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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5372795" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>The group assembled at the temple the following morning. Kama, with the twins flanking behind him in their usual positions, led them down a long stair carved in the rock face on the side not facing the village. This led to a dock that gave way to the pier that extended out to the pavilion. Roped at the dock was a sailboat. It was long and broad like the villagers’ fishing boats, but larger than normal with a single mast in its center and a simple rudder.</p><p> </p><p> Standing before the tiller at the slightly raised rear of the boat was a woman who appeared about Alaria’s age, perhaps a few years older. A few wisps of the Shoal villager’s sun-bleached blond hair trailed off from beneath her dark blue hooded cloak in the morning breezes. She wore a blue robe that faded from very pale at the shoulder to very deep blue at the hem.</p><p> </p><p> Kama introduced the woman as Waverider Trihna, his second-in-command. She had been a child when Kama and his fellows rescued the village and pledged herself to the service of the temple and the goddess of the sea shortly thereafter. She would, Kama assured, be most helpful in finding the sacred pearl, as well as being familiar with any other items they might find that could be holy to Tyris.</p><p> </p><p> She would also be able to pilot their ship herself, a skill none of Alaria’s crew possessed.</p><p> </p><p> The boat was loaded with their gear and supplies for three days, slightly more than half a day’s sale to reach the isle, slightly less to return, leaving two solid days for exploration. Among the supplies, Kama supplied each of the party members with a skin full of Pure Water and a small vial with a cloudy greenish liquid.</p><p> </p><p> “These potions,” Kama explained, “will allow you to breathe normally underwater for up to one hour. Use them wisely in the service of the goddess, blessed be her depths.” With a final blessing for swift and safe travels from Tidemaster Kama, they set sail for the Dragonbone Isle. </p><p> </p><p> The journey began pleasant enough. The weather was bright and warm despite the steady breeze that bore the boat northward at a good speed.</p><p> </p><p> Trihna guided the ship with obvious skill, taking in and letting out lines to the mast, controlling the sail and adjusting the till as necessary. She matter-of-factly showed and explained her movements to Braddok and Erevan, both of whom thought it wise to learn how to steer the ship, should anything “unexpected” occur.</p><p> </p><p> Alaria half-listened to the priestess’ instruction, being more concerned with the utterly green dwarf next to her. It was obvious to Alaria that the old adage she'd heard about dwarves and water held true...something about "...a sinking stone"? She couldn't quite remember.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Duor had made no objections to their new mode of transportation, but occasionally moaned and kept himself leaning towards the boat’s edge, staring vaguely at the boards of the hull. </p><p></p><p> </p><p> The outcropping and temple had drifted beyond the horizon behind them, but Trihna kept the shoreline well in sight on their left. A couple of hours after their departure, Alaria decided it was time to make plans.</p><p> </p><p> “So, what can you tell us about Dragonbone Isle, Trihna?” Alaria asked. “I must confess, I have not heard tales of it in my homeland.”</p><p> </p><p> The sea priestess adjusted one of the ropes at her side, leaning casually over the tiller, and her face looked serious. “Well, I have been here only once before, with Tidemaster Kama. We were giving chase to the same relic we seek for today. However, with only the two of us, we could not cover much ground and the perils of the island are formidable.”</p><p> </p><p> “Are there actual dragons there?” asked Haelan with his genuine naivte?</p><p> </p><p> Trihna smiled, “Not that I saw. Thank Tyris, blessed be her depths. But there are a number of dragon bones that rise up from the ground, especially along the southern causeway.”</p><p> </p><p> “What kind of terrain are we facing, good priestess?” Coerraine injected. The young paladin of Celradorn was pleased to be on a quest with a holy cause and had made inner vows, determined to see their task achieved.</p><p> </p><p> “It varies, my good Goldshield.” Trihna smirked in reply. Her attempted jest was lost on the focused Redstar knight. “There are multiple coves and small beaches around the island's perimeter. A high rocky cliff face juts out from the bulk of the island facing the mainland. Most of the main island seems to be shrouded in forest with a sloping, high-walled valley in the center. There are also two smaller islands adjacent to the main.”</p><p> </p><p> “Alaria,” Haelan piped in, “if we find any dragon bones can we keep them? They’d make quite the stir back home.”</p><p> </p><p> The R’Hathi wizardess, about to laugh away the halfling’s request, thought to herself a moment of the number of spells and items authentic dragon bone could be used for…not to mention the price they might fetch from the Fellowship of Alkari, or even more back in Ablidon.</p><p> </p><p> Trihna laughed at the priest of Faerantha’s question. “Master Halfling, there is not a boat in Shoal that would float with the smallest of these bones.”</p><p> </p><p> Haelan’s eyes widened with even more than their usual wonder, if possible. “Really?”</p><p> </p><p> The priestess of Tyris nodded. “The ones I saw with the Tidemaster were huge. Taller than this mast.”</p><p> </p><p> Alaria noted that Erevan’s face and mood had darkened since the conversation about the island had begun. “Erevan? Do you know anything about this place?”</p><p> </p><p> The elf’s vibrant violet eyes turned to meet Alaria’s gaze. “It is called, by my people, Eres’tum Biirtalii. ‘The Dragon’s Tomb.’ It is a place of great pride and sorrow among the Miralostae.</p><p> </p><p> “According to our history, in the dawning days of our nation, my people moved up these very waters seeking a new realm to call our homeland. As we found the river we named D'Evand the Miralostae were set upon from the mountains at the edge of the Whitegull Bay.</p><p></p><p></p><p>"The creature was an agent of the Scourge, a dragon from the ancient times when the world was still young. It had spawned countless broods of dragonkind. Watched the rise and facilitated the fall of many tribes of elves and men over the ages. It called itself Sharzaak.</p><p></p><p></p><p>"Our leader and queen was a formidable sorceress. She defended her people with all of the mystic power she could command with her magic orb. But, in the end, her people safely away, she fell before the foul wyrm's evil.</p><p></p><p></p><p>This island is where the Sons of Nirastrelyn avenged their mother and defeated the dread wyrm, Sharzaak. In our songs, the beaches are strewn with its bones, the sea around it darkened by its blood and the island, itself, coated in the festering timeless evil of the creature’s immortal heart.”</p><p> </p><p> Haelan blinked at Erevan and turned in hopeful disbelief to Trihna. The sea priestess merely looked to the sail.</p><p> </p><p> “I don’t suppose the creature’s hoard was left there by these sons of Niras-ellen, by any chance?” Duor said.</p><p> </p><p> Most of the company laughed at the dwarf’s first words since their departure.</p><p> </p><p> Erevan frowned. “Nirastrelyn.” the elf corrected indignantly. “And I couldn’t say. I’ve only heard the songs and read the histories. It was before I was born.”</p><p> </p><p> “We shall see soon enough, Master Dwarf.” said Trihna pointing ahead and to the right of them.</p><p> </p><p> The group turned to view where Trihna indicated. Greenish humps rose from the water off their starboard (right) side. Above and beyond the island, stretching across most of the western skyline a mass of dark grey clouds formed a definitive line in the sky. As they looked, a flash of lightning bolted from the clouds to the water, far out to sea.</p><p> </p><p> Trihna turned the ship to a more direct approach to the island. Her gaze studying the sky. “We should make it there before the storm hits. But it might be close.”</p><p> </p><p> As they neared the island, the early afternoon sun was blocked by the grey skies. The water, which had been vibrant shades of aquamarine under the sunny blue sky turned to a murky grey-green.</p><p> </p><p> The ship continued to near the island and the helpful breeze was shifting even as it increased, making Trihna’s job more difficult. But, the experienced priestess kept the boat on course and moving at a good speed. </p><p> With the increasing wind of the encroaching storm, the waves followed suit and soon the fishing craft was being battered by whitecaps.</p><p> </p><p> This was really all Duor was able to take and the dwarf threw his head and shoulders over the side of the boat and lost his breakfast, getting a face full of sea spray in the process.</p><p> </p><p> As the dwarf gasped for air and wished himself dead, staring into the choppy water, he saw what seemed to be a shadow beneath them. He blinked and cleared the seafoam from his bushy eyebrows. Yes. Yes, definitely. There was something beneath them…and they weren’t passing over it, it was moving with them and getting….larger?</p><p> </p><p> “Head’s up! Something’s…” was all the dwarf had time to yell, as he threw himself<em> away</em> from the side of the boat. The rest of his warning was lost in the splintering shatter of part of the boat’s hull, near Haelan, as a massive blue claw, long as Duor was tall, reached over and through the side of the boat.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5372795, member: 92511"] The group assembled at the temple the following morning. Kama, with the twins flanking behind him in their usual positions, led them down a long stair carved in the rock face on the side not facing the village. This led to a dock that gave way to the pier that extended out to the pavilion. Roped at the dock was a sailboat. It was long and broad like the villagers’ fishing boats, but larger than normal with a single mast in its center and a simple rudder. Standing before the tiller at the slightly raised rear of the boat was a woman who appeared about Alaria’s age, perhaps a few years older. A few wisps of the Shoal villager’s sun-bleached blond hair trailed off from beneath her dark blue hooded cloak in the morning breezes. She wore a blue robe that faded from very pale at the shoulder to very deep blue at the hem. Kama introduced the woman as Waverider Trihna, his second-in-command. She had been a child when Kama and his fellows rescued the village and pledged herself to the service of the temple and the goddess of the sea shortly thereafter. She would, Kama assured, be most helpful in finding the sacred pearl, as well as being familiar with any other items they might find that could be holy to Tyris. She would also be able to pilot their ship herself, a skill none of Alaria’s crew possessed. The boat was loaded with their gear and supplies for three days, slightly more than half a day’s sale to reach the isle, slightly less to return, leaving two solid days for exploration. Among the supplies, Kama supplied each of the party members with a skin full of Pure Water and a small vial with a cloudy greenish liquid. “These potions,” Kama explained, “will allow you to breathe normally underwater for up to one hour. Use them wisely in the service of the goddess, blessed be her depths.” With a final blessing for swift and safe travels from Tidemaster Kama, they set sail for the Dragonbone Isle. The journey began pleasant enough. The weather was bright and warm despite the steady breeze that bore the boat northward at a good speed. Trihna guided the ship with obvious skill, taking in and letting out lines to the mast, controlling the sail and adjusting the till as necessary. She matter-of-factly showed and explained her movements to Braddok and Erevan, both of whom thought it wise to learn how to steer the ship, should anything “unexpected” occur. Alaria half-listened to the priestess’ instruction, being more concerned with the utterly green dwarf next to her. It was obvious to Alaria that the old adage she'd heard about dwarves and water held true...something about "...a sinking stone"? She couldn't quite remember. Duor had made no objections to their new mode of transportation, but occasionally moaned and kept himself leaning towards the boat’s edge, staring vaguely at the boards of the hull. The outcropping and temple had drifted beyond the horizon behind them, but Trihna kept the shoreline well in sight on their left. A couple of hours after their departure, Alaria decided it was time to make plans. “So, what can you tell us about Dragonbone Isle, Trihna?” Alaria asked. “I must confess, I have not heard tales of it in my homeland.” The sea priestess adjusted one of the ropes at her side, leaning casually over the tiller, and her face looked serious. “Well, I have been here only once before, with Tidemaster Kama. We were giving chase to the same relic we seek for today. However, with only the two of us, we could not cover much ground and the perils of the island are formidable.” “Are there actual dragons there?” asked Haelan with his genuine naivte? Trihna smiled, “Not that I saw. Thank Tyris, blessed be her depths. But there are a number of dragon bones that rise up from the ground, especially along the southern causeway.” “What kind of terrain are we facing, good priestess?” Coerraine injected. The young paladin of Celradorn was pleased to be on a quest with a holy cause and had made inner vows, determined to see their task achieved. “It varies, my good Goldshield.” Trihna smirked in reply. Her attempted jest was lost on the focused Redstar knight. “There are multiple coves and small beaches around the island's perimeter. A high rocky cliff face juts out from the bulk of the island facing the mainland. Most of the main island seems to be shrouded in forest with a sloping, high-walled valley in the center. There are also two smaller islands adjacent to the main.” “Alaria,” Haelan piped in, “if we find any dragon bones can we keep them? They’d make quite the stir back home.” The R’Hathi wizardess, about to laugh away the halfling’s request, thought to herself a moment of the number of spells and items authentic dragon bone could be used for…not to mention the price they might fetch from the Fellowship of Alkari, or even more back in Ablidon. Trihna laughed at the priest of Faerantha’s question. “Master Halfling, there is not a boat in Shoal that would float with the smallest of these bones.” Haelan’s eyes widened with even more than their usual wonder, if possible. “Really?” The priestess of Tyris nodded. “The ones I saw with the Tidemaster were huge. Taller than this mast.” Alaria noted that Erevan’s face and mood had darkened since the conversation about the island had begun. “Erevan? Do you know anything about this place?” The elf’s vibrant violet eyes turned to meet Alaria’s gaze. “It is called, by my people, Eres’tum Biirtalii. ‘The Dragon’s Tomb.’ It is a place of great pride and sorrow among the Miralostae. “According to our history, in the dawning days of our nation, my people moved up these very waters seeking a new realm to call our homeland. As we found the river we named D'Evand the Miralostae were set upon from the mountains at the edge of the Whitegull Bay. "The creature was an agent of the Scourge, a dragon from the ancient times when the world was still young. It had spawned countless broods of dragonkind. Watched the rise and facilitated the fall of many tribes of elves and men over the ages. It called itself Sharzaak. "Our leader and queen was a formidable sorceress. She defended her people with all of the mystic power she could command with her magic orb. But, in the end, her people safely away, she fell before the foul wyrm's evil. This island is where the Sons of Nirastrelyn avenged their mother and defeated the dread wyrm, Sharzaak. In our songs, the beaches are strewn with its bones, the sea around it darkened by its blood and the island, itself, coated in the festering timeless evil of the creature’s immortal heart.” Haelan blinked at Erevan and turned in hopeful disbelief to Trihna. The sea priestess merely looked to the sail. “I don’t suppose the creature’s hoard was left there by these sons of Niras-ellen, by any chance?” Duor said. Most of the company laughed at the dwarf’s first words since their departure. Erevan frowned. “Nirastrelyn.” the elf corrected indignantly. “And I couldn’t say. I’ve only heard the songs and read the histories. It was before I was born.” “We shall see soon enough, Master Dwarf.” said Trihna pointing ahead and to the right of them. The group turned to view where Trihna indicated. Greenish humps rose from the water off their starboard (right) side. Above and beyond the island, stretching across most of the western skyline a mass of dark grey clouds formed a definitive line in the sky. As they looked, a flash of lightning bolted from the clouds to the water, far out to sea. Trihna turned the ship to a more direct approach to the island. Her gaze studying the sky. “We should make it there before the storm hits. But it might be close.” As they neared the island, the early afternoon sun was blocked by the grey skies. The water, which had been vibrant shades of aquamarine under the sunny blue sky turned to a murky grey-green. The ship continued to near the island and the helpful breeze was shifting even as it increased, making Trihna’s job more difficult. But, the experienced priestess kept the boat on course and moving at a good speed. With the increasing wind of the encroaching storm, the waves followed suit and soon the fishing craft was being battered by whitecaps. This was really all Duor was able to take and the dwarf threw his head and shoulders over the side of the boat and lost his breakfast, getting a face full of sea spray in the process. As the dwarf gasped for air and wished himself dead, staring into the choppy water, he saw what seemed to be a shadow beneath them. He blinked and cleared the seafoam from his bushy eyebrows. Yes. Yes, definitely. There was something beneath them…and they weren’t passing over it, it was moving with them and getting….larger? “Head’s up! Something’s…” was all the dwarf had time to yell, as he threw himself[I] away[/I] from the side of the boat. The rest of his warning was lost in the splintering shatter of part of the boat’s hull, near Haelan, as a massive blue claw, long as Duor was tall, reached over and through the side of the boat. [/QUOTE]
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