A/N: And here's the chapter! Just a small break in the action for now.
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 37: Downtime
The next few days were spent in the area around Vorlianax's lair. My companions helped out the Lizardfolk in the village while I accompanied Volnianax while he regained his strength. The two of us hunted together, with Volianax showing that even in his currently weakened state, he was still the master of this terrain. Once we were done, we returned to his lair. After we were settled, we got to talking.
"I must thank you once more," said Volianax, "even when I was vulnerable, you chose to aid me rather than take advantage of my debilitated state".
"I guess I've never been normal for a chromatic dragon," I said, "though I must wonder how differently I had turned out had Quoros not rescued me".
"I have heard tales of your deeds on the winds, but this is something I don't know of," said Volianax, "what exactly were you rescued from?"
"Some Elven Ranger had caught me in a trap, and was planning on selling me to a crazed wizard known as Jukeo Caim," I explaned, "he was known for running this travelling show where he displayed specimens of various creatures… miniature specimens. Apparently he'd created a specialized variant of an diminution spell".
Vorlianax recoiled at the thought of what this wizard had been doing.
"I assume he got his well deserved comeuppance?" asked Vorlianax.
"Last I heard he'd been taken into custody after he kidnapped a wyrmling of a Silver Dragon named Rennyrainth," I said.
"Good," said Vorlianax, "no matter how much we may differ in opinion on many things, even if the conflict between our kind goes on eternally, there's one thing all dragons will agree upon: No one harms our wyrmlings and lives!"
"I wish my father would have felt that about me," I said, "Instead, he only say me as a disappointment from the moment I hatched".
"How bizarre," said Vorlianax, "why would he despise you so?"
"Simple: I was the runt of the clutch," I said, "he only wanted the strongest,,, which I was not".
"You seem plenty strong to me, even though you're still quite young," said Vorlianax, "it seems that there are still those blinded by their devotion to Tiamat… fools, I call them".
I stared at him after his statement, surprised by this admission.
"Don't be so shocked," said Volianax, "there are plenty of us out there who will put on a good show when those idiot cultists show their faces, but are content to live our lives far from them when one their defeated. I personally have no real intrest in bowing to Tiamat. I am no slave to her will. This recent brush has only served to galvanize my feeling against such things".
"I agree, I will never support Tiamat," I said, "To do so would be to betray those who gave me shelter and aid when I was in need, like Baeshra".
"I know that name," said Volianax, "some the lizardfolk who live here now tell how Baeshra and his companions freed them from slavery under the yoke of the Yuan-Ti.".
"Yes, he told me of his travels," I said, "He was there for me during my wyrmling years. I'll likely never be able to truly repay him for what he did for me".
"Oh, I think you can," said Vorlianax, "I may be no saint, far from it, I was quite the troublemaker when I was your age. But now I'm content with simply living… and occasionally eating some those fools from the Cult of the Dragon. You, however were given a chance few for our kind get: to be effectively a blank slate, to be allowed to decided completely what you wanted to make of yourself whatever you wish to be".
"It's good to hear I'm not the only chromatic out there to desire to be something other than a complete monster," I said.
"Many will not say it, but there are plenty of our kind who would rather not get involved in needless conflicts. We may be powerful, but we are not immortal," said Vorlianax, "other will only go along with the cult and their desires after being promised a rather large amount of treasure. Follow me".
Vorlianax stood and moved deeper into his lair. I followed behind him, and before long we were before his hoard. Laid out before my eyes were the statues of ancient kings and gods forgotten by the ages, gold and jewels sitting at the base of each one. A part of my mind started counting up the exact value of these treasures, while a darker part of my mind told me to take it all for myself… that Vorlianax was still weak, and I could take him out. I quashed these thoughts, and looked at Vorlianax questioningly.
"Why are you showing me this?" I asked.
"Because I think you deserve more than simple praise for saving my life," said Vorlianax, "Now then… where was it?"
Vorlianax searched through his hoard, and after a bit of digging around retrieved a red gemstone about the size of a human fist. He brought it over and presented it to me.
"I would like you to have this artifact," said Vorlianax, "it was enchanted by an ancient elven empire, one which fell before my grandsire had even hatched. It is known as the Energy Heart. It shields its bearer against elemental attacks… to an extent. It has served me well in the past when others have come to try and slay me. It's yours now".
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Completely," said Vorlianax, "you were will to help me, with no guarantee that I wouldn't turn right around and betray you. many would say that a black dragon such as myself would resort to any means to avoid being forced into servitude of another, and I suppose that is true for me as well. But I feel on good turn deserves another. Jiublex will not be my master. Tiamat will not be my master. I am free to be my own master, and that is all thanks to you and your companions".
I accepted the gift, placing it into one of the pockets on my harness. The two of us made our way back to the audience chamber of Vorlianax's lair, and I was content that I'd done the right thing.
A/N: and there we go! next time, the adventure continues! See you then!