As it stood, I knew they had watched me and had been aware of my return, even as I curled up not that far inside of the tunnel, laying across the area near the entrance like a guardian wolf or dog. A part of me burned at the comparison, even as it was something necessary for the moment. That, and I would need to actually carve out a small space to serve as my lair and eventual hoard chamber. But it was also something that could wait for a little while longer, as the rite would take a month for my essence to mix and settle with the area.

Even before that, well, there was napping and killing to be done, as my... allies did not seem to mix well with the sunlight. Which fair, they called themselves dark elves, even if they were not really drow. But, it would seem that I would be nocturnal for the next little while, largely because I would act in concert with my... support group as it were. That, or one could consider it an allied thorp, maybe hamlet, as there were twenty three and I think twenty one was the thorp to hamlet level?

Bleh, even then, as the sun was setting and they began to emerge... well, that was a question that did not need to be asked in many respects, bone pale fingers working into my scales, daps of oil sinking in as I stretched and groaned in pleasure. And then they started whispering, speaking of a logging camp, filled with humanity... and that would, in turn, possess treasures for me to seize. Small things to be sure, they spoke as they rubbed and worked the oil into my scales, as they rubbed and massaged along my back, right between the wings.

Already, they had killed all the Great Trees of this forest, tearing out its soul, and now that it had been recovering, they wished to come once more, to prune and cull the wilds? They sang, mournful songs of the wood around me, as they spoke of the camp, what they knew of it and where it was located. They had been planning on stroking against them, but... their strong dragon, would he not slake some of his hunger for blood there? He was so strong, his scales fearsome armor, stronger and tougher than anything they possess, for they are but elves, and he is a drake of the woods.

It was almost insulting that I was being compared to a mere Forest Drake... but did they think that was what I was? Just one also touched by infernal power? That would almost be funny, if it was also not so insulting, as I sniffed. They paused for a moment, as I rose, extracting myself from a forest of caressing hands, a keening cry of defeat that I was no longer in a lucky elf's lap... but it was time for me to live up to one of my parts of the bargain. After all, this relationship went both ways.

Tom Woodsman

For the most part, as he took a sip from the mug, one of the few good things about this forest was the coffee. Sure, they needed to post guards at night and there were all the tales of ghosts, of vengeful spirits deep inside the woods that remembered the days when the elves lived there with rather more fondness than humanity. That, and the woods had been left alone for far too long, strange things creeping in. Some of it even the work of cults, or perhaps just natural things that had gone wrong.

He didn't know, and for the most part, he didn't overly care to know. He just knew that the woods were haunted by wolves, spiders, ogres, trolls and troll-kin... not to speak of the cultists that had fled beyond the light of the cities, making their home in the dark places. But still, as he sat by the fire, most of those would not approach the camp, which was not that deep into the woods in the first place. And all of the wilderness of the wood held little terror compared to that which could be exerted by the Woodcutters Guild falling behind on its orders to the other guilds.

He snorted, taking a third sip, hand on the axe across his lap. He was just glad that they had not replaced him and his crew with Uvandir. Then again, maybe they just didn't want to pay for all the beer the short bastards would demand. Or healers from the fights. It was something to consider, even as the woods grew... quiet... and he looked to the glass set on the ground. No ripples, so no great thunder lizard near by. Could be a forest drake, even if they usually did not come to the edges.

It was a snapping branch that caused him to whirl about, just in time for the jaws to tear out his throat, a yell of warning silenced and made into choked and ruined gurgles before he could warn the camp. A part of him, as he was bleeding out on the ground, wondered if this thing was a forest drake hatchling, and what was it doing over...

Devil Wyrm

All in all, the plan was simple. Sneak up on sentries, kill them quickly and quietly and then move on to the tents. Which... was actually not the hard, because I could glide. Climb up a tall tree, glide over their heads, and kill them from behind. Nice, quick and easy. And they did not taste all that different from the badgers and capybaras honestly, even as I slipped in and simply.. well, I did not exactly make them suffer, I did not have the time, as their blood flowed and people died in the night. It was, embarrassingly, one that had gotten up to piss that managed to raise the alarm, but life did things like that, even as I had to abandon all traces of subtly.

And a dragon, even a small one like me, against a mere twelve men roused from sleep with axes meant for wood... honestly? Between my scales, claws, fangs and breath, some of them did the smart thing, and scattered, heading for the trail. Which of course is when the scourges struck, making sure that none escaped to say exactly what happened here. But, my eyes locked into the pony pen, a growl in my throat. After all, I was in need of more experience, and these kind loggers were kind enough to provide...

Report to Milford Woodcutters Guild

After the Koleman lumber camp missed its monthly delivery on Moon of the Elk 30, an investigative party was dispatched to determine the cause and if fees and penalties would need to be assessed against the workers in addition to the standard late fees and missing delivery penalties. On the initial investigation, it was determined that between the lack of bodies and the lack of any sign of there having been a lumber camp in the area marked for its deployment, that the workers have stolen guild property and are living as wild fools. An solitary elf (with the remains of an iron collar) was discovered living nearby.

Her testimony was that they were complaining about the wages and packed up two weeks before the end of the month, though she also gave a name, of a 'Master Tollus' who apparently was recruiting them for some sort of sex cult. She did not attempt to learn more details, as they did not seem to take no for an answer. On attempting to capture the asset, she ran off, hiding in the woods. Two members of the team were injured as she lured them into a beetle nest and made good her escape.

In conclusion, the former woodcutters have abandoned their duties to join a cult of rape and sexual excess, with some indication they are headed for the coast.