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The kobolds sitting on top the carriages were still quite cold, until the sun started to finally warm the sands. They wanted to stop and bask but had to keep rolling if they were to make it to their destination before it got too cold again. As the sun passed the highest point the sandy desert, the terrain became more solid, sand, soil, and red clay. With this new terrain they saw interesting new trees and small animals. Triss started to point out the flora as they passed near it, “that's a Joshua, that's Divi Divi, that's a desert willow!" Zulu loved the different colors the desert had, the trees were all in bloom and even the cacti had fruits on the tops; she had no idea the desert could be so colorful. All she saw beyond the large sandstone walls of home was soft golden sand. “how'd you learn about all that?!" Zulu asked as Triss was listing off more plants, swaying back and forth by the bumps of the carriage grinding the rocks beneath them. “When I was looking up materials for smithing and crafting, I read about all the local plants, none of them are good for crafting but they were interesting to look at!" The rest of the sisters were surprised by her level of knowledge, they all started to ask her what plants and animals were out in the distance. It turned into a game for the girls to pass the time.

They made it to Durothil before the sun started to set. The horizon was filled with strange buildings with raindrop points on the top. Some had golden tops randomly dispersed in the city. It was quite wonderful with the seaport imposed behind the beautiful buildings. Large ships with multicolored sails populated the sea. Zulu wanted to tear up, she was so happy to finally get beyond her home kingdom. “Look over there, it's pretty!" Sar cried out. To the right of the city, a vast jungle on top of a distant hillsides. Palm trees filled the vista with greenery. The carriages rocked as they transferred to a clay road. Zulu's mouth hung open as they approached the kingdom, they started to see other caravans loaded with trade commodities on the side of the well-traveled street. They neared a collection of buildings on the northern front of the city. Triss tapped her tail on the carriage to let Father Almer know they were at their destination.

Father Almer wrapped his arms around the cabin and lifted himself up to the top next to Triss. It spooked her that he was able to do it so quickly. He took the reins and started to guide the lead camels to the carriage house they reserved. They passed by all manner of traders of every race were talking amongst themselves in cliques. Many of them wore the traditional desert clothes, long flowing robes to block the heat. There were also sailors wearing frayed pants and long coats, a toga wearing man glided by on top a magic carpet in a lotus position. Almer halted the first cart and said, “we'll be stopping here, the guards have reserved us a high security location." Guards wearing turbans and chain mail shirts over their cream-colored robes started to guide the other carriages into location, taking the reins from the kobolds. Glad to be rid of the reins, Zulu hopped off. Her other sisters joined her. The paladins stepped out of the carriages carrying their weapons and shields.

Willfry had his great sword sheathed on his back, his left arm held the kite shield that carried the covenant crest, and his right arm carried a hefty chest. Samuel had his kite shield on his left arm in his right he held out a vicious heavy maul, a dragon's wing carved into the sides of the vicious hammer. Mother Tiq approached the kobolds wearing her non-combat uniform, “We got a lot of work to do, the paladins and I are going to move the gold to the trade commissar's office, and you are all going to help Triss move the equipment out of the carriages into trade storage." The girls nodded and moved out.

“ug" Daia groaned, as they moved the massive weapon crates to the trader's storage. “this is too much work; can't we just pay someone to do this?"

The four of them could barely pick up a single crate. They were used to a dozen mothers running out to help them with any physical labor that needed to be done. Without the bodies it took almost all night to move the 4 large crates of silvered steel weapons. They were on their last crate when Willfry and Samuel came back. They lifted the crate with ease while the sisters were left panting. “Thank you" Triss said heaving. She followed the paladins and then locked up their trade storage, “tomorrow is going to be a busy day, I hope you all get some sleep." Zulu glanced at Daia who stared down at her own talons.

With their trade goods secured they made their way to the Sunny Barnacle inn. A large building where sea traders come to rest after their long journeys at sea. The entire party checked into the hall, the moon shining overhead. The inn was filled with a verity of creatures. Coastal kingdoms tended to have the most diverse group of people, and this kingdom was not different. Despite this, kobolds were a rare sight, and strange metallic kobolds even more so. A rosy tiefling female was singing, playing a soft song on her miniature harp at the far end of the common hall. Smells of sea salt, sweet mead, and ale floated over a roaring hearth.

The singing stopped when the clatter of the plate and chain mail came in. The tiefling stared with her orange on black eyes at the new visitors. Other gazes soon flowed in the same direction. They silently watched as they sat in large well-crafted wooden chairs and on their tables were high class food and drink. Brisket, pork ribs, fire roasted sweet potatoes, and bottles of everything one could imagine. The hearth's red smokeless embers heating the building nicely. The exhausted party was too preoccupied to notice the glares. They marched to the innkeeper, a stocky human fellow. Tiq exasperatedly said “We have reserved the 3 suites; our letter did get here right?" The innkeeper looked over the side of the counter to see the golden kobold. He wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion, “kobolds?"

Tiq sighed pressing her claws to her forehead suppressing a headache, “yes, the daughters of gold, the paladin order from Basalt." Thumbing through his papers he pauses, “oh right. I just didn't expect kobolds would be staying, I would have…" Almer interjected, “would have what?" annoyed himself from the long travel. His tone of voice intimidated the short man, the sisters knew that tone when they observed the paladins while they were still trainees. The innkeeper looked up at the massive man and stuttered, “c-charged for cleaning." Wiping his brow sweat as Almer leaned in a little closer as to hear it again. “It's n-normal charge, sir. We have to clean off the scales s-sheddings, d-dragonborn pay the fee too, I swear." Tiq was not wanting to deal with anything, she just tugged on Almer's armor and he presented a pouch of gold to the shopkeeper. The round man handed him the keys but were swiped out by Tiq's golden claws.

Handing 2 keys off to Sar and Zulu, “I know you will behave yourselves and not cause a stir, it's too late, Almer and I are going to our own room, daughters can figure out the rest on their own." The two quickly left upstairs to their room. The sisters stared at each other and then Daia and Triss. “Well, where do you want to sleep?" Zulu asked her sisters. “I need to sleep, so whoever is going straight to bed I will join" Triss said with a yawn. Daia responds, “Well I think that means you will probably be joining us, giving Sar her own room" turning to Sar with a wink. Sar turns her muzzle down in embarrassment. Zulu tugged on Samuel's plate legging; he was looking around keeping his eyes on the room. They were glowing blue through his helm, eyeing the tiefling bard. “It's time for sleep, you need to rest" Zulu stared at him with her beautiful emerald eyes that cut him right through the plate. He picked her up and then noticed Willfry was gone leaving him with Triss and Daia, “wow, I guess he was not waiting another second." The other two kobolds were picked up, resting them in each arm while Zulu sat on top his shoulder. “Hey!" Triss protested before just accepting her fate of sitting in his grasp.

Zulu looked over at the common room, the bard had resumed playing her music and the others were back to marry making. A nearby dwarf looked at the bottle he was holding, “this shtuff must be top shelf, goldin' kobol, Ha!" Wishing to join the strangers Zulu was snapped back as Samuel started to march up the flight of stairs. She looked over at Sam, his eyes were brightly shining through the slots. “Is something wrong?" He glanced over at his shoulder bound love, “no, it just looked like a fiend, but I was probably mistaken."

They entered their room; it was well furnished, large bed, tall desk, bookshelf with oddities upon the shelves, and some cushioned chairs and a chess board. It was quite spacious with a door leading to a balcony overlooking the water. There was even a bathing room with a stove fired hot water bathtub complete with wood ready to be lit. Samuel was sighing with relief when he saw the bed, wanting to collapse in on it now. He set the kobolds down and unhooked his heavy maul and shield from his back setting them next to the wall. “you know we have legs" Triss said, tail whipping back and forth in annoyance. They all started to strip off their layers of clothing to get ready for sleep. Triss' curling ivory horns caused some trouble as her padded leather tunic got caught. Sam bent down to help her. “I like being carried" Zulu said setting her half plate armor aside. Triss just exhaled from her flared nostrils, sitting on the edge of the bed kicking her talons over the edge, “Let's just hurry and get to bed, I'm already losing my scales from stress." Daia was still feeling awful about the other night, looking up at Sam who is trying to unfasten a stubborn sand caked latch, “can I speak to you privately on the balcony." He releases the armor, and it falls to the floor, “Tomorrow, I can't really think much right now." She sighs and hops onto the bed with Triss. Zulu pushed her gear into a neat pile, scratching at her scales with her tiny claws then joined the other two.

They all sat waiting for Sam to finish stripping for sleep. Taking off the padded cloth shirt revealing his muscular physique. The girls stared at the man, remembering the struggles he went through to become a paladin in the order. Triss noticed the scars on his torso, “you are quick with that tradition aren't you." Zulu and Daia smile at each other. Sam then removed his tights, his package falling free. Triss' mouth hung open her ruby eyes glued to his thick flaccid shaft, “that's quite the show." Zulu, embarrassed by the remarks, “okay, that's enough ogling, you said need to get to sleep, so let's sleep." Sam just smiled at the beautiful golden kobolds, his eyes half lidded and bloodshot, the blue glow gone. Zulu patted the bed, “you had maybe 3 hours at most last night, I don't want you to collapse from the heat tomorrow." Without hesitation, he slides into the covers. Zulu hops off the bed to snuffs out the lantern and they all slide into the bed with him. The sisters cuddle up to their warm bedmate. Triss sandwiches herself between his left arm, Daia his right, and on his chest, Zulu laid pressing her head softly on her sleeping man.

The sun was not over the horizon yet, there was a shuffling in the dark as Samuel opens his eyes. Thinking there could be an intruder he springs up and Zulu's sleeping body rolls backwards onto his lap, light snoring escaped her snout.

“It's just me" the darkness spoke with Triss' voice.

Sam relaxed, picking up Zulu's body and holding her close, “What's wrong?"

Triss nervously paced back and forth in the room, her talons clicked on the wood, “We got a lot of work to do, I have to inspect the steel that we bought and then I have to leave my old weapons for my sisters to sell for the first day."

Sam eyed the dark silhouette of Triss' head over the bed, “Worrying about it isn't going to make anything better, please just sleep."

“I know, I just don't want to let the mothers and fathers down, they brought me on this mission because I was a promising smith. Any of the other smithing mothers could have gone, but they chose me."

He set Zulu next to her slumbering sister, shifting his legs over the side of the bed, “Almer and Tiq wanted you to go because they thought you wanted to experience the outside world, they watched you read all those books, they assumed you wished to see what the outside world. Thinking you were too scared to ask so they volunteered you."

Triss stopped pacing, “I am scared, I read so many books, some about how kobolds are treated by every race. There is even a book about cooking kobold meat and fashioning kobold scales."

“The world can be a scary place, the literature they had us read on top of the tales that veteran paladins told us when we were ten, they still haunt me to this day. But we should all try and get a positive experience out of the world."

She meekly quips back, “easy for you to say, you are a human."

“Ah, yes, human. The arbiters of the world, have you seen how varied humans are? We can come from a good and noble birth and turn to a vicious evil murderer later in life. They could come from the streets of some unknown forest village's orphanage and be raised by a covenant of paladins and kobolds into a protector of good." He smiled to himself on the last one. “And isn't it my responsibility to protect you from the evils of the world? Bahamut wants you to explore and experience the world and show the world your scales, that's why he gave us paladins his gifts and blessings."

Triss laughed and sat next to him on the bed, calmed. “Why do you paladins always have to make things brighter?"

His arm wraps around her small, scaled body and stroked it, her back scales were rough, but the flesh underneath was supple, “we should go back to sleep, the trade office isn't even close to being open and we will need our sleep." He then picks her up again, this time she does not protest to being handled. Sliding back into the covers and resting her in his left arm again. His other hand tried to pick up Zulu, but she has completely enveloped her other sister. He covers them up and falls back to sleep.

Waking up to the red light of the morning shining through the window. Samuel's right arm is now completely enclosed by two small bodies. There was a third one laying on his chest. Taking in the air of the room he smelled the sea salt of the harbor nearby. Not wanting to disturb the others, he waits. Until the small voice of Triss rose out of the covers, “You're awake." She peeked her head out of the bed, her golden snout flashing out followed by her ruby reptilian eyes.

Sam looked down at her, “did you finally get some sleep?"

“A little, I'm still nervous. mother and father will be there with me, that will make the event less stressful" she presses her body up to his smooth chest, her tail flicking across his shaft, then made a hasty retreat after she felt it, letting her tail fall to his side, “S-sorry."

He looked down at the now shy kobold, “We should probably get up and get ready to leave." With a quick nod of her head and she perks up, the blanket falling away from her revealing more of her gorgeous golden scaled body. Pausing to admire her as she scampers off him and springing onto the wooden floor. They were always so mesmerizing, even when he was a child. His right hand moved gently waking the other two kobolds. Their naked bodies entwined with each other around his warm arm. They started to rouse from their sleep. “Morning already?" Zulu yawned. Daia just mumbled inarticulately, squeezing her eyes tighter. They unhooked from his arms and untangled their tails gracefully. Two more beautiful golden bodies shimmering in the sunlight. Sam just stared at them as they yawned and stretched their arms up high. Daia's golden horns matched the scale color perfectly, she looked like a treasured idol for an adventurer to steal. Zulu's ivory horns and emerald eyes were like jewels, perfectly spellbinding. It was common to see them naked, but to see them naked in the natural sunlight was entirely different. Zulu moved over to give Sam a deep morning kiss, “Did you sleep well?" Sam nodded while staring into her slitted pupils surrounded by green. She beamed back then jumped off the bed and joined her sisters, basking in the warm light on the window ledge, watching the large ships on the waters on the horizon, tails wagging back and forth.

Sam got up from the bed and started to put on his clothing. The sound of him putting on his chain mail layer causes them to stop basking and get dressed. With a flash of gold, they zipped around putting on their gear again. Triss donned her simple leather tunic, she looked cuter with just that on, her golden legs exposed, but then she hiked up her plane cloth pants over her haunches. Daia put on her leather gear, two vicious silvered daggers sheathed on her hips. The final one to get her gear on was Zulu. Sam helped her get it on, tightening up the armor plates around her lithe body. She gave her pendant a morning kiss before tucking it away. With everyone geared up Sam picked up his heavy maul from the wall and latched it to his back, then picked up his shield and opened the door for the kobolds.

The four of them made their way down to the common room to see if everyone was up. It was peaceful, a snoring dwarf in the corner surrounded by some bottles and the fire with several red-hot coals still lingering in the center of the room. Almer and Tiq were sitting at the table eating from a large plate of scones. Zulu's eyes light up, “oh I am starving." The kobold bolted and grabbed a several scones. “mmoo mommin'" she mumbled to Almer and Tiq, maw full of buttered bread. Tiq smiled at her sitting high on a stool and gave her a gentile pat on the head with her golden claw. Almer smiled as well, obscured by his slotted helmet. He looked up at Sam, “Good to see you got some sleep. You will be guarding our daughters while they try to sell some of the weapons." Sam nodded grabbing a single scone. He lifted his helmet to eat as Almer continued, “Triss will be joining us while you, Daia and Zulu start heading to the stand we have reserved, it's still early but I hope to get some of the equipment sold." Triss passes a key to Daia to unlock the storage while they grab a few scones.

“Easy enough, what happens if we aren't able to sell everything in the week here?" Sam questioned. Almer turned and looked at a saddened Triss, “well it will be an uncomfortable ride back home, we will have to take the weapons with us." Almer kneels giving a soft pat on Triss' head, “It won't be your fault dear; it would mean the public just didn't need them at this time." Zulu attempted to cheer her up as well, “don't worry, we will do our very best to grab everyone's attention." Attention would be an easy thing to grab, having the golden kobolds sell wares in the bright sunlight, Sam thought to himself. Almer stood tall again, “Sam, Will is going to join you after he gets up." He slides a paper into Sam's hand, it is a vendor ticket that has several official stamps and seals on it, “This is our stall location and vendor license, you will need to move a few crates there, keep the girls safe." Sam stands at attention and salutes Almer with his right fist over his chest and then Almer returns the gesture.

The three head out the door to locate the stall where they will be setting up shop, the city is sectioned off into quarters, the inn was in the harbor quarter where trade goods are loaded and unloaded. They traveled down several streets, some olive-skinned men and women were conducting their daily routines, stopping for a short second when they saw the three traveling together. Zulu smiled and waved at them, the residents smiled and returned the wave. It did not take long till they found a few empty market stalls sticking out of a street obscured by tall clay buildings. They made the turn and saw a long string of wooden stalls, many vendors already hanging up their tapestries in the sunlight to sell. Passing through, the group saw every kind of vendor one could imagine, tapestry, produce, jewelry, enchantment, scrolls, books. Many of the vendors were human, but one caught Zulu's eye, a pastry baker, a red scaled dragonborn. She stopped and stared at his treats. The pastries looked too delicious to pass up. She had to have some, “I would like 12 of those and 6 of those please."

The red dragonborn looked over the edge at the strange, armored kobold. He was wearing some cloth pants and an apron with flour caked on it. With a flat pitched swavy accent he spoke to her, “You are new, I have never seen one like you before. What is your name?"

Daia and Sam walk up to the counter right behind her. Zulu's tail flicked back and forth, “My name is Zulu, this is Daia my sister, and this is my see-in Samuel."

They greet the dragonborn with a nod of the head.

The dragonborn bowed in returned and then pulled out the pastries and placed them into a plane clay bowl, 12 spiced macaroons and 6 small diamond shaped cream filled sweet breads. “That will be 3 silver."

Zulu pulled out her money pouch, she only had several gold coins. She looked up at the dragonborn who is now looking at both Daia and her, captivated. Looking back inside her pouch she muttered out, “uuh."

His scaled brow ridge furrowed, “what seems to be the trouble shiny kobold Zulu?"

She extended the gold coin; the coin had a bearded man with a simple crown on his head and on the other side is a detailed image of a gold dragon's head.

The red scaled baker inspected the shining gold coin. He took a small booklet and started to thumb through it. “Basalt kingdom, Lord Skadin, king. Yes, accepted currency. Strange, I have never seen ones such as yourselves come from those lands." He opens his own coin pouch to find he does not have enough change, “oh my. Do you have smaller change perhaps?"

Zulu smiled brightly at him, “It's okay, we will be nearby I'm sure I will be getting more from your shop just remember me okay."

His angular dragon head perks up, “Good, that is good, you can come by at any time."

Sam holds the piece of paper after he finished talking, and asks the dragonborn, “Can you please tell me if you know where stall 7-6B is located?"

“Oh, you are shopkeeper as well. That stall is located one road down, near the auctioneer platform."

Sam thanked the man.

Before Zulu leaves holding her bowl of confectionaries with both arms wide, “what is your name?"

The scaled baker smiles, “Vecen."

Zulu did not wait before she started sampling the pastries. Daia asked, “didn't you eat already?" Zulu just nodded, jaws clamping down on a macaroon. The party took another right, eyes followed them as the sun sat up over the horizon. Sky bright and blue, the kobold's scales were reflecting in all directions. They saw the auctioneer platform, a large solid wooden structure with a podium in the middle. The building it was attached to had two doors leading to it. Further down that street they made it to their empty stall. It was simple wood with several shelves for items to be placed and a large counter in the front for customers to gather behind. Some chairs and stools were inside and plenty of room for their crates. Sand and red clay dust was scattered over the top of the counters.

“This is amazing, I get to meet so many new people!" Zulu exclaimed beaming with joy. Her bowl of treats was set aside, and the stools were set up behind the counter. She jumped up top and leaned over the counter her tail excitedly taps on the wooden stool. Sam stretched his back, “Alright, I will go grab the first crate, can I get the key to the storage?" Daia pulls out the key and passes it along. “I'll leave the setup for you two; I'll be right back" with that he left the two kobolds to start cleaning the stall.

The two of them started to dust off the tables and furniture. Zulu was bursting with excitement to be out in the new city. Daia jaded from her own training kept an eye out for trouble. When they finished, they sat in the stools and watched some of the other vendors set up their shops. Across from them was a dwarven smith pounding away on an anvil, the small forge lit with burning hot coals. The dwarf had his sigil of two hammers crossing each other on a metal plaque over the wooden stand. Several different plate and mail armor pieces were laid out on a white sheet. Smoke billowed out of a kiln as he worked on a glowing dagger.

Daia whispered to Zulu, “is it really a good idea to be this close to a competitor?"

Zulu shrugged, “maybe they set all the armor and weapon smiths next to each other so that customers can get a closer look at each of them."

She wasn't comfortable with that answer, “I don't like it. I feel like there is going to be trouble."

Seemingly out of nowhere an old man approached the counter, wrinkles on his face of an age long passed. He wore a white turban and a long black robe. His voice slow and stern, “welcome to Durothil's vendor district, I am the Trade Commissar, Midin." His sunken eyes seemed to inspect the two kobolds long and hard, his face showing no emotion.

Wanting to make as friendly of an atmosphere to everyone that visits their stand. Zulu looked up at him and smiled warmly, “hello Trade Commissar Midin, my name is Zulu, and this is my sister Daia."

The commissar just bowed not changing his expression, “Just call me Trade Commissar, from what I heard from paladin Almer you two shouldn't cause any problems. I expect that to be the case. Not many kobolds enter this city."

The glittering kobold continues to smile, “There won't be any problems from us, sir. You can inspect our wares when they arrive if you have any doubts."

He does not say anything in return, just bows again and walks off toward the auction platform.

Daia whispered to Zulu, “That guy is a weirdo."

Zulu is silent and stares down the road waiting for a glimpse of shining armor.

Her prayers were soon answered as she saw Will and Sam carrying two heavy wooden boxes. Sar was walking between them chatting happily. She breaks out to a sprint and meets up with her two sisters, “Good morning."

Zulu greeted her in return, “good morning, you look like you're in a happy mood."

She smirked, “I had a pretty great night."

Daia smiles forgetting about the weird commissar, “Glad to hear it, will you be talking about the fun?"

Sar shakes her head quickly to highlight the 'no' as the paladins arrive with the two crates.

Crates were hauled inside the stall. They unlocked a box and flipped it open revealing dried straw and sheathed swords and daggers. Little tags were tied to the handles showing prices. The handles were made of sterling silver with dark bands of leather on the grips. Black dyed leather was bound to the wooden sheaths with a coin sized golden etch of a kobold head silhouetted near the handle and below that was the crest of the covenant, the golden dragon was burned into the leather and filled with a gold paint. Daia looked inside the box for a minute coming up with a conclusion, “I take it we sell the items in the box with the tagged prices." They opened the second box, and it was filled with even more daggers, swords, and maces. All single-handed weapons. Sam was surprised by how many there were, “did Triss make all of these?" Zulu nodded, “she spent her entire life near the forge when she was only 5, she worked very hard to become a great smith, even helped make your armor and weapons." He was taken aback for a moment, “well let's not let her down."

The five of them dug into the crates and started to hang the weapons to nails buried into the wood in the stand. Many of the weapons dangled by a silver belt chain that was attached to the sheath. They found a black cloth buried in the crate with the covenant emblem over it. Willfry chuckled, “she really thinks of everything." They set the cloth down over the front counter's wood, it contrasted nicely with the silver of the weapons that were laid on top. Before they knew it the crates were emptied, and the stand looked like a proper shop like the rest of the vendors on the street. They stepped out to admire their work. Sam said, “it looks good." Sar with worry in her voice, “Now what?" Zulu stood atop the stool behind the counter, “I know, Will, you stand to the right and Sam will stand to the left, your armor will draw a lot of attention, everyone loves a shining knight." The paladins followed their instructions standing as bodyguards on the side of the stand. The streets were still bustling with just the vendors. Zulu shared some of her confections with her sisters before she devoured them all. The first signs of customers came with the smell of sea salt and spice.

The streets slowly flowed with more and more people in the early morning, they passed by the weapon stands without even a glance. Before long, a wood elf skimmed the galleries, taking in the sights of the wares everyone was selling, then something caught his eye and shot right at the golden kobolds behind the table.

The elf was wearing a typical sailor's outfit, long sleeved white shirt rolled up, and shorts with frays at the end. His boots were reflective of freshly waxed black leather. He approached the stand and talked with an effeminate voice, “Dear me, you all are an interesting sight. I have never seen kobolds of your race in all my travels."

The Sar and Zulu smile, Zulu speaks up, “We come from the kingdom of Basalt."

The elf had confused look on his face trying to pinpoint where that was, “I believe that is a human settlement, kobolds living in a human settlement, are you slaves?" The paladins turn to look at him startling the elf. “oh, I thought you were armor stands, sorry about that." He stared looked them over again, “Paladins? They are making you huge these days aren't they." He mused softly to himself, “Wouldn't mind taking one of you home."

Sar opens to the elf, “We aren't slaves, it's our home, this is the first time we been out on our own."

The elf turns back to the kobolds, “well you all look exquisite, I am glad I seen something so stunning on this trip." He then looks down at the weapons they have on display. “Did you forge these yourselves?"

Zulu answers, “Yes, well no. Our sister made them, she is busy, she will be by tomorrow if you have any questions about the weapons."

He opened one of the swords that was sitting on the black silk cloth. The blade shined like mithril in the desert light, a thin layer of oil coated the silvery straight blade as it slid out of the sheath. He looked it over carefully and then saw the price tag, 15 gold. “This is just as amazing; I think I will buy it as a souvenir of meeting you all." With that he sets 15 gold down, the gold was from three different kingdoms, the girls were ecstatic to make their first sale. “Thank you for lending me some time, but I do think I should get going before things get too crowded."

The kobolds yelled out to the elf who hurried off with his new sword in hand, “Thank you for visiting, please tell your friends!"

Zulu thrummed happily, “see I told you this would be easy, we will be finished with this little assignment in no time."

There were many customers to follow, most just gawked at the metallic kobolds but inevitably picked up a silvered steel dagger for 5 gold to not seem rude. The sight of these weapons did catch the attention of an interesting halfling. He approached the stand as noon arrived. Sweat poured from him, he tried desperately to bat it away with his pocket handkerchief. Wearing unusually thick garbs for the environment, padded leather over a long sleeve shirt. “These all look remarkably noteworthy" he said standing on his toes. Will grabbed one of the extra stools and placed it down for him to climb up to see. He graciously accepted the stool, “Oh, why thank you, I guess you big lugs are used to us shorter folk." Eyeing the golden kobolds across, their eyes shining back at him. He opened a pouch on his vest and pulled out a jeweler's loupe. Opening one of the blades and started to look at it very carefully. Not saying a word, he pressed his face to the eye piece and moved on to the next blade inspecting it just as slowly. “These look fantastic, I never seen a kobold fashion anything this clean in all my life."

He looked at the price tags, “wow, that is too good to be true. Who put these price tags on here?" Zulu replied, “our sister, the one who forged these weapons." Shock ran across his face, then a wide smile, “well, I am not going to argue with the smith's decisions." He closed the blade and heard a click; he closed his eyes with a pleasured look from hearing that sound. “Yes, these will do perfectly. I will take 10 of your long swords, 4 short swords, 4 daggers and 2 maces." The entire party was shocked by his order, that was 1 and a half of the crates they had gotten from the storage. Zulu happily batted her tail as they gathered the weapons for him. Zulu asked the halfling, “do you want us to just put it in one of these containers and send them your way?" He looks over at the crate, “oh sure that would be fine, one of my associates will be here to pick it up, you should see the weapons these guys are carrying, they look like they were dug up from some old crypt." They set the weapons into the straw filled box and the halfling produced a pouch of golden coins. He paid 350 gold coins for the lot, the kobolds were overjoyed and could not wait to get back to the inn to tell Triss. The curly haired halfling was also delighted to get such an amazing deal on fine weapons, “I'll send my associates to come pick the crate up shortly, two dreary looking drow will come by, they will say Panrin sent us."

Sar wondered for a moment, “what's a drow look like? We never seen one."

Panrin answers the inquisitive kobold, “they are like an elf, but their skin is midnight in color, they can be alright folk, as long as they aren't pointing a bow at you." Stepping down from the stool, he wiped his brow again and started to walk with a higher pep in his step.

Zulu yelled out enthusiastically, “thank you for your business, please tell a friend!"

Sar looked over at Will and Sam, “You two need to sit down, it's noon." They looked up and then relaxed from their standing positions and made their way inside the stand to sit down. Their helmets were removed and sweat poured off them. Zulu panicked and grabbed her water skin, “drink, please." Sar followed suit and gave Will her water skin. Daia took to the main stool and looked around, “I think it's time for a break, the people aren't coming as quickly anymore, maybe someone should go get some lunch and more water." From all the excitement Zulu could feel a massive hole in her stomach, “I'll go, I can get some pastries and some meat." The paladins emptied their water skins quickly, “I'll also refill the water." Grabbing the emptied skins and her empty clay bowl she jumped out into the street running swiftly between people.

The food stands of the market was completely packed. Zulu managed to slip through to her first destination. Her stomach growled begging to be filled. Spotting the dragonborn proudly serving his pastries to a line of people, she waited her turn. Vecen spotted the golden kobold and waved her over to him. With a happy toothy smile, she bounded over to him her legs springing up some red dust from the road.

He continued to serve the customers and turned to Zulu when they were thinking about what they wanted, “Hello golden kobold Zulu, how are you doing?"

“Everything is going great Vacen; we sold a lot of the items we came here to sell" joy bounced in her voice. “We are just looking for water and food for break."

The dragonborn turned his head to his large water container in the corner of the stall, a spigot near the bottom to fill containers for customers, “I am sorry short one, I am out of water. I ran out before the food rush."

She set her items aside, “I can help with that, can you lift me up over the edge of the container?"

He hands the next customer a bowl of lokma and then moved over to the kobold carefully lifting her up under her shoulders, “o-oh kay."

“Wait, I need one of the water skins."

He lowers her a little, uncertainty gripping him. She grabs it squeezing a bit of water out onto her claws and then rubs them together.

“alright, now lift me up to the edge of the container."

The customers wait patiently as they watch the dragonborn hold the small kobold.

She flicks her claws reaching into the container and shouts, “wäd?r!"

The sounds of rushing water can be heard inside the container. It fills the container almost instantly and then overflows the edge sloshing onto the ground before it stops completely. The red dragon born set down the kobold gently, “You are a cleric, I didn't know." The patrons on the other side of the counter were also shocked, muttering to themselves. He filled up the water skins and handed them to her one at a time while she looped it around her waist. Bowing his head to her, “Clerics are very special in these parts, they keep the water flowing, keep life flowing." She tilted her head in confusion, it was just the first real spell she learned when she was going through her training. Father Almer was better at it and he created food with his water. Her stomach growled again, “oh I need to eat something." Vecen hurried and filled up her bowl with a random assortment of treats, the customers waited silently out of respect, “here you are young cleric Zulu." She picked up the bowl and bowed to him, “t-thanks" unsure if this how she wanted to be treated.

She left the stall with her bowl; many eyes were watching her as she walked through the crowd. Grabbing a crispy sweet bread and munching she looked around for some meat. There was a small crowd next to a kabab stand. Hot glowing coals cooked some chunks of chicken on skewers, her mouth watered as the smell wafted over to her. The crowd was still muttering, pointing at her. They parted as she neared, giving her a wide birth. She took tentative steps toward the stand. A man with a large bushy moustache and eyebrows spotted her and opened his arms in greetings, “Welcome! Divines bless you!" The crowd let her to the front of the line. Glancing around at the food then up at the man, “I-is there anything I can h-help you with?" He beckoned her to come on to the back.

Zulu moved up the step to the stall and through the door to the clay building in the back. Inside was a fenced in area with a bunch of chickens happily scrapping away at the dried straw with three ducks quacking away. The mustached man pressed his hands together, “I'm so sorry to bother you today cleric, but the watering hole was completely packed this morning, I couldn't make the trips to fill up my bird's watering container." She was confused, not sure what she should do. She looked over at the poor ducks trying to swim inside the empty metal bin. Zulu gave a half smile, “O-okay, don't worry about a thing." She opened a water skin and rubbed some water on her claws again. With a quick flick at the water bin, she yelled, “wäd?r!" In no time the bin suddenly burst up, surprising the duck sitting inside. The metal bin was now filled completely with cool clean water. With a deep bow the man thanked her, “thank you, this is such a blessing."

Trying to get back to what she was originally trying to do, “Can I buy some chicken skewers?" He nods, “of course dear, I will not be troubling you anymore, you saved my poor old back many trips tonight. No charge." Opening her coin purse again she grabs another golden coin and hands it to the vendor determined to pay for the food. He looks it over smiling wide and hands her a large ornate glazed decorative bowl filled with chicken skewers. She picks up the bowl and balances it on her other bowl, “thank you very much for the food." The man bows again, “come back anytime cleric." With her arms wrapped around the smaller bowl of pastries with the larger bowl resting on top she left the stand. She slowly makes her way back to the smithing section of vendors. The smell of the juicy chicken next to her snout was enough to ignore the stares from the crowds of people talking about her as she passed by.

She made it back to their covenant's stall, Daia grabbed one of the bowls and Sar grabbed the other freeing her claws. Untying the water skins from her waist, she remained silent about the weird encounter she had with the locals. Sar already devouring some chicken, “this is really good. It's sweet." Zulu handed the water flasks to the paladins. Sam noticed something was wrong, “you look worried about something, what happened?" She replied with a smile, trying her best to erase the troubling thoughts out of her mind, “It's nothing, I'm just glad I can finally get some food in my stomach." Reaching in the bowl to grab four skewers herself she started to eat them eagerly. The glaze was perfectly sweet, and the meat melted in her mouth, she thrummed as she slid the empty skewer out of her jaws. As they finished their meals the pastries were slowly devoured throughout the day by Zulu. They had a few more sales of swords and a maces before the market started to die down.

The sun started to disappear when two dark skinned elves wearing leather armor approached the booth. They looked at the kobolds, “hello, uh, we believe you have a package waiting for Panrin, we are here to pick up." Zulu looked up at the elves, their skin a pale blue-grey and hair, bone white, “You look pretty." This comment caught the elves off guard, “uh, thanks, I guess." The paladins put on their helms and brought the weapon crate to them setting it down. Will said, “here you go friends, all bought and paid for." They nodded and then grabbed each side of the box and carried it off. They started to mutter to themselves, “that was weird, lets get this back to the tavern now." Zulu yelled out, “have a good day, thank you again!" She did not get a response back.

“You haven't been saying much all day Daia" Sar said looking up at Daia on the stool.

Daia watched the dwarf pack up his things and take off, closing his shop, “I've been watching the dwarf across the way; he has been eyeing us the entire time."

“Maybe your paranoid, that rogue training has always gotten you looking at everything skeptically." Sar said setting Zulu's empty bowls into the crate.

Daia looked over at Will and Sam, “you guys saw it too right, you been watching everything carefully."

Will nodded, “He started giving us looks when that halfling bought from us."

Daia hissed in frustration, “I don't like it, I feel like he's scheming."

Sam shrugged looking at both ends of the road, “well it looks like people are finally leaving, we sold quite a bit of weapons. We can store what we didn't sell and bring another fresh crate tomorrow, Triss should be proud of herself at the gold she made."

The cloth was folded up over the remaining weapons and the crate was closed. Will offered to take the items and gold back to the trade storage and was handed the key to lock things up. Sam, Daia and Zulu had a few hours to kill before they needed to go back to the inn. Zulu asked, “So what do you guys want to do now?" Sam gave an idea, “we could go see the ocean." Daia shook her head, “I have seen enough sand, and I have no interest in swimming in cold salty water." Sam defeated, laid his head in a hand. Zulu's eyes lit up, “let 's go see the tavern, those two drow were heading that way. Maybe we can meet other adventurers!" Sam and Daia looked at each other. Sam said, “I don't see a problem with that." Daia looked around, “do we even know where it is in this large city?" Zulu stated, “can't be that far, the drow were carrying that large box."

The three got up and left their stand, it looked just as it was when they first came upon it, empty. They started to search for this tavern by headed in the same direction the drow were seen headed. After a few blocks Sam picks up the two kobolds and sets them on his shoulders, happy to take the burden off their small talons. An hour passed and they could not find any sign of this tavern, they have walked around the entire market district it seemed. The city started to look the same to all of them at night. Daia points to a direction, “maybe it's down that street." Sam responded, “we already been down that street." Zulu sighed sadly, she wished to see other adventurers, every legendary tale started out in a tavern or pub, a group getting together to go on an epic long quest. She wished to just see something like the old stories she was told as a hatchling. Taverns back in Basalt never had anyone stay long enough for a guild to form, the adventurers usually passed through quickly to get out of the desert.

“Let's just go back to the inn…" Zulu said with a heavy heart. Sam stroked her back with his gloved hand, “I'm sure we can find it tomorrow, we have plenty of time." They turned back through the shopping district when they spotted a shirtless red dragonborn. Sam waved to Vecen and his draconic head perked up. Bowing to the trio, “hello, great cleric Zulu and company." Zulu put away her sadness and smiled to him, “you can just call me Zulu, Vecen. I have a question though; do you know where the adventurer's tavern is?" Vecen pointed down the street at a building, “that one is the most popular one, Zulu." The building had a large wooden sign over the door calling itself 'the white widow'. A painted white widow spider holding mugs of frothing beer in each spindly leg hung over the name. There was an overturned crate just outside with dried straw. They were all wondering how they missed something so obvious. Zulu's mouth opened and she made a gleeful screech. Sam thanked the dragonborn and started to walk toward the tavern.

Daia looked back to make sure Vecen was not in earshot and asked her sister, “that was weird, why did he call you cleric like that?"

“I don't know, apparently clerics are important around here, and now I am getting looks like I am Bahamut himself, I don't like it."

Sam chuckled, “I just hope we aren't accosted to heal everyone who stubbed their toe."

Zulu twisted her tail gently around the back of his head, “I hope something like that doesn't happen tomorrow too. We were always told to not let people become dependent on our abilities. We won't always be there for them."

They opened the door to the tavern and walked through. The place was bigger on the inside. Laughter and revelry echoed in the common hall; a female human bartender was serving drinks from a tray. Furniture scattered around with no real pattern, guests eating their meals and drinking their ale, smiles on their faces after a long day's work. The folks that were making the most noise was a band of mismatched adventurers of many races, two drow, two wood elves, four humans, and a dwarf. Sam looked around for a moment, “I guess we just find a spot to sit." He saw a table near the mixed group of adventurers and set Daia and Zulu down. His helm was lowered to the table to get a better view of everything. The group of adventurers did not notice them, they were too busy twisting and flourishing shining new weapons. Zulu got up out of her chair and immediately made her way to them. Sam was on the edge of his seat with worry on his face.

She approached a studded leather wearing human male balancing a silvered steel dagger on his fingertip, “hello, my name is Zulu, how are you?"

Startled, he backed up stumbling onto the floor; the other members of his party laughed.

An elf female stood up to take a closer look at the kobold visitor, “well aren't you a cute thing, welcome to our little club we set up."

Zulu started to spill her guts excitedly tapping her tail on the wooden floor, “Oh thank you, I always wanted to meet other adventurers, are you a ranger? I heard they can fire arrows several times before the first arrow hits. We never get adventurers in our kingdom, it's so nice to meet you all."

The elf smiled brightly as Zulu spoke in her rapid high-pitched voice, before the male stood back up shoving the elf aside, “oh another scaled creature… what is it?" he turned to ask one of the drow.

The drow pressing a hand to his face, “that's a kobold, idiot."

The other drow commented, “A type of kobold for all we know."

“Oh" the man looked over at Zulu again and kneeled down to get to eye level, “mind if I touch your scales?"

Several of his company shake their head 'no' at Zulu. She gives a weak, “sure…"

He presses his hands on the top of her head and rubs it gently. The mithril coif was pushed off the top of her head as if he is searching for something. The other adventurers started looking a different direction. The heavy footsteps of Sam were behind her. She let out a surprised yip as her head was pinched oddly. She closed her eyes and rubbed the top of her head and heard a loud thud. Upon opening her eyes, she saw the man was now on his back and the group laughing at him again. The elf ranger chuckles out, “serves you right, dickhead." Sam picked up Zulu and places her back on his shoulder. A large shirtless man stands up wiping a tear from his eye, “sorry about that, Tomas has a weird obsession with collecting different scales. He did the same to a naga who then poisoned him." Tomas gets up, stroking his jaw from the vicious right hook, “I got it though." He holds up a single golden scale from the kobold.

The barbarian walks toward the paladin, “You are a gargantuan man. I would love to see you in action." They both had similar physique except the barbarian had a well groom moustache, a mess of unkempt hair, and was a head taller. Sam extended his armored glove out for a handshake and the barbarian took it and they both gripped tightly staring into each other. As if a vicious battle was going on, the room just watched them shake hands. They released their grip and the barbarian smiled, “You are a good strong man. What brings you into our little tavern." Sam cocked his head, “you own this tavern?" This was met with laughter, “no, no, my friend, Panrin owns the place, we are working with him on a quest." Zulu's golden head perks up and the sounds of little taps of her tail hitting metal are heard.

Panrin walks out from a backroom behind the bar counter and sees his group talking with the trio, “I see you guys stopped by my humble little tavern, Samantha dear, can you bring the kobolds and paladin drink and food on the house?"

The bartender walks off back to the counter to grab 3 mugs and sets them onto the table where they were sitting, leaving again to grab some food.

Zulu hops off Sam's shoulder and greets the halfling, “How are you doing? Did you like the weapons?"

Panrin smiles, “well they seem to really like them." He points to the group of adventurers.

The ranger looked back, “You were the group that sold these weapons, they are damn fine."

Zulu asks Panrin with excitement rising in her voice, “what quest are you guys on? I can't wait till I am able to go on a quest of my own."

The halfling pointed to a large board on the side of the wall near the entrance of the tavern, “it is customary to not talk about the missions you go on. Some are secret, given by people who have a lot of power, some non-notable ones are posted on boards in registered taverns for would-be adventurers."

Zulu nodded her head and walked over to the tavern's board; her eyes were wide when she started to read some of the requests. Kill the troll terrorizing the local providence 100 gold, highwaymen need to be captured alive 300 gold, Urist Flagonbeard wanted dead or alive 500 gold, and many more.

Daia happily drank from the large mug of beer. It was mediocre but it helped with social situations all the same. Samantha then brought out a plate of steaming sausages. She started to devour while watching Sam talk with the barbarian fellow. Smelling the food Zulu wondered back to the table holding a small scrap of vallum from the board. The note was set down at the table and she started to partake in the food and drink as well. Daia grabbed Zulu's muzzle and shut it tightly as she was about to bring the mug of ale to it. With an angry growl she released her sister's maw. Zulu was shocked at what she was doing and set the mug back down and beckoned the bartender, “can I get some water instead, please, miss." As she waited for the water, Sam removed his armor and the other adventurers moved the chairs and tables around in a circle.

“What are you guys doing?" Zulu asked.

The boisterous barbarian doing some stretches said, “I want to brawl your paladin friend, see what he's made of."

The two sisters got up from their chairs to get a closer look, excited to see Sam spar once again. Zulu was giddy and made little hops on her talons. Daia had a smug smirk on her face feeling buzzed after finishing two mugs of ale. Sam was interested in seeing what others were taught and if he could learn to adapt. He only spared as a trainee and had no idea how this would turn out, it excited him to finally get a different type of combat experience. His armor was set aside on a table, he stood there only wearing his cloth padded underlayer. A staff wielding female human, drunkenly shouted, “take the rest off." The elf chuckled eyeing him up as well. Daia giggled at the gawking Sam was getting, poking her sister who was starting to have a soured look, “c'mon, it's just some harmless fun." Zulu just stood there flaring her nostrils.

“I know you haven't had much combat experience; I have been doing this for years so I will go easy on ya" the barbarian commented. Sam looked at him with a little surprise at the comment as he stepped into the circle with him. “It's easy to tell, you're young, your armor is shining without a single scratch, and your face is scarless." More of the bar patrons also gathered to see the spectacle. The barbarian turned to show his back, a large slash of discoloration splashed across it, “this is what happens when you turn your back to a traitor." Sam admired it; it told a unique story. Meanwhile his own body was going to look like veteran paladins, well worth it to have a caring family. Another woman yelled out, “take off da shirt at least, I want ta see you both rub against each other." The barbarian laughed at the audience's requests and Sam smirked removing his shirt as well. The crowd cheered. Daia joined in the cheering which infected Zulu a bit cheering on their paladin.

Sam's body had its own little scars. “Unique scars you got there, I bet they have a story." Sam responded with a smile, “falling in love is the only story they tell." A howl of laughter came out of the barbarian, “best line yet for scars, I can already guess where they come from." Zulu shrunk as some sets of eyes from his party fell to the two sisters. Daia smiled proudly holding her drunken head up high. There was a mixture of responses from the crowd, the elf and female wizard cooed, “aw, cute." The barbarian got into his self-confidant stance, arms in grapple position, “someone count down and we will brawl." Sam stood in position, knees bent, his shield arm to his opponent and his right arm clenched into a fist behind him. Panrin shouted to the crowd, “on my right we have Samuel, the paladin, and on my left, we have Bartholomew, the mighty barbarian, Three!" More patrons joined in, “Two!" Everyone, “One."

In short time, they pounded into each other in the middle of the makeshift ring. Daia's drunken revelry cheered on Sam whenever he got a hit in. Zulu started to have mixed emotions now, as she saw a mighty blow arch across her see-in's face. Wanting to see him win and watching him get hurt were fighting each together in the pit of her stomach. The first round it was over quickly, watching him get taken down hurt her. Bartholomew was way more experienced in fighting with his fists. Sam stood up after tapping out from a pin, shaking off his nerves. The barbarian had a huge smile on his face, he was relishing the fight. They continued to the second round and Sam managed to get a grapple on his opponent sending him onto his back with a thud of meat on the wooden floor. He mounted him holding his shoulders to the ground as Panrin the makeshift ref, started to count. Bartholomew tried his best to push the weight off him but was held down tightly. After a considerable struggle from both men, the count was finished. Sam laughed at himself that he managed to win a single round. The sight caused the kobolds to leap on the sideline in joy.

They waited for the third round to start; only 5 minutes into their little spar. Both sweating heavily. The barbarian drew in heavy breaths, “they trained you well over in the church, not used to paladins getting themselves dirty, always walking around like they are holier than thou, but here you are sweating with the meat." Sam laughs, “I haven't met any paladins from any other order, but my deity compels me to work hard for my family. It's what all good people want in the end." Panrin yells “fight!" Bartholomew laughs heartedly, “Alright young man, after that last round I think I'm going to show you my secret ability." Sam wavered a moment, he watched the man's friends step further away from the ring.

In a flash Bartholomew charged forward faster than before, and stronger. It felt like he was kicked in the chest by a horse. All the wind got knocked out of him as he collided with a table behind him. The fight was getting real. The fun demeanor the barbarian had on his face was replaced with frothing anger. It terrified Sam how the man changed so fast, he was a completely different person. Zulu was about to interfere when Panrin grabbed her by the shoulder, “it's alright dear, he isn't going to do any permanent harm." The cheery halfling smiled trying to comfort her. Daia who had just finished her third mug did not have a single worry in her head, she was still cheering on Sam. All Zulu could do is stand there on the sideline as the crowd cheered.

Sam was not going to be beaten without a fight though. His opponent was on top of him about to pound down on his head. Drawing out his inner power, his right hand glowed brightly with a white light. A fist came crashing across his face sending spit and a little blood out. Sam struck back with a white glowing fist, hitting back square in the nose, it started to bleed but Bartholomew was unphased. Two more swings struck home, Sam's nose was broken and bleeding heavily. Drawing upon his own powers again he shouted, “?TH?nd?r!" His hand was now crackling with yellow energy, it mixed with the white light in a bright light show. The crowd applauded loudly. Zulu stared out in awe of the glow. Bartholomew laughed, frothing spittle dripped onto the paladin, he punched his pinned opponent again. The paladin traded the blow into the barbarian's face channeling another spell through, when it connected, a loud explosion of a thunderbolt filled the tavern. Everyone's ears were ringing from the blast and Bartholomew's body flew to the opposite end of the ring into a table, crushing it under his weight. Sam got up from the floor his hand glowing and crackling.

Blood dripped to the floor from his face. The paladin was winded from the beating. The barbarian jumped to his feet a small burn mark on his head and a little nosebleed. He bellowed, “good shot, but you're going to need to do more than that to beat me!" Rage was still in his eyes. Sam wheezed contemplating on what to do next. Bartholomew sprinted toward the paladin ready to get him under again. With only enough energy for a last effort, he raised his hand at the charging barbarian, “s?b?mit!" Bartholomew stopped before making contact and fell to the ground on his hands and knees. He panted and yelled out, “I give, you win!" The spells that swallowed Sam's hand vanished after he said that.

Sam placed his palm on himself it glowed with a blue light, his broken nose stopped pouring blood and healed completely. It did not stop the pain or the soreness from the fight. Wiping the blood from his face he looked over at the barbarian who was still on his knees. Reaching out a hand to help him up, his opponent grabbed it and got off the ground. His face was sporting a wide grinning smile, a single drop of blood was under his nose and the black mark from the blow to his forehead was minor. “That was brilliant! I completely forgot you paladins could do that, I almost had you!" Sam was barely standing but smiled at the attitude the barbarian had. The crowd cheered and Panrin pointed to Sam, “The paladin wins!"

Zulu rushed into the arena, “you won!" Sam picked up Zulu and kissed her deeply, the seasoned adventurers admired odd young couple there was even a few 'aw's, but the locals gave disgusted looks at the union of skin and scale. Zulu broke the kiss, “You were amazing, I didn't know you could overlay the spells like that." He grinned, “It works better with a weapon." He set her back down and walked over toward Bartholomew. Tomas patted Bartholomew on his back who let out a pained groan, “if he hadn't used that spell you would have creamed him." He replied, “yeah, but a loss is a loss, I should have realized he knew more than his young face let on." Sam offered another handshake, “That was a great fight… you were the first real opponent I had outside of my training, I will always remember this." Surprise fell on the barbarian's face and he grabbed the paladin's hand and pulled it close for a half hug, “You are an amazing fighter, I will gladly fight alongside a battle with you." Samantha brought 2 healing potions for the combatants. They popped the corks and drank the contents. It tasted like pure alcohol mixed with iron and cherries. Sam could feel his back heal and the bruised eye recover.

Zulu happily watched the two hug it out and chat when Daia stumbled over to her with the vallum scrap. Her breath reeked of ale. “wuz dis? I can… can't red It. Too shlopy… too dunk." Zulu looked at her wobbly sister, “how much did you drink?" Her slurred answer was not coherent. “We should get back to the inn, let me have that note, I need to ask a question to Panrin." She took the paper from Daia's claws and ran over to see him. He was chatting with Samantha about the damages then looked at the golden kobold. “I had a question about this quest, do you know who put it on the board?" He looked at it, “I can't read it, but it doesn't have any official seal, so I don't think it's a legitimate quest." Zulu said, “it's written in draconic, poor draconic, but draconic, nevertheless. Who put it on the board?" Samantha looked at it as well, “oh, that note appeared yesterday, no one was in the tavern at the time, it just appeared." Zulu translated the note to them, “Please help, orcs, come visit big rock east, every sunset, please." She looked forward at him with pleading eyes, “I want to do this quest." Panrin shrugged, “well it's not official, I would have removed it from the board. There doesn't even seem to be a reward, but if you want to do it go right ahead." Zulu thanked the halfling with a bow. She pocketed the help request and returned to Sam who was gathering his things and holding a very drunk Daia.

“We need to head back, Daia is practically unconscious."

They waved goodbye to their new friends who raised a glass in return in a final cheer. Two more shirtless men had entered the ring and were about to have their own brawl. Sam was holding Daia's drunken body in one arm and his equipment in another. He walked through the streets with only his pants on. Zulu was helping with what she could, holding his boots and helm in an arm and chainmail in another. Daia mumbled as they walked, “we'r we gon'?" Sam just presses her to his chest to keep her from falling. She closes her eyes and falls asleep. Zulu says, “she is going to be in a lot of pain tomorrow." Sam nodded, he was not feeling 100% either, his body was sore from the lessons he learned. He glanced over at her seeing her reading a paper, shuffling items under her arms as it is sprawled out over the helm.

“So, what was that piece of paper you got?" Sam asks as they walk through the city.

She holds it up to Sam, he looks at the poorly scribed dragon runes etched in the vellum, “it's from the quest board, I asked if I could take it and they said yes. Tomorrow night when we go, that is if you want us to go. I think it's kobold writing… well, tribal kobold writing."

“That sounds like a lot of fun, I would love to go, and from the looks of it they look like they are in trouble. Will we be taking Daia with us or will it just be the two of us?" Sam asks, contemplating on a lone trip with Zulu.

She sighs picking up the que, “I know we haven't spent any time alone on this trip, but she is my closest sister, and we have been apart for over 4 years when she was sent to her training, only to return to me moving out into your quarters."

Sam laughs, “Zulu, I know how much your sisters mean to you. They mean the world to me as well. And you want them to be as happy as you are. I wish the same, they are our family."

Zulu frowns, “Daia still feels bad about that night, she wanted to talk to you about it alone, I don't think she will be doing that tonight either." They both look at the slumbering kobold.

“We will ask Daia if she wants to go on the trip. I will be putting my foot down with Sar and Triss; I don't want to be in trouble for taking non-combatants to a potentially dangerous situation. Will probably won't want to go; he has been pretty preoccupied with Sar."

Zulu brightens up, “Thank you. This means a lot to me."

Sam smiles down at the kobold, the moonlight lighting her golden scaled head up, “You know exactly what I would say as a response to that."

Zulu chuckles, “you mean a lot to me too."

They both laugh.

The night air was cold, they were shivering by the time they got back to the inn. With a simple word from Zulu “??p?n" the door opened on its own accord allowing them to walk through with their arms occupied. A beautiful voice rang singing in draconic from the other side of the fire in the common hall. “pray to him, for he will raise all, free the blocked golden streets." Several people were enjoying drinks around the roaring hearth listening to the singing. The voice stopped when the door closed. Almer's voice boomed over to the three, “Where have you been?" They looked over and saw Almer wearing his night clothing, a cloth tunic, and leggings. Zulu walked over to him, “we were at the tavern near the market district."

Tiq hopped off the stage wearing her wool dress, “why is Sam bloody and half naked!?"

Sam answered, “A friendly spar between me and a barbarian."

Almer looked him over a moment, “did you win?"

Sam smiled, “Yes, it was quite the experience."

Tiq was stomping on the ground approaching Zulu, scowling with furrowing brows, baring her small white teeth when Almer held a hand in front of her. He whispered something to her. She groaned in protest, slapping her tail to the stone floor, “go clean up, I can smell the ale from here."

Zulu sighed in relief to not get berated by her mother again and leapt up the stairs. Sam said, “good night" and followed careful to not drop anything or Daia.

Tiq moaned, “what are we going to do with them." Almer laughed, “We were the exact same when we were their ages. Remember the missions with the Samular, how the knights would spar?" She leaned her body into his leg, “yes." He rubs the top of her head, “They aren't hatchlings anymore."

The three headed to their room. Zulu opened the door for Sam with her voice, “??p?n." Surprising them, Triss was sitting at the desk naked holding a trader's manual looking over a bunch of gold coins that were scattered over the desktop. She looked up at them and hopped off, “Bahamut bless, what happened to you three?" Dried blood was all over his face and chest. Sam set his gear near the door, the maul thudding loudly, “just a bit of training." Zulu started to get undressed, “I'll draw a bath for you, can you put Daia to bed?" Triss stopped what she was doing and headed into the bathing room first to get things started. Sam looked down at Daia who was now drooling on him, her golden head pressed into his bare chest. He set her on the bed and started to strip her. She only wore one set of clothing, he admired that about the kobolds to not wear so many layers. Loosening the belts around her chest he slipped the leather padding off her slim gleaming frame. He took his time with it, not wanting to injure her and to feel her underbelly scales. The small rice sized golden scales on her belly felt like silk, the flesh underneath was toned from her years of training. Doing the same with the pants, he loosened the many belts that tightened it around her legs and waste. They came off with a single tug, her draconic like legs naturally parted, tail resting between. Giving him a full view of her ventral scales. Her iridescent body looked gorgeous in the light of the lamp, he gently slid her into the covers of the bed.

Triss lit several candles in the bathing room, the tiled floors looked gaudy, and the bath was an exceptionally large wooden barrel with a copper pipe connecting to it. There was wood fired water heater to the side of the barrel. Opening the panel up exposed lots of copper pipes twisting and turning inside with a metal bin up top that was supposed to be filled with water. On the other side of the panel was a sigil and two handprints underneath. Having some understanding of acana she stretched high and activated the water creation runes. The runes glowed brightly circles and geometric shapes flashed in blues and greens. Water sounded like it was flowing into the machine and then the sigils stopped glowing. A pile of wood was underneath it all, ready to be ignited. Zulu walked in naked scratching at some of her scales. Her tail swaying as she approached her sister.

“It's ready to be lit. I don't know how this contraption works." Triss was used to the public sauna back home, she really wished to feel the warm moist air instead.

Zulu nods and begins to start the fire, the treated wood catches fire quickly.

They stare at the machine for a bit, the fire crackles. It does nothing. Triss shuts the panel on it, and it does nothing. “is it working?" Zulu asked. “I don't know, this thing is bizarre. Do we have to wait for it to heat the water completely?" They sat and stared at the machine, not sure what to make of it. To pass the time Zulu questioned Triss, “So what have you doing?" Triss just sighed exasperatedly, “I was checking bars of steel, they looked decent enough, but they had 10 different families that smelted all of them in different measurements, so it was a pain to try and weigh them and measure the batches of what we bought. I'm glad to be done with it, they can move all the steel ingots to the wagons tomorrow."

Zulu tilted her head, “I was talking about when you got back. You were alone, I thought you would have gone to visit Will and Sar, they been here for a while now."

Triss flares her nostrils, “Sar is being broody, I visited them, but she just hissed and then popped her jaws at me. I think she might be in season."

Zulu giggled, “Maybe, she is the youngest and her timer has always been off. But we should have a talk with her sometime about sharing, we don't want to have a sister go mateless. And one see-in can't take all of our burdens."

Triss twisted her legs together shaking a bit with a building excitement, “I really hope I get my turn; I been so preoccupied with work I forgot about my own needs."

Zulu moves her claws to her sister's face, caressing the side of her muzzle softly, her nostrils picking up the scent of kobold arousal already, “don't worry about it. I told you and the rest of our sisters I would be the most sharing."

Triss smiled, looking into Zulu's emerald eyes then they heard the water pour from machine. They turned to investigate the bucket as steaming water flowed.

“I hope it isn't too hot, looks like it will burn."

Triss responds, “maybe we just have to wait for it to be done, they probably have a set quantity of wood in it to heat a specific amount of water. It is enchanted, so the measurements must be precise."

They sat watching the water flow into the bucket when Sam walked in. The candlelight reflected off the backs of the kobolds peering over the edge of the tub, “is it working?"

Zulu looks back beaming at her see-in, “it is, but we might have to wait till it's full, the water is boiling hot still.

Sam looks down at his small lover, smiling back, “Well, what is it you want to do while we wait?"

The sexual tension in the room got as thick as the steam and smell of kobold arousal. Zulu walked closer, her tail raising on its own accord and said, “i??n?t (h)w?t." The several candles bloomed up twice as bright with a pure white light, brightening up the room. Triss' eyes shut tightly from the lighting change, opening them up to a well-lit room. Sam always admiring her beauty, was once again awe struck; it was like she was standing in pure daylight. Each scale shimmered and flowed like a fountain of gold as she walked, she snaked her tongue out tasting the air. Her claws reached out and pulled down his pants exposing his chubby cock. Aroused with need, it twitched as it fell free from its cloth prison. He sat back on a small table next to the wooden tub.

Juices started to flow between Zulu's legs as she inhaled his scent, he was sweating all day. Her tongue slowly licked his cock, tasting the precum that oozed out. Triss watched impatiently, she grabbed her own horns on the back of her head and stroked them softly, her body shook from arousal as the scene unfolded in front of her. Both their tails were as high as it could go, rippling at the tip. Sam let out a soft sigh as his cock hardened to a peak. He spread his legs as her tongue played with the head of his shaft causing his own hips to buck a little. Then she buried her snout into his balls and inhaled deeply. The smell of her human was intoxicating to the kobold, and she soon felt the drips from her own sex reach her splayed talons.

She clambered up him, her claws digging into his flesh as she looked him into the eyes. They kissed deeply again, she opened her jaws to let her lizard like tongue lap inside of his human mouth, and he returned with just as much enthusiasm. Heavy breathing and a squelching sound rose louder than the pouring water as they made out. Triss was on the edge of the bathtub her legs spread wide and a claw buried into her own cloaca. She was vigorously rubbing the inside with her mouth lulling out moans as she watched the two lovers make out. They stopped and looked at the lust driven kobold. Her right claw was deep inside her own sex and fluids flooded out dripping off the tip of her tail. She quickly moved her other claw to hide her face as she continued to massage her insides, “P… Please don't l… look at me." Zulu grabbed Sam's head and started to kiss him greedily. She tried her best to keep the kiss going as she lowered herself onto his hard cock.

The tip pressed into her swollen cloaca, the excitement building to this point was immeasurable. Her opening parted and she could feel the juices flow down his shaft. Sam felt her entrance suck in the tip of his dick, then she stopped. Her eyes were wide looking up at the ceiling, a small cry escaped from her, “Aaaaa…" Sam looked down; she had her mouth open in pure pain. The candles returned to their normal dim glow.

He panicked lifting her up and off him, setting her on the table, “what's wrong?!"

She pressed her legs tightly together, “I don't know it just hurt, it hurt a lot."

“Do I need to get help!?" Sam asked worried as Triss jumped off the edge of the tub concerned.

“I'm fine now, I don't know what happened." Zulu spread her legs feeling her sex with a claw. She pressed the claw in a little deeper and then the pain returned, “ouch, that really hurts."

Sam stood there troubled about what to do.

Zulu wondered what was wrong, then it hit her. She looked up at Sam who was picking up his pants to go get some help, “wait, don't… I know what's going on now."

Sam looked back at Zulu, Triss waiting by her side.

Zulu thought about it for a moment, then quickly came up with a lie, “I must be about to go through my own cycle, that happens to kobolds before a cycle." She looked over at Triss who was confused about what she just said.

Triss questioned, “so you can't have sex if you are about to go into a cycle? I didn't know that was a thing."

Zulu just nodded, knowing that Triss would not know if that was true or not. She was a book worm, and barely listened to any of the mothers about relationship advice.

Sam sighed in relief, dropping his pants, “Blessed, I thought something was deeply wrong."

Zulu sighed in relief as well, but to know that her lie worked, her sex was still coated in translucent fluids. The pain gone and the building excitement she stoked earlier returned. She really wanted to get off still. Sam walked toward the tub; it was full and looked inviting. Zulu sighed as he slipped into the warm water, losing all his smell. Water sloshed over the large tub as he entered, his head and shoulders sticking above the waterline. Triss followed splashing her small body into the clear water. She let out a bellow, vibrating the water around her, “this feels so good, it's so warm." Zulu hopped into it as well, the feeling was fantastic. She swam with her sister while Sam leaned back sitting at the bottom of the pool of water, rubbing his sore muscles and healed injuries. They relaxed in the tub soaking the waters into their flesh.

“Sorry for ruining the moment you two." Zulu said while looking into Triss' ruby eyes.

“It's okay, you can't control it. And if you can't have sex, I won't" Triss wrapped her tail around her sister pulling her close while their talons danced on the bottom of the tub.

“No, please, I don't want that." She looked over to Sam who was rubbing off the sweat and blood from his face. “i??n?t (h)w?t." The candles flashed again into a white bright light. She moved over to Sam, trying to form the right words in her head to ask him to perform for her sister… again.

Sam let out a frustrated sigh, “after seeing you in pain like that. It hurt me deeply."

Zulu pressed her body to him resting her muzzle under his chin. Why did she have to figure out kobold biology like this on the fly. She looked at her sister who was paddling in a circle in the warm water. She relaxed and closed her eyes.

The candles started to burn out and the water was lukewarm. Sam got up carrying Zulu's sleeping body. Triss scrambled out of the tub as well. Picking up a wool cloth that was hanging on a rack to dry off, Sam padded Zulu dry before he moved the kobold into the bed. He started to dry himself off in the main room when Triss joined him. Triss smiled while staring at his cock, “The cold sure didn't shrink your package." He smiled at her advances, “kobolds are interesting, I wonder what would happen if humans were more like kobolds." Triss suppresses a laugh, “there would a hell of a lot more humans, that is for sure." Sam smiles, “I wonder if that would make us more dangerous or not." Triss sits on the chair at the desk her tail still hiked up in arousal.

Sam looks at her and the gold coins on the desk and walks over to see the work she was doing, “were you inspecting the coins?"

Triss face was right next to Sam's dick, her eyes glared at it before she turned to look at the coins, “y… yes, I was looking at where they came from." She could feel her arousal leak out. She shook her head trying to break away from the thoughts, but she could now smell his male scent right next to her. It was intoxicating.

Sam picked up a few of the coins, some were square, some were circular, all roughly the same weight. Then he felt breathing on his dick, it caused excitement to build inside again. He looked down at the shimmering kobold who was drooling right next to his package.

She could not help it; she was working so hard for so long. She wanted this, she needed this. With a careful Lap of her tongue, she fondled it, right there in front of her muzzle she teased out the precum. The taste made her even wetter. It only took several long licks before it was completely erect again. She mimicked what Zulu was doing to him to try and drive him wild, flicking her tongue across the tip. The warm phallus danced in her jaws as she played with it, stopping only to look up at Sam. “I… I'm… sorry… want this, please."

He picked her up and caressed her scales, she held him back, licking and nibbling his skin with her teeth. He placed her on top of the coins. She relished in it, feeling like a dragon on a hoard she spread her flanks as wide as they could go, her swollen cloaca begging to be penetrated. He however took it very, very slow. After seeing Zulu's pained face, he does not want to do anything rash. The tip penetrated her moist entrance with ease, then he slowly slid deeper and deeper into her body. She grabbed onto whatever she could with her claws, a handful of coins. Rolling her hips, tail wildly flailing from the pleasure of his warmth entering her, “amazing…"

He holds her down feeling her soft scales under his touch while he rocks his hips forward sliding deeper into her cloaca. Triss just lets out a thrum with the back of her throat clicking into a hiss. Fluids pour of her as she presses the gold to her body rubbing it up to his hands. A golden kobold grabbing more gold. Playing into her own fantasy she says, “I am your hoard, please claim me." The kobold was rolling her head back in pleasure pushing more coins around. Her tight hole squeezed around him as he pushed forward deeper. He smiled and leaned down straining his neck to get closer to her, “you are my golden hoard, as a knight, I will claim it all. You will be my brood mother." Her cloaca clenched and pulsed when he whispered that to her.

Playing the roll of the conquering knight finding a dragon and her hoard. He hilted her completely. She tensed up all her muscles, feeling her whole body burning hot from his member. “Please make me lay eggs, I want to be your brood mother. Bahamut commands it, I need to be filled with your blessed semen." She grasps his hand and moves it to hers, entwining their fingers together. He slips out of her and then pushes back. Causing her to gasp out in ecstasy. She squeezes his fingers tightly pulling them to her head, “please, claim your dragon." With that invitation he thrusts quicker, the sounds of their juices mixing, and coins being pushed around saturate the room. Every time he enters, she lets out a small yap followed by an inhaling hiss. He squeezes her hands as he nears his own climax.

Through clenched teeth and eyes, she lets climax roll over her, the tremors of her cloaca being pushed to higher levels with his continued strokes with his hot-blooded body. It feels like it goes on forever, both his hands clamp tightly around her hands, she feels the pulsing of his cock inside. She needed this so badly and now she gets to feel the release with a mate of her own. She yells out in draconic as semen fills her core, “I am your treasure!" He slows down his movement pumping into her spasming body, emptying everything he had. Pulling his cock out, her cloaca pulses a bit trying to hold onto every drop as it pours out and drips down her tail. A satisfied sigh exits her mouth while she holds onto his hands tightly, “thank you Sam, I desperately needed that."

He lets go of her hands, and then picks her up by her chest, “surprised you're still awake, your sisters all pass out." She smiles and holds him close, wrapping her arms around his neck and tail around his back. He whispers into her ear, “treasure." With a smile she closes her eyes and falls asleep to his warmth.