A/N: WHAT IS UP MUCKAAAAACHUNGAAAAAS!? IT'S TRAVEZ! And I'm here today to give you not only a revamped Chapter 1 of my series "Klauthiym" but I'm also going to be giving you guys a Major Campaign Setting Update for this story! Now as you guys could have probably guessed from the Author's Note in the Prologue, I am actually an avant fan of the Dungeons & Dragons Movie Franchise, especially the original Two Movies: "Rod of Savrille" (my fanbase name for the movie, do not steal), and Wrath of the Dragon God. I liked Book of Vile Darkness, especially it's introductory scene to the "Campaign" of the Movie, but this actually got me looking into the "Movies" Secion of Fanfiction and, Lo and Behold, I found the Dungeons and Dragons Movies as a Fanfiction, but only the original Trilogy, which means I'm sticking with Rod of Savrille, Wrath of the Dragon God, and Book of Vile Darkness as my Campaign Setting. However, there will be some major hurdles to get over…
First off, when I started thinking about it, I wanted to find what setting the Movies would take place in to get some inspiration, and, as soon as I start searching, I find out that Rod of Savrille and Wrath of the Dragon God take place inside their own Homebrew Setting, which, was inspired by the Mystara Campaign Setting and, if things had gone through okay, would've ended up as part of the Blackmoor Setting. I also did a rewatch of the Second Movie, I noticed that the plot name-dropped two deities from Greyhawk setting as well: Falazure and Obad-Hai! Not only that, Pelor, the Greyhawk God of the Sun, was mentioned there as well, and, according to the 4e Draconomicon, Falazure is actually the Dragon Exarch of Vecna, another Greyhawk God, so, with all this information, I've reason to believe the Original Trilogy of the D&D Film Series takes place in the Greyhawk Campaign Setting, despite there also being evidence that I found that the Films were inspired by the Mystara Setting and would have become part of the Blackmoor Setting had WotC not gotten in the way. So with all this evidence in mind, it's safe to say that the First 2 D&D Films are a unique setting that combines the original D&D Worlds of Blackmoor and Greyhawk together into a single world with a heavy dosage of Mystara for flavor… However, I would find that the Blackmoor Setting, and later the along with the later Lendore Islands, would be Absorbed into Greyhawk later on, and the Blackmoor Setting would eventually evolve into the setting of Mystara via a Retcon. So, legitimately, based on what I have found, the setting for the First 2 D&D Films, if they were to be put into a D&D Supplement, would have been set in the World of Oerth, the Material Plane of Greyhawk.
However, where this gets complicated is that the Third Movie, officially, takes place in the region of the Kingdom of Karkoth, set within the World of the Nentir Vale/Points of Light setting. What complicates matters even further is the fact that the Nentir Vale Setting uses both the Greyhawk and Forgotten Realm's deities in it. The Nentir Vale World also has two established continents upon it already, and Greyhawk has 4, in which the 4th Continent is unnamed… However, this leaves me with a great opportunity, as I discovered something very interesting… As it turns out the only continent that adventures take place in Greyhawk is that of Oerik, which, means that the other 4 continents are unexplored, but also that means that the Continents of Nerath and Seluduria, can be placed within the World of Greyhawk by simply replacing Hepmonaland and the Unnnamed Continent! However, that isn't what I'm going to do…
Instead this setting is going to include all the locations from all three movies merged into one setting, a Setting which I am going to name "Dragon Alley" or "Izmir", I haven't decided! It will be a setting that is based primarily on "The Rod of Savrille" and "Wrath of the Dragon God" with some elements of "Book of Vile Darkness", as well as combining elements from Greyhawk, Blackmoor, Mystara, and the Nentir Vale to create this setting, along with 5e Adventure Modules that take place in the Greyhawk setting: The Sunless Citadel, The Forge of Fury, the Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan, White Plume Mountain, Dead in Thay, and Against the Giants from the "Tales from the Yawning Portal" with my own ideas for the campaign going forward… I don't know when this story is going to end, but at least now I have a road map, and Ego Draconis is going to be hounding them the whole way… However, I will also be preparing one last Hurrah for the Party within Ironfell's city to bring an end to the campaign.
I will also be bringing in locations visited and mentioned from the Original Trilogy as well: Sumdall City, Izmir City, Antius City, the Kingdom of Karkoth, Saragaso Village, Mount Hearth Heartshorn Wood, the Mudwash River, the Goblin Village of K'rtl, Malek's Vault, the Tomb of Savrille, the Barrier Peaks, the Temple of Obad-Hai, the Oathstone of Pelor, and the Ruins of Turan, to name a few… However, I still have yet to fully solidify any ideas I have in my head, so this is all I can explain for now
In any case, I think that is enough out of me for now! Please be sure to Follow, Favorite, Review, and Share this story with anyone and everyone you know who likes Dungeons and Dragons Content! Catch ya on the Flipside! NAT 20!
Chapter 1: Bloodbane
I had been traveling through the hills and plains… For Weeks… The City of Evenfall, from what I can see from what my eyesight can tell through the rising sun, is just a few miles away, in which I had decided to take shelter in a cave upon a large rugged hill so that I may rest and recover, in which I had actually happened to find quite comfortable… My eyes would look out to the city as I would begin to feel my stomach rumbling from having eaten through all of my rations on the way here, and, much to my delight, there is a collection of rivers flowing out from beyond the hills and into the forest that surround it, and, with a positively hopeful smile, I contemplate what I should have for breakfast… Now I may be able to eat just about anything thanks to we dragons being able to digest almost anything, but even I have standards for what I wish to have so early in the morning, and, thinking over it, I look at the river and I smile as I know what I want for breakfast: Feesh!
I open my wings, launch off my shelter and begin gliding down towards the river, where I would begin humming as I would try to find any fish in the river… Thankfully, it wasn't too difficult, as I would look into the river and plenty of fish to be gathered, namely rainbow trout, which makes me salivate as I would slowly approach the river… Taking slow and careful steps as I approach the water, lowering myself so that my smaller forelimbs would support me and help in the sneaking… Surprisingly, I find it is also pretty easy to actually walk on all fours like this, using my knuckles for support as I make my way towards the water. I would then notice a swarm of fish in the water and I would smile as I would make the first strike… It wasn't even a contest, for with one mighty swing of my tail, all 8 little fishies were flying out of the water and would topple hard against the rocks, the impact from my spiked tail, engulfed in flames, was enough roast them as they flew through the air and landed in a neat little pile. "Oh boy!" I would say and begin having Quippers for breakfast, a smile flowing across my face once I am done.
However, as I lay down to digest my food, I would then feel something in the back of my mind, "Galtherin, is that you?"
"Ah Klauthiym, I finally got through! Thank goodness!" Galtherin would say, smiling. "How have you been?"
"I've been doing well for myself, all things considered, and I just finished having quippers for breakfast!" I would say, smiling, "Why what's going on?"
"Well I know you're probably not looking into this now, but have you ever considered actually trying to make a lair for yourself?"
"I have but I don't have many options at the moment, since I'm still just starting out on my adventures!" I would say, listening to Galtherin. "Why do you ask?"
"Well that is actually something pretty funny! You see, I have been looking into possible homes, as I had promised you a while back, and I think I might have a candidate near you, granted it's an inactive Volcano, but I think you'd like it once you started gathering a hoard for yourself!"
"Go on…" I would say, listening to Galtherin.
"Alright! You see, the Mountain I am talking about is known as Ironfell, it is actually situated to the East of your current position and, from what I was able to learn, the entire mountain is 6,700ft high, is 9 miles in diameter, and, from what I have heard, has an abandoned city situated inside it that, as far as I can learn from the rumors, has yet to be plundered due to how dangerous it is!"
"Oooo, now that sounds like a challenge I would like to take on eventually!" I would say back to him, "Can you tell me more about this place?"
"Not much to be honest, however, there are stories that state that the city wasn't built by any of the underground dwelling races… No… There are rumors that the city itself was built by the Dracotaurs, the Dragonborn, and the Kobolds." Galtherin explained, "There are even stories about those who managed to escape with their lives and nothing to show for it that the city itself actually had Guard Drakes roaming the city, and what few murals that they saw would state that the city was ruled by a family of humanoids who knew how to transform into dragons themselves."
"Humans turning into dragons? Where have I heard that before?" I would ask myself outloud, before I would hear a loud splash nearby. "What was that?"
"Oh something caught your attention?"
"Yeah, gotta go! Contact me tomorrow!" Galtherin would then hang up as I would slowly creep towards where the sound of the splashing had originated, and… I would happen up on a rocky shoreline where I would see somebody I hadn't seen in months, throwing stones into the water… Long flowing Amethyst purple hair that slowly flows down to the center of her back, tied up in a high tail, with a breastplate designed to not only provide protection, but also support her bountiful 36B bust size that I had seen blossoming from her as we grew up, along with her clothes hugging her hourglass figure, and 36in waist, with the leather tightly expressing her square shaped buttocks rather well… She would be wearing an amulet around her neck of a golden sun with a black crescent moon, and, finally, she would be wearing some rather fine looking leather boots to cover her feet.
Deciding to show-off a bit, I smirk as smoke flows out of my chest, creating a smoke screen as I would slowly transform… And it seems Clarity would notice as the wind would blow my incense infused smoke towards her and I would transform into human form. She would look over to me, reaching for a sword at her side, and I would smile as the smoke clears. "Hello there…" I would say, "Are you, by any chance, the woman known as Clarity Ravenwing?"
"Who's asking?" She asks, looking at me.
"Oh, just a passerby, looking to deliver a message." I would say, but then she draws her sword.
"Then out with it, I'm currently looking for someone… And I don't want him to get hurt!"
"Whoa whoa whoa!" I would say, holding up my hands, "I mean you no harm!" I was now scared as I looked at her, shaking with fear as I was wondering what to do now! "Clarity it's me!"
"Me who?" She asked, aiming the sword at my throat.
"It's Klauthiym! I know I don't look the same right now, but I swear it's me!" She would look at me with a discerning eye, but then her expression would brighten as she dropped her sword and leaped at me.
"Klauthiym!" Clarity would say, hugging me, "It really is you!" She then looks at me with a smile, only to then blush as she looks down my body, seeing how I've become a sculpted individual since we last met, her cheeks turning as red as my scales as her nose begins to bleed. "Hot! Hot!" She would then let go and jump back, wiping her nose. "It is really nice to see you!"
"It's great to see you too! You've only gotten more beautiful since I last saw you!" I would say honestly.
"Oh please, I am honestly not the most beautiful Half-Elf around!" She would say, smirking. "In any case, I'm glad you're here! I need your help with something."
"Oh, what do you need help with? Did you get yourself in trouble already?"
"Oh no, I'm actually getting ready to take on a job, and we need another person to help us!"
"What kind of job is it?"
"Dragon Hunting…" Clarity would say, smiling.
"What!?" I would say, shocked.
"Oh it's nothing major, it's just the local drake population has been getting out of hand lately, and we need help in thinning out the herd." Clarity would say, "And having a dragon alone just might even the odds a bit!"
"Well if that's the case, then I guess I wouldn't mind!" I would say.
"Great, then follow me and I'll introduce you to our comrades!" I would follow Clarity as she would lead us to a clearing nearby where the group had set up camp. Sitting at a pot would be what appears to be another half-elf, a Half-Drow by the looks of her, and she seems to be working at a cauldron humming as she seems to be mixing herbs together with a smirk on her face. "Eryna! Where's everyone else?"
"Taking a rest!" The Half-Drow says, "Plus Baelon's going to be scouting out the area for any sign of Drakes nearby!"
"Good! Klauthiym…!" I would walk up behind her, "This is Eryna Cavalias, recent graduate of Witherbloom College! She's an Aberrant Mind Sorceress…"
"Aberrant Mind?" I would ask, trying to recall what that was, but all I could think of was: "Wait, are those the Sorcerers who draw their magic from the Far Realm?"
"Close, handsome…!" Eryna would say, standing up, revealing her supple and voluptuous body with her tight, form fitting robes, "It's actually one of many ways that can happen… For me thought…" She points a finger into her head, "I actually had a Mind Flayer Tadpole penetrate deeply and forcefully into my brain…" She then moans sensuously and squirms a bit, "But the Ceremorphosis never took place, and now I have the powers of a Mind Flayer at my disposal…" I would simply look away at her sensual actions, pinching the bridge of my nose as she does so, whilst I feel a pair of arms wrap around me as Clarity would give Eryna a glare, whilst Eryna would simply smirk at the High Half-Elf's reaction. "But that's enough for me… If I had to guess…" She looks at me, and then sniffs the air, "Incense…?"
"Sorry about that…"
"No it is alright, darling… Now I must ask, are you a Tiefling… Or…" She then gives me a look, "... A Dragon?" That is when I suddenly get scared as she looks at me, then she starts laughing. "Oh that was a good one! Cuz there is no way a dragon would be here of all places!"
"I don't know…" I say, sniffing around, "I mean there is the stench of dragons all over this forest… And…" That is when I catch the scent of something, and I rush off.
"Wait, Klauthiym!" Clarity says, rushing after me, in which I run for several minutes and eventually come to a stop at what looks to be a clearing in the forest, with a hill situated in it and an ancient ruin on top of that… My nose was right on this matter, there is the scent of a Dragon here, and not just a drake either, this is a full blown True Dragon… "Klauthiym!"
"Sh!" I would say loudly, "Get down!" I would say, dragging Clarity and Eryna down, the two of us looking at the fortress.
"Why'd you run off like that?"
"I caught the scent of a Dragon in the area… And not just a Drake, this is a full blown True Dragon, a Green if I had to guess by the surrounding environment!"
"A Green Dragon…!?" Eryna would ask, shocked, but then begins thinking about the possibilities. "That actually makes a lot of sense… True Dragons tend to attract drakes of the same color and element as them when they inhabit a region for a while… The Drakes also tend to hunt for their dragon overlord as well and guard their lairs…"
"It also makes sense that the Drakes would be causing problems as of late…" A male voice would appear beside us and I would raise up my claws, only for him to place a sword against my neck. "Calm down, I'm with you guys…"
"Baelon!" Eryna would say, "Where have you been?"
"Following the Drakes with the others… We had to hang back a bit because Damos's armor would've given us away…" Baelon would say as I turned back towards the others who were with him. I would see that this Baelon has the look of what Galtherin had told me was that of a Shifter, a human descended from werebeasts. And next to him was a Silver Dragonborn and a woman with long ears, silver hair, and red eyes, which were tell-tell signs of her vampiric origins. However, that is when I turn my eyes back to the fortress… And that is when I hear something.
"GET DOWN!" I would shout diving beneath the underbrush as something big would soar above us and would land at the base of the hill, and I would smell the venom in the air… Everyone had followed suit as we would poke our head above the line of bushes to see a Green Dragon having landed as the Drakes pile food in front of it, all of them looking expectantly at it, to which the Green Dragon smirks and begins to eat its food. "We need to get out of here… Back away… Slowly…" Unfortunately, as I say that, every single one of us, except for Eryna, apparently, steps on a twig that causes the Drakes and the Green Dragon to look in our direction.
"I know you're there, come out into the light where I can see you!" The Dragon says, looking towards us, the Drakes snarling as they approach, but, seeing as I have no other option, I step out into the open, channeling my Ki to create an aura of fire around my body as I step forward, glaring at the Dragon. "Ah… I see we have a visitor… A Tiefling perhaps?"
"No, I'm simply on a Drake Hunt right now… I have no intention of hunting you…" I would say, pointing to the Drakes that surround him. "So you can go about your business Dragon, these Drakes are what I'm after…"
"Really now, you are only after my Drakes then?" The Green Dragon would say, looking at me with a smirk, "You certainly know what you're after…" The Dragon would then slowly approach me, and would begin circling me… "Do you know who I am, little one?"
"No… I only got here last night…" I would say, the Dragon eyeing me carefully.
"You seem to be telling the truth…" The Green Dragon says, but where are your companions…? Don't you know it's suicide to confront a pack of drakes, let alone a dragon, alone?"
"My party is back at camp… I was scouting ahead with our ranger to see if we could find the nest…" I would say, with the Dragon giving me an odd look but seemingly accepting that…
"Really now…" The dragon would then rub it's nostrils close to me…" And why would a virile young Red Dragon such as yourself, take human form and be wandering around with your food?"
"Why do you care?"
"It is just odd that a Red such as you, proud and wrathful creatures that you are, seek to pal around with such meager creatures…" It would say, "Perhaps it is because…" That is when a green aura of mist wraps around the dragon, revealing it turning into a voluptuous woman, who then circles around me more, "...You are seeking a mate amongst them, one to dominate to… To impregnate with half-breed spawn…" She asks, probing me with her questions… "I could satisfy you in ways that she could only make you dream of…" She suggests sultrily, making movements that emphasize her appearance and she gives me a look that I could only dream of…
"Your words are honey to hear, but, as is your very nature, poison to taste…" I say firmly, looking at her, I had been tempted, but I remembered Clarity's kiss on my cheek, and how it made me feel warm… I want more of that, but I won't let these poisoned words dig in…
"No…?" The Green Dragoness would say, looking at me, "You would reject such a delicious treat like myself?"
"My heart is not so easily won…" I would say, "Your nature is that of poison, in both your foul breath and your words…" I would glare at her, my body becoming engulfed in fire, in which I would transform into my true form and slam my tail down onto the ground, "I won't let you have your way with me…"
"Bastard… You'll regret rejecting Skarrakkan!" She would say, transforming into her true form, she is twice my size, but I can tell she is around the same age as I am. "I will have you, one way or another!" That is when she would charge at me and I at her… However, I would make the first move as we got close and I would strike at her face three times with, "FLAME LOTUS: FIRE DRAGON BARRAGE!" I would shout, swinging my fists three times in quick succession, shocking Skarrakkan, who snarls as she takes the blows as I burn her scales. I would roar as I would lower myself to the ground, and… Much to everyone's shock, Clarity would rush forwards and dash forward and climb upon my back, Clarity raising her sword.
"ATTACK!" Clarity would shout and the others would realize that we're doing this now, and so everyone charged into the fight with the guard drakes rushing to them… With this the battle would be joined as Fiona would draw her bow and aim, firing in which the arrow would fly forward, and as the arrow and the scales of the closest Green Drake meet, there would be a clash of emerald and white energy, only for the green energy coming from the drake to fail and for the arrow to bite deeply into the Drake's hide, the creature snarling in pain… Eryna would smile as she would look at the same Drake and would begin whispering a haunting song in a language that is… Unfathomable… The Drake looks at her in horror as a familiar maniacal laughter would echo from around the lizard, and it's mouth, eyes, and nostrils would begin to bleed as it would feel the fear sink into the depths of it's soul…
Clarity, having mounted herself upon my back, nestled carefully between a set of spikes, would draw a weapon from her waist, a strange mixture of wood and metal, engraved with an image of… Me… And she would aim it with a smile… A blast that would look like the object breathing fire would burst out with what would sound like… My Roar… And flying from it would be a single piece of metal from it, that rips straight through the dragon's shoulder, Skarrakkan snarling in pain as she reels back from the attack, glaring at her… "So you're the one who won the heart of this Red Dragon? Pathetic, what can a flat-chested woman like you have that I don't?"
"Not every guy is into seductresses and femme fatales…" Clarity would say, obviously getting angry, and I was starting to sweat, completely terrified. "The fact you tried to take my dragon away from me really irks me. I'll fill your corpse so full of holes that nobody will recognize you!"
"We'll see about that!" Skarrakkan would say, then she would roar, commanding her Drakes to attack. However, the first of them, completely frozen with Fear, can't move anywhere closer to the target it wants to make: Eryna, and it flees as fast as it can away. "COWARD!"
Following that Drake, Baelon then unleashes a howl at the top of his lungs, sounding exactly like a wolf as, suddenly, out of the forest, an albino wolf leaps out and starts snarling, it's body covered in crimson hand shaped markings whilst it's eyes and mouth would have red stains flowing from it. "GHOST, SIC'EM BOY!" Baelon would shout as he draws his twin arming swords and waits for his next attack as his wolf charges forward and lunges at the Drake, biting down hard upon the same aura coming, only for Ghost's fangs to punch through and sink into the Drake's Neck and, with a swift motion, tears out the Drake's throat. The Second of the drakes, seeing it's brother go down, charges forward with a snarling hiss, and would target Ghost, who jumps out of the way of the attack, only for a follow-up strike with it's tail to lash out and slash Ghost across the face, the Wolf yelping in pain. "Ghost!"
"Wait! Stop this!" Damosarion would say, "There is still time to see reason!" Damos would beg the Green Dragon, "There is no need to fight! We can solve this peacefully!"
"You poor fool, when he rejected me, peace no longer was an option!" Skarrakkan would say to Damos, snarling, "I will not take this insult lying down!"
"Then… I have no choice…" Damosarion would say, looking sad, "DIVINE SMITE!" He would draw a battle axe and would bring it down upon the Drake that had been targeting Ghost, and it roars in pain as both the axe's blade and the divine energy rip through it. The Third Drake would charge towards Damosarion and then attempt to attack him twice, both of them missing the mark by a wide margin. I would then focus on Skarrakkan once more, and I could feel something in my chest growing stronger… It was a fire that I knew could only be quenched with blood… I knew what this was then and there… It… Was… RAGE! Rage for having nearly been seduced by this snake, rage for the insults she threw at her, and worse, rage at myself for nearly falling for such an obvious trick
"I'LL KILL YOU!" I roared as I charged forward and I would lash out with my teeth… Biting deep into her neck, and forcing her to the ground, only for Skarrakkan to raise herself back up, throwing me up as I would breathe deeply and unleashed a blast of fire directly into her face, Skarrakkan would then slam her body into my side, attempting to bite at my hide, but her venomous fangs would find no purchase as the two of us would struggle fiercely with each other… I would push her off her attempt as her claws would come for me, but I would deftly dodge underneath them as Fiona, changing targets, would draw her bow again, using her position to aim true… Eryna, seeing how things are going, would have her eyes glow as she would press two fingers to her forehead and then aim them at Skarrakkan, who would roar in agony as a bolt of violet energy would rip through her head. Clarity would take aim with her gun again after loading another shot and would fire, dealing a fierce blow to Skarrakkan who would snarl in anger as she would begin to breathe raggedly.
Baelon, having seen ghost become injured, would snarl as he would charge forward and attack the drake that had harmed his wolf, and would slam both blades down upon it, the Drake would then turn to Baelon, angry, and would manage to land a rather nasty bite that would be engulfed in golden vapor, accompanied by childish laughter, and then would follow up with a powerful tail strike. Damosarion would charge forward and bring his axe down once more upon the drake, who would snarl. The Final Drake would actually move around the entire group and would position itself, ready to strike.
However, the last few moments of this battle flew like a blur as Skarrakkan and I would roar at each other as she would charge at me and would bite deep into my neck once again, her fangs finding no purchase as she used her weight to push me to the ground… I would struggle in her fangs to move myself out of her grasp and would swing my claws to try and drive her back to gain some space, the two of us charging at each other once more as I would try to bite into her flank, only for my teeth not to find any purchase, a failed claw swipe would see her dodge and she would ram he head into me, trying to push me backwards, and I would fail to defend against her superior strength… But she would leave herself exposed… I knew this was the perfect time to end this as I would charge forward at Skarrakkan and would bite down on her neck one last time, grabbing her with both of my arms, Skarrakkan, the big dragon who is larger than me would roar as she struggled to get out of my grasp, backing away as she roars in fear, thrashing violently, trying to pull herself free… But, with a twist of my head, and a sickening pop… Skarrakkan would fall to the ground… Dead… And when I came out of the combative trance, the other two drakes were on the ground… Dead… And I would roar victoriously at our achievement.
That is when suddenly, we hear clapping and everyone turns to see something we didn't expect, a Tieflign sitting in the tree nearby. "Who are you!?" I would say, still itching for a fight as I looked at her.
"Settle down will ya?" She would say, jumping down with a smile, bringing out a lute, "I am Evolyne Magia, Bard Extraordinaire of the College of Swords! I happen to be on my way to the Town of Evenfall, and I happened to witness the entire battle between your team and Skarrakkan, and her pack of guard drakes! It was truly a sight to behold!" She would say, with flair and pizzazz, smiling at us as she would look towards us with her bright golden eyes, "It was honestly the most riveting sight I had seen in all my life, a Young Red Dragon taking out one nearly twice his size as if it were any other day, and a group of loyal companions and his true love, his rider, upon his back, supporting him with dragon fire! Ah, I can just see the people eating up this story like it were sweet rolls on a summer day!" She smiles, "I hope you will allow me to perform your Ballad at the inn tonight?"
"Well…" I would say, only for Clarity to rush forward, her sword drawn.
"You can, but we want royalties, as this is our story, and remember, you're not part of it, except as the author and narrator, alright?" Clarity would say, but then she would slip the bard a few gold coins, and whisper something into the Bard's ear, to which the Tiefling would giggle and nod.
"Well then, since I have your approval then, I guess I will be off, and be sure to collect that dragon's parts, I hear that Dragon Scales and Dragon Bone actually make rather fine weapons and armor!" She woudl say before opening a pair of wings and flying off, I would then look at Skarrakkan and I would look to Clarity, who is still looking at the Tiefling fly off, and I would grab the big dragoness's corpse by the neck and I would drag it over to her, and I would set it down at my rider's feet. Clarity would look at me, then would hug my snout before kissing my forehead.
"Hey, sorry to interrupt your love fest, but shouldn't we skin this thing and then see if we can find it's hoard?" Fiona would say, to which everyone nods and they decide that would be best, in which, with Baelon working his magic, he would perfectly carve off the hide of the young dragon, and would harvest several materials from it with a smile. Afterwards we would make our way up the hill and towards the ruins itself, where we would find a once proud castle standing defiantly against ravages of time, covered in moss, overgrown with plants, and many buildings still struggling to fight off the reclamation of Nature itself… Taking humanoid form again, I would place my hand upon the ground, and I would look at it all, and then… I would see something… Hear something…
"Come on slowpokes! Hurry up!" I could hear a boy's voice calling out!"
"Guys! Wait up!" A girl's voice would say, rushing to them! The image of three boys rushing past her.
"Hurry up, Xinragotha! We're going to be late!" Another boy's voice says, and there would be laughter as I would see this castle when it was bustling and full of life, in which I would begin walking and looking around as if I was there, moving with the crowd as I followed the images of the children. I would then follow them to what would appear to be a theater… I would see a skeletal looking man and hear him singing songs and performing magic, in which my eyes would light up with wonder… I would then look around and follow what would appear to be knights dressed in purple armor with a draconic theme, wielding polearms marching through the streets. I would also see what would appear to be a Dragon flying in the air, but instead of the people running in fear, they would kneel with smiles on their faces as the dragon would land and take human form… He would be dressed in garments of royalty and would hug the children with a smile, before hitting them on the head and scold them lightly for running off without telling anyone. He would then enjoy the show with his children, smiling, but then the girl would look in my direction, the older gentleman looking to me.
"Papa, who is that?"
"That, my little girl… That is…" His voice would then cut out as everything would fade, and I would find myself standing before the ruined theater, where a great tree was growing out of it, and I could smell the heavy stench of Skarrakkan's poison flowing out of its hollow…
"Klauthiym?" Clarity would ask, looking at me. "Are you alright?"
"I… I don't know… It was like I was watching the echoes of what had once been here…" I would say, looking around, "They lead me here…"
"Well it has led you straight to the Dragon's Lair, alright…" Baelon would say, holding his nose, "The stench of poison is thick in this air…"
"I know…" I would say, in which we would slowly descend down into the darkness… As we would enter the hollow, our darkvision would reveal to us the surrounding roots that flow through the stone and earth as we look around, seeing that the entire place had been expanded upon so that the tunnels would create a small labyrinth in which one could easily get lost in… However, it wouldn't take us long until we found the Dragon's Lair, and we would find the Dragon's hoard, however, that is when I would stop and ask the group how we would split this one. "I mean, I don't know about you guys, but I am currently fighting the temptation to just take all of this for myself right now…"
"Actually, I have a proposal to make!" Fiona would say, walking forward. "You see… If I'm right about this, you're the Red Dragon that Clarity had told us about for some time now… You see, from what I've been able to study about Dragon Lore, is that whenever a Dragon defeats another Dragon in combat, the hoard is claimed by the dragon as per Right of Conquest… However, if a Dragon has help in defeating a rival, then by law, the Dragon will section off a portion of the Hoard to give to their allies as compensation… However, what muddies this is that you were already helping us in dealing with the Drake Hunting Quest we were given, and we just so happened to run into this Green Dragon by pure chance!"
"Hmmmm That is true… Then…" That is when I would snap one of my fingers, "I think I have an idea!"
"Oh…?" Clarity asks, noticing the glint in my eye.
"As the saying goes: Take me to your Leader!" I would say. A few hours would pass and, as we made our way to Evenfall, a man would ride up to us, smiling.
"Ah there you are!" he would say, smiling. "I trust the hunt went well?"
"Oh it did…" Clarity said, "Until we ran into the source of the problem…"
"Source, what was the source of the problem?"
"A Fucking… Green… Dragon…!" Eryna would say to the man, glaring at him.
"A WHAT!?" The man would say, looking in shock, "There was a green dragon in the forest!?"
"Yes, and if it weren't for the timely arrival of a Red Dragon that was wandering through the area, we would've been killed!" Clarity says, "It let us live in exchange for the Dragon's Treasure Hoard!" Clarity then grabs the man by the collar, "We demand a greater reward for this mess you got us into!"
"S-Sure!" The Man says, looking at her… "I will go and get it for you presently!" The man then runs off in fear, to which I would watch from an alley nearby, and I would smile as they would give me a thumbs up, whilst I would return to the hoard to count our spoils. After the group returned to me in the forest, they would reveal that the man had gone to the authorities to inform them Skarrakkan, and, as per the regulations of a sudden danger increase, the Adventurer's Guild provided a substantial payment increase for their troubles, increasing the reward from 18 Gold each to 180 Gold for each of them. Not only that, the client himself would actually give them a bonus for dealing with the drakes by giving them each an extra 120 Gold. As for me, I would take the time to actually visit the Library, where, thankfully, I was able to get my hands on plenty of books and maps that would allow me to do some studying on the local region and any political powers in the area, just to make sure I don't piss anyone off.
From what I was able to gather throughout the remainder of the day until closing time at the library…. My Research actually yielded quite a few good results, especially when I started researching the history of the region. Turns out that the entire city, and it's local region, and the Darkwood to the west, are all accounted as the southernmost tip of Dragon Alley, a part of a larger political structure called the Empire of Izmir, which, over the centuries, has Waxed and Waned in it's strength, mostly due to the fact that the entire empire's original backbone was due to mages having control of the empire, and the appearance of a magical object called the Scepter of the Golden Empire, which allowed those who are of a Good-Alignment to be able to call upon the aid of Gold Dragons in battle. However, after the Scepter had been sealed away by Empress Savina, and those without magical talent had been "freed" of their practical enslavement, the Empire was reduced to a still large, but weaker, Kingdom over the course of a Hundred Years… Not only that, during the end of that Hundred Year Span, a powerful Black Dracolich-like Dragon God named Falazur the Soul Reaver, had been released from a dark prison that he had been sealed in for over a thousand years, since the founding of the Empire of Izmir, but was thankfully stopped after a group of heroes managed to have him sealed away with the aid of the Nature God, Obad-Hai…
And Less than 100 years after that, an evil sorcerer named Nhagruul the Foul brought an entire neighboring Kingdom of Karkoth to the brink of collapse by sacrificing his soul to the Demon Lords of the Abyss to transform his body into a powerful evil artifact called the Book of Vile Darkness. However, out of Izmir road the Knights of the New Sun, a group of Paladins dedicated to Pelor, where they united with the remaining good people and forced back the darkness. The Followers of Nhagruul had barely managed to save the book by splitting it into three parts, but only the Ink was destroyed, whilst the cover and pages vanished from history… However, some time after that, a group of evil-doers set about gathering the pieces and restoring it. Thanks to the Heroic Actions of the Last Knight of the New Sun at the time, who willingly broke his vows in order to prevent the book's creation, but held onto his faith, was granted the rank of Paladin, turned one of the evil-doers to the light, and, with the aid of his father, managed to destroy the book forever. Now, over 2,000 Years Later, the Empire of Izmir has managed to re-establish itself, and has managed to Annex the Kingdom of Karkoth, and the Kingdom of Evenfall as two of it's territories, as well as having claimed all of the nations throughout the entirety of Dragon Alley.
In more recent history, there was a powerful conclave of evil Ancient Dragons, who had actually managed to convince a huge number of younger dragons to form an army against them, and in response, the newly reforged Izmirian Empire had to unite together to fight against them… Unfortunately, it was a losing battle, until suddenly, out of nowhere, Four Adult Red Dragons had managed to ambush the Leader of the Conclave by surprise and killed him during the battle. This audacious display of violence and strategy had actually caused the entire conclave and their forces to scatter to the winds, where the Ancient Dragon fell, Blood Mountain would erupt from the earth, and the Four Dragons would be blessed by the Gods themselves, each of them having been elevated to Quasi-Deity status, and in no time at all, they became worshiped as Lesser Deities. It was just like the Draconic Fairy Tales mom would tell me before bed, and this happened while I was still in the shell, and Evenfall had annexed this realm after it's fall, known as the Kingdom of Golden Plains.
However, apart from that, I got a good look at a map concerning Dragon Alley, and I would actually get a good look of the towns and cities within the boundaries of the Second Empire of Izmir… Honestly, it is quite the region and I can't believe that it has actually been conquered as it has, however, that doesn't help me in finding what I'm looking for the most: A Lair. I mean the place where my hoard is currently stashed is all well and good, but the stink of Green Dragon Venom still fills the place. Speaking after that sojourn to the library, I decided to return to the lair, to make sure the group got a portion of the Hoard for themselves as well, in keeping with the tradition of Right of Conquest… For my new friends, I would set aside, for each of them: 100 Copper Pieces, 2,000 Silver Pieces, 500 Gold Pieces, and 20 Platinum Pieces, 5 Garnets, and, surprisingly, a bag of holding for each of them, with each carrying said coinage inside.
As for myself, I was able to walk away with a rather nice hoard for my first big battle, and I was walking away with 8,400 Copper, 36,000 Silver, 10,800 Gold, 540 Platinum, 36 Garnets, 8 Gold and Garnet Combs shaped like dragons, 8 Rings that had the scent of magic on them that I couldn't identify on my own, 7 Braziers that contain some rather pleasant smelling ashes, and the Skull of a Fiend which has been made into an ornate looking bowl or drinking cup, I couldn't tell which. I would smile as I would see my allies come in and I would present each of them with their share of the treasure in the bags of holding, causing them to look at me. "I want to abide by the Rights of Conquest as is common with us Dragons… Though we had stumbled upon this Dragon by sheer coincidence, I wanted to show you all how much I appreciated your help during the fight… If you hadn't prevented the Guard Drakes from interfering, and even aiding me in bringing down Skarrakkan, I wouldn't have been able to win. So… Thank you everyone…!"
"Well that seems to be settled, but have you decided on where you are going to be storing all of this?" Damosarion asks, "I don't know about you, but I don't think a Red Dragon, such as yourself, would like to be living under a tree in a ruined city."
"True, and while I would like to be someplace high enough that I could survey my territory, I don't want to cause any problems for the locals by just looking for a place to hide my hoard and to store it…" I would say, "Especially since I don't know the local terrain, or any nearby mountains or hills that are currently unoccupied by dragons…" I would lay my head down, "Now while this ruin is situated on a rather nice hill, a rather large one for that matter, it's not to my liking because of the stench of Skarrakkan's poison that covers the entire place…"
"Well there is an easy solution for that!" Eryna would say.
"If it is about pissing all over my territory, no thanks, besides, I already tried that…" I would say.
"I was going to say…" She then motions to the braziers, "Why not use these braziers and your breath weapon to generate smoke that will wash out the stench of poison?" With the aid of Baelon, they would search the local area for the barks of certain trees, flowers, and local herbs to actually carefully blend together and then carefully dry them with an application of my dragon fire through the use of my Draconic Strikes… Once they are ready, we would burn them in the braziers, and the entire lair would fill with an aromatic smoke that would, over the next few hours, drown out the stench of Skarrakkan's poison, and with a few flaps of my wings, I would send the smoke over the city, cleansing it of the foul toxins that coated the area. When all was said and done, I had claimed these castle ruins, and the situated hill as My Home for the time being. However, as it would happen, I would face my first test as a group of one hundred armed soldiers march their way to the bottom of the Hill, and at the head of them, is a man dressed in armor a fine blue steel with golden accents, landing on what appears to be a very experienced and battleworn Dragonnel, who lands with this man at the foot of the hill. "That's Lord Hesperus Evenfall!"
"Who?" I would ask, hiding.
"The Lord of Evenfall! I wonder what he's doing here, armed to the teeth as he is."
"May the new Dragon Overlord of these ruins come forth! May there be peace between us, and not bloodshed!" The man would call as he raised the visor of his helmet. I would look at Clarity, and she would walk around the corner and climb upon my back. I would then walk out into the open and glide down the hill and land about ten feet from Lord Hesperus, the Dragonnel Snarling at me, but I would flare my nostrils in warning before looking at Lord Hesperus Evenfall.
What happens after that… Is a story for another day…
