CH 4: Lair of the Dragon

[Breila]

Goldmoon looks around to see if everyone watches the plainspeople or if anyone has the good sense to watch out for threats. If they are guarded, she turns back to Sunstar. "Yes, we vanished into thin air. The staff Riverwind brought home as proof of the existence of the Old Gods teleported us away. We've since met the Godess who gave it to him, she is Mishakal, the healer. Now we are looking for powerful artefacts to help us in a war forced upon us by the draconian armies. Tell me, what happened to you, and how did you come here?"

(she speaks Common if the woman has spoken so, her own language if not)

[Jerrard]

"I will watch the rear, we cannot tarry long, the creatures will be back soon." Sword raised he turns to face any possible threat.

[Jenara]

Laurana steps away, confident that they had it under control. "Tas, should we glance ahead?" She whispers quietly, watching the path ahead.

[JadedDM]

The woman, Sunstar, can apparently speak Common, because she switches to it now.

"After you vanished, demons appeared. They attacked the village, razed it to the ground. Not just the walking demons that patrol this place, but giant, flying ones that could breathe fire hotter than the sun." She takes a moment to compose herself as the memory of that horror resurfaces.

"Some of us escaped into the wilds, but they chased after us. A small group of us were captured. We were brought here. But now, only two of us remain. The other, Raven-eye, is still in a cell, held prisoner. I managed to escape when they were taking me elsewhere, and have been hiding the past few hours," she admits.

[Breila]

"It was good to hide" Goldmoon tells the other woman warmly. "Do you know where the draconians - that's how the walking »demons« are called - wanted to take you? And do you think you could find the cell where Raven-eye is imprisoned?"

[JadedDM]

Sunstar nods, apparently calming down a bit. "They were taking me to their mistress, the biggest demon. She is as black as the night. One by one, they have fed us to her, until only Raven-eye and I remain."

It is easy enough to determine who this demon Sunstar speaks of is, the dragon, Onyx. Continuing, she says, "Raven-eye's cell is near her lair. It is guarded by the walking demons--the draconians, as you call them."

[Jerrard]

"The Dragon." Sturm mutters stating the obvious.

[Breila]

Goldmoon shudders, then tells Sunstar: "Riverwind here was attacked by what you call the demon - it is called a dragon - as well. Only the intervention of the Godess saved him... Tell us, can you find the way back to Raven-eye's cell?"

[Kafen]

Tas nods in response to Laurana. He leans over and says in a low whisper. "Let's look ahead. There might be some guards looking for our new friend." He takes lead looking at the nooks and corners as they secure the area. "Where should we start?"

[JadedDM]

Sunstar bites her lip. "Yes...but the way is dangerous. We must pass very close to the demon's--the dragon's lair," she says, correcting herself.

"Hold on a sec," Flint interrupts, now that he can actually follow the conversation. "I thought we were aiming to avoid the dragon? That's why we're taking this so-called secret path?"

Tanis nods but doesn't say anything. He has a feeling Goldmoon won't go along with leaving one of her people stuck here and is trying to think of a way to get around this problem.

[Breila]

Goldmoon turns to Flint: "I did not ask Sunstar to lead us that way yet, did I? I would never suggest such a thing without consulting with you others first.
We had discussed we need to know more about this place before we attempt anything. I just thought it might be a good idea to ask someone else than a gully dwarf for information."

She then turns her attention back to Sunstar. "Have you learned to use a weapon and defend yourself, Sunstar? You must be a brave person to have escaped, would you like to come with us and fight the dragon, in revenge of the horror she did to our people?"

[JadedDM]

"Y-Yes, I have some skill," Sunstar admits. "But...to fight the dragon? Surely it cannot be defeated."

Flint grumbles to himself about how he just pointed out they were trying not to fight the dragon and how nobody listens these days, not like when he was younger.

[Jenara]

"One moment Tas." Laurana responds to Tas, placing her hand on Flints Shoulder. "Flints right, we agreed we would not fight the dragon, rather we were supposed to use the "Secret Way" Perhaps a small group of us should go and rescue Raven-eye?"

She draws her weapon, glancing at Tanis then Tas, "We are going to look on just a moment, Magpie, is this the way?" She points to the left (ie SE on the map)

[JadedDM]

Magpie nods. "Secret way this way," she says, gesturing and heading to the west. Behind the waterfall is a doorway. Pushing it open, she steps into a small room where water seeps down from the walls into pools, then winds out the door. A long stone counter bisects the room from east to west. Behind it, another doorway leads north. Magpie points to that door. "That leads to secret way," she explains.

[Breila]

"Oh, sorry, I said that wrong" Goldmoon explains. "Of course I don't want to attack the dragon directly. But I do want to defeat her, steal the disks from her so the Gods can help us better to defend ourselves."

To Laurana, she says "I think we agreed earlier that we should not separate? Let us explore together, and do what we can to save Raven-eye, too." She follows Magpie if the others do, looking if the Majere brothers, Riverwind, Sunstar and Sturm come along as well.