We arrive in the border town between the Black Dragon and Phoenix Clans as the shop-keeps are opening their doors to start the day. Deciding not to raid that dungeon saved us quite a bit of time, and I am optimistic about the future. The child has been silent since the previous night, and I believe Treash said something to him before bed. He appears sullen and disheartened.
Once in town we set about the normal routine of selling any spoils we have, and investigating what they have for sale here with our new found money. We are able to sell the Dragon skin and teeth and buy some expertly crafted dragon bone weaponry for most of the group. Its not magical, but the dragons innate magical abilities will probably help.
While about town, Kamala informs us she has met a man needing the help of some botanists and archaeologists. We remind her that we don't actually know much about those subjects, but decide to check it out anyway. If it won't take too long it might give a little income while we wait for the dragon bone weaponry to be made.
He is an elderly gentleman, and explains that he is opening a resort and destination getaway for the wealthy. He needs someone to go and check on the animals and plants there to verify their health and general status.It sounds easy enough that we can let Kish fake our way through it, but it also sounds far away. We explain our timetable to him, and how we have a prior commitment the next morning. We don't really have time to kill doing this sort of thing and prepare to leave, when he explains that he has an airship prepared and we should be able to make it back by morning at the latest. This is almost too good to pass up as it fits our time table perfectly. We agree, and are able to talk him into paying us quite well. His assistant leads us to where the ship is docked and we leave.
The airship is not only an airship, but a relatively luxury model. I haven't seen one of this quality before, and think some of the others haven't ever seen one at all. The Captain is a fairly proficient woman, and handles the ship with ease. I do my best to watch, and eventually she offers to walk me through the basics. After flying the ship, I have made up my mind to own one at some point. Rex and I begin running the math on our income to see what it would cost to buy our own, or hire her and her crew. We might be able to swing it with some clever negotiations at the purchasing table with the income from this job.
We arrive on the island and are given rough directions for the location of the enclosures. Most contain giant reptiles that seem about as hesitant of us as we are of them. They let Kish collect samples, and we are on our way quickly. In a few cases Qux and I have the same idea, and I notice him slipping some eggs into his bag of holding. I do the same, and all told at the end of the day we have 4 giant eggs and there is a fierce debate on how to prepare them, or even if we do. Kish is firmly against it and it will take some convincing.
The notable cage was the one where something went wrong. We found giant carnivorous reptiles. Quickly evident by the fact that one immediately swallowed Zathras. The cleric enlarged Kish and she managed to wrestle the beast down while we cut him free, but it was clear these were vicious.
One other cage had nothing inside, but a clearly broken roof. We found the occupants in another cage, feasting upon the smaller reptiles within. At this point we were all exhausted, and so since we had enough samples decided it was best to just leave and warn the old man that some of his animals had escaped.
We return late the next afternoon and are further behind on our trip. We resolve not to entertain any more of these side journeys, as who knows how long the King's health will hold. We manage to convince the old man to lend us his airship to get us to our destination faster, because of the unexpected hazards on the island, and we embark immediately. Also of note, the Captain refuses to sell us her ship, and we will need to buy our own. Qux seems to eagerly agree.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
The Black Dragons
After we exit the dungeon, the Dragons have requested we meet them tomorrow evening for an initiation ceremony into their order. We go to town, and resupply, while Kish keeps watch at the tavern. As I leave, she informs me there is a new stranger in the bar clearly sticking out from the rest. He is dressed in bright orange robes, and stands out very distinctly from the black robed Dragon Clan. I establish a link with her, and ask her to alert me if there is trouble. We then head into town and various shopping is done. I buy an immensely expensive wand that can heal our entire party twice over, so that the boy stops fretting the threat of death. Really though, why bring him adventuring if he cannot handle danger? I convince some of the rest of the party to pitch in a bit to help.
We return, and the boy has wandered off. I assume the priest, Treash, knows where and as he has recently begun to loudly lecture on politics and morality I am content to leave him wherever he may be. Treash and I will have to have words soon on how to handle his son, if he cannot control him. We head to our rooms, and Kish has been watching the stranger fairly intently. I'm positive it would be uncomfortable for him, if the rest of the establishment were not doing the same.
I finally have realized the process to bind an unruly demon to a mortal host, and begin the ritual. I plan to bind one of the infernal ones to a toad, and force it to help in my challenges providing valuable insight direct from the enemies playbook so to speak. As I finish the arcane ritual, Kish summons me. We race downstairs in time to see the orange robed stranger handily dispatch a drunken Black Dragon. I ask Kish to summarize the events, and she explains that there was a brief fight, after the Black Dragon stumbled into him. She then goes on to explain she has been talking to some locals, and apparently he belongs to the Phoenix clan. The tension is because it is suspected that the Phoenix clan is suspected of poisoning the emperor. This is valuable information indeed.
The next day, I spend time in the library. I am able to convince the librarian that I need to be in the restricted section, I assumed existed. Here I read up on the books specifically marked to be edited and shredded, as I assume they are the most honest. I get an idea of local demonic lore, but I also look for information on the Phoenix and Black Dragon clans. Apparently there is a long history of mistrust and animosity. The Phoenix clan are apparently responsible for several emperor deaths due to poisoning and other stealthy means, and the local townsfolk rumor seems founded in reality. It also seems like the Black Dragons are relatively honorable and righteous.
At the ceremony, we are asked to return to the dragon rock formation, and step into another extra-dimensional palace for the exact happenings. They lead with the caution that there is an oath required. I am initially hesitant, but they explain the oath is fairly basic. "I swear to protect the Dragon Emperor, provided he remains just and honorable" to summarize. I am fine with this, as anyone who is just and honorable and asking for my protection can have it. The rest of the group doesn't put as much weight in oaths, and will throw them around for little to no reason, so they have no such hesitation The boy refuses to attend, claiming he cannot swear an oath, as he is too law abiding. I don't follow his logic, but we are almost not admitted. He is sent back to town, and Treash will deal with him later I assume. I commend him on laying his foot down for once, and we continue through the portal.
Once inside, it is revealed that the Black Dragons are the emperors unofficial guardians, pledged to protect the rightful ruler of these lands. Furthermore they suspect the Phoenix clan of poisoning the emperor with an exotic blend of plant and magic poison. They ask us, as foreigners, to travel into the Phoenix lands and collect a sample of the plant, and any evidence of this poisoning we can find and bring it back.
We head back to town, to supply for our journey that begins the next day. Treash asks if he should get the boy, and I explain it is his choice. He opts to do so, and I see most of the group sigh. Once reunited, there is no scolding for his behavior, and I can see where his attitude comes from immediately.
We set out on our journey the next afternoon with horses provided by the Black Dragon. They also give us a cover story and papers as archaeologists studying ancient plants in the area. We make it a few hours outside of town, when we discover a cave that the group is intent on exploring. We debate on the state of the emperor's health, and decide since he is magically sustained he can handle a few hours here and there. The cave turns out to be a Green Dragons den, and I recall that they are notorious bullies. Treash won't let this stand, and we set out to slay the beast. It is a fairly small den, and dragon, but a dragon none the less. The battle is fierce, and due to its flight most of our party is ineffective until I force it to land with summoned giant bees. Luckily none of the insects are killed in the fight, and they are able to return home safely.
Unfortunately, while examining the dragons horde (I suspect a strong motivator for us pursuing the beast), Qux triggers a trapped grafting machine. Kish is injured during the resulting explosion, and it appears the machine forcefully removes her arm, replacing it with some sort of tentacled arm instead. Not only that, but the arm seems possessed and attacks anyone near it. I am astonished at Kish's ability to survive the operation, as it did not look clean or painless. The two of us ride back to town on a single horse, leaving the others to secure the location as a camp. On the ride, Kish takes the opportunity to rant about the boy. I knew he was grating her, but she seems less able to ignore him than I. In her harsh upbringing, a child like this would have been abandoned in the woods long ago. She cannot stand his incessant proselytising about morality and laws being right because they are laws. Kish has a very firm notion of right and wrong, and cares little for the laws. In town we sell most of the dragons loot and are able to pay a priest to restore this curse, but it is costly. By the end of the ride back, I have convinced Kish not to murder the boy in his sleep, and to remember that he is a child, but I don't know how long that will last. I fear that his next lecture to her may be his last.
We return to the camp, and debate about returning to the crypt. I am in favor of leaving it alone, as we were unable to destroy the machine previously. I advocate simply leaving, or at most destroying the entrance so others don't enter, but Treash and his son are adamant that we must go inside and slay any evil that remains. To me that militant attitude is directly the evil they claim to fight, but I hate debating morality with them, and the discussion is sure to set Kish off. We agree to postpone it until morning.
We return, and the boy has wandered off. I assume the priest, Treash, knows where and as he has recently begun to loudly lecture on politics and morality I am content to leave him wherever he may be. Treash and I will have to have words soon on how to handle his son, if he cannot control him. We head to our rooms, and Kish has been watching the stranger fairly intently. I'm positive it would be uncomfortable for him, if the rest of the establishment were not doing the same.
I finally have realized the process to bind an unruly demon to a mortal host, and begin the ritual. I plan to bind one of the infernal ones to a toad, and force it to help in my challenges providing valuable insight direct from the enemies playbook so to speak. As I finish the arcane ritual, Kish summons me. We race downstairs in time to see the orange robed stranger handily dispatch a drunken Black Dragon. I ask Kish to summarize the events, and she explains that there was a brief fight, after the Black Dragon stumbled into him. She then goes on to explain she has been talking to some locals, and apparently he belongs to the Phoenix clan. The tension is because it is suspected that the Phoenix clan is suspected of poisoning the emperor. This is valuable information indeed.
The next day, I spend time in the library. I am able to convince the librarian that I need to be in the restricted section, I assumed existed. Here I read up on the books specifically marked to be edited and shredded, as I assume they are the most honest. I get an idea of local demonic lore, but I also look for information on the Phoenix and Black Dragon clans. Apparently there is a long history of mistrust and animosity. The Phoenix clan are apparently responsible for several emperor deaths due to poisoning and other stealthy means, and the local townsfolk rumor seems founded in reality. It also seems like the Black Dragons are relatively honorable and righteous.
At the ceremony, we are asked to return to the dragon rock formation, and step into another extra-dimensional palace for the exact happenings. They lead with the caution that there is an oath required. I am initially hesitant, but they explain the oath is fairly basic. "I swear to protect the Dragon Emperor, provided he remains just and honorable" to summarize. I am fine with this, as anyone who is just and honorable and asking for my protection can have it. The rest of the group doesn't put as much weight in oaths, and will throw them around for little to no reason, so they have no such hesitation The boy refuses to attend, claiming he cannot swear an oath, as he is too law abiding. I don't follow his logic, but we are almost not admitted. He is sent back to town, and Treash will deal with him later I assume. I commend him on laying his foot down for once, and we continue through the portal.
Once inside, it is revealed that the Black Dragons are the emperors unofficial guardians, pledged to protect the rightful ruler of these lands. Furthermore they suspect the Phoenix clan of poisoning the emperor with an exotic blend of plant and magic poison. They ask us, as foreigners, to travel into the Phoenix lands and collect a sample of the plant, and any evidence of this poisoning we can find and bring it back.
We head back to town, to supply for our journey that begins the next day. Treash asks if he should get the boy, and I explain it is his choice. He opts to do so, and I see most of the group sigh. Once reunited, there is no scolding for his behavior, and I can see where his attitude comes from immediately.
We set out on our journey the next afternoon with horses provided by the Black Dragon. They also give us a cover story and papers as archaeologists studying ancient plants in the area. We make it a few hours outside of town, when we discover a cave that the group is intent on exploring. We debate on the state of the emperor's health, and decide since he is magically sustained he can handle a few hours here and there. The cave turns out to be a Green Dragons den, and I recall that they are notorious bullies. Treash won't let this stand, and we set out to slay the beast. It is a fairly small den, and dragon, but a dragon none the less. The battle is fierce, and due to its flight most of our party is ineffective until I force it to land with summoned giant bees. Luckily none of the insects are killed in the fight, and they are able to return home safely.
Unfortunately, while examining the dragons horde (I suspect a strong motivator for us pursuing the beast), Qux triggers a trapped grafting machine. Kish is injured during the resulting explosion, and it appears the machine forcefully removes her arm, replacing it with some sort of tentacled arm instead. Not only that, but the arm seems possessed and attacks anyone near it. I am astonished at Kish's ability to survive the operation, as it did not look clean or painless. The two of us ride back to town on a single horse, leaving the others to secure the location as a camp. On the ride, Kish takes the opportunity to rant about the boy. I knew he was grating her, but she seems less able to ignore him than I. In her harsh upbringing, a child like this would have been abandoned in the woods long ago. She cannot stand his incessant proselytising about morality and laws being right because they are laws. Kish has a very firm notion of right and wrong, and cares little for the laws. In town we sell most of the dragons loot and are able to pay a priest to restore this curse, but it is costly. By the end of the ride back, I have convinced Kish not to murder the boy in his sleep, and to remember that he is a child, but I don't know how long that will last. I fear that his next lecture to her may be his last.
We return to the camp, and debate about returning to the crypt. I am in favor of leaving it alone, as we were unable to destroy the machine previously. I advocate simply leaving, or at most destroying the entrance so others don't enter, but Treash and his son are adamant that we must go inside and slay any evil that remains. To me that militant attitude is directly the evil they claim to fight, but I hate debating morality with them, and the discussion is sure to set Kish off. We agree to postpone it until morning.
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