A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 19: New Leads
The next morning, we reconvened, and started planning our next move. Charles had an Idea for where we could go next.
"I've had time to better examine the scroll we got off the kobolds," said Charles, "It says something about 'Khundrukar', most of it's in bad shape due to age, but I could decipher a short fragment '… The remaining few. By order of Durgeddin the Black, we have created a secret dwarven redoubt. None shall find us; however, …' I'm not sure quite what it's taking about, but it sounds like something my mentor spoke about sometimes".
"What exactly did it entail?" asked Narcrath.
"Most of it was old rumors and hearsay," said Charles, "but he spoke of the secret redoubt established about 2 centuries ago. I don't recall much more than that".
"Perhaps we could ask your mentor," said Lydratir, "Do you think he'd know more?"
"I don't doubt that," said Charles, "Old Pelthik's well traveled, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind me dropping by. Well, he might be a bit surprised by our red scaled friend here, but I think he'll understand".
Once everyone was prepared, we met with the guard captain one more who saw us off.
"Thank you once more for aiding us in dealing with this threat," said the Guard captain, "we've put together a payment as a reward to your service. Where will you go now?"
"We uncovered a scroll speaking of a forgotten dwarven redoubt," said Krisyra, "We plan to look into it".
"Well, I wish you luck," said the guard captain, "You are always welcome back in Oakhurst".
We set off, heading down the road. Our trail skirted along the edge of the High Forest before turning south through the foothills of the Greypeak Moutains. After several day of travel, we arrived in the town of Nyssus.
As we entered town, I was struck by the high concentration of lesser dragons moving about. I saw pseudodragons moving about carrying notes, inside the inn an Alehouse Drake(1) slumbered atop the hearth. I received some strange looks, but the townsfolk kept to their business. Soon enough, we arrived at the blacksmith's shop. There, we found a particularly large white-scaled Dragonborn, standing nearly 7 feet tall, working at the forge. As we approached, he looked up from his work and cocked his head.
"Let me guess Charles," said the Dragonborn, "you're going to say 'It followed me home, can I keep it?'"
"Good to see you're still in good spirits," said Charles, "He joined up with us a little while ago, seems like a bit different than most of his kind".
"Well, as long as you don't try and harm anyone here, you can stay. Name's Pelthik, by the way," He said.
"Charles has told me of you," I said, "I am Valignatirisk".
"Well met!" said Pelthik, "I must say, I all my life, I'd never met a Chromatic Dragon as civil as you. So what brings the five of you here? Just stopping in to visit?"
"Well, there's that, but we've found an old scroll that reminded me to one of the stories you told," said Charles, "Take a look for yourself".
Charles handed Pelthik the scroll who looked it over briefly. After a short time, he turned back to us.
"Yes, this does remind me of a tale I picked up in my travels. It was song being belted out by a group of dwarves. They sung of Durgeddin the Black, driven from his home by orcish raiders. He told of how they searched for years and eventually found a new home, building it up into great stronghold, where the forged some to the finest dwarven weapons ever known in the fires of Durgeddin's fury. Strange you come across this now. For some time I thought it nothing more than a tale, but recently, I came into possession of this".
Pelthik pulled out the hilt of a broken sword. The remaining section of the blade still shone as if new.
"A passing nobleman gave it to me," said Pelthik, "he had no use for it, but mentioned he'd found it near Blasingdell, a mining town south of here. I've examined it closely, but the smith's mark is unfamiliar to me. I've have gone running off to uncover the rumors, but I'm not a brash young adventurer anymore, and my place is here".
"Come on, you're still the toughest warrior I know," said Charles.
"Thank you, but honestly, I had my time in the sun," said Pelthik, "I fought Giants, Krakens… Hells, I've faced down an ancient blue dragon! But now, it's your turn. I can see it in you; that spark that can lead to great things. I've seen it before, in my companions, in travelers I've met, and in the mirror. For now though, you've clearly had quite the trek getting here. Feel free to stay the night, tell me what strange events led you to traveling with you crimson companion here".
The day turned to night as we recounted the tale of the events which led us to traveling together. He seemed particularly interested in my story, especially when I mentioned Langdedrosa.
"Langdedrosa? Ah, yes! I remember him," said Pelthik, "That sword he uses these days is one of mine. A good customer, and with plenty of stories to share".
Later that evening, once my companions had laid down to sleep, I found I was feeling restless. I walked to the edge of town, and simply looked up at the stars. I heard someone walking up beside me, and glanced over to see Pelthik.
"Couldn't sleep either, huh?" said Pelthik, "As I said before, you seem like a rarity for your kind. Even more, from what you told me earlier, you went through experiences which could have easily hardened your heart, and set you back towards that behavior most would expect from a red dragon. Instead, you managed to persevere, and push past the cruelty that the world showed you".
"It wasn't all bad; Quoros and Baeshra were good, positive mentors," I said, "earlier you spoke of seeing something in us. Are you perhaps gifted in perceiving the future?"
"Oh no, nothing like that!" said Pelthik, "I just have a certain sense for people. You, for instance: you certainly have it in you to change the world… of course pretty much anybody does. It more a matter of having the will to try".
"That's a decision I've already made," I said, "I'm already going to do what I can to better the world".
"Well, I wish you luck," said Pelthik, "If nothing else, you'll give the bards something new to sing about".
A/N: And the we go! The party has a new lead on where to go next. Also, I've gotten a copy of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, so now I've got even more interesting opponents to throw at the party. Anyway, next time: the party moves on to the town of Blasingdell, to follow the trail to the broken blade. See you then!
(1) The Alehouse Drake is a creature featured it the Tome of Foes, by Kobold Press. It is a Tiny CN dragon that likes to live inside of taverns. They are usually fairly harmless, though they can be troublemakers at times.