By dawn, The Harbingers were huddled around the fire stoking the flames of it and discussing their strategy over tea Dimitria had made for them. The herbs that she was able to find around the forest had helped in their healing, though these weren't healing potions, it would keep them from getting any weaker during their recovery. She'd tended to the wounds of everyone, even Drago softening to her care.
Drago's intense, grey eyes flared as he spoke to the group, having used sticks to make a crude series of pathways and stones to indicate the marching order.
"The first room we revisit," he said, "is the room of that greedy dragon who took every means we have of repairing weapons or affording food."
"We've done well for ourselves without it," Tauriel interjected. The elves had lived in harmony with nature. Everything built in the Vanadian Forests was built to keep the destruction to a scant minimum. Those whom had seen the Vanadian lands had described them as some of the most beautiful in the known world.
"That's not the point," Thorin said, "it wasn't the dragon's to take. Drago's right. We need that coin if we're to be at least somewhat effective."
"Dwarves and their gold," Tauriel mocked, flippantly.
"If we're quite finished," Drago stated, "Once the dragon is confronted and defeated, we take the gold and we search. If the dragon has taken from one, he's taken from another as well. From there, we clear these caverns of every threat, search every room, we leave nothing behind. That includes any scrolls and magic items," he said, turning his attention to Dimitria and Tauriel, "Those will be entrusted the two of you. You'll be behind myself and Thorin. Nightshade, stay behind the elf."
Dimitria nodded, understandingly. Not having the strength or fighting prowess of the other three, being the last in line was more of a comfort to her than anything.
"Everyone eat and drink their fill tonight," Drago said, "Tomorrow...nothing in there survives. This time, it's now or never. Skalds or no skalds," he said, turning his attention to Thorin.
Thorin pressed his lips together beneath his heavy facial hair. He nodded. In some way, he swore to himself that Drago was growing into the role of a capable leader for one of the Boreal Tribe but he also had to wonder if Drago's single-minded mission meant that none of them would emerge.
The day was spent, preparing rations, gathering the pelts that had been stretched and dried, gathering water in waterskins, preparing spells for the next day, sharpening weapons and repairing armor as best it could be repaired. Everyone had a part to do and, when it was done, extra hands were lent to the efforts of others.
The Reckoning:
They slowly marched in, Dimitria pulling up the rear with the lantern. Having done this twice before, The Harbingers marched forward into the cavern...
As they filed into the cavern, Drago raised a hand, his other gripped the sword he carried. They slowed their approach, their footfalls careful and deliberate. Suddenly, there were the sounds of shuffles and clicks as the light revealed the horror of the skeletons carrying spears in front of them.
Drago's eyes went wide. The center skeleton thrust it's spear at Drago. Drago used the flat of his blade to drive the tip into the corner of the wall next to him before taking the skull from the rest of the bones, leaving them to collapse into a pile before him. The next skeleton moved in to take advantage of Drago before the entire corridor lit up and Drago saw something momentarily arc over his head and come crashing down upon the skeleton, leaving the bones lit aflame. With Thorin being unable to attack, she'd summoned a fireball and launched it over their heads. One fire-laden skeleton crashed into another, causing the other to collapse into a mass of immolated bones. The last one, going for Drago amidst the chaos found himself being blown to bonedust by Dimitria's lightning spell. Drago moved even more deeply into the cavern, waving the rest in. They searched the bones for a moment and found nothing more than the wreckage of the skeletons and their weapons. Proceeding to the room at the end of the hall, they moved into the room to finally confront the dragon.
Carcax, the dragon heard someone coming and quickly put away the treasure he'd been inspecting. As he straightened himself, he saw the same band of adventurers enter the room
"Back so soon!" he said, grinning, revealing a mouth full of young, sharp teeth. He had not yet learned to fly. He hadn't matured into that form just yet but knew it was important to use his life span to hoarding gold, jewels and immense wealth, "I see you've come to pay tribute again. I am happy to see you all, of course."
"Not this time, Dragon," said Drago, "We'll be needing the gold you took from us."
"If this is a jest," Carcax said, "I do not find humor in it..."
"It's no jest," said Drago, "Your extortion days are over. Give us the gold and we part ways. You'll not pursue or send any other beasts after us. Don't...and we take everything."
Carcax flew into a rage. He lunged once, twice, taking clawed swings at Drago. Tauriel stepped in with her sword taking a graceful swing, cutting into the small dragon's side, Cacax howled in pain, drawing back. Drago saw the opportunity and thrust the blade of his sword into the dragon's chest, piercing it's heart before using the totality of his strength to twist hard.
Carcax's mouth was open but the sound stopped, no sound and no fire coming from it. Drago forcefully drew his sword from the dragon's body and stepped back as Carcax fell over, dead. Drago looked to Tauriel and nodded.
"There is something in here," Thorin said, sniffing the air, "I smell gold but...there's something else."
"Shhhh!" said Dimitria, "Listen!"
They could hear the sounds of scratching and squeaking before, they found themselves beset by giant rats. One by one, eleven giant rats pushed The Harbingers back toward the entrance
"NIGHTSHADE! FALL BACK!" commanded Drago.
Dimitria did as ordered, quickly backing out of the room, her one offensive spell used, she didn't have much in the way of choice.
Immediately, Thorin used the back part of his axe and began hammering at the floor while Drago took sweeping swings with his sword. Tauriel fell back to cover Dimitria, her only offensive spell also used on the earlier skeletons. From inside the room there were sounds of steel clanging off the stones of the floor, a sword tip scraping stone, grunting, stomping, squeals and crunches. The sounds of the horror seemed to last an eternity until finally, all sounds save for the sounds of heavy breathing and then...laughter
"Alright you two," Thorin said, "You can enter again."
They entered to see Drago and Thorin clearing the bodies of the Carcax and the rats away.
Thorin set his nose into the air again, sniffing the damp air and following what he was convinced was the scent of riches. Dimitria aided in Thorin's search.
"Thorin, look!" she said, pointing toward the spots of pooled and smeared blood mingled from the beasts they'd just bested. There was a series of scratches in the stone, highlighted in the blood settled into the grooves in the stone tile.
The Harbingers aided Thorin in trying to work a couple of loose stones away from the wall and Dimitria shone the lantern into the hole. Several jewels, their gold and then some were stashed inside. Thorin reached in and began collecting the small horde, the majority of which, they were forced to contribute. Drago smiled, proudly until Tauriel spoke
"That was lucky," she said, "Aside from Thorin's keen sense for treasure, provoking a dragon was probably not our best idea."
The smile slowly faded from Drago's face until he noticed Dimitria standing against the far wall, whispering something. The room slowly illuminated, but not from the lantern, a fireball or some impending bolt of lightning but a woman.
The Lady In White, there were untold rumors and stories about her. Drago moved back, Tauriel placed her own back to the wall, as did Thorin. Dimitria, stared at her in awe.
"You must take your treasure, adventurers," she said, her ethereal voice reverberating through the room,"but I must ask something in return. The dragon had taken something from me after he killed me. May I trouble you for one quest for which I will reward you?"
Drago couldn't speak. He had heard of spirits unable to move on, bound to bodies that were rotten but never of a spirit without a body unable to move on.
"What is your proposal?" Dimitria asked, "If it will remove the curse from one of these treasures, we will honor your request."
Thorin and Tauriel looked at each other. She looked at a still stunned and horrified Drago and then back to Thorin, raising an eyebrow and shrugging.
"Find a handful of fool's gold and bring it to me," she said, "You will be aiding in my journey to my eternal rest."
"Understood," Dimitria said, looking momentarily to Drago, then back to The Lady In White, "You will have your passage before we leave."
Thorin reached out and gently place his hand on Drago's back.
"Come on, Drago," he whispered, "She is of no harm to us, and we may do something glorious for at least one this day.
Drago moved out, followed by Thorin, Tauriel and Dimitria.
As they moved, Drago shook the image, only looking back to ensure they weren't being followed. He couldn't stop the hair on the back of his neck from standing up. He hoped to make whatever other horrors lurked in these caverns would join her in death and bother the townspeople of Ferrymoon Village no more.
As they followed Drago to the right, they watched as Drago entered a room only for him to yell to all of them to stay back.
They heard three fierce grunts and Drago's sword striking something and thudding to the ground. Fully expecting an orc or something similar, The Harbingers entered the room to find three dead giant centipedes. All three had been hacked in half by Drago's sword. Drago stood among the mutilated bugs and looked at them as they entered, nodding, indicating that they should continue following him.
They finally came to the corridor. There was a dead ogre in the next room, they were all sure of it but when they entered, they encountered another small dragon.
"Ah! Greetings!" The Dragon said, amiably, "Ah, come in! Come in! Let's have a look at you!" The dragon's deep voice filled the room but there was no sight of the ogre they'd faced before.
"Where is the ogre?" Thorin asked, "We killed one not fourteen days ago."
The Dragon laughed, heartily.
"Where are my manners, then?" he asked, still laughing, "Please, put away your weapons. You'll not be needing them with me. You've fed me! Why should I bring those whom feed me harm. I am in your debt! To answer your question, Dwarf, that's how long it took me to consume him. I was very very hungry before you came along. I saw that he hurt you. I ensured that he would not be here to repeat such an act. So uncivilized was he. My name is Finh and I am at your service. My apologies for not having refreshment for you. I wish I had at least some wine to give you all. You must have come such a long way."
"I am Drago, of the Boreal," Drago said, sheathing his sword and finally relaxing, "Thorin Fireforge, Tauriel Silverleaf and Dimitria Nightshade, my companions."
"I hear a name on the winds," the dragon said, lifting his head and closing his eyes, "Harbingers..."
They looked at each other in surprise for a moment.
"The winds?" Drago asked,
Finh laughed again.
"Forgive me," he said, "your name has been spoken about in whispers since you first showed and took Throk's head. It is said that a mage employed you to take his head. Spiro, I believe his name was."
Dimitria's eyes went wide. Drago noticed.
"You know of him?" He asked her.
"Spiro Ellios," she said, "There have been rumors about him in The Mages' Conclave, stories about him wandering the world on and on. He swore he'd find the secret to immortality. That was..."
"Seven generations ago," Finh said, "I met him once. Not five months before you came here. He entrusted me with something, I entrusted him with something in return."
"The Book of Skalitos," she said, almost asking Finh
"Yeeeessss!" Finh responded laughing, "I had finished reading it. I thought he would find it more interesting than I did. Skalitos always was a little verbiose for my taste. I should not be, the four of you, my friends are adventurers and thus, I may have something of an adventure for you, should you be interested. A quest, if you will."
"Name the terms of your quest," said Drago, "We shall see."
"Four adventurers such as yourselves, so young and energetic should not find this challenge to be too difficult but there will be a reward if you complete it," Finh said, "I know there are evil and wicked things in here. Some of them fear even me, however, if you subdue your next three threats, I shall tell you what reward lies in store for you."
They looked at each other. The promise of further reward was great but Ferrymoon's own forest had been under threat. The entire purpose for coming was to ensure that there would be no more threats.
"If I may," Tauriel said, "You're right, Finh, we've come a long way. There's a village not half a day's ride from here. The Foresters harvesting lumber for the townsfolk were being killed by orcs. We've come to ensure that those threats would cease. Our mission here is to further defend those people. If there are other orcs, that is not a promise we may be able to keep."
"I do understand," Finh said, nodding,"Understand that this is merely an option. If you manage to do so, report back to me and the reward shall be yours."
"If not?" Drago asked.
"Then you have all my best wishes," Finh said, "and you have my thanks for the meal."
"You are welcome," Drago replied as the dragon moved from the room's exit, "Farewell, friend. Hopefully, we'll see each other again."
"Yes, I would like that," Finh said, "It is always so good to find good company and you, Harbingers, have been fine company. Come back anytime."
The Harbingers moved through the corridor and into the hallway
"Drago!" Dimitria called ahead. The entire group stopped as they all looked back to her. "We can meet the challenge!"
"What?" asked Drago, puzzled
"I've prepared two sleep spells," She said, "If I cast them, and they work, we will have met the challenge at least that far."
"If they don't?" Drago asked, "Or we meet the third and you have nothing left?"
Dimitria looked to Tauriel.
"There would be no means of aid for me," Tauriel said, "The only spell I had at my disposal was a fireball spell."
"It's worth it to at least try," Thorin added, "We have two attempts to sort this out. If it doesn't work, then there's no reward from Finh...but if it does..."
Drago pressed his lips together as he thought everyone's words through. Fact is, the magic Tauriel and Dimitria used still unsettled him, however, it had not been used on him in any harmful way. He nodded in agreement and then nodded them on further.
They stopped in the hallway, listening and then proceeded slowly, hearing voices coming from the next room. They slowly entered into the room until Drago drew his sword, surprising all six of the hobgoblins huddled in the room. As they turned to face The Harbingers, weapons drawn, Dimitria acted.
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