Archive for the ‘Fear/Intimidation’ Category

18
Mar

Drago in the Deathwalker Cavern

   Posted by: drago

Twilight, Readying 20, 591

Indranil responds to Drago’s forgiveness, “Bless you, Drago. I can see you have accomplished much good on your own. I look forward to leisure time to hear your full story, but you’re right. From what little I saw on the way, we are in great danger! We’ll have plenty of time to talk later.”

Standing and looking at Grim, Indranil says, “Grim, well met! Can you lead us to the rest of the fellowship? We’re about to be overrun. There is no sense remaining here. Gather your rear-guard warriors and come with us.”

“Drago, can you lay some trap on this door to activate as a nasty surprise when opened? Also, do you have any healing left? Aatu is near death.”

Drago replies, “A trap? I am no rogue. And I am almost out of healing potions. Don’t you have a cleric nearby?”

Indranil replies, “I have no idea where the rest of the fellowship is. Never mind. Let us hurry.”

“Did someone call for a cleric?” asks Adalwulf as he charges up the stairs, with Morgrym and six other dwarves behind him. As he emerges he sees Grim and the three dwarves who had been left to guard the building, and also Indranil, Drago, and Ulmar. “Indranil, you’ve returned! And who are these with you?”

“I was wondering that myself,” mutters Grim, “but they seem to be old friends or something…”

“Never mind that, introductions later,” says Adalwulf. “Newt has fallen into some underground river at the bottom of a chasm and the others are trying to rescue here. Actually they’re all heading down there to join here. She says that some shaman is trying to awaken an Immortal King. Fingol sent us back here to reinforce you so you won’t be overrun. I also have healing potions and my own spells, it looks like you and Aatu will need them.”

Adalwfulf lays aside his shield and staff and takes up his silvery sun disk. He reaches out to lay his hands upon the wound and calls upon the healing light of Pholtus. The wound completely closes. Aatu happily licks Adalwulf’s hand in wolfish gratitude.

Adalwulf pulls a potion from his pack and hands it to Indranil. “We liberated this from the Deathwalker’s down below. Many of them carry potent healing potions with them. I only have one other though, so this will have to do for now.” Indranil drinks it and within moments his wounds have all healed except for a bit of bruising and stiffness.

Adalwulf says, “I can help the dwarves up here, there’s no way I can make it down the chasm. Go down and save her and the others. We can have formal introductions later. If they take this building, the dwarves and I will retreat and hold them at the stairwell. If we have to we will cut the rope bridges below. Have no fear. They won’t overrun us.”

Grim and Morgrym nod in unison. Morgrym says, “He’s right, Indranil, get down there and help them. Hilric! Take them to the stone bridge.”

“Yes sir!” says one of the dwarves who came up with Morgrym and Adalwulf.

As they head down into the Deathwalkers Cavern, Drago says to Ulmar, “Can you sense her yet?”

Ulmar shakes his head, “No, we must be within 60’ of each other to pick up thoughts or the signals of other Doppelgangers. I must confess, I thought all of Adelina’s companions knew of her nature, I did not realize the dwarves and that priest of Pholtus were not included in the secret. I thank you all for your discretion and am ashamed that I made such a hasty assumption.” He shrugs, “No help for it now, and I am more worried about Newt than about discretion.”

Hilric leads Indranil, Drago, and Ulmar down a long dark stairway. Before long, Indranil and Drago find themselves stumbling and having to reach out to the wall. Hilric and Ulmar have no trouble in the pitch black however, and at the bottom of the stairwell they come to a passage that heads off to their left for about 15’ before coming to a chasm. The chasm is crossed by rope bridges which are dimly lit by everburning torches set in the walls of tunnels on the far side of the chasm straight ahead and to their right. Just around the corner from the bottom of the stairwell another dead Deathwalker lies in a pool of his own blood.

“Be wary,” says Hilric. We cleared some of the rooms before Newt fell, but not all of them, and none of the passages to the right.”

Indranil calls out, “Drago would you follow Hilric? Aatu will go next and I will bring up the rear after you all have crossed.” Indranil, while waiting for his turn removes his Ever-Burning torch from his pack, reslinging his pack and stowing all his weapons he raises the torch high to help provide light for the rest of the movement.

Drago slings his shield and sword across his back, using both hands to hold the rope handrail. Looking down, Drago says to Indranil as they cross, “That may look deep but this is only the first level. Huvat Vex is far below and we just came from beneath that, perhaps from the very lowest levels.” After a brief pause, Drago continues, almost to himself. “Why is Newt talking about G’ruk and the Immortal King? Oh, crap. that means there are lizardfolk down there. We must hurry! They will kill her.”

As Hilric leads Drago, Ulmar, Aatu, and Indranil across the rope bridge a Deathwalker warrior appears in the tunnel to their left and looses an arrow at the dwarf. The arrow skitters off his scale mail.

At the same time, two huge shadowy forms detach themselves from the stalactites 20’ or more above their heads and dive at Indranil whose torchlight alerted them to the possibility of food. Indranil has seen their like before in Westkeep. They are giant furry bats, each nearly the size of an ox, with dark leathery wings that open wider than two men with arms outstretched. They both miss Indranil but wheel around to dive again.

“Hurry,” Drago says to Hilric, “Let’s got off this bridge!”

Indranil jumps back off the bridge and drops the torch in the tunnel, and then smoothly draws his bow and nocks an arrow. He tracks the beasts and prepares to fire at the closest one. He also says, “Aatu! Come! Heel and Defend!”

Aatu and then Ulmar make it back to Indranil’s side. Hilric, dodging another arrow, races for the far side of the chasm and makes it to the safety of the tunnel at the other end. In the light of the everburning torch at the T-intersection behind him he can be seen getting out his crossbow and loading it.

Indranil jumps back off the bridge and drops the torch in the tunnel, and then smoothly draws his bow and nocks an arrow. He tracks the beasts and prepares to fire at the closest one. He also says, “Aatu! Come! Heel and Defend!”

Aatu and then Ulmar make it back to Indranil’s side. Hilric, dodging another arrow, races for the far side of the chasm and makes it to the safety of the tunnel at the other end. In the light of the everburning torch at the T-intersection behind him he can be seen getting out his crossbow and loading it.

The two bats dive at Drago who is the only one left on the bridge, he ducks from one but the other one clamps down on his shoulder and bites down before lifting off again. Drago has to clutch at one of the guardropes to keep from losing his balance.

Indranil lets fly an arrow at the bats and though it sinks into the thick furred hide of one, the bat doesn’t seem too disturbed by it. Hilric takes aim at the other bat and also hits, eliciting a high pitched squak of pain from it.

Ulmar rushes to the bottom of the stairwell to recover the shortbow on the corpse of the dead Deathwalker.

Drago decides to attack the bowman directly. He heads right, shield held high to protect himself from the bats. The other hand slides along the rope. He moves as fast as he can, trying not to fall off the bridge. On his way there Drago roars intimidatingly while imagining himself to be the Deathwalker’s worst nightmare, and unknowingly calls upon the draconic power of sorcery within his blood, although he can feel the strange new spell surge within him.

The Deathwalker’s eyes widen in fear and he gives way but still musters the nerve to fire another arrow at Drago. The arrow buries itself in Drago’s side as his shield was held overheard to ward off the bats. Drago stumbles back in shock just at the end of the bridge. Then both bats descend upon him, ripping into him with their sharp teeth. The weight of the bats is too much however, and the ropes that hold the bridge snap under their weight spilling them and Drago into the void. The bats flutter up to safety, but Drago is lost in the darkness below.

Drago has two healing potions on him, both unbroken. She uncorks one
and spills the contents into his mouth. He coughs and his eyes open,
but he is groggy.

Drago awakens with a cough as someone has poured something down his throat, but he can see nothing. His head is on someone’s lap, and he feels sand beneath his body. He hears the sound of a river flowing
nearby in the blackness.

He hears Newt speaking to him quietly and realizes that she is one
cradling his head in her lap. “Come on, Drago. Give me a sign. I need
you to tell me what’s going on up there! And we need to stop G’ruk!
How will you feel about that when you awake?”

Who would have thought it would sound so good to hear a friend cough and sputter? But Newt is glad of it now.

“Drago, it’s me, Newt. Here, drink this.” She gives him her CMW potion. As he drinks she continues. “There’s a lot to say, but not much time. G’ruk is out to get you. And how do you feel about the Immortal King? What do you know about him?” Newt scans Drago, hoping straight thought will work more quickly than verbal speech.

“Newt… Oh, Newt… I found Ulmar. Scan for your father,” is all Drago can manage to say through his delirium.

This news is so startling that Newt almost drops Drago as she jumps to her feet. But she stops and sets him down gently.

Standing, she tries to stretch her senses over the horizon and beyond, trying to find “Ulmar.”

“Drago!” says Newt, looking down at Drago while still scanning. Her voice is a combination of anxiety and excitement. “Where is he? Where did you leave him?” In her excitement Newt has forgotten to speak quietly, but she doesn’t notice this.

Drago can feel the familiar tingle of Newt’s probe and so responds with his thoughts, “Thank you, dear Newt. I found your father in Huvat Vex, or rather he found me. He is directly above us, probably just out of your range, fighting giant bats with Indranil. We heard you fall from the surface and he is very worried about you. He couldn’t read you either and thought maybe you were dead. Your mother is locked up in the Deathwalker villa. And yes, I know about G’ruk.” Drago tries to laugh but only spits up water. “I’m gonna kill that fat old lizard.” Drago laughs again, this time more successfully.

As Drago gathers his wits about him, he says softly in Keolandish, “How do you know about G’ruk and the Immortal King? Are there lizards nearby?”

Newt is still speaking swiftly. “G’ruk just left through that hidden door in the rock. He’s going to try to awaken the Immortal King. I saw and heard these things just after I fell. He has only three guards with him–the ones who spoke to you just recently to have you go see G’ruk. If we hurry we may catch him while he’s ill-prepared! But oh! How are we to help See– my father?”

“Oh, how can I get back up there? Come Drago, we need to get back to the rope!” She tried to help him up and get him moving upstream, back toward the others.

“Wait…” she says, stopping. “Why is Indranil here? He was going to kill you!” She starts moving again. “And giant bats? Are they with the Deathwalkers?”

Drago chuckles. “So, the fat shaman finally left his tent. Let G’ruk go. The King of Thracia is after him now too. I doubt G’ruk knows where the Immortal King is yet, but even if he does, I want to see what happens, if he is who or what I think he is.

“So, was Indranil gone for awhile? We ran into him outside the building above and saved his life. He apologized profusely for his poor behavior the other day, so I didn’t have to kill him.” Drago chuckles again, spitting up more water.

“The bats live in the caves. They are the size of an ox,” finishes Drago.

With a wry smile in the dark, Newt replies “You might say I fell into the information. And yes, there are lizardfolk attacking our friends upstream. The lizards are at their encampment and our friends are on this side of the river, They’re all trading javelins and arrows, and we need to find a way for weak swimmers to get across so we can chase down G’ruk.” She takes a quick breath as she finishes shooting all that out.

“All these people trying to find their deities in these caves! First the Deathwalkers and Thanatos, and now the lizardfolk and this ‘Immortal King!’ I don’t think they all know what they’re getting into, and it scares me!”

Shifting topics, she continues. “How I wish I could send thoughts to you as well as receive them! It would be so much simpler.

Indranil, well, yes. He left us. It’s complicated and it was sad and ugly. I’m glad you were able to save his life. And I’m glad you aren’t trying to kill each other any more. I’ll have to tell you the details later, though.

How can we get back up to help Father and Indranil?”

Drago takes in this new information. “Where’s the secret door G’ruk used? Is the lizardfolk encampment very close? There are probably a couple dozen lizards there and maybe another couple dozen gnoll nearby as guards….”

Drago suddenly realizes he’s lost his new sword and shield. So he chugs down his last healing potion, drops his remaining weapons on the sand and dives into the river without saying a further word in order to find them.

Still tapped into his mind, this doesn’t surprise Newt.

From out of the darkness in the cavern overhead a loud buzzing is heard followed by hideous cries that echo out of one of the tunnel into the larger cavern.

A little later a bat the size of an ox splashes down, very dead, into the river.

The sound of an arrow ricocheting off steel is heard. “There’s another one!” Hilric the dwarf calls.

After that there is an anguished cry and then a dead Deathwalker lands with a splash.

The sounds of bows and crossbows being fired overhead continues and fainter but getting louder the sounds of the clash of arms and shouting echoing out of one of the tunnels.

Whatever is going on up there is getting increasingly apocalyptic.

Newt hurries to get the dropped equipment. When they are both at the surface again Newt asks “How can we get up there? Please, Drago, we need to hurry!”

Drago realizes that its way too dark from him to see anything. Then he feels a tap on his shoulder. It’s Newt. She’s found the sword and shield and hands them over to him without comment.

When they are both at the surface again Newt asks, “How can we get up there? Please, Drago, we need to hurry!”

At that point from around the river bend you hear the following.

Fingol spins and bolts out from under the stalactites. “Back, get back!” he warns “There’s some sort of creature that dropped down on me. Let’s make torches before we go through there again,” Fingol suggests. “Whatever they are, they aren’t likely to drop down on that.”

Hearing the yelling and splashing from downriver Fingol says, “How long can the dwarves hold out? We’ve got to move!” Fingol exhorts. “It seems everyone is zeroing in on this Immortal King. G’ruk is just ahead of us, and the gnolls are just behind. From what Newt said, I guess Drago is responsible for all this, but the gods alone know what luck led us here at this time. We have no time to lose, or this chance will slip away and Melkot and Westkeep will pay the price!”

From way downriver you hear a loud voice booming: “Stop it! Quiet up there! Why can’t you people leave me in peace!

When they get out of the water Drago thanks Newt profusely for finding his new weapons. Hearing sounds, he understands most of it, but asks Newt, “What, or rather who, was that last voice?”

“That? Oh, that’s just the giant on the bridge. I don’t think we should cross there unless we’re looking for trouble.

Let’s swim back, it will be easier and we can avoid those stalactites. I don’t want anything falling on me. C’mon Drago, follow me.”

Drago replies, “Oh, a giant. And yes, swimming is safer than walking. The things that look like stalactites are called darkmantles. Then fall upon and consume the unwary. The lizardfolk swim the river to avoid them.”

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16
Mar

Drago and Ulmar Save Indranil

   Posted by: drago

Just before Twilight, Readying 20, 591

Holoste hisses in Common, “Stop your jabbering! We must get to the villa now before we are captured and report to Patriarch Tavasmok!”
Drago looks from one to the other, then says, “Kašvestu selfn!” as he envisions himself as a 7.5′ minotaur. He then says in Common, “Sorry about slapping you back there, Holoste.” Then looking at both of them, “Is the Deathwalkers’ cavern below the villa?”

Holoste steps back a bit unnerved by Drago’s changes. “N…no. The caverns are that way.” He points to the west towards the conjunction of the canals that run north to south and east to west.

“Then you go back to the villa, Holoste,” says Ulmar. “We are going do what we can for those trapped in the caverns.”

Holoste looks as though he were about to object, but then Ulmar begins to growl. Holoste nods and runs off to the south.

“Good, he’s gone. Let’s go!” says Drago.

They carefully make their way east towards the canals. They finally
see the besieged building up ahead. Before it is a copse of trees,
behind which five gnolls, four hyenas, and perhaps a dozen or more
lizardfolk have taken cover and are training their bows on the wooden
door of the squat building at the juncture of the north-south and
east-west canals running through the ruined city. Ulmar holds his hand
up to caution Drago and then points to a 5’ hole in the ground
concealed among the weeds.

Just then, the sound of a young woman’s receding scream can be heard echoing up through the hole, as though she had fallen into it, but at a point further down than they can see. Then they hear the echo of a man’s voice crying, ““Newt! Hold on! I will send help!” The sounds of steel clashing on steel can also be faintly heard. The lizardfolk and gnolls behind the trees do not seem to have heard any of these sounds issuing from the hole in the ground.

Drago whispers to Ulmar, “Can we safely climb down the hole? Can you communicate with Newt yet?”

Ulmar is clearly agitated and upset by this. “No! I have no rope with
me, do you?” He asks in Draconic. “I can’t sense her! She is too far
away or…” He looks at Drago in desperation. “The only way down there
is the stairwell in that building. We must get in!”

Drago shakes his head in negation as he looks toward the gnolls and lizards to see if he can steal any rope from them with his mage’s hand. When he doesn’t see any, he whispers, “Here goes nothing.” In his most intimidating voice, he points to the door and calls out to the gnolls and the lizardfolk in booming Common, “Break down that door! NOW!”

“Break down that door! Now!”

Cackling like fiends of the Abyss, the gnolls, hyenas and lizardfolk
all leave the cover of the trees and rush the door. Javelins are
hurled and several stick in the door even as Rogi slams it shut with a
yelp. The leading gnolls slam into the door with their shoulders, but
it is too late, the dwarves inside have already bolted it shut. It is
at the moment that Indranil’s invisibility fades and he stands exposed
beside the door to the horde of beast-men.

Howling in surprise and berserk rage, the gnolls and lizardfolk turn on
Indrail. Aatu rushes to Indranil’s side even as one of the hyenas
tries to bite the beleaguered ranger. There is no time for any more
casting of spells, Indranil is forced to draw his sword and defend
himself. With a powerful blow he cuts down the gnoll in front of him,
but a hyena rushes him and bites into his leg. He sees that another
hyena has crashed into Aatu and pulled him to the ground by the
throat.

Drago pauses, astonished at Indranil’s sudden appearance. Then he smiles, enjoying the sight of him being mauled. He wishes he could sit back with a nice cocktail and enjoy the show, but he knows he needs to help him. Indranil would be very helpful to get inside the cavern. Still… Drago takes another moment to fantasize about BBQ elf for dinner before he says to Ulmar, “We need to help him.” He unslings his gem encrusted shield and draws his new long sword.

As Drago and Ulmar consider what to do, Indranil shears through the neck of the hyena gripping Aatu in its jaws. Its head rolls away as Aatu leaps to his feet and tears into the other hyena menacing Indranil. With a yelp the hyena backs away and then runs, the other two hyenas also turn tail and follow after.

There is no time to rest however, for the lizardfolk have backed away to hurl their last javelins at Indranil. His shield wards off all but one that pierces him in the right leg. Then the gnolls charge in with their spears. Aatu runs between the legs of one and trips him while Indranil swats away the spear of another with his sword and then slashes the hapless gnoll in the belly. Aatu bites the gnoll he tripped again and again before he is able to stumble back to his feet, blood running down his mauled arms.

Then the lizardfolk move in with shields and their primitive spiked war clubs. Indranil and Aatu are hard pressed on all sides now as Indranil calls out to the dwarves to open the door so he and Aatu can slip in.

Suddenly, as things begin to look hopeless, a minotaur bearing a finely made sword and a shield decorated with silver and platinum tracery along with inlaid carnelians and a gnoll with a lizardfolk shield and spiked club smash into the back of the lizardfolk warrior ranks hewing and smiting them right and left. Then the door of the squat building opens and Grim takes a swipe at one of the gnolls with his axe, he misses but now the gnolls and lizardfolk must turn their attention to him as well.

It is not a moment too soon, for one of the lizardfolk manages to strike Aatu with his war club. Aatu yelps in pain but continues snapping at the gnolls and lizardfolk around him. Indranil finds himself forced to back up against the wall as he is beset right, left, and center by gnolls and lizardfolk. With a powerful blow he lops off the head of the gnoll he wounded in the belly, and with his shield wards off the war clubs of the lizardfolk.

The battle continues furiously as Indranil splits the head of another
gnoll, and then turns his attention to the lizardfolk surrounding him,
spilling the guts of one who raised his shield too high. Only one
gnoll remains while he and Grim trade one blow after another but neither gives way though both are bruised and bloodied. Aatu dogs the gnoll’s heels but his leather bracers and thick fur protect him from the wolf’s sharp teeth. The lizardfolk are so intent on Indranil now that
they leave Aatu alone. Indranil works furiously with shield and sword,
blocking and parrying the lizardfolk war clubs, still he is struck
painfully in the left leg and the stomach. Bloodied but undaunted he
fights on against the half dozen or so lizardfolk warriors outside the
door. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees that by the treeline the
minotaur and the gnoll are still fighting, the minotaur having taken
down one foe, and the gnoll having felled two others. Still there are
at least five more lizardfolk warriors encircling them.

In the blink of an eye the battle changes as a hail of the black
fletched arrows of the Deathwalkers fall upon the lizardfolk. Half
their numbers are reduced within seconds, and the rest break away from the fight to dive into the canal running off to the swamps to the
east. Grim finally gets a killing blow on the last gnoll as the
lizardfolk fall or run and he beckons Indranil to hurry in. Indranil
looks off to his right and sees that the Deathwalkers have arrived.
Four of the fighters in banded armor are marching up the street,
already putting another arrow to their bows. Indranil sees four
more Deathwalker fighters with their clerics behind them on the roof
of the building to the southeast. Judging from the barrage of arrows
that came from the west, Indranil guesses that the other warriors are
just around the corner.

“Indranil, wait! I am Ulmar and we must rescue Newt! She is in danger.
Let us in with you!” It is the gnoll who was fighting the lizardfolk
warriors shouting from the treeline. He is already running towards the
door dragging the minotaur along with him.

As they run toward Indranil, the minotaur dismisses his spell and becomes himself again. When they reach him, Drago bows briefly and says, “Sir Indranil, meet Newt’s father, Ulmar.” He smiles toothily.

“Indranil, wait! I am Ulmar and we must rescue Newt! She is in danger.
Let us in with you!” It is the gnoll who was fighting the lizardfolk
warriors shouting from the treeline. He is already running towards the
door dragging the minotaur along with him. As they run toward
Indranil, the minotaur performs a gesture of spell dismissal. His
features shift into those of Drago.

“By the goddess! Drago! It is good to see you! Hurry, get inside! We
can talk later.”

The three of them and Aatu all rush inside as arrows begin to fall
around them. Indranil is the last to enter. Before ducking through the
doorway he casts Entangle to hinder the approaching Deathwalkers. He runs through the door and slams it behind him latching the bar. The
thunking of many arrows hitting the door can be heard as well as the
dismay of the warriors who were rounding the building but have been
stopped in their tracks by the vines and weeds that twine themselves
around their legs and feet.

Safe for the moment, Drago bows briefly and says, “Sir Indranil, meet
Newt’s father, Ulmar.” He smiles toothily.

To the astonishment of Grim and the other dwarves, Ulmar shifts and
his features transform into those of a human male with dark eyes and
hair, someone who very well could be the father of Adelina. He holds
his hand out to shake Indranil’s hand, but then sees the look on the
dwarves faces, “Oh, they didn’t know did they?”

Drago chuckles at the dwarves’ response.

Indranil laughs lightly and nods his head towards the astonished dwarves, “No, they didn’t know until now. It is a secret we have closely guarded at your daughter’s request. The fewer who know of your… skill… the better.”

Indranil bows to Ulmar and says, “Good Sir, it is an honor to finally meet you, the father of my comrade Adelina. And, it is an especial relief that you are safe and free from the Deathwalkers. My colleagues have risked all to reenter this City to search for you and your wife. Finding you is such welcome news. I am greatly pleased and eager to hear your story… when we have time.”

Turning to Drago Indranil not only bows lowly and fully but drops to his knees and with his hands clasped to his chest he says, “Good Drago, Please forgive my sins of hatred and bigotry. I have ill served you, done you wrong and great injustice. I beg your forgiveness. In penance I offer you my friendship and pledge of respect and honor. I have strayed far from balance and paid for it with the loss of friendship and respect. The Goddesses have offered me atonement and as penance I must seek to restore balance.”

Indranil waits upon his knees for Drago’s response.

Drago is astonished. He tries to speak, repeatedly, but no sound comes out of his mouth. Finally, Drago simply offers his clawed paw and says, “Rise, Sir Knight, all is forgiven. However, there are forces gathering beyond your worst nightmare that are bent upon the destruction of humanity.” Motioning toward Ulmar, “Between the two of us, we now know most of the secrets of Thracia and Huvat Vex. But first, we need to save Newt. We heard her fall into the pit from the hole on the surface and Ulmar can’t read her. We’re very worried. Can we go to her now and talk later?”

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30
Sep

Dragon Magick (PRIVATE)

   Posted by: Gar Dragonsbreath

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING! The source of Drago’s magick is revealed herein. Do not continue reading if you do not want to know! Leave now!

The lizard man Drago is awakening to the draconic powers of Kopep.

Drago
Drago’s Drakonik Kantrips

Drago’s Dragon Powers




Fireseek 21, Common Year 591 – Drakonik Revelations
As Drago follows Newt ashore he is intercepted by Chief Rahk. “Come, Drago, I wish to speak with you.”

“Yes, Chief Rahk, I was just thinking about speaking with you as well. Thank you,” Drago hisses with an appropriate submissive posture. “How can I help you?”

Chief Rahk takes Drago far away from the Javan Queen, to the other side of the ruins of Cypress Hill. He signals several warriors to take up guard position to ensure that they are not disturbed. Then, when he is certain no humans are about he turns to Drago and begins speaking in Draconic.

“Drago, I know that since you were a hatchling you have been restless. You have long felt the need to see what lies beyond our nests and hunting grounds. No, you need not deny it. We elders have long observed this and there is no shame in it, for we also know why you feel it. I will explain why in a moment.

“Now I need someone to go with these ape children for a time. They are valorous. Sir Ragnbjorn and his son and comrades at least have shown themselves to be trustworthy and steadfast allies. We need such allies for I fear that there are many more Deathwalkers out there – perhaps in this lost city of Thracia. And of course the Scarlet Brotherhood may return as well.

“Now you must understand Drago,” continues Chief Rahk, “That this is not an exile but a mission of great importance that I wish to give you. I want you to be our representative among the humans. I want you to go with them, help them find this lost city and learn all you can about what is going on out there. There is no shame in this. You are being sent away only for a time for the good of the tribe. But perhaps this is what you wanted isn’t it? This is your chance to go among them and see a bigger world. So go then with our blessing and for the good of the tribe. Learn all you can and do what you must to help them as long as it does not harm our tribe. Then return to us and we shall discuss all that you have seen and heard, and all that you and they have done.

“Now, before you say whether you will accept this or not, I wish to tell you something more. You may know that many shamans and acolytes and even sorcerers have come from your line, but only the elders know why this is. It was more than just the heroism of that hatchling Newt that saved you. I believe it was more than just luck that you were spared the fate of your comrade Vesk. I think it was the destiny that lies within your blood. For know this, Drago, in ages past our tribe was visited by a strange copper scaled warrior. Kopep was the name he gave us. Kopep stayed with us for a time and helped our tribe during a time of great need. He married, raised hatchlings, and yet never seemed to age. Then one day, he left us. From that time on his descendants have shown themselves to be possessed of a great affinity for magic, and many times their scales have turned copper as they have grown into their power. I believe the same may be happening to you. You have not seen it, but since the battle several of the scales on your back have turned from green to copper. It is the belief of the elders that this Kopep was in fact a dragon. He was perhaps a copper dragon, perhaps from the Tors or the Little Hills. It may be that your wanderlust and the changes that you may soon be undergoing are his legacy. The elders know from past experience with others of your line, as told in our secret tales that you will need time away from the routines of the tribe to explore the world and the power of your bloodline before you will be ready to settle down with us again and contribute your strength to the good of the tribe. So this is another reason why we wish to send you with the ape children.

“Now, Drago, will you leave our tribe for the good of the tribe? Will you undertake this mission and go with these ape children for a time?”

Drago is speechless for a moment at this revelation. He doesn’t know what to say. Then he finds his tongue as he bows deep, “It would be my honor, Chief Rahk, to serve the tribe in this way. I think the magic in my blood is beginning to come forth as well. The hatchling Newt just told me that I sent her a message from a distance, but I know not how I did so.”

Chief Rahk nods, “Ah, so it has already begun. I thank you for accepting this mission. The Malarat thank you. I will inform Sir Ragnbjorn and Sir Fingol that we wish you to join any expedition to this lost city that they seek.”

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