Ugend is unable to send anything more than 15 soldiers at this time. Godrus has spoken with his mother, Kalaria Vaemaris-Ravenstoek, and was given similar disheartening news: it would take troops from Maywell a month to march to Droyva. While giving his report, he also mentions that the town of Maywell is known for its production and use of airships, a rarity in this time as they are expensive.
Along with the airships, the teleportation circle they used to arrive in Maywell could also be used to transport troops. The downside to this plan is that only 10-15 soldiers can be transported a day to Ugend, and they would still have to march to Droyva. After Sali relays the news from Mayor Garvin Addams, the party discusses at length the options that lay before them. They ultimately decide to split up, Erik and Jotun leaving to talk with the Transit Wizard, while Kai and Sali head towards the airship company building.
Erik and Jotun reach the wizard’s tower and enter the building. They see a woman sitting at a table. She looks up at them and says, “Why hello, how may I assist you both today?” After a slight confusion, the two learn that this woman is the transit wizard named Farale Gasapy. They speak with her to learn more about her ability to teleport people, and she suggests a plan that would benefit her and give the assistance sought by Erik and Jotun. She describes a demi-plane she believes to be called the Axis, a convergence of magical ley lines allowing one to travel to any location without a teleportation circle. The only downside is the payment; for five thousand gold or more, she is willing to teleport up to 30 troops directly to Droyva. While this price is steep, Farale also has a plan for this. She believes that on the continent to the south, near the town of Dragonhorn in the mountain of Wraith Shadow, there lies the potential of finding a dragon's horde. The area is known to be warm and tropical, but the mountain is a frozen wasteland. She believes something is keeping the mountain frozen.
In the back of Erik’s mind, he recalls the dream he had only a few short days ago about an artifact frozen in the water. The pair are interested in this venture and agree to discuss the choice with the rest of the group. Before they leave the tower, she hands them a bag of sending, an item with the ability to transport anything put into the bag back to her bag of sending.
Meanwhile, Kai and Sali approach the building where they notice the airships docked. Kai, staring up in bewilderment, is doing his best to contain his excitement. Going up to the entrance, they look up and see a sign that reads, “Skylance Company.'' The front door is rather grand and open. Taking in the room, they head towards the front desk where they talk to the assistant working there.
Both Kai and Sali awkwardly stand there. Sali speaks up, “Uhm yes, we would like to speak with whoever is in charge. We need an airship.” Eyeing both of the newcomers, she cautiously agrees to allow them to meet with Jasek Summergate. As soon as they see his office door, Kai and Sali barge in without thinking. Taken aback by such rude intruders, the man incredulously questions who they are and what makes them think they can barge into his office. As Sali tries urgently to explain the plight about to befall Droyva, he seems to fail at getting the point across.
Seeing as emotions didn’t turn the man's heart to lending airships to the cause, Kai takes a tactical approach. First, Kai asks about the price of renting an airship, to which the response is 300 gold. Kai tries to lower the cost by explaining that the party has experience with vessels and can be trusted to keep the airship safe. Jasek is not convinced. Instead, he doubles the price to 600 gold. Realizing they are the wrong people for this job, Sali suggests that Godrous Maywell should speak with him. Surprised by the name given, Jasek agrees that he would be interested in speaking with Godrus over the likes of them.
Determined to find Godrus, Sali starts back towards the inn before realizing he didn’t know where Godrus went. Both he and Kai start asking around town and finally learn the best place to check would be the estate of his step-father, Glenward Ravenstoek. Sali and Kai knock on the door of the manor and are greeted by Godrus. They ask for his help with the airships and confirm he will join them in saving Droyva. He agrees and has one of the house servants leave a message for his mother to speak with the Skylance owner before he joins Kai and Sali to find Erik and Jotun.
With everyone together and all the news shared, they decide the best path to save Droyva would be to assist Farale in finding the Dragon's hoard. As they begin moving to the wizard’s tower, they pass by the town teleportation circle, and something catches Jotun's eye, something which looks like fresh blood. He calls Boda to investigate the ground and the surrounding area. Following the scent of blood, Boda quickly finds the body of a guard hidden in the bushes. Gathering around and inspecting the poor soul, they see his throat has been slashed. It was a jagged slash, almost like a claw had ripped the guard’s throat open. As Boda is sniffing around, he picks a trail of blood droplets leading down a road. He takes off following this trail, and the party goes after him. When they catch up to Boda, he is sitting in front of a small house, hackles raised and snarling.
Jotun begins calming him down and giving him praises on a job well done. The house seemed fine from a distance, nothing out of the ordinary, but something felt off. Standing at the back of the group, Kai, still in human form, begins to smell a heavy stench of blood. It begins to draw out his weretiger form. Everyone turns around watching him as he begins shifting forms, but he returns to normal in a flash as if nothing happened. Having felt his wild side about to come out, he volunteers to fetch the guards to let them know we found one of their own dead by the teleportation circle. He takes off, leaving Erik, Godrus, Sali, Jotun, and Boda standing at the house to investigate.
Sali discovers the front door is closed, but the door handle is destroyed. Slowly opening the busted door and seeing the house is dark, Sali calls out to whoever is in the room. No response. While Sali explores further into the house, Godrus, Jotun, and Boda walk up and peer through the front window. Trying to get a different view, Erik Climbs on to the top of the roof to investigate the area. It is dark inside the house, with only the natural light of dusk filtering through the window. Towards the back of the room is a closed door. Cautiously approaching the door, Sali knocks and hears a muffled sound and then nothing. Feeling the sense of an oncoming fight, Sali’s adrenaline rises, and his rage builds. He opens the door to find a dark room, so he tosses one of his homemade explosives inside. In the flash of flames, it was all too clear who was standing in front of him. Belroth, the red half-dragon, had tracked down the group.
Sali charges forward, attacking Belroth. Jotun sees the struggle ensuing and enters the house with Boda at his heels. Boda rushes into the room and lunges at the enemy. Jotun draws his bow and unleashes two shots into Belroth. While on top of the roof, Erik felt the explosion below and hurried into the house as well. As he begins a prayer to Bractave, Erik’s eyes start glowing, and, with his trident in hand, he casts spirit guardians. This unleashes golden serpents that circle him, and anyone who enters this circle is slowed. Seeing the group gather, Belroth knows he is in for a fight and begins his retaliation. He inhales deeply and in a blast of fury and fire, uses his breath attack. Sali and Jotun are caught up in the flame and feel the intensity of his fire. Belroth begins recharging his attack, but the damage he sustained thus far has caught him off guard, and his attempt fails. This does not faze him one bit as he draws his weapon. In a flash of white fury, Kai runs in to stand by Sali. His animal instincts kick in, and he pounces towards Belroth, claws out slashing wildly as he strikes.
As the fighting continues, Belroth deals some hard hits on Sali but is met with the heavy blows of Salis’ axe. Jotun and Boda continue their assault. Belroth dodges some of their attacks but finds it difficult to move around in the room surrounded by his targets. Jotun starts to step back as Erik moves forward, lightning arcing between the prongs of his trident. As he finishes the last line of his prayer, he thrusts his trident forward, unleashing a torrent of lightning bolts and the cracking booms of thunder fill the entire house. The sweeping spell of thunder wave filled the room, swallowing not only Belroth but Kai and Sali as well.
After all of these attacks, Belroth is looking worse for wear but is not backing down. His eyes begin to glow, smoke billowing out from the corners of his mouth and his nostrils. In an instant, the room fills with a thick ashen smoke cloud leaving everyone blinded except Belroth. Believing he now has the upper hand in battle, he starts moving forward to tear into Sali. Speaking to Belroth, Sali warns him that this smoke cloud will not work on him, and this skirmish has gone on far too long. He offers Belroth the chance to walk away from this and promises they can finish this fight later.
The smoke cloud begins to dissipate as fast as it had appeared. Everyone stands stunned for a moment, unsure of what will come next. Belroth looks hesitant at Sali and Kai who are in front of him. Hearing he has an opportunity to leave is one thing, but no one else had shared the same sentiment as Sali. Moving forward, he looks to Kai who is silent and still, allowing him to pass. He exits the room now facing Erik. They lock eyes, for a moment unsure if either will strike at the other as Belroth moves forward. A snarling Boda defending his master, stands ready to attack but waits for Jotun to give the order. This is where Belroth stops and looks to Jotun. Not knowing why this half-dragon is hunting him, Jotun can feel only anger towards Belroth. After a few seconds, Belroth speaks, “You are the first bounty I’ve failed to bring in.” With those words, he exits the house.
Belroth leaves more injured than he ever thought possible. He was not prepared for the party’s unification and their solid defense for their friend’s sake. Jotun looks out the door and watches the large half-dragon man disappear into the night, unsure of when the party will next see him, but certain it is only a matter of time.
The battle was hard-fought, but the victory was theirs in the end. Everyone looks to Sali to explain why he let Belroth leave when they could have picked up the bounty that is placed on him. Sali puts his axe back into its sheath and shrugs, explaining more pressing matters are at hand before he exits the house. After taking severe damage, he is ready to rest and recover before their venture up the mountain, Wraith Shadow.
Note: Red half-dragon image is from dungeonsolvers.com
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