Hunt the Great Hellwyrm

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Threads of the soft wind slipped through the wavering maples and oaks. Leaves danced hailing the druids presence. Dmitri smiled within his heart. His pulse raced, his skin grew flushed with heat. He was nervous. He hadn't been nervous in quiet sometime. A soft giggle slipped from his closed lips. Into the wind it vanished. Should any in the group listen, they would have heard it.

From her position in the sky, Isis slowly arched her neck and tilted her head. Never once did the onyx coals, she called eyes waver from Amelina. Slowly she lowered her form toward the earth. The heavenly flames that encircled her being, quickly faded. Crimson feathers adorned with shades of ruby, midnight and gold shimmer in the sunlight. Golden talons slowly open and seem to come to rest onto something that wasnt there.

As the familiar landed, in mid-air, a form began to materialize. The winds erupted from the location, expelling icy gales outward, toward the group, the forest and the sky. An alabaster cloak snaps in the wind, bare feet rest upon the soft vermillion moss. Legs appear, strong and sturdy, yet nimble and swift. A bare torse appears, toned, defined, yet thin. An outstretched right arm, appears, Isis has placed herself upon this. Bare, naked fingers dance in the wind, as the left arm appears, agile fingers waving toward the group. A pale face finally appears, eyes as bright as the heavens, crimson hair, darkened with streaks of chocalet float in the breeze.

With a voice that encompassed the hails of the angels, the judge called. His warm soathing voice cascaded through the flora, it called to the fauna. Each beast of the earth and fowl of the clouds bowed in reverance to the vanir druid. "Amelina....you called."
 
Baros cast a simple cantrip, and Fang's symbol was carried upwards upon a tiny gust of air to float into the Spellsword's hand. He regarded it for a moment, then nodded and tucked it into his saddle bag.

"Observe if you will Dragon. Though I suspect.." He was interupted by the sound of the Druid's voice, but when he found that the Druid was answering a call from Amelia, he turned back to fang and continued speaking.

"Though I think you would be best placed to help us, rather than have suspicion fall upon you."
 
Fang nodded respectfully. "Your concern is noted, two-legger. I will perform my duties as I see fit. My true nature is not something for me to hide. Should it be widely discovered and suspicion fall upon my back, then so be it. My companions will still have the information I collect transferred to them."

Fang nodded, once more, to Baros, then turned and moved quickly and smoothly over to Amelina and Dmitri. He spoke not a word to either. Amelina he knew through a previous encounter. Dmitri he only knew through the companionship druids and dragons held toward each other.
 
Rand wanted to leap at the chance to avoid the chapter house, but years of being the best damn thief in the realm had instilled in him the ability to appear patient, even when he's itching to flee. Unfortunately, Amelina seemed to want to play the Good Samaritan, and help the old man on his idle chores. No sooner had her lips closed, than Rand smoothly spoke "Well, if you're looking for company, I'll come with you. After breathing nothing but ash for the past two days, I'd much rather make the most of the fresh air, than go get cosy with a horde of sweaty knights".

He smiled as he spoke, though it seemed none were listening, with the exceptions of Aramil. The attractive young lady semed captivated by a pale newcomer, and Baros was talking to a rather cocky looking stranger. A stranger he referred to as a Dragon. Rand doubted anyone would be so calm - Or so alive - if this calm man before him were the dreaded Hellwyrm, but still... Another good reason to avoid the chapter house, and being cooped-up with a bunch of spell-swords, and a shape-shifting Dragon.

Turning his gaze back to Aramil, he continued "Who knows, I may even manage to find myself a half decent mount" he prods his mangy horse "Right now, I think a small ferret would be an improvement!" He says with a grin.
 
Hearing Amelina he smiled softly and nodded " Excellent " Licking his lips he could taste the ash that had marred his skin after his experience of frolicking through a burning hell. "Perhaps the chapter house has a bath house ?" he asked quickly.

Turning on the balls of his feet he wandered into the woods slowly walking around clearing passing amongst the trees it reminded him of home. As well it helped remove the smell of burnt flesh and molten stone from his sinuses. It made him chuckle a little as he felt himself clear of the ashen air and smell of death that had caused him to encounter such an odd band of people. Now they were upon a path to find the cause and prevent it from destroying even greater cities. Fang still worried Asana to a point but as he spun around the trunk of a tree he looked at Fang with a piercing gaze " You know, I bet your a shadow or a black, but it matters not as you are the first full one I have found in human form"

Asana almost wanted to pinch the dragons cheeks just to see that it was real, but decided against being eaten or burnt to a crisp to find out. He spotted the man enter and begin conversing with the woman, she seemed off too, but it was not draconic so it interested Asana less than Fang on that level. The Druid on the other hand was well a concern but only on a minor level . " Well Then Rand, Aramil, Amelina and her friend shall travel and look for herbal supplies, where as Lox, Baros, myself and blacky will travel to the chapter house and pick up mounts and food stuffs, and perhaps some information or weapons assuming the chapter house has any weapons that can be bartered" He Looked to the Dragon and smirked " you are included because its not a free peep show "
 
Fang nodded to the man, and spoke in a manor that left no hint of submission at all. Anyone with a sense of hearing would have no doubt that Fang knew he was not in the presence of any authority. "I will do as you request, though I must quell some of your interest. You are only half right as to my nature."

He looked to the druid and Amelina and nodded. "Perhaps I will get the opportunity to converse with the pair of you later."
 
The old man failed to move, or show any signs of impression at all at the goings on. Between the random appearances of multiple people, and the interesting, if vague conversations that seemed to posess the group, he seemed genuinely uninterested in any of it. When all was said and done, Fang and Asana having completed their comments, he grunted softly, his withered voice carrying no jocularity; "Well then... Lets just get on with it already. You young people talk too damn much..."

With a pause, he nodded toward Rand. "It is appreciated... I have no love for these... 'sweaty knights' either." His hood swayed softly, the face beneath still quelled in shadow as he spoke to Amelina and her interesting friend; "You two... Seem to have your own issues. Your help is appreciated, but do not feel obligated to spend your time searching through the foliage. I'm sure Rand can manage, if you'd rather have some time to yourselves..."

With that, he turned his horse and began to pace it slowly off of the beaten path they had all been on. His hood swaying forward told that the old man was intently scanning the foliage for what he sought. Or, he'd fallen asleep on his mount once more. The old fellow was more than capable of such antics, it would seem.
 
"It is a year or two since I visited this chapterhouse, but we generally have a store of weapons, and given the importance of our task, they will be available to us." The spellsword said, then he chuckled alittle, "and you will be able to was the ash off yes."

Baros nodded to the hooded old man and then tapped his spurs into the flank of his mount. The warhorse set off at a trot towards the clearing's only exit, or at least the only thing that could be called a track. It was wide enough for two men to ride side by side, but there would be a crush should anything wider try to pass through. It curved to the right in a shallow arc, so that only the high tower where the chapterhouse's lookout could be seen was visible above the trees. There was a brief moment where there was a bright red flash of light could be seen, and it must have been a question, for Baros answered by speaking an arcane command and causing a flash of green light to briefly arise.
 
Eyes on Isis, she ignored all other activity. She was well aware of what had been said, who was near and what all were doing. But her focus was on a friend long thought gone. The beauty of Isis always captivated her. And she smiled softly as the beautiful bird perched herself upon air.

As Dmitri took his form, that smile widened and she stepped forward, though stopped a few feet from him. " Dmitri. It is good to see you. " She waited, not knowing what would happen. Their's was a long history, a friendship that nothing could come between. There had been trials, and even a battle between the two. The last time they had seen each other was when she had lost her memory, which had been fully regained.

Slowly she drank in his appearance, noting the slight changes he beheld. She certainly approved. " You look good old friend. Time had been on your side. " Turning she looked to Asana she nodded, letting him know she heard him. Then cast her gaze upon the old man. She could tell he cared little if they joined in the search or not. " Should you need anything, simply speak my name and I will come old man. " With a bow of her head she turned her attentions back to Dmitri. No intention of joining anyone on their search.. at least not yet.
 
Dmitri's gaze shifted across the inhabitants of the clearing. He noted the power that resonated from each, and stored it safely in his mind. Just in case, at a later time, he would need it. Reaching out with the wind, he caressed Amelina's cheek. "Its good to see you again....our paths had veared from one another, but yet they come back...they will always come back...I have to finally realize that...remember souls...intertwined.." A soft smile parts his lips.

Isis chirps and vaults for the sky. Wings of fire carry her toward the billowy clouds. Leaving a cry of goodbye, the familiar dissapears in the heavens, never going to far.

Turning his gaze toward Asana, Dmitri nods. " I am not sure of this journey that you have embarked on, but if I may be of service, I shall help the others gather the herbs to which you speak." His right hand lowers and comes to rest on branch near by. The soft warm western wind slips through the area. Dmitri's eyes shift to his old friend.

A smile parts his lips and the wind begins to whisper in only her ears. "Time has kept you beautiful and elegant....absence makes the heart grow fonder, I do beleive they say...never once has your fair face slipped from my mind....though one must say you are far more striking than even I remember.."
 
He caught Amelinas nod and smiled softly in return before he glanced to her friend. Asana Nodded to the Druids Acceptance of the task and perhaps even joining their merry band " It would be good to have another along for this long weary road we intend to travel, you would be most welcome" He said kindly before looking to Baros and then to the Dragon and Lox " Well then if we should go let us go before the Night comes and halts our progress." It was at that moment Asana Noticed Baros had already taken off at a trot.

"Well Let us follow his lead and get going " He said in a quick almost sardonic tone as he turned and followed the path that Baros was leading them down it was not that Asana did not trust the spell sword but more that Asana did not know this order that Baros belonged to, and thus it made him Edgy that and he had only half guessed part of the dragons from which meant he would need to think upon his new friends reality. Lox would of course follow behind with the with Asana walking the trail.
 
"I would not worry of cover of darkness were I you, child of man." Fang moved to follow along with Baros and the others. They seemed content to lead, and he would let them. What none of them would notice without prominent effort was that Fang's senses were continually analyzing their surroundings to several miles out. He felt for changes or unique essences in the magical, physical, mental and spiritual planes.

The actual purpose of their expedition was of no concern to him. He and his abilities were more than he needed. Add to that SevenStars and its unique capabilities, and there was far more firepower amongst the two-leggers than they, save the woman they were all so fascinated with, and possibly the new arrival of the druid, were aware.
 
In silence she watched her old friend. The last time she had laid eyes upon him she was walking away from him and all she had known. Her memory had lapsed but he'd helped her regain it and in doing so, turned her bitter towards a few select people. Shaking her head and the memories away, she smiled. " Our paths shall always cross at one point or another my friend. Intertwined souls seem to have a way of being sure that happens. "
Glancing to Isis as she departed brought a bigger smile to her lips. " It has been a long time since i've gazed upon her beauty. Such a magnificent creature she is. It is glad I am to see her still at your side. " Looking back to Dmitri as he complimented her she laughed. " Time had been kind to you as well. I am glad you will be sticking around. For however long you shall do so. It will be nice to have you at my side once more. "

Looking to Asana she smiled. While she wasn't entirely sure of some of the others, he was one she liked. Some she was still leary of, but she wasn't a trusting creature by any means. That always was something earned. Of course, the same could be said for how they felt about her. She was a stranger among them. Hadn't even given her name, at least not that she could recall. Shrugging some, she began to walk off, glancing back at Dmitri to see if he followed. With a soft nod she looked back to the group and then slipped off to look for herbs.

Occasionally, she would feel a surge of power, as if someone was searching for something. Her gaze roamed until it rested upon Fang. The ancient creature radiated of power and she smiled. It had been a long time since she'd seen one of his kind. For the beautifully magnificent creatures often kept to themselves or their own kind. She didn't understand why this one joined this small group of mixed bloods, but she didn't feel anything bad from him. Perhaps his purpose was simple and not as complex as she would imagine. Of course, one would ask why she, of all beings, would walk with this group as well.
 
As they drew closer to the chapterhouse, its nature became clearer. Its walls rose above the treetops, and a single tall tower, where the watman stood, reached up to the heavens. Its walls were of yellowish stone, clearly local, for a hillside to the west marked one edge of the forest, and that same sandy stone poked through the earth upon its slopes.

A hundred yards from the gate, the path straightened, and they could see into the courtyard. It was now clear that the chapterhouse was in the centre of a clearing, with the trees cut back several yards from each side. An extra precaution for the security of the order here.

Two men stood in the gateway, one to either side. They were dressed in a manner similar to Baros, although it was clear from their attire that they were of lower rank.

They continued down the path until Baros came to a halt in from of the gate, and motioned for the others to do likewise. "Greetings brothers. I am Baros, bearer of the flame." Baros tapped the palm of his hand to his chest in a form of salute.

One of the guards stepped forward and returned the gesture. He was only young, but he seemed to be the higher ranking man of the two sentries. "Knight Leutenant, we fought together at the battle of three streams. It is good to see you again. Welcome to the Yellow Rocks."

"Yes. Squire Pelius, earned your spurs already. Well you deserved them, it took true courage to face that Gnoll Shaman with only a shortsword."

"Thank you Knight Leutenant. May I ask what brings you and your companions here?"
 
Looking to the Dragon he raised a brow under his helm and spoke calmly " I am not a son of man, I am an Elf, you have been neglecting your duties of observation my kind dragon friend " He said with a smirk but that too was well hidden under his helm.

Asana looked to the squire and then to Baros. He could feel the commradery the squire felt towards Baros. Turning his head he looked to Lox and spoke " Well atleast we were meet with words and not spells or blades" . Asana wasn't sure what he was to make of the chapter house or the order of the burning blade, as far as he was aware thier order was a rarity in the lands of Neverwinter.

With a twitch of his wing he turned his gaze back down the path wondering what Aramil, Rand, the hostage, the young screamig boy and the woman and the druid were up too. Lox seemed to be amused by Asana's statement as he remained close at hand but he did not speak. Asana felt it best that Baros state thier bussiness here as he was a member of thier order.
 
Fang nodded slightly. "I did not mean to offend you. I was well aware of your elven blood, but After so many years interacting with countless variations of races, I tend to classify those described as being similar to each other by the major race they are recognized with. You, being a humanoid, automatically get classified as a human. It is simply easier for me to keep track of the most easily recognized races. If it is any consolation I have gotten to the point where even drakes and wyverns are classified as dragons, though I am well aware of the differences."

Even though he was continually aware of everything around him, Fang paid little direct attention to the chapterhouse or those within it. He had been in many complexes like it on far more occasions than he cared to attempt count. His primary concern was the odd sensation he was getting from off in the distance. His last few communications with the Elder Council had been done in a rather careless manner. He went about it in such a way that many people he had established some connection with in the last few decades would feel the same sensation of being drawn to the black dragon that all of the elders felt with one another during their meetings. This was one major reason most of the elders never parted each others company.

Fang had not concerned himself with it, as he knew the feeling to any non-dragonic was not so strong as to force them to come. Still, in an uncharacteristic bit of failed planning, he had not factored in what affect it might have on those with little else to occupy their time, and the familiar quiver in the air told him that, at the very least, one person fitting that exact description had taken the suggestion of their subconscious mind. Fang was now interested to see precisely who this may be, and thus concentrated slightly more on that than the chapterhouse before him.
 
"I was sent to Freehaven to investigate the destruction. I met the lady and these gentlemen there. We are now as a group looking into what was behind the events." Baros replied to the former squire.

Peleus looked to the sky, back behind where they had come from. Somehow Baros's spell had spun them around, for although when the spell was cast they faced the sea, now the sea, and the ruins of Freehaven were behind them.

"What did happen Sir? We saw the smoke in the sky, and the chapterhouse seer took ill. He has not spoken a word since the smoke." Peleus asked.

"It was put to the flame, but not by the hand of any man. My companions have spoken of a dragon, but no dragon I have ever seen or heard of could do that. In places, the town's buildings were melted down to little more than the height of my own waist."

"I guess, you'd better go and speak with the Knight Captain then. He is in the hall." Baros was waved through, and the two guards stepped aside.

The courtyard was much as would be expected. There were stables, kitchens, piles of logs, stairs up to the ramparts and a circle marked out for sparring. In places the walls were marked with arcane symbols, wards against dark magic and unwelcomed scrying. At the other end of the courtyard there was a set of double doors in an archway. The doors stood open, and beyond was the hall; a long room lit by luminescent orbs that floated just below the ceiling. There was a group of spellswords huddled around a table to the rear, and others were coming and going through doors in either side.

Baros walked his horse into the yard, dismounted and handed his reins to an eager squire. "Welcome to one seat of my order Asana", he said to the palladin, whom he assumed would have followed.
 
Xa'aro could, in all honesty, attest that he had no idea where he was going. The small sensation he had felt the past few days had told the young man to start heading in this direction. Each day he grew closer and closer to the source and today he would find it at last. The large pack strapped to Xa'aro's back bounced against his back with each step he took. The young alchemist had no choice but to bring his tools on the road with him. Without them he was no good to anyone and his profession required him to travel far too much to have one home base.

Dark crimson eyes gleamed with accomplishment when he saw the group of people off in the distant. One of those people had caused the sensation, a sensation he hadn't felt since he had been a young boy. That day long ago, but not long forgotten, was something Xa'aro preferred not to speak about. He would have been dead had it not been for the stranger. All that was left of his brother's wound was the tiniest and lightest of scars just above his right eyebrow, barely visible to the naked eye.

A dark cloth hung in front of Xa'aro's face covering his nose and mouth, hiding the scars caused by his 'work.' From beneath the cloth mask Xa'aro gave a mischevious grin. From the looks of the group ahead there were many a fine warrior, perhaps Xa'aro could turn a profit with his 'inventions,' if he played his cards right.

Ebony locks fell across his brow covering his crimson eyes. Shaking his head Xa'aro sent the strands of hair out of his eyes as he neared the group. Waving a hand in greeting the young chemist blinked sweat from his eyes before wiping it away with the back of his hand.

Now that he was only moments from the group, Xa'aro let his unique eyes roam across each member attempting to find the one that had produced the familiar feeling within him.
 
Looking to Baros he Nodded slowly " It seems like any other order I have seen thus far in my life, sadly with out dancing girls, but no order is perfect I suppose " He said with a slight chuckle his eyes had been looking over every step and person they encountered. Thier seer of this chapterhouse had fallen ill it seemed strange that they would be a group to hire a seer.

Glancing up he could see the wards and and floating orbs, they made him not so nervous as curious of what magic was used in thier production and beyond that if they were not Gnome made objects. " So Baros who do we need to see here for I am wary that the seer here may have been compromised by perhaps the same type of spirit that Lox was attacked by in the ruins. depending on that kind of influence we may have a foe in a hall of friends." He said slowly. It was not his intention to anger Baros but he was concerned that if this seer had become ill from his vision he could be controled by what ever he encountered.
 
Fang would have chuckled, were he the type to express emotion, at the comment made by Baros. Instead he simply spoke a word to the other. "Dragons have the potential for great power, young Baros." It had become commonplace to address any creature with a natural end to their lifespan as young. "Do not underestimate them. I assure you, a creature of dragonic nature, if not the cause of Freehaven's destruction, was heavily involved." Not that it would have been anything but serious in the first place, but Fang's tone of voice carried with it an alarming air of truth

The elder turned his head to the entrance of the chapterhouse, which he had not gone far from, and narrowed his eyes, concentrating on the figure of the young masked man. Indeed, there was a faint hint of familiarity, though he could not place exactly where. The mask hid the face well, but his movements suggested relative youth. Could it be that this man was but a child when last he interacted with the dragon? No wonder the pull had been so effective on him.

The dragon in the shell of a man made no gesture or sign of recognition whatsoever. He knew the effect simply a few years could have, particularly on men. If he truly was a boy when he saw Fang last, there was no telling what could have happened to him, or how his attitude could have changed, since then. He did, however, turn his head back to alert the self-appointed leader of this makeshift party. His voice would carry quite well, through some assistance of his own abilities, to be received by Baros, despite the distance between them. "I believe someone is attempting to gain your attention, Baros."
 
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