to the source of the roar promptly. After a short flight the dragon put himself on a slightly raised area to overlook everything and to see if there was anyone he recognized as well.

Being the nocturnal creature he is, Tenebris was deep in a profound sleep, in this sleep the Archon was a hatchling again. Like most dreams, he dreamed of things past, things that will never be again. In these dreams the Archon found comfort, freedom and love. He was visited by those he had lost and for those perfect hours of sleep he felt whole again, in this dream land, the world made sense and everything was right, he talked with the shadowy spectres of his family long gone and once more embraced the simplicity of the life he had in his youth absent minded from the chaos and insanity of the modern world. The roar of summons what issued forth from Baldirak went unnoticed in the almost bewitched sleep of the Archon, however only several moments later there was a fanatic beating at the door's of Tenebris's chambers. Waking, his heart began to pound from the premature waking, his mind buzzing as though the onset and dawn of a migraine. There was no pleasure to this untimely rousing, he rose the talons of his right claw as he rubbed away the remnants of sleep as he arose from obsidian marble slab which served as his bed releasing a long drawn out sigh under his breath.

"Your grace, your grace, are you awake?", called forth a voice from beyond the door which Tenebris instantly recognised as the seemingly panicked voice of his Chamberlain and Steward Syrus. Whatever comfort the Archon had as he stretched to compose himself was fleeting, his eye lids still remained drooping and laden from the lack of sleep. "Yes Syrus... Please kindly explain why I've been roused", Tenebris made no effort to hide the malice and scorn in his voice which came from fatigue and weariness. "Your Grace, King Baldirak is at the apex of the Citadel, he has someoned everyone to him". Tenebris released an animalistic snarl, briefly looking out through the dark violet stain-glass window of his chambers and gazed out at the horizon, its vivid light extended across a rosy sky. Tenebris supposed this was something the majority of Dragons who were diurnal spending their waking ours throughout the day would consider beautiful, Tenebris on the other hand only knew the daylight as a danger, it gave away the Nightwing's usual advantage of hunting, and brought an over abundance of activity which brought with it only the desire and longing for the silence, serenity and the tranquility of night.

"Very well, Syrus, I shall attend our Earthwing King accordingly", spoke Tenebris in a softer more regal tone. He focused his gaze at the stain-glass window until he caught the reflection of himself, tired and weary. With a wave of his ink stained talons he glamoured himself in an illusion, the disfiguring scars upon the right side of his limbs, body and wings shimmered for a moment before being almost replaced with new scales, bright onyx and youthful, his half closed blood shot eyes suddenly appeared vigorous and renewed. Not feeling the need to hide the scars on his maw through illusions, the Archon spent no time attending to his attire, only simply adorning a single silver ring upon his left fore horn on his crest. He would then open the doors of his chamber, to see Hastur who had taken the dayshift in his fully armoured steel garb while Seth who had slept looked as weary and solemn as the Archon. "Syrus, wake Shira from her chambers, she will attend me as part of my retinue. Seth, while Syrus awakes Shira, get into your armoured then accompany them, myself and Hastur will head straight to the Earthwing now". With those words, the retinue of the Archon simply bowed and went to their duties. Hastur at this moment being the only one of them to accompany Tenebris as they made their way up the spires of the Citadel.

Tenebris and Hastur arrived bot by air as the other Dragons did at the makeshift aerie at the apex of the Citadel, but instead revealed themselves through a simple double door from one of the battlements. Tenebris, thanks to his illusions walked with purpose and pride, almost in a militaristic manner without falter while Hastur followed from behind, they approached the gathering before Hastur barked out in a harsh and unforgiving tone announcement which was usually reserved for Syrus however with the stweard currently seeing to Shira and Seth the duty Hstur took upon himself "His grace, Lord Tenebris, Archon of the Nightwings". Tenebris strode to the front of the crowd, his features emotionless and stoic as he regarded Baldirak, he couldn't fathom out of the multitude of reasons as to what was the purpose of the King of the Imperium, the Archon even briefly mused over the fact that this might be a challenge, although Tenebris had enough mutual respect for the Earthwing that he would doubt the King would be so naive and foolish to make such a move here of all places. Tenebris stood at the forefront of the crowd, his sapphire shrewd glare peering at Baldirak while his serpentine tail trailed back and forth behind him in an anxious manner.

Noctis finally arrives with the haul of fish he's been carrying. Before landing he sees Archon Tenebris and two of his subordinates, he sets down the net full of fish and the large eels. He sets his gaze on the Earth King Baldirak and gives a short growl. "I will follow orders, but I will not bow to you. That is reserved for his grace Archon Tenebris." Noctis approaches Archon Tenebris and bows respectfully. "Good morning your grace, hope you slept well." He waits for the Archon's response.

The Twilight King's call was answered. Tenebris, as he should, answered. When it seemed a good portion had gathered, Baldirak, still perched atop the citadel, began to speak. "Dragons! I summoned you here to import a divine message. Astral, the Goddess of the Moon and Stars, will protect us from this day forward. No more will Dragonkind have to fear the beasts that plague our land! I am again her Prophet and have retaken my title as such. On her behalf, I ask, as she does, but one thing from all of you! Whenever you are in need, especially concerning the monsters, pray to her. Pray to Astral and she will protect you! I, as her Prophet and your King, will protect you! Starting today, we will begin eradicating this scourge from our land, for we now fly with a Goddess at our backs!"

Together with a few other dragons she reached the Shdaow's refuge, where King Baldirak was perching atop its roof, an amused smile splitting across her maw. Surely the Nightwing's Archon would not like that at all. Among the dragons shesoon spotted a familiar form of another too large dragon and descended towards him, landing just minutes before the Archon appeared and Baldirak began to speak.

"Neltharion." She greeted the now scholar of the Imperium with a slight smile, settling down next to him. "I hear you've been promoted since last time we spoke." Honestly, she hadn't taken the large Hybrid for a scholar type, but to everyone their own, right?

Then the King began to speak, or rather proclaim his reawakened worship of the Goddess Astral, promising them all her protection. The dragoness' face turned solemn, not quite sure how to react to such news, since she had never truly cared about the gods and their protection, preferring to look after herself. It would most likely lead to mixed reactions and possibly  arguments between the different parties, as religion usually did. As a guardian she became wary, scanning the crowd to try and read their reactions, asessing the situation, if one would want to call it that.

Tormaigh preened his feathers a little, noticing Tenebris come in and rolling his eyes at the grandiose nature of it. This was a surprise. Did he seriously have these guys just sitting around to make his appearances grand? His daughter also walked in, as well as another Nightwing who was intent on saying he wouldn't bow. Kids.

Meanwhile, Cyclone and Typhoon walk up to where Noctis was, with Cyclone nervously smiling. She tapped him with a wing, chuckling. "Hey there." Before should could say anything else though, Baldirak spoke. He said he had a message from Astral! That she'd be with them with everything happening. Both twins looked absolutely amazed hearing them, looking back at their own Moonstones.

Tormaigh meanwhile just listened quietly, giving the king a simple nod. "Well, I'm happy to hear that we have something to look up to, even if I don't quiet believe in Astral. I'm ready to help."

"Oh, Hey Cyclone. How's it going?" Noctis asks with a slight blush on his face. He then looks upon Baldirak and huffs, the blush quickly fading. "I'm doing my part by helping to supply food for us to eat. As a matter of fact I brought a large haul of fish along with a couple eels."

Tenebris acknowledged Noctis's greetings with a humble nod of mutual respect and recognition as he walked maneuvered himself to the front of the crowd. Remaining stalwart with an austere stoic visage Tenebris merely listened intently as Baldirak spoke. His attention and glare were fixated without falter as his narrowed gaze would slowly widen as he took into account what Baldirak was stating. It took a moment for Tenebris to truly register the proclamation of Astral’s return to the forefront of Dragon Society as its protector. The usual aloof and detached Archon visually seemed taken off guard, his serpentine tail now shifting back and forth in an almost fanatic manner. Tenebris contemplated this new development with an ire, his assumptions and machinations would run to a far much higher degree with Astral remaining isolated away from the wider Dragon society, Tenebris knew when one has been in the cold for so long, without the smallest ray of hope, and all that you love hands in the balance, a leap into the unknown becomes prudence. The Monster Scourge and Astrals lack of activity in such a manner as the catalyst for what Tenebris must do to avoid the strife and chaos that pyrria found itself in. It would have been prudence and logic what lead others to support the future actions of Tenebris, however Baldiraks proclamation in Astrals newfound interest for all Dragonkind would disrupt and contort the Archon’s initial plans. Tenebris would have to adapt accordingly, and speak with Astral himself, however for now he knew he couldn’t oppose Baldiraks words, if he did he knew others would seem him as more of an agent of chaos than order, and to do such would contradict his own words from the Festival.

Satisfied on the conclusion on how to act, Tenebris adjusted himself and a crooked smile grew across his visage as he prowled forward closer to Balidrak, he’d then come to a halt and turn, rearing back on his hind legs and opening his wingspan to its full length towards the crowd now ahead of him. Even despite the abnormal hours of daylight which the Archon found himself in, his posture remained as regal and as graceful as though he stood upon the dias of his throne room. “Rejoice brothers and sisters. My Daughter, Astral has returned to the fold. Her prophet speaks that the Nightmare of the Monster Scourge will soon come to an end. The beasts shall fall in an instant to the might and prowess of our Goddess, why unfathomable power will restore Dragon Kind to greatness, our homelands and fiefdoms restored. And most importantly, our loved ones avenged”. Tenebris spoke rhythmically, and gestured with his claws throughout the speech, internally the Archon knew that Baldirak had not made the same promise for the instant eradication of the Monsters, despite Astral having the power to do so. It was an acute difference but an essential one that Astral stated that she would only aid those who needed help at the time rather than restoring the world to what it was before the Monsters entered the world. The Archon seemed pleased with himself as his wolfish smirk showing his uncharacteristic gleaming white fangs grew across his visage, knowing that if Baldirak noticed Tenebris’s twisting of his words Tenebris could confront him in front of the crowd as to why Astral and her prophet aren’t doing more to remove the threat entirely. “As always, I and the Nightwings stand with you, Baldirak, and of course my daughter whom you serve. We Nightwings will make a glorious offering to the Altar of the Stars and Moon here upon the Isles”.