<TIAMAT> *Devan Teal does not usually concern himself with the battles in the Arena -- dealing with those who would hurt others outside the stadium and causing other such problems keep him busy enough, most days. He's currently in his office -- no surprise there -- organizing a filing cabinet in the corner and muttering about Clyde taking the afternoon off to watch what's supposed to be an unusually interesting and exciting battle.

<JETMODE> *Suddenly, there's a muted rush of sound -- it must be earsplitting wherever it took place -- and the entire Arena gives a violent shudder, as though something huge was just thrown into a wall.

<TIAMAT> *Teal grabs the filing cabinet to keep his balance, catching a glass candle holder as it it topples off and setting it back on top of the cabinet. He pauses, suddenly aware of the muffled screams coming from above, and, sighing and scowling, he darts outside and upstairs, drawing his sword as he goes.

<JETMODE> *In the halls, people are either frozen in confusion or running in panic, as survivors and the injured begin to pour in from the stadium. Occasionally, someone babbles about a dragon attacking the Arena.

<TIAMAT> *Teal tries asking the first person or two he sees about what's going on, but they either rush past without replying or choke out something incoherent through their screams and cries -- and none of his guards are to be seen. After gathering something about a dragon, he rushes to the nearest door leading to the stadium seating, breath catching suddenly in his throat as he stops dead at the sight that greets him.

<JETMODE> *The stadium is utter chaos. The bodies of the dead, dying, and injured, are scattered everywhere, though most particularly over in the part of the stadium where the Subtle Rimer struck. The stands are emptying fast, but not fast enough, as above the scene hovers a great, skeletal dragon, occasionally spitting flames at the spectators and the measly resistance gathering below on the battlefield itself.

<TIAMAT> *Teal stares in horror at the dragon and the carnage he's caused for several moments before pulling himself together and rushing down the rows of seats toward the stadium itself.

<TIAMAT> *Beneath the dragon, the handful of guards and one or two other officials who were attempting with spectacularly little success to bring the beast down suddenly scatter as he spits a fireball directly toward them, and all but a few are reduced to little more than charred skeletons; those who managed to avoid the blast run headlong for the opposite end of the stadium and toward the exit, leaving a lone figure lying on the packed dirt.

<JETMODE> *Though most of the people in the stadium are in the process of fleeing, a slim figure picks her way rapidly between the charred corpses on the battlefield and toward the black-armored figure lying on the ground. When she reaches her, she squats, looking her over curiously.

<TIAMAT> *Teal pauses when he gets to the last row of seats, staring up at the dragon for a moment, then down at the two figures in the stadium, then vaults the barrier onto the battlefield and starts for the two figures, keeping an eye on the beast as he runs.

<JETMODE> *The dragon, giving a huge flap of its rattling wings, rockets up into the air and flies away, leaving behind a frozen silence broken occasionally by the moans of the wounded. The girl stands suddenly at his approach.

<TIAMAT> *Teal pauses to watch the dragon depart, sheathing his sword slowly before looking back down at the girl. "Are you hurt?"

<JETMODE> *The girl smiles and shakes her head. "I'm fine -- I was checking on her -- her friends are worried." She indicates the figure on the ground, who stirs fitfully and moans.

<TIAMAT> *Teal frowns. "I can imagine." He crouched next to the armored figure, checking her over rapidly. "I think she'll be all right -- I'll take her to the infirmary. Can you check around for any more survivors?"

<JETMODE> *The girl bows. "I will. Be careful with her -- she's very grumpy." She grins and trots away.

<TIAMAT> *Teal arches an eyebrow as she retreats, then sighs and heaves the girl up, starting hurriedly for the exit and the nearby infirmary. "Clyde wasn't kidding when he said this would be an unusual battle.."

<JETMODE> *The girl stirs again when he picks her up, struggling a little.

<TIAMAT> *Teal holds her firmly. "Don't move -- we'll get you some help. Just stay still." He glances down at her with a faint but reassuring grin as he steps into the infirmary, which is already overflowing with people.

<JETMODE> *She opens her eyes briefly, though her gaze is unfocused and her face is utterly confused. "Wh..why.." Then she droops, unconscious once more.

<TIAMAT> *Teal sighs as he tries to push his way through the crowds. Finally he bellows for anyone who's not in immediate need of medical attention to clear out and head to one of the infirmaries upstairs, and when the area starts to clear a little, he spots a familiar figure and heads toward him. "Hey! Tempo!"

<JETMODE> *Tempo, bent over a couple of the minor injured, glances up at his approach. "Don't tell me you were out there, too --"

<TIAMAT> *Teal trots up to him, readjusting the girl in his arms. "No, but she was -- I think she was trying to stop the beast, she was right underneath him when I found her, but I don't know what happened to her -- do you have an open bed down here, or should I take her upstairs?"

<JETMODE> *Tempo glances down at the girl, and his eyebrows lift. "Yeah, take her upstairs -- I'll be up in a few minutes. Don't leave 'til I get there."

<TIAMAT> *Teal adjusts the girl again and nods to the healer. "Good luck -- see you later." He turns and trots outside, muttering about needing teleporters.

<JETMODE> *About a half-hour later, a little longer than he thought it'd take, Tempo heads back up to his own stomping grounds, looking tired and fairly grumpy, after leaving the wounded below in the able hands of other healers.

<TIAMAT> *Teal is pacing around the infirmary on the twelfth floor, which is deserted save for the girl he brough up earlier. He pauses when the door opens, turning to Tempo as he enters. "There you are -- how are things downstairs? I should be down there--"

<JETMODE> <Tempo> Things are fine. I left Gillian in charge, she can handle it. *glances at the girl* She woken up yet?

<TIAMAT> *Teal shakes his head. "She's slipping in and out of consciousness -- mostly out, though."

<JETMODE> *Tempo sighs. "Oh well, at least we've got her -- was she already unconscious when you got there?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal: More or less -- *arches an eyebrow* What do you mean, we've got her?

<JETMODE> <Tempo> Oh, right, heh. *bends over the girl, loosening the straps on her armor and getting it off of her, piece by piece* She's the one who summoned it.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: She... *He pauses, looking puzzled, then turns slowly to look at the girl, something akin to disgust and horror flickering across his features. "SHE summoned the DRAGON!?"

<JETMODE> <Tempo> Yep. Doesn't look the type, does she? *tosses the breastplate aside, looking her over* Surprised she managed it at all, actually. Looks like she hasn't been eating well -- or sleeping, for that matter.

<TIAMAT> *Teal scowls, looking furious. "And why didn't you divulge this information to me sooner!?"

<JETMODE> <Tempo> *glances at him* Because I wanted her up here in one piece, for example.

<TIAMAT> *Teal scowls again, turning sharply and heading for the door, pausing when he gets there to take a deep breath and look back at Tempo. "She'll be all right?"

<JETMODE> <Tempo> 'Fraid so. *drily* When she wakes up, she's all yours, but for now she's under my jurisdiction, all right?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: ... Right. I'm posting guards up here to keep an eye on her until then, though, unless you have a very good reason for me not to.

<JETMODE> <Tempo> Fine, fine. Just don't let them get in my way.

<TIAMAT> *Teal, flatly: I'll make a note of it. *He turns again and marches out the door.