Welcome to Gaia! ::

The world is changing once again...But is it for the better? Technology has grown to acknowledge the advantages of steampower, giving rise to new weaponry as well as new inventions for the advancement of the Lankhmarians. Having developed this power, they wish to spread it to all people. However, tensions rise as the Lankhmarians rally against the members of the foreign nation to the south. There, magic reigns supreme, and to see these intruders cannibalize their precious forests and homelands for the "greater good", the citizens of that mysterious continent are ready to declare war. Will technology spread to the strange land of Varishai, or are the intruders fated to die from the untamed wilds of the jungles and its creatures?

((Who's Mike?)) Flying through the forest in the guise of a brightly colored macaw, Aerin chuckled as her mechanized relation followed along, springing from one clearing to the next and gliding after her. Skidding to a stop, Melrisna snorted a great puff of steam as she came to a stop. "It's good to just get away from everything and have fun, isn't it, Aerin? Nothing quite like a little romp through the woods, I'd like to think." Landing on the dragon's cool brass-plated head, she agreed and settled down to catch her breath a moment. "Especially when the woods are this calm. I haven't seen a single soul, aside from you, the entire day. What do you think might be going on?"

Rolling a thickly faceted eye up to look at her niece, Melrisna shrugged and said nothing for a few moments. "Aerin...I don't think we're quite as alone as you'd thought. Hang on tight, now." Crouching down, she listened to the familiar puff of steam from some of her joints as the dragon sprang into the air, spreading riveted wings wide and started flying. Strangers.....There haven't been any newcomers to the village that I know of..Could it be? The intruders from the north? Someone has to do something about this, and soon! Clinging to a spine on the Melrisna's head, Aerin leaned into the wind to keep from being blown off, as well as to decrease the wind resistance. After a few minutes, they exited the forest and passed over a large clearing. Swivelling a lanternesque eye downwards, Melrisna spied a trio of figures below, one of whom seemed prepared to assault another while the third watched. Without another word, she steadily descended into the clearing below and landed.

Eying Mike, Melrisna could smell dried blood on him. "There is no safe haven for those who murder the innocent...You, sir, are anything but.
If what he says is true, the gods will see to a true judgement." She said with a snort. Resting her head on her forepaws, she watched the events unfold as Aerin fluttered to the ground below. Spying a few fallen nuts from the nearby trees, she started cracking and eating what she could find.

Melrisna chuckled and shook her head. "I can smell the death on him....Let him die like the refuse he is." Looking at the Creep, she tilted her head to one side as she studied him. "Quite an interesting...ally you have there. Do you hail from the north, by any chance?"

Amused by the Creep's actions, Melrisna gave a light smile. "I'm Melrisna, and the bird over there is my niece, Aerin. As for the..Creep, don't chastise him too much. He's probably never seen someone like me before, and it's not the first time that someone's done something like that. Now...Who might you be, if I may be so bold as to ask?" She said, leaning her head closer and exhaling steam from both nostrils and the hornlike pipes that emerged from her head.

"Nice to meet you, Wisk. If you're hungry...I've got some food back at my cave. There's plenty enough for all of us, so there's no need for the Creep to go hungry." Aerin looked at her aunt as if she'd lost her mind. Has all that steam finally cooked your brain? For all you know, he could be a spy! Holding her tongue, however, she swallowed the last of the food and flew back to her former perch on the dragon's head.

"Yes, but it's a bit on the salty side. It's also warm in there...I'm afraid it's a bit far from here, though. Unless you don't mind
flying." Bobbing her head in typical parrot fashion, Aerin edged closer to a steamy horn-pipe and watched the pair closely. "I don't suppose either of you can fly....Can you?"