I intentionally kept the identities of the other PCs vague.
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Sariel's first impression of Valen was that it was dirty. Her second impression was that it smelled. She would eventually overcome these types of priggish attitudes, but she was used to the depths of the Ravenshadow where everything smelled fresh and alive. Keeping Voron hidden, who knew what humans might try to do to a spirit, Sariel took a look around. Unfortunately, without a precise goal in mind, she wandered for several hours before finding herself standing alone in the middle of the street, wondering what she would do. She had no money, just her spellbooks and the clothes on her back. And after a few years in the forest, those were a bit tattered and worn as well. She wanted to get a message back to her family, but had no idea how to do that without money. She decided that she needed a job.
Easier said than done. Yes, she could protect herself with a few spells. But unless she could hire on as a caravan guard or something, she just did not have skills that most humans would have need of. She sat down on some steps to try to figure it out.
And just like at other times in her life, the answer came out of the blue. Literally.
A horseman came barreling down the street at a gallop. And on his tail was a flying creature. A Blue Dragon!
Mother of All!
What was a blue dragon doing in the middle of a town?
Sariel didn't have time to ponder that question. Without even thinking that she would be attracting the attention of such a deadly creature, she cast Horrid Whispers at it, knocked it to the ground, and hoped for the best. Fortunately, she was not alone. The horseman leapt off the horse with a skill to rival some of the best lancers of the Whisperwood and charged with a large axe towards the dragon. What could a mere axe do against such a deadly beast? Sariel was positive that the man would be dead in seconds.
But again, they were not alone. A few local guardsmen came rushing down the street, only to disappear in a blast of lightning. That gave the horseman a few precious seconds to get in a massive blow with his axe. The dragon did not look pleased. As it spun around to confront the man, more people arrived. Daggers and arrows came flying through the air, many of them bouncing off the thick scales of the beast. A few mystical looking bolts also struck the dragon, but Sariel did not have time to ponder their type or origin. She had to do something fast. She called Voron to her side and sent it in to confront the Dragon. It could not harm the Dragon, but then again, the Dragon could not harm it either. At best, it could only send Voron temporarily back to the spirit world. If the Dragon attacks Voron, that might buy the horseman some more time.
Think, think. Sariel was not used to such pressure situations. She was used to spending idyllic days in the woods. Sure, a few predators would sometimes have to be driven off, but nothing like the fast moving monstrosity here.
Icy Terrain Sariel got lucky. Again she knocked the beast down. She quickly dismissed the frozen ground around the beast so that the approaching attackers could more quickly reach it. There were several of them now. Strangely clad warriors with flashing weapons and shouted curses. Was that a Dwarf she saw?
Evidently, the Dragon did not like the indignity of twice being thrown to the ground. With an almost contemptuous ease, the Dragon ignored the warriors around it and lunged towards Sariel, determined to finish her off. Voron managed to swipe at the Dragon, but the Dragon seemed not to notice.
Pain like she had never felt before laced through her body. I am going to die she thought calmly. She had never really thought about dying before, even on the night of her kidnapping. But, she knew that Avandra was about to take her. Or, at least she thought. Through a hazy vision, she noticed something odd. As she stumbled away, she saw the horseman grappling with the Dragon, protecting her with his own body. How noble she thought. He could have fled, but he gave his life for me. Not that she was going to get away. The Dragon was too fast and would surely come at her again once the horseman fell.
Phantom Bolt It merely bounced off the Dragon’s scales. But, she had nothing else. Phantom Bolt She hit the Dragon's eye, forcing it back a pace and it let out a loud roar and lightning again stuck those around it. Some of these brave men fell, never to rise again. But, the Dragon was sorely wounded now. More guardsmen had shown up and were shooting crossbows at it from a safer distance. Many of the remaining warriors around it were also badly wounded, but they had the advantages of numbers. The Dragon wasn't stupid. It knew that the man on the horse would one day be outside the protection of the town. It could wait. It could even wait years. In a flap of wings, the Dragon fled.
Sariel couldn't believe it. She was alive. She had never thought about it before, but even the pleasure of air rushing into her lungs felt invigorating as she gasped for breath.
"Thanks for the assist." said the horseman. "You look a bit worse for wear. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Well, you don't look so good yourself. But, I am a little thirsty." Sariel said with a wince and a smile.
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