To say that Akari’s luck was bad would likely be an understatement. Truly, ever since leaving home, his luck had been quite abysmal. And the events that lead to him leaving did not even bear thinking of. He had originally thought that traveling to Moonglade would be a peaceful journey, at least he had hoped it would be. However it was not to be.

It wasn’t like he meant to become captured by some local bandits, he really hadn’t. In fact, he likely should have been able to fight them off easily. Though they overwhelmed him with numbers, they were merely men, armed with only their awful attitudes and simple weapons. Akari had more than that, much more. But he was loathe to use his illbegotten abilities on anyone who could not give a proper fight back to him. So, he had intended to use his blade to fight them off and escape the situation.

It wasn’t his fault that the strap on his sheath had worn thin without his notice and broken off somewhere behind him! How was he to notice such a thing?

He had still attempted to fight and escape, but perhaps refusing to use any of his abilities was more of a handicap to him than he thought it was. Which is how he ended up subdued. It likely wouldn’t have been too much of a problem for him to escape even still, but it seemed these bandits had the sense to tie his hands together. And if he could not get his hands free, he couldn’t do much of anything.

So. That was his story. That was how he ended up here, sitting in a bandit camp while said bandits dug around in his bag, scoffing at his lack of worldly possessions and money.

It was a good thing Akari was rather hard to embarrass, otherwise this situation would feel quite humiliating.

It never ceases to baffle the dragon that local militia and guards are so incompetent that they cannot handle a small group of unimpressive bandits in the forest. How difficult could it really be? Perrath curses the local leaders for their helplessness, but they offer coin in exchange for his skills, and he does enjoy the opportunity to spill blood regardless of the cause. In this case, the cause is to fill his own pockets. A simple enough exchange, but he's still irritated about it. 

Whilst searching the forest, his taloned foot snags on a torn leather strap. If he were less balanced, it would trip him, but he is the great and powerful paladin Perrath. A simple piece of leather would not fell him. Still, what could this strap be from? He lifts it and gives it a sniff. Whoever it belonged to needed a bath, he decides. The grass nearby the strap has some imprints of boots and a long, slightly curved thin object. Perhaps this strap belonged to a scabbard and the hapless lout lost it. Then he finds note that something was dragged through the grass. Hm, perhaps someone was taken captive..? Dragged away from the road? Yes, that makes sense.

A tooth grin spreads across Perrath's face, and he slinks through the underbrush to follow the trail. This must lead him to his quarry. Eventually, he hears voices, so he drops low and casts a cloaking spell on himself. His form becomes wreathed in shadowy wisps, and when he stays in the shadows, he's nearly invisible. What do we have here? he wonders, watching from the brush. A man is tied up and a group of ruffians is questioning him. 

"Look, you didn't come out here on your own," one of the bandits says gruffly to Akari. "Who are you working with? How many more are on their way?"

---

Cloak of Shadows

"Look, you didn't come out here on your own," one of the bandits says gruffly to Akari. "Who are you working with? How many more are on their way?"

Really? They were still trying this? Akari can’t help but raise an eyebrow in the face of the bandit currently questioning him. They had been trying since they caught him to get information from him, which he couldn’t give them. He thought the reason was obvious, he had even tried to mime to them, albeit poorly without his hands, that he could not speak. But unfortunately this group didn’t seem to be exactly the brightest stars in the night sky, so to speak.

“Ey, boss, are you sure this one even understand what yer sayin’?” Another of the bandits asks, looking curiously between his apparent leader and Akari on the ground. “Maybe he’s just stupid. Doesn’t seem like he understands what yer askin’ him.”

At that, Akari visibly frowns and opens his mouth, but he’s unable to make even the slightest sound come out of this throat. Ah, if his hands were free he could certainly give them a piece of his mind. Though he doubted they would be able to understand any of his sign language, at least it would make him feel better.

He flexes his fingers behind his back and wisps of shadow cling to his fingertips as he does. Maybe he would rethink his policy to keep his power out of this fight- If he were to get free that is.

Then he.. Pauses, his shoulders going stiff for a moment. He turns his head, looking away from the bandits much to their annoyance and looks over his shoulder, seeking out the eyes he can feel on his back though he cannot find them.

“Hey! Are you ignorin’ us?!”

Akari’s attention is brought back to the bandits before he can find those eyes in the shadows as the leader of the bandits grabs onto his shirt and hauls him half-way to his feet.

Well, that was rude.

Interesting... It seems the bound man is either incredibly stupid or stubborn. He's not made a single sound. Perhaps he's cursed with a silent existence. Surely, if the man could speak, he would be shouting in some other language. It's possible he has the iron will of Ginma. But wait, what's this? Wisps of shadows on his fingertips? A fellow follower of the Moon Mother? Perrath smiles to himself. It's a smile that soon turns sinister. For these ruffians to threaten a member of his faith? Well, that certainly would not do. 

While the bandits argue amongst themselves and shout at the silent man, Perrath skulks through the shadows until he makes it around the backside of the group. The bush rustles as he emerges, and one of the bandits looks back curiously only to see the looming figure of a seven-foot tall dragonkin with a heavy hammer pulsing with hungry energy. 

"Hey, wh-"

It's too late. Gravity does most of the work to slam Soul Crusher down on the bandit, crushing him and splattering him like a roach on a cobble. The heavy enchantment makes the hammer hard to lift, so Perrath leaves it in the puddle of blood and the tattoos on his hands and feet glow purple. Magical claws of dark energy surround Perrath's claws and talons, and the dragon with shadows still wisping off of him, gives the rest of the bandits a sinister grin. It's showtime. 

Akari is, naturally, the first to notice the large looming figure behind the bandits as they argue amongst each other and one-sidedly with him. His eyes darting away from the bandit holding him up of course enrages the man, but Akari hardly cares.

He didn’t think that was an actual dragon looming behind them, but the figure did look incredibly similar to one. His visage, when the bandits finally noticed, certainly seemed as terrifying as a dragon’s.

Crrrunch.

Akari wrinkles his nose at the sound, though he is not as bothered by the sudden carnage as the men arround him who look on in horror at the remains of their comrade splattered around like so much refuse. When he is unceremoniously dropped on his back by the bandit who had been holding onto his shirt he is a little more annoyed.

Letting out a silent huff he wriggles until he is back in a seated position so he can watch warily as the dragon-like man grins a spine chilling grin and prepares his claws to fight. If this was a rescue of some kind, it was sure to be a bloody one. But Akari could hardly be too upset about that now. Beggars couldn’t be choosers. He just hoped this man’s bloodlust wouldn’t extend to him as well.

Then again, from the shadows and horror clinging to the dragon man’s form, perhaps he’d be the kind of opponent Akari would not feel guilty facing.

To say that bloodlust emanates from the draconic figure is to put things lightly. With magic on his claws illuminating his face from below, his golden eyes seem to glow with a slight purple tinge. His claws flex, a silent challenge for any of the men in front of him. They're still reeling from what's happened, and the hammer taking their companion's place thrums with hunger for life and blood. Suddenly, the men feel less confident in their own abilities. Some of the color drains from their faces as drops of blood finally fall prey to the call of gravity and slowly stream along their cheeks. Red tears for their fallen comrade.

Their fear fuels the dragon. 

"What's wrong?" Perrath says with a sinister tone seeping through his teeth. "Suddenly you're too afraid to act? A shame, really. I thought this would be fun."

Perrath's eyes dart to Akari, and one hand reaches to his belt, pulling forth a dagger with a serrated blade and intense negative energy radiating off of it. "You there. Are you a follower of the moon?" All he needs is a nod and the rest of these men will suffer Per-wrath. A nod is exactly what he gets. Then men look between Perrath and Akari, and suddenly Perrath dives back into the brush, becoming invisible in the shadows, and reemerging behind Akari. His claws cut Akari free, and the serrated blade falls into the dirt in front of him. 

"Oi, no you don't!" the lead bandit says, finally getting his shit together. He brandishes his weapon and charges the moon men. Perrath laughs and leaps into the fray. 

Akari is not expecting to be asked if he is a follower of the moon, but he nods anyway. It was true after all, in a sense at least. Neither he nor his sister had ever properly subscribed to any one religion or been a part of any temple, but their mother had taught them Lunala’s name. And both siblings had bonded over their shared, strange draw to the moon’s light.

Now it sometimes felt as if the moon was the only light in his life. A presence in the night that reminded him of his dear sister…

Perhaps, if he were to believe in anything, he would believe in the moon and Lunala’s guidance.

He blinks when the Dragon disappears, and the next thing he knows his hands have been freed and there is a dagger waiting for him in the dirt. Oh.

Oh, well that was convenient, wasn’t it?

He picks up the dagger and twirls it skillfully in his hand, watching for a moment as the dragon leaps into a bloody frenzy. And when all the attention is on his raging savior, Akari slips into the frey right behind him, dancing between bodies with the borrowed dagger becoming an extension of himself. The eyes of the bandits who had previously been mocking him fill with horror as he cuts them down, but Akari feels no guilt in his actions. They had harmed him, and more importantly had likely harmed other, more defenseless people than himself. It was better if they were put down here and now.

He sinks his dagger into a bandit, and one foolishly attempts to dive at him from the side while his blade is occupied. But the move, while somewhat clever, is useless as the shadows that had previously lingering on the edges of Akari’s form coalesce into blackened claws that pass through the crude leather armor and rend their chest into reddened ribbons instead.

Watching Akari make quick moves with the dagger in hand and just as quickly rending through another bandit, Perrath lets out a triumphant laugh. The fourth bandit, the only one uninjured and remaining, panics and tries to flee. Without missing a beat, Perrath charges after him and runs him down until he trips on a root and skids across the ground. But rather than rending him in two with his magical claws, Perrath looms over him, holding the claws threatening close to his neck. 

"L-Let me go! We didn't do nothin'!" he pleads, his whole body shaking. 

"Hmm.... I don't think I will," Perrath says smoothly before grinning again. "There are more of you. Where are they?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" the bandit cries, trying to scramble back. Perrath holds him fast in place, smoky shadows dripping from his maw. 

"If you want to live, you'll tell me." His voice is low and sinister, and the dragon presses the magical claws against the bandit's throat. 

"Fine! Fine! Th-They're farther in! Two miles southwest! There's a camp there!"

"Excellent. Thank you."

A nervous gulp shifts the bandit's Adam's Apple. "Y-You're gonna let me go, ri-"

His question is interrupted by gargling after Perrath quickly snatches his claws across the man's throat. "Of course. Enjoy your trip to the heavens." Perrath stands and walks away, leaving the man sputtering and choking on his own blood. It's a sickening sound to walk away from, but the sound of a man dying is music to Perrath's ears. 

When he returns to the clearing, he looks at Akari. The bloodlust has given way to surprisingly calm energy, though it's evident the dragon is reeling with excitement from the exacted violence. "You have your own skills and blessings. I have the location of their camp. Join me in exacting the rest of your revenge. Perhaps you'll find a new sword and sheath in their collection." 

Akari watches dispassionately as Perrath interrogates and deals with the bandit, finding out the location of their other hide out in the process. Akari probably could have told him that information himself, he had overheard the bandits talking quite a bit while they rummaged through his things.

His attention is drawn away from the dying man when the dragon approaches him directly and begins to speak to him in admittedly a much more polite manner than he had the bandit just before. Revenge? Akari wasn’t sure he really wanted that. These bandits had hardly done anything to him to warrant the true scope of his vengeance.

But, that being said, they were likely a problem for the local community, and Akari was now in a position where he could help deal with that. Besides, traveling with this strange man could prove at the very least to be an interesting endeavor.

There was just one small problem.

Looking at Perrath Akari taps two fingers to his throat before shaking his head, trying to communicate that he could not speak. He flashes a few quick symbols with his hands, but after a moment seems to realize that Perrath likely cannot understand what he is trying to say.

So he goes to collect his bag, stuffing back inside quickly the supplies that the bandits had thrown around before he grabs a small notebook he always keeps with him and flips to a new page.

‘My name is Akari. I will go with you, stranger, as thanks for your aid.’

He allows Perrath to read the note before he scribbles another.

‘Thank you for the use of your blade. May I continue to use it as we deal with the bandits? I will return it when the job is done.’

His handwriting is quick but neat and clearly legible. Clearly, he has taken much care to be able to write in a way that is fast enough for easy and clear communication.

Perrath watches with interest while the man attempts to make motions at him. Are these gestures a challenge? A thanks? The dragon shifts his weight from one foot to another while he observes and tries to make heads or tails of the motions. There's a slight sneer to his face when he asks, "What is this? Are you attempting some wild magic?" Finally, the man points to his throat and rummages around for his scattered things until he pulls out the notebook and begins writing. Perrath's head tilts as he reads. "Akari... Ah, so you are cursed with silence," he says, his tone softening only slightly but his gaze becoming more relaxed for a moment. To be touched by the moon but cursed with silence. Perhaps this could be corrected by a powerful mage, he wonders. 

Adjusting his stance, Perrath gives Akari a knightly bow, turning his dragon head down but not quite lowering it below Akari's eye line - he is quite a bit taller, after all. "I am Perrath, Paladin of the Moon." Then he meets Akari's eyes again. "You may hold fast my borrowed blade. I trust you will put it to good use. Come, let us find their home camp and tear it asunder, leave it like their bodies here! Seeping with ruin and lost potential!" 

With that, Perrath hefts his Soul Crusher hammer out of the dripping mess that once was a bandit. Bits of bone and flesh stick to its head. He does not remove it, carrying to weapon off as a grim reminder that he is a mighty warrior. They walk through the forest in the direction given by the long-dead bandit. Along the way, Perrath notices a red-scaled lizardfolk. That's an unexpected familiar face...

---

End Part 1