A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons I only own my original ideas

Chapter 84: Towards the Temple

As the sun dipped below the horizon, we set off deeper into the Cursed Barrens. The night was quiet, and the seemingly endless rocks and sand were broken only by gnarled scrub and cacti.

Some distance on, our journey was interrupted by a large group of animals loping across the sands. As they got closer, I could make out that they were Giant Hyenas, 19 of them and they were approaching agressively.

Krisyra reached the swiftest, calling down a hailstorm upon our foes and hitting most of them. Some evaded the worst of it, but it was still a good opening move. One of the hyenas charged out of the ice storm towards Lydratir, but it couldn't hit him. The next hyena went for Uxarix, but it too missed. A third hyena charged forwards, this one going for and hitting Krisyra. Charles stepped up to assist Uxarix, and took out the hyena attack him. I stepped up towards the main pack of hyenas, and let out a fearsome roar. I could see in the posture of some of the hyenas that they were now fearful of me, while others stood defiantly.

One of the hyenas loped over to me, and bit me. Narcrath moved over towards Lydratir, and took out the hyena near him with a shocking grasp. One of the hyenas ran over to Charles, but its teeth bounced off his armor. The hyenas my frightful presence had affected burst into motion, scattering to the four winds as the fear overtook them. One of the remaining hyenas went after Narcrath, hitting him. Uxarix moved to stand at my side, and took out the hyena attack me. Another hyena went after Krisyra, but it missed. Yet another hyena went after Narcrath but he evaded this attack. One of the hyenas went after Charles, but it missed. Lydratir took aim with his bow, and fired twice at one of the hyenas, taking it out. Another two hyenas came after me, but my scales blocked their attacks.

Krisyra summoned up a flame and lauched it at one of the hyenas near her, taking it out. Narcrath's hand arced with lightning, and he took our one of the hyenas near him as well. Charles brought his greatsword around, taking out the two hyenas nearest to him. He then hurried over to Krisyra, and broght his blade to bear once more, taking down another hyena. I tore into one of the hyenas around me with by teeth and claws, finishing it off. Uxarix drove his rapier into one of the remaining hyenas near me, slaying it deftly. One othe the remaining hyenas tried to attack narcrath but he evaded its jaws. Lydratir took aim again, finishing off the hyena near Narcrath. There was only one hyena now, and it tried and failed to attack me.

Krisyra launched another flame wounding the last of the hyenas. Narcrath moved to my side, and blasted the hyena with lightning, leaving it in bad shape. Charles same over as well, slaying the last of these hyenas.

As the dust settled, we patched up our wounds and then continued on our way. The next few hours were quiet, with nothing but the sands around us and the skies above. This changed as we reached a small oasis. There seemed to be a thunderstorm brewing in the distance, and a faint smell of ozone permeated the air. I felt it… there was another dragon nearby.

"Be on guard, we're not alone," I said.

"Where? I don't see anything," said Charles.

I focused my senses, and noticed a slight vibration from underground.

"It's beneath us!" I shouted, leaping to the side.

Just after I did, it burst from the ground, snarling as it missed. I now saw what we were facing: it was a blue dragon, not much older than me, lightning crackling around its maw and arcing up in single central horn. I recalled the words of Kepeskaden, and one look into this dragon's eye proved his words: nothing but malice dwelled there.

"You will not resist," said the dragon, "you will submit… you will fall. You will join us".

"Only one will fall here," I said, "We will release you from the darkness of these lands".

Uxarix stepped up to my side, glanced at me, and I nodded in confirmation. He jabbed at our foe with his rapier, the second blow accompanied by a burst of light. Charles moved to my other side, and began his assault agaist the blue dragon. His first attack glanced off its scales, but he adjusted his grip slightly and managed to wound it on his second and third swings. Narcrath reached into coinpurse and pulled out 10 copper coins, casting magic over them. The coins lifted into the air and flew towards the blue dragon. Some simply bounced off, but others seemed to do some damage. Krisyra summoned an icy wind, which seemed to slow the blue dragon a bit. The dragon tried to bit Uxarix, but he evaded its jaws… only to be caught by its claws afterwards. Lydratir took aim with his bow, his first arrow piercing into its shoulder, while the second arrow struck our foe right in the eye. With one final roar, the blue dragon fell. I stepped closer, and did the grim task of ensuring it was truly dead.

Uxarix stepped up as well, and knelt in prayer.

"May your spirit be freed from the darkness," prayed Uxarix, "may you find peace in what lies beyond. May your soul be given a chance at a better life. In Bahamut's name, may you spirit fly free".

Once we were ready, we set off again, the night fading into morning as we continued our journey.

The desert in morning was littile different than at night. I began noticing tracks in the desert sand, seemingly leading somewhere. I couldn't thell exactly what had made the tracks, though. We ended up following a set that happened to be going the same way that we were. These tracks ended up leading us to a a small rock outcrop that was the entrance to a cave and sheltered spring. As well, there appeared to be glyphs carved around the mouth of the cave, matching the ones on the wardstones at the peremeter of the Cursed Barrens. By the time we reached it, it was starting to get too hot for my companions to continue travel, so we decided this would be a good place to rest. We made camp, and set watch.

Several hours later, while I was on watch, I had that familiar feeling on the edge of my perception: there was another dragon in the area. I tensed slightly, but didn't act yet.

"Friend or foe?" I asked.

For a moment, there was no response, but then someone replied, the voice coming from seemingly nowhere.

"That depends," said a voice, "what brings one like you so far from your lofty mountains?"

I didn't sense any immediate hostility, but it still was best to be cautious.

"I am travelling with others," I said, "I am also well aware of the dangers of this land, and what it can do to you".

"Well, you seem to be of sound mind at least," said the voice, "that's good enough for me".

The sand a short distance from the cave began shifting, and a huge brass-scaled form emerged. This dragon had bracelets and a finely-crafted necklace, both bearing the same sort of protective wards as I'd seen elsewhere.

"Greetings young one," said the brass dragon, "so, why exactly are you this deep into the desert?"

"My companions and I are on our way to a place known as the Temple of the Justicars. Would you happen to know anything about?"

"It's right in the heart of the Cursed Barrens," said the brass dragon, "that place has bee overrun by fiendish creatures for years. What reason do you have to travel there?"

"One of my companions, a follower of Bahamut, is seeking an artifact said to be in the temple," I said.

"Do you worship Bahamut?" asked the brass dragon.

"I… I'm not sure who or what I follow yet," I said, "however, if I was forced to choose, then I'd rather side with Bahamut".

"You're a strange one," said the brass dragon, "you must have quite a story. I'd love to hear it".

So the next few hours passed as I told this dragon my story. I told him of my escape from my siblings. I told him of meeting Quoros, and he had a laugh at my Gmonish friend's antics. I told him of how I met my companions, and what we'd encounter on our journey thus far, including our encounter with some Abishai. I told him of the other dragons I'd met on my journey, as well as how I met Uxarix. Eventually, I reached the end of my tale.

"Well, it seems you've been though quite a bit so far," said the brass dragon, "If you set off again around dusk, you should be able to reach the temple by around midnight. Be careful our there, the fiends that inhabit that place will likely do everything they can to deceive you".

"One more thing," I said, "I noticed the warding symbols on your necklace. Are these wards your creation?"

"No, I wish I could claim such a powerful creation," said the brass dragon, "No one who's still capable of reason knows who made them. I just copied what was already there to protect safe havens like this one… as well as shield myself. Well, it's been good to have someone new to talk to, if only for a short time. I wish you luck on your journey, young one".

With that, the brass dragon leapt into flight, taking wing back towards wherever he laired. It was good to see not everyone who resided in these lands was twisted by their darkness.

A/M: Ah, the effects of using a roll table to detemine encounters. 1st encounter: 19 Giant Hyenas. 2nd encounter: 1 Young Blue Dragon. 3rd Encounter 1 Adult Brass Dragon. in any case, the party is getting close th their destination now. Next time, the Temple of the Justicars. See you then.