Your Dragon Prince is Here

"To see beorc and laguz living amongst each other in harmony... I feel as if I have strayed into a dream." Golden Deer Student🦌 ⭐Closed RP Blog for Kurthnaga, associated with TOA.⭐

[goldoanheart]

PINNED

TOA Canon [Golden Deer Student]

RADIANT DAWN [NG+ Post-Game]

Goldoa's king, full of youth and curiosity for the world outside of Tellius. He finds himself as the Officers Academy both to learn from others and share his own knowledge and experience as well. Being able to share knowledge is both directions is a valuable thing, and he hopes to be able to achieve his goals by doing so.

RULES | ABOUT | INTERVIEW | Please kindly do not use small text! (post) | Current Month's Plotting (post)

Due to the nature of most of Kurthnaga's heavy character appearance being in the back fourth of RD, there will be endgame spoilers across the board. Lesser so than Nasir, as he is not the type who will be constantly thinking about it in relation to everyday situations, but especially in threads with other Tellius characters, memories may be conjured up. This is your warning <3.

NOTES UNDER THE CUT (Spoilers)

Operating under the presumption that he actively participated in each battle during the events of the Tower of Guidance and was not just there for plot related reasons.

Comes from a second playthrough, and therefore knows the revelations that are told to him in such. (IE: his conversation with Nasir and Gareth, knowing Sephiran is Lehran, etc.)

Mun has read through Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn, as well as having played Radiant Dawn. Though only one playthrough, so anything from a second playthrough will be referenced from a script/let's play. That said! He may forget things sometimes because she has a spotty memory! Please feel free to (gently) nudge if something is off or wrong!

There will be spoilers, most likely, due to the nature of most of his appearances in canon being in the later portion of the game. You have been warned.

He will probably not mention his status as Goldoa's king unless it is already common knowledge to the other muse (ie: muses from Tellius or others that he becomes familiar with and discloses this information to). Not because he isn't proud of his heritage or such, but because he wishes to treat everyone as an equal and share knowledge with them without any barriers.

Unrelated note to characterization: Mun wanted to delete some posts to get a fresh start, but he may have fucked up and deleted some things that they did not mean to. If links to some threads and such are broken (ie: on the mastery page), that's why. Oopsie. :bonk:

[astrasword]

we have sorcery at home.

Restoration / Reason +1

[astrasword]

Ayra knows, of course, that the student before her is a dragon. She will not soon forget going up against his true form, no matter that it was only a mock battle. She didn’t expect him to be surprised by her approach, though...

And she certainly didn’t expect him to say that he didn’t know enough to aid the development of spells. In fact, although her expression is as cool as before, she blanches for a moment.

Up till now, she thought that a dragon would not only know enough of human magic but also far surpass it. The idea that their systems could just be different never occurred to her, and not only for her unfamiliarity with the subject.

She was raised on legends of the dragons, after all. The Holy Blood that decides who is to rule in her homeland, indeed the Holy Blood that saved humanity, came from pacts with dragons. This dragon comes from another land, yes, but... So did those mentioned in the annals of Jugdral’s history, and they are gods all the same.

It’s her mistake for assuming, Ayra supposes, as enormous as the realization she’s just had feels.

“ No, no, ” she answers, not unkindly even if she doesn’t quite smile, “ anything you can tell me will be appreciated. ”

[goldoanheart]

Kurthnaga nods, smiling in return to the woman's stern face. He notes that her words are gentle, despite her expression. Completely unlike his father, whose face was also often stern.

He remembers that she had fought against him during that mock battle, that she was the only one here who would know of his true identity. He wonders if the dragons of her homeland differ from the dragon laguz that he knows, how they differ.

That will have to be a question for a later time, of course, as they already have a task set before him. He can be curious at any time, but he needs to focus for now.

"Ah well..." He laughs, clearing his throat, "Magic like this is... not usually something that my kind back in my homeland usually partake in. We have no need for beorc magic or weaponry."

He wishes he knew more, but that is solely his own curiosity and fascination with the world. Many other laguz did not share his sentiment, and sometimes Kurthnaga cannot help but to wonder how he turned out the way that he did with the father that he'd had.

"I'm not sure of many of the specifics or the jargon, but!" The young king perks up, "It's been very fascinating to watch everyone work and discuss the various possible different equations that could lead to the desired effect. I do so wish I was able to help more..."

[fujins-favored]

shall we skate?

Mission Board: Excavation | @goldoanheart

[fujins-favored]

“Teach you how to skate? Sure.” 

Takumi had helped Sakura with ice-skating before; this time should be no different. And it would give him peace of mind to make sure this guy wouldn’t spontaneously crack his head open on the ice.

He didn’t let go of the student just yet, though. Takumi could feel him struggling to stay upright. “First of all, you need to figure out how to stand up on your own. You won’t be able to get anywhere otherwise.” 

He grabbed the student’s other arm. “You’re going to have to adjust your stance a little. Keep your whole body - head, shoulders, hips - aligned with your feet.” An example would probably help. “Imagine that- oh, uh…”

Hm. Takumi had been about to compare the experience to archery, but he had no idea what sort of combat training this student had, if any. It probably wouldn’t be helpful to compare this to, say, archery, if he’d never shot an arrow before. 

“Imagine that you’re a ladder,” he said, and then cringed. “Bear with me. A ladder has two poles that are parallel to each other, and all of its rungs are aligned, right - so imagine you’ve got two poles coming out of your feet, and your body is the rungs of the ladder.”

Maybe he should get out more. To be able to make better metaphors. “Got it? I’m going to let go now, so focus on standing in place and not falling over.” He waited until the student had adjusted his stance, then slowly let go and backed away.

[goldoanheart]

Kurthnaga slowly nods along to the other man's explanation, focusing on staying upright and not falling flat on his face and getting a mouthful of ice. He wobbles slightly as he steps away, but manages to keep his balance, smiling happily as he does.

"I did it!" He chirps, giggling a little.

He wonders if this professor has younger siblings, with how gently he explains things. And for a moment, Kurthnaga is reminded of his own elder brother, now gone from this world. How kindly Rajaion had once guided him through actions when he had been a little kid.

He... he misses his brother greatly, so much that it hurts.

Shaking off his sorrow, he turns back to the other man with curious eyes, "What next?"

[heliacalrisings]

that's not a pegasus

[anniversary 2024] flying +1

[heliacalrisings]

It goes as planned from there. Kurthnaga takes back to the skies, Ephraim remounts, and when the bandit emerge once more it is with bows in their hands and quivers at their back. Weapons that would do well against a pegasus but have a harder time piercing a dragon's hide.

Ephraim grabs their attention by rearing his horse, the beast standing on two legs and neighing loudly to grab their attention. Ephraim holds on with practiced ease, lance in hand, and then circles around and dashes toward the clearing. The bandits follow like good little bandits.

And as planned, Kurthnaga descends on their flank, and suddenly the bandits are trapped between a rock, a dragon, and a king.

"You." He levels his lance at the group. "Tell me, why do you attack the pegasus?"

It takes some coercion, helpfully provided by Kurthnaga's menacing aura, but they spill their secrets amid curses and threats. Their plan was to fell one of the beasts and sell its parts.

Poachers, then.

Ephraim's lips curl as if he's just smelled something rancid. "Disgusting. Your operation ends here. I'm bringing you back to the monastery for the knights to deal with." He brings his horse closer, lance at the ready, just to instill a bit more terror in them lest they decide to try their luck. It's run out.

"Kurthnaga." He calls to his companion but his gaze does not leave the bandits. One, two, three, four. Not many but... "Can you carry them back? Two in each of your talons, perhaps?" The thought of it makes him grin but it's not a nice one.

[goldoanheart]

The dragon snarls as the beorcs speak, frowning deeply at their plans. This was no way to treat any sort of life underneath their sun, let alone the innocent pegasi of the monastery.

He can't help but to agree with Ephraim's words. This was digusting. Vile. Hardly humane.

Kurthnaga nods, deftly picking up the poachers with little effort into his claws.

They would see their dues, especially if he had anything to say about it.

[goldoanheart]

Wanted Plots (Yummers)

NASIR ( @yukyunotabibito )

REASON +1: Nasir don't feel so good... he's gonna be so pissed. Time to wallop a demon's ass [TAKEN: N/A]

HEAVY ARMOR +1: Remember kids, this is why we don't trust strange merchants whose deals sound too good to be true [TAKEN: ALFONSE]

FLYING +1 [TAKEN: SABER]

KURTH ( here ! )

FLYING +1: Let's adopt a son... together [TAKEN: N/A]

SWORD +1 [TAKEN: GRIMA]

FAITH +1 [TAKEN: ELISE]

ANY SKILL +1 [TAKEN: CHROM]

ERK ( @adalrikr )

REASON +1: Lady Louise it hurts. Wretched coughing. (Okay but to be serious for a minute: Erk is ftm, please be respectful of the little guy and his bath time <3) [TAKEN: HECTOR]

FAITH +1: Why is he a frog... wait don't go get Serra! She'll be scared! [TAKEN: SERRA]

AUTHORITY +1 [TAKEN: SIN]

BOW +1 [TAKEN: SOREN]

ANY SKILL +1 [TAKEN: DIMITRI]

FLYING +1 [TAKEN: DEIRDRE]

-

Contact for Plotting: While you can use their respective Tumblr IMs, I would prefer if you simply just dm'd me on Discord at lightorflight or @'d me in the plotting channel! Easier for me to keep track of, and I'm more likely to see it in a timely manner. Pwease and thank you <3 (Or feel free to comment on this post I get lol. I'll get to you somehow.)

[goldoanheart]

august activity passed!

total skill points: 79 -> 80

[monthly skill point]: 1 to axe (a+ 1/3 -> a+ 2/3)

other points: n/a

claims:

classes: n/a rank chart: n/a

housekeeping

waiting on partner:

a love that does not dissolve, even over great distance (dheginsea)

two opposing souls of darkness and light (sephiran) [Recovery, March 2024]

we’re trapped in this old man’s torment nexus (lambert) (faith +1) [Showcase, April 2024]

vocalized (edelgard) [Showcase, April 2024]

oh, haven’t you heard? (sothe) [Affluence, June 2024]

is your father a dragon (dheginsea) (any +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

still no pickles (bernadetta) (authority +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

KK slider saves a dragon (katarina) (lance +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

we’re so good at forging bears they’re gonna give us a good grade, something that is both possible to achieve and reasonable to want (maria) [Restoration, February 2025]

:kurthnagasquish: (ike)

waiting on me:

that’s not a pegasus (ephraim) (flying +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

we have sorcery at home (ayra) (reason +1) [Restoration, February 2025]

shall we skate? (takumi) [Excavation, April 2025]

in queue:

n/a

dropped:

dear prudence

completed:

n/a

[goldoanheart]

We're So Good at Forging Bears They're Going to Give Us a Good Grade, Something is Both Possible To Achieve and Reasonable to Want

Restoration | Forge-A-Bear

[princessmacedon]

There is a minute pause after her question, a pull of her attention to something amiss. Perhaps her question had prodded at some old wound?

She hadn't known Kurthnaga had siblings, too; she would have asked after them at once were she not already worried, but as her hand lingers thoughtfully at her chin, rose-colored eyes trained on his expression, Kurthnaga carries on. He speaks of a mother, gone soon after his birth -- of a precious memento lost in the chaos of the monastery's fall. He speaks as though he's fine, says as much as well, but--

Maria doesn't believe him. A hand darts to his sleeve, holding onto the fabric gently, a light weight pressed against his arm in comfort as much as insistence.

"Do you want to go look for it?" The little cleric's expression is set in determination, unburdened by the thought of 'what if it isn't?' -- merely ebullient in that persistent hope that 'what if it is?'. "Together! Two pairs of eyes are better than one, aren't they?

"We can come back and make new plushies later! But you miss the one your mother left you, right?" Releasing the small corner of his sleeve she'd been holding onto, Maria smiles, her motivation only growing with each passing second. "Hee hee... I'm pretty good at sewing, too! So we're all set for a rescue mission! Don't you think, Kurth?"

[goldoanheart]

Kurthnaga glances down at Maria in surprise when she tugs at his sleeve, mouth widening into a soft 'o'. Though... should he really be so surprised? As long as he had known her, Maria had been nothing been kind to him, it should make perfect sense that she would be kind of enough to want to help him find that old keepsake.

"That's terribly kind of you, Maria," He says softly, an almost sad smile flickering across his face, "I would almost certainly beg you to reconsider, if I did not think of you as a dear friend."

He's still thinking about it, if he had to be honest. It seemed like a lot of trouble just for a mere plush toy. The young king is sure that his father might have told him that it was only a waste of time.

But on the other hand...

That tiny fragile, falling apart stuffed dragon was the only thing he had of a mother who had been unable to do anything for him besides give him life.

He smiles fondly at Maria's excitement, and eagerness to help him, "Alright, let's go look. It would be somewhere in the ruins of the dormitory, if I had to hazard a guess," He then giggles softly, ruby eyes lighting up with excitement of his own, "How adventurous of us! To tread on unknown land and in search of something so dear!"

[hresvelged]

— vocalized

showcase mission board / roundtable discussion

[hresvelged]

She knows naught of Kurthnaga's voyage both beyond and into Fódlan, but it's clear the topic at hand continues to hold a degree of resonation. Instead of drawing her features to the Great Lords, Edelgard takes a moment to study her ally. Her face remains neutral as she chooses to take from a perspective she doesn't wholly grasp. Lips draw straight; arms steady.

"They fail to understand that," she speaks. "Or.. Perhaps it's more apt to say they want to be distanced. There are those who would rather live luxuriously while completely ignoring everyone else. Someone of that mindset is not fit to be at this roundtable at all."

"If this is meant to pave way for the future, we should stand against it," she says with resolve. She's taken this duty on for herself long before she witnessed this discussion. Fódlan's future cannot swim in shallow, murky depths. She sees purpose in this gathering should it run appropriately, but it means nothing if the people placed at its side fail to see anything except their own shadows.

Amidst her thoughts, one of the Great Lords stands up from his seat and points at the person directly across from him. His voice echoes in the space as if all eyes are meant to turn towards him. "Your reasoning is completely baseless. My territory's populace is larger!"

The other man's finger wags. "Are you proposing quantity over quality? Tsk, what a shame."

[goldoanheart]

Kurthnaga wants to groan hearing the beorc lords continue to bicker as they do. Land? Really? That was the basis for winning a debate? How utterly ridiculous.

The young dragon thinks that if his father were here, he would drag Kurthnaga out right then and there. And for once, the younger king might not have even argued. The lord's petty squabble is gratting on both his ears and his nerves - and Kurthnaga was far more polite than most! He could stand more without exploding, than for example, Nasir could. (Though that was a very low bar to clear.)

"There will be no unity in their future if they continue to base who wins or loses on the amount of territory owned by the respective lords," He says with a sigh and a disappointed shake of his head, "That is not the kind of nation I seek for Goldoa to be, nor would it be one that it is capable of being. And I am sure that you must feel the same way about your own nation; correct?"

[goldoanheart]

KK Slider Saves a Monster

Anniversary | Lance +1

[ephemeralove]

Kurthnaga reaches out a hand to the so-called 'monster', and it answers with a step of hesitation... only to stumble directly into his kindness. The little creature -- a cute, round thing, like a cat with extra steps -- stares at him in shock, having emerged from its shell far more quickly than it meant to.

...it is a familiar sight, is it not?

She presses a hand to her mouth, stifling a rare laugh even as her eyes smile at the scene playing out before her. With comforting words and a gentle touch, the chimera slowly seems to settle, its big old eyes staring up at Kurthnaga in wonder and burgeoning affection.

"I think it likes you," Katarina whispers, gaze softening as the little creature wags its tail.

"Yes! I like you! Friends... are safe!" It nuzzles against Kurthnaga's palm for emphasis. Small paws reach up afterward to lay against his hand, beseeching the pair with all its might. "Help me, please. Those people... want to hurt me. Already hurt my friends. We are not weak... but we are so few. They are so many."

"They already hurt your friends?" Katarina interjects quietly.

"Yes..." It buries its face in its stubby little legs. "...Gone. Those people wear their horns... their teeth." Shaking its head as if to dispel the memories, its tail tucks between its legs. "Please..."

The mage presses her lips together silently. There's room for other interpretations, of course... but not by much. Still they should do their due diligence even if the hunters had been a callous group to start with. She throws a glance at Kurthnaga, trying to catch his eyes and gather his thoughts.

[goldoanheart]

"It does seem to like me quite a bit," Kurthnaga chuckles softly, rubbing the small creature's head, smiling at it lets out a contented noise that sounds almost like the purring of a cat. He doesn't think its a cat though, because if it was a simple cat, then there was no way that the beorc hunters would be fiending after it as they do.

Cat laguz does not seem to be right either, because Kurthnaga does not get that sense from it. He supposes it doesn't matter too much what it is, so long as they are able to keep it safe. That is all he wants, Kurth doesn't... he doesn't want anyone to get hurt.

"Do you have more friends...?" The young dragon asks carefully, "Are there still more of you hiding in the woods, or are you the only one left?"

Please don't say you're all that's left... please, Kurthnaga begs to himself. He refuses to let this little one die either way, but it would sting all that much more if they were the only one.

What... a lonely existence that would become for them...

[goldoanheart]

july activity passed!

total skill points: 78 -> 79

[monthly skill point]: 1 to axe (a+ 0/3 -> a+ 1/3)

other points: n/a

claims:

classes: n/a rank chart: n/a

housekeeping

waiting on partner:

a love that does not dissolve, even over great distance (dheginsea)

two opposing souls of darkness and light (sephiran) [Recovery, March 2024]

we’re trapped in this old man’s torment nexus (lambert) (faith +1) [Showcase, April 2024]

oh, haven’t you heard? (sothe) [Affluence, June 2024]

dear prudence (lysithea) [Affluence, June 2024]

is your father a dragon (dheginsea) (any +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

still no pickles (bernadetta) (authority +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

that’s not a pegasus (ephraim) (flying +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

we have sorcery at home (ayra) (reason +1) [Restoration, February 2025]

:kurthnagasquish: (ike)

waiting on me:

vocalized (edelgard) [Showcase, April 2024]

KK slider saves a dragon (katarina) (lance +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

we’re so good at forging bears they’re gonna give us a good grade, something that is both possible to achieve and reasonable to want (maria) [Restoration, February 2025]

in queue:

n/a

dropped:

do you have that dog in you?

completed:

n/a

[goldoanheart]

It seemed like this monastery, The Officer’s Academy, harbored people from countries and nations far and wide. Gareth once thought it impossible for a melting pot such as this to thrive as well as it appeared… Clearly, he was mistaken. 

All he knew was that the King didn’t want to be referred to as such, and to simply call him by his name as with any other regular person. It took the red dragon some time to get used to it – oftentimes having to correct himself in the middle of his sentence while asking around for Kurthnaga’s whereabouts – but it was feasible in the end. 

“Kurthnaga. It’s good to see you safe and sound.” Hands tucked at ease behind his back, he nods at the young laguz. “I trust that your studies have been going well? I couldn’t help but be curious as to what Garreg Mach was like. Sorry for the unannounced visit.”

The young king of dragons lights up as his eyes fall upon his guardian, running over to him with an excited smile on his face as fast as his legs can carry him.

"Gareth!" The younger dragon chirps, looking up at the elder with ruby eyes that still seemed far too innocent to belong to the ruler of a nation. He almost hugs his (former?) guardian, stopping just before he does to wonder if that would be crossing a line between them.

Gareth had cared for him for so long, had always been there to protect him if he needed it. Sometimes in the back of his mind he wondered if Gareth cared more than his own father did. But only sometimes

Seeing Gareth here now makes him long somewhat for home, but he knows he still has so much to learn here at the academy. He can't go back yet. He tries not to let his worries of not being good enough get to him, and instead he smiles, ever the soft and gentle Kurthnaga that everyone has always known.

"They have," Kurthnaga says with a curt nod, and then he giggles softly, "Come now, Gareth, you don't have to apologize for wanting to see me. We've been apart for quite some time after all. I'm glad to see you as well; you know?"

[goldoanheart]

:kurthnagasquish:

continued from here

[radiantpaths]

Time, if nothing else, is something the laguz have plenty of. In a sense, Ike envies them. There is a long life to live, but there is a long life filled with rest. It's definitely not that simple, but if he could live for a long time, he knows he would spend far longer laying out in the grass, looking up at the clouds.

He's not a kid anymore. He shouldn't think like that. It doesn't stop him from wanting.

"I guess, what's a couple of decades in Fódlan?" Ike asks. If three years was nothing to the dragons, he'd like to know how a couple of decades feel. Ike likes being a beorc, but he wonders.

"I'm glad to see you're alright." Despite everything, despite it being a while since he'd seen the poor kid, Ike is still glad he's alright.

[goldoanheart]

"I'm alright. As alright as I can be," Kurthnaga averts his gaze, ruby eyes suddenly finding the ground very fascinating. He hadn't even told his own father what had happened to him - and doubted he ever would, he didn't want Dheginsea to have another reason to force him back home after all - there was no way that he could tell Ike first. (Of course, that wasn't counting Nasir. Who had simply somehow known without Kurthnaga even telling him.

"A couple decades though...? That seems a bit..." The young dragon chuckles, "A bit long even for me. I doubt that I'll stay here that long. There is... things that I would like to do back home sooner than later."

[hresvelged]

— vocalized

showcase mission board / roundtable discussion

[hresvelged]

In other scenarios, she would begin to say how predictable it is of nobles to keep their distance— Even amongst their fellow, they fight for power that never should have been theirs to begin with. They yearn for endless riches at an elongated table, never finding themselves satisfied until the gold underneath their feet forms a river. A seat alone cannot rectify that. In fact, she believes it exemplifies it instead.

What Kurthnaga says holds truth, showing as much with upturned brows of her own. It is of surprise as much as intrigue. She takes the insight in its fullest, noting the beat of familiarity he implied.

"You do have a point. It is odd, when put like that." While she speaks, her attention remains on the Alliances' nobles in observation. One fiddles with his quill; another loudly slams his hand on a stack of papers. "It makes you wonder if this is truly productive at all."

When one talks, another yells over. The volume only seems to increase until a hand of silence is raised. Her fingers gravitate to pinch the bridge of her nose: "I believe the outcome will remain the same as what we see now unless significant change occurs. Would you agree?"

[goldoanheart]

Kurthnaga lets out a sharp sigh as the lords gathered around the table only continue to argue, their conversation travelling in a circle same as the one that they sat in. It would have been nice to see something different than disagreements for once, to see a people united under one banner, but he supposes a collection of lords who all likely had different ideas on how to govern their territory and the Alliance as a whole were never going to be that, now that he thinks on it further.

He nods quickly to Edelgard's words, the disappointment coming to settle in his chest, "I do. They do not seem to be the types to agree much on anything like I hoped they would be. Perhaps that distance has something to do with it. Or perhaps they simply cannot see eye to eye. It's hard to say without knowing much of Fodlan beyond what I have observed during my time at the academy."

He thinks of his father, as stubborn and as stuck in his ideals as any of the lords around the table surely were, unable to see any way forward besides his own.

Kurthnaga didn't... he didn't want that to be the fate of everyone. Goldoa had been isolated and quiet for so long, disconnected from the rest of Tellius because his father thought it would be for the better when it never was. That was not a fate befitting of anyone, let alone beorc or laguz who often longed so for connection with others.

"Nothing good comes from letting distance like that fester for too long," His voices trembles a little with sorrows long past, "it will only end up tearing them further apart if they continue on like this into the future."

[goldoanheart]

Two Opposing Souls of Light and Darkness

Recovery

[thelightofcreation]

Sephiran tries not to let his heart drop when he hears a familiar tune that he can no longer make, a song he can no longer sing. He remembers all the words, knows that he can form them on the tip of his tongue if only he could make them… but it was a fruitless gesture, one that he has tried time and again to no success.

Even if all of the melodies that remain in his heart continue to weigh ever heavier.

“I-” Clearing his throat, trying to move past the words that seem to stick, that he can’t quite say, “There are a few things that I found, that I would need more time to study in order to discover something. Though… it is possible that perhaps the Duke’s ah, discovery, entails some form of laguz transformation.”

A wave of his hand. “Or something akin to it. Laguz live longer lives than beorc do, after all, so perhaps with experimentation, he has been able to extend his lifespan- and thus, his youth.”

Could the potion allow him to transform again? A thought that he tries to bury, but can’t quite get out of his mind.

“Nevertheless,” He says, beginning to walk down the hall, gesturing for Kurthnaga to follow. “The evidence suggests that at some point there was a large beast in the room. The blood you smelled- my apologies for bringing it up- are likely from a liquid consumed from a bottle rather than blood spilt by anyone injured.”

A pause, “Any other answers we may have to get from the Duke himself, though I suspect he won’t tell us much.”

[goldoanheart]

Kurthnaga notes Lord Sephiran's reaction to the song that he had been humming, wondering if the older man too remember.

Oh who was he kidding? Of course Lord Sephiran remembered. Kurthnaga remembered and he had only been a mere infant! And Lord Sephiran had... in the Tower looking back... spoken so fondly of that babe that he had once taken care of, Kurthnaga's heart still gouged open from his father's death not even hours prior.

But with the look on the man's face, and the pain of times gone by that surely overwhelmed him, Kurthnaga will leave it be for now. There were more important matters to tend to anyway. He could bother his father's dearest friend about those emotions some other time. Another time when they were both better equipped in the moment to deal with them.

"It's fine, so long as I don't have to see it, I'm sure I can remain standing," The young king laughs nervously, waving off Lord Sephiran's worry like it was no big deal at all, despite the reaction he had every time with even the sight of a single drop of blood. He trots obediently after the heron, following as the older man travels down the hall, "If I were the Duke, I wouldn't tell us much either. Especially after he realizes that we snooped around in his quarters without permission. For his sake though, I hope he tells us something. I would hate to see him continue down this path and fall to depths he cannot recover from. He does not seem like a terrible person, even if he is doing it to himself, he may not deserve it."

[goldoanheart]

june activity passed!

total skill points: 76 -> 77 -> 78

[monthly skill point]: 1 to axe (a 2/3 -> a 2/3)

other points: 1 to authority (b 0/2 -> b 1/2)

claims:

classes: n/a rank chart: n/a

housekeeping

waiting on partner:

a love that does not dissolve, even over great distance (dheginsea)

we’re trapped in this old man’s torment nexus (lambert) (faith +1) [Showcase, April 2024]

vocalized (edelgard) [Showcase, April 2024]

oh, haven’t you heard? (sothe) [Affluence, June 2024]

dear prudence (lysithea) [Affluence, June 2024]

is your father a dragon (dheginsea) (any +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

still no pickles (bernadetta) (authority +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

KK slider saves a dragon (katarina) (lance +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

that’s not a pegasus (ephraim) (flying +1) [Anniversary, September 2024]

we’re so good at forging bears they’re gonna give us a good grade, something that is both possible to achieve and reasonable to want (maria) [Restoration, February 2025]

we have sorcery at home (ayra) (reason +1) [Restoration, February 2025]

:kurthnagasquish: (ike)

do you have that dog in you? (tibarn) (riding +1) [Pearlescent, June 2025]

waiting on me:

two opposing souls of darkness and light (sephiran) [Recovery, March 2024]

in queue:

n/a

dropped:

n/a

completed:

hit movie cube (1992) (2491 words)

[heliacalrisings]

that's not a pegasus

[anniversary 2024] flying +1

[heliacalrisings]

It's quite the sight to see Kurthnaga descend and transform back into his human form. If it were any other time, Ephraim would take a moment longer to marvel at his transformation, but time is of the essence. He dismounts.

"They've gone into this cave." Ephraim gestures toward the opening. "It looks like their hideout, and they won't be expecting to find you waiting for them when they return. I'll lure them out into the clearing once they exit and then you flank them. Then we make them talk."

It might very well come to a bloodshed, but that wasn't Ephraim's goal. They needed to figure out why these men were attacking the pegasus.

"Are you comfortable doing that?"

[goldoanheart]

"I can do that," The young king nods solemnly. If the worst comes to worst, he shall simply hope that they are more afraid of a dragon than anything else and he will not truly have to fight.

Clapsing his hands together, the boy transforms and takes flight once more, scanning the ground in anticipation for the men to be lured out by Ephraim.

Once they are, he will land and make sure they do not leave. After all, facing a dragon, let alone one as large as he was - though he was far from being anywhere near the size of his father or even his brother - was not an easy thing to do. A fact even Kurthnaga had learned all too well.

[tuinendraws]

Kurthnaga in #108, for the palette challenge?

Any day I get to draw a dragon is a good day.

Edit: here’s the full-size image.