A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 75: A Grand Reward
Chlorothra's hoard was truly a sight to behold. Millions of coins, gems of every description, artwork from times unknown, and magical items. There was no way we'd be able to carry it all. Narcrath found a couple of potions and spell scrolls. Lydratir found a finely crafted longsword and a quiver of arrows. Charles found a warhammer covered in runes and some sort of belt, Narcrath found a lentern depicting a forest scene and a silver ring, Krisyra also found a ring, this one made of blue coral and a sliver figurine of a raven. As for the rest of the hoard, Verrax had an answer for that.
"This is going to take too long to sort through here," said Verrax, "I've got an idea of how we could move it, but I'll ask for an extra portion of the treasure to repay the cost for this".
"How exactly will you do that?" asked Narcrath.
"Oh, that's the easy part, I'll use this Spell Scroll," said Verrax, pulling a scroll from his bag, "After I cast this, we'll need to move all the treasure into the portal it opens".
Verrax opened the scroll, and recited the incatation upon it casuing a shadowy portal to open up, We quickly got to work, piling treasure into the portal. Out of curiosity, I poked my head in to see where it led. It turned out to be an otherwise empty stone chamber 30 feet in each dimension. Each of us contributed to the task, with Verrax himself using his magic to shift large quantities at once. Eventually, all of it was stowed away. With that done we prepared to set out.
We found Uxarix by Chlorothra's body, kneeling in prayer. As he finished, he turned to speak with us.
"It seems you're ready to go?" asked Uxarix.
"It looks like it," said Xannairth, "what were you doing?"
"Offering a prayer for Chlorothra's soul," said Uxarix, "he may have been our foe, but even he deserves his last rites".
"We have two more things to do," I said, "first we need to grab the anvil back towards the entrance. Second, we might ask you to pray for the souls of six others, six who definitely deserved better than they received in their short lives".
We made our way back to the first chamber of Clorothra's lair. There, we retrieved the anvil… and the bodies of the six wyrmlings. We took them outside, and dug graves for them. As we began to bury them, Zannairth looked on.
"So, this is what you meant," said Zannairth, "hells, why would Chlorothra allow them to get this way?"
"I've no clue," I said, "and the more I mull over it, the worse I feel about killing them".
"You acted for your survival," said Uxarix, "their souls will have another chance, a chance for a better life".
As we finished interring them, Uxarix bent knee in prayer.
"Great Lord Bahamut, in Your name, watch over and allow these souls a chance at a better life. As we consign their physical forms the the earth, we release their souls into that which awaits them beyond the veil. While they were not your servants, allow them a chance for betterment. May your light allow them peace, may your grace allow them freedom, may your wisdom guide them".
We soon left this place behind, and began our journey back to the night fell, we made camp. Zannairth and Uxarx approached me, looking for answers.
"I must say, you're different than I expected," said Zannairth, "far more civil that most tales of red dragons would say".
"True enough,"I said, "I'd guess that because I grew up around humanoids after my siblings tried to kill me".
"That sounds about what would be expected for a clutch of red dragons," said Zannairth, "but you ran away?"
"It was the three of them agaist the one of me," I said, "and if they didn't do it, my father probably would have due to me being 'weak' in his eyes".
"So you ran away?" asked Uxarix.
"I did, right into the clutches of a hunter trying to catch a wolf that had been attacking livestock," I said, "I don't think he was an evil person, more that he was looking to profit off the opportunity that had fallen into his grasp. If our roles had been reversed, I'm not certain what I'd have done".
"Yet you got away, clearly," said Zannairth.
"Yes, with some help of a Quoros, a gnomish wizard and his faerie dragon companion," I said, "it was with them that I grew up… well that and Baeshra".
"Baeshra? I know that name," said Zannairth, "yes, that's right! He was among those that stopped the Cult of the Dragon!"
"He was a good teacher, quite wise," I said, "I owe all of them my life, or at very least my freedom. It was through my interactions with them I made my decision to do what I can to help the world".
"You mentioned earlier that you'd encountered a Paladin of Bahamut before," said Uxarix, "Who exactly?"
"It was one of Baeshra's old companions, Sir Barrik, he called himself," I said.
"Yes, I know of that name, Barrik the Light-hearted," said Uxarix, "I remember hearing from my clan's allies that the dwarves found him and managed to reactivate him".
"'Reactivate?'" asked Zannairth, "what do you mean by that?"
"Sir Barrik is what his known as a 'Warforged', from what I understand," said Uxarix, "I don't who much about them, but I've heard them originate from another plane of existence. All I really know beyond that is that they are highly complex constructs that possess actual souls, meaning they are 'alive' in the ways that matter".
"So, what all have you done so far to aid the world?" asked Zannairth.
"I aided my allies in destroying a Gulthias Treeand in the process also help out the kobold clan living in the ruins of an ancient temple, stopped orc raids on a mining town, which led to a battle against a Black Dragon. I encountered a different Black Dragon who had been afficted with a terrible curse that was turning him into an ooze monster. I aided him in finding a cure. We discovered a portal of the hidden sanctum of a long dead wizard, and closed it to stop the fiendish creatures that were spilling out. We closed another planar rift deep within a forest, this one being an opening to the Shadowfell. We journeyed to an ancient set of ruins within a volcano, following clue to the location of cult activities, and defeated the creatures within. While we were leaving there, we were assaulted by some Abishai".
"Hold on, Abishai?" said Uxarix, "you had Abishai attack you?"
"Apparently someone is unhappy with me not acting the way I should be in their eyes," I said.
"Welcome to the club," said Uxarix, "They've assailed me any my clanmates too, wishing to pull us back into the darkness. So far, we've persevered against them".
"Well most recently we had a run-in with a pair of Void Dragons high up in the Greypeak Mountains. They were attempting to open an ancient rift the discovered. On the way up the mountain, we met a Silver Dragon. Luckily he was only interested in talking, and was willing to let me pass without trouble," I said, "As well, we battled and destroyed a Spirit Naga who was sacrificing people for ritual prophecies".
"You've been keeping quite busy," said Zannairth, "you mentioned the Naga making prophecies. What about, exactly?"
"The scholars at Verrax's academy are still going over it, but apparently it was something about how and when the world will end," I said.
"Sounds interesting, I might tag along at least long enough to hear more of this," said Zannairth.
The night wore on quietly, and then Xitlalcotl slithered over.
"I thank you again for your aid, Valignatirisk," said Xitlalcotl, "you and all your allies.
"We're glad to have been able to help you," I said.
"It is time," said Xitlalcotl, "I must depart, my fate lies beyond this realm".
"It was an honor to travel with you," I said.
"Before I go, I have one last thing for you," said Xitlalcotl, "a small gift".
Xitlalcotl lifted into the air, carried by both his wings and his raw power.
"May your life be preserved," said Xitlalcotl, "may you wound heal with great speed!"
I felt his celestial magic wrap around me, and settle into place. With that done, he bowed his head, flew higher and vanished into the skies high above. I knew not what exactly he'd given me, but I knew it would be useful to me.
A/N: and there we go! The spell scroll Verrax used to help store away the treasure contained the 8th level spell 'Demiplane', and will be pricey. Xitlalcotl's blessing gave Valignatrisk the effects of a Periapt of Wound Closure, which will make him heal faster, and automatically stabilize if he's dropped to 0 HP. As for the rest of the hoard, well that will take some time sorting out.