A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 89: Rachkornari
The next day, we continued down the road again. We encounter more difficulties as the day progressed. First, as we made ouy was across the hills, we were assaulted by not one but four rocs.
"No holding back!" I roared.
Narcrath chanted th incatation of his spell, and the air between the rocs distorted as his spell blasted them, and their movements seemed more erratic. I flew up to attack the nearest of the Rocs, tearing into it with claw and fang. The Roc tried to retaliate, but it couldn't hit me. Charles took aim with his crossbow, putting a bolt into one of the Rocs. Lydratir targeted that same Roc, striking it with two arrows. Uxarix pulled out his own crossbow, and joined the barrage against our foes. Krisyra summoned her druidic powers and morphed into an air elemental, flying up to aid assist with the rocs. She targeted the same one my allies had fired upon, slamming it with her windy fists. One of the Rocs flew down, attempting to strike Uxarix. Instead, it only got a talon-load of dirt and rock, nearly crashing as it did so. The Roc nearest to her struck at Krisyra. She dodged itsbeak, but it raked her with its talons. It also seemed to be trying to grab hold of her, but she easily slipped its grasp. The fourth Roc tried to go after Krisyra as well, but she dodged with no difficulties.
Narcrath called on his magic again, unleashing a powerful bolt of lightning, which then chained to the other Rocs, though the one near Uxarix seemed less effected. I continued my assault agaist the Roc near me, wounding it further and leaving blood on its feathers. The Roc fought back, striking at me fiercely with its massive beak. Charles moved to assist Uxarix with the Roc that had flown low, swinging away with his greatsword for three powerful blows. Lydratir fired upon the Roc he'd targeted again, the arrows sinking deep and leaving the Roc in poor condition. Uxarix drew his Holy Avenger, stabbing at the Roc near him searing it with radiance. Krisyra slammed the most wounded of the Rocs, sending it spiraling to the ground. She then turned and attacked the other Roc near her, harming it as well. This Roc retaliated agaist Krisyra raking her with its talons. Again, her current state allowed her to evade the worst of the effects. The Roc near Uxarix struck down at him pecking him with its beak, but he managed to avoid the talons.
Narcrath moved to assist Uxarix, blasting the Roc with lightning from close range. I continued to battle the Roc near me, but despite all the damage I'd done, it was still alive. As it tried to strike back agaist me, I dove and looped out of the way, deftly avoiding its strikes. Charles hacked and slashed away at the Roc near to the ground, striking three more strong blows. Lydratir took aim at a new target, and put two accurate shots into the Roc I'd been fighting, leaving it in bad shape. Uxarix attacked the Roc near him again, and with two jabs of his rapier and a brilliant flash of light, the Roc was slain. Krisyra slammed the Roc near her again, sending some feathers flying. It tried to strike her, but its hard to attack the wind, and as such it missed completely. Narcrath pulled one of the stars form the collar of his robe, and lauched it at the Roc near me, taking it out with a barrage of tiny comets of magical force. I canged my focus to assisting Krisyra, but I only managed to rake it slightly as I flew in. Charles ceacked on Uxarix, making sure he was alright. Lydratir took aim at the last Roc, firing his bow and striking with ease. Uxarix watched the skies, and began reloading is crossbow. Krisyra slammed the Roc again, and it looked like it was in very bad shape. The Roc struck back at Krisyra with its beak, but again the effects were lessened by her currently being made of wind.
I felt a surge of strength, and flew into the Roc, knocking it from the skies and grounding it permanently. I caught my breath, and stepped away from the now dead Roc.
"That was some battle!" said a female voice.
I looked towards the source a saw a massive, copper-scaled form stepping out from the cover of the trees. The copper dragon was looking us over assessing us carefully.
"It certainly was," I said, "my apologies, I was unaware this area was under your protection. We well be gone before long".
"No need to be so hasty, young one," said the copper dragon, "I would like to offer you congratulations on defeating those creatures… Honestly, those birds are blight against all of dragonkind. I'd think anyone with a reasonable head on their shoulders would be pleased with you taking those Rocs down. In any case, I am known as Rachkornari, You are Valignatirisk, correct?"
"I am," I said cautiously, "you know of me".
"Indeed I do," said Rachkornari, "the company you keep gives you away. Not many chromatics would be caught dead travelling in the company of humanoids. But your story has reached me, and I cannot say I am not intrigued by it. Come, all of you I know of a safe place where we can speak a short distance from here".
We followed Rachkornari off the main road, and into a quiet clearing. Our hoat sat down, coiling up her lithe form. She indicated for me to sit before her.
""I've already heard some parts of your tale, Valingnatirisk," said Rachkornari, "but stories can get distorted by the passage from one teller to the next. Tell me, what specifically set you down the path you've chosen to walk, this path that goes against what most would expect of you?"
"It wasn't really any one factor," I said, "It was a combination of what I learned from the humanoids that watched over me after I was forced to flee for my life as a wyrmling, as well as making the determination to do so. I knew I had the ability to do it, I just had to be willing to make the effort".
"Really? Who were these who watched over you?" asked Rachkornari,
"The people of the town of Riverpoint," I said, "In particular a Gnomish Wizard named Quoros, and a Lizardfolk Druid by the name of Baeshra".
"Baeshra?" said Rachkornari, "well that's a name I know. Battling the cult with his companions... well, If Baeshra was one of your teachers, you'll do fine. Never met him myself, but the actions of he and his allies will live on. But now, comes the real question" what in particular brings you to this little corner of the world?"
"We're tracking down a cult calling itself the Shadow Triad," I said, "We've heard that the have an outpost in the Sunset Mountains".
"I am… familiar with them," said Rachkornari, "I know not what they are up to, but can't be anything good. I wish you luck in your battles agains the Shadow Triad. Know that I'll be keeping an eye on you, and if you end up in a sticky situation, well I might just happen to be in the area".
With those final words, she left, heading back to further patrol her territory.
A/N: And there we go! Not much else to say to today other than see you next tine!