Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3514702" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 164THE HOARDWith the last dragon slain, the companions turned their attention to the dragon’s hoard.  Just getting up into the nest proved challenging, and while there was an obvious quantity of treasure, most of it was buried within the mound of bones, and would require considerable effort to retrieve. “I will scan for magic,” Varo said.  “I do not believe that there are foes other than the dragons in this cavern, but we should not dally; the commander will be worried.”“There’s a hell of a lot of silver in here,” Dar said, kicking through the heap of bones.  His weight caused the nest to crunch loudly with every step, and he had to be cautious not to fall. “There are eggs in here,” Allera said, bending down to examine an oblong orb roughly three feet long.  One end of the egg was cracked, and a sick gray material was draining out of it down into the nest.  “Smash ‘em,” Dar said, bending down to examine something interesting.  Allera frowned, but Varo nodded in agreement.  “They must be destroyed.  Dragons are creatures of innate natures; they lack the redeemability of humankind.  The shadow dragons are inherently evil, that is a simple fact.”“It must be reassuring to have such certainty to guide you,” Allera said.“What is, is,” Varo replied. “If things cannot be changed, then why are you here, Varo?”“Because not everything is certain, healer.  Look at what you do... death is an inevitability for us mortals, is it not?  And yet you struggle against it with more ferocity than anyone I have ever seen.  Why do you fight so hard, if you know that ultimately you will be defeated?”Allera’s frown deepened, and she looked away. “What the hell is this?” Dar asked, dragging something out of the heap.  His prize was a metal rod, set with protruding studs up its length, the whole topped with a large iron ball.  As he lifted it, his hand closed on one of the studs. The ball split open, and a gleaming steel blade sprung forth.  At the same time, the shaft lengthened in his hand, rapidly growing until the whole device was roughly the size of a longspear. “Whoa,” he said. “It is a rod of lordly might,” Drakha said.  The outsider looked at Varo.  “And per the terms of our agreement, I claim it as my payment for services rendered.”“What?” Dar asked, holding the spear a bit possessively. Varo looked intently at the outsider, and nodded.  “Give it to him, Dar.”“Like hell!  I haven’t even pushed the other buttons yet!”The cleric was nonplussed.  “Without Drakha’s aid, we would not have survived our first clash with the dragons.”“Fine, give him your share then, this here rod is mine.”“It is not wise to broach an agreement, human,” the outsider said.  Chaos flashed in his eyes, and the bone pile under Dar’s feet shifted slightly.  “Dar, just give it to him,” Allera said.  “We cannot afford elective battles, not now.”“I don’t like being told what to do,” Dar said, his eyes narrow as he met Drakha’s stare full on.  “Very well,” the outsider said.  “I will take an alternative prize back with me to Limbo, in exchange for the rod.”  Drakha turned, and pointed toward Kalend, who looked around in surprise, before turning suddenly pale.</blockquote>

Verification