Alas, there was more to life than being attended to by dark elves. No, there was a need, as they retreated under the roots of the dead tree above us, to avoid the suns searching rays through the thick canopy above us. A place to climb later and observe my future domain. But, it did bring to mind just some of the terms of our little alliance, as it seems dragons, or specifically green dragons, were not really all that known in these lands. Some tales persisted of isolated linnorm, but nothing of true dragon kind. And reasonably, of my kind as well.
But, this was not one of the realms I was overly familiar with, faint stirrings of memory from my life before the egg suggesting some things to me, but in truth? I was woefully ignorant of things, and it would be something I needed to correct. But first, I needed to do a quick survey of the forest, of the area around the... well, I was hesitant to make this my actual lair, even as several of the elves bound themselves to me via contracts. It would take time to seal the deal with all of them, and then to seal it even more.
But, in the meantime, I would hunt for blood, for carnage... for sweet, sweet experience points! Seriously, I needed those if I wanted to be more than just a fancy lizard pet. Which was an insult that would not stand and was a grave affront to my draconic pride! Also, I needed to eventually lewd those elves. And I could not do that as a tiny runt, but needed to grow and become strong. Which is when I spotted a grand opportunity, observing a few badgers going down a hole. As a wise and cunning dragon, I stuck my face into the hole, and breathed.
Now, the good side of things was that my breath weapon managed to catch a clan of five badgers by surprise in their hole. The bad side was that I had stuck my face into said hole before filling it with my breath and now five pissed off badgers wanted to maul said said face off, as they screamed and rushed at me. Now, to be entirely fair, as claws and fangs clashed against fur and scale, as things became a desperate and bloody melee, I laughed a great bellowing laugh, for this is what I meant to...
A howl of pain because that claw just picked my nose!
So, I had completed my first conquest, in the form of a clan of badgers. Which is actually more impressive than it sounds at first, because those little fuckers are mean and savage little berserkers. I would form a great army of them to unleash in the realms of men. Seriously, it would work, particularly if I unlocked one of the more... potent little dread powers that seemed to be a result of my mixed draconic nature. Or rather, something that allowed me to expand on the Rite of Investment in a few ways.
Oh, it would still weaken me for a year, but I would be able to add a few different templates to the mix, all based on the warcraft RPG oddly enough, or rather how the tainted template there can work. There were some differences, but it would be something that I could use to my advantage when spreading my influence. Also, power ups. And general corruption. Frankly, the tool kit there is lovely, even if it does not translate over one for one. But it was something to work towards, as I spotted my next victims, ambling about by the rivers edge.
Snuffling, splashing and ambling playfully was an entire next of the giant rodents known as capybaras. Now, as I looked on these scene of peace and happiness, as I witnessed the worlds most chill creature, I pondered if I had what it took. Would I really descend on such peaceful creatures and wreck bloody slaughter for the sole purpose of my own power, not even for eating? Could I reduce these harmless creatures in a display of brutal savagery, even as one rubbed into my side and tried to cuddle? Could I really enact such brutal and senseless carnage?
Well, that was a moral and ethical dilemma, as claws and fangs sank into screaming flesh rich copper and iron blooming in my mouth, but I was a devil dragon, so... probably? Eh, slaughter and carnage now, trying to be a brooding noble soul grappling with the realities of my new biological condition (read be a angsty little shit) later. If I could be assed. Probably not, because hey, I could ponder the dark and brooding nature, or I could continue to race around, breathing and killing sweet sacks of experience with claw, fang and acidic breath.
Only one of those, as I leapt and killed and butchered the innocent, their blood and fur scattered on the grass, would get me patted and cooed over by dark elf hotties. But still, leaving the scene of carnage behind me, the peace of the tranquil river clearing shattered and defiled... I was lugging the corpse of one of them back to the grove. Hey, I was a growing dragon and I needed to eat.
Koravel, Willow Scourge
Frankly, she was of the opinion that the creature that had been attracted by their rituals was... not actually summoned, just something that was in the air and linked to dark enough powers that it was drawn in. Not a true boon from the darkness, no matter that the seductresses sighed and fawned over it. Because the creature was dangerous, and if nothing else, it may be a useful weapon to turn against the men and the orks. And it had wandered off into the day, so there was some suspicion that while it may be linked to A darkness, it may not be the one they are bound to. Something that was of serious consideration.
And then there was the smell of cooked meat, of acid and smoke, as the serpentine form of the dark dragon made its way into their home, placing its meal down as it stretched and yawned. Except, there was also something on its back, the white and black of a badger to go along with the brown of a capybara. Her lips twitched. Perhaps, they would be taking the small beast to hunt better game soon enough, as there would always be fools that are seeking to enter the woods.
Foolish little mortals that would taint and destroy the woodlands. She licked her lips, as the creature lay down, as it closed its eyes and rested. There was a logging camp she knew, and she giggled as her own eyes closed, as she went to sleep among the roots of the willow tree. She dreamed pleasant dreams, of death and terror, of pain and suffering, of humans dying and feeding the forest soil. It was more than they ever deserved.