CH 4: Lair of the Dragon

[JadedDM]

While Goldmoon, Riverwind and Sturm linger behind, the others follow Magpie into the audience chambers of Phudge Highbulp I, King of the Aghar.

Heavy, frayed gold cloth adorns the massive hall. Statues line the walls, and carpets of every color and description form a patchwork across the floor. At the west end, a huge throne sits, the gold leafing peeling badly from its carved frame. A shriveled figure, nodding beneath a tarnished crown three sizes too big for him, sits buried in robes on the throne. Four armed dwarves, their heads rattling inside their helmets, stand beside their king.

"What want?" the Highbulp asks. He suddenly sits up in his throne, adjusting his crown. "You here to slay dragon?" he asks eagerly.

"No, we are not," Tanis emphasizes patiently.

[Jenara]

Ignoring the mess of what was probably once fine art Laurana takes a single step forwards "Your Highness." She does not curtsey, taught only to do so to her Father "Tanis speaks the truth, we are not here to kill the Dragon." Laurana shakes slightly but is determined to be the 'Princess'. "We seek an Artifact, one that is sacred to our gods.." Fumbling with her hair she glances to the rest of the group.

[Jerrard]

"It is not a Knights place to complain." He gives Goldmoon a thoughtful glance, "They are signs of my mistake, my lack of judgement." Placing his hand on the Woman's shoulder he shrugs. "Yet I wear them inside as well. I will accept your healing, if your Goddess chooses me worthy."

[JadedDM]

"Arty-fact?" the Highbulp asks, stumbling over the word.

"She means treasure," Flint says, adding a 'dimwit' under his breath.

"You...take Highbulp's treasure?"

"No," Tanis corrects. "The treasure we are looking for is guarded by the dragon."

"And so you're here to kill the dragon," the Highbulp concludes, coming full circle.

"No," Tanis repeats, growing frustrated.

Cocooned in gaudy robes, the Highbulp leaned back in the chipped gold-leaf throne and repeated calmly, "You here. Got swords. Kill dragon."

"No," Tanis says again. "As Laurana explained, the dragon is guarding an object that belongs to our gods. We want to remove the object and escape the city before the dragon is aware it is gone."

The Highbulp frowns. "How me know you not take all treasure, leave Highbulp only one mad dragon? There be lot of treasure, pretty rocks."

Raistlin looks up sharply, his hour-glass eyes gleaming.

"We will bring you the pretty rocks," Tanis assures the Highbulp. "Help us and you will get all of the treasure. We want only to find this relic of our god."

With a look of cunning, the Highbulp asks, "What you want from Highbulp?"

Tanis sighs in relief. "Magpie," he indicates the gully dwarf at their side, "told us you could lead us to the dragon's lair."

"Lead!" The great Phudge loses his composure for a moment and clutches his robes around him. "No lead! Great Highbulp not expendable. People need me!"

"No, no. I didn't mean lead," Tanis amends hastily. "If you had a map or could send someone to show us the way."

"Map!" Phudge mops the sweat off his brow with the sleeve of his robe. "Should say so in first place. Map. Yes. I send for map. Meanwhile, you eat. Guests of the Highbulp. Guards take you to mess hall."

"No, thank you," says Tanis politely. The smell of the horrible mess hall still lingered strongly on Tas, Flint and Magpie as it was. "We have our own food," he continues. "We would like some time to ourselves to rest and discuss our plans further."

"Certainly." The Highbulp scoots forward to the front of the throne. Two guards come over to help him down since his feet didn't touch the floor. "Go to Waiting Place. Sit. Eat. Talk. I send map. Maybe you tell Phudge plans?"

"Our plans are hardly formed yet, your majesty," the half-elf says.

"Your majesty," Phudge repeats, sighing with pleasure. He pokes one of his guards in the back. "You remember. From now on, say 'Your Majesty.'"

"Y-yes, y-your, uh, majesty," the gully dwarf stutters.

[Jenara]

Laurana follows close to Tanis, her head held high.

[Nuke]

Riverwind wraps his arm around Goldmoon's waist as they progress, trying not to lean on her. As they enter the dining room he looks a little surprised.

"I wonder what happened here."

[Breila]

Goldmoon does her best to support Riverwind in a way that her beloved doesn't feel as such, not to hurt his pride. To Sturm, she says "I'm afraid that for the time being, you'll have to be content with my healing skills. I haven't forgotten that the staff's power gives out after a while, and I'd rather not be unable to bring someone back from death's doorstep because I expended the power to heal wounds I could have treated myself."

When they come to the dining hall, she wrinkles her nose. "This food cannot be very healthy. Maybe that was what the diners were arguing about. But where did the others go?"

[Jerrard]

Sturm nods at the Plainswomans assessment, "Indeed, my wounds are not life threatening, I will survive."

Surveying the room Sturm frowns, "It appears we have been left behind." Looking down the hall he sees the door at the end. "Perhaps we should try there?"

[Breila]

"There seems to be no other way" Goldmoon says matter-of-factly and proceeds to the door.

[JadedDM]

The three step into the waiting place, and see the others to the left, inside the audience hall, speaking with the Highbulp.

[Breila]

Goldmoon stands just inside the door and takes the room in. Is there another exit, or just the door they came in through?

[Kafen]

Tas looks around at all the stuff that people leave laying around. Really, they are messy. Dwarves are not usually this untidy. Surely, they could use some help sorting things. He drifts off into idle thought about the dwarves for a second and shuffles over to Flint. "I bet they've got some sort of secret Not Cousin secret word thing when it comes to shiney stuff." He speaks in a low whisper for Flint.

[JadedDM]

Goldmoon also sees an open hallway to the east, as well.

Flint, meanwhile, largely ignores the kender, as he is more focused on the meeting with the Highbulp. Tugging lightly on Tanis' sleeve, he whispers, "Don't be taken in by this foolery, Tanis," he warns. "These creatures can be treacherous."

Nodding, Tanis leads the others into the waiting room where Goldmoon, Riverwind and Sturm are as they wait for the map to arrive.

[Nuke]

"What have we missed?" He crosses his feet and slowly sits straight down indian style.

[Breila]

Goldmoon lays a hand on Riverwind's shoulder. "Are you ok for the time being?" she asks.