The Dragons Bane

After a hearty breakfast, we leave the Blood Moon to start our training for the next level of ability. Timora stays behind to tell her parents about the glory of flying, while helping with the chores around the inn. The four fighters go to the fighter’s training ground, the two mages to their tower, and the two clerics go to the church.

Maximar is waiting by the weapons racks when we enter the yard. “About time you four showed up. I have been waiting for almost twenty minutes. Get yourselves armored up and get all your practice weapons. Then meet me over in the far corner.” Maximar then stomps off, carrying several weapons.

“I can see that we are in for it today. We’ve already managed to piss him off, and we haven’t even started,” observes Seldor.

“Aye, that we did. But he be already plannin’ on goin’ hard on us, we be talking at the Blood Moon yestereve, afore ye all be comin’ back fer dinner. An’ me an’ me brother be tellin’ him ’bout the monsters we be fighting this last trip and how we beat ’em,” says Delgar.

“Aye, an’ he said ‘tis bout time we be learnin’ some more tricks to fightin’ monsters. An’ he promised to toughen us up too. So we be in fer it no matter how ye look at it,” adds Dimlar, as he tightens up a strap on his brother’s breastplate.

We finally get ourselves suited up and choose the weapons that we will need. Walking over to where Maximar is waiting, we discover that he has once again set up the practice walls with the help of several guards. This time, the mockups include actual doors mounted on frames that the walls fit into.

“If you four are finally ready, it is time to learn how to fight within the confined spaces of rooms and hallways. And I am going to show you as many different ways as I know and when to use them. From what I have heard of your technique, and the small amount of progress your party made each day before having to rest like a bunch of weenies, I can promise the four of you that the next month will be straight out of hell. By the time I’m done with you, you will think the dungeon is a vacation. Now, form up in that hallway facing the door at the end, just like you did in the dungeon.” We are quick to respond, since we know that we must move like it is a matter of life and death, just as it would be in the dungeon.

“Now I want you to do what you were doing at the doors of the dungeon.”

Delgar, getting close to where the door is, pretends to listen. After a span of a few heartbeats, he gives us the all-clear signal. Next, he opens the door in front of him a crack, trying to peer inside.

“No!” yells Maximar, giving Delgar a thump with his staff to reinforce his words. “That can get you killed and it costs you the element of surprise. It also slows you down considerably. Now close the door.”

“But that be what ye be telling us last year!” replies Delgar angrily.

“Last year, you were all first level fighters, greenhorns who couldn’t fight their way out of an open sack. Do you still think of yourselves as greenhorns?”

“Nay.”

“Alright then.”

“You are now powerful enough to go through the doors like gangbusters. And the element of surprise can be your best ally against most monsters. And your strength, Delgar, combined with the speed of you and your brother, allows you two to cover a considerable distance very quickly. When you burst open the doors, run as fast as possible at your opponent, if there aren’t too many of them, that is. The element of surprise can give you several seconds that you can use to run up to your opponent. Now, I want you four to get yourselves formed up on the door again while I talk with my monsters.”

Maximar disappears out of sight for a moment to talk with the guards he recruited to play monsters. Returning after a few minutes, he comes close to talk to us.

“We are going to go through this quite a few times. The monsters are going to be in different places each time. Are you ready?”

We all nod our readiness quietly and Maximar gives us the hand signal to attack, making sure the monsters can’t see his signal. We honestly surprise the two guards/monsters when Delgar slams the doors open. The two dwarves are able to cover the 20 feet separating them from us and actually put the tips of their swords to their throats before the guards can even bring their weapons up to defend themselves.

“Now that’s the best example of surprise that I can give you.”

“I’ll say, you won’t trick us again by telling us to relax for a few minutes while you instruct them,” says one of the two guards, a little upset over the incident.

“You are here to help teach them, and if you learn something along the way, all the better.”

“What did I learn from that? How to have a sword put to my throat?”

“You should have learned to always keep on your toes.” Chastised, the guard remains silent.

“Now, let’s get set up again.”

After we have assumed our positions and the guards have moved to new positions in the room, Maximar once more gives us the signal to attack. This time, the guards are only eight feet inside the doors, and they have their hands on the hilts of their weapons. But the two dwarves are able to close on them and place the tips of their swords against their throats before the guards can finish drawing their swords.

“Now that is an example of claiming the initiative. Even though they weren’t surprised, because you made the first move, you were able to cover the short distance and attack before they could do anything to protect themselves. Let’s do it again.”

Closing the doors, we form up and await his signal to attack. This time, when he gives the signal and we burst open the doors, we are facing the guard’s swords. Now it is our turn to be taken by surprise. The two dwarves find the guard’s sword tips against their throats.

“That is what happens when you don’t have your guard up when you open the doors. Always be ready for the unexpected. When you open the doors, use your off hand, and keep your weapons up and at the ready. And you two, why didn’t you have your swords at the ready to defend the dwarves? Let’s do it again.”

We spend another couple of hours at it, with Maximar directing Seldor and Nordok on the proper way to support the dwarves. We also cover when to close the doors, and when to stay in the doorway and fight. Finally, Maximar decides it is time to teach us something different.

“I understand that you two can fly. So now I am going to teach you how to use that to your advantage. But first, you four can take a break while the walls get changed out.”

Wondering what he has in mind now, we retire to the armory for a well-deserved drink of water.

When Maximar’s shout alerts us that break time is over, we return to the yard to find that there are two rooms set up, with a door providing access between them.

“Room to room fighting can have some differences from hallway to room fighting. The added room available to you can be used to your advantage. You already know that the extra space can allow you to draw your opponents into position for your party to attack three on one instead of two on one. Now you will learn how your flying abilities can sometimes be used to turn that into four on one. These four guards are going to stand in for your other party members.”

Two of the guards are not wearing any armor, enabling us to distinguish them as the mages. And the other two are using staves, the preferred weapon of our clerics.

“Now, form up with the mages and the clerics. I want you here, you here, you there, and you there. Nordok, I want you to fly up and hover right here. Seldor, you fly to here. Now, when you two dwarves open the doors, I want you to step back, allowing the monsters to come for you. Everyone ready?”

“Aye,” says someone from the other side of the door. We nod our heads and Maximar gives the signal to open the doors. This time there are ten guards waiting just on the other side of the door. The dwarves fall back a step, drawing the first two into the doorway, within reach of the rest of us.

“That’s the ticket. Now I want everyone to do it again, but I want to talk to Nordok first.” Nordok then flies over to where Maximar is waiting.

“Nordok, it is my understanding that you can create fire much like that of the breath of a red dragon, is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Do you mind using it in front of the others?”

“Well, I wasn’t really planning on letting everyone in the castle know about it, but if you think I should use it, I will.”

“Good, because the next thing I want you four to learn is when it is more appropriate for your fire and when it isn’t. This time I want you to use it. The guards are placing straw dummies to stand in for the monsters as we speak. I want you to use your fire, but be careful not to burn anyone. I also don’t want you to tip off the others, they will learn more if they don’t expect it. Ok?”

“Sure.”

“Then get back into position.”

“Is everyone set?”

“Aye,” says a guard standing well away from the door, safely off to one side. Maximar then gives us the signal to open the door. The dwarves open the doors and step back, ready for the guards to pursue them into the doorway. Nordok, seeing about a dozen straw dummies positioned to attack us, unleashes his fire over the heads of the others, burning many of the dummies.

The four guards standing in for our missing party members are shocked and startled by the unexpected fire. They dive to the ground, fearful of getting burned. The dwarves, having already experienced Nordok’s fire, give no indication that anything untoward happened.

“That is what should happen whenever you open the door and find yourselves outnumbered. It is the same thing that you will do when you have a mage that is going to use a fireball spell.”

“What, dive fer the ground?” asks Delgar, indicating the guards that are just now picking themselves up.

“You should always be ready to use Nordok’s fire to eliminate a large number of foes. Also, very dangerous or powerful monsters can be cut down to size with it, if not eliminated entirely. So it is important that you be ready for him to unexpectedly use his fire. You two did a good job by standing your ground. Since it is about time for the midday meal, and a large part of my yard is burning, you four can take off for some food. I want you back, and suited up, in two hours, though. This afternoon we will be focusing on one on one combat techniques.”

Dismissed, we go to the armory to shed our armor. The guards are knocking apart the straw dummies, letting them burn themselves out.

“So, that was an interesting way to spend the morning,” comments Nordok.

“Aye, but I be wishin’ ye be goin’ back ta yellin’ ‘fire’ when ye be lettin’ loose like that. Ye startled the hell outa me,” complains Delgar.

“Aye, at least ye be givin’ us some warnin’ when ye yell fire.”

“Well, at least you two didn’t dive for cover like the guards did.”

“I feel bad about that, they were only trying to help and I bet I scared the hell out of them. But Maximar specifically told me not to give any warning, he said it would make a more impressive point if nobody knew beforehand.”

“Aye, that it did,” agrees Delgar.

“Well, let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

The clerics have a different regime for their training. Their day begins with two hours of prayer. The rest of their morning is spent in study with one of the church elders.

Clernon is assigned a church elder by the name of Forbner.

“The only way to become closer to the Mother Tree is through knowledge of her teachings,” instructs Forbner.

Placing a series of scrolls on a table, he then hands Clernon a scroll to read. When he is done, Forbner asks him to interpret what he thinks is the meaning of the scroll. They quietly spend the morning going through scrolls, with Clernon giving his opinion of what each means and Forbner bringing up additional ways that each can be interpreted.

Clandistra goes through the same study, but with a church elder named Gernhav. He has her read a different set of scrolls, but she too is quizzed on her interpretations while Gernhav corrects some of her misconceptions.

Before the two clerics are allowed to leave for their midday meal, they are told that their afternoon will be spent working on healing spells. Fortunately, neither cleric has to learn any new techniques of healing. They just have to practice using what they already know. And the best place to do that is where there is injured to practice on.

So both Clandistra and Clernon are instructed to accompany several other clerics to the fighter’s training grounds. It seems that Maximar has requested that several clerics be on hand this afternoon in case one of his trainees or their trainers accidentally gets injured.

The mages are each led to a different practice room for their training. Mintock finds himself once again under the expert tutelage of Mida. Mizdar’s instructor is a mage named Paldor.

“Well, Mintock, since you are only going to second level, it is not necessary that you learn any new spells, so we will concentrate on the ones you already know. You should have become quite adept with your missile spell, so let’s see that first. Please hit the floating ball dead center.”

Mintock notices that this time the ball is much smaller than before, so just to show her that he really has mastered the spell, he places his missile exactly in the center.

“That is exactly what I wanted to see. Now I want to see you cast a change size spell on this marble, making it larger.” Mintock does as asked, and the marble grows about 20 percent larger.

“Good.”

The two mages spend the rest of the morning working on his spells.

Paldor puts Mizdar through a series of tests designed to hone his second degree spells. “You are showing a remarkable degree of skill in the use of these spells. I am quite impressed.”

“Well, that may partly be due to the effects of a magic wall that I encountered while in the dungeon.”

“Would you mind telling me about it?”

“Not at all, in fact, maybe you can help shed some light on what happened to me.”

“Even if I can’t, I may be able to determine if a different training regime is required for you than the regular one we give third levels to move them up to fourth.”

“According to Elrod, we encountered something he called the Wall of Wonder. It had six creatures engraved on it. Standing in front of one of the creatures will cause it to bestow a power of the creature upon you. I stood before an elephant, and as best as I have been able to determine, it gave me the ability to remember all my spells, not just the ones I studied the night before.”

“Interesting. But you haven’t noticed any other effects? Like, can you cast all the spells that you remember?”

“No. When I have cast my limit, I can no longer remember the spells. However, I have noticed that my study time is nominal. Now all I have to do is briefly read each spell to remember it.”

“Hmm, that is very interesting. Let me see your spellbook.” The two move over to Mizdar’s spellbook where it sits open on the magic pedestal.

“According to this, you failed to learn the perpetual light spell.”

“That is right, I just wasn’t able to understand it.”

Paldor waves his hand and a scroll appears in the air in front of him. Taking the scroll, he unrolls it and asks Mizdar to read it. Mizdar reads the scroll.

“Do you understand how the spell works now?”

“Actually, yes, I think I do.”

“Show me.”

Producing a small marble, he hands it to Mizdar. “Cast the spell on the marble.”

Mizdar takes the marble and begins his incantation. When he is through casting, the marble begins to glow, growing brighter until the light it sheds can be seen illuminating the wall some 30 feet away.

“How come I can do the spell now, when I couldn’t even understand it last fall when I went up to third level?”

“It is only a guess, but I would say that the power of the elephant has made you smarter than you were before.”

“What does that mean in terms of my spell casting ability?”

“It means that you will now have to recheck each spell that you failed to learn in the past to see if you can learn them now.”

“For now, though, we will continue practicing the spells you know. After the midday meal, we will use one of the study rooms and go back over all the spells you missed as well as any that you didn’t try to learn.”

“Ok. Do you want your marble back?”

“No, you can keep it. It may come in handy sometime.”

Paldor then continues to work with Mizdar perfecting his second degree spells until the midday mealtime.

We all meet back at the Blood Moon for our midday meal. Timora is showing another young woman how to take orders and where things are kept in the tavern. As soon as Nordok enters, Timora comes to greet him.

“So, what has my lovely bride been up to all morning?”

“Father has hired another girl for when I am not able to be here for him. I am training her to take over some of my duties in the daytime.”

“Are you ok with that? I mean, not that you have to work anymore. But I know you like to work here.”

“Yes, but I now have more important things to worry about. Like taking care of you.”

“That’s fine and all, but I don’t want to come between you and your parents.”

“You aren’t coming between us and our daughter,” says Teela, coming up behind the two of them.

“Fact is, we were planning on hiring someone to help out part time around here anyway. We knew we couldn’t keep our Timora here forever, so we just decided to hire someone a little bit ahead of schedule.”

“Well, if you three are ok with it, who am I to disagree?”

“How about some service over here? Or are the four of you going to stand there talking all day?” teases Seldor with a grin.

“And what would you like to eat, ladies and gentlemen? Order a hearty meal, since I heard Seldor is paying,” says Timora with a smile, causing everyone to laugh.

After we have all gotten our fill, we return to our training, but not before making Seldor cough up two gold pieces for the meals and a tip. Mintock and Mizdar leave together for the mage’s tower, while the rest of us head to the fighter’s training ground.

Finding that they have arrived early, the fighters begin to get into their practice armor, the two clerics assisting them. As they are finishing with their weapon selections, Maximar comes into the armory, followed by four of the castle guard and two high level clerics.

“I see you four decided to be on time this afternoon. I want you to meet your opponents for the afternoon. This is squad leader Sims and squad leader Kinny. They will be facing off with the dwarves. This is Finnian and Genalto. They will be facing off with Nordok and Seldor. Sims, since you will be fighting Delgar, you are to wear this, it will make for a more even match.”

Maximar hands Sims a girdle made from the skin of a snow giant. Once Sims has it buckled around his waist, Maximar leads us to a sectioned off part of the yard.

Maximar has us pair off about five feet from our opponents with ten feet between each pair. We each start with swords. At Maximar’s command, we begin. Thrusting and parrying, it soon becomes obvious that he choose our opponents well. Each of us is paired with someone of roughly equal skill.

After about five minutes, just when all of us are starting to show signs of tiring, Maximar calls a brief halt. He then begins to tell all eight of us some of the faults that he has seen in each of our fighting ability. After a few minutes of lecturing, he asks if we are ready to resume.

For an answer, we take our stances. At Maximar’s command, we resume. This time, Maximar takes turn standing close to each pair, yelling instructions. It is while Maximar is supervising Seldor and Finnian that the first injury occurs.

Delgar’s superior strength has finally allowed him to land a blow on Sims, a nasty looking gash that has split open his left thigh, cutting to the bone. We all immediately stop fighting.

“Ye gonna be ok, the clerics be here in jest a moment ta take care of ye,” says Delgar, “I be sorry this happened, I didna want ta hurt ye.”

The clerics cross the distance to the injured man quickly. Binding the wound closed with a bandage, one of the senior clerics instructs Clernon to use only one of his spells on the wound. Clernon, calling on his god with his amulet raised high, lets the healing power of his god flow into him, through him, and finally into the injured leg of Sims. The wound only heals partially, however. A nod to Clandistra causes her to also cast one of her healing spells on the injured man. This time, he is fully healed.

Helping Sims to a standing position, Delgar again expresses his apologies.

“I appreciate your concern, but I have been hurt worse than this before. It is all part of the training.”

“I want you two to take a break for now, while Sims recovers. When you are up to it, come back and we will proceed.”

With Delgar’s help, the two of them move off to one side of the yard to rest and quench their thirst when Boy comes over with a bucket of water and a ladle.

“What ye be doin’ here, Boy?”

“I often watch the fighters when they practice.”

“Yes, and we often give you some coppers for your thoughtfulness,” replies Sims, smiling.

“Well, this one be on me,” says Delgar, and he hands Boy a silver piece.

Boy’s eyes open wide at the silver piece. “Wow, nobody ever gave me a silver for some water afore.”

“Well, you be earnin’ it today, me thinks.”

Maximar has the rest of us resume our practice for another five minute round. When we are done, he again points out our mistakes. He allows us to rest for a few minutes, before ordering us back to practice. This time it is Seldor who gets hurt. Finnian has managed to slash Seldor’s arm, up by the shoulder. Maximar immediately calls a halt.

The wound is not too serious. One healing spell from Clandistra and the wound is gone. But now it is Seldor and Finnian’s turn to join Delgar and Sims by the fence, where Boy is waiting with the bucket of water.

“Were you worried about me, Boy?”

“Naw, I seen lots worse than that, and the clerics always fixed them up just like new. We have very good clerics here at the castle, they can fix anything that happens to anyone.”

So we spend the afternoon battling and getting hurt. After a short rest for the injured, it is back to the battle. We continue thusly until five bells, when Maximar calls a halt for the day, ordering us back for more room fighting in the morning.

We go to the armory, where the four clerics help us remove our armor. The clerics rub a salve into our sore shoulders and backs that gives us some relief. Turning to one of the senior clerics, Seldor asks him a question.

“Tell me something, how come sometimes when I am healed I am completely drained of energy afterwards and sometimes I’m not?”

“Well, the severity of the injury has a lot to do with it. Also, as you progress in levels, your ability to take injury increases. Thus the same wound that you suffered as a first level that almost killed you, would be nothing more than an inconvenience to you when you are at tenth level.”

“Oh.”

“And the degree that you are injured also has a part in how you feel afterwards. No matter what level you are, if you are more than half dead, you will feel drained about the same amount after you are healed.”

“That makes better sense. I kind of understand now.”

The six of us return to the Blood Moon for supper, where Mintock and Mizdar are waiting for us, along with Timora. One look at us has the mages grinning.

“I see you four have had quite an afternoon. I don’t think any of you looked quite that bad after our battles in the dungeon!” comments Mizdar.

Timora has a concerned look on her face. “Are you alright? You look terrible.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine,” says Seldor, knowing full well that she was talking to Nordok.

“Aye, we be all fine, just a little battle fatigue.”

“He’s right, we’re all fine. It was just another day in the life of a fighter, dear.”

“Well, sit down before you fall down. Mother!”

Teela, coming out of the kitchen, comes to see what her daughter wants.

Teela, upon seeing the beat up fighters, acts like nothing untoward is wrong. “I see you four got a good workout today. What can I get you for supper?”

“Mother! They’re hurt!”

“Dear, this is what fighters do. And you had better get used to it, because now you are married to one.”

“Aye, girl, this be nothin’. Some of the monsters we be fightin’ would chew us up an’ spit us out if we be not trainin’ hard like this,” says Delgar in a kind voice.

Timora, confused and hurt that no one seems to care that her husband looks like he went through hell today, turns and bolts up the stairs. Nordok, confused by her reaction, starts towards the stairs intending to comfort her.

“Nordok, please come back here and sit down. You need to eat and she needs to be alone to think,” commands Teela in her most stern mother-knows-best voice.

Nordok, unaccustomed to having Teela talk to him like that, stops dead. “I mean it, you get over here and eat. Then you can go to her, by then she will have herself under control and the two of you can talk. She has seen fighters come in here worse off than today, but they were always strangers to her. She just needs a little time to get used to what being married to a fighter really means.”

Nordok quietly heeds her words, and returns to take a seat.

Freedar, having come to stand in the kitchen door when he heard the tone of Teela’s voice, shakes his head at the state of Nordok before returning to his cooking in the kitchen. Having been an adventuring fighter in his youth, he knows what Nordok is going to go through. Just as he knows what Teela went through when they were young, and now what his daughter must also endure from the hardships of being married to an adventurer. Freedar just hopes Nordok lives long enough to give her a reasonable amount of happiness in their marriage.

“I think we all need some meat pies for supper tonight. I don’t think some of us are up to the effort required to eat a steak,” observes Mizdar, trying to act as if nothing happened.

“Aye, I be too tired fer steaks. But I be needin’ a beer or three to ease the pain in me bones a bit,” adds Delgar.

“Aye, that be just what I be needin’, too.”

So, in spite of the efforts of the rest of us to pretend that nothing happened between the two newlyweds, we have a rather glum dinner, after which Nordok slowly walks up the stairs. The knowledge that he will inevitably hurt Timora because he is an adventurer weighs heavily upon him.

“He be havin’ a tough time of it today,” comments Delgar.

“Yes, but as Teela said, Timora knew some of what she was getting into when she fell in love with him. I’m sure they will work it out, and by tomorrow they will be back to their sunshiny selves.”

“I hope you’re right, Mizdar. I just hope you’re right,” says Seldor.

Up in their room, Nordok tries to console Timora. “I really am fine, you know. This is what I do. It is all part of being a fighter. Besides, there were four clerics there to take care of any injuries, it not like any of us could really get hurt.”

“I know, but I still feel for you. When I see you getting hurt, it hurts me.”

“I know. But I don’t know what we can do about it. I am what I am, and I can’t change that.”

“I know.”

“Let’s not disagree any more. We both know that sooner or later the dice may roll against us, so let’s enjoy the time we have until then.”

“Ok, but on one condition, I want to come and watch you practice. Cause if I don’t think you are a good enough fighter, then I want you to quit and be my husband.”

“Well, you come and watch me. You’ll see that the chances of me getting hurt or killed are next to nothing.” Hugging her, he smoothes back her hair.

“Besides, you should have seen the way the castle guards dove for cover when I used my fire to destroy a bunch of straw dummies, it was really funny.”

“What fire?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I now can shoot fire from my hands three times a day, just like a dragon’s fire.”

“Are you teasing me?”

“No, I stepped in front of a carved dragon on a wall while in the dungeons and got the ability to shoot fire, just like a dragon. And Delgar, did you see how much bigger he is now? He is now as strong as a giant. We all got some power from the wall, so you see, we are too good to be hurt when we go into the dungeon.”

“Well, I still want to come and watch tomorrow.”

“Good, maybe it will make you feel safer, knowing that your husband can breathe fire like a dragon.”

The two then spend the rest of the night doing what all newlyweds do.

The next few weeks go by, and we all become used to our training and our new abilities. Timora, having finally seen for herself just how good we have become, has begun to rest easier. Just before midday, a horn blast from one of the guards alerts everyone to the approach of a caravan. Since it came from the west wall, we know it is a caravan approaching out of the west. Even though they are still several hours away, a squad of castle guards is sent out to meet them, just as they were when our caravan came within the valley.

“I wonder what this caravan will bring,” says Mizdar while we are eating our midday meal.

“What do you mean?” asks Mintock.

“Well, there haven’t been any new adventurers in town since you four showed up. The one that came here while we were in the dungeons didn’t bring any that I know of. So maybe this one will.”

“Aye, it be strange that we be the only adventurers this year,” adds Delgar.

“Well, since none of us perished last time, it doesn’t really matter, we have enough members to get the job done,” puts in Seldor.

“Actually, I was going to suggest that we add some new members to our party. We would be safer and we should be able to do more exploring.”

“That might not be a bad idea. But we will have to share the treasure more ways than we do now,” warns Mintock.

“Aye, an’ we be havin’ to carry more gear an’ food. ‘Tis means we be needin’ another wagon, at least.”

“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We don’t even know if there are any more adventurers headed this way. But I want you all to think on it for a couple of days. We still have another week of training yet before we can even begin to think about leaving,” says Mizdar.