(Adventure) Immortality Awakens (Knight Otu Judging) Part II

[Rystil Arden]

"How often do evil creatures merely ask for what they want, rather than just taking it?"

"The dragon is not yet large enough to carry a human away by itself, so it used fear tactics to threaten the villagers until they tied me up and took my daughter as a sacrifice to its hunger. Presumably, it will continue to do this until it is large enough to swoop down and carry away what it wants."

"How do you know we can help this man? His daughter may be long dead by now."

"Now, I can't be sure this is correct, but I have a reason to believe that might still be alive, perhaps if the dragon is still asleep--look at this:"

*He reaches down under the bar and brings up a wilting rose in a glass jar.*

"Using alchemy, this rose's life was tied loosely to that of my daughter, so whenever she is alive and well and near to the flower, it stays healthy and in full bloom. The fact that it hasn't completely died yet may mean that she is still alive. It may also mean that she just died very recently, but either way, she is not long dead, so time is of the essence."

 

[Jdvn1]

"The dragon is not yet large enough to carry a human away by itself, so it used fear tactics to threaten the villagers until they tied me up and took my daughter as a sacrifice to its hunger. Presumably, it will continue to do this until it is large enough to swoop down and carry away what it wants."

"You seem to know a bit of the ways of dragons. Why would it not have merely killed everyone, providing itself with food for quite a long time and items for its horde?"

"Now, I can't be sure this is correct, but I have a reason to believe that might still be alive, perhaps if the dragon is still asleep--look at this:"

*He reaches down under the bar and brings up a wilting rose in a glass jar.*

"Using alchemy, this rose's life was tied loosely to that of my daughter, so whenever she is alive and well and near to the flower, it stays healthy and in full bloom. The fact that it hasn't completely died yet may mean that she is still alive. It may also mean that she just died very recently, but either way, she is not long dead, so time is of the essence."

Anton's eyebrows raise at the sight of the rose and he nods, "Where and how far away is the sleeping place of the dragon?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"You seem to know a bit of the ways of dragons. Why would it not have merely killed everyone, providing itself with food for quite a long time and items for its horde?"

"Red dragons are arrogant and very picky eaters. They prefer beautiful human maidens to all else, and unlike blacks, who like to pickle their meat in the swamp, red dragons like fresh, live food. If it killed us all now, it wouldn't be able to eat us all fresh. By keeping us alive, it can use us as a gourmet restaurant, and perhaps we will breed it more maidens in the process."

Anton's eyebrows raise at the sight of the rose and he nods, "Where and how far away is the sleeping place of the dragon?"

"We aren't sure exactly--there aren't really any rangers or other folk in the village who can track it down...But we do know that it is several miles into the mountains, and the villagers got Sykhia up there in less than a day, they were hustling so fast out of fear of the dragon."

 

[Brain]

"How do you know we can help this man? His daughter may be long dead by now."

Scun grunts. "Even if we find her dead, it is better than not knowing."

 

[Rystil Arden]

" 'Tis true, good sir. If you could present incontrovertible proof of her death, that could at least stop the young lord's son from throwing his life away against the dragon...But I still hope that it won't come to that."

 

[Jdvn1]

Anton seems a little surprised. "You do seem to know... a lot about dragons. Well, the rose is a sign the girl ... Sykhia is it? The rose is a sign that Sykhia is still alive, so maybe we should track her down. I can track creatures, but it is more difficult to track flying things. We will have to look for tracks once we get closer to the mountains. If she is dead, then we will try to bring back proof of such. If the dragon seems to be biding his time to kill everyone, then I will do what I can to save as many of Halina's crops as possible."

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Maurice nods his head.*

"My thanks, good sir."

"As for the draconic lore, I can't help passing by at the least the basics of it while looking through old texts to find out more about alchemy."

"If you need anything alchemical that I can provide, you can use anything in my stocks. You might find some of my Nightdrops useful. I made them from the extracts of some plants found deep underground--if you put them in your eyes, you can see in the dark just like a dwarf, for a while. Maybe you could use them to avoid carrying a light so that you can try to sneak up on the dragon if it is asleep."

 

[Jdvn1]

"That substance should come in quite handy. We should probably go fairly soon, if we are to ensure Sykhia's safety."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Yes, I agree. I'll get you a map and mark it with the general location of the cave systems where the dragon surely must lair, and while I do, perhaps one of you would like to go get your friend from upstairs, at least, assuming she is a mighty warrior like all of you are?"

 

[Keia]

Thurgan Hammer, Dwarven Craftsman

" . . . you can see in the dark just like a dwarf, for a while."

"Like I needs some help ta see like'a dwarf," Thurgan muttered, quietly. Thurgan looked over any other occupants of the room, looking for interest in their activities or someone that may be looked at MAurice oddly.