A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 9: Oakhurst
The next day, our odd group started on our way once more. We made our way down the road, soon arriving in town. The local militia looked at me cautiously, but didn't take any hostile actions. We arrived in front of a larger building, likely the mayor's house.
"Ah, greetings adventurers," said the Mayor, "how has your…"
The mayor trailed off as he saw me standing before him.
"Greetings," I said, "it is an honor to meet you".
"The big guy here showed up and aided us," said Narcrath, "he decided to travel with us for a time".
"W-well then," said the Mayor, "to your payment. Here you are".
The Mayor pulled out a small sack of coins… my mind told me it was 125 gold coins. My companions accepted it, handing me an equal portion.
"Thank you," said Charles, "We're looking for more work. Have you heard any rumors?"
"Well, not here, but I have heard a call for aid from Oakhurst, about a day's travel away. They suspect a tribe of Goblins have been stealing their crops," said the Mayor, "I don't know much more".
"Sounds like something we can deal with," said Charles, "We'll set off soon".
I waited as my companions resupplied, watching the townsfolk eye me with suspicion… nothing I hadn't seen before. Soon enough we set off, heading down the road once more. That night, we made camp once more. While I was on watch, I thought I saw something watching us from a distance, but it was gone before I could do anything.
The next day, we arrived in the small farming community of Oakhurst. As usual, the town guard observed me with caution. Soon, a Half-Elven woman approached, flanked by a couple of guards.
"What do you seek in this place, Dragon?" said the guard captain.
"I came with my companions," I said, "We heard your town was having trouble with stolen crops".
"Well the farmers might know more," said the guard captain, "but it also involves the Goblins".
"What of them?" asked Charles.
"Well, they occupy the old sunken tower a few miles from here," said the guard captain, "most people have come to call that place the 'Sunless Citadel', and claim it was an old dragon cult outpost. The goblins used to raid along the Old Road, but since that path has largely fallen out of use, they mostly keep to themselves… well, except for at the midsummer".
"What happens then?" asked Krisyra.
"Well, at that time they arrive in town bearing what appears to be an apple," said the guard captain, "Some local mages claim it's magical, and can cure any ailment. Some of our farmers have tried planting the seeds. They don't amount to much more than twisted masses of twiggy stems. As well, after the plant reaches about 2 feet in height, they are stolen without fail. In any case, as long as you stay out of trouble, you won't get any trouble… understand Dragon?"
"I do," I said, turning to my companions, "so, what's the plan?"
"We should ask around town," said Lydratir, "Maybe we can gather some more information".
I watched as my companions set out to learn what they could. I knew that most of the townsfolk would be too afraid to speak with me. Instead, I decided to wait near the exit of town. A short time later, an older man approached me. I looked him over: he was wearing the simple garb of a farmer, and leaning on a cane.
"Well, if this isn't a rare sight!" said the farmer, "come to explore the throne of old Ashardalon?"
"I am… unfamiliar with that name," I said, "Who is he?"
"You are not familiar with him?" said the farmer, "you must not be from this area. The tales my grandfather told spoke of him. He was a Redscale, like you. He once lorded over this land from his throne within the citadel, raining devastation down upon the land… on your way to the citadel, you'll pass close to the Ashen Plain, and see what he wrought".
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.
"You have a certain… strength of spirit," said the farmer, "in any case, I hope your wings carry you to new horizons, Valignatirisk".
That made me suspicious. There's no way knowledge of my travels had spread this far yet.
"How do you know my name?" I asked, "Who are you, exactly?"
"No one of consequence," said the farmer, "just an interested party. Know this: what you will battle here is but a symptom of a larger issue".
I watched intently as he began to walk away. A farmer walked between us with a cow, and when they passed, the man who'd been speaking with me was gone. I blinked in surprise, not sure what to make of this encounter. As the sun began to set, my companions rejoined me.
"Hey, ready to set out?" asked Narcrath.
"I am, what did you learn?" I asked as we set off down the road.
"Well, the cattle herders told me they keep their stock closer to town these days," said Krisyra, "the said something about monsters attacking in the night. Apparently, people and cattle who've been out alone at night have been found dead the following morning, covered in needle-like wounds".
"Has anyone seen the creatures behind this?" I asked.
"That's the strange part, no one has seen these creatures, nor have they left any noticeable trail," said Krisyra.
"The folk around the marketplace mentioned that the goblins have, during the midwinter, occasionally attempted to sell a different fruit, this one a pallid white and so poisonous that even those to even touch it get ill," said Lydratir, "the townsfolk quickly learned not to purchase that fruit".
"Well, I learned from the barkeep that we're not the first adventurers to come this way recently," said Charles, "there was a group of four others: a fighter named Talgen, a mage named Sharwyn, Sir Bradford, paladin of Pelor, and a ranger named Karakas. He also mentioned that Sir Bradford had sword he called Shatterspike. Apparently, they too sought to uncover the mysteries of the Sunless Citadel".
"I heard something about that too," said Narcrath, "I also heard that about 13 years ago, a grim-looking human man named Belak came through town, and was asking about the Sunless Citadel. As well, Belak apparently had a very large frog with him".
"Well, that's something at least," I said, "did any of you perhaps see an older man leaning on a cane?"
"I didn't see anyone matching that description," said Lydratir, "why?"
"I… don't know," I said, "he said some things to me, and I'm not quite sure what he meant".
We continued on our way, arriving near the chasm. Some distance below, I could see the ancient structure which the people of Oakhurst called the Sunless Citadel. At the edge of chasm, I could see that someone had attached a rope.
As my companions were setting up camp, I heard an odd rustling among the trees. I growled at the source, catching my allies' attention. Suddenly, something burst from the trees to my right, the first one took a swipe at me, but I dodged away… right into the path of a second foe. This one caught me on my flank, its claws striking a fierce blow. I snarled in pain, and stepped back, seeing my foes clearly now: they appeared to be some sort of vaguely small humanoid forms made of wood. I quickly retaliated, striking the one who'd hit me with my claws. Almost instantly, the plant creature shattered apart like the brittle mass of twigs it was.
"Blights!" shouted Krisyra.
Krisyra quickly summoned a small flame in her hand, and launched it at the other creature who'd attempted to hit me. However, the enemy leapt back, it's twig rubbing together in an imitation of a scream.
Narcrath stepped forwards towards the blight, his hand arcing with lightning. The blight was still focused on avoiding the flames, and took the full force of Narcrath's spell. It fell to the ground emitting the smell of charred wood.
The trees rustled again, and two more of the 'blights' leapt at us, one towards me and the other at Charles. The one coming after me stuck my hide, but couldn't penetrate my scales. However, the one going after Charles struck true. It just managed to slip its sharp ragged claws past his armor.
Lydratir stepped up to the one who'd come after me, and struck it with his shortsword, swiftly cutting it down. Charles took a swing at the blight before him, but it dodged away. I quickly swing tail around splintering the last of our foes into firewood. As the area fell silent once more, we regrouped around the campfire to patch ourselves up once more.
"What were those things?" I said, "Krisyra, didn't you call them 'blights'?"
"That I did," said Krisyra, "these things are a perversion of nature, spawn of fell unlife blending with the power of nature. If they are in this area… I pray it's unrelated".
"Well, we'll see tomorrow," said Lydratir, "I'll take first watch. Valignatarix, You should rest up: you took a pretty nasty blow there".
I nodded and laid down to rest, Krisyra using her healing magic on me. Soon, I fell into a restful sleep, wondering what tomorrow might hold.
A/N: And there we go! Next time, it's time for our first dungeon delve! Onwards, into the Sunless Citadel! See you then!