Zion: Light of the New Moon Part 2, Ch 1.5 Myrh
Zion - Light of the New Moon, Part 2 Chapter 1.5
Myrh Free Will
Interestingly enough there was only 1 vote out of four Contributing Readers, thus foreverwolf231 is the leading decision maker on this post! The group will now be talking to the dragon... hopefully for the best. Based on the choices for this chapter, the party's Event Arc modifiers are ++ Luck, +++ Delay, and + Danger. Sadly, since Artemisia's Contributing Reader is absent again the Myrh group takes another hit on Favor. Artemisia also loses 1 Willpower.
The party, almost as one, began to back away from the gigantic creature. The dragon's red scales glinted in the illusionary torchlight as its enormous bulk settled down amidst the walls of the tower. Having easily passed through the magical wards separating the tower's top layer from the sky, the dragon arched its neck, its eyes burning with the intensity of an inferno.
"If we back away slowly, maybe it won't attack." Thera offered quietly.
"Move to the back." Yearl told Thera, "Everyone... keep your weapons at the ready... we're not looking for a fight, but we have to be prepared in case it wants one."
"Not that it appears we'd put up much of a fight." Anya stated.
"It can understand you, you know." Beo noted flatly, and then turned to address the dragon, "Aeos." the black husky spoke, and the word vibrated around the tower as if it had been shouted at the top of his lungs.
The dragon blinked and cocked its head to the side, "Aeos." it repeated, and its powerful, rumbling voice made the entire tower quake with the sound of the word.
"Aeos?" Jerard asked, though the word did not seem to hold the same kind of power when it came from his muzzle, "That sounds a lot like the draconic word for 'hello'..."
The dragon turned its head aside to regard the white wolf, "It is the TRUE draconic greeting." it spoke in imperial common, "but it was changed long ago by your kind, thus few mortals really know it."
"And fewer Know it." Beo added, with a smirk. The dragon nodded, though the difference seemed to confuse everyone else.
"We aren't here to fight you, dragon..." Ryan took a tentative step forward, "We would like to sue for peace between you and our group."
"Unnecessary." the dragon stated, "the Blooded One has already ensured your safety."
"The Blooded One?" Ryan questioned.
"People who Know how to use the ancient language of the dragons." Beo answered.
"I'm still a little at a loss for that one." Thera commented, "Isn't that just called magic?"
"No." the enormous dragon stated in an almost bemused tone, "We are beings of creation... of primal forces and ancient powers locked into a form more physical than any spirit or elemental. When the world was first shaped into its current form by the Three Siblings we were made the greatest among their children."
"More creation myths." Kell mused quietly, "wonderful."
"Myths, Kell Vederick?" the dragon inquired, "No... I speak from experience." The leopard-wolf took a step backward, eyes narrowing slightly as it spoke his name.
"A true dragon?" Beo gasped.
"We are still present... if you know where to look." the dragon noted, a hint of humor to its voice.
"You aren't here by accident..." Yearl spoke.
The dragon chuckled and the vibrations from the sound could be felt throughout the floor, "No... of course not."
"What is it you want?" the lion requested, "If we're parleying, then there must be a purpose for it."
"It is not what I want..." the dragon stated, its eyes narrowing just a little, "this is about what you want."
"We're looking for Valeraz." Jerard answered, "Do you know what happened to him?"
"Yes." the dragon acknowledged, "I know what became of him..." and it regarded the moon blessed wolf, "Why do you seek Valeraz?"
"My name is Jerard." the albino wolf introduced himself," We shared the same master."
The dragon began laughing, the entire tower quaking with the sound, "No... I believe you are mistaken, Jerard.
"No..." Jerard shook his head, "I learned about the Wizard of Stonebrook from my master. He told me that they were master and apprentice."
"And so we were." stated the enormous red dragon. The creature took a step forward but, as it did so, it appeared to crouch down on all fours. It proceeded forward, body falling into itself as its wings flared out, and suddenly contracted, wrapping around its much smaller shape until, in barely the length of the breath, a handsome, middle-aged man with fiery red hair and a curly beard took the dragon's place. He was standing half-way across the tower, and still had quite a distance to walk to draw nearer the party. His robes billowed and flowed around him as he came to a stop, "Though he was actually MY apprentice."
"Valeraz..." Kell murmured.
"Apparently not as dead as advertised." Artemisia stated flatly, speaking up for the first time during the conversation. Several eyes went to her at the comment.
Ryan paused, flicking an ear, "So the 'dragon-thing' was just an act..."
"No." Valeraz smiled, "The 'human-thing' is just an act, but I do hope you can appreciate the humor of the situation."
"I don't see much humor in a bewitched town." Thera commented flatly, "Mr. Valeraz... what happened to this place?"
"An unfortunate casualty in an undesired game." the red-haired wizard noted.
"That's a callous way to put it." Ryan objected.
"Understandably." Valeraz acknowledged with a nod, "But, you must understand, I was not given a choice as to whether or not I wanted to take part... most targets for assassination are not."
"Assassinated?" Anya inquired, "Considering the fact that you're still here, I would assume they failed."
"Indeed." Valeraz acknowledged, "Someone wanted Stonebrook to fail, thus they targeted me."
"But, if they failed," questioned Ryan, "Why is Stonebrook... different?"
"I already answered this question for you, Ryan Farstrider... though you may not remember it." and, with that, Valeraz' eyes glinted, and the priest took a step back.
"I..." the wolf paused, then looked around at the party, "It WAS like this when I was here last time."
"Indeed it was." Valeraz confirmed, "I could not have people interfering with Stonebrook but, at the same time, I couldn't let my assassin know that he had failed... could I?" he glanced to Kell; nobody missed the gaze.
"I was hired by a man name Saiel." Kell explained.
"I know." Valeraz acknowledged, "He and I have a rivalry that started centuries ago."
"Is he a dragon as well?" Beo inquired.
"Indeed... a red dragon, like myself." Valeraz acknowledged.
"I wouldn't have thought red dragons would order assassinations... weren't they tasked by the gods to be protectors?" the black husky questioned
Valeraz chuckled in a good-natured tone, "No..." the word came out with much less humor, "the black family was tasked with guardianship... in fact, at one time there was one guardian for each of the great cities of the Empire of the Moon.. but I fear that few true black dragons remain now... most were destroyed by infighting."
"I thought dragons couldn't be killed." Anya stated.
"A rumor we would have loved to perpetuate." Valeraz acknowledged, "We are very VERY difficult to kill with any finality unless we are slain by our own kind."
"Then why hire an assassin?" Kell inquired, a deep-seated ire visible in his eyes.
"To make a point." Valeraz explained, "As I said... a game." he looked to Kell, "You were tasked with killing me because you, and everyone else that was involved in your contract knew that, should you succeed, I would be slain. You were, by all account, very successful, and I applaud your skill... but it was a token victory."
"How is that a victory?" Yearl asked, "You're still alive."
"True Dragons continue to exist in this world, but we must do so much more subtly than in the old ages." Valeraz explained, "Certain... events... have caused us to require discretion... and, as such, Saielisiev forced me to acknowledge my defeat at the hands of Kell Vederik... and let Stonebrook fall to decline."
"Saielisiev..." Kell murmured, "his REAL name."
"Indeed." Valeraz acknowledged, "Just as I am Valeraisiev."
"But you altered the town instead without letting it go unprotected." Artemisia interjected.
"Correct." Valeraz acknowledged, "Though we red dragons are not traditionally guardians in the way the black dragons had been, I was not about to leave these people at the mercy of the Cycle's Curse."
"The Cycle's Curse?" Thera asked, "What's--"
"Your people refer to it as the curse of the elves." he responded.
"What's going to happen to Stonebrook, Valeraisiev?" Beo asked.
The dragon-in-human-form turned to Beo with a knowing smile, "Well, Beo Kyr... the answer may very well depend on you and your friends."
"Everything depends upon us." Yearl explained, "We must reach Zion to maintain the peace."
Valeraz chuckled, "More than you know." and he took several steps back, "But until your success or fail, I must maintain my ruse here... and I request that you respect that."
"But... all these people..." pressed Ryan.
"Will be in much more danger if I do not play by the rules of Saielisiev's game." Valeraz noted.
"Why is it that he's causing you so much trouble?" Artemisia asked.
"He desires an opportunity for Tah'alia to ascend to a position of power over her sister." Valeraz explained, slowly stepping back from the party.
"That is NOT good." Ryan noted, "So... you mean there's a dragon out there with goals directly opposite to ours?"
"More than one dragon, I'm afraid." their host replied, his shoulders rising up even as his red robes and cloak swirled around him, body rapidly expanding outward until the dragon returned to its normal, immense form, "But, take heart, for you have more than one dragon on your side as well."
"And Blooded Ones." Beo smirked confidently.
"You have many allies... not all of whom have made their full potential known." the dragon smirked knowingly down at the party. "Finally... seek out the cellar of this tower. You will find supplies and equipment that may help you on your journey."
"Thank you, Valaraisiev." Yearl bowed, and several other party members followed suit.
Artemisia, as one who did not bow, simply snorted, and headed for the stairs.
"Artemisia Dragon-Born..." the dragon called, "wait."
"Do you have something to say to me?" she turned and regarded the dragon casually.
"I wish you well." Valeraisiev noted calmly, "I knew your mother... she would not have wished so harsh a life on you."
Artemisia's eye ridges furrowed deeply in a scowl, "I'm glad one of us knew her." she snorted, "Do you have a point to make?"
"Yes." the dragon confirmed, "Take care of your young one."
"I have no children." the dragoness countered.
A knowing smile slowly spread across Valeraisiev's enormous muzzle, "You have one inside of you."
* * * * * *
Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Zion concludes for Myrh.
A talk with a dragon? Interesting.
Contributing Readers, each character will be receiving a magical item as a present from Valeraisiev. Which one boon would you like from your item? 1) Combat 2) Skill 3) Magic 4) Religion 5) Social
NON-Contributing Readers may now elect which of the following be granted to Myrh:
1) +1 Favor 2) +1 Luck 3) - 1 Danger 4) +1 Willpower to all characters!
Please have your vote posted here by Friday, December 2nd! All readers, also keep an eye out for the upcoming journal!