City of IF

[Chinaren]

Just spotted this one! I will return to it soon for comment. No time now...

[Kalanna Rai]

Right new poll...Vote.

[Kalanna Rai]

I've been slacking...alright I blame NaNo for the lateness of this chappy but now that it's here...Enjoy.
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Chapter Nine: Did I mention I Hate Elves?

13th of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

I decided to go with elves, for two reasons. One, I can learn Transy while I travel and two, they're alot easier to eat if they get lippy. As I passed over the fields of Coonu I didn't see a single Aous anyway so I guess it's just as well I've decided to go with elves...even if it means I might have one more thing to carry.
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19th of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

I'm cold, wet, and my hindquarters are encased in a block of ice. Normally I wouldn't mind that but the block of ice started off as a mountain side. The elves were none too thrilled to see me...or actually they didn't so much mind me as they did Archie. Apparently being turned into a dog wasn't an accident...it was a punishment for making eyes at an elven princess...big no no if you happen to be a mortal. Half elves are frowned upon.

So here I sit, my butt freezing, and Renault is encased in a cage of thorny vines at my feet. Where Archie is I really couldn't say but when I get my claws on him...oh he'll regret not being neutered. I bet you want to know how all this happened and I suppose one day I'll look back on this and laugh...or so they say. So here goes...

I'd been flying for quite some time, anxious to reach the Briblewood and aquire and elf, so I wasn't paying as much attention as I normally do. I completely missed the vistor's center and it's landing strip by a mile or two and set us down in the palace courtyard instead. It's a simple mistake, anyone who'd just flown sevety-two hours straight would have made the same. I even offered to replace the ornate garden that I crushed with my left rear foot. But the arrows never wavered, nor did the squinty eyed steely stares.

Unlike the elves of the Islwood and the Ipswood these folk were no slouches when it came to weaponry and dangerous magic. At first they thought I was an elf transformed into a dragon, as if! Firstly I've seen what Transy masters call 'dragons' they're four foot lizards. Not even a growth spell could have made some transformed elf into something my size. They finally figured out I was not an elf when they tried to 'reform' me and all they succeeded in doing was making a small fireworks show.

Then they noticed I was packing a couple of horses and some men on my back. Without lowering the bows they told me to drop my prisoners, I give them brownie points for the thought but they really should have asked, and I politely informed them that these were not my prisoners but my traveling companions. They wiggled their pointy ears a bit before asking me, sarcastically, to put my 'traveling companions' down. I obliged and that's when the manure hit the wind.

They took one look at Archie and the arrows flew, causing both Renault and I to do some fancy moves, namely casting an arrow repelling sheild and then dodging the boulders they turned into. Archie just kicked his horse in the ribs and tried to run for it but the horse was still sedated. Ever heard of the expression don't kick a dead horse...apparently he hadn't. The elves soon took him prisoner, wrapped him up in some nastly looking Rashweed rope, and drug him off somewhere.

Meanwhile some elf mages turned the mountainside I'd been leaning against into a block of ice, thus trapping my posterior end, and grew a steelthorn vine cage around Renault. They informed us that we were in no uncertain terms to attempt escape or face the consequences. After watching Archie spend the past two plus years of his life as a dog, which he still is, I was in no hurry to bust up this glacier that kept me grounded. Renault, on the other hand, was using some language that I didn't think a man of honor and quality upbringing would know.

Right now I'm writing by moonlight, since I'm not sure the elves would approve of my journal and I'm not about to share it with them. These are my private thoughts to be shared with friends only...I havn't even let Renault see this and I'm pretty sure I'm revoking Archie's library card after this little escapade. I havn't even been able to get a word in edgewise with these elves.
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20th of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Now they're mad at me. I got sick of being stuck in the same position so I extracted myself from the ice cube and the elves got all huffy. Alright so I turned the thing into six feet of snow and buried their capital what are you going to do about it? Tell my mother? But to make a long story short they called it an escape attempt and the bows and transforming arrows came back out, along with several transy masters who made themselves into giant element golems who shadow my every move...I find it cool.

Right now I've spent my day reading and conversing with Renault while we wait to here more about Archie...there's a bit of a bet going to see what they turn him into. Renault thinks Archie will spend the rest of his days as a rock, I'm pretty sure they'll mulch him. I would but that's just me I suppose.

I think the elves are surprised that I'm making no attempt to escape...or destroy their village. Or maybe they were surprised that I was sitting quietly, ignoring all their threats and weaponry, reading several books and scrolls and making notes in the margines on how to do this or that. I know I certainly caught the attention of one of the guards when I whipped out a book called 'Transy...Is it For You?'

He hasn't quit eyeing me all day. He's most definetly a mage, I can smell it, but he's not cast any spells that I've noticed. He seems to be watching all the other elves, a 'supervisor' of sorts. Ah well, time to put my books away.
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21st of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

The elf mage who's been staring at me, I did mention him yesterday right? Turns out he's the assistant Magistrix of the College of Transy. He's rather interested that a dragon would want to learn the art. He's also rather shocked that I've got such a grip on High Magick or that I've done half of what I've done. He wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't shown him some souvenire view-globes of favorite moments.

He says he'd like to test my aptitude for Transy and I told him I'm a little pressed for time but if he wanted to have a 'grand adventure' he could come with me. He seems willing to listen but how will I convince him to come with me...an assistant Magistrix would be perfect as magical muscle...and a private tutor too. Although I suppose I should go looking for Archie too...

Which to do first?
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Well, what should she do? If she's going to convice the mage she needs something to tell him. If she's going to find Archie she needs a plan.
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Hope you liked.

[JezSharp]

Well the elf is far more useful so convince him first.

What to tell him, well subtly suggest all the gold he will get, all the sights he will see etc...being fairly liberal with the truth.

[Chinaren]

Yay! I f5 Jezzo. Get him along. Could be useful.

[dinranwen]

Offer the guy as a job. Straight up. No frills. No flattery. Just a deal. Tell him what you want and then wait for a reply.

If he refuses, shrug and begging to lurk around for dear old Archie by spying on the guards.

Once you find Arichie give him a good what for and get the out of here...

[Kalanna Rai]

New poll is up...choose their fate!

[Mother Goose]

There seems to be a glitch in this poll, besides the double choices. I voted, but I can see neither the results nor the names of who voted. (Before I logged in I saw the results but not the names.)

[Kalanna Rai]

My Christmas gift to all of you...a new chappy! Merry Christmas, Enjoy!
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Chapter Ten: Darkwood Dilemma

22nd of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

I did something completely unusual for me...I told him the truth. I told him I'd like very much if he came with me since I was on my way to visit the Dragon King himself in the Citidel at Godspine Reach. If he came with me not only would he be the first elf to ever teach a dragon Transy but he might just be the first High Elf to ever enter the Citidel and live. High elves, unlike their many cousins of darker, and stupider, lineage have only ventured into those mountains with the plan to kill something...and the only something worth killing in those mountains are dragons.

He told me he was going to have to think about my offer, and that if he agreed that would do nothing to get us out of our current situation. He told me that if I was sincere about my offer I would extract myself from my current prickly situation, namely being a prisoner of the elven army. I told him I'd need to sleep on it.

And yet here I am, writing all this down instead of sleeping. It's alright though, I actually only brainstormed an hour before hitting upon an answer that might actually work. I mean who doesn't love shiney objects...
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23rd of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

I had our elven friend, his name is some long complicated thing with way too many letters in it for me to remember so I'm calling him Bob, tell us without telling us where Archie was. Apperantly he did more than make eyes at the aforementioned elven princess and she was trying desperately to forestall his impending doom. Being a princess, and an elven one at that, she was doing a superb job of it, dragging out regulations that dated back to the days when I still had shell stuck to my hide.

Apparently Archie has a way to clear his name, he must go on a quest to prove himself honorable in the eyes of the High elves and, since this is a princess we're talking about, get himself named Elf-Brother. Once he does that then it's no big deal, as long as the princess herself wills the match then Archie is free to court her. Of course the idiot knows nothing about this, neither did the elves though.

As I said some of these regulations were very, very old. This one was one of the eldest on the books. Bob said it had been found by an adventuring researcher in the nineth level of the nineth Library Dungeon who, after hacking through Venom Fiends, Flaming Constructs, and one rather nasty giant chicken by the name of Poltra, found himself in an old records room. He managed to stumble back out six days later.

His hair had turned into an Afro, his sword into a massive pic, his sheild into an industrial sized tube of extra hold hair gel, and his suit of silver armor was now a silver polyester suit. Down in the depths of that room he'd encountered one of the most deadly guardians the elves had ever put to work...an 8-Track! But through his bravery and valor he'd managed to return to the surface with a slightly damaged book of ancient elf laws.

Now that I know this I've managed to pursuade Bob to carry a message to Archie telling him to tell the guards he wants to see the King about a Section Seven. I can only hope the little twit takes my advice.
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24th of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Archie took the bait! Good boy! He was also smart enough to use Section Seven to the best possible advantage. According to that old law if the accused, that's Archie, offers to do any task set him by the King then he shall be allowed to choose three companions to aid him on the quest. If the King had known that, I think that old elf might have just skimmed the section in question rather than read it, I doubt he would have assigned Archie something so...perfect.

You see Archie has been charged with slaying the Darkwood Dragon, a monster under the command of a legion of Slime Elves. Never heard of Slime Elves you say...neither had I up until that point. They're some new hybrid I suppose but then an elf's and elf as I always say.

Archie naturally chose myself and Renault to help him, and then chose Bob just for good measure. Bob needed the rest of the day just to prepare, I don't really think he's got a lot of confidence in the abilities of the rest of us. He seemed really shook up over this 'Darkwood Dragon' fellow. Maybe he's not the best choice for a companion to the dragon capital.

Still we did manage to get airborn this morning, and now I'm packing three horses...well two horses and one rather peevish unicorn named Lylanda the Stunning. She's been Bob's companion since birth apparently. Oh well, I suppose I can always eat her if she causes too many problems. She won't let us put her to sleep though, which I find a pity since she gets airsick and I'm constantly trying to tilt her so she doesn't puke on my claws.

After flying for most of the day, on a course that's rather well out of our way I might add, we landed and camped for the night just inside the edge of the Darkwood. I also might want to add that the Darkwood is a dragon-wood, not an elf wood. The trees are far too big and tall and the underbrush is the hight of a tall man at it's smallest. The creatures that exist under it's canopy, in the lightless expanse of it's rot covered floor, are perfect prey beasts for dragons as well. Naturally they don't exactly seem like prey to any of the others but my mouth's been watering all day.

Now though, I'm debating telling my companions something that may, or may not, make a difference in the way they act. My little secret happens to be that the elven princess, the one that's being so kind to Archie, has stowed away in one of the massive packs that Bob insisted on making me carry. I feel like a regular mule with everything that I'm hauling but Bob insists everything he's packed is absolutly vital to this particular mission. Still about that princess...
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25th of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Turns out I didn't need to tell them anything. The princess snuck out of the packs last night, she was bored and a little hungry, and I asked her rather politely if she'd like some of the stew we'd had for dinner warmed up a bit...since it had cooled from when we had eaten it. Once I started adressing, she's obviously never conversed with a dragon before, she let out such a scream that it woke the whole camp.

Now I'm sitting here in the wee morning hours jotting this down, since I find it hilarious, and she's being coddled by both Archie and Bob while Renault is absolutely livid that one, she stowed away, and two, I didn't tell them I knew about it. He's all in favor of taking her back, as is Bob for different reasons, while she and Archie are all in favor of letting her stay. It comes down to my vote and if I hear that princess say 'oh I beseech you great and noble queen of the skies, allow me to stay with yon companions' one more time I'll rid the elven nation of yet another princess.

My concerns are a little more practical. If I take her back I'm wasting quite a bit of time in flight that need not be wasted. On the other talon if I let her stay she's in real danger of getting killed and then I've got the High elven nation breathing down my armor all hot with vengance over her death. Then again I seriously doubt that, with the four of us guarding her, there is even a remote chance anything more serious than a hang nail will happen to her.

Still...
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Hope you liked.

[dinranwen]

If it didn't it waste time, I would be all for taking the Princess back or eating her...although admitadly that would result in disater but I'm sure the elves would get over it in a century or so.

Btw...did I mention I hate princess, especially elven ones. Beautiful, stricking, Princess are nothing but whiny, selfish, self-centered, snobs! Who needs a princess anyway?

However there is the fact that doing so would lead to disater, so how about turning the aformentioned annoyance into something, small, easier to carry, less annoying, and hard to harm. This way the Brat is out of harms way, you get her out of the hair, and if you look at technically your not taking the elven princess with you.

Your taking an thing that happens to be an elven princess transied by that's totally different than carring a elven princess, isn't it?

[Kalanna Rai]

Right, I'll give it another few days for more suggestions...then I'll put up a poll.

[Kalanna Rai]

Right new poll is up, gotta get a new chappy out sometime. Be ye voting now?

[Kalanna Rai]

Okay I know this one had a long chappy gap but I hope it was worth the wait. Enjoy.
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Chapter Eleven: Princess? What Princess?

26th of Blarg, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Archie is sulking, Renault won't speak to me, and I couldn't be happier. You remember my little problem with the Elf princess right? Well I've found a cute little loophole I can exploit. The elves can't do anything to me for taking their princess into danger if I don't take an 'elf princess' into danger. And I'm not.

I'm taking a spotted Griphon. Okay, okay so I'm not that great at Transy. I was trying to turn her into a harmless cat, like Shredder, and ended up with a creme and cocoa creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...Griphon. And now I'm planning on taking her with me just like she is...Griphons are excellent magical muscle and it seems she can't untransform herself, neither can Bob for that matter. He's not sure what went wrong but he's assuring me he'll figure it out.

In the meantime I'm trying to figure out just who this Darkwood Dragon is. I mean do I know them or do I just go in their and kill them without any of the tedious paperwork and apologies. I really hope it's the latter.
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1st of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Today is our first day of venturing into the Darkwood, aptly named if unimaginatevly, and I'm already sick and tired of my companions. Renault and his charger bolted off into the woods saying he'd take care of the dragon and be back by lunch. He was back by lunch alright, apparently Knights in White Satin arn't equipped to handle Giant Spiders. Fortunately I am...Spiders EEEK! Right just had to get that out.

Well after stealing the spiders' lunch, Renault says he's greatful but seems more embarassed than anything, we pressed on into the depths of the forest. I havn't seen any signs of 'Slime Elves' but I've seen plenty of slime the further in we go.
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8th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Well I've seen Slime Elves and now I must say I am unimpressed. They get marks for slime production and fashion sense but not much else. Bob, thankfully, had turned himself into a large Raven to do some scouting shortly before we encountered the Slime Elves and has been sucessfully masquerading as Archie's familiar. The princess, also with a name I cannot pronounce so we're calling Aya, didn't even get a second glance not when the elves saw that this motley crew was traveling with moi.

Indeed the elves were more than willing to cooperate when they saw me shouldering my way through the trees and spitting branches out of my mouth. It's too bad the Darkwood Dragon is not home right now or else I might be able to figure out if we're any closer to slaying him. They say he'll be home in a day or so but that's just more time lost for me.
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10th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Well our plans just went down the tube. The Darkwood Dragon has returned but there will be no slaying of him...not if I have anything to say about it. I've lost enough family members to dragonslayers, I'll not be party to the death of my nephew. He's not exactly happy about running into his 'eccentric' aunt either. He's already tried twice to deny relation but he stopped when I said that if I was mistaken and he wasn't my nephew then I guess Renault could just take care of him.

He shut up then and grudginly acknowledged me. Apparently he's not happy to see me not just because I'm encased in armor and traveling with two humans, one elf-raven, one elf-griphon, two horses, and one unicorn. He's also slightly embarassed that I caught him 'working' for Slime Elves. Wait until his mother hears about this! My nephew, he goes by the name Feldin, is a respectible black dragon, nice venom, good scales, real pillage material.

However, he's got no ambitions to pillage whatsoever. He's quite happy to laze around here and let the elves feed him because he scares off those who would invade their woods. Oh he does do fly overs of the Elven cities, not the capital though, and put the fear of dragons in the elves, but besides spitting acid on rooftops and bellowing hard enough to shake stones he's useless.

Once he found out what I was doing here, didn't believe I was here to learn Transy foolish boy, his teeth nearly fell out of his jaws. He couldn't believe that Zalgum himself had called on me. Apparently, not surprisingly, he's been to court recently and says Zalgum is just not the sort to send for someone, especially someone like me. The old ways are dying out, I'm not just eccentric I'm a relic according to Feldin. Humph, I don't think I like that.
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11th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Well we're heading back out of the Darkwood, yes all of us, and Feldin is none to happy about it. However, he's more interested in what will happen when I show up at court. Now, as we trek back out of the woods, I'm contimplating the two problems facing us. One, we didn't slay the Darkwood Dragon. Two, Aya is still a griphon.

I think they'd probably let us get away with taking Feldin with us but I've got no idea how they'll react when they find out we can't change her back. Bob says there's a spring in the nearby Guilwood that removes all magical effects, he thinks that might work, or Archie says it's only a matter of my reversing the spell...which could go very wrong. Or we could just run...I'm all up for that. It would certainly save some time.

What to do...
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Sorry it's short but hope you liked.

[dinranwen]

I say run...and take the princes with you. Maybe the elves won't notice.....

[Kalanna Rai]

Anymore suggestions?

[Mother Goose]

Yes, no need to go back to Aya's tribe before heading for court. On with the adventure, and worry about transforming her back later.

[Kalanna Rai]

Any need for a poll...otherwise I'll skip right to writing the chappy.

[Chinaren]

I f5 the above. Go for it Rai.

[Kalanna Rai]

Well then I should have it up day after tomorrow.

[Kalanna Rai]

Right...new chappy. Enjoy.
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Chapter Twelve: Dwarves, Wyverns, and Me

12th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Well I've had it up past my crest with waiting around and taking little side trips. I settled the whole argument pretty quickly by pointing out that if I didn't get to Godspine Reach soon we were all in deep trouble. The argument became pointless after that and we're readying for take off now.
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13th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

And once again, we've got problems. I'm so fed up with this, so tired of every moment having yet another thing crop up and get in my way. I swear if my life were a story it would be filled with completely pointless and random things! I don't even know how we ran into those dwarves. One minute I was flying along fine, Feldin right behind me carrying the horses, that's one job I didn't mind giving up. The next I'm all alone in the sky and had to back track to find him.

He'd spotted something shiney and interesting looking and all those pillaging instincts I thought he didn't have kicked in. Must be something to do with being in the company of a real dragon. Anyway to make a long story short he swooped down and got himself tangled up in a Dwarven dragon-trap. I was a little brighter than that...I sent Renault, Archie, Bob, and Aya to get him loose rather than landing myself.

Where there is one dragon snare there are more...
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14th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

I could not be happier. These dwarves are swell people, really nice folk. And I'm not just saying that because they fed me an entire caveworm soaked in Dwarven White Ale and fawned over my armor. I'm saying that because, despite the fact I'm traveling with elves, they've volunteered a party of their stoutest warriors and a Master Artificer to go with me. I said yes to the Master Artificer, Borak, and his brother, Fulak, who's a Dwarven Axe Master.

Borak also mentioned that, in honor of my superior intelligence in recognizing the value of well crafted armor, the other Master Artificers are making me something very special. I'm as giddy as a hatchling trying to figure out what it is....
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20th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

The Dwarves made me a sword...a dragon-sized sword! The looks of shock and horror on the faces of my companions were so worth it as well. Renault remembers all too well the fact he was giving me training and that I had spent time in the Eastern lands with those dragons. Feldin can't believe that his aunt could actually use a human weapon to better effect than her own talons. Archie is already trying to figure out a way to stop me incase I ever decide to go on a rampage. And Aya gave a single squack and hid behind Feldin.

We're ready to go now and will be leaving in the next day or so as soon as the Dwarves get their clockwork Wyverns working. Apparently they ride the things into battle now...I'm impressed.
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23rd of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

Today is my last day of freedom. Tomorrow we'll cross the Rim of the World and be in the Dragonlands at last. Once there...well we'll all have to start acting a little differently. Renault, Archie, Bob, Borak, and Fulak are willing to act like slaves, I've convinced them it's the only way to stay alive...and it is. Then the horses, unicorn, and gryphon have all realized that if they don't behave they'll end up as meals. All and all my escort is...motley at best. Not at all the impressive thing I would have liked.

I'm more like an elderly lady with her ten cats than I am the mighty warrior with her entourage of magical creatures and beaten foes. Feldin is already grumbling about how his friends are going to act and how he'll never hear the end of it. I politely reminded him that Sir Renault Dragonsbane was a member of our party and could easily put 'an end to it' and he shut up.

As much as I just want to go marching in there, screaming a death chant and waving my big sword around, I doubt that would go over well. I'm thinking of taking the Citidal by night and making everyone get up at some impossibly odd hour to accomidate me...especially and including Zalgum himself. That young whelp has a lot to answer for and, while I'm not very happy about meeting him while he's surrounded by alert and sober guards, I wouldn't mind meeting him in the least when everyone at court is slightly groggy.

Still, he'd only pay me back for the inconvinence later. And no doubt he'd be able to do it better since he's the King and has more resources at his disposal. But then again he did send for me, the eccentric old relic in plate mail...it's his own fault if I'm...well...eccentric.

What to do...what to do...
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Cami wants to meet the Dragon King on her own terms...how might she do this (make herself look good while Zalgum doesn't) without over-slighting the king?
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Sorry about this being a shortie but the DP's interesting...hopefully you liked.

[dinranwen]

If you look like an old Lady with her ten cats...then act like it.

My Sensi said once , "Play your weakness so your enemies ignore your strengths." Of course he was talking about the fact that at the time, I was quick, fast, and flexible but weak, inexprienced, and probably was about to get my but whooped by someone five years younger than me and four feet tall...but that's beside the point.

I say arrive at the thing, sword hidden, and maybe a little dusty, rusty, and definetly excentric.

Deaf even. Arrive when you get there, and when they tell you what time you are to meet 'his majesty' conviently 'mishear' the time, and arrive at either a really early time (say they say Four....you arrive at four in the morning, a simple honest mistake really). If this offends his majesty, well he'll just have to forgive an old fragile dragon whose senile beyond his years.

[Kalanna Rai]

If I don't get another suggestion for a poll option by tomorrow I'm going to go ahead and write the final chapter on Din's time mix-up suggestion...

[Kalanna Rai]

And the adventures of Camwyre come to an end. Enjoy.
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Chapter Thirteen: Joy and Tears

24th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

I cannot quit smirking to myself. I sent Feldin ahead to warn the king we were coming and request an audiance time with 'His Highness'. Feldin returned naturally and told me Zalgum would see me promptly at three. So what do I do? I arrived at three in the morning, sword tucked away in my hoard, cohortes and baggage dumped all over the throne room, bellowing at the top of my lungs about young hatchlings and their hideous manners.

Zalgum wasn't very pleased but could hardly fault Feldin, though he tried. After all, he wasn't very keen on explaining to me that he ment three in the afternoon, not three in the morning. Infact, the great king Zalgum took one look at me and got even greener.

After sorting out that early morning debicle he promptly assigned me a set of caves and ordered my party and I to get some sleep and that he'd send for us later. Well the day has come and gone and night has fallen and there's no sign of him sending for us yet. I can feel it, like an itch in my scales that Zalgum is up to no good. I just don't know what...
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25th of Kamti, 14th Year of Zalgum the Green,

I know now. Last night, long after everyone had gone to bed, the Guards came for us. I was still awake, still trying to figure out what Zalgum could want, could be up to...I know you're wondering why I didn't fight. Well you try fighting when one moment your half drozing in the moonlight, the next you're on the bottom of a ten dragon dog pile and somebody's half chewed gum is stuck in your left eye. Not even I can fight well under those conditions.

Still I was aquitting myself well when I was coolly ordered to stop if I valued the lives of my nephew and companions. I stopped. As I've already said I've got too few family members left to keep killing them. Perhaps, in my old age, I've finally figured out that blood really can be a binding tie. And besides...I think the others might actually be something I'd nearly forgotten what it was like to have. Friends.

So now, in my cold cell deep in the roots of Godspine Reach, I wait and I plot. Zalgum thinks he's stolen a march on me. I think not. If he'd only listen Feldin he'd realize the meaning of the term 'agony aunt'. I'm old, unhappy, and perfectly willing to put everything I've learned to the test. Let's just see how well our little whelp-King can stack up.
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26th of Kamti, Last Year of Zalgum the Green,

I know what he's planning...and I'm sickened. I never thought I'd see the day when one of my kind would make such a deal. I admit, I'm not much of one to talk, I've sought powers no other dragon has weilded. High Magic, Transy, even Artifice...but not this. I'd not sell my myself into slavery to weild power, I'll sign no contract I didn't draw up myself.

Zalgum, fool he is, came to my cell to make an 'entreaty'. He said if any dragon would understand I would. He made a pact with...something, there are things even I cannot make myself name. He steals the essence of dragons and gives it over in exchange for the power of those same dragons. He says I should understand and yet, like all whelps speaking to their elders, all I can see are the flaws and foolishness of his pact. When I said as much he was morose for a moment. Then promised he'd put my power to good use.

I've got to stop him...yet now, for the first time, I'm feeling my years. What a time twilight picked to manifest itself...
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27th of Kamti, 1st Year of Camwyre the Great,

I'd love to enjoy this moment...but I can't. My armor has mended...but the flesh beneith it has not. I'm old and that battle took everything I had...and some I did not. I don't know who, some sympathetic soul certainly, released Renault, Feldin, and the rest...but I couldn't have done it without them. How? Well lets just say it involved a tooth pick, a block of ice, a peach pit, a bannana peel, and teamwork.

I've given copies of my journal to the others, so that future generations might remember that dragons are people too, each with faults and flaws. I've chosen my heir, and can only hope Feldin doesn't make too much a mess of the job. Now all that's left is to slide quietly into the end of my life. But I don't think that's just for me. I've found an old spell...
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Afterward....

I, Sir Renault Dragonsfriend, pen this in rememberance of the dragoness Camwyre...my...friend. A friend whom we all shall miss, but shall never forget. She's seen to that. Now, when anyone looks to the peak of Godspine reach and the King's Perch atop it, they shall see her as she was in life. She's figured out some way to preserve herself against time...vain creature she was.

Still I've never had the pleasure of watching a greater warrior, I only wish she could have remained long enough to enjoy the changes her actions have wrought. There shall be no more dragons slain upon my watch...and no more villages pillaged that don't offer offense. Feldin has given his word.

To any who might read this volume I would like to ask you to commit one thing to memory. Camwyre had many triumphs but only one would have been important to her. She will always remain the richest dragon of them all...
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Thanks for being here guys...hope you liked.

[Chinaren]

:cry2:

Such a sad ending, yet a very nice and fitting one.

Well done Rai. Another one under the belt! :D :clap: :cheers:

[dinranwen]

Very well done. Very well indeed. Congrats Rai on another great story finished and done.

[Mother Goose]

Congratulations! I loved the dragoness Camwyre - wish she could have gone on forever, but I suppose everyone's time must come. May she be remembered in the annals of history and the Hall of Fame!