Quests & Challenges

@Lixue

Adorable, I will add both!!!

@/Petall Bahaha, thanks! What better way to defeat that gloomy Shade than with a groovy party? X3

@Lixue Rofl!! I laughed way too hard at that, especially Balance still looking a bit teary-eyed. "The light alone is not enough! Someone needs...to drop a beat!"

----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3079103/95#post_50983479]Previous[/url][/center] ----- [center][b][u]Day 109: The Fool[/u][/b] [item=strangling vine] Sentence: Writing[/center] ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/74189287][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=74189287&skin=0&apparel=12900,12903,12917,12914,12928,12935&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/75912638][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/preview/dragon?age=1&body=2&bodygene=54&breed=18&element=9&eyetype=0&gender=0&tert=3&tertgene=43&winggene=56&wings=97&auth=db701cc90f2c31846925ea4a9cffd99d35267abd&dummyext=prev.png[/img][/url][/center] "Ugh, it's so dirty out here!" Niclas watched as the banescale winced as he put a foot in the mud. He immediately lifted it to flick it off, but it was much more visible on his polished white scales than the spiral's earthy brown tones. Niclas rolled his eyes. More and more often, Marmara had stuck him on patrol with this pompous idiot. How he became a warrior was beyond him, he seemed better suited for a pristine palace, bossing around servants or interns or whatever. There wasn't much of a difference - though servants got paid. "I'm really not paid enough for this," Alabaster whined, fussing over his tarnished scales, loud enough to draw the attention of any nearby creature, defeating the whole purpose of their patrol. "Oh yeah, well at least you're not getting paid in [i]experience[/i]," Niclas snapped. His patience was wearing thin after the months they had spent out here with hardly a move against the Refuge. "You don't even know why we're out here, do you," Alabaster's face turned sour. "Seriously, tell me with your words why we're here, right now." "We're trying to protect the Nature Flight," Niclas said, repeating words that had been drilled into his head since the start of his internship. "You really believe that propaganda?" Alabaster snorted. The banescale began to laugh. "Seriously, you've been working for Marmara how long? And you never questioned what you're doing?" Niclas began to grow angry. "Oh yeah? Tell me then, if you're so wise. You just sit around all day fussing with your scales and asking people to do things for you. You're hardly a warrior." "Yes, but I get information, and that's why they keep me around. You hear things, if people don't take you seriously, and I honest to goodness hate getting dirty, do you know how long it takes to get anything out of scales this colour? Mud, blood, you name it, it gets between the cracks and stains by whole colouration." Alabaster rolled his eyes. "Anyways, I've heard Marmara talking to that two-headed freak. They stole eggs from the clan, innocent children, whose parents have done no real crime but exist. Why do you think we're on patrol now? We're supposed to keep an eye out for those pacifists seeking out their poor darling offspring." "No," Niclas backed up, eyes widened. "They couldn't- we wouldn't." "You really have not been listening during your apprenticeship, have you? Sure, some of your superiors truly believe in the cause in a benevolent way, but most are corrupt to the bone. They hate the plague flight, and they would do anything to see it burned to the ground and expanding the reach of our glorious flight." Alabaster said in a mocking tone. "And you've been complacent in all of it. You've helped to hurt innocent dragons. Some of the dragons who were killed in the Refuge? They died because of your direct actions." "No, stop," Niclas felt faint. He thought of the imperial who saved his life, and guilt wracked over him once more. How could he have been so stupid, how could he have not known. "So what are you going to do?" Alabaster taunted. "It's not like you can escape. The contracts are pretty tightly bound." "You're sick, you know that right?" Niclas growled. "What are you even doing here? And don't tell me you care about Marmara's cause, I know you don't care about anything but yourself." "I'm the illegitimate child of a noble, I am not welcome in my family's court, and they paid good money to force the Bane Battalion to take me. They can't get rid of me if I tried, so I just do what I want," Alabaster said smugly. "What am I doing with you people," Niclas shook his head, suddenly seeing his life the past few years flash towards his eyes. He thought he was doing something honorable, but he had actually been causing real harm to who knows how many dragons. He was surrounded by malicious, self-serving dragons, and he was seeing no reward for any work, he had not been paid a single piece of treasure in his entire internship. "You aren't seriously running are you?" Alabaster chortled. "If you do I'll tell Marmara, and she'll hunt you down for your hide. Finally I won't be the one in the hot seat, I'll be the golden employee compared to you." "Buzz off," Niclas shot back, taking off through the trees. He did not know where he was going, but he was done with the Pox Consulate. He was done. ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3079103/97#post_51002673]Next[/url][/center] ----- [center]@Drachenschwinge @Dynami @Leopardmask @Sabariel @BarbaraFett @Disillusionist @Dakala @Wufflesnuff @Tirtouga678 @chippertowns @Aetherstorm @MisterMylez @cartographic @Calyrex @Gender @feleathion @queerkestrel @catmeow1 @Khyriana @CleverTrick @brandonjui @Crescentstar711 @sedge122 @Brasil @Lixue @DiamondDogg @GraceShelby1031 @VeniVidiVici @Jaspernoir @Glitchtrap @GingaSnap @aquaberyl @Pocketdog @lunarkismet[/center] ----- Niclas has finally reached his breaking point!

Go Niclas!! :D I feel bad for him, but at the same time I'm very glad he got out of there and I'm really hoping he'll join the Refuge now. <3

@sedge122

Yeah, he certainly doesn't belong with Marmara!

"Oh yeah, well at least you're not getting paid in experience," Niclas snapped.
-- Oof!! This made me wince. Reminds me of poor unpaid interns the world over, or artists who take on commissions, only to find they're getting paid in ~exposure.~ LOW BLOW, MARMARA.

As insufferable as Alabaster is, I like him a little here. He's a pompous brat, but in this chapter at least, he gives the truth straight to Niclas -- and it looks like that's exactly what he needs!

@Disillusionist

Niclas has definitely been getting the short end of the stick this whole time.

He's definitely the only one here who would give Niclas the truth, that's for sure!

Just caught up on the past three posts and my first thought was how cute melon marzal babies probably are <3

@Leopardmask

Oh gosh, they absolutely would be!!!