A/N: And here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 18: Aftermath
We arrived back in Oakhurst, and were soon greeted by the town guard. After a short time, the mayor joined us as well.
"Ah you've returned!" said the Mayor, "what have you uncovered?"
"We discovered the source of the strange fruit the Goblins have been bringing, as well as the reason of your missing plants," said Krisyra, "They are related, though not the way you've been expecting".
"What do you mean?" said the guard captain.
"The Goblins weren't taking the plants," said Lydratir, "They were taking themselves. They were monsters known as twig blights, offspring of the Gulthias Tree".
"What exactly is that?" said the guard captain.
"To simplify, a vampiric tree," said Krisyra, "It consumes blood, and as well as those who are bound to it".
"I see," Said the Mayor, "did you perhaps find evidence of those who'd journeyed into the citadel before you?"
"We did," I said, "Some were slain by the Goblins, the rest were killed by Belak. We have recovered their personal effects… there wasn't much else left".
"Damn, two of those were members to the Hucrele family," said the mayor, "a local merchant family of some repute. They'll at least be comforted to know what happened to their daughter and son. We'll get these back to their family. You'll have to show us what you mean about the plants, but you've certainly earned you due".
The day progressed with us showing the townsfolk the truth about the blights, after which the swiftly set about burning all the blights they could. We eventually met with Kerowyn, the matriarch of the Hucrele family, who thanked us for returning their family's signet rings. Eventually, night fell, and we laid down the rest, my companions in the inn, and me outside. I soon slipped into a dream.
I was in front of a familiar sight: The Sunless Citadel. However, it was still above ground. The sky darkened for a moment, and a much larger red dragon landed next to me. He looked familiar, very much like the statue deep within the Citadel. There was no doubt this was Ashardalon.
'Greeting young one," said Ashardalon, "I see you've finished plundering my temple… I hope you found something of use to you".
"You… don't mind?" I said.
"In all honesty, no," said Ashardalon, "I'm long dead, after all. I can't claim anger for one exploring a place I resided so many millennia ago… especially one such as you".
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I have examining you ever since you entered that place," said Ashardalon, "You possess an uncommon spirit, one not seen a very long time. Let me tell you a story. You know of the current dragon gods, Bahamut and Tiamat, correct? However, before them there was another: Io, the singular dragon god. When Io was slain by an ancient foe, his essence split, becoming Bahamut and Tiamat. It was into a time when Io still was that I hatched. In this time no dragon was specifically pulled towards one nature or another, we were whatever we wished to make of ourselves".
"So your Cult was… what then?" I asked.
"Like all our kind young one, I was a mighty creature in life," said Ashardalon, "the humanoids wished to worship me, and I was willing to let them do so… after all, it's easier to maintain your domain when you have people loyal to you. I was there when the split occurred, but managed to resist the call of evil as the fabric of reality twisted and realigned with the destruction of a god. I maintained my home, but ended up in conflict with others of our kind who viewed me as weak for not treating those humanoids in my domain like slaves. It was during that time the what they now call Ashen Plains came to be, for it is where I did battle with many of these who submitted to Tiamat's will… including my own clutchmates. One of them managed to cast a great spell, sending my temple plummeting into the earth".
"But why are you still here?" I asked, "your spirit should have passed beyond the veil long ago".
"Indeed it should have," said Ashardalon, "but at that time, Bahamut was still a relatively young god, and still sorting out his realm. As such all Metallic Dragon were getting shuffled to his realm without question, while all Chromatics were sent straight to the realm of his sister, Tiamat. I did not wish my soul to end up in Tiamat's grasp. That was when someone, I know not who, told me of how I could remain, and pass my knowledge on to the future. The amulet you now carry has, or should I say had, my soul bound to it. However, I'm now bound to you, young one".
"So what?" I said with worry, "now you're going to battle me for control of my body!?"
"Nothing as crude as that, young one," said Ashardalon, "the amulet is not a phylactery, but rather a place to keep this echo of myself safe so I could pass what I know onto the future. I cannot control you, nor can I attempt to harm you in any way. I'm simply bound to you, and can provide my knowledge on times forgotten by many. I can teach you techniques to strengthen yourself and aid you allies".
"At what cost?" I said.
"The only cost will be having to put up with me hitching a ride in the back of your mind," said Ashardalon, "You've already taken the first step to unlock that which I can teach. Keep following the path you heart leads you down, and you will understand".
I woke once more, feeling the same as I did when I fell asleep. I had a choice to make. I looked at the amulet, thinking what I could mean for me to have Ashardalon tagging along with me. From what he said, he seemed genuinely interested in helping me. As well, if he was from a time so long ago, it would be a window into knowledge lost to the ages. If he'd meant me harm, he could done so the moment I put the amulet on. I had my answer: I'd keep the amulet.
"Alright Ashardalon," I whispered, "you can stay".
I might have imagined it, but the jewel seemed to glint brighter for a moment. I only hope I made the right choice.
A/N: And there we go! Let me reiterate: the amulet is not harmful in any way. Anyway, next time, the party set out again following some new leads. See you then!