Fire (story)

Here's something very spur-of-the-moment. I've had a few ideas bouncing around in my head for years, and I finally decided to put one of them down into writing, producing this fragment of a story. It's nothing really dramatic or high-brow. Just "figure it out as you go" writing that I think came out pretty good for the time it took me to make it, and it looks like it might be interesting to expand on.

I've posted this in a few locations, though I expect to get fewer responses than the post I made talking about it. It's not very City of Heroes related at the moment, largely because I just thought it up, but I'm liable to bring characters from it into City of Heroes if I end up liking them enough.

Once again - this is not high literature. It's just a thought experiment on my part, trying to figure out if I can just sit down and create a story from the random disembodied ideas I had floating around. So far, I like the result, but please let me know what you think.

P.S. As I'm writing this as I go, very little is set in stone. If anyone has the unexpected desire to have input on the story, I'm open to suggestions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Chieftain: So you'll help us, then?

Stranger: If there is indeed a dragon in that cave, then yes, I will.

Chieftain: And you'll do it for free, as hear it. Why?

Stranger: I have little use for your gold. The supplies I require cannot be purchased.

Chieftain: Bah! You mystics and your weirdness! Fine! If you can get rid of the dragon and I never have to deal with it again, then I don't care why you do it. Just make sure you get the job done, OK?

Stranger: It will be done.

Chieftain: I'll have someone show you the way to the cave tomorrow morning. But I have to warn you - there is a monster in there. None who have ever gone inside have come out alive. I know I'm not paying you anything, but I don't need another death on the official record. Last thing I want is the governor taking notice of our problems.

Stranger: I appreciate your concern, Chief, but I would like to visit the cave tonight, if that is possible.

Governor: Tonight? But the creature comes out on the prowl at night! Bah! If you want to get yourself killed, then go right ahead, but my men will not travel in the dragon's land at night. I can have them escort you only as high up as the Three Way Pass. From there, you will have to find your own way to the cave.

Stranger: That should be enough.

Chieftain: You're either very brave or very foolish, stranger. Speak with William at the barracks. His men will lead you to the mountain.

Stranger: Very well.

---

There is an old legend in Gatun Village. It speaks of an ancient beast of great power who has lived inside the mountain since time immemorial. The mountaintops have always been seen as unholy ground, full of danger and peril, and so people rarely ventured there. There was nothing to be found in that accursed land but death and rocks. However, several years ago a ragged, wounded man descended from the mountain. He had suffered grave wounds and horrible burns, but on his death bed, he spoke of great treasure of gold and gemstone hidden in a cave, guarded by a dragon. Few believed him, for he was delirious, and fewer still dared face whatever had harmed the man so.

But in time, the people of the village grew curious and greedy. Famine ravaged the land, and the king's taxes grew heavier and heavier, until the allure of the dead man's tale of untold riches got the better of some. People went into the mountains and searched, finding only rocks, ash and the charred bones of men and beasts. But there was no treasure. As more and more adventurers climbed the mountain, a cave was discovered, dark and foreboding like no natural cave should be. Arrogance drove the men inside, and they awoke something ancient, something fierce and unforgiving.

The monster fell upon the scavengers defiling its land and slaughtered them with massive talons, crushing jaws and fire hotter than the infernal pits of the underworld itself. No weapon could harm the beast, no spell had any effect on it, and no creature was spared its aggression. Many died in a single day, and what few survivors staggered down the mountainside had all the same tale to tell - a dragon had slain everyone. Tall like the mountain itself, black like the dead of night and fierce like no creature should ever be.

Stories of dragons have appeared throughout the world from time to time, and few believed this one in particular. But this monster was real, and the treasure it guarded in its cave had proved to be real, as well. Piles of gold coins, chests full of silver bullion, ornate artefacts adorned with pearl and emerald jewellery. A treasure that even the king himself would be envious of. So the village Chieftain decided to offer an alluring reward to any adventurer who could slay the dragon and free the cave form its presence. The reward? A large part of the treasure hidden within.

---

At the break of midnight, the stranger arrived at the cave in question. A cavernous void cut deep into the mountain stood before him - the ideal home for a titanic beast. He ventured into the darkness with an air of unsettling confidence, navigating the many tunnels until he came to a great hall of worked stone and towering pillars. In the distance, shimmering glitter could be seen as his light reflected from the shiny treasure therein. But gold and jewels were not on his mind, for the presence of something ancient could be felt in the darkness.

With a powerful gust of wind, the massive creature flew into the air and circled around the darkness in its great hall, surveying the unexpectedly bold intruder, until it approached him directly. With a thunderous crash it landed on the cavern floor, but the stranger did not panic or flee. The creature roared in towering fury straight into his face, but the stranger did not flinch. Instead, he stared the monster dead in its glowing yellow eye with such calm and presence that it surprised the monster completely.

Instinctively, it approached the stranger, whether to get a better look at him, to smell his scent or out of sheer curiosity, it was never clear. But this man had an unusually strong aura, and the creature knew it. The stranger mumbled a few inaudible words, performed a few elaborate gestures and placed his hand on the creatures snarling mouth. Instantly a light flashed just beneath its skin, as if in its mouth. This ball of magic light then travelled down its throat and affixed itself in the creature's neck, glowing through the skin.

Seemingly in pain and discomfort, the monster recoiled. It thrashed about, pounding the ground to ease the pain. Eventually, its mouth opened and a revolting mass of bile and human bones flowed onto the ground into an evil-smelling, foul pile. Confused and angry, the creature turned to the stranger, but it did not attack. Instead, it spoke. "You!" A deep, booming voice that came from within the core of the massive beast reverberated in the darkness of the great hall.

---

Dragon: Who are you, human!?!

Stranger: I'm just a sorcerer.

Dragon: Do not insult me! You just lifted a curse placed on me by the Lord of Darkness, himself! No mere sorcerer is powerful enough to do this so easily!

Stranger: Yes, the Curse of Silence. It was common practice for Lord Mordrog to place this on the creatures he enslaved. I take it you used to be in his service?

Dragon: Argh! The fiend took me from my people, bound me to his will and imprisoned me inside this mountain! I would tear his worthless hide to pieces if I could just break this infernal curse! Are you one of his servants, himan?

Stranger: Mordrog is dead. He has been dead for the last five hundred years He has no hold over the land or its people any longer.

Dragon: What? Accursed warlock! Even with him dead, I was still trapped in here for all these years! And why are you here? Did those villagers send you to kill me? I killed all the rest of their champions, human. Do not think for a second that I would hesitate to kill you just because you broke my curse.

Stranger: I spoke with the Gatun Village Chieftain, that much is true, and he did attempt to recruit me to kill you. But I merely needed his directions and his information in confirming that this was indeed a genuine dragon sighting. I am glad to know my suspicions were correct.

Dragon: Do not play games with me, human! Did you or did you not come to kill me?

Stranger: I did not.

Dragon: No? Then why have you come? Why did you choose to lift my Curse of Silence?

Stranger: When the last great war ended, Mordrog's evil left many creatures trapped in indentured servitude to a dead master, possibly forever. Their fate was badly undeserved, and it was only right to find them and free them. You are one such creature.

Dragon: I do not remember asking for your charity!

Stranger: I do not do this out of obligation, dragon. I do this because I feel it is the right thing to do. You may not appreciate my gift, that is your right, but you have to appreciate the choice you now have.

Dragon: Choice? Are you trying to mock me, human? Do you think I stay here by choice? I was cursed and bound to this repugnant rock, to protect a mad tyrant's megalomaniacal interests! I do not want to be here! I want to return to my home and rejoin my people in our natural lives. I knew Princess Ellion was wrong to deal with your kind openly. You bring us nothing but trouble.

Stranger: Oh, my. You did not know, did you?

Dragon: Quite possibly. As you may imagine, I am in no position to receive news on world events. What it is that I did not know?

Stranger: Your kind is extinct.

Dragon: What are you talking about?

Stranger: The dragons of the world have all been dead for centuries, and the old dragon cities lie in ruins and decay.

Dragon: This is not possible! You will pay for your lies, human!

Stranger: I do not lie. But if you do not believe me, then feel free to see for yourself. Visit the old empire and see your cities as nature has left them.

Dragon: I cannot leave this cave, human! Did you not understand me when I said this before? I am bound to this location and I cannot travel far from it!

Stranger: Yes, you can.

Dragon: *growl*

Stranger: Allow me to explain. You were bound to this cave, but you can leave it now. The key reason that Mordrog cursed all of his slaves with silence was to prevent them from unravelling their own enchantments. When he took away your voice, he took away your will to fight your own fate along with it. But you have your voice now. If you can say that you want to leave, then you will be able to leave. It is that simple.

Dragon: If it were as simple as that, I would have broken that curse centuries ago.

Stranger: It is that simple if you have your voice. But if you do not believe me, then try it for yourself. Do you want to leave?

Dragon: Yes!

Stranger: Then say it.

Dragon: I want to leave this cave and never return!

Stranger: Now leave it.

Dragon: You infuriate me! Nothing has changed!

Stranger: Search your feelings, dragon. Search for that old compulsion which made your heart quiver when you entertained the thought of leaving. Search for the inescapable desire to stay. Search for those, and when you discover they no longer exist, you will be able to leave.

Dragon: This is nonsense! I... I can't... I can't feel those old feelings. How did you... No, I feel nothing for this place any more. Nothing at all. I can leave. I can leave! After all these years, I can finally leave this accursed place! Ha! Thank you, stranger. Keep the treasure if you want it. It no longer means anything to me.

Stranger: Think nothing of it. The treasure is not why I came here.

Dragon: Oh, that's right. Why DID you come here? It is clearly not to try to kill me, but then why else would you come? And please, do not insult my intelligence with vague answers and lies.

Stranger: My reason is quite simple - justice. What happened to you was unfair and undeserved. If I could undo at least part of that injustice, then I feel it is my responsibility to do so.

Dragon: So you did this out of the goodness of your heart? Please, do not take me for a fool. No-one does anything from pure altruism in this world, and neither do you.

Stranger: Do not consider my involvement here and unambiguous gift, dragon. I free you into a world which has changed much since you have last seen it. Worry not about my motivation, but about your own fate. I free you from bondage, but all this does is put your fate in your own hands.

Dragon: Then this is farewell, human. I thank you for your "gift," even if I doubt your motivation, and indeed your information. The dragon kingdoms could not fall so completely as you describe, but the possibility is chilling, and one I must check for myself.

Stranger: If this is what you wish to do, then you are now free to do so. Farewell, Dragon.

Dragon: I have a name, human. It is Zane of Terrenor. I am not the mindless monster that Mordrog's curse reduced me to. Remember my name and use it.

Stranger: Farewell, Zane. May you find your way.

Dragon: Farewell, Human. May you find the path to greater honestly. *fly off*

Stranger: Would that I could...

---

With a powerful gust from its titanic wings, the massive black dragon lifted its body off the ground and flew off into the night sky. He flew East into the star sky, towards the dark silhouettes of Dragon Mountain and the old lands of the dragons. East, where the human kingdoms ended at the foot of towering mountains and harsh, unforgiving terrain where even the toughest men could not survive. The old kingdoms of the dragon kind lay at the end of his journey, but what would he find?

Zane, the black dragon, free now for the first time in five centuries. Free, but in a world much different than the one he left behind when he was bound to the mountain. Humans fled in fear of his presence. They had forgotten that his kind ever existed, thought them only myth and superstition to scare little children. And his kind, once prominent in the lands of humans and assisting the local governors in their tasks, were now nowhere to be seen. The magic of the world, too, seemed to have vanished, taking along with it the spirits of the land and the mystical creatures that used to inhabit it. What was the meaning of this? There had to be answers, somewhere in the East, where men dared not tread.

And as for our mysterious stranger, he returned to his quest of finding the cursed creatures, left as relics of wars long past, and freeing them from needless imprisonment. But fate would not permit him to return to the monotony of old habits, for the dragon he had freed would be more than just another wildlife rescue. Their tale is far from over.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

The dragon's part of this tale seems fairly common for many stories of dragonkind ... that of said dragon being the last of its kind, and this one seemingly entering into a whole new world before him, as if transitioning from a time of magic to a time of technology (although this story clearly doesn't state magic then; technology now!) It just has that feel, even with the "mysterious, unnamed, magic-using stranger".

Perhaps this story may've taken place long before many other tales of dragons were first told, and of course, quite possibly on another planet. Who knows.

This story also has a "park ranger" type feel to it as the mysterious stranger is roaming about the world, attempting to free all these imprisoned, mythological beasts. Not sure if I've ever encountered a story like that before other than well you know, about national parks and park rangers of our time. This part actually makes for a good story, what motivates this stranger other than just doing it out of the seemingly goodness of his heart. Which the stranger took the time to tell the dragon his motives were unclear.
So there's a major part of this story you can expand upon. Another thing to expand upon would be each individual creature's reactions to this new world; you dabbled with this a bit with the dragon, but not to a great extent. Also, has you've had the dragon & the stranger state in your story - wouldn't the dragon decide to seek out other imprisoned creatures, possibly assisting this stranger in some way, maybe if even to assemble the mythological creatures into some kind of force to strike back against humanity for their enslavement? Perhaps the creatures could all gather forming a defense force to protect themselves from future enslavement. There's also the possibility, since the dragon has been ensorcelled for 500 years, that certain creatures would still be cursed, yet now be dead carcasses, or worse yet, undead servants of this evil, dark lord. Lots of options you can take with this route.

There's a few typographical errors (which in turn cause some grammatical errors...)

Stranger: Do not consider my involvement here an unambiguous gift, dragon.

I actually DO have a general direction I was looking to go in, which is kind of what bridged the gap between this orphaned scene and the rest of an actual story, but I don't want to go into too much detail on that outside the narrative. It's incredibly vague, though, and open to details and interpretation. Nothing is set in stone.

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The dragon's part of this tale seems fairly common for many stories of dragonkind

Yeah, I know I'm not breaking new ground with this one But I'm not sure that's such a bad thing. I'll try to rely on the narrative and especially the conversations to carry this through. One big thing, in fact, is that I'm trying to segregate conversation from narrative completely, hence the --- notation. I REALLY don't want to have a narrator explain character reactions over their own lines. I'll just have to rely on the strength of the people's expressions to convey feeling. We'll see how that goes.

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This story also has a "park ranger" type feel to it as the mysterious stranger is roaming about the world, attempting to free all these imprisoned, mythological beasts.

Huh... That's not actually something I accounted for, not consciously, anyway, but you make a good point. That IS more or less how I pictured the stranger, though I guess I could emphasise this a little more and make more of a point out of it in the future.

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There's also the possibility, since the dragon has been ensorcelled for 500 years, that certain creatures would still be cursed, yet now be dead carcasses, or worse yet, undead servants of this evil, dark lord. Lots of options you can take with this route.

You know... That's not a bad idea! I've been thinking kind of one-dimensionally on this one, overfocusing on the dragon and the stranger as centres of the story, but you're right. Dragons have (at least in my head) abnormally long life spans, so he may have survived long enough, but what of the other creatures who would have just died of old age under the effect of the curse. I like this idea a lot! I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet, but it's definitely on my radar. Thanks!

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You might want to take the underlining out if you decide to make the proper editing changes. Also, not gonna sit here and point out all the typos; just saying there are some, they're not many and can be quickly changed with a read-through on your part.

I have the BAD habit of second-guessing everything I write if I start going through it, and eventually changing it for the worse, so I actually try to expose my original product to people before I make any changes. The bad part of this is it leaves a few typos that Word doesn't catch in, and that always irks me, but it also retains the original flow of thought as I had it at the time, without me interjecting over myself and making the narrative more choppy. I'll usually do a proof-read for the thing before I post the following chapter, and now that the City of Heroes forums give me an unlimited edit timer, I should be able to update as things develop and typos are cleared up.

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Also: If you want, I'm always available to proofread stuff before you, or anyone else wants to post a story. I'm no English teacher, but damn am I good at spotting errors.

I honestly wouldn't want to impose. I tend to write long stretches of text at a time and have the urge to post them quickly in the hope of getting a few responses in. Of course, if you're willing to proof-read, I'd very much appreciate that, because as I said - I tend to post before I proof-read for fear of second-guessing my work. And I wouldn't worry about levels of English. It's not even my native language, so you ought to be better than that just by default

*edit*
THANK YOU for taking the time to leave me a comment

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Part 2:

Soldier: 'Old it roit there, sah!

Stranger: Am I trespassing?

Soldier: Naw. Is a public road. But I bin told ta warn travellers 'bout tha dangers of tis area.

Stranger: I appreciate your concern, but I am not worried about my safety.

Soldier: Nah, is me orders ta tell ya this, so listen!

Stranger: Very well.

Soldier: There bin reports 'a dragons in tha area. People say 'ey take people roit otta ther homes. Take people from tha roads, too, an' in broad daylight. Ya be careful out thar, traveller! Is not safe outta' town this days!

Stranger: Thank you for the warning.

Soldier: An' don' go inta tha Northern Forest, neither! 'S monsters in thar!

Stranger: May I be on my way?

Soldier: Yah, you kin go. You bin warned.

---

There has been a persistent rumour going around for weeks, speaking of monsters in the sky. Dragons, they call them, just like in the old legends from a time before the kingdom. The great beasts of old, at once captivating and frightening. But the dragons are gone, extinct from the face of a modern world which saw to it that humans now ruled the land. Their endless appetite for expansion, once held in check by the dangers of a much bigger world, now reigns supreme. When the titans of old fell out of power and faded into myth, people were eager to take their place and thrive, and eventually encroach upon the ancestral homes of those great and wondrous creatures who had fled the world into solitude.

These are dark days indeed for supernatural creatures. Once revered as sacred and honourable, they are now seen as a threat to human survival and progress. Such was the fate of the dragons, who suffered insult upon injury at the hands of fate, finally suffering utter extinction at the face of men fearful of their power and hungry for their treasure. They have been extinct for centuries now, and few even believe they existed. Rumours of dragons flying about have always existed, but these are different. They have detail and fact to them, and their frequency increases with each passing day.

Though dragons may be extinct, one still remains - he who calls himself Zane of Terrenor. But Zane was supposed to have departed for the old dragon kingdom where humans have hardly set foot in centuries. He was supposed to be safe there, away from hateful eyes. But the continued reports of a massive black dragon popping up across the land would suggest otherwise.

---

Our mysterious stranger knew the day would be unusual, so he sought to be away from people at the time. Hidden deep within Thunder Forest where normal men dared not tread, he waited in a clearing for his fate to intervene. And so it did. A dark shadow obscured the clear blue sky as a massive beast flew overhead. At first its flight seemed random, as though it was merely passing through, but the creature halted in the air as the presence of the stranger assaulted its senses.

It was indeed a dragon, and a familiar one, at that. Jet black scales glistened in the sun as giant wings floated its hulking body down on a powerful gale of rushing air. With a thunderous crash its colossal body landed on the ground. Fiery orange eyes stared at the stranger, a deep, rumbling voice half-snarled "Human!" Zane had returned from his ancestral home, once again braving the perils of the human kingdom. He had sought the stranger for some time, and now his prize lay before him.

---

Zane: You! You did this to me!

Stranger: I set you free.

Zane: Free? FREE?!? You call this freedom? You condemned me into this hell! You woke me up from my slumber, only to show me that everything I had ever cared for, everything I had ever loved was dead and gone?

Stranger: The world is what it is. I cannot change that.

Zane: You... You heartless *******! You speak of things like they are so simple! So this is how the world is. Accept it. My family is dead! My people, my friends, my home... All gone! And I should just accept it?

Stranger: Would you rather I had left you imprisoned in your cave?

Zane: No! But... I don't know. What am I supposed to do now, human? Where am I supposed to go? Before, when my curse still held me, at least I had the vague hope that one day I may be free, that I may return to my loved ones. That this nightmare would finally end. Now... Now there's nothing left for me. I have no home, I have no-one to turn to. Am I supposed to live the rest of my life alone amid the bones and wasteland of my ancestors? You freed me, human, so tell me! What am I supposed to do now?

Stranger: And you do not feel like you want revenge?

Zane: Revenge? No. No, what would that accomplish? There has been enough death already. There has been far too much death, and far too much on my conscience. I do not want any more of it.

Stranger: ...

Zane: You arrogant... Argh! Is that what you think of me? That I am some kind of mindless, irrational monster? That I would take lives for my amusement? You make me sick! I have been hounded by your kind ever since I left that accursed cave. Hunters, soldiers, mercenaries, everyone in your lands hates me! Do you see this scar? A ballista arrow shot me out of the sky and nearly took my life, but I did not take the lives of any of the hunters. And now you dare suggest vengeance to me? Go to hell!

Stranger: I am sorry.

Zane: What?

Stranger: I am sorry for your loss, Zane.

Zane: Stop toying with me! Why did you free me, human? Why? Do you enjoy seeing me suffer? Did you just want to see me witness the horrors your kind has brought to my people? Do you enjoy seeing my heart break at the tragedy? Your kind are all the same. Bigots and xenophobes. You could never live with us, could you? Even at the best of times, you only went as far as to use us, and when you were done, you threw us away. You murdered my entire people!

Stranger: That's not true.

Zane: You would say that!

Stranger: It's true that the last of the dragons died at the hands of foolish, hateful humans, Zane, but what set the devastation of your people in motion was a disaster of entirely inhuman origins.

Zane: Liar! Do not insult my intelligence!

Stranger: You do not need to like me, Zane. In fact you are probably right to despise me. But what I say is the truth. When the disaster struck, my kind still worshipped the dragons as our saviours and brothers, truest of all our friends. It was not human hand that set this disaster in motion.

Zane: And what disaster would that be?

Stranger: I do not know.

Zane: Bah! You speak in circles, human, and I am rapidly growing tired of your games!

Stranger: I play no games, Zane. This is simply the extent of my knowledge. Allow me to explain.

Zane: Go ahead, then.

Stranger: When Mordrog fell and the last great war was concluded, the dragons retreated back to the Mt. Roc capital and the rest of their lands. They had suffered horrible casualties, and human nature of Lord Mordrog could not be easily overlooked. Humans and dragons were allies only in the face of a common enemy, but when that enemy was gone, the dragons left humans to their fate. They were disgusted with us and our ways, and rightfully so. Queen Ellion closed all portals to the rock lands, and so humans lost all contact with the dragons.

Zane: "Queen" Ellion? I have indeed missed much of my people's history. What of King Groor, then?

Stranger: He died a hero's death in the war. It was Groor's sacrifice that brought the dragon kingdom into the war, in fact. In the human's darkest hour, it was Groor who defied the council's orders and came to the human king's aid. Groor alone defended the human capital for two weeks against the full force of Mordrog's forces until the Hooded Wizards could regroup and secure the city. Without his sacrifice, the human kingdom would have fallen then and there.

Zane: He was a good dragon, and braver than any I other in our history. But to sacrifice himself for your miserable kind? Insulting!

Stranger: It was his fervent belief that all creatures great and small deserved the right to live in peace and security. A sentiment which humanity has sadly failed to return to his people.

Zane: Quite clearly! We've given your kind so many chances to redeem yourselves, and it's always the same in the end. We should have left you to your fate a millennium ago when Tempest sought to devour your lands, but the brave fools among us always sought to help you. And what did we get in return? Extinction!

Stranger: It is not the humans who caused this tragedy. As I said, Queen Ellion closed all portals to the dragon kingdom, and as you are well aware, humans cannot scale Mt. Roc on their own. I trust even you had trouble reaching your home.

Zane: Hmph! What, then?

Stranger: No-one really knows.

Zane: An easy answer!

Stranger: I know this much - approximately two centuries after the dragons retreated to their lands, a massive disturbance in the mystical balance occurred centred at the capital of Mt. Roc. I do not know what caused it or what the nature of this disturbance is, but it was felt quite clearly around the world, and what mystics were left by then knew a great tragedy had occurred.

Zane: What kind of tragedy?

Stranger: A great loss of life on a scale not seen before or since.

Zane: And that is what killed all the dragons?

Stranger: Not all, but most of them. A fair number survived, though how is not quite clear. Whatever this event was, it retriggered the Curse of Silence that Mordrog had placed on them, however, so they found themselves incapable of communicating with the humans at all. Unfortunately, human lives are terribly short, and by the time this happened, your kind had already faded into myth.

Zane: In just two hundred years?

Stranger: When the dragons left, the world was at peace. So peaceful was it, that it felt like it had always been that way. Those who remembered the truth died, and the new generations knew only of increasingly distorted legends. So when the dragons returned to human land growling and roaring, people panicked. The few mystics who still knew the truth of the dragons tried to warn the king, but they were dismissed as crazy.

Zane: Crazy? How can your king dismiss your own mystics? This is madness!

Stranger: Not madness. Foolishness. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it, and humans forget their history all too readily. It wasn't just your kind that was forgotten. Magic itself faded into myth, and the once-powerful order of the Hooded Wizards, they who had once been the king's councillors and trusted advisors, were forgotten and began to be seen as heretics and devil worshippers. The wise ones learned to keep their craft hidden. The unwise ones shared the fate of the survivors from your people.

Zane: Death?

Stranger: Worse, actually. Those were cruel times. And sadly, times have not improved since then.

Zane: But what of the dragons? Is that all you know? "Some disaster" happened and the survivors were killed by your people? How long has it been since then? Centuries? How could you have learned nothing more?

Stranger: There is plenty of information on the event, I imagine, but it is all locked up in the various dragon graveyards throughout the land. Unfortunately, I have no access to them, for they are locked to all but the dragons who built them.

Zane: Curses! The graveyards should open to me, but the memory vaults will only open for a member of the High Council, and my bid for a spot there was cut short when Mordrog stole my freedom.

Stranger: Interesting...

Zane: What?

Stranger: If you are truly interested in learning the true cause of the disaster that wiped out your people, then perhaps I could help.

Zane: Really? Why?

Stranger: I would very much like to know the cause, myself. How such a powerful race could be destroyed so completely has confounded me for some time.

Zane: Oh, is that so? And what do you propose to do with this knowledge once you attain it?

Stranger: There is one particular fear that I have. If that fear proves false, then I propose to do precisely nothing with the knowledge.

Zane: I am getting weary of your vague, elusive answers, human!

Stranger: Such is the cost of my predicament, I am afraid.

Zane: Well, your cost is unacceptable! Either tell me the truth, or find your own way into our most sacred temples!

Stranger: I cannot do that. And I cannot force you to do this. I am merely making you an offer. Help me find the truth, and I will help you learn your people's history. Nothing more, nothing less.

Zane: And if I refuse?

Stranger: Then we both go our separate ways, looking for our separate fates. Or, you kill me. Either way, the history of your people remains lost.

Zane: Argh! You toy with me again, human! I have done all I could to be civil with you, but still you insult me with your secrecy! Perhaps I should take you up on your offer and kill you!

Stranger: Perhaps you should.

Zane: ...

Stranger: This is your choice, Zane. There is no right answer and there is no wrong answer. There are only choices and consequences. When I freed you from your curse, I warned you not to view the freedom I gave you as a gift, for it isn't. It is responsibility. The responsibility to make your own choices and shape your own fate.

Zane: *scowl*

Stranger: You have to make a decision here, Zane, and I will not make it for you.

Zane: Argh! Fine! I'll help you. But not because I owe you anything! I want to find the truth behind what killed my people, because whatever it is, it could happen again, and if it does, I need to know how to stop it. And if I ever so much as suspect you have some kind of questionable agenda behind this quest, I will kill you on the spot. Remember this.

Stranger: Fair enough.

Zane: Fine. What do we do now, then?

Stranger: First we need to travel to Tetron Village. There is someone there who can help. And before you take off, allow me to warn you - flying around in the human kingdom is terribly unwise, especially in this province. There are watch towers every ten miles, so you will be spotted as soon as you leave the boundaries of the forest.

Zane: Do you propose I walk, then? I was not built for walking, human!

Stranger: Yes, you were. Moreover, the majority of your skirmishes with human hunters you have had so far are a direct result of your flying heedlessly through open space in clear view of the king's spotters. Hide your presence, and the hunters will be left witless.

Zane: Hmph! And what of this village, then? How can it help us?

Stranger: It is complicated. I will tell you on the way. I would suggest we start moving, as it is quite a distance away.

Zane: *growl*

---

And so, an unexpected turn of events provides an unusual, but alluring possibility. An old secret buried and forgotten, the fate of an entire people may well be theirs for the taking. But one old secret usually reveals others, for buried history is usually buried for a reason. There are not good times for magical mysteries and lost civilizations. The world has forgotten magic, forgotten the mystical creatures of old and built itself anew solely on the power of human ingenuity and imagination. Digging up the past has the potential to upset the delicate balance of this new age, and there are some who would not wish to see this happen.

And what of Zane the black dragon and our mysterious stranger? Well, their quest for truth and answers has only just begun. And only time will tell if their unlikely alliance will hold up when the time comes to test it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

I wasn't all too sure about any direction you were taking with this story, and now with part two it seems this stranger and the dragon Zane are making the story take a sort of "Dragonheart" direction, albeit with a twist and who knows what else. All my comments from my previous post were merely speculations/observations. If any of them might turn out useful, especially the part about the stranger coming across an undead servent still bound to Mordrog, go right ahead and use it freely. After all, my postings are solely based upon your work on this story.

As to my offer to proofread stuff, well usually anything that is proofread isn't posted right away. So, if you have no problem with your typos still being in your story, that's fine by me too. I can easily sidestep errors such as those while reading through stuff. I'm sure everyone else can easily do so as well.

You're most welcome - and now that part two has been posted, this story suddenly seems to have me wanting to know more, especially about the stranger!

YOU SOOOOOOOOOO can't leave us hanging as to this stranger! C'mon now!

Actually if you need to take a break, understandable - just don't leave it sitting on the back-burner for too long, or you'll either a) forget about it b) get confused as to what direction you want to go with it and then forget about it or c) lose all hope at posting up what could be a very good story and forget about it.

Note that in all 3 options you'll eventually forget about it - but it will ALWAYS nag at you, in the back of your mind. Like a certain origin story I started writing for a bots/FF mastermind of mine...but I tend to ramble on when writing...

One more thing: In the -gasp- dungeons & dragons realms, black dragons are usually EVIL...so having a black dragon in your story that isn't necessarily evil is very intriguing.

Zane: So, this friend of yours... Who is he? How can he help us. You promised you would explain, remember?

Stranger: His name is Rasif, and he is the Tetron Village spiritual healer.

Zane: A healer? How will a healer help us penetrate into one of the most sacred places there is? You may not be aware of this, but our memory vaults are sealed by runes left to us by Lady Belifeth, herself.

Stranger: Interesting. We may not need to concern ourselves with eldritch seals, however.

Zane: Oh, no? Why? Is your friend a literal god?

Stranger: No. But he is not human, either. He is a Krotite Shaman, one of the last of his kind, in fact.

Zane: "Krotite?" What game are you playing, human? Are you making up imaginary creatures, now?

Stranger: The Krotite are one of a fair number of species that the dragon kingdom simply did not know about. For all of King Groor's lofty ideals such as peace, freedom and justice, exploration was not among them. There are many species in the human kingdom that your dragons never discovered, and many more still have appeared since Ozroth of Klinn gave the first human king the lands of today's kingdom. The Krotite are one such species.

Zane: Is that so? And what are these "Krotite?" Moreover, how is one supposed to be serving as a village mystic? I thought people feared the creatures of myth and mystics were no longer employed? Do not toy with me, human. Our alliance is not strong enough to test.

Stranger: The Krotite are shape shifters and spell casters. Quite the survivors, in fact, which is why there are still any left in the human kingdom. They tend to sell themselves as mystics, and despite the superstitions, desperate people still will buy their services.

Zane: Why would this Rasif help us? The gold in my old cave has surely been plundered by now, and you do not strike me as a man who carries treasure around him.

Stranger: Rasif knows me. I rescued him from Mordrog's curse a long time ago, and have used his services in the past.

Zane: Considering how I felt after you "rescued" me, I have my doubts as to the strength of this manner of motivation. And my time spent in the human lands has not exactly taught me to rely on others' kindness and generosity.

Stranger: Rasif will help us. That much I know.

Zane: I am rapidly losing my patience with your evasive answers, human! After five centuries of enslavement, I have not much patience left to spare!

Stranger: You will need to trust me in this regard?

Zane: Trust you? I barely even know you and you ask me to trust you out of the goodness of my heart? You have done nothing to earn my trust, human! You have not even told me your name.

Stranger: You never asked me for my name, and so I never gave you one.

Zane. Ask? Have you been raised by Kobolds? I should not have to ask you your name. You should know to introduce yourself, instead of showing me still more utter disrespect! Humans... You lack even the most basic courtesy.

Stranger: I apologise for disrespecting you, Zane. If I must have a name, then you can call me Sol.

Zane: The way you phrased it, I assume that is not your true name, is it? But let me guess, you cannot give me your true name because it would ruin your air of mystery, huh?

Stranger: ...

Zane: Bah! Be that way! If you are barbaric enough to discard even the most basic of manners, then have it your way, "Sol."

Stranger: We should make camp for the night. We should arrive at Tetron Village tomorrow.

Zane: Make camp? Why would we? You do not appear tired and I do not particularly need to rest as a general thing. In fact, why have we been stopping to make camp every night? You certainly do not appear to need it.

Stranger: You must stay with the camp, Zane. Even though Rasif's hut is outside the village, there could still be people in his care. We cannot risk you being seen.

Zane: This does not even begin to answer my question. What a surprise. Fine! Have it your way, "Sol."

---

And so, the two unlikely companions spent another night around a camp fire, kindly provided by an irritable dragon. They spoke as they had the whole way there, jousting with words and balancing an uneasy truce. Sol, the mysterious, elusive stranger and Zane of Terrenor, last of the dragons and a mighty beast such that even the legends could not properly exaggerate, both hiding from a hostile world that had forgotten their ways and consigned their existence to myth and superstition. But even forgotten, history still has its consequences.

---

The next day, Sol left his unlikely ally in the forest where they had arranged and left for the village. Rasif's healer's hut stood tiny in the shadows of the towering trees, nestled in roots and rocks. The rest of the clearing was covered in all manner of indescribable garbage, from old disused chicken cages to rickety sheds to what looked like a row of disused picnic tables, and much, much more. Either Rasif was an eccentric collector, or he was the biggest slob who ever lived. Neither looked like an appealing prospect.

Rasif himself was digging through one of his piles of unidentifiable garbage when he noticed Sol's approach. The old man turned around with a smile on his face and greeted his old acquaintance, his loud, shrill voice squeaking out his name.

---

Rasif: Sol! Long time no see, friend. What brings you to my humble abode?

Sol: I need your help with a task, Rasif.

Rasif: No! Really? And here I thought you just came by to see your old buddy, stuck selling cheap parlour tricks to brainless peasants. Of course you need something! That's the only time you ever drop by. What do you want?

Sol: I need to get into the memory vault of a dragon graveyard.

Rasif: You don't say! You wouldn't happen to have found a dragon somewhere, then?

Sol: What makes you say that?

Rasif: Well, um... Isn't it obvious? How else would you get into a dragon graveyard to even get to the memory vault. I know you're ambitious, but even you're not that good.

Sol: Let me worry about getting inside the graveyard. Can you guarantee that you can bypass the memory vault seals?

Rasif: Oh, I can bypass the seals, long as you have a bone or a tooth from one of the ancients. Knowing you, you probably have a sack full of the things. But that's not the point. How are you going to pay me?

Sol: Don't you feel like you owe me a boon?

Rasif: A boon, now, is it? Oh, of course, stupid me! I forgot all about how you "rescued" me from a life of luxury at the cursed caverns and kicked me out into a world crawling with monster hunters. Thank you so much, Sol! However shall I repay you? Oh, I know, why don't you have some of this worthless, useless garbage that the villagers keep bringing me like I give a damn about their livestock!

Zane: Enough of this nonsense!

---

In a moment, day turned to night as the massive shadow of a hulking beast eclipsed the sun. With a powerful gust of wind, Zane the dragon flew out of the forest just outside Rasif's clearing and soared low through the air. In a single leap, he covered the great distance between them and landed at the two men with a rumbling impact. As trees flapped from the tempest and a collector's garbage rolled around from the shaking, the dust settled, and Zane had intervened.

In a single move executed with speed unimaginable for such a huge creature, Zane had trapped Rasif under his massive talons, his eyes burning with anger and impatience and fire fighting to escape his lips. A dragon's patience had been tested, and a dragon's patience had failed. Rasif himself, however, did not seem as terrified as should have been expected

---

Zane: Enough stalling! You will help us access the memory banks in the nearest dragon graveyard and show me what happened to my people, or so help me I will snap your spine like a twig!

Rasif: He-he-he. So you did find yourself a dragon, huh, Sol? Crafty, crafty, crafty!

Sol: Zane, what are you doing here? Did I not tell you to stay at the camp?

Zane: You have been playing around with me for a week now, and you expected me to just sit idly by and let you? Besides, knowing your charming personality, I was certain he would refuse to help you.

Rasif: Oh, you just make friends everywhere you go, don't you Sol? Ha!

Zane: Quiet!

Sol: I had everything under control and I would have been able to convince him. But now that you are here, you have put us both in a rather precarious position?

Zane: Eh! I have your "friend" right where I want him, and I can be very persuasive when I want to be!

Sol: You are also standing on a binding rune.

---

In a flash of light, Rasif disappeared from Zane's grasp, and magical energy enveloped him. When the dragon's confused senses returned to him, he found himself looking at the world though a magical barrier. He had walked right into a trap, and unintentionally dragged Sol into it right alongside. A rather serious miscalculation

At the same time, Rasif stood on the other side of the barrier with a grin on his face a mile wide. In a split second, the truth became clear. Rasif had set them both up. Sol's friend in need had turned into a rather large problem.

---

Rasif: A-ha-ha-ha-ha! Smooth move, dragon boy! Ha-ha-ha! Where do you find these guys, Sol? That was far too easy!

Sol: So you activated the rune remotely? Interesting. You were not able to do this last time we worked together.

Rasif: Well, believe it or not, the world doesn't revolve around you, Sol! I can learn spells on my own, too! And that's not the only one I've learned!

Sol: If you are referring to the flash rune under my right foot, this one will not fire, I fear.

Rasif: Crafty, crafty, crafty! Too bad you couldn't do the same to my binding rune, eh?

Zane: Wait, you knew about the rune in the ground?

Sol: I sensed the binding rune, yes. I had not sensed you, however.

Zane: Oh, so now it's my fault? If you knew it was there, why didn't you disable that, too?

Rasif: He couldn't. Even he's not fast enough to yank a rapid-fire rune from under me before I trigger it. Not so big now, are you, Sol? How does it feel to be trapped like a rat?

Zane: Argh!

Sol: Calm yourself, Zane. This will only make the situation worse.

Zane: Argh! How will...

Sol: The binding bubble will siphon your energy if you attack it, only growing stronger the more you struggle.

Zane: Then how do you presume we get out of this predicament?

Rasif: You don't!

Sol: I agree.

Rasif: Huh?

Zane: What?!?

Sol: Without it siphoning off any energy from us, Rasif will not be able to maintain the bubble for more than an hour, and it will take over a day for the king's soldiers to arrive here.

Zane: Soldiers?

Rasif: Clever boy! Yes, the king is offering a ridiculously large reward for your pet's head, but...

Zane: I am no-one's pet, you insufferable lowly creature! You will pay for your insults!

Rasif: Keep talking, lizard, boy. 'Cause by the time you leave my little bubble, you'll be dead. See, the king's reward - it's impressive, but your little buddy over there is right. I can't keep the bubble up, and I couldn't convince the king's men to set up camp here and wait. So I thought of other means.

Sol: Mercenaries?

Rasif: Ooh, you're so smart, aren't you, figuring out what I'm going to say before I say it and all. Too bad you're still on the other side of the bubble, fool! Yeah, mercenaries. I'm smart, too, you know. Too bad you for you, huh?

Zane: I may be behind times on this, but I doubt mercenaries work for free, creature.

Rasif: Oh, these ones do! See, I found me a great bunch of guys. See, they don't work for money. They just live to kill freaks like you and me, fly boy. So they kill you, they keep the body, I get the head, and I get the reward. Brilliant, isn't it?

Zane: Are you out of your mind? If they live to kill creatures like us, then they'll kill you, too. Oh, no. No, not me. See, I'm protected, 'cause I look like one of them. Sol probably told you I'm a shapeshifter, so they don't even know what I am. And they won't believe you even if you told them. They're not stupid. Well, they are, but you know what I mean.

Sol: Zane, no mercenaries work for free. There's something very wrong here, and you cannot see that you are being set up.

Rasif: No. I'm just likable. Unlike you! Ah, and here they are. Come on, set up your gear and let's kill us some monsters!

---

A group of unusual soldiers in combat armour came out of the forest into the clearing, carrying all manner of disturbing weaponry. They looked and dressed like the king's soldiers, but their faces were concealed by masks and scarves. They uttered not a word as they quickly set about emplacing ballistas and catapults. They were even armed with the latest inventions of the kingdom - the dreaded steam cannons.

As the silent soldiers went about establishing their arsenals for when the bubble went down, Rasif just stood behind and smiled. He saw money in his future. Money, estates, servants. His eyes looked on the two trapped in his spell, but he did not see them. Instead, he saw a future that had not yet come to pass, and may indeed never come to pass at all.

---

Sol: My god...

Zane: Coming from you, this cannot be good.

Sol: Do you know what these are, Zane?

Zane: The king's soldiers. I fought many of them after I left my cave.

Sol: Look at their medallions, Zane. Do you recognise that crest?

Zane: It looks like a snake circling an eagle. But that means... No... No it's not possible.

Rasif: What are you two mumbling about over there? Saying your prayers?

Zane: You have no idea the kind of trouble you have blindly stumbled into.

Rasif: Tough talk, lizard boy! But I'm still the one on the other side of the bubble! Ha!

Sol: Rasif, these things are not human. They will not help you or pay you. As soon as they are done with us, they will kill you.

Rasif: Yeah, like I'll fall for that one! What kind of blunt idiot do you take me for? You'll say anything to save yourself.

Zane: You insufferable fool! You've made a deal with the Seekers! They will kill you!

Rasif: Seekers? Phht! Ha! The Seekers don't exist, lizard boy! They're a myth. An old wives' tale. People made them up to scare little children and idiots like you. Ha! Seekers... That's a good one.

---

One of the soldiers grabbed Rasif by the neck from behind and tried to run his sword through the shape shifter's chest. Thinking quickly, Rasif broke his grip and pulled away, but quickly found himself surrounded by hostile masked soldiers. Whether what Sol and Zane had said was true or not wasn't certain, but one thing was clear - Rasif's allies had turned on him without a second thought. Fighting for his life, Rasif resisted their attacks, but was slowly driven back towards his own bubble.

It is said men can make drastic decisions when faced with imminent death, and Rasif's decision was nothing if not drastic. Instead of fighting on, he simple forced himself into his own trap. The bubble was impregnable. Nothing could go in, nothing could go out. But with Rasif inside it, that last lifeline against the soldiers' cannon was quickly running out of energy.

Rasif's welcome in the bubble was, predictably, not one of warm affection. A massive, lumbering tail swooped him into the air as a titanic talon caught him, swung him around and slammed him back into the ground with enough force to knock the soldiers outside into their feet. Zane the dragon was, to put it mildly, displeased. But there is something to be said about the humbling power of seeing a snarling mouth pressed into your face with giant fangs as far as your eyes can see from left to right. Zane had his way of dealing with people.

---

Zane: Do you think you are any safer in here? So tell me. Give me one good reason why I should not replace your head with a scorch mark right now. I can wait.

Rasif: N-no, wait! If you kill me, the bubble will fail!

Sol: The bubble will fail in a few minutes either way.

Zane: Wait, I thought you said it would last for an hour?

Sol: With Rasif outside to maintain it, yes. With him inside, the bubble has no source of power.

Zane: Oh, well. In that case, we have no use for you.

Rasif: Nowaitwaitwai! *squint*

Sol: You know of a way to escape the bubble without exposing ourselves to their cannons, do you not?

Rasif: Yes! Yes, I do! Just let me go!

Zane: No. You can speak well enough as you are. So speak!

Rasif: The b-bubble doesn't extend underground. T-t-that stone circle around it is where it ends. I-if you can dig down into the ground without breaking the circle, we can get out that way.

Zane: Do I look like a mole to you?!?

Rasif: Ack!

Sol: Let him go, Zane. I can do the rest.

Zane: Wait, you can?

---

Sol stood straight and silent for a moment, his aura gathering about them. Suddenly, his hands moved about at lightning speed, drawing out complex shapes and runic symbols in the air with a faint, eerie glow as they moved. He formed a large, elaborate shape of mystical energy that seemed to just hang in the air for a second, until Sol forced it into the ground with a mighty thrust. An explosion of dust, rock debris filled the bubble, obscuring our heroes from the vision of the soldiers. Not a moment later, all that obscured their vision sunk down at great speed, revealing a shaft carved cleanly and smoothly out of the ground, which seemed to descend down into the bowels of the Earth, itself.

The bubble held for a few more minutes, but by the time it collapsed, the unusual soldier's prize had slipped away, and the shaft that they had descended into had collapsed in on itself. A clean escape, to be sure. For the moment. But these pursuers were more than mere soldiers, more than random mercenaries with a hatred for mystical creatures. They were driven, capable and coldly proficient in their art of killing. Our heroes had escaped for the moment. But the pursuit would not end there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Wait - wow holy hell - ok ok ok I'm over it already.

Seriously, though, you didn't know...so here we go. Quoting AD&D's Monstrous Manual (2nd edition D&D btw. Well, Advanced D&D...whatever.)

Well, you realise that now that you've said it, you may have influence my judgement on the matter More seriously, though, I'm actually building his character sort of by ear based off of what I expect a large, powerful, proud creature bred in a strong culture would be. That is to say, confident in its strengths, willing to use them and willing to leverage them, but conflicted as to how much power one SHOULD use to solve problems. At least, playing things by ear. It's always simpler to write these things than it is to explain them

Speaking of which, I have another chapter ready. This one really had me over the barrel, but I think it came out well enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Rasif: I knew it, Sol! I just knew it! I knew you would get me involved into another mystical mess! This is all your fault!

Zane: As much as I want to sympathise with your plight, be quiet! You have been yelling for the past ten miles!

Rasif: I would have had it all made. Money, a little fame, a ticket out of that hell hole you left me in. But NO! They had to be some kind of weirdos!

Sol: You chose to deal with the forces of darkness, Rasif, and you faced the consequences of your actions.

Rasif: You and your consequences... They weren't supposed to be some weird zealots. They were supposed to kill you, not me.

Zane: Maybe they took issue with how "likable" you were?

Rasif: Yeah, keep talking, scale boy. At least I don't have a boulder for a face.

Zane: Keep insulting me and I will fix that.

Rasif: Hmph! If he's going to threaten me every ten minutes, can you guys at least untie me? Dragon boy's back feels like I'm riding a gravel pit.

Zane: Would you rather I dragged you through the actual gravel on the ground?

Rasif: Sol, help me out here. Come on, we're friends, right? You know you can trust me.

Sol: Not in the slightest.

Zane: *snerk*

Rasif: Ugh... Look, we've known each other for a long time. I've helped you out a lot, and mostly for free. Come on, now. Why can't you at least let me walk? I'll have dragon scales imprinted on my back for weeks!

Sol: Rasif, you are shape shifter. Furthermore, you have tried to sell me to bounty hunters twice, sell me to slavery once, steal from me a dozen times and you tried to kill me no less than five times, not counting last week. Now keep quiet and be thankful you still have your life.

Zane: Dear me, you certainly seem to have an evil memory, Sol.

Rasif: I'll say...

Sol: In either case, we should be at our destination within a day. I am certain your back will hold out until you can help us bypass the containment runes.

Rasif: Help you? After you kidnapped me? Not a chance. Not unless you provide me with some... Incentive.

Zane: I will make you an offer. You will help us, and I will not bite you in half. How is that for incentive. *glare*

Rasif: That's... *gulp* Motivating...

Sol: I originally intended to pay you handsomely, but after you tried to sell me to the Seekers, I feel rather disinclined.

Rasif: Heh... I, err... I didn't mean anything by it, Sol. I wasn't really going to...

Zane: You insolent gnat! Have you any idea what kind of powers you were dealing with?

Rasif: Not... Really.

Zane: Ugh... Sol, are you certain we need him alive?

Sol: Unfortunately, yes.

Rasif: Wha... Hey!

---

And so the trio made their way out of Thunder Forest and came into the great plains of Urr. their target loomed large ahead of them - a single mountain peak amid the flat earth surrounding it, towering high into the clouds and casting an ominous shadow across the land. There at the top, amid the sheer cliffs and jagged rocks, resided one of the many sacred burial grounds of the great dragons of old. Few humans still knew of its existence, and none dared venture inside.

There are many legends about Mt. Urr. They say that long before the time of man, a mighty dragon kind pulled from the earth a single great pillar of rock and granite an thrust it high into the sky. Inside the pillar, he carved out caverns and chambers, a testament to his glory, and a home for his very own tomb. Whether the story is true is unknown, but one thing is more than certain - Mt. Urr is home to a dragon graveyard not touched by the hands of man, for the king's rule over this desolate area is limited to his few outposts.

But as our heroes made their way through the plains, dark clouds gathered around the peak. A storm was brewing, ominous and dark. Storms were not uncommon in the plains, but this one felt eerie and sinister, more so than a thunderstorm should.

---

Rasif: Say, Sol, I've been meaning to ask you...

Zane: Ugh...

Rasif: What? It's a legitimate question!

Sol: Go on, Rasif.

Rasif: So, I was thinking... I get that we're walking so the human spotters don't spot big black dragon boy flying through the air. So we hid in the forest and walked. But how is that helping us out here in the open? I mean, I can see the human watchtowers from here!

Sol: Those watchtowers are abandoned.

Rasif: How do you figure?

Zane: That actually is a good question.

Sol: The Urr Plains have always been too sparsely inhabited to support large forts or garrisons, but ever since an unnatural tempest destroyed the region centre of Kerek to the ground, rendering it uninhabitable, the king's soldiers were forced to withdrawal from the plain altogether. Their buildings still remain, but they are unoccupied.

Rasif: Oh, well that's good to know.

Sol: That is, unless your Seeker friends followed us here?

Rasif: Followed us? Come on! You hid your tracks through the forest pretty well. I'm sure they would have lost our tracks by now.

Zane: Argh! You infuriating creature! Have you no idea who the Seekers are! If they have indeed targeted us, then they very much will find us!

Rasif: You guys are going overboard with that Seeked business. Come on, they're just a myth. I'm sure these guys were just weird humans or something.

Zane: *growl* What humans wear the crest of Hethfeth!?!

Rasif: Hethfeth the... Fire Lord? ... Bwa-ha-ha-ha! Hethfeth? Seriously? Ha-ha-ha! Oh, lordy...

---

Suddenly, Zane's patience expired catastrophically. In an instant, the massive beast bucked Rasif high into the air off its back. Zane swiped his massive talons, plucking the happless shape shifter out of his fall and constricting him hard enough to cut off his air, but not quite hard enough to crush bone. The dragon brought his catch up to his face, fire and brimstone shooting from his nostrils in towering rage. Things were not going well for Rasif.

---

Zane: Your insolence is inexcusable, shape shifter! You meddle with powers you cannot even begin to comprehend, and you dare make light of the situation? You sicken me! I swear to the gods, if you say anything stupid like this ever again, I will break my vow of honour and justice and take your life. No threats, not tricks, no jokes. Do you understand me, shape-shifter?

Rasif: Woah, hey! No need for that! Calm down, Za...

Zane: Do you understand me?!?

Rasif: Y-yes...

---

For the first time since their meeting, Rasif had show true, genuine, utter fear of Zane, and his terrified face seemed to take the dragon aback. Instantly, Zane's demeanour changed, and the fire in his eyes died down. He set his captive down, and with a single swipe of his massive talon cut the ropes that bound him, freeing Rasif from his bondage.

Zane stopped for a moment, as if to contemplate his next move, when his massive wings extended high into the sky. With a single powerful thrust, they pulled his massive body off the ground with great wind and rumble. The dragon took flight, faster and more graceful than a creature of such mass has any reason being. But before he left, he gave a simple explanation.

---

Zane: I will meet you at the graveyard.

Rasif: Was it something I said?

Sol: Yes.

Rasif: Um... What?

Sol: I assume your making light of what may be the dragons' most hated enemies may have upset him. It was certainly out of character for him to react this way.

Rasif: Out of character? That guy's always angry.

Sol: So it would seem.

Rasif: *eyeroll* So, what is it with these Seekers? Even if they're not a myth, weren't they supposed to have disappeared, what? Centuries ago?

Sol: So they should have, and yet here they are in the present day. This bodes ill, indeed.

Rasif: What's so scary about them, anyway? I mean, they're just men in scarves. I've seen you take on more than that by yourself, and I'm sure the dragon would eat them for breakfast. Possibly literally.

Sol: The Seekers are not human, they are sentient ash from the deepest pits of the inferno, itself. They cannot be burned, and when dispersed, they will simply reform. However, when they shed their masks is when the Seekers become truly dangerous. Only then will they reveal their ability to summon hellfire directly from the inferno, and anything it burns is transformed into more ash from which more Seekers spawn.

Rasif: That's... Wow, that's pretty bad.

Sol: The Seekers cannot be stopped and they cannot be fought, for their fire will burn through anything and nothing can ever harm them. At best, they can only be slowed down, but in the end, the only way to survive their open onslaught is to run. So please understand that I am not at all happy you managed to involved the Seekers into my quest.

Rasif: Look, I didn't know who they were, OK? I just took them up on their offer.

Sol: Offer?

Rasif: Yes. One day, out of the blue, a troop of weird mercenaries shows up. Their leader comes up to me and tell me a dragon will be coming my way and asks me to lay a trap for him.

Sol: They spoke to you?

Rasif: Only one soldier spoke. The rest just hung back and sort of listened, I guess. Why?

Sol: Seekers do not speak. They are not sentient creatures. The implications of this are troubling.

Rasif: You think they're working for something?

Sol: That should not be possible. The Seekers are born of Hethfeth's own essence. They are an instrument of his will without minds of their own. They should not have the capacity to cooperate with anyone at any level.

Rasif: So maybe the Fire Lord himself is leading them?

Sol: No.

Rasif: No? Why not? How do you figure?

Sol: No... We must hurry to the graveyard.

Rasif: What, did you sense something? Wait... Hey, wait! Hold up!

---

At a quickened pace, our heroes advanced towards Mt. Urr, now looming large just across the field. There were only a few miles left, but even as quickly as they went, much happened in the process. With each step they took, the sky grew ever darker, the clouds ever heavier and more fierce. Lightning flashed in the distance and thunder ripped through the air as rain poured from the heavens, piercing into our heroes, driven by the howling wind. A storm was brewing, more angry and violent than storms of the season should be. An ill omen indeed.

But when our heroes finally reached the base of the mountain, they were met with a hideous sight - hordes of the undead, packed shoulder to shoulder, row after row. An army of the foul creatures blocked the way, and more were crawling out of the ground with each lightning strike. Even with the wind and the rain, the stench of rotting death was overpowering. As day turned into night in a matter of minutes and solid earth transformed into a quagmire, the situation grew grim.

---

Rasif: *womanly scream* Zombies! I knew it! I knew you'd get me into just that kind of mystical trouble, Sol! I should have stayed home, but NO! You had to kidnap me and drag me all the way here and...

Sol: Why are there undead here? And human, no less?

Rasif: Why? Why!?! There are always undead wherever you go! Undead, or demons, or monster... And you always drag ME into it!

Sol: This makes no sense. There cannot be undead here. There should not be enough human corpses to create this many, nor should there be a source of dark magic powerful enough to sustain them.

Rasif: Hello! Dragon GRAVEYARD! Of course there will be undead here! Now if you're done with your philosophical contemplation, could you please SAVE ME!

Sol: There should be no human remains around a dragon graveyard, and even if there were, the purpose of those mausoleums is to keep the dead inside them from being raised like this. It makes no sense for this to happen.

Rasif: Sol! Zombies shuffling towards us! Do something!

---

Lightning flashed in the black sky, and for a moment, it outlined a familiar shape. A massive beast forced its way through the air with such power that the storm could do little to even slow it down. Massive wings propelled its titanic body through the wind and the rain, defying the will of nature herself. A blinding light pierced the darkness as a jet of fierce fire struck the undead army. Zane the dragon intervened

Dragon fire is an unusual thing. Water cannot put it out, wind cannot blow it away, and it doesn't burn up. Instead it flows like liquid, it sticks to everything it touches and keeps on burning. They say dragon fire is not fire at all, but in fact pure destructive magic. And Zane's fire more than lived up to the famed dragons of legend. In a single pass over the undead army, his fire reduced every living and unliving being into black, crumbling ash upon contact, leaving behind a sea of liquid fire that neither rain nor wind could even challenge. Where there had once been thousands, now there was only ashes.

Gracefully, the massive dragon swing around and landed near his companions with a thundering impact, the power of his wings challenging the storm winds themselves.

---

Zane: I am sorry I am late. I could not see the foul beasts from above until I sensed your presence below.

Rasif: Holy... Hell! Zane, I take back everything bad I may have said about you!

Zane: You are still with us, I see.

Rasif: Aha. And where did you think I would go? You left me in the middle of nowhere with no supplies or money with the nearest town over a week's walk away.

Zane: My apologies.

Rasif: Huh?

Sol: Zane, did you survey the mountain while you were here?

Zane: Yes. I found the entrance to the complex right at the base of the tallest peak, but I did not want to touch it until you arrived. I suspect I will need your assistance with more than just the memory vault.

Sol: Can the mountain be climbed?

Zane: No. I suspect the location for the graveyard was chosen for this reason, among others. I could fly you up there, but it would not be safe for you to do so in this storm. We should make camp and wait for it to blow over.

Rasif: Great... We're pitching tents on zombie mud. Sol, you always make my dreams come true, don't you?

---

And so our heroes turned in and waited for the unnatural storm to pass, safe in the knowledge that little could threaten them with Zane the dragon watching over the camp. The weather remained foul for some time, but by the time the dragon fire burned itself out, it had consumed the stench of undeath and purged the land of foul corpses. They were so close to finally finding answers now.

So close, yet all they had been finding on their journey was still more questions. More inexplicable facts, more unexpected mysteries, and only the memory vault of the ancient dragons could provide some measure of answers. But answers to what questions? The fate of the dragons, or something more? Sol would not say, and his companions had proven unable, or perhaps unwilling, to pry his secrets.

But eventually, the rain would stop and the dragon graveyard would be within their grasp. For better or worse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Rasif: Rain, rain and more rain. How long has it been now?

Zane: Five minutes later than the last time you asked. Good god, man! Be quiet! You are defying possibility by being even more annoying!

Rasif: You're so grumpy!

Zane: *snarl*

Sol: Frankly, I am surprised you are not more concerned about his presence here, after your exchange two days ago.

Rasif: What, you think I should be cowering and begging for my life? Come on, Sol, you know me better than that! People threatening to kill me is par for the course in my line of work.

Zane: Back-stabbing?

Rasif: Ha-ha look at me laugh! No, scale-head! Entrepreneuring. Everyone wants something, even if they don't say so. I find out what they want, I get it for them, and I don't ask any questions.

Sol: In other words, he is a career swindler.

Zane: I am shocked and amazed.

Rasif: Oh, now that is just mean, Sol! I am so taking you off my preferred client list as soon as I get back home, you hear me? You know that flying carpet I was going to sell you at a discount?

Sol: The one I did not want?

Rasif: Exactly! No more discount for you! You want magical artefacts, you'll have to pay for them, mister!

Zane: *eyeroll*

Sol: ...

Rasif: ...

Zane: ...

Sol: ...

Rasif: God I hate this rain! How long has it been raining now?

Zane: For heaven's sake, creature! You could drive a saint to murder!

Rasif: OK, OK, sheesh! No more talking about the rain. In that case, how about you guys fill me in on the plan, huh? I mean, we're in this together, right? I should know what we're getting into.

Zane: I was not aware we were "in this" together. I seem to remember you trying to sell my head to the Seeker. Literally. So please forgive me if I do not trust you.

Rasif: Oh, that's cold Zane, really cold! I thought we were finally becoming friends, but now you have to turn around and hurt my feelings.

Zane: Do not insult my intelligence.

Rasif: OK, fine! Don't tell me! Treat me like an animal! See if I care.

Zane: *sigh* Very well... We believe that the memory vault in this graveyard could have vital information on the disaster which destroyed my people and ended my world. I need to know the truth. I owe it to my family.

Rasif: What killed the dragons? I thought the humans did that.

Zane: ...

Sol: The humans killed dragons, true, but they did not cause the disaster which started the dragons' destruction.

Rasif: Yeah, so says the human. And you believe him?

Zane: ... I gave Sol my word that I would aid him in his quest, and I do not go back on my word.

Rasif: Yeah, the honour excuse. So what happens if you find out it really was the humans that did this?

Zane: I will cross that bridge once I get to it.

Rasif: Why even believe Sol, though? It's not like he's been open with you. Sure, he spouts a lot of ancient history like he was there, but have you noticed that none of that can actually be proven? I mean, I can tell you about the history of the elven prince Jason who saved the world from the devil a thousand years ago, but so what?

Zane: I chose to trust Sol on this quest, and I will not dishonour our agreement on simple doubt and accusation.

Rasif: Man, you're easy! So Sol says he needs to get to a dragon graveyard and you just hop to the change just because he rescued you without even knowing what his agenda is?

Zane: You disgust me. Utterly. So far this man has done nothing but help you. He has saved your life from trouble you brought upon yourself, he has kept you save, he has shared his supplies to you, he calls you "friend" and this is how you repay him? Insults and accusations? You should be ashamed of yourself, shape shifter.

Rasif: Yeah, and how much do you know about him, huh? What does he even need with the memory vault, anyway, ever ask yourself that? Sol never does anything out of the goodness of his heart. If he wants to access the dragon graveyard, he has a reason for it. He's just using you, just like he's using me, only you he can't tie up and drag around.

Zane: Even if that were true, I still need his help to access the memory vaults and learn the truth.

Rasif: You don't need him. You need me. He's just along for the ride. Listen, when the time comes, you might want to think about what's in your best interest. You can't trust Sol. Nothing that man does ever ends well.

Zane: What are you implying?

Rasif: Whatever Sol needs in there will be big, and it will definitely cause trouble for both of us. So I say, we don't let him. Don't have to kill him or anything, just don't fly him up and let him sit here. What do you say?

Zane: No. And if you value your limbs, I would suggest never speaking of this again.

Rasif: Oh, what, you're too high and mighty to deal with me now, Mr. Dragon?

Zane: Yes. You are nothing but an opportunistic, backstabbing coward, Rasif. You will do your part and get your gold, but afterwards, I do not want to see you ever again.

Rasif: Why do you even trust the guy? He hasn't done anything to earn it!

Zane: Because I believe there is good in his heart. He does not show it, but there is. I do not follow Sol because he has bought my trust. I chose to trust him of my own free will, and I intend to carry this choice to the end.

Rasif: And if that kills you?

Zane: Then nothing has changed. My people are still dead and forgotten, and the world just moves on. I have little to lose. But if that man is what I feel he might be, then there is everything to gain.

Rasif: Wait, what?

Sol: The storm is winding down. We should move soon.

Rasif: Uhh... You didn't hear any of our conversation, did you?

Sol: Would it matter if I did?

Rasif: Um... Yes! Yes it totally would!

Zane: Gather your belongings and meet me at the East slope. I need to wash this mud off before the storm winds down.

---

Slowly and subtly, the storm relented. The wing which had howled for two days and two nights now gave out a soft whistle, and the driving rain lessened in volume. Little by little, the noon sun's rays broke through the clouds and illuminated the stale battlefield. Only now did it become clear just how massive the undead army had been, spanning far and wide around the mountain, far into the fields and long around. This was no mere platoon or two of monsters. There must have been thousands. And all felled in mere moments by the dragon fire of legend.

Only now, too, did our heroes see the mountain all its intimidating glory. Sheer cliffs towered into the heaves as high as the eye could see, and jagged rocks lined the path above. No man could climb this formidable fortress of rock and earth. Whatever lay at the top was only within reach of those possessed of the power of flight. And not just any flight, for ordinary birds and insects could not survive the cold and wind that ruled high up into the sky. No, only the resilience of the dragons was enough to make this journey. Perhaps this was the very reason why they chose to build their graveyard here, away from the reach of the creatures of the land.

Our heroes packed their camp and their belongings and together they climbed atop their mighty friend. Even when he cooperated, reaching the back of a mighty dragon was no small task, for the creature still towered above the land. With a single motion, its great wings tore Zane's body from the Earth's grip and lifted it into the air. Smoothly he flew up, farther and farther, determined to see his journey to the end. His companions, in turn, held on for dear life and fought against the hostile elements. More cold, more wind, more pain, it seemed that this journey would never end. But suddenly, the descent halted, and our heroes found themselves staring into an ominous cavern that, even from far away, felt like it radiated almost infernal heat.

Gracefully Zane floated into the great hall, landing with all his weight, but the mountain absorbed his impact with nary a quiver. This was the dragon graveyard, but it was not what legends had described it as. Instead of dragon bones littering the floor, the inside was of worked stone and masonry. Finely-sculpted statues of great dragons in perfect scale in place of the skeletons of legend, and it was not rock, but forged metal and precious gemstones that adorned the many beautiful murals. This was not the work of the bloodthirsty, vicious monsters that legends had painted dragons as. This was the work of skilled craftsmen and gifted artist, the work of a great and cultured kingdom. And now, only these mausoleums remained of that ancient past.

---

Rasif: ...Unbelieable!...

Zane: Tread lightly, friends, for this is hallowed ground.

Rasif: Is this really gold?

Zane: Keep your hands off the relics, heathen! Touch nothing but what is absolutely necessary. Everything here is sacred to my people. Our lives, out history, our religion... Everything you see presented here is our gifts to the spirits. Defiling them will not only anger me. It will anger the spirits which live in this temple.

Rasif: S-spirits? What spirits?

Sol: The spirits of the old guardians. They still roam these halls in eternal vigilance. Protecting... Safeguarding... Afraid? What are you saying? I cannot understand...

Zane: You can hear the guardian spirits? Sol, this is impossible. Only the High Council priests of the dragon kingdom can commune with the ancients!

Sol: I do not believe there is time enough to explain fully, but you have my promise - as soon as we find the memory vault, I will explain everything.

Rasif: You still trust him, Zane?

Zane: Sol, I trust you, but please - I need to know what is going on here.

Sol: I will explain this much: Someone has found the graveyard before us and is already deep within the tunnels, attempting to break the seals on the memory vault.

Zane: What?!?

Sol: The guardians are congregating in the chambers below, attempting to stall the interloper. From the looks of it, they have been leading this fight for several days, and their strength is beginning to weaken.

Zane: Impossible! The guardians draw upon the power of the forge, itself. They cannot be defeated!

Sol: The disaster that wiped out the dragons destroyed all lay lines leading to Mt. Roc. All dragon temples were cut off. Whatever power the Guardians here have, it is what they have been saving for five centuries.

Zane: No!

Sol: There is no time for long-winded explanations, my friend. We must intervene before we this interloper breaches the final seal, or the entire world is in peril!

Rasif: Wait, what? What did you drag me into!

Zane: They will not succeed!

---

Swiftly our heroes moved through the elaborate temple. Zane's heavy footsteps echoed through the halls as the mighty dragon raced ahead. It was no longer only his own life he fought for, but it was the very legacy of his people which was at stake here. Who knows what kind of eldritch knowledge lie within the dragons' memory vaults? Legends spoke of secrets so ancient and powerful that they would drive a normal man insane. Secrets so dangerous that, in the wrong hands, they could bring about terrible disaster. But those were legends. What the vault held in reality, none of our heroes truly knew.

As they descended down the winding tunnels, our heroes prepared for the inevitable confrontation at hand.

---

Rasif: Do you guys really need me for this?

Zane: Now is not the time for this, Rasif! Stay behind me and try not to get killed.

Rasif: Stay behind the dragon... OK, I can do that!

Sol: I sense a rather troublesome enemy below.

Rasif: Let me guess: Zombies?

Zane: Impossible. This temple is hallowed ground. No dark magic could function within its walls.

Sol: I am afraid Rasif is right in this case.

Rasif: I am?

Zane: He is?

Sol: I feel the sense foul aura I sensed outside at the face of Mt. Urr. Whoever left those creatures outside to delay us is in here

Zane: A necromancer? But how did he get past the warding stones?

Sol: That is a question I would very much like to know the answer to.

Rasif: Wait, a necromancer? I thought all of those guys got killed off when the king raided the necropolis at Bar-Hun?

Sol: We must hurry

---

Our heroes ran through the ancient catacombs as fast as they could, descending ever lower into the core of the mountain. An evil smell drafted from below, the sour stench of death and decay - the telltale sign of the hordes of the undead. A necromancer had to be close for the fiends to have penetrated so deep within a hallowed sanctuary. But how could this be? No-one had seen a necromancer in over a century. Could such evil transcend even death?

Finally, our heroes descended into the very bowels of the ancient temple. The tunnels opened into a massive cavern of worked stone and great pillars. High up into the air, a massive ball made of iron and copper hung suspended from massive chains. Was this the fabled memory vault? It surface was embedded with gems of all types and carved in intricate, elaborate runes - the ancient seals that kept the shrine locked away from those not worthy. Though several of the runes still glowed with a faint blue light, most of them had fallen dull and dark.

The foul stench of death that filled the room was almost overpowering, as the floor space teemed with the rotting flesh and rattling bones of the very same undead armies which should have been consigned to myth a hundred years ago. And off into the distance, just behind the vault, a vague figure could be seen in the darkness. The necromancer, perhaps?

Zane's rage at this defilement boiled over, and he attempted to lunge into the attack, but Sol stopped him with a beckon and a simple warning: "explosive runes." With but a simple hand wave across the darkness, the mystic sent forth a wave of light, illuminating hundreds of strange mystic symbols all around the cavern, and not just on the ground. Glowing hexagons which bore the mystic symbols floated through the air, bobbing and rotating slowly. Someone had prepared a very deadly ambush.

Instead of blindly charging on ahead, Sol stood back and beckoned his allies to stay behind him. The mystic's hands moved rapidly around, drawing elaborate, intricate runes into the very air ahead as his voice chanted loud in a language long dead. Rasif was understandably lost, but Zane recognised it as the language the great bird Roc had passed down to the first dragons, and though it was a language no longer used, he could understand a word here and there. Sol spoke of divine light, of just punishment and heavenly law, though how those tied together was not clear.

At once Sol finished his chant and from his body, bright, breathtaking light shone in all directions. A wave of arcane energy extended outwards through the mystic's outstretched hands, bathing the undead horde in pure divine energy. When the spell was cast and its light subsided, all that was left of the undead horde was a field of corpses, their souls returned to the afterlife where they belonged and their bodies returned to the familiar grip of death.

Now, only the necromancer remained.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Necromancer: Tisk-tisk-tisk. I honestly thought my little storm would buy me more time, but these dragons knew how to keep their secrets safe.

Sol: Reinhardt.

Necromancer: Oh, so you DO remember my name. I'm flattered.

Zane: Sol, do you know this woman?

Sol: I used to.

Necromancer: Eva Reinhardt, at your service. *fancy bow*

Rasif: Hey, I remember you! You're that broad that tried to feed me to the Snark Pit in Oleen!

Necromancer: Oh, you are the weasel who followed Sol around that one time. As I recall, you were the one who sold me the location of the Tomb of the Lost.

Sol: That explains many things. But I watched you die, Reinhardt.

Necromancer: Correction, you helped me die. But I'm not mad at you, Sol. As you can see, dying was the best thing that could have happened to me?

Sol: How did you manage this?

Necromancer: Oh, I could tell you, but I so enjoy watching you squirm, so why don't I give you a little hint: They're not as dead as you think.

Sol: The guild of necromancers?

Zane: Enough of your nonsense, woman! Remove yourself from this holy sanctuary and take your rotting filth with you!

Necromancer: And this must be the dragon I've heard so much about. You've done a very bad job of keeping a secret, sol. The whole kingdom knows about your little pet, and ever bounty hunter in the land is on your trail.

Zane: Do not disrespect me, foul creature! My courtesy has its limits.

Necromancer: I wouldn't dream of it, Mr. Dragon. I wouldn't want to upset someone so big and strong. *smirk*

Zane: How were you able to get past the warding stones, creature? You should not have been allowed to tread on holy ground.

Necromancer: Oh, dragon, you think so literally. Your warding stones guard the entrance to this tomb, but the ground within is not as holy as you think.

Zane: You speak nonsense, necromancer.

Sol: Unbelievable... Reinhardt, you know that gating spells have been forbidden for a very good reason, do you not?

Necromancer: Ha! You are certainly as sharp as ever to have figured out my little trick so easily. I am curious, though. How did you know?

Sol: You just told me.

Necromancer: *frown* I see. You are just as infuriating as you have always been, Sol. I'm glad to see some things never change.

Zane: How can you work with the Seekers, necromancer? This is pathetic, even for a human.

Necromancer: Seekers? The... Minions of Hethfet, is that what you're talking about? *snicker* Those are just a myth, dragon. You should know that better than most.

Zane: I know better than most that they very much do exist, woman, and if you choose to dismiss them as myth, then you are either ignorant or daft to believe so.

Necromancer: Hmph! Even if Seekers ever existed, they have been gone from the world for a thousand years. I and if you choose to believe they have, then you are both ignorant and daft to believe Sol's wild stories.

Zane: I saw the seekers with my own eyes no more than a week ago. They were sent to kill me. Sent by you!

Necromancer: Why would I have any interest in you? I only learned you were interested in this graveyard when my scouts spotted you leaving Thunder Forest three days ago. What would I gain by killing you?

Sol: What do you gain by raiding this temple?

Necromancer: Ah, now isn't this the big question? Why am I here? Let me simply say that I am led to believe graveyard contains something which might be very valuable to me.

Zane: If you are after the secrets of my people, then you have failed. The memory vault up there is sealed to all but the members of the High Council, and they are all dead.

Necromancer: Yes, which, I presume, is why you brought the shapeshifter with you. Clever move, Sol! Fool the ancient wards instead of expending energy breaking them. You always had such a gentle touch. *smirk*

Sol: Good god... Eva, you cannot simply do these things. Have you any idea what kind of powers you are unleashing upon the world?

Zane: What things?

Necromancer: Don't talk to me about responsibility, Sol! You left me when I needed you the most, so the way I figure it, what I do now is my own damn business!

Sol: You risk your very soul with these practices. This has to stop.

Necromancer: Stop? Oh, no. It's worked out far too well for me to stop it now. In fact, it should be just about done.

---

Suddenly, a powerful ring which sounded like a thousand bells reverberated throughout the chamber. The last rune on the suspended sphere's surface finally extinguished, and with a thick, metallic screech, it opened up right in the middle. What was revealed inside it was simply breathtaking. blurry lights raced around in circles, passing through each other and distorting, all orbiting a central core. And in the centre, a large red jewel as big as a fist hung suspended in the air.

The deafening ring as the chamber opened was so powerful it caught our heroes by surprise, but Eva the necromancer did not even flinch, for she was expecting the event with great anticipation. While the others reeled from the shock, she disappeared into the darkness, as though yanked by a great chain which pulled her right into the memory vault hanging overhead.

With amazing speed, Reinhardt grabbed the jewel and yanked it out of the memory vault, landing on the ground on the opposite side of the chamber. She stood upright for a moment, waved at our heroes with a self-satisfied grin on her face. Suddenly, her body seemed to explode into a massive fireball, but when the fire flamed out, Reinhardt was nowhere to be found. She had vanished, along with whatever it was that she had stolen.

---

Rasif: What... The hell... Was that noise... Argh! My ears are ringing!

Sol: She breached the vault.

Rasif: What? Say again?

Zane: She breached the vault, you insufferable fool! Can you not see?!?

Rasif: What? The... Shore of the sea? I don't follow!

Sol: Zane, ignore him. Reinhardt stole the conduit which powered the memory vault. It seems this is what she originally came for.

Zane: The conduit? But... Why? The jewel has no practical purpose other than to direct mystical energy from the lay lines into the memory vault. Could she be trying to use it as a focusing stone, somehow?

Sol: That is very unlikely. Conduits like the kind dragons used to link together their vaults are not capable of channelling much power, not much more than a common focus gem which can be found all over the kingdom.

Zane: More importantly, how was she able to break the containment runes on the vault so easily? These were passed down to us by Lady Belifeth, herself. She was one of the greatest mystics in the land and, no offence to your woman friend, but she was decidedly NOT the greatest mystic I have ever seen.

Sol: No. But she has access to a teaching of magic which is far more dangerous than just its power alone might suggest.

Zane: What are you talking about?

Sol: Are you familiar with the name "Zadan Zorr?"

Zane: I do not believe so.

Rasif: Oh, hey, I get it now! You're talking about that book she was looking for in the tomb back then, right?

Sol: Yes. Zadan was a just an average mystic in his time, and to compensate for his lack of power, he developed a technique for tapping into the divinity of magic by sacrificing his own soul. In many ways, he formed was a one-sided infernal contract.

Zane: This... Makes no sense! How can one have an infernal contract without a demon to forge it, and who does one sacrifice his soul to in such a way?

Sol: I do not know. No-one really does. When Zadan's teachings were banned by the Hooded Wizards several centuries ago, most of his books were destroyed, and his secrets died with him. Every hundred years or so, another one of his books comes to light for unscrupulous mystics to fight over, but most of those are cursed and end up killing whoever finds them.

Zane: So, basically, you are merely guessing.

Sol: In large part, yes. I do know this much - Zadan's spells did not carry much raw power, not in themselves, at least, but they had the ability to create incredibly elaborate, sometimes even impossible effects with very little effort. So little, in fact, that even a mystic's apprentice could open a portal into the depths of the inferno.

Zane: These Hooded Wizards wanted to keep them out of the wrong hands, then? Is that why this magic was forbidden?

Sol: It was more than that. The more one used this magic, the more corrupt one's soul became, driving people to madness, despair, possession and even worse fates. Moreover, most of what Zadan wrote in his books was demonic magic. For instance, you saw how Reinhardt disappeared in fire, did you not?

Zane: Yes, what was that spell?

Sol: This is known as "gating." It is a skill inherent to most infernal creatures, which allows them to travel between our world and the inferno. However, what Reinhardt did was travel to the inferno and back into our realm, reappearing in a different location. Instant travel, in other words, but one which carries significant risks, the biggest of which being accidentally leaving behind a stable portal to the inferno.

Zane: Good god!

Sol: This is precisely why this magic is forbidden. That is how Reinhardt managed to penetrate your sanctuary and that is how she was able to undo the eldritch seals on the memory vault here.

Zane: Curse that woman! Not only does she defile one of our holiest sanctuary, but she brings demonic magic into it, as well!

Rasif: Then maybe we should have another chat with her, to tell her about how hurt we are by her rude behaviour.

Zane: What are you babbling on about, Rasif?

Sol: Gating creatures cannot be tracked magically. Their trails disappear as soon as they gate between the planes.

Rasif: So, you're saying that if, and I'm speaking purely theoretically here, someone, let's say me for example, put a tracking rune on her, then that still wouldn't be enough to track her.

Sol: You... Managed to put a tracking rune on her? How?

Rasif: You guys were so busy chatting it up that no-one even noticed that I walked around behind that big pillar over there and slapped her with a rune. It was a pretty good shot from that distance, if I do say so myself. Landed it right on her back where she won't know it's there for probably another couple of weeks.

Zane: That's... Surprisingly thoughtful of you. But why would you do something like that?

Rasif: Hey, that woman ripped me off! Sure, my selling Sol out was probably bad karma for me, but the broad didn't even pay me for the information! Instead, she had me tied up and tossed in a swamp. A swamp! Do you have any idea how bad it smelled?

Zane: You know... I might actually like you, if you had not tried to sell me to the Seekers.

Rasif: Oh, come on, now! How long are planning to stay mad about this? I said I was sorry!

Zane: You very much did not. And I may be too harsh about things, but I have a hard time seeing past people trying to kill me for profit.

Rasif: Ugh, fine! So, shall we go pay little Miss Backstabber a visit?

Zane: Look who's talking.

Rasif: Hey!

Sol: I would like to peruse the memory vault here before we leave.

Zane: That's not possible, Sol. Your woman friend took the conduit.

Sol: All that means is the memory vault is no longer connected to those in the other dragon graveyards, and they are no longer connected to this one, but what lore this vault held can very much still be seen.

Zane: Are you certain about this?

Sol: Yes. The memories inside the shrine draw their power from the mystic crystals buried deep into the core of the mountain. The dragons of old built their fortresses to last.

Zane: How do you know all this?

Sol: When the dragon kingdom fell, I... It was a great disaster that deprived the world of some of its very original inhabitants. Ever since I learned of this fate, I have devoted much time to learning the history, culture and practices of dragons. Their graveyards have always been of particular interest to me, for access to them would reveal so much more.

Rasif: Oh, and what do you hope to gain from that information, Sol? Zane says you have a "fear" you want to "disprove." What might that be?

Sol: ...

Rasif: Figures you wouldn't have an answer. I know you, Sol. You're up to something. You see that, Zane? He's up to something. Do you still want to trust him?

Zane: Yes.

Rasif: What, but how could...

Zane: Enough! Enough of your serpent's tongue, Rasif. I do not betray my allies and I do not go back on my word. I cannot know what you think of my kind and to be honest, I no longer care, but I refuse to be the kind of vile, traitorous monster the world sees me as.

Rasif: Yes, and all that will get you is betrayed.

Zane: I would sooner trust a traitor then mistrust a friend, Rasif. That is who I chose to be when I earned my order, and I will not compromise my dignity on vague suspicions.

Rasif: Oh, great. An idealistic dragon. Just what I always wanted. *roll eyes*

Zane: Sol, you are free to peruse the knowledge within this memory vault, as long as you wait until I access the information first. There is much I need to know.

Sol: Very well.

Rasif: If you guys don't need me, I'll look around a bit. See all the lovely, err... Art and um... Paintings and... Things.

---

And so our heroes rested after the battle, and they had some time to ponder the many questions which had arisen. What was Reinhardt's agenda and why was she after the memory vault conduit gem. If she was not allied with the Seekers, then who was she working for? How was it that our heroes had caught up with her. Chance, perhaps? Or was there more? What information did the memory vault contain, now that it was disconnected?

In the darkness of the cavern, they waited and wondered. About their journey, but also about each other. These unlikely allies were not quick to trust unconditionally. Even Zane, who had been so eager to declare his trust, still harboured doubts. But when the time came and their trust was tested, would they still trust each other, would they band together to oppose a common foe? Or would they turn on each other in pursuit of their own ends?

Only time would tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Rasif: Well... That should be enough. I got about as much stuff as I could carry. Hmm... Do you think we can convince Zane to strap a few gold statues to his back? Those things are heavy!

Sol: It is comforting to know that you have not changed at all, Rasif.

Rasif: Look who's talking!

Sol: Asking Zane to loot his own ancestral temple would be a mistake. In fact, he is guaranteed to be pretty upset at your pilfering when he finds out. And making a dragon upset has historically proven to be a poor decision.

Rasif: Eh, he's been distracted ever since he checked out the vault. He's all mopy and quiet and all. He won't notice if I tuck a few bags of gold coin in my sleeping bag.

Sol: Your sensitivity for his feelings warms my heart.

Rasif: Sensitivity? What are you, now, his mum? He's a god damned dragon! I don't care about his "feelings." He's a big boy now. I'm sure he can handle himself. I mean, he's... He's... Why are you looking at me like this. Oh... He's standing right behind me, isn't he?

Zane: I did not think it was possible to be tired of being angry at someone, but the depths to which you will sink just keep breaking new ground, Rasif.

Rasif: Oh, my goodness! What is all this treasure doing in my sack? Some, uh... Goblins must have put it there while we slept. I'll go put it all back in its place now!

Zane: *sigh*

Sol: What did you find in the memory vaults, Zane?

Zane: Nothing.

Sol: ...

Zane: ...

Sol: ...

Zane: *sigh* I found out that this graveyard holds the body of Irrania.

Sol: Is that someone you knew?

Zane: She was my soul mate. We bound our hearts together over a thousand years ago. I promised her that I would always be by her side, that I would always protect her. She thought it was charming back then. The young apprentice just fresh out of warrior academy swearing to protect a grandmaster of the king. I was just a child then, and she my mentor, but I fell for her from the first moment I looked upon her.

Sol: I am sorry for your loss, Zane.

Zane: Thank you, my friend. I should have been prepared for this. I have seen the state of our capital, I know all of my people are long dead. I thought I was ready for this, but... I do not know any more. I suppose somewhere deep down inside me, I still refused to accept that she was gone. I hoped that maybe, just like me, she had found a way to survive this cataclysm. That maybe... *sigh*

Sol: Tell me more about Irrania.

Zane: Grandmaster Irrania of the Tundra was my life. Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of one day becoming a warrior and serving as her right hand. I never dreamed she would choose me as her soul mate. I was honoured. I lo... I loved her so much, Sol. I swore to protect her. I may have been weak, I may have been inexperienced, but I meant what I said. And she accepted me. She turned down so many suitors of great power and noble birth, to bind herself to a commoner's child who did not even have that impressive a performance score. I swore to protect her, and I failed.

Sol: You should not blame yourself, Zane. There was nothing you could do once you were under Mordrog's curse. You could not have broken it yourself, and you could not have aided your brethren in...

Zane: I know! I know... But I swore to protect her, and I failed. I failed her. What was the point of it all? Why did I train to be a warrior all of this time? The one time it truly mattered, the one time when I had to fight and win, I failed. I do not know what to do now, Sol. I... I do not know if I can go on. We are gifted, my kind, with long life spans. We see many things, we experience many things, and we see the world as it changes. But my gift is now my curse. To live forever when those I loved are dead and I'm to blame? Some gift...

Sol: You cannot blame yourself. If you must blame someone, blame Mordrog for imprisoning you and starting the great war. He is the real evil here.

Zane: Yes... I know...

Rasif: What are you doing?

Zane: Ugh... Not now, Rasif. I am not in the mood to argue with you.

Rasif: Oh, no! Right now!

Zane: ...

Rasif: What happened to the dragon who threatened to replace my face with a boulder? What happened to the proud warrior who fought to defend his honour and dignity? What happened to you?

Zane: *sigh*

Rasif: No, don't sigh at me! You're a dragon, for god's sake! You're one of the proudest, most powerful creatures to ever live! I know you lost someone you loved. I know the world seems like the most rotten place. I know you probably don't even want to go on any more. Well, tough! You'll have to! We all want to just sit down and give up sometimes, but we can't. It's not easy, it's not fun, but there's simply no choice about it.

Sol: Rasif, you are not helping.

Zane: No, he has a point.

Sol: ?

Rasif: I do?

Zane: Ever since I returned to the world, I have been feeling sorry for myself. Oh, woe is me. My people are gone, my home is in ruins... But you are correct, Rasif. I am a dragon warrior. I swore a vow to protect all creatures great and small. I swore a vow to oppose all evil. I cannot just give up because I feel sad or hurt or tired. I simply cannot afford to.

Sol: Are you sure?

Zane: It is what Irrania would have wanted. She made me swear that I would always protect the innocents and always keep true to my vows. Irrania was a dedicated protector of all things good. She had a dream of a better time when all creatures, great and small, could live in peace and harmony together. I... I've lost my love, but at least... At least I can still keep her dream alive. I can never give up.

Rasif: Now that's more like it, dragon boy! Now let's go burn us some bad guys!

Sol: ...

Zane: Ugh... You know, Rasif, much as I appreciate what you did for me, you need to learn when to just shut up and not ruin a good moment.

Rasif: Sorry...

Zane: Ugh... Either way, enthusiasm aside, what do we actually do next? Should we look for another memory vault to access?

Sol: I do not think that would be a good idea. Consider events as they have unfolded so far: As soon as your freedom was known to the world, the king mobilised virtually his entire army into dragon hunting duty, as I'm sure you've noticed. Not only is this out of character for King Henry, it is immensely dangerous to leave the borders as unguarded as they are now. When we went to seek help from Rasif, someone had already approached him to set up a trap for us. And when we approached the dragon vault, Reinhardt was already there.

Zane: What are you talking about? None of those events have anything to do with each other.

Sol: As a matter of fact, they do - you. It goes far, far beyond random chance that seemingly unrelated events continuously transpire to hamper your progress and threaten your life, Zane. These are not mere coincidences. There is some unseen puppeteer hiding in the shadows, manipulating events, most likely in an attempt to kill you.

Zane: That... Is really far-fetched. But even if we assumed that were true and this "unseen puppeteer" is able to stay one step ahead of us, why has he not sent the Seekers to ambush us at our destination and been done with it?

Rasif: He's playing his cards close to his chest.

Zane: Huh?

Rasif: Think about it. If those were indeed these Seekers that tried to kill you at my hut, then why were they dressed like human soldiers and why did they use human weapons? The way Sol tells it, they wouldn't need weapons at all to kill you, so why were they posing as human soldiers even when there was no more point to hide? And in general - why use seemingly unrelated events at all and not just direct confrontation? Because whoever this is is trying to get you without actually playing his strongest cards.

Zane: Huh?

Sol: Rasif used to swindle people in cards in the old days. But he has a point. I do not believe we were meant to piece this together and realise there is method to the coincidences. I would not have noticed it, had Reinhardt not been involved. Of all the people left alive today, she is practically the only one who could penetrate a dragon vault so effortlessly. If indeed the aim was to prevent us from accessing the dragon vault, then her intervention was quite literally the only way. This makes her involvement more than a mere coincidence. It makes it a deliberate move.

Rasif: But didn't she say she wasn't working for the Seekers?

Sol: You said the same thing, yet you were. It is very possible that she very much is working for the Seekers, but merely does not know it. Or is she...

Zane: What do you have in mind?

Sol: Something Rasif said on the way here. One of the masked Seekers we met at his hut spoke to him, which got me thinking...

Zane: That Seekers do not speak because they are nothing more than animate ash?

Sol: Precisely. If a supposed Seeker spoke with Rasif, then we know that either there is yet someone else working with the seekers, or much more likely, that the Seekers themselves are working for someone else.

Zane: That is not possible, Sol. The Seekers are the creation of the Fire Lord Hethfeth, himself. They are his instrument of destruction. None other than him could control them.

Sol: But that in itself suggests that they are being controlled. They are mindless minions serving another's will. And they could not be serving Hethfeth himself, for he has been imprisoned deep within Mt. Doom for nearly ten centuries now.

Rasif: Perhaps he escaped?

Sol: That is unlikely. The seals which hold him were placed down by the combined might of the entire pantheon of elder gods, most of whom are long since gone. There is not enough power left in the world to break his seals. And even if there were, then trust me - everyone would know about it.

Zane: Maybe the seals have corroded and his essence is seeping through?

Sol: I doubt it. That is not how the divine wards operate. But even if they were, Mr. Doom is inaccessible to all, even dragons, so manually checking the seals is out of the question. At this point, our safest bet for uncovering more clues to this mystery is finding Reinhardt, ideally before Rasif's tracking wears off or is discovered.

Zane: Would that truly be useful? You said it yourself that she probably does not know she is working for the Seekers, or whoever might be controlling them. How will finding her help us?

Sol: Unlike Rasif, Reinhardt is not a simple mercenary.

Rasif: Hey!

Sol: If she is gathering dragon vault conduits, she must have her own reason for it that whoever is behind this is using to guide her into our path. I have a sneaking suspicion that she was guided along this path artificially to serve as our enemy, and that uncovering her story would help shed much light on this.

Zane: A "suspicion?" Does it not seem foolish to travel half-way across the kingdom just to pursue what amounts to a baseless hunch?

Sol: Yes. However, consider our options: We cannot reach Mt. Doom to verify the magical seals on Hethfeth's tomb. We could seek out another dragon graveyard, in the process letting Rasif's tracking rune time out and losing our ability to find Reinhardt. Or we could go after her, safe in the knowledge that the dragon graveyards will be there when we get around to them.

Zane: Unless Reinhardt decides to rob another one.

Sol: But since we are tracking her to begin with, it doesn't matter where she goes. If she goes to a dragon graveyard, then we will go to one. However, I would prefer to confront her in a less mystical place if at all possible.

Zane: Why?

Sol: Zadan's magic is weak, but it is capable of overpowering mystical auras and feeding on their power. Within a magical shrine, her abilities are amplified. Her ability to summon undead would be greatly increased and the distance of her gating spell is much greater. If we catch her in a town or out in the open, she will have much less opportunity to protect herself.

Rasif: I like the way you think! You don't know how long I've waited to get my hands on that woman!

Zane: I can imagine.

Rasif: Err... Not like that. Though, now that you mention it, that might not be a bad idea, too.

Zane: *roll eyes*

Sol: Shall we consider this decided, then?

Zane: Well, I do not suppose we have much choice in the matter. Find Reinhardt it is.

Rasif: Yeah, let's go. Oh, wait, hold on a minute!

Sol: ?

Rasif: Yeah, you said something about being worried about something in memory vaults and you wanted to check it out. What was that?

Sol: ...

Zane: I mean no disrespect, Sol, but I would appreciate it if you were a little more open with me.

Rasif: Whereas I very much do mean at least some disrespect. Come on! Do you have something to hide?

Sol: As a matter of fact, no. I turned out that my concern was completely unfounded.

Rasif: And what was your concern?

Sol: ...

Zane: Sol, please.

Sol: I... Suppose there is no harm in discussing this. My original fear was that Mordrog's essence had tainted the memory vault network of the dragons, and that this was what caused the catastrophe that destroyed their capital and devastated their species. Considering the catastrophe reapplied Mordrog's old curse of silence on all dragons who survived, that seemed like a likely scenario.

Zane: You suspected Mordrog's essence was present within the memory vault and you did not warn me before I accessed it?

Sol: Zane, Mordrog's essence cannot infect you through the memory vault. That was never its purpose there. If I felt there was any danger to you, I would not have permitted you to use the vault.

Rasif: Oh, yeah, because you're the caring type.

Sol: Allow me to explain. When Mordrog still led his campaign of destruction, he had many different plans to achieve his goal. One of these plans was to infect the dragon memory vault network with his essence and in so doing destabilise the very lay lines which they had built their temples upon. Why he wanted that, I am still not sure.

Zane: Is that not how you described the catastrophe that wiped my people to me?

Sol: Yes. From the very first day I heard of the tragedy, I suspected that Mordrog's old plan had eventually succeeded, even if a century after Mordrog himself had fallen. This is the primary reason he sought to enslave as many dragons as he could manage. His ultimate goal was to catch either a member of the High Council or a dragon whose aura was close enough to one of the members, which would grant him access to the memory vaults. I always hoped he had failed, and that the catastrophe which destroyed your people was merely a coincidence. I am relieved to know that I was right.

Zane: I am not sure I can find as much solace in your revelation as you do, Sol.

Sol: Nor should you, my friend. Your loss is unimaginable and tragic. Nothing could ever make up for it. But had I found Mordrog's essence in the vault, this would have meant doom for the world.

Rasif: Aw, you always talk about doom and gloom, Sol.

Sol: And with good reason. Given enough time, that essence could have collected enough of the natural energy which circulates along the lay lines to allow Mordrog to manifest himself on the world once more. Only this time, the world has no more heroes to oppose him.

Zane: Good god! How could you not have told me this, Sol?

Sol: I needed to make sure, Zane. I would have told you either way, but I needed to know the truth before I discussed it.

Rasif: So, scales, you still want to trust him?

Sol: I am sorry I have not been very forthcoming, Zane, and that I probably will not be in the future. I can promise you this much - I will not keep from you any information which is important to your own quest. But there are certain things that I simply cannot discuss unless it is absolutely necessary or no longer important. This was one of them.

Rasif: Yeah, and who gets to choose what's necessary and what isn't? So if we're walking into a demon creature's den, would that be necessary enough to tell us?

Zane: Why are you doing this, Rasif?

Rasif: Doing what? Questioning his trustworthiness? Simple - I do not trust Sol. And neither should you. I mean, if he doesn't trust you enough to tell you something as important as this, why do you trust him? I mean, you've known him for, what? A month? Two months? How much do you know about him?

Zane: I know enough. Why do you mistrust him so much, yourself? You are clearly still alive.

Rasif: Bah! Do what you want, but don't say I didn't warn you. I liked you better when you were angry and shouting all the time. At least then I knew you were in charge. That's what I hoped to snap you back to with my little speech before. But if you're determined to be soft, trusting, gentle kind of dragon, then be my guest. It's your funeral.

Zane: You know what, Rasif? I think I am finally used to your insufferable insolence. You no longer bother me. I can simply acknowledge your irritation and ignore it. It is almost enjoyable, in a way.

Rasif: Hmph! Well, why don't I go pilfer some treasure from your precious temple, then! See how much THAT bothers you! Ha!

Zane: *shake head*

Sol: We should move on. I have finally been able to pinpoint Rasif's tracing rune. It is somewhere South-East of here, approximately a hundred miles. If my estimate is correct, Reinhardt should be somewhere in the castle city of Waris.

Zane: A large city might be problematic for me to move around in.

Rasif: I think I have an idea to help with that, actually.

Zane: Do tell, then, oh annoying one.

Rasif: I'll tell you on the way, oh ungrateful one.

Sol: I agree. We should start moving. If we are moving overland, it will take us over a week to get to the city.

---

And so our heroes left the dragon graveyard behind them, and only a few precious treasures lighter, as well. Though the mystery of their unknown adversaries had not become any more clear, at least now they had a goal ahead of them - find the necromancer Eva Reinhardt and discover what her agenda is, as well as who has put her up to it. It sounds so simple, but practice is rarely as simple to enact as plans are to plot.

But what of the Seekers? Could they really be serving their old god, returned from damnation? And what of the human king? Has he been influenced in his decision? Every step brings new answers, yet ever step seems to bring even more questions, as well. Can our heroes stay the course and unravel this mystery, or will their group itself unravel from within, undone by mistrust and hidden secrets?

For the moment, all seems stable and secure, but there is much more yet to transpire.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Zane: Are you serious? That is your idea?

Rasif: Trust me, Zane, it will work. I know you're pretty big, but I guarantee I can polymorph you into a horse, no problem. Sneaking into Waris like that should be easy!

Zane: My god... Do you even listen to yourself when you speak?

Rasif: Oh, what? Mr. Dragon too important to be turned into a beast of burden? Get over yourself.

Zane: I am immune to magic, you dolt! Did you learn sorcery from a cook book?

Sol: He didn't learn sorcery at all. Magic is innate to his spe...

Rasif: You're immune to magic?!? The... Wha... How does that make any sense?!?

Sol: The bodies of dragons are impervious to any and all magical effects that...

Rasif: What about Mordrog's curse, huh? Weren't you under his spell for, what? 500 years?

Zane: I don't know, I'm not a scholar, myself.

Sol: If you would let me finish, I can explain. ... Good. Dragons are magic incarnate. Their bodies are built from the essence of magical energies as they develop inside the egg, and they spend their entire lives accumulating more magical energy and transforming it into tangible matter. Spells which attempt to affect a dragon's body with magical energy directly are simply absorbed into the dragon's essence, actually making him stronger.

Zane: But that still doesn't explain how Mordrog was able to enchant me, Sol. I've always wondered about this, myself. Me and my kind are supposed to resist magic, yet we fell by the dozens to his insidious spells.

Sol: Your body is, in essence, a golem of artificial matter, but deep inside that shell resides a soul. That soul is a living being which can be affected by a high enough concentration of black magic. Your body cannot be enchanted, but your mind can, and through it your body affected.

Zane: Sol... Do you realise that what you just described is magic that no sorcerer in the world should know? That the very dragon scholars of old were not aware of? And you just explain this as though it is some off-hand curiosity?

Rasif: Yeah, starting to doubt him now, dragon boy? I'm telling you, there's something wrong about that guy, and no - I don't mind saying it to your face, Sol old buddy!

Zane: Sol, what is the meaning of this?!?

Sol: No human was supposed to know the secrets of the dragons, that much is true. But you are mistaken if you believe that the dragons themselves did not know. The dragon elders knew far more than you suspect, Zane. They shared these secrets with humans when they first taught magic to them, but those who learned from Uriel the teacher swore to take the secrets to their graves. Not all of them did.

Zane: What are you suggesting? That my king lied to me?

Sol: Not your king. Your elders. Those few ancient dragons who hid even from their own society and who advised the kings and queens of history. They held secrets far more powerful than this, and they shared much with Grandmaster Ulrich and his followers ten centuries ago. More than they should have. They shared secrets which could endanger their very species. They trusted the humans, and as you are probably aware by now, humans cannot be trusted.

Rasif: You're a human. Why are we trusting you, huh?

Sol: ...

Rasif: See? See? You still wanna' trust that guy?

Zane: Sol, look at me... No, do not look away! Look into my eye. Please, answer me this question: Can I trust you?

Sol: I made a promise to help you find out what happened to your people, Zane. I will not betray my word, and I will not betray you.

Zane: ... I believe you.

Rasif: What!?! What are you talking about? He just told you you shouldn't trust humans and you still trust him? He knows how to kill you if he wanted to! Why are you trusting him?

Zane: Because I do not wish to be like you! Because I do not wish to live in fear, do not wish to push away the only people I have. Even you, Rasif, though I cannot stand you, I still consider a friend.

Rasif: What, seriously? You trust me? I mean... Yeah, of course, friend! You can trust me!

Zane: I trust you to be your untrustworthy, insufferable self. I trust that deep down inside you, past the loud, insulting exterior, there is goodness. I know you would betray me if there were coin to be earned for it. I know you do not like me very much. But I also know that you trust me.

Rasif: I'm... Glad you feel that way.

Zane: You have been with us for how long now? Months? This entire time, you've known that I could simply turn around and bite your head off if I felt like it, yet you do not tremble in my presence, and you still have the gall to infuriate me, even intentionally, I suspect. I trust you as far as you trust me, Rasif. and I trust that you are a better person than you want to let yourself believe you are.

Rasif: Err... Come on, now, Zane. You're getting creepy on me. I'm only with you for her bounty.

Zane: What bounty?

Rasif: Ack, damn it! I mean, for her... Revenge! I'm only with you for revenge against Reinhard!

Sol: *sigh* Of course, I should have known. The king is offering a large bounty for Reinhardt's head, is he not?

Zane: You intend to kill that woman?

Rasif: What, no! Ok, first of all, no, I do not intend to kill her. The reward is specifically for bringing her in alive. Secondly, what difference does it make to you? I mean, we've already agreed that I'll accompany you only as far as Waris anyway. What's the problem? You get your info out of her, then I bubble her up and drop her off the nearest guard post and claim my reward. Everybody wins, right?

Sol: *head shake*

Zane: Surprisingly... This does not surprise me, Rasif. It is who you are, I suppose.

Rasif: Aw, geez! Now you're really getting creepy. Can you please be a little less understanding? I liked you better when you were angry all the time.

Zane: Well, there is still the problem of getting me inside the castle city. With Rasif's "brilliant" idea shot down...

Rasif: Hey! I'm standing right here!

Zane: ... we seem to be out of options. I? have to ask, however - do I really need to be inside the city? I am certain the two of you can get in with much less trouble if I just hit behind that hill over there and waited.

Rasif: You sure you want to let Sol out of your sight?

Zane: *roll eyes*

Sol: That would not be a good idea. I have been tracking Reinhardt to Waris for two weeks, which means she must have set up a large-scale mystical ward, possibly big enough to cover the entire plane all the way to the river. I can suppress her ability to detect magic - yours, in particular - but I can only do so if you are nearby, which means that we must travel together. And while I could hide with you, I expect you to agree with me that Rasif cannot be trusted to do this on his own.

Rasif: Yeah, so much for trusting your friends! Thanks a lot for the confidence, Sol!

Sol: You have done much to earn my confidence in you. But this is a job for which your magic alone would not be sufficient even if I were to trust you. I believe I may have a solution, however. It is a spell called "local invisibility."

Rasif: Let me guess. You want to make the dragon invisible and just fly him over the ramparts? Brilliant! Except for the fact that he's immune to magic. Or are you planning to mess with his soul now? I mean, you know how to and all.

Zane: Yes, I would like to know what you intend to do before you do it.

Sol: Dragons' bodies are immune to magic which seeks to affect them magically. They are not, however, immune to magic which creates physical effects, which then affect their bodies. Magic such as telekinesis or, in this case, light refraction, can still have their full effect. What local invisibility does is it creates a roughly form-fitting telekinetic field around an object, bending light around it such that the object becomes functionally invisible. It is complicated to explain in more detail, but it will work on Zane, and it will not harm him in any way.

Zane: This sounds clever. What shall I do, then? Just fly over the city walls and meet on the inside?

Sol: No. The spell is called local invisibility for a reason - the field's effect is only convincing at close range, 20 to 30 metres at most. If you take flight, then you will be within full view of all guard towers along the rampart. They may not see a dragon precisely, but they will see a large blurry shadow flying over. The illusion will only work at street level.

Rasif: Aha! So that's where I come in, then!

Zane: Pardon?

Rasif: If you can't fly over the wall, that means you need to take the main gate. It's the only entrance big enough for you to fit through. Ideally, we'll have to do this at night when there is no traffic and there are fewer officials to suspect foul play.

Zane: I assume you have a means of opening the gate, then?

Rasif: Yup! I know the captain of the guards here in Waris. I posed as a nobleman for about a year some time ago, and I spent a lot of time with Captain Cheng then. Well, until the real nobleman showed up and I got thrown in jail, but I spent some time with him even then. Enough time to be able to impersonate him, that's for sure.

Zane: Impersonate?

Rasif: Um, yeah! Shapeshifter, remember? I mean, I know I've been staying in this form for the entire time we've been together, but that's mostly because I like it. The loose skin of an old man feels so liberating. Besides, shifting forms hurts like you would believe.

Zane: I see. You will transform into the captain of the guards here and order the main gate opened just long enough for me to pass by. Are you certain the guards will believe you?

Rasif: Oh, they'll believe me! Captain Cheng runs a pretty tight shift around here. I've seen him execute a number of guards just for not following his orders immediately. One guy he stabbed in the throat just because he didn't hear him right. Cheng was funny like that. Anyway, the guards here are terrified of the guy. As long as I have his form, they will do whatever I say without even stopping to think about it.

Sol: This sounds like a good idea. It is certainly much easier than anything I had come up with. Go ahead and begin preparing for your transformation. Waris should be right over this hill, so we should camp here until night time.

Zane: Are we sure we can trust him to not call the guards on us?

Rasif: Hey, what happened to that "trust your friends" speech?

Zane: *laugh* I trust you to be you, Rasif.

Sol: We will be with him the entire time. There should be no danger.

Rasif: Yeah, thanks for the confidence, guys. Thanks a lot! I really appreciate it!

---

And so our heroes reached their destination. Just over the hill, the castle city of Waris stood strong and tall. Its legendary ramparts towered high into the heavens, with its capitol tower seeming to reach up to the gods, themselves. Waris had been built by dragon labour in the war against Lord Mordrog and his thralls, made to serve as the human king's stronghold in the region. One of only a dozen such collaborative fortresses, the city was the pride of the entire province. Secure, impregnable, safe. Even a mighty dragon like Zane would not be able to storm this castle, for it had been built to withstand all the might of Lord Mordrog's armies of abominations.

But our heroes had a plan - they would impersonate Captain Cheng, the city's captain of the guards, and then use this advantage to bring Zane into the city quietly. As luck would have it, the captain was at the time out of the city on business, ironically investigating false dragon sightings in the neighbouring villages, so the city guard would have been expecting his return. Sometimes fate can be kind to the unfortunate, it seems.

But did our heroes truly trust each other as much as they seemed? Zane was adamant in proclaiming his trust for Sol, his mysterious saviour, but one has to wonder if he had not started to suspect his friend of something. This mere man had proven himself far too knowledgeable on subjects no human should, and in his haste to proclaim his trust, Zane had neglected to ask for details. How did Sol know these forbidden truths? He did not know. Rasift, on the other hand, was upfront about his distrust of Sol. That was how he operated. But was Rasif himself trustworthy? He had already tried to sell his friends for money once, and everything he had done since had been self-serving. There did seem to be plausible self-serving motivation for him to not betray Sol and Zane this time, but one never knows.

As darkness fell and the castle city of Waris went to sleep, our heroes put their plan into action. Distract the guards, bring Zane in along the dry moat, get the drawbridge lowered and the main gate opened, and leave before anyone grows suspicious. But would it work?

---

Captain Cheng?: Guards!

Guard: Y-yes sir!

Captain Cheng?: Open this gate immediately!

Guard: B-but, sir, your orders were to...

Captain Cheng?: *scowl*

Guard: I-I mean, yes sir! I will... I will open the gate immediately! *walks towards the gate* Open the main gate and lower the drawbridge!

Another Guard: What? But Captain Cheng's orders were to keep the gate closed.

Guard: God damn it, Jenkins! Open this gate or I will have your head on a pike!

Another Guard: Yeah, so will the captain when he finds out.

Captain Cheng?: You are testing my patience!

Guard: I-I will have it done immediately, captain! *turns around* You idiot! The captain is right here! You open this gate or you can kiss your ten gold piece bonus goodbye!

Another guard: Bu-wha... No! Argh! Fine, but this is on your head!

Guard: T-the g-gate is op-pening, captain, sir!

Captain Cheng?: Good! Now fall in, all of you! I need to see your stances, so do not move and do not speak!

Yet Another Guard: Woah! Did you feel that?

Captain Cheng?: Do you have a problem hearing, soldier? Did you not hear me say to FALL IN and NOT MOVE?!? I gave you an order, now follow it!

Yet another guard: But sir! It felt like a giant beast walking on...

Captain Cheng?: FALL IN! Do not argue with me, do not try to explain yourself! Do as you are told and fall in! I don't feel anything. Do you feel anything? Does anyone feel anything? Does anyone here feel like arguing with me? Huh? Do you? I'm listening!

All Guards Together: Sir, no sir!

Captain Cheng:? Good! Now hold your god damn positions and don't move! There... Hmm... Feet together, soldier! You there! Shoulders up! You're not on a picnic here! Erm... Oh, you over there! Is that any way to hold a spear? Hold it upright, don't let it lean forward! You, soldier! Your uniform is dirty! Clean it up! And, er... Oh, that's enough for today, guards! I want you to close this gate behind me, and do not speak to anyone of my passing. Do you understand? I said, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!?

All Guards Together: Sir, yes sir!

Captain Cheng: Good! Now close the door.

Guard: ...

Another Guard: ...

Guard: ...

Another Guard: Dude, are you, OK? Your face is pale like a sheet.

Guard: Get your hands off me!!! *huf huf* God! My heart is in my throat. I... I need to sit down... Get me a chair. Someone get me a god damn chair! *breath* I... Really... Hate his inspections... *deep breaths*

Another guard: You can say that again.

---

Zane: Wow, Rasif. That was an amazing performance.

Rasif: *wheeze* Ack! That really *cough* killed my voice. I'll have a *wheeze* sore throat for a week now. *choke*

Zane: I was certain the guards would spot me when I crossed that rickety drawbridge, but you really held it together. It was actually quite amusing to see them bounce around from my footsteps while you were yelling at them. They had that shell-shocked look on their faces that simply said "I hear nothing! I sense nothing!" while they are swaying around. *hearty laugh* That was amazing!

Sol: Quiet, you two. We are invisible, but not inaudible.

Zane: Sorry. But really, Rasif, I am impressed. I did not know shapeshifters could be this convincing. But did you not say shapeshifting was not something you liked doing?

Rasif: *wheeze* Yes? *cough* Why?

Zane: Well, I can see you have transformed back into your old man form. If it a burden to transform, why transform back?

Rasif: *wheeze* Can I *hack* explain later? *deep breaths*

Sol: I can explain for you. Krotites like Rasif have no "natural" form to speak of. When they are born, they take the shape of the parent they are born from, but with enough patience and work, they can alter their neutral state into something else. This neutral state is a state which takes no effort to maintain, whereas all of their transformations have to be consciously maintained, or they will fail. Thus, transforming away from his neutral state is difficult for Rasif, but transforming back into it is effortless. Does this answer your question.

Rasif: *hack* Thank you, Mr. *wheeze* Know-It-All! * cough*

Zane: Oh, here is another question for you, Sol. If we are invisible, how can we see each other?

Rasif: *cough* Do you really want another lecture?

Sol: It is both difficult and boring to explain. Suffice it to say that the ability to see other invisible people is part of the local invisibility spell. Do not worry about exposing yourself. Just try to step softer and keep your voice down. We should be fine then.

Rasif: *ahem* So where are we heading now? That transformation took a lot out of me and I can't follow my own tracking rune any more.

Sol: It feels like it is somewhere deeper in the city. Over... That way. It should be less than 500 metres or so.

Rasif: What do we do when we get there? I say we shoot Reinhardt in the back and go collect the reward.

Zane: Um... No? Could you think of someone other than yourself for five minutes?

Sol: We came here to find out what she wanted with the memory vault conduit and possibly who put her up to it, whether she has anything to do with the Seekers and generally all the information we can muster. This means that when we find her, we will observe her actions and if necessary question her.

Zane: In other words, we need her conscious and in a mood to speak. So no shooting magic missiles at her, Rasif!

Rasif: Geez! OK, fine! I'm just asking, is all! You guys are so touchy!

Sol: Quiet. We are getting near.

---

And so our heroes made their way into the castle city of Waris. The soldiers at the main gate are far too shell-shocked to pose a threat, but they were never the worry. As our heroes approach the den of this Reinhardt the Necromancer, a whole slew of much more pressing dangers arise. But more importantly, real answers finally seem close at hand. What truths will our heroes uncover?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Rasif: We need to move faster. We're running out of night time!

Zane: It is midnight in autumn. How are we running out of night time?

Rasif: Ha-ha-ha. Pick on the little guy. Very funny. What, so we shouldn't move faster, then, Mr. Know-It-All?

Sol: Quiet. My spell can conceal our forms, not our voices.

Rasif: Oh, what?!? You're hushing me, but you don't say anything about Thunderfoot over here? Seriously, Zane, can your footsteps be any louder?

Zane: I am doing the best I can. Is it my fault that these humans chose to build their roads out of compacted cobblestone?

Rasif: See? See? He's making a racket! Why are you only hushing me?

Sol: Quiet!!!

Rasif: ...

Sol: I can muffle the low rumble of Zane's heavy footsteps, but I cannot do anything about you shrill voice.

Zane: *snerk*

Rasif: What the... No! NO! My voice is not shrill!

Zane: Well... It kind of is.

Rasif: Oh, you should talk, dragon boy! Your voice sounds like a landslide! A really slow, really loud landslide!

Zane: I am a dragon. Of course my voice is deep. We are very large creatures so it's natural that...

Sol: Quiet! Both of you!

Zane: ...

Rasif: ...

Zane: ...

Rasif: *this is so your fault*

Zane: *you are the one with the shrill voice*

Rasif: *nuh-huh*

Sol: Look! If you two do not stop whispering back there, the spell WILL break! Just keep quiet. We are almost there. I can sense the tracking rune is close by.

Rasif: ...

Zane: ...

Rasif: *this is so your fault*

Zane: *rolleyes*

Sol: There! The tracking rune is in that building across the street. It feels like it is... On the second storey, on the North... No, North-Easter side of the building. We need to walk around.

Female Voice: *inaudible speech*

Rasif: I can hear voices, but I can't tell what they're saying.

Male Voice: *inaudible speech*

Zane: Who is she speaking with?

Sol: Zane, can you lift us up to the window?

Zane: Very well. Climb up on my back. And Rasif - watch where you are standing. My scales are more sensitive than they look.

Rasif: Your scales are made of stone, you big baby.

Zane: Tread carefully up there, or I eat you.

Rasif: If I had a penny for every time you said that...

Zane: *glare*

Rasif: Fine, whatever. I'll watch where I step. God you complain!

Zane: Look who's talking!

Sol: I think I can hear her. Quiet, you two.

Reinhardt: Oh, don't patronise me! You didn't warn me I would be facing a grandmaster of magic, and now you have the gall to complain?

Voice: If you had simply done as you were told, everything would have gone as I explained it.

Rasif: Why does that voice sound familiar...

Reinhardt: If I had done as "I was told," I'd have wasted a good three quarters of my energy just gating, and you're not paying me well enough for that.

Zane: Who is she speaking with, I cannot see another person in the room.

Sol: Do you see that glass sphere on the table? It seems Reinhardt has charmed a gipsy's crystal ball to serve as a psychic focus. How very crafty of her...

Voice: Your greed tests my patience, Miss Reinhardt. Do not test my patience. It is bad for your health.

Reinhardt: Oh, honey, I didn't know you cared! And here I thought you were just using me to do your dirty work. In that case, do you mind if I keep this little trinket I got from the dragon tomb?

Voice: Are you threatening me?

Reinhardt: What do you think? My price just doubled, and that includes this job, too. If you want to see your little gem, then I need the thousand gold pieces you promised, as well as another thousand bonus for having to deal with Sol and his little pet...

Rasif: *snicker*

Reinhardt: And that annoying dragon!

Zane: *toothy grin*

Rasif: *scowl*

Voice: Who are you to be making demands of me, woman! You shou...

Reinhardt: "Woman?!?" Now you listen here, sunshine, and you listen good! I get my money by the end of tomorrow, or I step on this little jewel, and I walk. You get me?

Voice: That would be most unwise.

Reinhardt: Oops! I just dropped it on the ground. I sure hope I don't accidentally step on it, o clumsy me.

Voice: Very well! You will have your money, deposited as usual. AFTER you deliver the package to the dead drop.

Reinhardt: In your dreams, baby boy. I get my money first, then you get your trinket. I have no use for it, and you don't seem like you'll miss a couple thousand gold pieces. It's win-win! As long as you play nice.

Voice: ... So be it. This much money will require time to put together. Expect your payment in the Shinku Mountains dead drop within the week.

Reinhardt: A week isn't good enough, sunshine. The deal was for today!

Voice: The deal was also for a thousand gold pieces. Doubling that will take time. Don't worry. You'll have your money.

Reinhardt: I better! ... And one more thing: Sol said something about "Seekers." Would you happen to know anything about that?

Voice: The Seekers are a myth. That is all there is to it.

Reinhardt: You don't seem surprised. How do you even know Sol, anyway? You didn't react when I mentioned his name.

Voice: You will have your money, Miss Reinhardt. I suggest you confine your interests to that. *static*

Reinhardt: "Confine my interests," huh? No such luck, mysterious man, because now I know you're broadcasting from the capital city of Dunai. Classy!

Zane: Is she talking to herself?

Rasif: Dunai? Son of a... I know that voice!

Sol: Keep your voice down!

Reinhardt: Hah! And to think that gipsy woman was right all along. Her crystal ball really can track mystical energies across great distances. Best hundred gold pieces I've ever spent. I should visit flea markets more often. They're so...

Undead: ...uuur...

Reinhardt: What? Where?

Undead: ...uuur....

Reinhardt: What the... How did... Hmph! Very smooth, Sol. Very smooth. Why don't you show yourself.

Zane: Rasif!

Rasif: Sorry!

Reinhardt: In fact, why don't I do it for you, knowing how shy you are and all.

---

Reinhardt did a simple, waving hand gesture and murmured a single, cryptic word, and in an instant, great fire shot from within the building's walls, spraying stone and flaming cinders in all directions. A deafening explosion towered towards the heavens, illuminating the night sky in a brilliant yellow glow. But while loud and colourful, this explosion's actual force was underwhelming, not even enough to knock a man off his feet. A hastily-summoned crystalline mystic shield protected Sol from the flying debris, and though Rasif cowered in panic, a massive black scaly wing protected him, as well. Zane, as was expected from the pride of the dragon warriors, had reacted swiftly to protect his ally. As for the dragon himself, he was safe. Immune to fire and well protected from physical damage, he was in no danger of harm.

When the fire subsided and the smoke cleared, our heroes beheld a curious sight. The building Reinhardt had taken refuge in remained almost intact, save for the fact that it was now missing its roof and second storey. However, unexpectedly, the only the walls had gone, while the furniture, carpets and even the pottery on the shelves remained untouched. And Reinhardt herself still stood where she had been, arms crossed with a self-satisfied grin on her face. It soon became clear that whatever magic she had used, its purpose had not been to kill, or even to destroy.

---

Reinhardt: Nice fireball, huh? I've had a lot of practice with explosive runes. It looked like the flames went high enough to be seen from that guard tower over there. Knowing the guards here in Waris, they will be here in around ten minutes

Zane: What is the point of this exertion, necromancer? Are you trying to intimidate us?

Sol: She is trying to make it so we cannot fight her, or we will be exposed to the guards.

Reinhardt: Clever boy! You should listen to him, toothy. If you provoke me, I can easily dispell that invisibility charm you have going on, and I know that even Sol isn't good enough to recast it before the guards arrive.

Zane: Do this, and I will reduce your body to ashes, human.

Reinhardt: And we wouldn't want that, now would we? You don't want to get exposed and killed by steam cannons and I don't want to die by dragon fire. So why don't we just go our separate ways and not die? That way, everybody wins!

Sol: Who were you speaking with Reinhardt?

Reinhardt: Wouldn't you like to know? Though I suppose that, since you listened in, you already know I don't know who that was. It's just some rich person who contacted me about a year ago.

Zane: What do you know about the Seekers?

Reihardt: Were you not listening in, sweetheart? Nothing. The first I heard about them was from you when you oh so rudely interfered with my job.

Sol: How did you end up taking up Necromancy? All the Necromancers of the old order were dead long before we met the first time.

Reinhardt: Questions, questions! Are you trying to interrogate me, Sol? Because you're not very good at it. In fact, why don't I turn the tables on you. How did you find me here? I know for a fact you cannot track me through a gate.

Undead: ...uuur...

Reinhardt: What tracking rune?

Undead: ...uuur...

Reinhardt: And you didn't think to tell me this before?!? You useless, worthless worthless corpse!

Undead ...u...

---

In the middle of its tortured moan, the undead creature burst from the inside, as though from internal pressure. Its body tore into many small, slimy bits and disgusting liquids, spraying in all directions and soundly drenching all present. There was a very good reason why Necromancy have never been a widely-accepted branch of magic in high-society sorcery.

---

Reinhardt: God damn those stupid things! It's no wonder they keep asking for brains...

Rasif: Eeeew!

Zane: You! When did you get over there? Is that my... Is that my crystal ball?

Rasif: It WAS your crystal ball. Now it's our crystal ball. You see? That's what happens when you throw people into swamps - they get even.

Reinhardt: Give that back or I will...

Zane: *growl*

Reinhardt: Smooth, Sol. Smooth. Fine, take it, for all the good it will do you. I already learned what I needed from it. Oh, and as for your little tracking rune - that is, the OTHER tracking rune you just put on me - don't think you can fool me twice. Oh, speaking of which...

---

Suddenly, a fire erupted from beneath Reinhardt. It shot up with great ferocity, engulfing her body like liquid and burning ever brighter and ever hotter. No more than a second later, it flamed out in a loud puff, and Reinhardt was gone. The undead she had left behind collapsed to the floor like marionettes without strings. In just an instant, Reinhardt had escaped once more. But there was something else which would present a much bigger problem.

---

Guard: Draaagon!

Zane: What is going on!

Sol: Confounded! The feedback from Reinhardt's gate disrupted my local invisibility bubble. They can see us now! I should have seen this coming!

Rasif: Do something!

Guard: This way! There is a dragon here!

Rasif: Kill him!

Sol: No! He alone is not dangerous.

Zane: Can I not just fly up and over the walls?

Sol: You will be shot down by the steam cannons mounted in the rampart turrets. These are not like the ballistae you have face before.

Rasif: What about that digging spell you used before, Sol? Can't you get us out that way?

Sol: It can only bore through loose soil. It will not work on this cobblestone.

Rasif: What do we do, then? I don't want to be killed by guards! Scratch that, I don't want to be killed, period!

Sol: Give me a minute...

Zane: I have an idea!

Rasif: Oh no...

Sol: What are you...

Zane: No time to explain! Just hold on tight! This might be rough!

---

There are certain sights people associate with dragons: a black shadow in the sky spewing fire, a large creature in a dimly-lit cave towering over a band of adventurers, perhaps even a mighty beast out into the open, harkening back to an old age. What Zane did next was nothing like these. As much as people were surprised to suddenly find a dragon in their city, their surprise was tripled to see this enormous creature galloping through their streets on all four legs, ramming through fortifications and checkpoint gates with the massive, sturdy horns on its head. Zane's massive footsteps sent the ground shuddering with every leap, shaking people out of their beds, overturning carts and punching deep craters into the packed cobblestone. Human cities were simply not built sturdy enough to sustain a dragon's charge like this.

Zane passed by many guards on the way, but their arrows could never hope to penetrate his heavy bony hide. The feared steam cannons had already turned inwardly onto the city, but they were unable to fire at a creature which weaved its way through the narrow city streets. The gunners who manned them dared not fire on their own citizens. The many reinforced gates the city guards used to seal off sections had all been closed, and while the metal in the doors was sturdy, the masonry which held them in place proved to be no much for being gored by a massive black dragon.

Sol and Rasif, in the meantime, hung on for dear life upon the bucking back of this titanic creature in motion. As Zane did not need them to fly, he had folded his wings back to provide some shelter for his friends, both to protect them from archer fire and to keep them from flying off his back. Even so, his sharp, coarse scales bounced the two around, tore their clothes, as a point of fact, gave them both a severe case of road rash. But it could not be helped, for it was either this or prison. Or, in fact, worse.

At the end of the dragon's charge was the same massive city gate which our heroes had originally used to enter the castle city. This, one would think, would not be so easily rammed through, for it was made of high-quality metal and dense wood, and it was anchored to the great walls of the city. But the might of a black dragon is legendary. Straining his muscles for everything they were worth, Zane launched into one final charge, running as fast as he could. He delivered to that gate an impact so severe it shifted the very walls of the castle from their foundation and snapped the dozen or so steel hinges that held it in place. The buckled metal flew out into the darkness, somewhere out past the castle moat, shattering the drawbridge which rested against it into splinters and sawdust. Such was the force of this dragon that it knocked people off their feet throughout the entire city, and the noise was heard for miles around.

Once past the outer walls, the rest of the escape was easy. Zane was easily able to leap over the castle's large moat and, moving with speed one would not expect out of such a huge creature, dashed for the nearby forest before the tower gunners were able to swivel their heavy cannons back towards the outside. A few cannons did indeed manage to turn and fire in time, but by that point the dragon was far enough out of range that their accuracy was simply unreliable. Yet still the thunderous impacts of their heavy shells and fierce concussive force of their high explosives was fierce to behold. Fierce enough, Zane finally realised, to threaten even a mighty dragon.

---

Our heroes escaped from the castle city of Waris with their lives, but they did not do so unnoticed. They had indeed gathered very valuable information, of that there is no doubt. But at what cost? The trail of destruction Zane had left behind in Waris, not least of which being the complete collapse of a large section of its mighty wall, was certain to redouble people's efforts against the dragon.

But, at least, the danger had passed for the moment. Our heroes could once again set up camp and discuss their next course of action. Rasif seemed to recognise the voice of Reinhardts' mysterious benefactor, at least. Who could that possibly be?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Zane: You have got to be kidding.

Rasif: Now you're starting to irritate me! I told you, I'd recognise that voice anywhere. And I'm telling you: that was crown prince Rupert that Reinhardt was speaking with!

Zane: That... Makes no sense. Why would the human prince be dealing with wanted mercenaries? Was he not the one who placed the reward on her head?

Sol: In hindsight, it does make sense. I kept wondering how the king's forces had been able to mobilise and send out dragon hunters so quickly and with so little debate. It has been four centuries since a dragon has last been sighted in these lands, and there has not been a major, public sighting of mystical creatures in at least a century. If prince Rupert is involved, however, and he does indeed want you dead, then it makes sense for him to push for this to happen more quickly.

Zane: How do you even recognise the prince's voice, Rasif? I doubt a swindler like you gets invited to royal dinners very often.

Rasif: Oh, now you're just hurting my feelings, dragon boy. Just because I choose to look like this in front of you doesn't mean I can't put up a pretty face for the high society!

Zane: Riiight.

Rasif: Ha! Shows how much you know. I'm a shapeshifter, remember? I can change into anyone and fit into any environment. It so happens that I did a few jobs for the queen about twenty years back.

Sol: Carmilla!

Rasif: What, seriously? You knew the queen?

Sol: I have met the woman, yes. We crossed paths before she managed to swindle king Henry into marriage. She was an evil, spiteful creature worthy of the Inferno, itself.

Rasif: Tell me about it. Ugh... I still get chills when I think about her!

Zane: Wait, wait, wait! You both knew the royal family? How did you never mention anything about that?

Sol: There is little to tell. I met Carmilla when she was leading a band of marauders harassing the villages of the plains. I encased her in ice and handed her off to the authorities.

Zane: That is all? How did she became queen if she used to be a criminal?

Sol: Magic, I assume. She was a spellcaster.

Rasif: More trickery than magic, actually. I managed to snoop through her confidential documents when I was working for her, and it seems she forged her royal ancestry. Not really sure how she did it, because her documents looked pretty authentic. After that, seducing king Henry was simple. The guy's a womanising idiot, and Carmilla had a silver tongue. In a lot of ways.

Zane: ...

Rasif: Anyway, at the time I'd stolen the identity of a minor duke from the provinces and was living the high life when Carmilla found me out. That woman had a sharp eye for impostors. Instead of turning me in, she forced me to work for her. Nothing too nasty - just information-gathering. She had me trick my way into people's personal archives and dig up dirty secrets she could use to blackmail the rich and powerful. I guess that's how she ended up becoming queen.

Sol: I do not remember you working as a spy for the queen, Rasif.

Rasif: Yeah, about that... Remember that time I came to you with about a hundred bounty hunters on my trail?

Sol: Yes, I do.

Rasif: Well, I kind of... Ran away from the capital. And I may have accidentally swiped proof that the queen was not who she claimed to be.

Sol: That would explain the royal decree, yes. But let me ask you this: why did you not share this proof with me?

Rasif: Well, I was going to, but I kind of sort of made a deal with the mercenaries. They told the queen I was dead and they got to keep the proof. I think they intended to blackmail her with it, their leader was an ambitious fat guy. I think she had 'em strung up from the castle walls within the week, but hey! Better them than me, right? So, yeah, by the time I'd resolved to share it with you, the scroll was gone. Sorry.

Sol: *head shake*

Zane: I still do not understand how any of that ties into the prince. Did you work for him, too?

Rasif: God no! I wouldn't go anywhere near that demon child if I could help it. I mean, Carmilla was evil, sure, but at least she valued her assets. Little Rupert was just sick. He was something like ten or twelve at the time, but man! That kid was not right in the head!

Sol: I have heard some very disturbing stories about the prince, myself.

Rasif: Yeah, I know the stories. You ain't heard half of it. Once, the kid ordered his guards to arrest me behind his mother's back. So they took me to this dungeon where, like, ten people were strung up with chains to the wall, and it looked like they'd been whipped to death. The kid told the guards to leave, and he was just starting to get creative when his mother stormed in, slapped him on the face and ordered me released. Carmilla I was always cautious of, but prince Rupert just scared me.

Sol: So the stories of him torturing animals and people were true?

Rasif: Like I said - the rumours were nothing. I never saw the dungeons, but I found papers of prisoner transfers to the palace, and there were thousands of them coming in, but I never saw any being transferred out. That sick little momma's boy felt like he owned everyone. And Carmilla didn't help matters. She always let him do whatever he wanted, but at the same time she'd always treat him like a little kid. He shut up in front of his mother, but he'd always explode and kill people - literally kill people - whenever she left.

Zane: So this is the human kingdom's crown prince? Why am I not surprised?

Sol: You should be. The human dynasty used to be proud and noble, determined to lead humanity towards a brighter future. But it all fell apart after the great war, after Mordrog's madness broke the world in so many ways. When King Eric the Mighty fell in the last stand for the old capital of Muir, he left a void in the human world that none of his successors have ever been able to fill. Eric was a great man and a great hero. The simple-minded fools who inherited his throne have only driven this kingdom into misery and depression.

Zane: That is... Kind of a dark thing to say all of a sudden. Are you all right, Sol?

Sol: As well as can be expected. It makes no difference now, either way.

Zane: Are you sure that...

Rasif: Forget him! He's always moody. What do we do about this problem with the prince wanting us dead?

Sol: There is nothing to do. Infiltrating the capital is out of the question, and even if we were able to, it would probably be a trap.

Rasif: So, what, then? We go home and write a book? Not my style, Sol. I still have a reward to collect.

Sol: Yes, you do. We know Reihardt will be heading to collect her money from the Shinku mountain range, and while I cannot track her, I can track the warded stashes she uses for dead drops. I know the spells she favours, so it should be easy to find her.

Rasif: Oh, I see. That again, huh? You listen to me, Sol, and you listen good: I'm not here because I like staring at your blank face all day. I'm here for the bounty on her head. As long as you're fine with helping me get that, then fine. But if you're thinking of screwing me over by "saving" her from Rupert's men, we're going to have a problem.

Zane: *snarl* Sit down!

Rasif: *gulp*

Zane: You have some nerve laying threats like this, Rasif, especially since you cannot back them up. If you have a problem with Sol, discuss it, but do not go around acting like you are some kind of big bully. Because I do not appreciate big bullies.

Rasif: *head shake* You are so far gone if you trust that guy so blindly, Zane. He doesn't care about you, or me, or even the kingdom. You know why we're chasing Reinhard? Because he wants to "save" her. You keep sticking your neck out for him, you're gonna' get your head chopped off sooner or later. I've been there.

Zane: Thank you for the concern, but I can take care of myself.

Rasif: Yeah. Keep telling yourself that.

Zane: ...

Rasif: ...

Sol: We should make camp here. Just over that river is the edge of the Shinku Mountain Range. It is dangerous to travel at night beyond that point.

Zane: Dangerous? Have you forgotten you have a dragon with you, my friend?

Sol: Let me rephrase that: unless you fly over the tree line and guide us from there, we will get lost at night, and thanks to the Tarfield Observatory on Mt. Shinra, you will be spotted immediately. We should only move during the day.

Zane: I see. Let us make camp, then.

---

And so, our heroes settled in for the night. It should have been a night like any other, for the three had camped out together for months now, but something was different in the group this time. Dissent was brewing over old subjects never settled as the long companionship was starting to take a toll on everybody's patience, not helped in the slightest by the tension of their latest revelation. For the first night in a long while, the smiles were gone from our heroes' faces, and the calm security of a friend's company was eerily absent.

The campfire burned in the darkness of the forest, crackling to a calming tune. A bright moon shone through the tree tops and a slight breeze create a calm, almost enchanting atmosphere. Yet in the calm of the night, one man still stood away, looking into the flame. He looked, but his eyes were focused into the distance, into the old memories and old events.

---

Sol: ...

Sol: ...

Zane: You have seemed... Troubled of late, my friend. Are you truly feeling well?

Sol: I am fine, Zane. But... Thank you for asking.

Zane: You are welcome.

Sol:...

Zane: ...

Sol: I knew her before. Before... Before it all changed.

Zane: Who did you know?

Sol: Eva...

Zane: Eva?

Sol: Eva Fridrich Reinhardt, the lost little girl I rescued from slavers nearly 20 years ago.

Zane: Reinhardt? That Necromancer we were chasing?

Sol: She was not a necromancer back then. She was not even a mystic. She was just a lost child whose parents had been murdered and their daughter stolen. Part of a debt collection, as I later learned. The poor child had gone almost completely muse from the experience.

Zane: ...

Sol: That is how I first crossed paths with Carmilla, in fact. She had assumed control of a local band of marauders after seducing and murdering their leader and was using them to have her way with the local population. They murdered many innocents, including women and children, and they held many slaves. But most of their other slaves were grown men and women. When I freed them, they simply fled and hid. But Eva had no place to go, nobody to turn to.

Zane: So you took her with you on your travels?

Sol: Yes... I had little choice in the matter. There were no people left in the province to take care of her, and I could not bear to simply leave her in a military camp, where Lord knows what would have happened to her. The kingdom is not what it used to be.

Zane: I see. So that is why you sounded so worried that she had taken up demonic magic when we met her in the graveyard?

Sol: I thought she was dead, Zane. I thought I killed her. But seeing what had become of her... I did not know whether to be happy or horrified. So little makes sense any more.

Zane: Could you not try to talk with her? We should meet her soon, and...

Sol: No. No, it would make no difference. She will no longer listen to me.

Zane: Forgive me if this is too personal, but... What happened between you two?

Sol: *distant smile* We travelled the world together, "doing good," as she put it. In fact, Eva was with me when I first dispelled Rasif's curse, though he is unlikely to remember it. She was very different than she is now. Despite what had happened to her, Eva was always cheerful, always energetic... She was a good person, then.

Zane: Then what happened to her? I mean no offense, Sol, but the Reinhardt I fought in the graveyard was not a good person.

Sol: No... No, the necromancer you fought is not a good person, because she is not the same Eva I once knew. And it is all my fault. I did this to her.

Zane: When you "killed" her?

Sol: No, long before that. I did this to her when I agreed to teach Eva to cast her own spells. Eva had always been a good person, but she always lacked the power to fight for her ideals, so she always sought peaceful solutions. That was all she could do. But when I gave her that power, it... Changed her. Eva became much more forceful, much more violent in her actions. She always meant well, but she never had the wisdom to wield such power. I should have known better than to teach magic to a child, but...

Zane: You liked her?

Sol: Heh... I suppose you could say that. I admired her. I admired her enthusiasm, I admired her honesty. In some way, I wanted to be like her - brave, bold and willing to believe that if you just tried hard enough, things would always work out. I guess I needed someone to tell me that it was all going to be all right in the end, even if it was just a powerless young woman who had no means of making things alright. I know it is pathetic but...

Zane: Sol, listen to me! I know you have your faults - we all do - but of all the things I could accuse you of, "pathetic" is not one of them. I owe you my life and my freedom. It is because of you that I know what became of my people and my family. When you first found me, I was nothing but a hateful, desperate wreck with no purpose in life but to pass the days until I would eventually die. Not only did you give me my life back, but you gave me back my purpose, and all of this without ever asking for anything in return.

Sol: ...

Zane: Even if you do not believe it, you are a great man. I have heard so many of Rasif's stories, heard of how many people you have saved, how many lives you have restored. Sol, few can even dream of being so great.

Sol: Zane, you... You should not trust me so completely.

Zane: I do not care what you may or may not have done in the past, my friend. It does not matter to me. I know that I trust and respect the person who stands before me. For me, that is enough.

Sol: I... There is something I need to tell you... I'm...

Rasif: Oh, for cryin' out loud! Would you love birds keep it down over there? I'm trying to sleep here!

Zane: Hey, mind your own business, Rasif!

Rasif: Eh, bite me! You've been yapping for hours, and I can feel your damn booming voice through the ground! Just confess your love to him and go to sleep already!

Zane: Why, you...

Sol: ...

Zane: Ah, forget it. Sol, did you want to say something?

Sol: Hm? Oh, no, nothing. Just... Thank you.

Zane: You are welcome.

Sol: I mean it. Thank you for the kind words, my friend. It means a lot to me.

Zane: I am just glad you decided to share. I cannot remember you doing this before.

Sol: Heh, you could say I felt as though I could really trust you.

Rasif: God damn you! Go to sleep!

Sol: Shall I place a silence spell on him?

Zane: Please do!

Rasif: Hey, bite me!

Sol: Please do!

Zane: A-ha-ha-ha!

Sol: Sorry, I could not help myself. *smile*

Zane: No, it is nice to see you smiling for a change.

Rasif: OK, I'm taking my sleeping bag up to that hill. When you're done kissing up to each other, wake me up. Or better yet, don't. Just call me when you're ready to go tomorrow. Or is that today now?

---

And so our heroes rested for what little remained of the night, preparing to make an early start at the crack of dawn. And though tempers appeared to have ever so slightly returned to normal, the tension about their upcoming confrontation had not eased a bit. Very soon, they would meet with Reinhardt for the third time, and this time, a confrontation was inevitable. But when the moment of truth arrived, would their alliance still hold?

And what of prince Rupert? Could a member of the royal family truly be involved with the Seekers? And what of the Seekers, themselves? What had become of them after their initial sighting? Were they even real? It seemed that with each revelation, still more questions came up.

Would they ever find answers? Or perhaps the better question is: why do they even care? Time, it seemed, would tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Sol: I did not know that. I had always assumed dragon warrior rites were a test of skill, not wisdom.

Zane: They are both. While it is true that a dragon warrior is required a show of strength to even be accepted into the academy, only those who show responsibility in using their powers are eventually granted a warrior's order.

Rasif: Ugh! When did you two become buddy-buddies?

Zane: It must have happened while you were too busy being grouchy.

Rasif: Ha-ha. Very funny. I might be a little grouchy because I didn't get any sleep thanks to your yapping all night!

Sol: Zane, you have mentioned responsibility before. What did you mean?

Zane: Well... This is somewhat of a controversial subject, even among the high court, but Irrania, at least, firmly believed that the strength and resilience each dragon is born with is not a gift, but rather a responsibility. As far back as recorded history exists, dragons have always been the mightiest of all living creatures, second only to the demigods of old, and some of the older masters still believe that it was always our duty to safeguard the world from destruction.

Sol: It sounds like a noble sentiment.

Zane: It was... In some way, I suppose this is why I fell for my sweet Irrania so. I was so rotten when I was young, seeking only more power, that I may have my way, that I may not be afraid. But she... She was different. So strong, so brave, so... So amazing! And yet she did not seek personal gratification. Irrania was our goddess and saviour. She cared for us, protected us, and she always taught us to fight with honour and dignity.

Sol: Your mate must have been a great dragon.

Zane: She was more than that. Even though our elders shunned her, she never gave up on us. I was never strong, but when I was around her... I was not afraid. I would have willingly laid down my life to protect her... I should have laid down my life to protect her. My dear Irrania should not have had to die alone...

Rasif: Are we there yet?

Sol: Enough, Rasif! Can you not be considerate for just five minutes?!?

Rasif: Wow, hey! What's up with you all of a sudden?

Sol: ...

Zane: It is all right, Sol. I should not dwell in the past, not when we have pressing problems in the present.

Rasif: ...You're pathetic!

Zane: I beg your pardon?

Rasif: When I first met you, you were roaring and yelling and threatening, just a like a dragon should! Now look at yourself. You're reduced to a wimp crying over his lost love and talking about his feelings! What happened to you, Zane? You used to be impressive. Now you're just... Sad!

Sol: Rasif!

Rasif: Yeah, what's it to you, anyway? What, you're suddenly his best friend or something? Why do you keep butting in to chastise me?

Zane: I can address this, Sol.

Rasif: Yeah, I'm breathless...

Zane: Rasif, I no longer yell at you because you are my friend. I used to be very much like you when I was younger. I always used to struggle against the odds of a large, apathetic world, looking out for myself and myself alone. And I can tell you - this is not a pleasant like to live. Irrania saved me from my own personal bitterness and opened my eyes. I can only hope that, one day, you will find someone who can save you, just the same.

Rasif: O.o

Zane: When Sol released me from my curse, I was angry. That monster Mordrog stole five centuries of my life and left me in a world where everyone I loved was long dead, and where I was all alone. I was so used to my dear Irrania being there for me... But then, at some point, I realised that I was not, in fact, alone. I had friends. Sol, the man who rescued me, and who stood by me through thick and thin. And even if you feel otherwise, Rasif, you are my friend, as well.

Rasif: ...You. Are. Amazing! What are you talking about?!? For god's sake, I tried to have you killed and your corpse sold to mercenaries, and you call me a friend? What is wrong with you?!?

Zane: And I seriously entertained the thought of eating you back then, myself. But that was then. This is now.

Rasif: God... How... No, this just makes no sense! Look, I'm not your friend here! I never was! The only reason I stuck with you guys, besides you tying me up and dragging me along, was for the bounty on Reinhardt's head. Once I have that, I'm gone! I don't care about you, your kind or your feelings!

Zane: I no longer believe that, Rasif. I know you like to say these things, I know you like to act tough and uninterested. But I still believe that, deep down inside, you are a good person. Even if you refuse to admit it.

Rasif: I can't believe this... How can... Ugh, fine! What about Sol, then? How can you keep believing that guy? You think he's human? Well, I got news for you! He's not! He's at least 150 years old. You didn't mention that, did you, buddy!

Zane: Sol?

Sol: ...

Rasif: Yeah, that's right. I didn't spend 500 years under Mordrog's curse like you did, oh no. Sol first found me over a century and a half, and you know what? He hasn't aged a day since then. Humans don't live to be that old and still look like they're in their thirties. Still want to trust him, huh, Mr. Gullible?

Sol: Zane, I...

Zane: Yes, I do.

Sol: ...

Rasif: Hah, see, you can't... Wait, what?

Zane: I trust Sol, and I do not need to know about his past, his nature or his plight. His actions are evidence enough for me.

Rasif: Wha... Ack! No! No! This... How the hell can you trust that guy when you know there's something more going on about him than he's saying? He could be working for the prince, for cryin' out loud!

Zane: Whatever Sol has to hide, he has been upfront about having to hide it. I do not need to know my friends' deepest, most personal secrets in order to trust them, Rasif. If I did, then it would not be trust, would it?

Rasif: ...What the hell are you talking about?

Zane: You cannot go through life alone, Rasif. You cannot always doubt people, you cannot always suspect. Sometimes you simply have to trust people, even if that means exposing yourself.

Rasif: I can't? Then how did I manage to do just fine for the last century and a half, huh?

Zane: I have heard a lot of your tales, Rasif, but I never once heard you mention a friend. You spoke of allies, most of whom you have double-crossed. You spoke of enemies, you spoke of strangers. But you never mentioned a single friend. The only one who consistently recurs in your stories is Sol, the man who always bails you out of your own messes and the man who you always end up betraying. You have survived, Rasif, just as I have for the past half a millennium. But this is not a good life you keep leading.

Rasif: You don't know what you're talking about.

Zane: Come, now, Rasif...

Rasif: Go to hell, Zane! I don't need your pity, and I don't need his help! I'm only here for the money. Soon as I have that, I'm gone. Don't try to be friendly with me. In fact, do me a favour and just don't talk to me until then, OK?

Zane: Rasif...

Sol: *shake head*

Zane: I see. Very well, Rasif. If money is what you want, then money is what you will get. I just hope it is worth it.

Rasif: Hmph!

Sol: ...

---

And so, our heroes travelled through the thick fog of the dense mountain forest. Reinhardt would not be able to provide any answers, that much was clear to everyone, yet they still pursued her ever so diligently. Sol's motives were clear - to save the necromancer from the grim fate which was no doubt in store for her. But how would that interact with Rasif's own motives, which were the reward for Reinhardt's head. And what of Zane, himself? Would his trust in his allies prove justified, or would he suffer betrayal for his ideals?

As the meeting drew closer, they all steeled themselves for the battle that was certain to come. Surely crown prince Rupert had sent his mercenaries to kill Reinhardt now that she was starting to ask questions and demand more money. But what of the necromancer, herself? Would she cooperate, or would she make the fight even harder than it already looked? With each of our heroes having his own distinct, even contradicting objective and Reinhardt undoubtedly having her own, the atmosphere was tense as the clearing in question came in sight.

---

Sol: This is it. This clearing over there is where dead drop should be. I cannot tell exactly where it is, but we should be able to see Reinhardt when she comes to collect it.

Rasif: About time! And let me remind you, Sol - I need her captured. You want her alive, so help me catch her alive. But don't get any bright ideas about helping her escape. I know your history with this woman, and I don't want you running away with my money, got it?

Sol: You will have your money, Rasif. That much I promise you.

Zane: I do not think I am very well hidden here. My black scales are really obvious against that white snow.

Sol: We are under the effects of my local invisibility spell, Zane. With how thick the forest is, you should have nothing to worry about.

Zane: It is a good think the forest is enchanted and all of those trees I knocked down on our way here have regenerated, then.

Sol: Now let us just keep quiet and wait for Reinhard to arrive. Remember, my invisibility spell hides our forms, but not our voices.

Zane: *looks at Rasif*

Rasif: Go to hell, dragon boy.

Zane: Ugh... What happens if Reinhardt does not show up or arrives days from now?

Sol: She will be here. I detected her essence several hours ago, but the enchanted fog here prevents me from tracking her movements more precisely.

Zane: So we wait, then?

Sol: Yes, so we do.

---

And so they waited. An hour passed, and still their target was nowhere to be seen. Just as Rasif was starting to get impatient, however, a shadow appeared at the edge of the forest on the other side of the clearing from our heroes. Fortunate indeed that it had not have to pass by their hiding spot on its way.

Just like that, Reinhardt arrived. She appeared to be approaching a small rock poking out of the snow towards the centre of the clearing. She was understandably cautious, looking around as she walked, but she did not appear to be aware that she was being stalked. Everything was going according to plan, until a loud voice rang from the forest

---

Sol: Reinhardt!

Reinhardt: What the...

Rasif: Sol, you idiot! Why did you warn her!

Reinhardt: Sol? How the hell do you keep finding me?!? Oh, of course, silly me. It's the dead drop seal, isn't it? I should have known. After all, you were the one who taught me how to cast that spell, and I'm sure you overheard me talking about it with my benefactor.

Sol: Stay where you are, Reinhardt. We are not going to harm you. We just need to talk.

Rasif: Stay where... You son of a *****! You double-crossed me!

Reinhardt: What's the weasel talking about?

Rasif: What I'm talking about, corpse-lady, is that I placed a sealing rune under the snow right around that rock you were heading for, and he's trying to trick me by keeping you out of it! But I won't let that happen!

Reinhardt: Oh, you had a trap waiting for me, did you? Well, how gentlemanly of you to warn me!

Sol: Rasif, I did not know about the rune. I was not aware you were able to place such large runes remotely.

Rasif: What? But then why did you...

Sol: What I meant was for her to not run away when she saw me.

Reinhardt: A-ha-ha-ha! Some things never change, I guess. Oh, Sol, I missed you and your inept sidekicks. Speaking of which, where's your giant lizard thing?

---

Just then, the ground rumbled as a massive creature stood on its feet. With a massive crack and shudder, the trees shattered into splinters as a titanic black body forced its way into the clearing. The ground shook from its heavy footsteps, even through the thick snow cover. Zane had finally decided to introduce himself, and had done so in a way as dramatic as befits a dragon.

---

Zane: I am still here, Necromancer!

Reinhardt: I... Was talking about the mutant green iguana Sol used to travel around with, but I guess if you want to respond to "giant lizard thing," who am I to argue?

Zane: Oh...

Reinhardt: So why do you keep following me around, Sol. What do you want from me?

Rasif: We're here for your hide!

Reinhardt: *head tilt* Is he for real?

Sol: Why is there a price on your head?

Reinhardt: Well that's a stupid question. Why's there a price on your?

Zane: There is a price on your head?

Sol: It is a long story.

Rasif: I should have know...

Reinhardt: Yeah, you can share life stories later. I'm kind of in a rush here, so how about you guys tell me why you're here and we can all go about our business?

Sol: Your benefactor is crown prince Rupert, and we have reason to believe he will try to kill you when you go to collect your money.

Reinhardt: Come again?

Sol: We need to...

---

Suddenly and without warning, a deafening roar ripped through the air as a massive heat wave washed over our heroes. Within an instant, the forest all around them was ablaze in a firestorm. So intense was the fire that the massive ancient trees which surrounded them exploded from the heat and crumbled into dust. Within a matter of seconds, the fire had spread for a mile in all directions, engulfing the forest as it went, stranding our heroes within the small clearing, bathed in intense heat as the snow under their feet melted away.

This kind of fire was unnatural, especially in the cold of the mountain. Something had started it, something powerful, something ancient. Something which wanted our heroes, all of them, not just the necromancer, dead. This was no ordinary fire. This was the kind of fire which those who have witnessed it will never forget. It seethed with malevolence and bloodlust, lashing out at our heroes, as if trying to grab onto them with and embrace them. But below our heroes lay a large barren rock hidden under the snow, a rock where trees could not grow and which fire could not cross. It seemed, for a moment, as though our heroes would be safe, at least for a moment.

But then the nature of the foe revealed itself. From the ashes of the fire, dark shadows rose up. It was as if the cinders themselves stood up and took the shape of men. These walking golems of ash and coal then stepped out of the fire and walked forward in unison, encroaching on our heroes. They marched across the stone, and they carried the malicious fire with them, their footsteps burning even the bare stone underneath.

---

Reinhardt: God damn it, Sol! What the hell did you get me mixed up in this time?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.