Zandyrium
Episode 41
There was a moment of terror as the adventurers viewed the twisted behemoth before them. The dragon was suffering as evidenced by dark pustules bursting forth with some sort of foreign bile-like substance. It barely moved in response to the group’s arrival and they wasted no time. Githraldul launched a succession of missiles, Ginny stung the beast with her short sword, and Thoren finished it with a mighty swing. The whole operation took less than five seconds and the adventurers just looked at each other smiling for a moment, dumbfounded at how easily it had been accomplished.
“Should I make sure this is done?” Mercutio asked.
“Yes, I certainly would not want to face it when it’s ready for us,” Heinrich answered.
Mercutio traced a couple of quick arcane symbols in the air and disintegrated the dragon’s corpse.
The adventurers searched the lair thoroughly and found nothing that positively linked the dragon to the flame cult. The disappointment in the air was palpable.
“I was really hoping we could find a connection,” Heinrich stated.
Wassabe bit his lip. He was considering whether he should let Heinrich in on the fact that Rothlor suspected the emperor’s involvement. He decided against it.
“What kind of stuff did he have?” Thoren asked Ginny.
“A lot of gems and specie,” Ginny answered.
“I don’t want to hear about his poop,” Wassabe complained.
“Not feces – specie. You know, gold and silver,” Ginny said.
“You mean to tell me we just killed a dragon that poops gold and silver?” Wassabe exclaimed.
“Dang it! Somebody should have told me!” Thoren protested. “I would have just knocked him out!”
“Relax Thoren,” Ginny tried not to let Wassabe get to her. “Wassabe is teasing me for using a big word.”
“So what about the dragon poop? I’m so confused,” Thoren complained.
“How do you think the dragon felt? He was just sitting here poopin’ gold and silver and you killed him,” Wassabe stated.
“But, I didn’t know!” Thoren protested.
The malaprops were too much for Ginny and she just walked away from the conversation, while Wassabe continued to get Thoren worked up about the dragon’s alleged magical gastro-intestinal tract.
“I wonder if Rothlor has had more luck in tracing the cult than we have here?” Mercutio asked.
“Good question, I’ll create a sending,” Heinrich replied.
Sending to Rothlor:
Heinrich: Have you found anything about the cult of flame. We have failed to make a connection here, but otherwise mission accomplished.
Rothlor response: Great job! Have found the cult headquarters. Will meet you at Silcrass’s for update.
“Well?” Mercutio asked.
“He found them,” Heinrich stated.
“Why am I not sure that’s a good thing,” Mercutio said.
Thoren came walking over to Heinrich and Mercutio and blurted, “Do dragons poop gold?”
Both casters started laughing and Thoren immediately turned heel, walked over to Wassabe, and cuffed him in the head.
“We need to head back to Silcrass’s den,” Heinrich announced. “Rothlor has found the cult of flame.”
To be continued…
