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Spring, 1325
The Dancing Wolf was the largest building in Stanton, a fading two-story wood frame lodge inn that apparently doubled as the town tavern and the community center. It had the quaint look of a well-used building that had gone through hard times and probably needed some whitewash to remove all the dirt and grime that had built up on the frame. Deep from the recesses of the building, a fiddle was playing, hands were clapping and a voice was singing quite loudly.
Logan found the entrance and opened the heavy-set doors, which gave a well-worn creak with only a push. As he entered the tavern, Logan noticed the placard of a wolf dancing on its hind legs with a bottle in its paw. Inside small groups of obviously well-acquainted individuals clustered together and mumbled in the dark smoky room. All voices quickly fell silent and dozens of pairs of eyes peered out of the murky gloom.
“Well what do we have here?” Someone finally called out.
“I am Logan Durham of Lynchburg, big game hunter and monster slayer extraordinaire.” The hunter announced proudly, puffing out his chest. Those words usually made him the man of the day. Here however, there was nothing. He scanned the crowd. Normally, people would have leap up to their feet and began shaking hands with him, showering him with drinks and money and telling him all the information he needed to get the job done. Yet no one appeared impressed at all, and in fact most of the crowd had returned to their conversations or drinks.
Logan composed himself and continued.
“I heard this town has a dragon problem. I will take care of it for you humble people, for a price.”
Silence.
“This dragon.” Logan continued. “Does it come at night? Does it curse your town? Does it steal your cows and sheep? Do your crops wither and die and townsfolk disappear? All of these I can take care of it for you- for reasonable compensation.”
“Every outsider here has said that.” Someone retorted. By now only a half-dozen people were still listening.
Logan frowned. Obviously, news had traveled fairly far and he had competition. No matter, Logan was confident he was the best.
“Trust me. I can succeed where the others fail.” Seeing no headway among the group he finally asked. “Who’s in charge here?”
A figure pointed from the shadows to a second room, where Logan determined to be the source of the music he had heard outside. Singing and clapping continued to waft from that room.
The hunter entered the next room to see that a crowd had gathered around a table following a dancer prancing about atop it. Dozens of people looked up from the tables and floor and down from the large wooden balcony overlooking the figure on the table dancing and strumming with his fiddle.
“Hey look everybody; we’ve got new blood here!” The dancer called from atop the table. He placed his fiddle on the table, leaped off and approached the newcomer. Logan was surprised to find that he towered a full head over a little person, complete with chubby cheeks, scraggy hair and a sickeningly cheerful demeanor.
“Hello, my name is Glib, and I have the gift of gab.” He chuckled at his own joke. Glib gave a cursory look over Logan.
“We should celebrate.” The dwarf’s eyes twinkled.
“All drinks are on the newcomer here!” Glib suddenly yelled to the rest of the tavern, eliciting an enthusiastic cheer.
“What?”
“You’re here to kill the dragon and raid his hoard, aren’t you? Well then you’d certainly be rich enough to take a couple of friends out for a free drink, right?”
Logan swore, but fished out a scattering of coins to more hurrahs. He plopped down on a seat in front of the table with some annoyance. The bartender passed out his drinks, and Glib quickly grabbed a mug and drank half down before giving Logan a shit-eating grin.
Logan gathered his patience to ask: “So what can you tell me about this dragon?”
Glib smiled. “Great. This is my favorite part.”
The dwarf jumped back up onto the table, picking up a candle and dramatically hovered it around his face, giving his countenance an eerie glow.
“Dragons! Creatures of wing and fire, the cunning ones, the gold hoarders, the virgin stealers! Such are the stories of these monsters. These creatures were created by the lord of all such demons of the night in his true image, a mockery of our own image from the heavens. Forty feet tall, powerful muscles, sharp teeth, a spade tail, and the breath of hell, they terrorize any place they live.”
Glib pushed his arms outward for effect. “The wyrms are gluttonous, voraciously devouring any living creature in its path, from sheep to horses to men. They are also greedy, seeking and stealing gold that it miserly counts and sleeps with at night. It will fly into fury if even one gold piece is missing, and destroy anything unlucky enough to be nearby. And they are leering, lecherously coveting the smooth bodies of maidens. Some say they can even shapeshift, taking the form of masturbators. The only creature that dragons fear is the panther, that majestic beast that sings the word of the heavens. They will flee if they ever encounter the panther. Unfortunately for us, no panther was good enough to live here. Or maybe it was an elephant-though we don’t have those either. So we now have to rely on you.” The Glib pointed directly at Logan.
The little person paused a beat for dramatic effect. “Unless you don’t have what it takes.”
“I’m sure I do shorty.” Logan retorted.
The dwarf shrugged. “So, did the guy who came in last month, whatwashisname, Deloy.”
“And the guy that came a week before he did.” Someone cut in.
“Or the guy before him, or the one before the guy before the guy before Deloy!” Someone else replied, laughing.
“You people come every year to hunt the dragon, and every year you guys don’t come back.” Glib explained, stroking his chin.
Logan frowned.
“Back to my questions; could you describe this dragon in more detail?”
Glib jumped back on the table. “It’s as dark as night, its claws are sharp as-”
“Please. No more of that.”
“You’re no fun.” Glib pouted. “Well, it’s bronze- should have chosen a better skin color-large as a hut, breathes fire, eats deer and our occasional livestock and hunter. It lives on Mount Rubinox.”
The hunter nodded. “That would be the mountain due North of us, I take it.”
“The big one indeed. Room for a dragon.”
Any description of the dragon’s lair? Does it reside in a cave or an underground labyrinth? How do I find it?”
“Probably a cave; it flies around the peak of the mountain a lot. We don’t know much else, seeing as you dragonslayers are the only ones dumb enough to try to find it. Strangely, not one of you guys have ever come back and told us.”
“How dangerous is it?”
Glib thought for another second.
“Oh, I dunno. Besides you dragonslayers… has it eaten anyone recently?” he turned to his fellow tavern mates.
“There was Heth; the Heavens rest his soul.” A drinker put on his cap, then removed it reverently. “Tried to prevent the dragon from flying over his pastures by firing arrows at it-poor fool bastard.”
Glib shrugged. “Well there you go. It attacks lumbermen and prospectors who enter the domains of its forests, and it occasionally raids our farmer’s fields for cattle or sheep. Otherwise it leaves the rest of us alone. This suits us just fine, mind you. We don’t fuck with it.”
“Anything else you can tell me about the creature?”
“It holds a massive hoard from all the years it has raided and pillaged. But you know that. All dragons are rich from their greedy hoarding. However, among the untold piles of coin it also holds the legendary Sword of Brest and the Dragoneye.”
“Hmm…what’s the Dragoneye?”
“Dunno. Some say it’s an ancient, powerful gem that summons forth lightning from the heavens to smite your enemies. Others say it’s an amulet that enables the wearer to assume the form of a dragon. Still others claim that the Dragoneye opens a portal to a new world. Thing is, we have no idea. You kill it, you figure it out.” came the glib reply.
Logan’s frown only grew deeper.
The Mountain Goats - Sax Rohmer #1
Work by
JArts!
Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/37338686/
The Dancing Wolf was the largest building in Stanton, a fading two-story wood frame lodge inn that apparently doubled as the town tavern and the community center. It had the quaint look of a well-used building that had gone through hard times and probably needed some whitewash to remove all the dirt and grime that had built up on the frame. Deep from the recesses of the building, a fiddle was playing, hands were clapping and a voice was singing quite loudly.
Logan found the entrance and opened the heavy-set doors, which gave a well-worn creak with only a push. As he entered the tavern, Logan noticed the placard of a wolf dancing on its hind legs with a bottle in its paw. Inside small groups of obviously well-acquainted individuals clustered together and mumbled in the dark smoky room. All voices quickly fell silent and dozens of pairs of eyes peered out of the murky gloom.
“Well what do we have here?” Someone finally called out.
“I am Logan Durham of Lynchburg, big game hunter and monster slayer extraordinaire.” The hunter announced proudly, puffing out his chest. Those words usually made him the man of the day. Here however, there was nothing. He scanned the crowd. Normally, people would have leap up to their feet and began shaking hands with him, showering him with drinks and money and telling him all the information he needed to get the job done. Yet no one appeared impressed at all, and in fact most of the crowd had returned to their conversations or drinks.
Logan composed himself and continued.
“I heard this town has a dragon problem. I will take care of it for you humble people, for a price.”
Silence.
“This dragon.” Logan continued. “Does it come at night? Does it curse your town? Does it steal your cows and sheep? Do your crops wither and die and townsfolk disappear? All of these I can take care of it for you- for reasonable compensation.”
“Every outsider here has said that.” Someone retorted. By now only a half-dozen people were still listening.
Logan frowned. Obviously, news had traveled fairly far and he had competition. No matter, Logan was confident he was the best.
“Trust me. I can succeed where the others fail.” Seeing no headway among the group he finally asked. “Who’s in charge here?”
A figure pointed from the shadows to a second room, where Logan determined to be the source of the music he had heard outside. Singing and clapping continued to waft from that room.
The hunter entered the next room to see that a crowd had gathered around a table following a dancer prancing about atop it. Dozens of people looked up from the tables and floor and down from the large wooden balcony overlooking the figure on the table dancing and strumming with his fiddle.
“Hey look everybody; we’ve got new blood here!” The dancer called from atop the table. He placed his fiddle on the table, leaped off and approached the newcomer. Logan was surprised to find that he towered a full head over a little person, complete with chubby cheeks, scraggy hair and a sickeningly cheerful demeanor.
“Hello, my name is Glib, and I have the gift of gab.” He chuckled at his own joke. Glib gave a cursory look over Logan.
“We should celebrate.” The dwarf’s eyes twinkled.
“All drinks are on the newcomer here!” Glib suddenly yelled to the rest of the tavern, eliciting an enthusiastic cheer.
“What?”
“You’re here to kill the dragon and raid his hoard, aren’t you? Well then you’d certainly be rich enough to take a couple of friends out for a free drink, right?”
Logan swore, but fished out a scattering of coins to more hurrahs. He plopped down on a seat in front of the table with some annoyance. The bartender passed out his drinks, and Glib quickly grabbed a mug and drank half down before giving Logan a shit-eating grin.
Logan gathered his patience to ask: “So what can you tell me about this dragon?”
Glib smiled. “Great. This is my favorite part.”
The dwarf jumped back up onto the table, picking up a candle and dramatically hovered it around his face, giving his countenance an eerie glow.
“Dragons! Creatures of wing and fire, the cunning ones, the gold hoarders, the virgin stealers! Such are the stories of these monsters. These creatures were created by the lord of all such demons of the night in his true image, a mockery of our own image from the heavens. Forty feet tall, powerful muscles, sharp teeth, a spade tail, and the breath of hell, they terrorize any place they live.”
Glib pushed his arms outward for effect. “The wyrms are gluttonous, voraciously devouring any living creature in its path, from sheep to horses to men. They are also greedy, seeking and stealing gold that it miserly counts and sleeps with at night. It will fly into fury if even one gold piece is missing, and destroy anything unlucky enough to be nearby. And they are leering, lecherously coveting the smooth bodies of maidens. Some say they can even shapeshift, taking the form of masturbators. The only creature that dragons fear is the panther, that majestic beast that sings the word of the heavens. They will flee if they ever encounter the panther. Unfortunately for us, no panther was good enough to live here. Or maybe it was an elephant-though we don’t have those either. So we now have to rely on you.” The Glib pointed directly at Logan.
The little person paused a beat for dramatic effect. “Unless you don’t have what it takes.”
“I’m sure I do shorty.” Logan retorted.
The dwarf shrugged. “So, did the guy who came in last month, whatwashisname, Deloy.”
“And the guy that came a week before he did.” Someone cut in.
“Or the guy before him, or the one before the guy before the guy before Deloy!” Someone else replied, laughing.
“You people come every year to hunt the dragon, and every year you guys don’t come back.” Glib explained, stroking his chin.
Logan frowned.
“Back to my questions; could you describe this dragon in more detail?”
Glib jumped back on the table. “It’s as dark as night, its claws are sharp as-”
“Please. No more of that.”
“You’re no fun.” Glib pouted. “Well, it’s bronze- should have chosen a better skin color-large as a hut, breathes fire, eats deer and our occasional livestock and hunter. It lives on Mount Rubinox.”
The hunter nodded. “That would be the mountain due North of us, I take it.”
“The big one indeed. Room for a dragon.”
Any description of the dragon’s lair? Does it reside in a cave or an underground labyrinth? How do I find it?”
“Probably a cave; it flies around the peak of the mountain a lot. We don’t know much else, seeing as you dragonslayers are the only ones dumb enough to try to find it. Strangely, not one of you guys have ever come back and told us.”
“How dangerous is it?”
Glib thought for another second.
“Oh, I dunno. Besides you dragonslayers… has it eaten anyone recently?” he turned to his fellow tavern mates.
“There was Heth; the Heavens rest his soul.” A drinker put on his cap, then removed it reverently. “Tried to prevent the dragon from flying over his pastures by firing arrows at it-poor fool bastard.”
Glib shrugged. “Well there you go. It attacks lumbermen and prospectors who enter the domains of its forests, and it occasionally raids our farmer’s fields for cattle or sheep. Otherwise it leaves the rest of us alone. This suits us just fine, mind you. We don’t fuck with it.”
“Anything else you can tell me about the creature?”
“It holds a massive hoard from all the years it has raided and pillaged. But you know that. All dragons are rich from their greedy hoarding. However, among the untold piles of coin it also holds the legendary Sword of Brest and the Dragoneye.”
“Hmm…what’s the Dragoneye?”
“Dunno. Some say it’s an ancient, powerful gem that summons forth lightning from the heavens to smite your enemies. Others say it’s an amulet that enables the wearer to assume the form of a dragon. Still others claim that the Dragoneye opens a portal to a new world. Thing is, we have no idea. You kill it, you figure it out.” came the glib reply.
Logan’s frown only grew deeper.
The Mountain Goats - Sax Rohmer #1
Work by
JArts!Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/37338686/
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Western Dragon
Size 640 x 1280px
File Size 1.31 MB
Listed in Folders
I find it irrelevant to talk about the dragon or to praise whether it is good or bad, especially given the context from this party's point of view of history.
On the contrary, what the villagers tell us, especially the Dwarf if I understood the text correctly, is very interesting and deserves to be discussed about what they say to the dragon hunter.
In any case, it made me want to read the rest of the story, I wonder what kind of ending this story will have.
On the contrary, what the villagers tell us, especially the Dwarf if I understood the text correctly, is very interesting and deserves to be discussed about what they say to the dragon hunter.
In any case, it made me want to read the rest of the story, I wonder what kind of ending this story will have.
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