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Spring, 1392
As he got his sense of the world back, Asaewath looked around the former Miscabbard encampment. Much of it was now a tangle of burning wreckage. Another dozen or so cultists were dead, though the total sum of human bodies scattered about the river bend numbered slightly fewer than had been observed that morning.
Rargesteyae gestured towards a clearing in the distance. *I’ve managed to rescue some of the prisoners.*
There a small group of former captives stood trying to free themselves from their bonds while warily watching the giant reptiles from a distance.
*Where is the other dragon?* Asaewath asked.
*I went to rescue you, brother.* Came the slightly annoyed response. *A half-dozen or so cultists escaped, with the captive dragon and some of the other prisoners. They also killed some of them before I could intervene.* Rargesteyae spat on the ground over the last comment.
*We have to save her!* Her brother exclaimed as he immediately shot up, looking for signs of where the surviving cultists had gotten to, before stumbling painfully back from his injuries.
*Asaewath, it’s been a quarter hour since we attacked. They could not have gotten far.* Rargesteyae shook her head and sighed. *Plus that last fight seems to have left you a little worse for wear. We have to be more careful the closer we are to Kavi.*
The green dragon caught his breath and reluctantly nodded, before continuing. *So why did you bring me here with the other prisoners?*
*We’re still going blindly towards the cult city. Since we thoughtfully rescued them, I think you could ask these folks if they have any information about Kavi before they go.*
*Alright.*
Asaewath and Rargesteyae headed over to the group of prisoners, a few of whom had gone to free the mounts in the corral a little further on. The freed prisoners ambling about included five pixies, a Duregaren, a satyr and two unicorns. The bodies of another three pixies, two Sabines, one Duregaren and one cyno lay nearby, killed in the efforts to rescue them. Every survivor immediately froze when they noticed the two dragons approaching.
“Greetings and good health.” Asaewath called out in Auxian. The prisoners flinched and an awkward silence ensured. Then to everyone’s surprise, it was not the Duregaren but the satyr who finally stood up and replied.
“Greetings and well met! I am Recheb. Thanks for saving us dragons! Those humans would have killed us for sure!”
“Can you tell me about this hunting party?” Asaewath asked.
“There were, I believe, around fifty of them. They caught me by surprise while gathering berries at Ozette.
“Do you know where they caught the silver dragon?”
“It-”
“She-”
“She was the last one of us taken, and we were near the Southern end of the Betakinin Ranges when they brought her in. Took down a score of those zealots in the process, good for her.” The satyr smiled at the last comment.
The green dragon looked over the group.
“Would anyone happen to know how to get to Kavi?”
None of the prisoners seemed to want to say, looking awkwardly away from the wyrm. Finally Recheb gave an apologetic smile and explained.
“Kavi is a well hidden place. My people knew it was in the foothills of the Eastern Ranges, even before I was captured. We know the mountain slopes better than anyone, even the Duregaren.”
“You filthy lying goat fuck-”
“So you speak human as well, Duregaren.” The satyr smiled.
Called out by his response, the short bearded figure could only grumpily humph in reply.
Recheb continued. “Few have been brave enough to approach Kavi, and fewer still to return. Still I’ve heard some stories, but-” The satyr kicked aside her shackles, “-besides being forced, I have had no desire to look further. Kavi is the center of the human death cult. Everyone avoids it. Nothing but evil emulates out from there.”
“We would like to know as much as we can.” The green dragon pushed apologetically.
Still smiling, Recheb shook her head. "That's all I have."
"Very well, thank you Recheb for your help."
“Now, why do you two want to go to Kavi?” The Duregaren suddenly asked, seemingly giving up on avoiding conversation.
“To avenge our mom, and to stop the Miscabbard threat to our people.” Asaewath turned to face the new speaker.
The Stonefolk shook his head. “You two are very brave, and also very foolish. I wish you luck.”
“Can you tell us anything about it?”
“I have never visited myself. It fell to darkness during the Great War, helped by your kind.” The green dragon flinched at the comment. “However, if you can get there, these are the things you can do to get in. All the old Great Cities have a similar pattern.” The Duregaren gradually began to get into the conversation, scribbling out a crude map in the dirt.
“As a Duregaren city, Kavi must have multiple access points. The Other Men would have eventually found most of them, but they could not have found all of them and perhaps some were destroyed or abandoned by the time the cultists came. I would try seeing if these are accessible first.” The scribbling continued. “Kavi would have satellite posts, usually trade stations or farms for the cities. Try to look for any signs of roads like lined paths or staircases for the former, sun-lit mountain crevices and hanging valleys for the latter. You may see them marked by our cairns, which we have special ways of notifying our people.” A circle with spokes gradually appeared out of the dirt.
*Wonder if this has to do with those cairns you showed me a while back.* Rargesteyae commented as she watched over her brother’s shoulder.
“What causes your gates and cairns and stuff to glow?” Asaewath asked.
The scribbling paused. “You’re a perceptive lad.” The Duregaren finally replied. “The glow comes from fluorspar; we use it to mark our secret gates since you can only see it under certain conditions, easily hidden. I shouldn’t say this, but you saved my life and I think you mean well. Go in late afternoon and twilight, and see if any markers remain.”
“Thank you Duregaren, we’ll be sure to check.”
“I am Eggerich. I thank you two dragons for saving me. Good luck, and may you two get your vengeance.”
“I am Asaewath and this is my sister Rargesteyae, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The two dragons left the group and began sniffing around for signs.
*Now if only we can find the trail of the hunting party, we can continue on.* Rargesteyae muttered.
You will not find them.
Both dragons stopped in their tracks.
“What?”
The dragons looked around in shock for the source of the message, then back at each other.
“Who said that?”
I did.
Asaewath and Rargesteyae turned to see a pixie looking like a tiny, purple old human woman standing behind them.
“How? Why?” Asaewath asked.
I can communicate without speaking. As to why-
The pixie pointed to the mounts near the corral. What had initially appeared to be a pair of unicorns turned out to in fact be only one, the other being a horse dressed up like its legendary companion, with an actual unicorn horn strapped atop its head by straps and twine.
-the unicorn told me. He says that the hunters conceal themselves in underground caves when attacked like this and alert Kavi by dove. The cursed city will send an army quickly to relieve them. Unless you plan on fighting thousands of warriors very soon, it will be better to infiltrate Kavi before the Lord of the Sky is warned.
Rargesteyae’s eyes turned to slits. *How does the unicorn know all this?*
The unicorn says he's been a captive of the cult for a long time.
*So does he-*
He’s been to Kavi several times. He says he knows how to get there.
Asaewath was still battered, bloody and wet from the fight, but he immediately ran over to the unicorn lying sternally recumbent on the ground.
The unicorn appeared worse for wear itself; it had an overall ragged appearance, being gelded, sporting scars from bits and bridles on his snout and neck and having a large cultist tripod branded upon its flank. Confronted by the green dragon, the equine quietly looked up.
“Please.” Asaewath pleaded. “My mom was killed by these people. My dad is missing. They just tried to kill us. If you know how to get to Kavi, my sister and I will be eternally grateful and in your debt.”
The unicorn neighed in response.
The green dragon paused. “I'm sorry I can't understand you.”
I can translate. The pixie replied as she walked over with Rargesteyae.
“Thank you-”
Joan.
“-thank you Joan.” Asaewath looked at her, and then looked back at the other freed prisoners. “Honestly, all of you have been helpful to us.”
The pixie gave a sad smile.
We are all losing ground against the humans. If we don’t help one another, we shall all be lost sooner rather than later.
Soon enough, both dragons were gathered around the unicorn, listening to it talk while the pixie translated, elucidating out the information in the dirt.
Kavi is located in a mountain we call the Nuctule, Joan translated. It hugs the Eastern sky and looks like a pyramid with three towers. The main gate is atop a mesa overlooking what we call Frijoles Canyon, running Southwest from the mountain…
An hour later, the dragons were satisfied with the information.
“I thank you both for your help.” Asaewath bowed before the guide and the translator, before looking at the complex map now drawn on the ground.
We should be thanking you. Joan replied, quickly adding as the equine neighed in response, the unicorn thanks you as well for saving him. He is Prince Sfelewi.
The green dragon blinked.
“You are the son of Queen Eefewei of Mwelian Forest.” He asked the equine.
Yes. The pixie replied in response. And you two are Asaewath and Rargesteyae, son and daughter to the Mourning Dragon.
*Father gained a reputation I see.* The brown dragon muttered.
Asaewath ignored the snark. “How did you get here?” He asked the freed prince.
The unicorn whinnied.
Paul Simon - Graceland
From
chickenzaur! Colored by myself.
As he got his sense of the world back, Asaewath looked around the former Miscabbard encampment. Much of it was now a tangle of burning wreckage. Another dozen or so cultists were dead, though the total sum of human bodies scattered about the river bend numbered slightly fewer than had been observed that morning.
Rargesteyae gestured towards a clearing in the distance. *I’ve managed to rescue some of the prisoners.*
There a small group of former captives stood trying to free themselves from their bonds while warily watching the giant reptiles from a distance.
*Where is the other dragon?* Asaewath asked.
*I went to rescue you, brother.* Came the slightly annoyed response. *A half-dozen or so cultists escaped, with the captive dragon and some of the other prisoners. They also killed some of them before I could intervene.* Rargesteyae spat on the ground over the last comment.
*We have to save her!* Her brother exclaimed as he immediately shot up, looking for signs of where the surviving cultists had gotten to, before stumbling painfully back from his injuries.
*Asaewath, it’s been a quarter hour since we attacked. They could not have gotten far.* Rargesteyae shook her head and sighed. *Plus that last fight seems to have left you a little worse for wear. We have to be more careful the closer we are to Kavi.*
The green dragon caught his breath and reluctantly nodded, before continuing. *So why did you bring me here with the other prisoners?*
*We’re still going blindly towards the cult city. Since we thoughtfully rescued them, I think you could ask these folks if they have any information about Kavi before they go.*
*Alright.*
Asaewath and Rargesteyae headed over to the group of prisoners, a few of whom had gone to free the mounts in the corral a little further on. The freed prisoners ambling about included five pixies, a Duregaren, a satyr and two unicorns. The bodies of another three pixies, two Sabines, one Duregaren and one cyno lay nearby, killed in the efforts to rescue them. Every survivor immediately froze when they noticed the two dragons approaching.
“Greetings and good health.” Asaewath called out in Auxian. The prisoners flinched and an awkward silence ensured. Then to everyone’s surprise, it was not the Duregaren but the satyr who finally stood up and replied.
“Greetings and well met! I am Recheb. Thanks for saving us dragons! Those humans would have killed us for sure!”
“Can you tell me about this hunting party?” Asaewath asked.
“There were, I believe, around fifty of them. They caught me by surprise while gathering berries at Ozette.
“Do you know where they caught the silver dragon?”
“It-”
“She-”
“She was the last one of us taken, and we were near the Southern end of the Betakinin Ranges when they brought her in. Took down a score of those zealots in the process, good for her.” The satyr smiled at the last comment.
The green dragon looked over the group.
“Would anyone happen to know how to get to Kavi?”
None of the prisoners seemed to want to say, looking awkwardly away from the wyrm. Finally Recheb gave an apologetic smile and explained.
“Kavi is a well hidden place. My people knew it was in the foothills of the Eastern Ranges, even before I was captured. We know the mountain slopes better than anyone, even the Duregaren.”
“You filthy lying goat fuck-”
“So you speak human as well, Duregaren.” The satyr smiled.
Called out by his response, the short bearded figure could only grumpily humph in reply.
Recheb continued. “Few have been brave enough to approach Kavi, and fewer still to return. Still I’ve heard some stories, but-” The satyr kicked aside her shackles, “-besides being forced, I have had no desire to look further. Kavi is the center of the human death cult. Everyone avoids it. Nothing but evil emulates out from there.”
“We would like to know as much as we can.” The green dragon pushed apologetically.
Still smiling, Recheb shook her head. "That's all I have."
"Very well, thank you Recheb for your help."
“Now, why do you two want to go to Kavi?” The Duregaren suddenly asked, seemingly giving up on avoiding conversation.
“To avenge our mom, and to stop the Miscabbard threat to our people.” Asaewath turned to face the new speaker.
The Stonefolk shook his head. “You two are very brave, and also very foolish. I wish you luck.”
“Can you tell us anything about it?”
“I have never visited myself. It fell to darkness during the Great War, helped by your kind.” The green dragon flinched at the comment. “However, if you can get there, these are the things you can do to get in. All the old Great Cities have a similar pattern.” The Duregaren gradually began to get into the conversation, scribbling out a crude map in the dirt.
“As a Duregaren city, Kavi must have multiple access points. The Other Men would have eventually found most of them, but they could not have found all of them and perhaps some were destroyed or abandoned by the time the cultists came. I would try seeing if these are accessible first.” The scribbling continued. “Kavi would have satellite posts, usually trade stations or farms for the cities. Try to look for any signs of roads like lined paths or staircases for the former, sun-lit mountain crevices and hanging valleys for the latter. You may see them marked by our cairns, which we have special ways of notifying our people.” A circle with spokes gradually appeared out of the dirt.
*Wonder if this has to do with those cairns you showed me a while back.* Rargesteyae commented as she watched over her brother’s shoulder.
“What causes your gates and cairns and stuff to glow?” Asaewath asked.
The scribbling paused. “You’re a perceptive lad.” The Duregaren finally replied. “The glow comes from fluorspar; we use it to mark our secret gates since you can only see it under certain conditions, easily hidden. I shouldn’t say this, but you saved my life and I think you mean well. Go in late afternoon and twilight, and see if any markers remain.”
“Thank you Duregaren, we’ll be sure to check.”
“I am Eggerich. I thank you two dragons for saving me. Good luck, and may you two get your vengeance.”
“I am Asaewath and this is my sister Rargesteyae, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The two dragons left the group and began sniffing around for signs.
*Now if only we can find the trail of the hunting party, we can continue on.* Rargesteyae muttered.
You will not find them.
Both dragons stopped in their tracks.
“What?”
The dragons looked around in shock for the source of the message, then back at each other.
“Who said that?”
I did.
Asaewath and Rargesteyae turned to see a pixie looking like a tiny, purple old human woman standing behind them.
“How? Why?” Asaewath asked.
I can communicate without speaking. As to why-
The pixie pointed to the mounts near the corral. What had initially appeared to be a pair of unicorns turned out to in fact be only one, the other being a horse dressed up like its legendary companion, with an actual unicorn horn strapped atop its head by straps and twine.
-the unicorn told me. He says that the hunters conceal themselves in underground caves when attacked like this and alert Kavi by dove. The cursed city will send an army quickly to relieve them. Unless you plan on fighting thousands of warriors very soon, it will be better to infiltrate Kavi before the Lord of the Sky is warned.
Rargesteyae’s eyes turned to slits. *How does the unicorn know all this?*
The unicorn says he's been a captive of the cult for a long time.
*So does he-*
He’s been to Kavi several times. He says he knows how to get there.
Asaewath was still battered, bloody and wet from the fight, but he immediately ran over to the unicorn lying sternally recumbent on the ground.
The unicorn appeared worse for wear itself; it had an overall ragged appearance, being gelded, sporting scars from bits and bridles on his snout and neck and having a large cultist tripod branded upon its flank. Confronted by the green dragon, the equine quietly looked up.
“Please.” Asaewath pleaded. “My mom was killed by these people. My dad is missing. They just tried to kill us. If you know how to get to Kavi, my sister and I will be eternally grateful and in your debt.”
The unicorn neighed in response.
The green dragon paused. “I'm sorry I can't understand you.”
I can translate. The pixie replied as she walked over with Rargesteyae.
“Thank you-”
Joan.
“-thank you Joan.” Asaewath looked at her, and then looked back at the other freed prisoners. “Honestly, all of you have been helpful to us.”
The pixie gave a sad smile.
We are all losing ground against the humans. If we don’t help one another, we shall all be lost sooner rather than later.
Soon enough, both dragons were gathered around the unicorn, listening to it talk while the pixie translated, elucidating out the information in the dirt.
Kavi is located in a mountain we call the Nuctule, Joan translated. It hugs the Eastern sky and looks like a pyramid with three towers. The main gate is atop a mesa overlooking what we call Frijoles Canyon, running Southwest from the mountain…
An hour later, the dragons were satisfied with the information.
“I thank you both for your help.” Asaewath bowed before the guide and the translator, before looking at the complex map now drawn on the ground.
We should be thanking you. Joan replied, quickly adding as the equine neighed in response, the unicorn thanks you as well for saving him. He is Prince Sfelewi.
The green dragon blinked.
“You are the son of Queen Eefewei of Mwelian Forest.” He asked the equine.
Yes. The pixie replied in response. And you two are Asaewath and Rargesteyae, son and daughter to the Mourning Dragon.
*Father gained a reputation I see.* The brown dragon muttered.
Asaewath ignored the snark. “How did you get here?” He asked the freed prince.
The unicorn whinnied.
Paul Simon - Graceland
From
chickenzaur! Colored by myself.
Category Artwork (Traditional) / Fantasy
Species Western Dragon
Size 3645 x 2087px
File Size 8.47 MB
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