#wo9

One human (Julius) becomes fascinated by the advancements that were achieved in the era of animus dragons, and sets out to see if it's possible to bring the magic back. Through a combination of genetic engineering and more occult methods, a new artificial animus is brought into the world, and its potential is immediately obvious. This potential is unfortunately recognized by the wrong people, and the newborn Being is separated from its creator. At the same time the new lifeform was being developed, one of the continent's many conflicts had begun boiling over into full-blown war, and the Being is quickly viewed as a weapon. The predictable mistreatment leads to it growing a hatred for both humans and dragons, and also rapidly increases its size. It doesn't take long for it to turn against its captors, and a war that was originally bureaucratic in origin is now for survival against an onslaught of war machines.Casualties are very high, and while many dragons and humans are able to escape south to Pantala or in some cases the Sea kingdom, many more are lost in the chaos. Julius, who feels responsible for the ongoing carnage, manages to obtain the help of nine dragons who for varying reasons are willing to try anything that could help. They offer up their bodies as conduits for the next step, while Julius places a piece of his own consciousness into each. 

From this point the plot is much the same as the movie, with 9 awakening some time later than the others and discovering the talisman. He is found by 2, both are attacked by the (much larger) Cat Beast, and 2 is taken along with the talisman. An injured 9 is carried to the sheltered ruin of Sanctuary* by 5, meeting 1 and 8 and learning more about the reasons for the devastation around them. 9, unwilling to give up on 2, convinces 5 to join him in attempting a rescue, and they fly in the direction 9 saw the Beast take him. Arriving at the derelict Factory built into a mountain, they both reunite with 2 before the Cat Beast attacks them. Cornered by the Beast the trio are suddenly joined by 7, who kills the Cat. While the other three are reconnecting, 9’s curiosity gets the better of him, and he accidentally reawakens the dormant Being. Sensing remnants of its creator, it strips 2's soul from his body, and the other three flee before it can do the same to them. 7 leads 5 and 9 to the Library where the twins 3 and 4 meet them. Here they learn more about the destruction around them, and when 9 and 5 prepare to head back to Sanctuary 7 refuses to join them, while the Twins remain at the library to research.

After they return and are chastised by 1, 9 meets 6, who proves to have knowledge on the talisman and the group’s “Source”. 9 confronts 1 on his cowardice, but their argument is interrupted when the massive Winged Beast attacks. In the chaos the fragile ruins begin to collapse and burn, and it’s a struggle to escape both the monster and the failing walls. The beast is killed, but not before wounding 7 and destroying Sanctuary. The group all retreat to the Library, where 3 and 4 reveal what they’ve discovered, and 1 blurts out that she did in fact send 2 out to scout in the hopes that he would be killed. An enraged 7 attacks 1, but retreats in anguish when 9 intervenes. At the same time this is happening, 8, who had been sent out to keep watch for further monsters (and took the opportunity to smoke) is attacked and paralyzed by the newest horror, the Seamstress, with 2’s body fused to its tail. A frustrated 1 who had walked off alone is also attacked and envenomated, his yell alerting the others. 7 rejoins the ensuing fight, 1 is freed from her bindings, and 2’s body is cut loose from the creature. Despite both 5 and 9 managing to wound it, the Seamstress takes off with 8 and 7. Distressingly, before 9 convinces the others to mount a rescue, it is found that 2’s body still has a heartbeat.

After destroying several Seekers and making it to the now-active Factory, 9 heads in alone while 1, the twins, 5 and 6 look for a way to destroy the building and the Being inside. While inside 9 is forced to watch as 8’s soul is removed, before he tricks and kills the Seamstress, and escapes with 7 as the Being notices them. 5 and the others, having rigged explosives upon the Factory’s dam, begin igniting them as soon as they see the two fleeing, destroying the fortress in a wall of water. Rejoicing at finally defeating the threat, the group takes a breather at a bend in the river. 5, while washing his hands on the bank, sees that the Being is still alive and heading for them. He manages to alert the others before he is caught and claimed in front of the other six. In their race to gain altitude and escape, 6 sees that 5 is still breathing, realizing that their souls are being taken but not destroyed. As he is attempting to make this known, he is also taken. A distraught 9 tries to convince the remaining four to join him in looking for a way to save the others, but ends up heading out on his own.

Returning to the “first room” where he awoke, 9 finds the remains of Julius, notes on theirs and the Being’s creation, and a message for him specifically from both Julius and the dragon who gave up their body for him, Noonday. In a hidden room he also discovers a huge cache of eggs, over a hundred, all in stasis. With these revelations 9 races to the others, finding them trying and failing to kill the Being. As it draws closer and the group retreats to a sheltered tunnel, 9 makes the decision to sacrifice himself so the others may have a chance to survive and remove the talisman. Before he can do that though they are attacked and driven from the hideaway by the now-injured Being’s fury. Leftover ordinances explode around them, and they are separated and injured as the Being bears down on them. 9 prepares to give up his soul, but before he can, 1 takes his place and is claimed. With only moments to spare 9 removes the talisman, and the Being is killed. 7 and the twins rush to an unconscious 9's side, and when he comes to they embrace him. They then retrieve the bodies of 1, 6, 5, 8, and 2, in the hopes of reviving them, though 9 admits it may just as likely be for burial. All five are still breathing, though they also all have injuries, some serious. Using the talisman, 9 reintegrates each one's soul into their body in a bright flash of green, and they reawaken. After an emotional reunion and tending to the most major injuries, 9 and the others incinerate the body of the Being, its cremation releasing its contained energy and revitalizing the damaged landscape (and inadvertently bringing animus magic back into the world).

Oh god i wrote too much lmao ANYWAYS from there it's all about healing and starting anew and maybe falling in love along the way. One for-sure project of theirs is reaching out to the survivors they know must exist (and dealing with a steadily growing gaggle of dragonets in the process). Everything after the main story is entirely self-indulgent, but I think since many other 9 enjoyers wished for a happier ending at least a little bit it’ll be enjoyable for people other than me lol. Will post my designs for the gang tomorrow, and also my interpretations of the two continents since those maps have always made the geology nerd in me mad lol (though i don't have solid designs for fabby or the beasts yet mostly just cause i want to make sure they're distinct from @astrogriffin 's awesome takes)