by Tim Moon
“Spooky in here, isn’t it?” Jaron asked.
“See anything important?” Burlibink asked. With his draconic eye ability, Jaron saw the gnome roll his eyes.
“Not really. It’s all good,” Jaron said. “Do you guys need torches so you can see?”
“Enchanted goggles, my friend.” Thendo said, tapping his brow. “Don’t worry about us, we all have them.”
Jaron looked back down at Burlibink who retrieved his goggles from a pouch on his belt. The others already had theirs equipped. Once Burlibink had his on, he swept an arm at the space ahead of them.
“Lead the way,” Burlibink said.
Jaron wondered if they had used the goggles to keep an eye on him. If so, they had seen a lot more of him than he would have liked. He opened his mouth to say something about it, but figured it was one of those things that is better to avoid talking about.
“Great, let’s explore,” Jaron said. Staring into the darkness filled him with nervous anticipation and childlike glee.
The lower level of the lair turned out to be quite a maze of winding tunnels, dead ends, and a couple of pitfalls. They halted for rest when they came to another dead end.
Burlibink growled in frustration. “This place is madness.”
“Let’s backtrack and see if there are any other tunnels before we try the next level,” Thendo said. He had been marking each tunnel they explored so they didn’t get lost or miss one. The marking system was simple; a circle if it had been explored, a large X if it ended in a dead end and a V if it had a pitfall. Many of the tunnels were marked with two or more symbols.
“I think we have to go up. Look at those claw marks,” Jaron said, pointing to an opening with many scratches in the stone. “I think this lower level is meant to confuse and trap intruders.”
“It’s working,” Zahlin muttered.
Jaron flinched at the sudden appearance of the gnome right next to him.
Zahlin must be the roguish one of the group, he thought.
“She couldn’t have passed the knowledge on to you when she did the whole glowy thing?” Burlibink asked sarcastically.
Jaron scoffed. “You’re right, I’ve been holding out this whole time just for kicks.”
Burlibink glanced at him and then Thendo, who shrugged.
“What do you mean?” Burlibink asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I’m joking. She didn’t tell me anything about the cave.”
“Are you two going to talk or come take a look?” Zahlin asked from above them.
Jaron ducked away from the wall with a curse and stared up at the opening where the tactical gnome had stuck his head out and was smiling down at them.
“How’d you get up there?” Jaron asked.
“How indeed,” Burlibink said as he appeared next to Zahlin.
Jaron couldn’t believe it. He’d just been talking to Burlibink and now he was fifteen feet overhead. The wall was nearly ten times the gnome’s height. He was still trying to figure out how they did it when they both disappeared into the darkness. Even Thendo disappeared.
“Hey guys, how’d you get up there?” Jaron asked. His voice echoed in the tunnel as he stood alone in the tunnel. “Guys?”
35
Several minutes, a scraped elbow and a bump on the head later, Jaron figured out how to climb the wall and join the gnomes. They had a good laugh when he admitted that he eventually had to use magic to create several large steps in the stone. When he asked how they did it, they just chuckled. The gnomes were clearly fucking with him. Shaking his head at his own foolishness, Jaron let it go and focused on finding Vayvnu’s hoard.
The second level turned out to be just as maze-like as the first. Once they made it through a long, convoluted series of tunnels that eventually angled upwards, the group arrived in a large, vaulted chamber.
“This has to be the third level,” Thendo said. “Stay alert.”
Given how long it had taken to find it, the chamber must be carved deep in the mountain side. The walls were smooth and gracefully arched to the domed ceiling. He grunted in appreciation.
“What is it?” Zahlin asked.
“Huh? Oh, nothing really. I was just wondering how this cave system was built. Most of the walls are smooth. It doesn’t look like the work of claws or a pickaxe,” Jaron said.
The gnomes all turned to look at him.
Jaron frowned. “What?”
“Copper dragons use earth magic to build their lairs. At least those that do not take up residence in an abandoned structure,” Thendo explained. “In fact, the only reason we found this chamber so quickly is because Vayvnu was a young dragon. Coppers love to create wildly complicated mazes to confuse and trap intruders.”
“I see,” Jaron said. He had listened intently to Thendo but a new sensation pulled his attention at the end. He stuck a finger in his mouth and held it up. “Do you feel that breeze?”
Thendo nodded. “I noticed that as well.”
“Oi, there’s a tunnel over here,” Burlibink said, gesturing at them from the far corner.
“Great,” Thendo said. “The back entrance may be easier to traverse than going through the maze every time.”
“Let’s hope so,” Jaron said.
With a wave, Burlibink dashed away.
“What’s it like being an outrider?” Jaron asked, walking slowly beside the gnome.
Thendo glanced up at him. “Well, we are the gnomish equivalent to human cavalry. We have obvious advantages in the forest compared to a large, noisy horse.”
Jaron bobbed his head in agreement.
“It was mere chance that we found you.”
The change of subject piqued Jaron’s interest.
Thendo continued, “We heard a scream in the forest and came across your trail. You are unlike any elf we have seen, so I decided that we would observe from a distance as you crossed through our territory. When the white rabbit led you to Ahja, our curiosity deepened.”
“Uh huh,” Jaron grunted. The only time he screamed in the forest was in the meadow after respawning.
“I have witnessed Ahja’s avatar bless only one other being. It is a great honor. So, I knew we had to provide silent escort.”
“But why not introduce yourselves?” Jaron asked.
“Our duty is to protect the borders of our territory. We do so silently and with discretion. We only followed you beyond our borders and into Vayvnu’s territory because of the blessing you received. Ahja spoke to us and bid us watch over you until you ‘found your way’ as she put it.” Thendo smiled. “Have you found your way?”
Jaron thought about his friends and wondered how they were doing. “Not exactly. I mean, I was on the right path to meet back up with some friends when the dread wolves and now all this sidetracked me. Not that I mind, but I really need to get back to them. They will need my help.”
Their attention turned to the new chamber that Burlibink had found at the end of the tunnel.
“Looks like this was Vayvnu’s living chamber,” Zahlin said, examining something hanging on the wall.
“What are you looking at?” Jaron asked.
“A painting.” Zahlin glanced over his shoulder. “Coppers love art for some reason.”
Jaron began a quick circuit of the room. His inspection was interrupted by Thendo letting out a low whistle.
“You will want to see this, Jaron,” he said.
“What is it?” Jaron said, excitement in his voice.
There were no mountains of gold coins, no golden goblets or long-lost crowns encrusted with gems. Jaron found a rather modest set of three large, high-quality chests which lined one wall. Several feet to the right of the chests was a mound of earth topped with a thick mattress of branches and other detritus that Jaron guessed had served as Vayvnu’s bed. The real eye catcher was the smaller, yet still massive nest made of twigs, dried moss and grass that cradled an impressive looking egg standing on end, roughly five feet tall.
“Oh, shit,” Jaron
said, dragging out the words. “Do you think this is Vayvnu’s child?”
“I do not believe so. A copper dragon’s egg would appear metallic. This is quite different,” Thendo said softly. He leaned in close to inspect it.
Jaron couldn’t deny that it was quite different from any egg he had ever seen.
“We need light,” he said. “Things look weird in darkvision.”
“Agreed,” Thendo said.
“Already working on it,” Zahlin said. “Where is Burlibink, that son of a troll?”
Thendo ignored the question and Jaron had no idea where the gnome was so he followed suit.
What Jaron could tell with darkvision and the way it felt, was that the egg had a craggy, scaled texture with smooth protrusions that could be crystalline. The egg was strangely warm. It radiated a nice warmth that almost made him want to hug it.
The egg stirred under Jaron’s touch causing him suck in a breath and step back. Then his eyes widened, and a grin spread across his face as he read a notification.
You have found the egg of an emerald drake hound and been offered a unique quest: Dragon’s Best Friend I. On her deathbed, Vayvnu the Guardian’s best friend Finnia Strongjaw requested that Vayvnu protect her egg and care for the youngling when it hatched. Vayvnu made a blood oath promising to do so. As heir of Vayvnu the Guardian, you can fulfill this promise. Conditions: Protect the egg until it hatches and raise the youngling. Rewards: 4,000 XP, 75% chance to gain a magical beast mount, 500 reputation points with friends and allies of Vayvnu the Guardian and Finnia Strongjaw.
Do you accept?
Yes or No
“Hells yes!” Jaron shouted. The chance of a magical mount alone was reason enough to accept this quest.
“What is it?” a wide-eyed Thendo asked.
“The egg gave me a quest. It’s one that Vayvnu hadn’t completed yet,” Jaron said. It had to be the promise she mentioned before bestowing her power to him. “The quest gives me a chance to get a magical beast mount.”
“That is wonderful. You will enjoy the companionship,” Thendo said with a grin. He gave his badger a friendly pat. I cannot imagine life without Blacah.”
“When did he get here?” Jaron asked. “And how did he climb up here?”
“He is reporting back from their patrol. Two of the badgers remain on patrol and one guards the cave mouth.”
Their dedication to security and the countless times they helped him prompted Jaron to say, “Thank you, all of you, for your help. I truly appreciate it. Hell, I might not be alive if it wasn’t for your aid.”
“You would certainly be dead,” Thendo said with a chuckle.
“And that is not fun let me tell you,” Jaron said. His voice faded at the end as he remembered the pain and disorientation from his death in the Fang Marsh.
Jaron caught the curious expression on Thendo’s face before the gnome looked away. Was that fear in his eyes? Anger?
“I will, uh, go and inform Gnoly of what we found and be sure to mark a clear path while you inspect your lair,” the gnome said, waving a finger in the air indicating the chamber.
“My lair?” Jaron chuckled. “That sounds so weird to hear out loud.” He sighed. “It feels like we’re in someone else’s house.”
Burlibink returned before Thendo could say anything. He made eye contact with both and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “The tunnel leads to a hidden exit on the face of a cliff. You should check it out, the view is magnificent.”
“Well done, Burlibink. I am going to retrace our steps and update Gnoly,” Thendo said. Turning to Jaron he waved at the room again and said, “Have a look around. All of this became yours when Vayvnu named you her heir and gifted you with her essence.”
“Yeah.” Jaron nodded as he took in the room.
What was he going to do with the cave? With the egg? He still had to help Cyprus and the kids. He wanted to care for it but he couldn’t take the egg with him. At the same time, Jaron could stay and wait for it to hatch. He couldn’t abandon his commitment to Cyprus just because he came into a windfall here. Jaron turned back to Thendo and Burlibink but the gnomes were already gone.
Releasing a heavy sigh, Jaron patted the egg. “I’m here for you, buddy. But hatch quickly, okay? I’ve got things to do and it’d be great if you could come along.” He chuckled at how ridiculous it was to talk to an egg.
Now it was time to see what Vayvnu left behind. Jaron grinned in anticipation of opening what could only be described as treasure chests. He rubbed his hands together and made his way over to the chests.
Three large treasure chests sat before Jaron. Each one featured thick metal bands intricately carved with decorative designs. Jaron felt grateful that none of the chests appeared to be locked since he had no idea how to pick locks and the gnomes were nowhere to be found. Given the trap that had sprung at Myra’s cabin, Jaron approached the chests with caution, and began to carefully examine them for traps.
After what felt like a thorough inspection that failed to turn up any traps, Jaron lifted the lid of the first chest. When nothing weird happened, he peered inside. The contents made him grin like a wolf.
The first item was a miniature carved ship with sails and rigging painstakingly etched into whatever precious metal it was made of. It sat to one side of a tray topped with several leather pouches. Jaron lifted one of the pouches, hoping for coins but it was too light. Inside were dried leaves. All the other pouches held similar contents. Herbalism supplies would be great once he learned the skill. For now, Jaron tried to temper his disappointment.
Underneath the tray, he discovered a nice cloak made of something like fleece with a gemstone clasp. Beside that was another small pouch, this one made of velvet and filled with stones— possibly gems — but Jaron couldn’t see well enough with darkvision to distinguish them. Other items included a silk sash, a silk robe, one leather belt and a pair of leather gloves.
Jaron moved methodically down the line, inspecting and carefully opening each chest to examine the contents. In all, Jaron came away with a shield, a mace, two daggers, a spiked chain, a full set of leather armor, a wooden case filled with scrolls, a padded box with vials of mysterious liquids that could be potions or poisons, and what looked like a box of round stones and a leather sling. Jaron also found a foot-long gnarled stick that might be a wand and finally, two pouches of coins. Rather than counting the unfamiliar coins, Jaron placed them into his backpack and checked his inventory screen. The coins were auto-counted and added up to 185 gold, 79 silver and 53 copper pieces. Even without visiting a town to gauge prices, that seemed like a small fortune.
Not a bad haul, he thought. Not Scrooge McDuck money, but not bad.
Once he secured the coins in his backpack, Jaron immediately turned his attention to the leather armor. Eyeballing it in the dark suggested it was close to his size, though perhaps the pant legs may ride up. He was sick of the loincloth and the armor practically begged for a test fit.
Jaron laid the pieces out and examined the fastening system. At first it looked confusing but once he slipped them on, figuring out the straps and buckles was intuitive. He could also don the armor by himself, which was a big win. The leather pants fit well on his tall, athletic frame.
Next, Jaron slipped on the leather breastplate. It was a clamshell design that slid over his head and strapped securely on both sides. He tried twisting and raising his arms to test out the movement. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it was functional. Even after strapping everything together, he could move without too much problem.
“You are looking fierce, Master Jaron,” Thendo said.
Jaron flinched and then cleared his throat trying to cover up his surprise. “I’m no master. Please, just call me Jaron.”
Gnoly giggled, then guffawed, and then snorted. Her hand shot up to cover her mouth as she tried to fight back the outburst. Even looking at her with darkvision, her eyes practically sparkled with amusement.
“What’s so funny?” Ja
ron asked, looking down at himself. He groaned when he saw how much of his stomach was exposed. The damn breastplate was too short by a good 6 inches, making it look like he wore a halter top. No wonder it felt so airy.
Burlibink chuckled. “If you ever need to earn coins, you could always dance. I hear belly dancers can earn more than a silver per night in the big towns.”
Gnoly giggled even louder and averted her eyes.
“Okay, okay,” Jaron said, tugging self-consciously at the leather top even though it wouldn’t budge. Fumbling for anything to change the subject he blurted out, “Where’s Zahlin?”
36
Jaron gazed upon the forest below with a satisfied expression. After harvesting what they could manage from Vayvnu and then burying the body, it started to sink in that this really would be his domain. Jaron stood near the edge where the tunnel from the main chamber met the cliff face. Burlibink was right, the view was magnificent.
Jaron still had to use the keystone to officially claim it, but that required a commitment to stay and defend the claim, and that would have to wait. Dusk fell over the forest below. Insects began to stir and make their presence known. He wondered what Cyprus and the others might be doing at that moment. Hopefully, they were safe. His thoughts were broken by the sound of footsteps behind him.
“Care to join us for supper?” Thendo asked.
Jaron turned to look at his companion. “What’s on the menu?”
“What is a menu?” Thendo gave him a dubious look.
“Uh, you know. A list of available dishes to order, usually at a restaurant,” Jaron said. Seeing the look on Thendo’s face, he waved his hand. “Nevermind, it doesn’t matter.”
Blacah ran up to Thendo and bumped into him like a dog showing affection. It made Jaron think about the egg again and how awesome it would be to have an animal companion.
“Do you have any idea how long the drake hound will take to hatch?” Jaron asked. “I can’t wait here for it to hatch, but I also can’t carry that massive egg with me.”