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<blockquote data-quote="JollyDoc" data-source="post: 5531526" data-attributes="member: 9546"><p>AFTERMATH</p><p></p><p>“I can’t believe you found them both!” Evindra gushed as she draped her shawl over her shoulders. “How did you do it?”</p><p>“By killing a murderer and a thief, apparently,” Mox replied. “Now, we have fulfilled our part of the bargain. You said there was information that we needed. What is it? We have pressing matters to attend to.”</p><p>“None more pressing than this, I fear,” the nereid said. “For you see, Briar is only part of the story. Now that you have recovered the blade, its former owner is likely to come for it.”</p><p>“I don’t like dramatics,” Mox snapped. “Speak plainly.”</p><p>Evindra sighed. “I am fey, my lady,” she said. “It is in my nature to be fanciful and talkative, but I will try to keep my tale brief. I was charged with watching over Briar long ago. Exactly how long, I can’t remember, but it was before humans first came to these lands.”</p><p>“Who gave you this charge?” Velox asked.</p><p>“Of that I cannot say much either,” Evindra said. “I’m certain that he worked for those who serve the Eldest of the First World, and I knew better than to disobey. He told me only that the sword was valuable to an upstart named Nyrissa, and that she desired it greatly, and that the Eldest did not want her to have it. Of Nyrissa, I can tell you that she once fell in love with one of the Eldest. Her resulting rise in power led her to proclaim herself one of the rulers of the First World, a grave mistake on her part. The Eldest reacted by sending the most powerful of the Tane, the Jabberwock, to slay her, and they exiled her lover to the Shadow Plane. Somehow, Nyrissa survived the Jabberwock’s attack, and I suspect that she harbors a deep grudge against the Eldest still. She now rules a realm called Thousandbreaths, which lies close to your plane within the forest that you call Thousand Voices. Nyrissa has long had an interest in the Stolen Lands, and many of the land’s fey know of and fear her. There are even rumors that she sometimes walks the Stolen Lands, visiting cruelties upon those who annoy her, and strange rewards upon those who please her. Perhaps there is some connection between these lands and the First World somewhere inside the forest of a Thousand Voices.”</p><p>“What about the sword?” Stevhan asked. He still carried the blade on his back, feeling a strange compulsion to keep it near him.</p><p>“It is a powerful, enchanted weapon in its own right,” Evindra replied, “but I know that it also has other powers, powers which I suspect will awaken once it is exposed to the raw energies of the First World, or if it is used to slay denizens of that realm. I do not know the nature of all of these abilities, but I know that is has a strong intelligence of its own, and that once fully awake, it is a vorpal blade.”</p><p>“Vorpal…,” Stevhan breathed.</p><p>“Well,” Mox said, “I suppose we’ll just have to add this Nyrissa to our long list of potential enemies.”</p><p>“Do not underestimate her,” Evindra warned. “She has been waiting a very long time to find Briar. Have no doubt that she will come for it. I would ask that you allow me to remain near the sword. My duty has not ended, though I do not begrudge you possession of it.”</p><p>“Do as you wish,” Mox said, “but I have no time to fear might-be’s and what-if’s. There are events now that must be dealt with.”</p><p>As she spoke, she absently caressed the growing swell of her belly.</p><p>___________________________________________________________</p><p></p><p>In the days and weeks that followed, Kardashia solidified its hold over Pitax city, though much of the country side remained unexplored. The militia that Mox had commanded was dispatched back to Veritas, while the regular army remained in Pitax City. Stevhan was appointed the Duke of Pitax, and he determined to bring stability to the land. The two centaur contingents followed Davrim and Velox back to Fort Drelev. A relative peace came to the Stolen Lands, and seven months later, there was reason for celebration across the united kingdom of Kardashia. Their Queen, Mox I, gave birth to a baby boy that she named Nessalin.</p><p>______________________________________________________________</p><p></p><p>One year after the death of King Irovetti, the Kardashian nobles returned to Pitax. Though Stevhan had returned the capital city to some semblance of normalcy, even enlisting the aid of the Bandit Lords to consolidate the support of the people, the lands around the country remained untamed. The Duke had enlisted the aid of his comrades to embark on an exploration of the land, and eliminate any threats from man or beast that might remain, so that settlers would feel safe to establish farm holds and new towns.</p><p></p><p>Their first stop was Hemlock Island, a small island in the middle of Lake Rushlight. Like Candlemere, the island had a reputation for being haunted by “lights.” The companions suspected will o’wisps, and so they set off to root out the creatures and allay the fears of the locals. Yet when they arrived there, they found nothing more than brightly colored rainbow egrets. As they stood on the crown of the island, looking out over the picturesque lake, however, someone, or rather something, stepped out of the trees on the lakeshore. The sound of clashing steel upon a battlefield resounded with every step of the ironclad giant. Its armor bore harsh but elaborate flourishes, as though it were the war regalia of some merciless warlord. Each plate looked impossibly thick and heavy, like the hulking titan within was completely hidden by layer upon layer of tightly woven chain and impregnable steel.</p><p></p><p>“I am the First Blade of Gorum,” came a voice like iron grating on stone. “You have taken the Chosen of the Iron Lord, and so you owe a debt that must be repaid. You will now accept the Iron Lord’s challenge, or you shall perish.”</p><p>The edict was issued without emotion, and before the companions could respond, the First Blade raised one gauntleted hand and raised a wall of whirling knife-like blades from the ground, separating Tungdill, Stevhan, Selena and Mox from Davrim and Velox. Mox raised her own hand and hurled an emerald blast through the blade barrier, hoping to disintegrate the iron giant into dust. The creature held up one palm and deflected the beam as if it were no more than a fly buzzing about its head. Davrim and Velox never hesitated. Both warriors drew their swords and charged the giant. They struck in unison, their swords ringing off the creature’s armor. The First Blade swung one massive arm and swatted Davrim aside like a rag doll. A moment later, Stevhan dove through the blade barrier, ignoring the razors as they sliced at his flesh. He rushed to the side of his friends, joining Velox in his assault. Davrim, shielded by his allies, rose to his feet and added his steel to theirs. The First Blade swung its fists like sledgehammers, but the combined might of the three warriors was simply overwhelming. After several frantic, violent moments, the creature simply seemed to collapse in on itself.</p><p>“You have passed…the test…,” it wheezed as it died. “The Iron Lord…is pleased…”</p><p>____________________________________________________________</p><p></p><p>The companions ranged far and wide across the Glenebon Uplands. Along the way they encountered many strange things, both wonderful and terrible. Deep within the Forest of Thousand Voices, they faced a hideous, carnivorous tree that had been preying upon local woodsmen and settlers. Still further in the wood, they stumbled upon an ancient ruin known, cryptically, as the Castle of Knives. It seemed as if it had been abandoned for a thousand years. In the foothills of the Branthlend Mountains, where the waters of the Whisper River plummeted over a 900-foot cliff side into a deep tarn, they found the skull of a long-dead silver dragon impaled atop the jagged trunk of a dead oak. Selena and Mox found the tell-tale signs of the lair of a black dragon, and an unbelievably old one from the look of it. Selena recalled the legend of the dragon Ilthuliak, that reputedly had dwelt in the depths of the tarn, but the lair looked to have been long disused. Deeper within the mountains, they stirred the ire of an ancient wyvern known by local barbarian tribes as Mingnos-Ushad, the Eater of Kings. But not, apparently, of Queens, as the beast was laid low by Mox’s powerful magics. On the far side of the Branthlends, the nobles came across an immense, mammoth graveyard, watched over by an awakened wooly mammoth named Hillstomper. The grizzled, scarred creature had been driven from the cemetery by a young crag linnorm. He begged the assistance of Mox and her companions in ridding him of the nuisance. Once the young, yet powerful dragon had been dealt with, Hillstomper pledged his loyalty and allegiance to Mox, and to Kardashia.</p><p></p><p>As the nobles made their way back across the plains of Glenebbon towards Pitax City, they found that one more challenge awaited them…a simple, random happenstance. A shadow fell upon them from the cloudless sky, and when they looked up, the unmistakable silhouette of a dragon was backlit by the brilliant sun. At first, they feared that Ilthuliak had returned from her exile, but though the dragon was indeed black and ancient, judging by the luster of its scales, it was no great wyrm. Still, that made it no less deadly. Selena hurled an immense explosion of fire at the beast as it swept past, but the flames seemed not to touch the dragon’s scaled hide. Instead, it wheeled, opened its immense jaws, and spewed a terrible stream of caustic acid, which rapidly formed a large pool around the companions. As the group felt their flesh burning from the corrosive liquid, Selena acted quickly, instantly transporting them all several hundred feet away to relatively safety. Immediately, Velox wove a spell about himself, and stepped into the air as if it were solid ground. Stevhan upended a potion from his belt, and he to rose into the sky. The two warriors charged the dragon, but as they approached, it struck like a snake, and sank its teeth into Stevhan’s arm. Though in obvious pain, the ranger still struck back. The dragon roared, and then folded its wings and dropped into the pool below. As it did, it spewed acid again, this time in a line that struck Davrim and Selena, over a hundred feet away. While it was distracted, Velox dove down and sank his blade between its shoulders. The beast reared on its back legs and swatted the oracle with its tail as it simultaneously raked him with its razor-like claws. It then buffeted Stevhan with a powerful down stroke of its wings, and bit him again as he tumbled away. A moment later, twin blasts of fire and lightning struck the dragon as Mox and Selena tried to buy their allies some time. Velox struck again, while Davrim brought his bow to bear, firing precise shots into the creature’s diamond-hard hide. Meanwhile, Tungdill conjured from thin air a gigantic roc. The great bird swept down upon the dragon, raking with its claws. Its attack, though effective, was short-lived. The dragon snapped its leg with its mighty jaws and dragged it from the air, pinning it beneath one clawed foot in the acid pool. Stevhan, bleeding profusely, tried to retreat from the battle, but as he moved, the dragon saw him, and snapped its teeth on his leg. His vision went momentarily dark, but then his enchanted armor flared with light, reviving him before he lost consciousness completely. The dragon shook him, and then flung him away. It turned on Velox and unleashed its full fury upon him, clawing him, slapping him with its whip-like tail, and swatting him with its wings. It then reared again in pain and panic as Tungdill sent a snake of pure fire into its chest. As its head rose, Velox drove his sword straight down through its skull. With one final shriek, it collapsed.</p><p></p><p> As the massive, black-scaled dragon slammed against the ground, vivid, crimson blood began to pool around its fresh corpse. Mox's eyes narrowed as she gracefully flew down and landed beside the enormous fallen beast. Strutting in a large circle, she contemplated what she might be able to do with her newest prize.</p><p> "Selena," called Mox and the witch dropped from the air beside her. "The dragon is much too large to be created into a skeleton. However, I think I could raise it into a zombie. What do you think?" </p><p> Selena scratched her chin as she pondered the magical question. "Zombies are so slow and not nearly as dangerous as a skeletal dragon would be, my queen," she replied</p><p>. "Quite true,” Mox nodded. “ However, I think I shall try a stronger animation. I will raise it as a fast zombie.” She grinned slightly. Selena nodded once in reply and crossed her arms over her chest. Mox stood over the dead of the dragon and raised her hand. A long, razor edged claw sprang from the nail of her index finger. She sliced the claw across the palm of her other hand, allowing the fresh blood to drip from the wound onto the dragon's head. </p><p>"Mighty beast!” she commanded, as the pupils of her own eyes transformed into that of a reptile. “Allow my life to feed your return to this world! Our blood shall mingle, fierce dragon! My power shall reawaken your body to serve me." </p><p>She spat and a stream of acid flew from her mouth, landing of the creature's head. The acid sizzled as it mixed with the blood. Currents of magical energy began to swirl around the sorceress. She reached into her black velvet spell pouch and retrieved an eye-sized onyx. </p><p>"Rise great dragon and bow to your new master," Mox commanded as the onyx vanished in a flash of light. </p><p>Suddenly, the once dead dragon lifted its head and staggered to its feet. Its mighty wings spread as its head bowed to Mox. Selena and the others stepped away from the undead creature as it lurched to life. Smiling, Mox reached back into her spell pouch. This time, she produced a large diamond and began to wave her hand over the sparkling gem. The gem began to levitate in the palm of her hand as she began her incantation. It spun smoothly as it hovered a few inches above her palm. Waves of energy began to dance around the diamond and the speed of the twirling increased. </p><p>"I call upon the ancient arcane powers to grant me a single wish," whispered Mox. </p><p>Offering the wildly spinning gem before the undead dragon, Mox said, "Grant my new creation the quickness and speed of a powerful warrior!" </p><p>With those words, the diamond imploded with a crunching sound and the undead dragon moved with a new found grace. A bead of sweat ran down the queen's face and she admired her magical work. </p><p>Selena stepped forward and said, "The finest of creations, my queen." </p><p>Mox nodded and replied, "I shall call him Reggie." </p><p>The elegant, dark haired sorceress climbed atop the undead dragon and it quickly took to the air, powered by its massive flapping wings. </p><p>Mox shouted down, "Inform the royal tailor that I'll need a pair of riding pants." She laughed quietly as she glided behind the tree tops, headed back towards Pitax City.</p><p></p><p></p><p>INTERLUDE</p><p></p><p>A few weeks after the defeat of the ancient black dragon, Mox teleported in a cloud of billowing dark smoke outside the castle of Pitax. After a salute, the castle's guards escorted her to the newly restored throne room. </p><p>"All hail the Queen of Kardashia" loudly proclaimed Harold the herald. Various dignitaries, merchants, and minor local nobility bow deeply as Mox strode down the lush carpet toward the throne of the Duke of Pitax. </p><p>"What a pleasure, my Queen.” Stevhan greeted her. “To what honor does Pitax owe your unexpected arrival?" </p><p> "Actually, I've come on personal business today. I hope I'm not intruding?" replied Mox.</p><p> "Of course not," Stevhan said and raised his hand. "Leave us," he commanded his court</p><p> Slowly, the various patrons, dignitaries, and court members vacated the throne room with Harold closing the massive doors behind them. All alone with the Queen, Stevhan took a moment to notice her attire. Her usual wings and claws, evidence of her draconic heritage, were absent. She wore a form fitting smooth dress of black silk that ended a few inches above her knees. The dress allowed a revealing view of her ample breasts, and the high hemline showed the length of Mox's athletic legs until they poured into a pair of knee-high, black leather, high-heeled boots. Her long wavy hair hung halfway down her back with a lustrous shine. Her eyes were shadowed with the darkest of kohl, and her full lips gleamed with a glossy, brilliant red coloring. She bit her lower lip and looked down before speaking. </p><p>"Since Kane's death at the hands of the ghost, I've been..." Mox looked up and stared deeply into Stevhan's eyes, "very, very lonely. Now that you’re a Duke, I was wondering if you might want to formally court me?"</p><p></p><p>Stevhan Rogarvia, the Stag Lord, Rightful Heir to the throne of Brevoy, Duke of Pitax, Warden of Kardashia, Rushlight Champion, Second Slayer of Armag the Twice-Born, was struck speechless. It was impossible to hide his initial shock.</p><p>"It's okay,” Mox said. “I know this is all very sudden.” She quickly looked away, her courage almost faltering.</p><p>Stevhan recovered his wits and moved to her. Putting his large, battle-scarred hands on her shoulders, he looked into her eyes and spoke.</p><p>"You never fail to amaze me, Mox. I'll admit, that it is sudden, but it is certainly not unwelcome."</p><p>The regal queen actually blushed at that. It looked...nice. </p><p>Stevhan continued. "Although it could be complicated. I mean, how will the others take it? It would probably be best for the Kingdom, but we're in a dangerous line of work, and bad things have happened before."</p><p>Mox stepped sharply away. Her eyes flashed, "I was hoping for something a little more - personal."</p><p>‘Stupid, stupid, stupid’, thought the ranger. "I'm sorry, Mox,” he said. “I'm just no good at this sort of thing. You're so far out of my league, and..."</p><p>The two of them stood awkwardly, staring at the intricate Vudrani rug beneath their feet.</p><p> "Perhaps I should just go," Mox said.</p><p> "I wish you wouldn't," Stevhan replied. "Why don't you plan to spend a few days in Pitax? You didn't get to see much of the city the last time you were here." </p><p>They both smiled at that. Of course, the immediate aftermath of the Kardashian siege was not pretty. "We've rebuilt the walls, and the gardens are coming into bloom,” Stevhan continued. “Things are going well. The Pitaxians are coming around, and they certainly prefer our rule to that of Irovetti. It really is a lovely place. I'd love to show you around."</p><p>Mox looked up and considered the hulking ranger before her. He had saved their lives more than once, and while he was a little rough around the edges, he was a good man. </p><p>"Okay,” she said at length. “I'll stay." She reached to take Stevhan's hand with a smile. "But I'll need something to wear..."</p><p>Before she could complete her sentence, Harold the Herald, poked his head in the door. "The tailor is on his way, milady," said the bard with a broad smile on his face.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JollyDoc, post: 5531526, member: 9546"] AFTERMATH “I can’t believe you found them both!” Evindra gushed as she draped her shawl over her shoulders. “How did you do it?” “By killing a murderer and a thief, apparently,” Mox replied. “Now, we have fulfilled our part of the bargain. You said there was information that we needed. What is it? We have pressing matters to attend to.” “None more pressing than this, I fear,” the nereid said. “For you see, Briar is only part of the story. Now that you have recovered the blade, its former owner is likely to come for it.” “I don’t like dramatics,” Mox snapped. “Speak plainly.” Evindra sighed. “I am fey, my lady,” she said. “It is in my nature to be fanciful and talkative, but I will try to keep my tale brief. I was charged with watching over Briar long ago. Exactly how long, I can’t remember, but it was before humans first came to these lands.” “Who gave you this charge?” Velox asked. “Of that I cannot say much either,” Evindra said. “I’m certain that he worked for those who serve the Eldest of the First World, and I knew better than to disobey. He told me only that the sword was valuable to an upstart named Nyrissa, and that she desired it greatly, and that the Eldest did not want her to have it. Of Nyrissa, I can tell you that she once fell in love with one of the Eldest. Her resulting rise in power led her to proclaim herself one of the rulers of the First World, a grave mistake on her part. The Eldest reacted by sending the most powerful of the Tane, the Jabberwock, to slay her, and they exiled her lover to the Shadow Plane. Somehow, Nyrissa survived the Jabberwock’s attack, and I suspect that she harbors a deep grudge against the Eldest still. She now rules a realm called Thousandbreaths, which lies close to your plane within the forest that you call Thousand Voices. Nyrissa has long had an interest in the Stolen Lands, and many of the land’s fey know of and fear her. There are even rumors that she sometimes walks the Stolen Lands, visiting cruelties upon those who annoy her, and strange rewards upon those who please her. Perhaps there is some connection between these lands and the First World somewhere inside the forest of a Thousand Voices.” “What about the sword?” Stevhan asked. He still carried the blade on his back, feeling a strange compulsion to keep it near him. “It is a powerful, enchanted weapon in its own right,” Evindra replied, “but I know that it also has other powers, powers which I suspect will awaken once it is exposed to the raw energies of the First World, or if it is used to slay denizens of that realm. I do not know the nature of all of these abilities, but I know that is has a strong intelligence of its own, and that once fully awake, it is a vorpal blade.” “Vorpal…,” Stevhan breathed. “Well,” Mox said, “I suppose we’ll just have to add this Nyrissa to our long list of potential enemies.” “Do not underestimate her,” Evindra warned. “She has been waiting a very long time to find Briar. Have no doubt that she will come for it. I would ask that you allow me to remain near the sword. My duty has not ended, though I do not begrudge you possession of it.” “Do as you wish,” Mox said, “but I have no time to fear might-be’s and what-if’s. There are events now that must be dealt with.” As she spoke, she absently caressed the growing swell of her belly. ___________________________________________________________ In the days and weeks that followed, Kardashia solidified its hold over Pitax city, though much of the country side remained unexplored. The militia that Mox had commanded was dispatched back to Veritas, while the regular army remained in Pitax City. Stevhan was appointed the Duke of Pitax, and he determined to bring stability to the land. The two centaur contingents followed Davrim and Velox back to Fort Drelev. A relative peace came to the Stolen Lands, and seven months later, there was reason for celebration across the united kingdom of Kardashia. Their Queen, Mox I, gave birth to a baby boy that she named Nessalin. ______________________________________________________________ One year after the death of King Irovetti, the Kardashian nobles returned to Pitax. Though Stevhan had returned the capital city to some semblance of normalcy, even enlisting the aid of the Bandit Lords to consolidate the support of the people, the lands around the country remained untamed. The Duke had enlisted the aid of his comrades to embark on an exploration of the land, and eliminate any threats from man or beast that might remain, so that settlers would feel safe to establish farm holds and new towns. Their first stop was Hemlock Island, a small island in the middle of Lake Rushlight. Like Candlemere, the island had a reputation for being haunted by “lights.” The companions suspected will o’wisps, and so they set off to root out the creatures and allay the fears of the locals. Yet when they arrived there, they found nothing more than brightly colored rainbow egrets. As they stood on the crown of the island, looking out over the picturesque lake, however, someone, or rather something, stepped out of the trees on the lakeshore. The sound of clashing steel upon a battlefield resounded with every step of the ironclad giant. Its armor bore harsh but elaborate flourishes, as though it were the war regalia of some merciless warlord. Each plate looked impossibly thick and heavy, like the hulking titan within was completely hidden by layer upon layer of tightly woven chain and impregnable steel. “I am the First Blade of Gorum,” came a voice like iron grating on stone. “You have taken the Chosen of the Iron Lord, and so you owe a debt that must be repaid. You will now accept the Iron Lord’s challenge, or you shall perish.” The edict was issued without emotion, and before the companions could respond, the First Blade raised one gauntleted hand and raised a wall of whirling knife-like blades from the ground, separating Tungdill, Stevhan, Selena and Mox from Davrim and Velox. Mox raised her own hand and hurled an emerald blast through the blade barrier, hoping to disintegrate the iron giant into dust. The creature held up one palm and deflected the beam as if it were no more than a fly buzzing about its head. Davrim and Velox never hesitated. Both warriors drew their swords and charged the giant. They struck in unison, their swords ringing off the creature’s armor. The First Blade swung one massive arm and swatted Davrim aside like a rag doll. A moment later, Stevhan dove through the blade barrier, ignoring the razors as they sliced at his flesh. He rushed to the side of his friends, joining Velox in his assault. Davrim, shielded by his allies, rose to his feet and added his steel to theirs. The First Blade swung its fists like sledgehammers, but the combined might of the three warriors was simply overwhelming. After several frantic, violent moments, the creature simply seemed to collapse in on itself. “You have passed…the test…,” it wheezed as it died. “The Iron Lord…is pleased…” ____________________________________________________________ The companions ranged far and wide across the Glenebon Uplands. Along the way they encountered many strange things, both wonderful and terrible. Deep within the Forest of Thousand Voices, they faced a hideous, carnivorous tree that had been preying upon local woodsmen and settlers. Still further in the wood, they stumbled upon an ancient ruin known, cryptically, as the Castle of Knives. It seemed as if it had been abandoned for a thousand years. In the foothills of the Branthlend Mountains, where the waters of the Whisper River plummeted over a 900-foot cliff side into a deep tarn, they found the skull of a long-dead silver dragon impaled atop the jagged trunk of a dead oak. Selena and Mox found the tell-tale signs of the lair of a black dragon, and an unbelievably old one from the look of it. Selena recalled the legend of the dragon Ilthuliak, that reputedly had dwelt in the depths of the tarn, but the lair looked to have been long disused. Deeper within the mountains, they stirred the ire of an ancient wyvern known by local barbarian tribes as Mingnos-Ushad, the Eater of Kings. But not, apparently, of Queens, as the beast was laid low by Mox’s powerful magics. On the far side of the Branthlends, the nobles came across an immense, mammoth graveyard, watched over by an awakened wooly mammoth named Hillstomper. The grizzled, scarred creature had been driven from the cemetery by a young crag linnorm. He begged the assistance of Mox and her companions in ridding him of the nuisance. Once the young, yet powerful dragon had been dealt with, Hillstomper pledged his loyalty and allegiance to Mox, and to Kardashia. As the nobles made their way back across the plains of Glenebbon towards Pitax City, they found that one more challenge awaited them…a simple, random happenstance. A shadow fell upon them from the cloudless sky, and when they looked up, the unmistakable silhouette of a dragon was backlit by the brilliant sun. At first, they feared that Ilthuliak had returned from her exile, but though the dragon was indeed black and ancient, judging by the luster of its scales, it was no great wyrm. Still, that made it no less deadly. Selena hurled an immense explosion of fire at the beast as it swept past, but the flames seemed not to touch the dragon’s scaled hide. Instead, it wheeled, opened its immense jaws, and spewed a terrible stream of caustic acid, which rapidly formed a large pool around the companions. As the group felt their flesh burning from the corrosive liquid, Selena acted quickly, instantly transporting them all several hundred feet away to relatively safety. Immediately, Velox wove a spell about himself, and stepped into the air as if it were solid ground. Stevhan upended a potion from his belt, and he to rose into the sky. The two warriors charged the dragon, but as they approached, it struck like a snake, and sank its teeth into Stevhan’s arm. Though in obvious pain, the ranger still struck back. The dragon roared, and then folded its wings and dropped into the pool below. As it did, it spewed acid again, this time in a line that struck Davrim and Selena, over a hundred feet away. While it was distracted, Velox dove down and sank his blade between its shoulders. The beast reared on its back legs and swatted the oracle with its tail as it simultaneously raked him with its razor-like claws. It then buffeted Stevhan with a powerful down stroke of its wings, and bit him again as he tumbled away. A moment later, twin blasts of fire and lightning struck the dragon as Mox and Selena tried to buy their allies some time. Velox struck again, while Davrim brought his bow to bear, firing precise shots into the creature’s diamond-hard hide. Meanwhile, Tungdill conjured from thin air a gigantic roc. The great bird swept down upon the dragon, raking with its claws. Its attack, though effective, was short-lived. The dragon snapped its leg with its mighty jaws and dragged it from the air, pinning it beneath one clawed foot in the acid pool. Stevhan, bleeding profusely, tried to retreat from the battle, but as he moved, the dragon saw him, and snapped its teeth on his leg. His vision went momentarily dark, but then his enchanted armor flared with light, reviving him before he lost consciousness completely. The dragon shook him, and then flung him away. It turned on Velox and unleashed its full fury upon him, clawing him, slapping him with its whip-like tail, and swatting him with its wings. It then reared again in pain and panic as Tungdill sent a snake of pure fire into its chest. As its head rose, Velox drove his sword straight down through its skull. With one final shriek, it collapsed. As the massive, black-scaled dragon slammed against the ground, vivid, crimson blood began to pool around its fresh corpse. Mox's eyes narrowed as she gracefully flew down and landed beside the enormous fallen beast. Strutting in a large circle, she contemplated what she might be able to do with her newest prize. "Selena," called Mox and the witch dropped from the air beside her. "The dragon is much too large to be created into a skeleton. However, I think I could raise it into a zombie. What do you think?" Selena scratched her chin as she pondered the magical question. "Zombies are so slow and not nearly as dangerous as a skeletal dragon would be, my queen," she replied . "Quite true,” Mox nodded. “ However, I think I shall try a stronger animation. I will raise it as a fast zombie.” She grinned slightly. Selena nodded once in reply and crossed her arms over her chest. Mox stood over the dead of the dragon and raised her hand. A long, razor edged claw sprang from the nail of her index finger. She sliced the claw across the palm of her other hand, allowing the fresh blood to drip from the wound onto the dragon's head. "Mighty beast!” she commanded, as the pupils of her own eyes transformed into that of a reptile. “Allow my life to feed your return to this world! Our blood shall mingle, fierce dragon! My power shall reawaken your body to serve me." She spat and a stream of acid flew from her mouth, landing of the creature's head. The acid sizzled as it mixed with the blood. Currents of magical energy began to swirl around the sorceress. She reached into her black velvet spell pouch and retrieved an eye-sized onyx. "Rise great dragon and bow to your new master," Mox commanded as the onyx vanished in a flash of light. Suddenly, the once dead dragon lifted its head and staggered to its feet. Its mighty wings spread as its head bowed to Mox. Selena and the others stepped away from the undead creature as it lurched to life. Smiling, Mox reached back into her spell pouch. This time, she produced a large diamond and began to wave her hand over the sparkling gem. The gem began to levitate in the palm of her hand as she began her incantation. It spun smoothly as it hovered a few inches above her palm. Waves of energy began to dance around the diamond and the speed of the twirling increased. "I call upon the ancient arcane powers to grant me a single wish," whispered Mox. Offering the wildly spinning gem before the undead dragon, Mox said, "Grant my new creation the quickness and speed of a powerful warrior!" With those words, the diamond imploded with a crunching sound and the undead dragon moved with a new found grace. A bead of sweat ran down the queen's face and she admired her magical work. Selena stepped forward and said, "The finest of creations, my queen." Mox nodded and replied, "I shall call him Reggie." The elegant, dark haired sorceress climbed atop the undead dragon and it quickly took to the air, powered by its massive flapping wings. Mox shouted down, "Inform the royal tailor that I'll need a pair of riding pants." She laughed quietly as she glided behind the tree tops, headed back towards Pitax City. INTERLUDE A few weeks after the defeat of the ancient black dragon, Mox teleported in a cloud of billowing dark smoke outside the castle of Pitax. After a salute, the castle's guards escorted her to the newly restored throne room. "All hail the Queen of Kardashia" loudly proclaimed Harold the herald. Various dignitaries, merchants, and minor local nobility bow deeply as Mox strode down the lush carpet toward the throne of the Duke of Pitax. "What a pleasure, my Queen.” Stevhan greeted her. “To what honor does Pitax owe your unexpected arrival?" "Actually, I've come on personal business today. I hope I'm not intruding?" replied Mox. "Of course not," Stevhan said and raised his hand. "Leave us," he commanded his court Slowly, the various patrons, dignitaries, and court members vacated the throne room with Harold closing the massive doors behind them. All alone with the Queen, Stevhan took a moment to notice her attire. Her usual wings and claws, evidence of her draconic heritage, were absent. She wore a form fitting smooth dress of black silk that ended a few inches above her knees. The dress allowed a revealing view of her ample breasts, and the high hemline showed the length of Mox's athletic legs until they poured into a pair of knee-high, black leather, high-heeled boots. Her long wavy hair hung halfway down her back with a lustrous shine. Her eyes were shadowed with the darkest of kohl, and her full lips gleamed with a glossy, brilliant red coloring. She bit her lower lip and looked down before speaking. "Since Kane's death at the hands of the ghost, I've been..." Mox looked up and stared deeply into Stevhan's eyes, "very, very lonely. Now that you’re a Duke, I was wondering if you might want to formally court me?" Stevhan Rogarvia, the Stag Lord, Rightful Heir to the throne of Brevoy, Duke of Pitax, Warden of Kardashia, Rushlight Champion, Second Slayer of Armag the Twice-Born, was struck speechless. It was impossible to hide his initial shock. "It's okay,” Mox said. “I know this is all very sudden.” She quickly looked away, her courage almost faltering. Stevhan recovered his wits and moved to her. Putting his large, battle-scarred hands on her shoulders, he looked into her eyes and spoke. "You never fail to amaze me, Mox. I'll admit, that it is sudden, but it is certainly not unwelcome." The regal queen actually blushed at that. It looked...nice. Stevhan continued. "Although it could be complicated. I mean, how will the others take it? It would probably be best for the Kingdom, but we're in a dangerous line of work, and bad things have happened before." Mox stepped sharply away. Her eyes flashed, "I was hoping for something a little more - personal." ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid’, thought the ranger. "I'm sorry, Mox,” he said. “I'm just no good at this sort of thing. You're so far out of my league, and..." The two of them stood awkwardly, staring at the intricate Vudrani rug beneath their feet. "Perhaps I should just go," Mox said. "I wish you wouldn't," Stevhan replied. "Why don't you plan to spend a few days in Pitax? You didn't get to see much of the city the last time you were here." They both smiled at that. Of course, the immediate aftermath of the Kardashian siege was not pretty. "We've rebuilt the walls, and the gardens are coming into bloom,” Stevhan continued. “Things are going well. The Pitaxians are coming around, and they certainly prefer our rule to that of Irovetti. It really is a lovely place. I'd love to show you around." Mox looked up and considered the hulking ranger before her. He had saved their lives more than once, and while he was a little rough around the edges, he was a good man. "Okay,” she said at length. “I'll stay." She reached to take Stevhan's hand with a smile. "But I'll need something to wear..." Before she could complete her sentence, Harold the Herald, poked his head in the door. "The tailor is on his way, milady," said the bard with a broad smile on his face. [/QUOTE]
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JollyDoc's Kingmaker-Updated 7/4/2011
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