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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 996431" data-attributes="member: 99">Bad Things Come in Small Packages Part 2 - Worse Things Come in Really Big Packages!As Raven descended into darkness, his thoughts became somewhat detached.  In that final moment, as the dragon's jaws had closed around his shoulder, he had glimpsed the beast up close.  He had never seen a dragon before and felt that if he were going to die by one, he should at least get a good look at it.  He was surprised by what he saw.Instead of the stretching sinews and forked red tongue accentuating a mouth of ivory fangs dripping in caustic saliva, he witnessed only darkness.  The dragon's maw was very real, but yet seemingly composed only of invariable black.  The form of the beast shifted awkwardly in the light cast by Speaks' distant torch.  Rather than the shining, glittering scales he would have expected, the dragon's flank had wavered, indeed almost flickered.  Not unlike a shadow…Speaks heard Raven cry out and spun around to see him fall to the black dragon that seemed to have appeared from nowhere.  Whipping back around he saw that two of the Kobolds were still maneuvering to flank Rhys, a third had his back against the wall and appeared to be performing some kind of magic and the fourth had disappeared down a side passage.  As he watched, he saw his Salamander dart up the same passage in pursuit.Speaks felt that he needed to respond immediately to the dragon threat, but he couldn't bring himself to leave Rhys without any assistance.  He made another try at the spell that he had failed before.  Suddenly, three badgers appeared among the Kobolds near Rhys and began menacing them.  One was felled almost immediately while another took a vicious bite to the ankle.  The third, up against the wall, easily fended off the badger that attacked him as it appeared to bounce off some kind of invisible barrier.  In response to the attack, the Kobold stabbed at the badger with a dagger and drew blood.  This sent the badger into a raging frenzy.Rhys took advantage of the momentary distraction and stabbed at the Kobold in front of him, wounding it.  The Kobold saw that the odds had turned against him and retreated in the direction of the dragon.A voice rang out above the din of battle, "Fall back!  Let the dragon finish them!"  Those Kobolds who were in the corridor near the dragon and the fallen Raven moved away from the dragon, back down the side passages at the intersection leaving the dwarf unconscious and bleeding in their wake.The dragon showed no signs of retreat and lunged forward past the dwarf and bit at Speaks.  Speaks thrust at the beast with his spear as it attacked but failed to strike it.  The druid winced in pain at the attack, but through the pain, he noticed the odd fact that this dragon seemed different than the one they had previously fought.  Its form was shadowy and indistinct, almost insubstantial.Meanwhile, the badgers he had summoned proceeded to make quick work of the other Kobolds nearby.  One moved slightly to the flank of the Kobold against the wall and lunged for the small humanoid with bloodlust in its eyes.  The frail Kobold crumpled under the assault of claws and fangs.The other badger ran after the Kobold trying to retreat.  The Kobold turned briefly to fend off the attack but failed.  The badger burrowed through the thin leather armor the Kobold wore and into flesh.  The pitiful creature let out a high pitched cry and expired.Speaks was face to face with the bizarre "Shadow Dragon" but there was no time to ponder the implications of such a thing.  He stepped back out of the reach of its jaws and called forth a Flaming Sphere along the flank of the dragon.  The ball of fire rolled into the creature and began burning away at its shadowy substance.Rhys was now left with no further adversaries (Although he was briefly alarmed as a light came from the small side passage one of the Kobolds had bolted into.  It turned out to be the Salamander returning to the battle.) and saw Speaks facing the dragon alone.  He rushed to the aid of his friend.The dragon came at Speaks again, this time unleashing the full fury of its attacks.  Speaks ducked and weaved, fully utilizing the Cat-like Grace granted by Rhys' spell.  Astoundingly, he was only hit by one of the dragon's wings, which only wounded him slightly.He responded by stepping back out of reach again and with a gesture, the ball of fire again slammed into the side of the creature.  One of the badgers ran in to defend the one that had summoned it, only to be slashed in twain by one of the dragon's claws.  The Salamander also moved quickly to fight along side the druid.But it was Rhys that dealt the final blow to the wispy Shadow Dragon.  He strode the last few feet toward the creature and a slash of his rapier passed through the neck of the beast.  Instead of crumpling to the ground, the corpse vanished like so much oily smoke.As second later the corridor darkened slightly as the Salamander vanished, returning to its fiery plane of existence.  It briefly reminded Speaks of how the lights would be dimmed at the closing act of one of the plays put on by travelling performers back in Oar during his childhood.  But this was no play.  Danger remained all around them.He stooped and channeled some of the healing magic of his wand into the prone form of Raven.  The dwarf regained consciousness and began to ply his own healing magics upon himself while Speaks continued to heal himself and Rhys.  A few moments later the question inevitably came as to what they should do now.Speaks advocated them pressing on.  He felt that the Kobolds must have spent most of their magic (including whatever that Shadow Dragon thing was) during the encounter and they would have little left.  Seeing as how the group was mostly healed, they decided to press on.NEXT:  Frankly I Don't Know What's Going to Happen.  We Play Tonight!</blockquote>

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