The Price of Revenge: A Bloodstained History {closed temp}

[Shadow Dragon]

"Tradition is all they have left, huh?"

A man cladded in armor made his way down a hall of an old castle, lit by burning torches, "600 years since that day...and I'm JUST finding out that the king's son is still alive and is the current ruler of that pathetic kingdom?! I had been told he had perished in the war with his father!"

"Judging from the whispers of the nearby knights," spoke another male voice, walking behind him, "the kingdom isn't what it use to be, not since he took over." The sound of claws gripping and sliding down the stone wall was then heard, but the other man was unfazed, "You don't mean to tell me you plan to get revenge over a 600 year incident, do you?"

"Not just for that. No, Zagan," he said, stopping in his tracks in front of a door to a main room. He throws the doors open, "This will be our chance to show that retched kingdom that not even the Ironheart clan will be trifled with!"

"Then I shall be behind you every step of the way...Archion."

He walks over to a draconic statue in the corner of the room, the moon's light reflected off the statue as he recalls a memory.

Two dragons were battling it out among a burning kingdom. A dragon of a deep red and black, and a dragon of pure white, both bloody and wounded from tearing their claws and teeth into each other, both waging war against one another. At long last, the battle came to an end when the white dragon pierced his claws into the demonic dragon's chest, ripping his heart out, and quickly ending his life.

All while the son of the demonic dragon watched with fury in his eyes, then rode away on a black horse along with a few of his men.

What happened after the bloodshed had remained a mystery, from what had happened to the king, to the whereabouts of the Ironheart clan.

Until now.

The man smirked, "The day has come where we rip apart the very essence of that pathetic country and burn every last shred of hope they have ever had!! Only then will our clan's vengeance be satisfied!"

"Yes..." smirked the other, "this was a long time coming..."

---

A 600 year old war had been quietly resurrecting in the United Kingdom, with the massive warning signs going unnoticed by the groups involved in the past debacles. While the team was busy with their adventures in the alternate dimensions, this gave the Ironheart clan enough time to plot their revenge scheme to wage war upon the country.

And now, one month after their last adventure, they will soon find themselves in the middle of yet another war; a continuation of an ancient war that dates back to the ages of the final dragon king who once ruled the United Kingdom.

---

The gentle pitter-patter of light rain hit the streets and buildings of a small and run-down city of an unknown yet ancient location in the United Kingdom. Buildings that once stood tall were now worn down and seemingly falling apart due to abandonment, making it a tough place to thrive, yet there were a few people making their rounds in the streets and whatever stores were open at the time. The darkness of night time blanketed the sky, with old fashioned lanterns illuminating the town with a gentle orange glow.



A sole man walked through the misty rainfall and looked across the street to see a building still open with a wooden sign saying 'Hydra Tavern'. Walking to the building and opening the door, the smell of booze and tobacco smoke hit his nostrils. There were several people inside having a drink and blowing out smoke from their mouths. They turned to see their bar buddy, and mutters were exchanged, but the man paid no heed. The bar tender also noticed his customer. He was gruff and muscular looking, having a full grey beard and a clouded left eye, yellow crooked teeth could be seen as he greeted the customer with a creepy smile. The person didn’t show any hesitation as he sat on a barstool and waited to be served, ignoring the drunken men, who in turn, went back to their meals and drinks.

"Haven't seen ye 'round these parts in a long time, Zali," the bartender said with a thick and gruff Irish accent, "glad to see ye be doing well after so long."

"I'm surprised this bar is still active in a sh*thole town like this," said the scar faced man, "let alone standing at all."

"I be too lazy to close up and move, and it'd be the only tavern in town. Upkeep ain't cheap, though."

"And I see you got new customers," Zali eyed the people.

"Aye, that I do. Be good for business, but their manners ain't well ironed out."

"A bunch of drunkies, huh? Well, there goes my quiet night of drinking."

"Gonna be here a while, I take it?"

"You got the stuff, I got the money. You know what I like, you know how strong to make it."

"Ye by yourself tonight?"

"That I am. My gang's out doing some errands of their own. They know where I am," he replied, "but even a leader needs time off from the pack, you know?"

"Whatever ye say," said the barkeep as he places another drink on the counter before going to prepare Zali's order.

[ganondorf2]

Outside the building, a gang was scheming Zali's death. The leader said, "About time he came here without the rest of his crew. It's now payback!"

The sound of heavy armor landing nearby made them turn and one asked, "What was that?"

------------

Screams of horror were heard a moment later

[The Melee Master]

((Wolf's Rain Zali?? ))

Boredom had led her quite a ways from home in the US. Deciding to take a break from her usual routines, Melee Master had gone where-ever her wings took her, which was on the edge of Europe. Though she really didn't mean to travel THAT far from her usual grounds, she decided to stay a while and check things out. And out of all the places in the nearest town of the land she had arrived in, the bar she was standing in front of had to be the only one open. Often times, bars and pubs meant tobacco smoke, loud music, and drunken men, at least most of the ones she's been to.

Oh well, she was hungry, and didn't feel like hunting for her food again, so she was prepared to grin and bear it. Unfortunately, before she could make an attempt to walk over to the building to enter, the sounds of screams caught her attention. Cloaked in her secondary appearance as a silver haired woman with a regal outfit and a sword, the wings on her back sunk into her body as she slowly walks over to see what the commotion was about, her back pressed against a building in an attempt to hide as she peered out from behind it, right hand on the hilt of her sword, just in case.

[Shadow Dragon]

{Same name and looks, but entirely different character. Sorry.}

Due to the ruckus inside, however, the screams outside went unheard by Zali and the other taverners. Zali didn't even pick up the instinct that he was in any danger, since he was use to the life of people constantly brashing knives and guns on him. He watches as the barkeep places the drink on the counter, "Here ye go. First shot of the night. Enjoy." He then walked off to serve the other customers at the bar.

Zali pinched the shotglass between his finger, but kept his eye and ears open, even though he stared at the counter. He then turned his attention to the other taverners, who were speaking and laughing loudly as they enjoyed their drinks and food.

[ganondorf2]

A man ran toward Melee in fear, only for him to get taken into the darkness in a split second.

[The Melee Master]

She was prepared to use her blade on the man, but was surprised when she saw him be taken by darkness. Although she found it strange, it also felt...familiar. Unfortunately, she didn't have the strength to figure it out or even battle right now. She needed food.

This'll teach her to wait until the last minute to take a rest from flying!

After checking that the coast was clear, she rushes inside the tavern, immediately hit by the sickening smell of smoke. It instantly gave her a headache.

"Just grin and bear it," she mumbled, "you're here for a quick bite and then you'll leave." She sits down at a booth and picks up a menu, "A Blue Moon, if you have it, and a blackberry scone, please?"

[Shadow Dragon]

"Scone?!" shouted a customer, clearly drunk off his high horse as he swung a bottle of whiskey he was drinking, gripping the neck tightly, "Ya want scones, then go skip off to the bakery down the street," several of the customers began laughing at the woman before returning to their meals.

"This isn't your tea and crumpet eatery, lady!" spoke another drunken customer, his bar buddies still laughing.

Zali paid no heed to this as he waited for his drink. Obviously the woman wasn't a regular like him and the others.

"See what I mean about manners?" asked the bartender to Zali, shaking his head and went back to prepping, while politely speaking to the woman, "sorry lassie, we don't serve scones, nor do we serve ye modern name-brand beers, but if ye want somethin' sweet-"

"Then come on over to our table and we'll give ya some sugar...!" a drunk customer boasted, two of said customers making kissing noises, before he and his tablemates tossed sp00nful's of sugar from glass containers in the air, roaring in laughter at the joke they had made, and making a sugary mess on their table and floors.

Unfortunately, this made several people get up from their chairs and walk out the tavern without ordering food, making the barkeep growl with annoyance.

"Aye, that's the 10th time tonight, lads!" hissed the barkeep, "Quit wasting me sugar for ye tasteless jokery!"

"Tasteless...?" blurted out a drunk as he fell from the chair and hard onto the wooden floor.

[The Melee Master]

((OK, that got me! XD))

Melee Master scratched the back of her neck with her gloved hand in response to the crudeness. Right when she was about to snap at them for the comment, she sees them tossing sugar in the air, prompting her to give the men a flat look of disgust and unamusement.

"Really...?" she groaned, getting the joke, but didn't care for it.

[ganondorf2]

A figure watched the customers leave and thought, "Not again. I'll wait until those drunks try to leave while in their cars again. I swear..."

[Shadow Dragon]

"God..." even Zali rolled his eyes to all this nonsense.

"And don't ye be scaring the rest of me customers off!" warned the bartender to the loud ones.

"No worries, old man!" called out one, "We'll take care of our new friend. We'll take care of her REAL well." A brief pause, and he begins to laugh.

"Nah, seriously though," another drunkie started, getting himself together as he lit a cigar between his teeth, then to Melee Master, "manners or not, this is how things be runnin' 'round here! You'll be use to it before long, sweetheart."

Zali rubbed the back of his neck, unable to shake the feeling that he was being watched, however. Instead, he shot down another drink to shake off the feeling, and pushed the shotglass aside.

[The Melee Master]

Melee just bit her lower lip and held back against getting further involved, but moved her cloak a bit to show a sheathed sword on her left hip, as a warning that she wasn't afraid to use it, and turned back toward her table. She was NOT in the mood to deal with any kind of nonsense tonight! Good thing she chose to be in her secondary form where paience was key, otherwise there would be a bloodbath from aggravation and annoyance. Nope. Not tonight!

[Shadow Dragon]

Some of the drunken men slinked back into their seats and turned away, now nervous of the woman after seeing the sheathed blade.

"Dully noted," said a drunkie, "sorry, we won't bother ya anymore, and we mean it this time!!"

"Y-yeah, no rudeness meant; it'd just be our happy hour!" shouted another.

"Every night be my happy hour!" laughed a regular without a care in the world.

"And ye liver be workin' overtime to accommodate yer 'daily happiness'!" The bartender hissed, then to the woman, "As I was sayin', if ye want something sweet at this time of night, lass, we got french toast with fresh local honey and freshly picked berries."

Zali shook his head to this said to the bartender, "And you wonder why I haven't been here in a while. Kinda forgot how gross these regulars are."

"Aye," he sighed in agreement, "but they be good folk when they not be drinkin'," then he mumbles to himself as he pours some wine in a glass for a customer, then hinted, "can't blame 'em tonight, though..."

"Pardon?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

[The Melee Master]

"And you call yourselves men, slinking back at the sight of a blade, and from a woman, no less," she smirked. Good, now with that nonsense out of the way, perhaps she can enjoy a nice quiet dinner, "Forget the scones then," she sighed, "what do you recommend that's savory?" In other words, she was leaving the choice entirely up to whoever was taking the order, "And a glass of sweet tea. I've suddenly lost the interest in alcohol tonight."

[Shadow Dragon]

"Can't say I blame you," said Zali to Melee Master, despite having an alcoholic drink of his own and having no business getting involved.

The barkeep smiled, "That would be me venison stew with a side of dark rye bread spread with herbed goat cheese, and you're in luck, lassie; I made 'em fresh this afternoon and have just enough left to feed three more." He then turns to the wall near the kitchen, "Venison stew and rye bread on order!"

"D*mn newbies comin' into this tavern asking for scones like Little Miss Riding Hood," huffed a customer, cigar between his teeth, "and then threatening us with a sword. Taking us for fools, she is!!"

"Ye be the one flirtin' with her that make her bare her fangs, laddie!" said the barkeep, "Be thankful she didn't use the weapon!"

"And it's Little RED Riding Hood," said another customer, "and she gives treats to her gramma, not eat them."

"And then a wulf eats her, so what's your point?" the other hissed.

"Bah, what kind of book you readin'? That ain't what happened at all!" said the barkeep, "Learn to pick up and read a book once in a while, if ye can even read!" then to the kitchen, "Get some sweet tea and some black coffee for the customer in the back!"

"Ohh, black coffee," teased a drunk as hell customer, "What, a person got some business in this here town this time of night to be slammin' down a cup of TAR?!"

"For Christ's sake, this here be a rum and red meat kind of night, not a night for wakey-wakey bean juice!" agreed another drunk, "don'tcha be crying back here when ya can't be sleepin' tonight, all ya night-time coffee drinkers!!" However, his cries went ignored by the other taverners.

[ganondorf2]

Sensing this, as well as his great learning, of trouble the figure jumps down from his high post and starts to head into the bar, shouting, "What's going on in there?!"

[The Melee Master]

"I don't plan to be here long," she hissed, tapping the table with all her fingers, "this is the closest food place I can find, bar or not. If this keeps up, it may be a one time visit," she glanced at the other customers, "this place stinks, and I'm not talking about the service..."

She was then interrupted by the sound of another person talking. "What's going on in here?" she heard. She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose, "This was suppose to be a quiet dinner..." She gets up from her table, quickly whipping around at the source of the voice, and taking out her sword in preparation for a possible fight.

[ganondorf2]

"If you boys are drunk as a skunk in there again, trust me, I keep my promise of kicking you out!" the voice threatened, sounding like the person was bad news but at the same time, making sure everything was in order.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Now what's that suppose to mean, missy?!" asked a drunkard as he blew a cloud of smoke from his mouth and went back to his cigar, "So this place isn't as clean as your modern day American eateries, and even though some of the grub here looks like dragon vomit, at least it's healthier than the slop over in your country!"

"The vomit or the food?" asked another customer.

"Cancel my order of moosetrack stew, please," groaned another customer as he overheard the drunkard, getting up from the table and walking out the door.

"Still ye tongue before I cut it off and lose anymore customers!" the barkeep hissed, then overheard another voice and jumped over the bar table with ease, moving in front of the woman and the stranger, "Oh no. No no no!! Not on me dime! Ye want to fight, take it outside!! This here tavern be old enough, and I ain't risking it or me precious inventory, now GIT!"

Zali stood from the barstool, taking out a large knife as he backed up the barkeep, facing both Melee Master and the stranger as he didn't trust either one, "Seems everywhere I go, trouble follows me."

[The Melee Master]

A sigh escaped her as she then sheaths her sword, hands raised to shoulder level, showing that she wasn't looking for a fight, "For f*cks sake... I don't want to fight. I'm just here for a quick dinner, and then I'll be on my way. All right?"

Yeah, this definitely will be a one time visit after seeing how the taverns weren't very friendly.

[ganondorf2]

"Then keep those drunk idiots under control! I heard there were problems in that place before from them, so keep it in line and trust me, you don't want to see what happens when it's not," the voice said again.

The voice was starting calm down a little, but not by much.

[Shadow Dragon]

The barkeep said to the stranger, "Don't ye be worrying about these regulars. They really be good folk. They're here tonight because...well, they uh..."

"Why we're here ain't any of yer godd*mn business!" spoke a drunkard, throwing a full beer bottle at whoever voice that was, only for it to be shattered by a bullet held by another taverner, making it shatter and spilling beer on the floor.

"That's enough out of ye!!" hissed the bartender, "Ye waste anymore of me inventory, and ye ass is out in the rain!!"

A waiter walks out the doors, giving the woman the food and tea, setting it on the table.

"That'll be $8.95, or 25 gold pieces if you prefer that currency. Enjoy." He then walked back into the kitchen.

[ganondorf2]

"Problems?" the voice asked, "Oh, you just reminded me. There was a group that was going to enter the building to cause trouble. They are now at the police station for questioning. You don't have to do this, and not now, but I wonder if you could identify them. Again, not at this time."

[The Melee Master]

"Cheaper than I expected," She sighed, although the acceptance of gold as an alternative way of paying threw her off a little as she looked down at her plate to see the stuff she ordered. Sighing as she tries to shake off the idiot's words about the food, as well as the sudden mess, she took the sp00n in hand and began eating.

The atmosphere may have been a drunken haven, but at least the food was good.

[Shadow Dragon]

"There aren't any 'police stations' here!" spoke a customer, "Just dungeons and what-not!"

"Go easy on the guy," said another, "clearly, he's new here."

"Or ignorant."

"Ugh...noise...!" The sounds were muffled, but eventually became clear as shouts of drunken men, "Shut up!!"

"What the hell did you just say, you little twerp?!" A drunkard turns around and walks over to whoever had shouted, then stopped as he noticed the state of the one he was approaching, "Oh, just a f*cking lightweight who can't hold his liquor."

That made the other taverners snicker in response.

[ganondorf2]

"I'm so glad, I never drink anything outside of water..." the stranger thought, and as well, sighed, before turning back, showing a glint of armor as well long bright red hair, showing a little in the moon light. He stood nearby to see what could happen next.

[Shadow Dragon]

Zali turned and immediately recognized the drunk one.

Me, and in human form, obviously.

"The hell is he doing all the way out here?" he questioned.

The feeling of 10 jackhammers pounded onto my skull as I had my elbow on the bar table in the corner, with my head in my hand, fingers through my black and silver hair. My speech was slurred, proving that I had drunk enough to get full blown drunk, about four glasses worth of hard apple cider. The half-eaten chicken sandwich on the counter in front of me didn't do anything to absorb the achohol in my system, but I couldn't get myself to take another bite.

I swear to God, this was an accident, as I didn't anticipate just how strong the cider was.

The bartender walked out the kitchen after hearing the rukus, looked at me, and questioned, "I know it ain't any of me business, lad, but how old are ye?"

"Uh, 30-ish," I replied, unable to think or remember, "I dun know." I shifted my weight back, causing the barstool I was sitting in to fall to the side, taking the bottles and plate of food with it, and fell to the ground. I landed hard on my side, bruising my right hip and elbow, and eventually rolled on my back, groaning.

[ganondorf2]

Hearing this, the figure said, now with concern, "Everything ok in there? That sounded like a bad fall."

[The Melee Master]

Melee cringed as she heard glasses fall on the floor, but the scream of the person sounded...strangely...familiar. Slowly turning to the direction of the crash, she sees a familiar person, although judging by the state he was in, she knew now wasn't the time for a little reunion.

Hm, great. Finally she catches up with a friend, and it's a bad time. She brushes it off and continues her meal.

[Shadow Dragon]

Some of the regulars laughed at my clumsiness, the word 'amateur' was heard from one of them, while others cringed and were about to get up to help me, but Zali beat them to it. He sighed and shook his head, getting off the barstool and helping me up.

"He be fine!" said the barkeep at whoever spoke outside.

"Been a while," Zali said to me, though I wasn't paying attention, "Haven't seen you since your suppose feud with...who, Firestorm?" he sets me back at the barstool, "You with the new ones here or something?"

I didn't reply as I slammed my head onto the bar table, my mind was clouded, and Zali could sense it.

"You know, us dragons usually have a high alcohol tolerance," Zali told me as he took his seat and went back to his drink.

"Another dragon, eh?" said the barkeep as he poured a glass of wine for a customer, "Well, that explains it. But, dragon or not, I think it's safe to say he's had enough, Zali. Why don't ye take him to his home?"

"I would, but I have no idea where the guy lives," Zali went back to his drink, "or if he's even from here."

"What do you mean...'another dra...drago..." I was then unable to finish my sentence as I let out a dry heave.

"This town ain't exactly a forbidden place for draconic folk," said the barkeep, going back to his cleaning, "Zali's been a regular here for 143 years, for cryin' out loud."

Zali slammed down his shotglass upside down to show he was done for the night, on the counter after downing the drink, "145 really, but who's counting?" he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

I struggle to raise my head, despite feeling dizzy, "What??"

[ganondorf2]

"I'll take him to my place if you wish," the voice offered.

Though the size of it might take up more then just one house as well