Sake of a Friend

"[THREAD TITLE]" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread started on [IRL DATE] and finished on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
Hrinthe: A dragon flew towards a camp, quiet and nearly invisible against the night sky.  She circled it once, sniffing for a variety of scents - sea air, brimstone, blood on steel…
She quickly recognized what she wanted and swooped in to land before a specific tent.  Then she ensured that her illusion was in place and sat herself at the entrance.
“Judge Donz,” Hrinthe spoke, “A word, if you will.”
Orskaf: Orskaf stood to his feet abruptly, the guards in the room shifting into attention at her sudden appearance. He regarded her coolly. “You either better be looking for recruitment…or you better have something very interesting to say girl…” he said evenly, holding out a hand to allow his guards to relax…a bit.
Hrinthe: Hrinthe tilted her head.  “I am not sworn to any gods.  It is hard for those like me.”
She released an odd, throaty growl as though taking a preparing breath.
“Is it Odin?  Or is it you?  Who does this army bow to?  Convince me why I should bow to such a god.”
Orskaf: “So…you’re not one to write up and memorize your speech before you present to a council…joy,” Orskaf growled. “I maintain this army but we bow to Odin. As for alignment,” he shrugged. “He is said to die in Ragnorok, but there is no saying how things have been changed and twisted over time. He is brave enough to fight for what he believes in even if his fate is sealed. I had picked no god but, but my military experience caught his eye, the same way thousands of over potential warriors did. He picked me, so I picked him.” 
Hrinthe: “I see,” Hrinthe replied.  Her eyes narrowed with sudden fury.  “So Odin picked a man who tortured, raped, and pillaged to victory.  Many humans would see it as brutal.  Barbaric.  Not honorable.  This is not Odin.  This is either a survival-tactic by a desperate man.  Or acts of a vicious one.  Which one are you…?”
A hiss escaped her.
“… why…”
Orskaf: Orskaf starred at Hrinthe in deadly silence. He walked around the table in front of him and paced towards her. “If you think the gods are innocent of all crimes you are blind.” he stopped in front of her, his teeth clenched together. “He picked me…for my combat abilities and military background…that’s…it… I didn’t pillage out of greed, or torture for the sake of pleasure. They are parts of war, that’s why war is hel, it’s hel because you have to do awful thing for the greater good of your side…now.” he held up a finger. “You tell me who you are…and why you are here, clearly, and without riddles this very moment, or I will have your teeth pulled you impudent stranger.”
Hrinthe: Hrinthe gave him a very strange smile, and her image began to glow with firelight.  “So, it is a survival tactic then.  We know survival tactics.  But even then, what is the use?  Kill or be killed.  Eat your prey, or be eaten.  Hurt others because it is best choice.  Easy choice.  Simple choice.”
She let her illusion drop.  Orskaf was suddenly faced with a young black nadder with silver spikes, one last seen during an attack on a certain viking ninja.  Her open mouth dripped with flame, teeth glinting.
Then the illusion returned, and all he was met with was image of the young girl.
“I want to hurt you,” she stated.  “I will not.  It is harder choice.  Unless you attack.  I want to know why you made her worse.  She was already dying.  She wanted rebels to kill her.  Many would have died.  You made her into a more powerful witch.  You did it.”  She released a low, dark draconic laugh.  “You are proud then.  It saved your humans.”
Orskaf: In the moment the illusion was dropped Orskaf considered striking out with his blade. If this was the same dragon, then he had a chance, he had bested her before. Thing was he had the element of surprise, and the last time the dragon had nearly killed him, so he stayed his hand. He did end up taking an involuntary step back though. “Shit…” he growled in surprise, and then paused, studying her. “You’re that dragon…I presumed you dead.” he rubbed his chin. “I did not know torment constituted towards higher power. That interrogation was applied to obtain knowledge, which of course she did not give.” his head ducked slightly. “And no…I am not proud of what I did. Who takes pride in the loss of life and destruction?”
“Dragon…I did what any man leading an army would have done…including those rebels.” he paced in front of her. “They raided villages and encampment in their early days. And whether they were aligned with Central or not, lives were still lost, property stolen…and damaged. And it was done because they would have died without those supplies. Just as my men would have died without that attack. So no dragon, I am not proud, but I am rooted…that’s why…and that’s the only reason.”   
Hrinthe: Hrinthe snorted.  “So.  You have principle.  But shortsighted.  It is all survival.”
She tilted her head again.  The flamelight did not waver. 
“If you were not man of Odin… but alive again.  Not aligned.  No Ragnarok.  No threat of second death.  You would not act in the same way, yes…?”
Orskaf: “No…” Orskaf said, his eyes becoming reminiscent. “I would go to my village…and take care of it, and pass it to my grandson when I pass away. I would sit on the side of the cove and fish for pleasure, and I would live out the rest of my years smelling the salt of the ocean and seeing my home grow.” he nodded a few times. “That is what I would do…but that is not where I am. I am grateful to Odin for my second chance, and I am honor bound to see it through. If I live…then I get my life. If I die…well…it wouldn’t be the first time.”
He snorted, as if surprised with himself. “But why am I telling you these things? You are of the enemy, and you will have to wait for your vengeance till a later day. Unless of course there is something else?”
Hrinthe: Hrinthe gave him a long, hard look.  Her gold eyes narrowed as though trying to judge.
Then she dropped the illusion once again, leaving the dragon with the glinting teeth and dripping fire.
To all within the tent, a voice rung in their heads.
The Dragonsong has been sung.  The chorus answers, rises.  My brothers and sisters answer to only one.
And warning unto you.  The witches are not gone.  Ragnarok comes.  Walpurgisnacht is not ended.  Her kin join with her.  Be warned.  A great danger approaches.
Orskaf: Orskaf backed up a few paces, nodding in thought. “Quite…quite,” he murmured. “…fair well dragon…”
Hrinthe: Hrinthe nodded with an air of finality. 
Best of luck, Judge.  My flame will not be stayed next we meet.
With that, she released her fire right at her feet.  The entrance to the tent erupted in sudden bright flame, accompanied by a dragon’s roar; moments later, the fire burnt away, and the dragon had vanished.
Category:BOTGD
Category:Season 5
Category:Events
Category:Orskaf Donz
Category:Hrinthe Fishgiver