The following is a transcript of a solo play of HotDQ. The intent was to create a dramatized narrative from the published adventure using the emergent and unpredictable elements of the game system as writing prompts.
It had been three days since the dragon attacked DeLandeau estate. We'd been travelling to Greenest to try and find help in dealing with the great wretch that is now roosting in my home. It'd been a rough three days. I went from saving this boy Rees, to kicking him in the mud, to arming and training him at a small armory on the way.
I have to admit though, despite his low birth, he was a good companion to have. The boy had a keen mind, and he took as well to the blade as he did to the weave. A shame about poor Corbiset. Perhaps if I'd paid him more heed, I'd be the one with sunlight in the palm of my hand! I miss him. I miss his smoking. I miss his raspy voice. I miss seeing father and old Corbiset talking over cards in the library. I miss father.
I suppose I really was a knight right then- squire and all... Not that it counted for much without any land... or a horse, for that matter! A knights errant is only worth his quest, after all. Hopefully there was glory to be had in Greenest. I was grateful to have found Alorn in all that chaos, and even more grateful that he was yet loyal to my banner despite it all. I'd be sure to pay him his proper wages as my father had-
"By the gods! It's on fire! Greenest is being besieged by a dragon as well!" Alorn shouted with terror! Rees drew his blades, "We've seen this and survived it before. We can do it again. Right?" I looked at him. Then looked at the city. "I wish I'd bought a spyglass. It looks like more than dragons to me though. But you're right, as knights of the land, it is our duty to try and fight this off- or at least save some people. Let's go! Alorn, keep behind us, and watch for flanking groups!"
As we charged into the town via the main street, a family flew fron a building from our left, followed by 4 large lizards running in their hind legs! The tiny creatures looked like little scaly men with crocodile heads and stumpy tails, scrawny and red-skinned. The mother was holding a shield and a broken spear, and planned to fend them off herself! Rees rushed forward, shouting! "No! Flee! Let us take them!" The creaturez turned to us and began yipping madly, waving their crude weapons!
The first one charged Rees, attempting to stab him with its dagger, but Rees simply deflected it with his own sword! His familiar remained distant, keeping his pet mouse safe. Carrying through with the momentum, Rees stabbed the creature through the chest with his free blade, killing it instantly! Continuing his charge, Rees downed another with his off-hand blade, severing its shoulder as the edge cut deep! The remaining two monsters, now clearly terrified, attempted to dogpile Rees, stabbing at him madly with their daggers! While they did stab him, it was clear that neither of them could get through his chain armor. The woman fled the scene, gathering with her family in the alley across the street. I finally caught up to my battle-eager squire, and helped him out, taking a lunge at the nearest lizard-thing! My blade barely tugged on its scaly hide, diving through it as if it were made of jell! The creature shrieked as I draw my weapon from its body! Rees easily ended the fight, chopping the head off the last of them.
The woman and her family approached us, and she began to speak, gasping for breath between words, "Oh gods, that was bad! You two came just in time! We need to get to the keep where it's safe! Please say you'll come with us!" I nodded to her, "On our honor!" Rees grinned slightly at me, "That's the knight I remember!"
Heading East, we crossed through an intersection, and saw a band of raiders ahead. I shouted for everyone to hide, and we rushed into a building on the roadside. Hiding, I turned to Rees, "Do you know any tricks that we can use to distract them away from here?" Rees thought for a moment, then closed his eyes. "Everyone stay quiet" he said.
"Just saw another bunch of them dodge into that house ahead. Should we go after them?" said Ilrathen to his commander. Garandis, the commander of the raider squad, stroked his beard. "No, an indoor fight will just be a mess. Let's smoke them out into the streets." Rees watched and listened to the raiders speak as their kobld entourage waited for orders. He loved experiencing the world through his hawk companion, Skyren. He knew Skyren was actually just a spirit summoned by his magic to his aide, but the sensation of flight was all the same riveting. Hearing their sadistic plan, Rees hatched one of his own. He commanded Skyren to come fetch Reliss' money pouch. Obeying, Skyren entered the house through an upper floor window, nearly scared the wits out of the family with them as it soared down the stairwell, and infuriated Reliss as it grabbed his pouch! Then, as quickly as it had come, Rees commanded it to annoy the raiders, and to jingle the pouch as much as possible, to lead them away down the opposite alley.
"By Tiamat's Horns!" shouted Garandis, flailing his arms to try and grab the crazed bird fluttering around his head! Ilrathen replied, "Hear that? Damn thing's got gold! Shoot it down!" At his words, the kobolds began to fan out, grabbing sling stones from the gravel road, yipping with glee! Sensing the danger, Rees commanded Skyren to flee, to fly wildly and lead them down the alley. Ilrathen and Garandis watched in annoyance, following patently behind their comrads. As they arrived at the mout of the alley where the bird had flown-
-and they were under attack! Two boys clade in chain came rushing from the building behind them, weapons drawn, screaming! Garandis barely had time to draw his blade before the first of them was upon him! Blades flashing in the firelight, Rees roughly knocked his half-drawn weapon to the side and ran him through! Turning to the second cultist, Rees whirled with a wide swing, clumsily just catching him on the thigh! As he screamed, I arrived to finish the job, striking him square across the back! With a loud crunch, his robes wre instantly red, and his screaming cut short as he toppled to the floor with the weight of my sword! Rees turned to me, flecks of fresh blood all over his face, and shouted, "This is disgusting!" angered, I shout back, "Do if tor their children, or die!"
The kobolds, having lost sight of their prey, are now arae of what has happened behind them! The two in back immediately turn to pelt their attackers with stones! The first manages to strike me across the forehead, the other bounces a stone off Rees' chain as if it were a joke! My ears ringing, my head woozy from the hard blow, Rees turns from me and descends upon the attackers! Running up between the two kobolds and swinging wide with both blades as if they were wings, easily kills both, cutting deep into their bellies from the sides! Their entrails spill forth as he regains his center of balance on the blood-slicked dirt! Hurrying past, I assault one of the two remainng kobolds with an overhead slash, cleaving it in half! The last kobold shrieks in abject terror, pissing everywhere as it flees for deer life!
Rees's hawk lands on his shoulder, still clutching my coin pouch in its beak. It lowers its head in offer. As I reach to reclaim my coin, the purse wiggles, and his pet mouse pokes its head out the mouth of my pouch! I pause for a moment, blood running down my face, and begin to laugh! Of all the stupid things to be concerned about in battle, here we are saving one little mouse! Alorn clears his throat as he approaches me, holding out a small pouch of coin. "To the victor go the spoils, as your father used to say." Rees recoils in shock. "So now we're graverobbers as well??" I grab Rees by the shoulders and shake him gently. I look him square in the eyes. "No. We are knights. We risk our lives to kill for glory. Lives and gold are glory alike. Gold can save a life- a life can produce much gold. We need both to do our job well. It's disgusting, and evil, and all so wrong, but it has to be done- well, better done by us than by them, I say." I shove him back slightly, and snatch his empty coin pouch from his belt, "Thanks for keeping your head about you, Alorn." Alorn smiled grimly from under his heavy grey moustache, and mumbled, "I followed your father through uglier scenes than this, I know the safest place to be is at your back. You have people to protect now though!" I nod as I finish dividing the coin. 20 apiece. I then pluck 2gp from my pouch and hand them to Alorn. "Here. For the tenday." I pause, thinking, "Also, take the rat. The hawk is more useful than I thought."
After regrouping with the family, the mother introduces herself as Linan, and tells us that the keep is down the next right. I have everyone stop and tell Rees to use his bird to scout the path ahead. "Find us a safe way forward" I tell him. He kneels and closes his eyes, as his bird lightly lifts from his shoulder into the air. It circles above several times before returning. Rees stands, his face grim. "It's a real mess ahead. People and raiders running everywhere. It'll be trouble if we take the road. Best to cut through the alley and risk a jog through the greens as a shortcut. It's out in the open, but nobody's botherng with the gardens in a raid." I nod and as I gesture for us to heed his path, 3 villagers run out of a building toward us. One shouts, "Heavens preserve us! Please don't leave us behind!" I nod and gesture for them to keep quiet.
As we march through the green square behind the buildings, Rees stops and says "Hold, sir! This is as far as I could see through Skyren's eyes. We should hide behind that building and scout again." I stand guard, with Alorn standing watch at the opposite corner, as Rees and Skyren do their work. He has a stern face on now. "Bunch of raiders just ahead, on the road to the keep. They're the first to get there. They are trying to set up a blockade." I smile cruelly, "Well then, my good apprentice-squire, let's break it! Same strategy as before, distract them with your bird, and then we'll take them by surprise." Rees closed his eyes and his bird began to glow an unearthly light, bright as a torch. Not opening his eyes, he said "Think that'll catch their eye?"
The ghost-bird, glowing bright, streaked through the evening dim, wheeling and swooping overhead and between the gaggle of raiders. The four humanoids were distracted and surprised immediately by the strange entity. "What is that?" muttered one, "We eat pretty bird?" barked their single kobold. Silently, the bird flew an intricate pattern, dancing in the air, leading their gaze away from the houses and toward the keep as it broke from its dance and flew toward the fortress. The half-elf scratched his head and pulled his hood back, "Well what the heck was that all about?" suddenly, a crossbow bolt lodged in his gut, and he buckled over, screaming!
This is how it should work. I think Rees finally gets it. This is what combat is like, filthy, sick, cruel, and painful. He doesn't want any more than he has had. The squire behind, knight in front. I drop my blade on the half-elf's neck, decapitating him as if he had been posed for his own execution. The tallest of the raiders finally responds, slashing at me as he draws his scimitar, but meeting only the hard sheet of my shield! Rees fires off another bolt, shooting the kobold in the eye. It yelps and begins to flip and flail about in a fit of violent death-throes! Pushing forward, I simply raise the tip of my blade toward the attacking raider, charging as if a sharpened ram! He tries to direct my blade away, but the force is great, and he injures his arm with thge awkward parry! Seeing their chance, the other two cultists draw their weapons and try their hand against me! I turn and smash both arcs clear of my position, one with my sword, the other with my shield!
The injured raider, bleeding badly, still tries to kill me with his injured arm! He has no power behind it though, and his blade slides down the sheet of my chain armor harmlessly! Rees looses another bolt, this time lodging one in an uninjured raider's ribs! He gasps and grabs at the shaft of the bolt that is now killing him! Wheeling back, I slam the blade-edge of my sword into my first assailant's injured arm, mangling it severely as he drops his blade and crumples to the ground! The uninjured raider throws his weapon down and turns to run in fear, leaving his injured companion behind! The dying raider gives up on pulling the bolt and stabs at me with panicked rage, but stumbles as his own movements twist the bolt in its wound! He looks up at me, tears in his eyes. Rees stays his crossbow. I walk to his side, drop my shield, take my blade in both hands, and lop his head off, putting him out of his misery. I pick up my shield, and look at Rees in annoyance. Rees, Alorn, and the villagers all approach quickly, and we together rush to the keep.
We are welcomed in with the peasants by the guards as they close the gate behind us. I approach the person in charge of the gate. "I am Sir DeLandeau of DeLandeau estate! Where is Governer Nighthill?" the soldier points me down a hall and I rush to the direction. In the next room, I find a number of the local nobles all sitting around a table together. "Governor Nighthill, I am Sir Reliss DeLandeau of DeLandeau estate, son of Sir Tirane DeLandeau. I have just arrived from fleeing a dragon attack on my own home. I would like to offer my services to you in this emergency." The governor is bandaged and clearly tired, with a broken arm. He stares at me blankly for a moment, then sighs and leans against the table. "Well met, knight, though I've only heard of your estate in passing letters. You folks live a long distance out, right? You look young, but from the blood I'd say you know your work. Very well. There's much to do, and my men aren't up for it, what with a dragon overhead."
Nighthill moved to a window, resting his good hand on the sill as he peered out. "That flashy entrance of yours, that sure got some attention. Should have killed the one guy. They're circling around the keep now. We'll be pinned within the hour... Not that it really matters. If they wanted the keep, they'd've besieged us from the start. Blighters are looting the town- probably under the command of that blasted dragon." He turned and leaned against the wall, "well, you'd best clean up. It's only just past sunset and we're in for a rough night."
I remove my coif and mitons, handing them to Alorn. "Please get the blood free from them. Rees, do the same." I fetch my waterskin, uncork it, and take a deep swig, crinkling my nose at the taste of leather. Recorking it, I ask, "Where can I get bandaged?"
As I go about preparing myself, an old dwarf with gnarled hair and bear approached me, introducing himself as Escobert, the guardcaptian. "Good evening, sir knight. I'm told you'll be joining us for this, then? Well good. The main thrust of it though is that we want you to do more of what you've already done. The people are in danger and we need them safe- the buildings have been burned down before, we can build them again. I've found you a safe passage in and out of the keep past their two-copper bloackade. There's an old passage under the keep that leads to the river. It's locked and made to look like a sewer, and it was meant to gather water in a siege, but it can work as welll as a sally port if it has to. The raiders are just standing in groups around the hill base, nowhere near the stream, so it's good and discrete. This is the key to it."
After rearming ourselves, my squire and I sought out the governor again. We are lead by the guards to the parapet, where he is standing out in the open. He turns to regard us as we open the door. He looks back to the dragon, circling high over the nearby fields. "You know, I'd almost call him beuatiful if he wasn't trying to kill us. My guards assure me that he won't be back for a little bit. Guess that lightning spit of his doesn't last forever. Look there." He points to a nearby church. "Most of my people ran to the church instead of the keep, the poor fools." all around the church are groups of raiders setting fires. "If we don't do something soon, they'll kill everyone inside. This is what I need you to do. Take the old tunnel out of the keep, rescue my people from the church, and bring them back here alive. Can you do that for me?"
I look out over the scene. It looks bad. There are lots of raiders out there. Rees taps me on the shoulder. "We're going to do it, aren't we? We have to do it." I consider his words. "We can't just go blindly charging a horde like that. We may be knights, but we are still only two men. I have a plan, but it requires your aide, Governor. I need the assistance of your men for this mission. I will pay for their services if I must." The governor shakes his head in disagreement. "We're losing too many as it is, and with the dragon attacks, I need every man on the walls that I can get." I nod and look back to the church, rubbing my forehead where the rock cut me. "We will do it, you have my word- but understand that with a mob like that, there is a chance nobody will return. Be ready for that reality." Governor Nighthill is silent for a moment, then starts to speak again. "You have my trust, I believe you can do this. But I do have one other thing to ask of you, whether you get to the church or not. We need information. We don't know what any of this attack is about. I need you to get me a prisoner, someone who looks like they know something. The humanoid raiders are in charge, like that one." He points to a raider in rich purple robes escourted by an entourage of raiders. "You don't have to go after someone that well protected, anyone who looks like they have rank will probably work. Anyone who can answer my questions. Bring them back here to me if you can." I nod and we head for the old tunnel described by Escobert.
It takes us a few minutes to move some old furniture and boxes piled at the door, but it opens easily with the key. I tell Alorn to keep safe here in the fort while we do our work. As we walk in the dank and dark, I hear Rees draw one of his swords. I do the same. Suddenly, the tunnel is brightly lit, as Rees' sword begins to glow brightly. Immediately, the walls came alive! We are surrounded on all sides by great swarms of rats! Dropping from the walls, they begin to climb all over us, biting and clawing! I swing my sword wildly through the living hail of filth and fur, knocking rats against the wall as best I can! Relis, too, begins whirling about, frantically flailing his blades at the rats! Rats manage to climb down Rees' gambeson, and he howls in fright and disgust as he slams his body against the wall to rid himself of the scratching pests! After a minute of swinging, we had finally killed most of the rats, and were down to the few left scurrying about on the ground, still trying to climb upon us, they lasted mere seconds with our focus finally narrowed to specific targets. Panting in the thin passage, our faces illuminated only by the glow of Rees' sword, we stood panting, covered in tiny bleeding cuts. We looked at each other and Rees suddenly threw up into the trickle of drain water running along the floor. We step back into the torch light of the keep for a moment, and I allow Rees to get himself back together before we continue.
After drinking his entire waterskin and removing the rat carcasses from his armor, he was ready again. As we neared the exit, I told Rees to hold and scout the surrounding area with Skyren to make sure our exist would be unnoticed. He closed his eyes for a good long while, then opened them again. "There's a band of scouts working their way up the stream. We should be silent and let them pass." I nod and we retreat to the darkness. Wewait in the silence and wetness as a huge lizard and more raiders pass by, splashing gently in the ankle-deep waters as they walk. When we can nolonger hear their steps, we return to the iron grate, and attempt the lock. It's old, rusted, and stiff, but with a bit of umph, it turns free and lends us safe passage. Together, we scramble up the bank and into some brush along the stream for cover. Working our way through the brush, we are able to avoid detection, and approach the church from behind. Here, we can see the action clearly. A group of raiders is using a fallen roof truss from a nearby shed as a battering ram on the front door. A second group of raiders is piling burning hay at the back door to smoke the villagers out. The ramining mob of giant lizards, kobolds, and other raiders is simply marching around the building, screeching and throwing things through the windows. "Through the back door. It's the obvious weak point." whispered Rees. I agree and we wait for the mob to pass one last time before charging the location. As we leap the low fieldstone wall surrounding the site, I shout to Rees, "Take care of the little critters, your two points will make quick work of them! I'll handle the leaders!" he nods and shouts "Sir!" as we slam into the stunned raider group! In an instant, two kobolds are down and bleeding while their comrads yelp in surprise! Meanwhile, I smash one of the humanoids over the skull with the pommel of my sword, knocking him cold on the spot! Rees continues with another flash of his blades, but widely misses the first, and only accidentally caught the second across the neck! The one that avoided Rees' initial onslaught stabs at him, leaving an ugly bleeding gash on his left thigh! I set my sights on the second raider, who had just begun to reach for his weapon, thrusting with as much force as I can muster, but he threw my sword away with his own on the draw! A third kobold then jumped at Rees from behind, trying to surprise him, but the dagger merely rattles across the armor links of his back! Simultaneously, the raider returned my attack, swinging overhand with his cruel, curling sword! I stop him in his tracks with the belly of my shield and begin to position my sword for a kill-stroke! Rees resumes his whirlwind of swords as though he hadn't just been stabbed, crushing another kobold under the weight of one, and narrowly missing another. The kobold that stabbed him, still standing, tried again and met Rees' other thigh, slashing through the pad layer of his armor to his flesh! I brought my sword down at the cultist, but he twisted his body, and the tip of my sword dug at the soil where he stood! He gave a single deep laugh as he thrust upward with his blade at my face! Moving with the weight of my sword, I ducked, dropping low and to the side, letting his sword harmlessly slide across the rings of my gambeson's shoulder! Rees snarled angrily, a noise I'd never heard him make, a manly sound a boy his age shouldn't make, as he stabbed the two remaining kobolds each through the chest in a single action! With a small antic, I pulled my sword wide to the side and swung it edgewise at the raider's torso! The blade struck hard into his lower ribs, cutting, cracking bone, and whinding him all in one! In desperation, he raised his sword high, switching his grip to a backhand position, and stabbed downward at my head! The curved tip of his blade glanced harmlessly across the links covering my forehead, but the outward curving belly of the sword reached easily into the opening of my hood, cutting deep into my left eyebrow and cheek bone, barely missing my eyeball! As his violent stab continued, the tip of the blade struck my chest armor, and the curve pulled the edge away from my face, as he began to fall with the weight of his sword, stabbing it into the ground for support! Rees finished the job, stabbing the dying man through the heart, and gently laying him to the floor.
"Rees, get them to open the door. The mob is still on the otehr side of the building. If we bolt now, we can all get away! I need two people to haul this putz back to the keep also!" I shouted to my bleeding squire, and again he merely nodded and shouted sir. While I tied up my prisoner, I listened as Rees knocked on the door and declared his title, asking to be let in. The people inside refused, calling him a liar. I marched up to the door and pounded on it, announcing myself as Sir DeLandeau, but again we were called liars as people cried and screamed inside! Frustrated, I throw my hands in the air, as the battering ram pounds the door once more. I shout, "Fine then! Die by your gods if you must! We're going to the keep before these things try to kill us again!" The door opened a crack, and through the opening I saw the frightened eyes of a young woman. Suddenly, the door was pushed wide open as the villagers began to spill out the back door! "HOLD!" I shouted, "I need two strong men to aide me, the rest can go! Follow my squire Rees to the thickets, he will lead you home!" From among the villagers, a pair of millers came to me, and together we carried the prisoner with us at the back of the group, Rees leading at the front. Taking the same way by the brush to the tunnel, we were able to get back to the keep safely. Villagers poured into the halls of the fort from the old doorway as we arrived, safe and victorious!
Escobert welcomed us with a team of guards, taking the prisoner into custody as I pulled my blood-stiffened coif from my aching skull. "Bandages!" I shouted, as I tried to blink the crusting blood from my eye. In the infirmary, we disarmored, and have our many wounds attended to. Alorn supplied soap to help the process, while he cleaned and prepared our swords for more work. After about 20 minutes of just trying to get the death off of us, Governor Nighthill entered the room. "I cannot thank you enough for what you have done. What I asked of you was too much, but you got it done anyways. Our people are already in your debt twice over." I don't speak. Instead I nod to Rees, who makes a grim expression as his face goes pale with sickness again. Nighthill continues on, "These raiders are cultists- and completely insane ones. They want to build a treasure horde for some sort of queen of dragons, and they're robbing our town to do it. They have a real-life nest of dragon eggs at their camp. I never took these dragon worshippers seriously before... That was a terrible mistake. This has gone far, far out of control." Just then, escober crashes through the open door, shouting, "Attackers at the gate! Bastards pried the sally port open, we've been breeched!" I stand, grabbing my chausses and beginning to don my armor, "How many? How bad?" He strokes his beard once, "Not many, most of them stayed at the gate, we have enough men to deal with the infiltrators, but we need to get that gate closed!" I throw Rees' coif to his chest. "Get up. This night is only just begun with us." Moments later, we were marching through the halls, weapons drawn, the jingling of our mail echoing off the stone walls and floors. Finally, Rees spoke up again, "I just hope they don't have one of those giant lizards there. The little yapping ones are bad enough, I don't know what we'll do with a big one." we marched in the echoes for a moment longer before I smirked and replied, "We'll kill it. That's what we'll do." Finally, we arrived at the hall to the sally port.
We charged into the room, ready for a fight. Sure enough, a band of raiders stood in the ready-room waiting for it- and of course they had a drake to boot! Rees had to go and jynx it, and as usual he'd be the one to open the fight. Motivated by fear more than anything else, Rees dove straight for the drake, both blades forward in a headlong lunge! He plunged both blades into the monster's shoulder-flanks, one on either side of its breast! The kobolds reacted swiftly and mercilessly, immediately dogpiling him from behind! Though their blades don't break his armor, he grunts in pain at the force of their blows. The drake responds following their attack, marching forward into the center of the room, dragging Rees with it as he clings to his swords for stability! It bit at him, its gaping maw spraying saliva everywhere, but he tripped with its motion, falling backward, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws! It turned its body then, swiping its tail wide through the air at nothing. The kobold nearest the door, bypassed by Rees on his entrance to the room, set its sights on me, but I easily stop its stab with my shield. However, a cultist in purple robes waves his hands in the air, pointing at me with a purple glow, and shouts "DROP." while I get a horrifying urge to throw my sword to the ground, I shake the feeling, and lock my gaze with his, I snarl, "COME AND TAKE IT." I shouted in rage, and rushed forward, swinging my sword to cut the spellcaster down! I swung wide, slashing through his gut, but miraculously the man still stood!
Rees regains his footing, and pulls hisweapons from the wingless dragon's collar, as he turns to strike with both edges one after another across the center of its throat! His blades cut deep, opening its gullet, with the second blade striking the spine! The monster's body vomits out of reflex, dousing Rees with ichor and blood! The kobolds are not happy, and all of them- including the one that attacked me- charge on him! Rees screamed as their blades broke through his chain armor, cutting deep! He collapsed to the ground, twitching! "All hells!" I shouted! The mad cultist, seeing this, began to cackle madly as he raised his hands in the air, fingers curled like claws, his belly oozing blood through his robes! A light begins to form around me, and, not wanting to see what it does, I quickly step aside just in time for the column of light to be filled with supernatural flames! "BY TEMPUS, DIE!" I shouted, as I thrust my sword into him! He didn't make a sound, and simply fell away from the tip of my blade, leaving me standing, sword and shield out forward. Rees' body gave one heavy convulsion, rolling him onto his side. The kobolds, yapping furiously, then swarmed upon me as a group, daggers swishing through the air! Though they stab at me, their now dull blades ar no match for my armor, and I trade their stabbings for mere bruises. "ONE!" I shouted, swinging my sword like a bat at the nearest kobold's head! Its skull splits like a ripe mellon, sending a spray of gore into the air as my sword sails through it effortlessly! Rees coughed and sputtered, spewing blood and bile out his mouth and on to the cobble floor. The three kobolds continue to jab at me, skipping about as if this were a game! "TWO!" I shrieked, swinging my blade back in the opposite direction, lopping the leg from one of the kobolds and sending it flopping to the ground! Rees' body began to shiver and quake, no doubt getting cold from the blood loss. The two remaining kobolds refuse to relent, jabbing recklessly! "THREE!" I scream at such a high pitch it's barely a word, as I about face and swing my sword overhead, throwing it downward through another kobold, splitting his whole body clean in two! Rees groans as his body ceases shaking. "AAAAAAH!" I shout, insane with rage, as I smash the final goblin into a heap of mutilated meat with repeated strikes from my blade!
With the fighting done, I throw my sword and shield to the ground and rush to Rees' side! I put my ear to his chest, and to my awe, hear a weak heartbeat! Sheathing my sword, and laying my shield across his chest, I drag him from the room to the hall, shouting for help! Two guards see what's happening and grab him, I then run back into the room to barricade the door as best I can, heaping all of the furnature and dead bodies against it as quickly as I can! Rushing from the room, I seek out anyone who can fix the door. I'm directed to a young artisan who knows some spell to mend things. I bring him to the door and stand ready with my blade as he works. For five tense minutes, he mumbled, as raiders slowly approached. Luckily, without a fight, he managed to repair the locking mechanism before they could arrive, and I left the room before they had a chance to taunt me. Dazed, I slumped against the wall in the hall and slowly sank to my haunches. I began to cry, more out of fear than for the loss of my squire. We are trapped in here. This night is going to kill us.
"Like hell it will" grunted Alorn. I looked up at him. I must have been speaking out loud. He stared down at me sternly. "The only thing that'll kill us is you crying at a time like this! Follow me back to the infirmary! There's still much to be done! Get out of that filthy armor, I'll clean it again, and we'll mend you up as best we can! I sat in a wooden chair as the castle nurses worked on cleaning and bandaging my wounds. I felt awful. I felt miserable. My whole body ached, and yet I would go on. A few feet away, more nurses worked on Rees, now naked in a bed, covered in white sheets he was slowly turning to a deep red. As I sat, listless, thoughtless, the Governor entered the room again. This time he looked at me with a face of deep worry and mild fear. "I... I shouldn't even ask." he muttered as he turned to leave. "No" I said, "Tell me what you need. I haven't given up." He fingered his lips a moment, looking for the words, "There is an old watermill on the stream. That mill houses all of our flour. Without it, people will go hungry for many months. They are trying to burn it down. I am already sending a force to stop them, but it will take time, and they may be too late. I need someone to go ahead of them and delay it." I think for a long moment, then pull the bad of my chausses on as crude pants. "Show me."
On the parapet again, he points to the water mill, and indeed there are flames and cultists all around. I stare blankly. "Give me a horse. Give me a horse and two of your men with horses. We will route them." He looks as if he is about to refuse, but he looks my wounds over, closes his eyes, and nods. "Fine. Sir knight. Do as you must." Alorn helps me don my gear and ready the horse I am to use. I meet the two men who are to accompany me, and shake their hands. "This is a suicide run. Our job is to be a distraction. Our enemy is a disorganized mob of untrained rabble. We just need to break them up and stop them from lighting the mill aflame. Keep them busy but stay alive. You two stay together, and keep to my rear. Protect each other. If we move in formation, they won't be able to flank us in any meaningful way, and we'll be able to wedge their number with a charge. Do you understand?" They nod and we mount up. We march our horses to the ready-room of the sally port. "It all starts with one charge, boys. We just need to punch through the defensive line. They won't be ready for a real attack." The guards open the gate, and together we charge into battle! The cultists, all on foot, barely have a chance to react, swinging at us as we pass them by! Though one of them hits my leg, I ignore the dull bruising pain as we ride through the streets toward our destination! Upon arriving at the mill, we make a lap around the building, getting as much attention as we can, before charging the main group! An ugly melee ensues, with the three of us repeatedly chargng in and fleeing while making long arcs to keep the enemy's attention on us. Though I and one of my guards get injured in the ugly forray, we manage to slay the attackers. Slowing to a stop, I announce, "Good work men. I told you they were nothing but brigands! Fan out and keep watch, we can't let any more come close! If you see another band approaching, don't be a hero, regroup for formation first. We are to hold this position until reinforcements arrive." We don't experience any further troubles from raiders. Eventually, a band of 15 guards arrived, and though a little beaten, they look to be well. "You've done good, Sir DeLandeau, but they need you back at the keep now. Try to head back quietly, the roads are nothing but trouble!" Rushing back to the keep, we again burst through the defensive line and arrive at the sally port unscathed.
Dismounting, Governor Nighthill is already by my side, smiling. "My gods, man, what a show! All you did was ride around like it was a game and you trampled them down like they were nothing!" I nod as I remove my coif again and rub my leg. "It's amazing what even a half-assed cavalry charge can accomplish when you're fighting a gaggle of bandits." I mutter, annoyed, "Look. I'm tired. Really, really tired. Leave me alone for a while unless it's absolutely urgent, will you?" he stopped in his tracks as I said that and stared after me as I walked away. After doffing my gear and changing into normal clothes, I found my way to the small library to relax. I didn't bother to read anything. I just needed silence and comfort. I sat, silently, at a chair, gazing at the minor bobbles which ornamented the room. Eventually, Escobert found me. "Sir DeLandeau, I have news of your squire. They've stopped the bleeding, and his breathing is strong again. They think he will live to see the morning." I close my eyes and nod. "Thank you. But they didn't send the guard captain to tell me about my friend, did they?" He gave a short laugh at that, "They? My boy, I am 'they'! I respect the lad, and you, doing what you boys have done is no small task, certainly beyond what we could have done without you. But you are right, there is more. The dragon is attacking again. Is there anything you can do?" I keep my eyes closed. "I've survived one dragon attack before. This isn't like that. That dragon was enormous. This one is positively little by comparison. That dragon ate everything in sight, it landed on the walls, and killed indescriminately. This won swoops and wheels overhead like some overgrown vulture. It's disgusting. I'm no dragon slayer, but maybe it will talk." the old dwarf stroked his beard. "It's only the third dragon I've seen, and I've never heard one talk. Can you speak its language, boy?" As I hurry past him, I say "Of course. My father was friends with a wizard who was my teacher. Let's find out if he wasted my time." Minutes later, I was armed and standing on the parapet. As I stood, I watched in fear as they dragon flew overhead, blasting a dozen men to their dooms with a breath of lightning! I am frozen by fear, but in time it passes. Finally, I buld up the urge and begin to scream.
"Wux... Wux faessi! Wux vyklade! Wux hofiba! Wux jennu austratir nak! Wux lowd de vi karif goawy ekik di l'gra ihk dout kurjh xsio ternock hethada houpe! Wux bevi lowd sia xiekivi shar majak ehis di doutan?! Confn! Confn ekess ve! Ehaism ve jaka!" <<"You... You coward! You snake! You fool! You great flying rat! You attack from a far place out of fear for your own scale covered hide! You dare attack my people but give nothing of yourself?! Come! Come to me! Face me now!">> The dragon roared and reeled around in place, flying straight toward me! It swooped overhead, turned and began to hover a short distance from the parapet as it spoke to me. "Sisargh vrak! Haiyear naroda vishe! Vatakawe driki! Svanoa bevi wux renthisj ekess ve persvek sia kurjh ooble?! Tenpiswo si mi! Qe okiaia ini sia ibahalii vur qe tiichia ini sia lexri! Vaex ekess ve!" <<"Arrogant child! Loud mouthed pest! Ignorant bug! How dare you speak to me in my own tongue?! Here I am! Be awed by my glory and be honored by my words! Bow to me!">> I stand my ground and instead shout back, "Thric! Si geou ti vaex ekess vi darastrix svaust tiric ti clax svabol jaci tuoric! Wux re vi austratir quellar calti mrith tisvelk trekis! Wux re larinn! Wux re vi katima! Sjek wux tuor nomeno nakta zyak tisvelk, hak clax coi! Clax coi sjek wux shilta de sla loex cha'sidic! Usv wux shilta clax doutan spical de nomenoi malairi vur jaesve!" <<"No! I will not bow to a dragon who does not take what he desires! You are a flying house cat with bad breath! You are tame! You are a servant! If you want this keep so bad, then take it! Kill me and take it! Take it if you can from my dead hands! Or you can take yourself back from these idiots and leave!">> The dragon reeled its head back, arching its neck high as it did so, lightning arcing between its teeth as it snarled in rage! But then, it paused, and closed its maw. It stared at me for a moment, blinked twice, snorted, and was gone in a great whoosh of air! It pinwheeled away, dove into the city, rose with a drake clutched in its teeth, and continued to fly off toward the horison! As the flapping of its wings grew feint, the door to the parapet opened. The Govrnor stepped out nervously, then saw me standing unharmed and gave a cheer! "Not a dragon slayer, my whiskers! You drove it off boy! What did you do?!" I looked at him sideways, hardly believing it myself. "I told it to grow up and start acting like a dragon!"
An hour later, I was still decked out for combat. I had dozed off, sitting in a wooden chair by Rees' bedside. I want to be there when he wakes. It willl make me feel so much better about my decision to let him follow. I am proded awake. Startled, looking about, I find myself locking eyes with Escobert. He is grim. "Sir DeLandeau, something is happening before the gates. Your presence is desired." I sigh and stand up. "Very well. Lead the way, good dwarf." At the gates, we watch through the bars. It's twilight now, just the edge of dawn. Most of the fires have gone out, and it seems the streets are mostly empty. A gathering of kobolds with prisoners are lined up. A guard recognizes them as his own family. From the cultists, one man steps forth- a monster, more than a man, with the face of a dragon, and well over 7ft tall! It gives a speech about how good the night has been, and offers to return the prisoners if the keep's champion will face him in a duel to the death. The guard struggles against his friends to go face the monster to save his family. Everyone else stares at me. I scowl. "Dragons are cowards" I mutter as I walk to the ready-room. "Nobody is to come with me. Let me look pathetic. I will not give him the satisfaction of fanfare. If it's death he wants, it's death he gets!" I casually walk up to the battlefield and, after glancing around, agree to his terms. The kobolds let the children go immediately, but the adults are kept bound. "You are a fool. You will die by my hand." laughed the abomination. I simply drew my sword and attacked.
My blade struck him in the shoulder, but seemed rather futile against his thick and scale-armored hide! The monster then opened its mouth wide at me and spewed forth a beam of lightning as if he really were a dragon! The bolts stung, but I didn't care. My life for theirs. That is my purpose! I swung again, but missed! He then drew the greatsword from his back and swung at me in the same way! The heavy steel slammed into my rib cage and threw me to the ground! I lost consciousness.
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