Game Thread Chapter 1: Under the Il'Idril Well - Page 19

Magnai · #**271** 04-06-2011, 10:04 PM

Quiivern holds still and looks to the others to figure out what to do with this beast. He's already done enough damage today and a mistake because of his... overzealousness will not serve them very well in front of a beast that is clearly superior to them in power and wisdom.

He is intrigued by the situation that the dragon is in. He wonders where the treasure that the dragon protects is and if Quiivern could get some of it. He did hear the word diamond in some of those answers. Surely a blind dragon wouldn't need to hold on to all those shiny things. They would do very well to be laid into a great dwarven waraxe or perhaps another greataxe to replace the current one he is using.

Quiivern is surprised that the ones that they killed were acting out of interest for the elves. It seems like if they get rid of the battle with the elves, the water problem will go away. He doesn't particularly care for the elves but if it means that they get their job done, then it works.

Chekken · #**272** 04-06-2011, 11:27 PM

The dragon bowed his head slightly at "Tim", perhaps the only time he had looked away from the adventurers in some time. "I am...regretful for your loss. I know very well the pains of losing loved ones, but as the human dictum goes, time heals all wounds."

The dragon brought his head back up after a solemn pause. "In any case, one or both of us is greatly confused about the facts. It seems that, if the cowardly humans were not interested in helping the Elves, but were willing to release them, that they are merely mercenaries. This leads me to the conclusion that some third party is involved in this struggle for 'equal rights' and 'freedom from oppression'. Perhaps you are part of this...'third party'?" The dragon's spiky mouth slid into a knowing grin. "In that case, I may have to eat you." He sees the surprised look on your faces, and bellows out a hearty laugh. "Bwah hahaha! I jest. I've had more than enough to eat today."

"If your intention is to release the prisoners, of providing them with true freedom, then by all means I will allow you to do so. However, in exchange, I want my own freedom." The dragon gestures at a thick chain holding his hind-leg on the left hand side.

fred · #**273** 04-07-2011, 04:21 PM

"That is what we shall do. But we have yet to hear your name." Tim says with a questioning voice, "I do believe our business in this town may be over soon as we know of the problem and a solution is easy enough to produce. Of course, it would be good to know the degree of freedom you want. Do you wish simply to find a way out of this cave? Or would you like help in reaching a place where you may be respected, rather than left to stop helpless prisoners for escaping? Most elves are very accepting of magical beasts and perhaps we could help you find a settlement of them who would be willing to take you in as a friend. That would of course require us to finish our business in this town before we are aple to help in your transport."

Chekken · #**274** 04-07-2011, 05:15 PM

The dragon stood up, the chain jangling slightly as he stretched out his wings (at least, as much of his wings as the cavern would allow him to). "My real, draconic name is far too complicated for your human tongues to twist out. But you humans have since translated my name into elven. Halanai, the prisoners call me...similar to the elven word 'obstacle'" Halanai nods to Tim.

"If it were up to me, I would be traveling to Lassay, to speak to the draconic council and to see if I may be reinstated into a new clan. I am young, but there is still much to learn." Halanai grunted loudly. "I miss the company of my kind. No elf, human, dwarf or orc could ever satisfy my need for kinsmanship. There are so many rules, though. So many restrictions." There is a short pause as Halanai nudges the rocks on the ground and brings his snout downwards, as if some sort of invisible fairy had landed on his clawed foot. It was unclear if he was sniffing the ground or not. "I suppose what I am asking is for you to help me find my clan, to speak to my draconic council about my fate. Perhaps...perhaps when your business is finished here, we could fly to the council and ask for their help in freeing the Elves." Halanai smiles. He simply could not help making barters.

"However, you have not answered the question of the dragon egg in Swald's pocket, or the name of the person foolishly trying to hide from me" Halanai lifted his snout in Azog's direction. "Do not think me foolish because I cannot see. You smell like an Orc...are you an orc?"

Frodiddly · #**275** 04-10-2011, 01:48 PM

As the Dragon spoke, Azog began to understand what this creature was. He relaxed his guard, for the moment. Hopefully there would be nothing to worry about. The half-orc did not fully understand what this beast spoke of, but he was still able to empathize with it's feelings of separation. After all, it was something that Azog had dealt with his whole life, though Azog did not know of any clan of Goraxes that he might return to...

"I am merely a half-orc, but I possess as much power as one. If you wish for help to return to your kin, then I am willing to lend my aid, if the rest of my company is. I can understand the need for kinsmanship, for I have been without my own people for many years."

Chekken · #**276** 04-30-2011, 08:17 PM

Swald answered the dragon slowly, unsure of exactly what to say and yet phrasing it in what he hoped was a well-meaning tone. He realized that the dragon must have been the bargaining type, and so he changed the conversation to fit this. "The egg is of no great importance. I bought it while perusing a merchant in town."

Hanalai turned now towards the half-Orc man. "That is a kind thing to do, to release a dragon. Dangerous, too. Quite strange for a half-Orc to do, and yet understandable, if you have been without your kin for so long."

There is a small pause, then Swald speaks. "I was wondering, Halanai...perhaps we could strike some sort of deal with you?"

The dragon looked at him, clearly astonished and yet very interested. "What do you mean?"

Swald approached the dragon, hoping to god that he did not lash out. And yet Hanalai the Dragon accepted this move, with a rather puzzled expression on his spiky face. "Well", Swald began. "You, Hanalai, you value your freedom. We value things more...material in nature." The man paused for a moment, allowing Hanalai to respond, but he did not, and so Swald continued. "You say that you do not trust us, and yet you have not entrusted us with anything. If we are to reach a relationship of trust, you must trust us as well."

Halanai nodded. "Go on."

Swald had not been expecting Halanai to be so receptive. "Perhaps there is something that you could trust us with? Some item or treasure of some importance to you?"

"Well," Halanai began, "-there is one such item. A ring. A ring of great importance, one that was entrusted to me by the chieftain of this village, whom I call 'Father' out of convenience. It has the Rijah Family Emblem on it, encrusted with diamonds and other things. It is very valuable, when combined with another treasure, although I do not wish to speak of such things. If I could only find this ring..." Halanai paused for a moment. "I suppose those thieves from earlier had a personal agenda, hmm? Stealing rings from dragons...what fools. Do they not know the consequences?"

Halanai sniffed around for the ring, hoping he could see it somewhere. He sidestepped for a moment, and you see a great mountain of treasure behind him: golden coins, ruby-encrusted crowns, silver tiaras and scepters of kings past. He begins shuffling through his treasure, searching for the ring.

"Hmmm...I seem to not be able to find it..." Halanai continued to search. "I would entrust you to bring this ring to someone else, who can identify it. I sense great magical properties in that ring. Very great. I suspect it to be a ring that has been thought to have been lost for many centuries. However, this does not mean much, if I cannot find it to begin with!" The dragon chuckled.

Magnai · #**277** 04-30-2011, 08:57 PM

Quiivern looks at Swald, who's doing the negotiating. He pulls the ring that he got from the theives and slowly, ever so slowly, takes it out of his pocket. He holds it up and moves it about, gesturing to Swald that he'd be ok to give the ring to the dragon, just in this case.

He's very concerned about this dragon and his health. He hasn't heard good things about their tempers and there are way too many stories about dwarves getting killed when they do the wrong thing around a dragons.

Chekken · #**278** 04-30-2011, 11:19 PM

Swald gently took the ring from Quiivern, mouthing thank you. He took aim and tossed the ring into the pile. It made a loud "twang" as it bounced off of the ground, perfectly onto the stack. The dragon followed the sound the ring had made and picked it up with his front claw, holding out his index finger in a "come hither" motion, the ring at the tip of his fanged claw. Swald took it gently. Halanai gave Swald an odd look, expecting some answer about the origins of the "twang" noise, but Swald simply took the ring and gave it back to Quiivern. Though Quiivern was not the one that Swald trusted most, the dragon was close enough to Swald to smell him, and Swald did not want the dragon to know that they had had the ring.

"Here it is. The Ring of Rijah." The dragon spoke quickly, so that the adventurers could not interrupt him. "I want you to understand precisely how important this ring is. You are not to give it to any other. You are not to lose it. You are to take it to the person whom I tell you to take it to, and return it to me. This may prove a long journey, however, as you will be going to a town that is quite far away. So you may want to deal with any business here before you leave. Any questions?"

fred · #**279** 05-02-2011, 08:46 PM

"Just one. Who is Rijah? Is that the chieftans family? Or is that the name of another family?" Tim asks, moving forward to look at the ring Quiivern once again held.

Chekken · #**280** 05-04-2011, 08:14 PM

Hanalai chuckled. "Rijah is a person, of course. Rijah Longstreet. I am not sure where this 'Rijah' lives, but he must live nearby. Perhaps another human would know?" Hanalai shook his head. "No, no...not human. Elf. The elves seem to know a lot about this 'Rijah'. Perhaps you should ask one?"

"Now, then. I believe we had a deal. It is time to release me from these chains. The only question is, 'how'?" The dragon gestured at the heavy-duty chain tethering him to the rock wall.