The Dragons Bane

“What will it be for lunch today, gentlemen?”

“I think that seeing as we are leaving the day after tomorrow, I want something that we won’t be able to have on the trip. How about the rest of you?”

“Aye, Seldor has the right of it. How bout some pork pies, Teela?” suggests Delgar.

“Pork pies all around, then?”

“Yes, that will be fine. Thankyou Teela,” says Mizdar.

“We have some business to discuss over lunch. We need to go over our plans for this trip. Then we need to check our gear, especially that of the new members.”

“We should have everything, Mizdar. Seldor and Nordok went over with us a list of things that we must have last night and we spent the morning getting anything that we didn’t have,” replies Wiltock.

“Well then, that should make our inspection easier.”

Just then, Teela brings our food and then departs, “call if you need anything, gentlemen.”

“Back to the business at hand, we will not be able to have an escort to the fifty-mile marker, the roads are in good shape and, as such, don’t require any repair. That means we should save about a day or so, since we can travel a lot faster without them. But there is a guard unit stationed at the fifty-mile marker, so we can expect to have to spend the night there as well, along with the usual bonfire party.”

This is welcome news to the rest of us, most notably the dwarves. They know that the bonfire party will be the last chance they will likely have to get drunk.

“And you already know of our promise to look around up at the northern end of the valley for Lord Muldoon, so the time we save not having to travel with a road crew will be used up scouting the area up there. I feel we should leave as close to sunup as possible, and we should start each day when the sun comes up. This way we will be able to travel longer each day, even though I know some of you will have to adjust to the time change.”

“Consequently, we all should get a good night’s sleep, starting right after dinner tomorrow. This means that after lunch, we need to get all our gear packed up and the wagons loaded up. So, are there any questions?”

“Then we should still plan on a morning practice session with Maximar, right?” asks Wiltock.

“Aye,” replies Delgar.

“Well then, as soon as we have finished eating, we can go and check over everyone’s gear. And after that, I suggest we go and check out the horses and the wagons. I don’t want any last minute delays tomorrow afternoon when we are loading up.”

The time till we leave passes all too quickly. After a tearful goodbye from Timora and Boy, our little caravan heads out without the usual escort of the road crew and its guards. We feel like this is our first solo trip to the dungeon. Of course, for some of us it is.

Knowing that we are heading out, a few women whose husbands are among the guards stationed at the fifty-mile marker have given us messages to pass along to them. This is a courtesy that we will gladly do, we know that the guards stationed there are going to be there for a two week shift. And since they have already been there for almost a week, it will be over a week before their loved ones will see them again.

Fortunately, it is a beautiful day. And, according to the mage’s tower, we should have a week or more before any rain darkens our days.

“Well, there’s the fifty-mile marker. And just as promised, there’s the guard unit. I hope anybody with a message to pass along hasn’t forgotten it.”

“Welcome, Dragons Bane!” yells one of the guardsmen.

“Welcome to you, as well!” yells back Nordok. “We have some messages for a few of the lucky!”

“Well then, hurry up! After a week out here, we could use some news from home!”

“Didn’t The Avenging Swords bring you any messages?” asks Nordok.

“Nay, they didn’t even stop. They barely said hello on their way through. They are a sour bunch, them ones. Acted like we were too far beneath them to sit and chat with us for awhile. I, for one, was glad they didn’t stick around. Now you gents, on the other hand, can stay and share our company for as long as you want.”

“We were already planning on it. In fact, I have a surprise. Nilios, show the sergeant that package I put in the back of your wagon!” yells Mizdar, causing the rest of us to wonder what he brought.

“You mean this cask of ale and the skins of wine?”

“Yes, I figured we would supply the grog for once.”

This causes the two dwarves to look at Mizdar with a look of surprise and the guards to raise shouts of glee.

“What be happenin’ ta yer rule about ale when we be adventurin’, that be what I be wantin’ ta know,” says Delgar.

“Aye, me too,” agrees Dimlar.

“Well, we aren’t truly adventuring tonight. Besides, there are more than enough of us to keep any monsters at bay. And I figured it would be a nice surprise,” replies Mizdar.

“Well, at least we all know why you kept it secret,” laughs Nordok, nodding at the two dwarves.

“Yes, if you two knew that we had ale with us, I doubt we’d have it now. In fact, better make sure the seal hasn’t been tampered with, cause I thought Delgar could smell ale through a ten foot wall,” teases Seldor, causing a few laughs.

Later that night, after a supper of venison cooked by the now renowned Clernon, reputedly the next best cook besides Freedar, we gladly share in the ample supply of ale that we brought the guards.

“So, how come none of the farmers have come out to drink with us this trip?” asks Seldor.

“Because it is summer. This time of the year the farmers are all busy working their fields. Most of them barely sleep for the few hours of darkness,” replies one of the guardsmen.

“But down south, once the planting is done, the farmers have a lot less to do until harvest time. Isn’t that true here, as well?” asks Fifer.

“Nay, because the sun shines for so many hours each day, the plants get extra big real fast up here. And because of that, many of them need a lot of tending. Why, if a farmer didn’t use sticks to help support many of the plants, their own size would soon make them break over.”

“Oh, that explains what they were doing in the fields,” realizes Fifer, his curiosity about some of the actions of the farmers now satisfied.

“And that explains why the crops we could see from the road were already bigger than any of the ones back home,” adds Nilios.

“Yes, and now you know why our crops are so highly prized down south. It is one of the main reasons why men ever settled up here in the first place.”

Before you leave, I have a present for you,” says the sergeant of the guard.

“And what might that be?” asks Mizdar.

“I was asked to give you a homing pigeon. After you have scouted around up in the northern end of the valley you can tie a note with any information about the dragonmen to his leg and release him. He will return to the castle with the information. This way, just in case you don’t make it back, anything you find out about the dragonmen will not be lost.”

“That we can do.”

“May the blessings of the Mother Tree be upon you.”

We then head north, following a trail that looks a lot different than it did the last time we took it north. Now that the summer sun has caused everything to bloom, the grasses and undergrowth have sprung up to such a height that only those of us on horseback can see the land around us for any distance. Of course, now that full summer is upon us, all the muddy places have dried up. We expect to make much better time this trip.

It has been less than a fortnight since we left the guardsmen at the fifty-mile marker, and so far we have had a rain-free and monster-free trip. This may be because it is light out for almost twenty-one hours each day. We are approaching the northern end of the valley, where we promised to scout around for any sign of the dragonmen.

“So, Mizdar, how do you propose we scout the area?” asks Seldor.

“I figure we will do it the same way that we scouted around the hilltop of the dungeon. We break up into two teams and separate about a couple of hundred yards. We will make our way west to the base of the mountains, where we will meet back up. Then we go north a ways before splitting back up and heading back east to the river, where we will meet back up again and head north for a ways before repeating the whole process again.”

“But what about the wagons?” asks Nordok.

“We bring them with us, only they stay back a little with a couple of drivers while those in front play scout.”

“And what if we run into trouble?” asks Nilios.

“We have already established a set of bird calls to alert each other in the event of an attack or if we spot something. You will learn them as we scout the area, they are not difficult.”

Later, after supper, we listen to Mizdar’s plan for the make-up of each team and who gets to drive the wagons. “I want a dwarf in each party, as well as a cleric and a mage. Therefore, Dimlar, Seldor, Clandistra, and Mintock will form one team. And Delgar, Nordok, Clernon, and I will form the other team. The three new fighters will guard the wagons and the supplies. Any comments or complaints?”

“I’ve got a question, how come we get the wagons?” asks Wiltock.

“Well, primarily because you three are the greenhorns, whereas the rest of us have worked and fought together enough that we are confident in each other. And I put you three together because you three know each other well enough to be able to work together, in the event that it becomes necessary.”

“Since we have two wagons on this trip, I want one of you with each wagon, while the third scouts ahead somewhat making sure the ground will support the wagon while at the same time keeping an eye out for us and for danger.”

“As for the rest of us, I will take the northernmost team, while Clandistra leads the team that will be taking the southern route. And the wagons can come up between us, but behind us a few hundred yards. It shouldn’t take more than four hours to reach the base of the mountains, where we will meet up before scouting the area pretty good while we wait for the wagons. When the wagons get there, we can eat our midday meal and discuss how we want to scout on the afternoon trip back to the river.”

“Any other questions?”

“Yes, I have one.”

“What is it, Clernon?”

“Well, I noticed you and Clandistra are not together, any particular reason?”

“Yes, I want both teams to have the best odds of surviving. Therefore, since she and I are the highest-ranking non-fighters, I split us up. Any other questions?... Well then, I guess that is settled. I’ve got studying to do, as do you, Mintock.”

“And we’ve got prayers to attend to, don’t we, Clernon.”

“I’m going to call the others, I think Mizdar should see this.” Giving one of her perfect birdcalls, Clandistra summons the other scouting party to the top of the small hill. While they await the arrival of the others, Dimlar and Seldor begin to survey the land around the small hilltop, looking for any signs of trouble.

“You can see clear across to the river from here,” notes Seldor.

“Aye, that be why they be here. It be a good place for spyin’ on the trail from the castle ta the dungeon.”

“But why would someone want to do that?”

“Mayhaps they be wantin’ to ambush some adventurers. We be a good source of treasure. Or they be wantin’ ta keep ‘em out of the dungeons completely. Remember how it seemed the monsters be waitin’ on us on the way out last time? Mayhaps someone doesn’t want us ta return. Or they be wantin’ ta know ahead of time that we be comin’ back.”

“Well, here comes Mizdar and the others. Let’s see what they make of it.” Riding up, the others dismount by Clandistra and the remains of a campfire.

Kneeling down to feel for any signs of heat, but finding none, Mizdar then runs his fingers through the ashes. “Well, I’d say it was two, maybe three days old. How about the tracks?”

“Dimlar said they belonged to about a half dozen heavily armed dragonmen, based on the depth of the prints.”

“Dragonmen.” Taking a chance to look around from the hilltop, Mizdar reaches the same conclusion as Dimlar. “Watching the trail to the dungeon. But why did they leave two or three days ago? They couldn’t have spotted us from here that long ago. I bet they spotted the Avenging Swords and went to report to their master. Maybe we had better head north now and see if we can discover anything further about our mysterious spies.”

“Can we have our midday meal first? By the time the wagons catch up to us, it will be about that time,” asks Nordok.

“Yes, but get the fire going now. I want to eat as soon as possible. While we wait, I want to hear any suggestions for pursuing the dragonmen north from here.”

Nordok and Delgar head off to gather wood for a fire, while the others sit and make plans for the pursuit.

“I think we should all follow their tracks, and bring the wagons with us. We know they have a two or three day lead on us, so we aren’t likely to catch them, but we can follow and see where they go,” suggests Mintock.

“But what if they don’t have to go all the way back to the dungeons to report. Maybe they only have to head north to the next patrol. They may even already be heading back here to resume their watch,” suggests Mizdar.

“Then that is all the more reason for us to stick together,” reasons Clernon.

“Not necessarily, I think that we should form two parties. One smaller party will travel with the wagons a short distance behind, while the main group leads us north, following the trail of the dragonmen. This way, without the wagons, if they are headed back this way, we may surprise them on their way back. Any other suggestions?”

Since nobody else has a better idea, we all nod our support for Mizdar’s plan. Just then the wagons approach the base of the small hill. The other three are quick to join us on the hilltop. We quickly fill them in on our new plans.

“Well, I guess we know who will be in the party with the wagons,” says Wiltock, with just a touch of regret.

“Actually, I was thinking of bringing one of you three with us in the front, and leaving Clernon with the other two to guard the wagons. I think we should have as many fighters in the lead party as we can afford. And I definitely want both mages in the lead patrol, as well as at least one cleric. I will leave it up to you three to choose who will accompany us in the lead party.”

“Well, I don’t mind staying with the wagons,” offers Nilios.

“I guess you can go if you want, Wiltock.”

“Ok, I don’t mind if I do. But I think we should take turns, that way we will all have a chance to learn to work with the others.”

“Now that is a good idea. Since we will be meeting back up for meals, why don’t you three trade places then,” suggests Mizdar.

“Sounds good to me, how about you, Nilios?”

“I’m agreeable, and you, Fifer?”

“Ok.”

“Well then, you can go second,” offers Nilios. Knowing Fifer for many years, he knows how hard it has been for Fifer to be left behind with the wagons.

“Well, what have we here?” observes Wiltock, riding up ahead in the lead scout position with Seldor.

“The tracks don’t turn to the east and the river. They seem to go right into that small valley, but I don’t see them coming out anywhere. I think we should get the others.”

“Yes, that would be the smart thing to do.”

The two fighters cautiously turn their horses and make their way back towards where the others are coming with the gear.

At the sight of the two returning scouts, Mizdar calls a halt.

“What’s up?”

“Their trails goes into a small valley up ahead, but it doesn’t seem to emerge anywhere higher up the sides that we can tell.”

“Well, maybe they have another way out. I think we had all better go to see where our mysterious watchers have gone to.”

“See how the tracks go right into the that narrow ravine and then disappear behind that outcropping?” asks Seldor.

“Yes. Clandistra, can you see anything?”

“Only what the rest of you are able to see.”

“Well, let’s give it about half an hour. I want everyone to pick out a spot and watch for movement. There may be a hidden guard someplace.”

“It’s like they just disappeared. Their tracks disappear on this rocky ground, and that’s it,” observes Seldor.

“Yes, unless our dwarven experts can find where their hidden hole is, this is a dead end. We’ll cover you two, but otherwise we’ll stay out of your way.”

“Aye, we be needin’ some room,” replies Delgar.

But try as they might, the dwarves are unable to discover any hidden tunnels or other means of egress from the dead end ravine. We decide to continue on our way to the dungeon, taking a different route to the narrow trail by the bend in the river.

“My Lord, our scouts have spotted another party of adventurers headed this way. They will be here in a few days.”

“Were they able to tell if there were any dwarves in this party?”

“No, my Lord.”

“Then assign the guards to their rooms in the dungeon by the entrance that the party used last time. Maybe these are the ones we want. And don’t forget to instruct the guards that we want to capture them alive and relatively unharmed this time. The two that weren’t killed the last time died before I had a chance to question any of them. And Deth, do not fail me, or it will be you that tells Hithgard of your failure.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Remembering how the screams of Rondolf echoed around the dragon’s chamber for the hours that the dragon tortured him, Deth vows not to be the next victim of the dragon.

Once we have reached the treacherous trail above the bend in the river, Mizdar decides we had better release the pigeon. The note he has attached to the bird’s leg gives what little information we have, which, unfortunately, is not much.

“I think we had better lead the horses and wagons across on foot. I don’t like the looks of the trail in a few places, the ground could give way at any time,” orders Mizdar.

“Aye, we be leaving the wagons on this side by next year,” comments Delgar.

“For now, let’s just worry about this trip across.”

“Who wants to volunteer to go first and check out the ground?” asks Nordok, with a wink to Seldor and a nod towards the new guys.

“I’ll do it, but what if we tied a rope on me just in case?” offers Wiltock.

“We can do that, but if you fall in, it’s doubtful a rope will save you. The water is like ice, and the river is treacherous. You will most likely be smashed to smithereens against the bank here before we could pull you out,” replies Seldor, remembering the giant tree that the river smashed on their way out the last time. “Do you still want to volunteer? At least if I go, I can fly if I fall.”

“Maybe you had better go first,” replies Wiltock, causing Nordok and Seldor to chuckle.

Fortunately, the ground proves to be firmer than it first appeared. Once on the other side, we again mount up and make our way up and down the foothills through which the river cut its bed so many eons ago.

As we near that part of the trail below the cave opening that Seldor found on the way back last time, Seldor looks up towards the opening up on the mountainside.

“Don’t look now, but I think someone is watching us. I just caught a glint of sunlight off something up by that cave I told you all about last time.”

Trying to look inconspicuous, several of us direct our gaze upwards over the next few minutes.

“Aye, it looks like someone be up there wearin’ a helm. ‘Tis that be what the sun be bouncin’ off,” observes Delgar.

“Do you think we should go and check it out? Seldor and I could fly up there.”

“No, whoever it is would see you coming and probably shoot you down with arrows. Since they have already seen us, there isn’t much we can do except to keep going. But I want two fighters up front from now on as scouts. We don’t want to be ambushed by whoever it is that seems to be keeping an eye on us.”

Emerging from the hills into the valley proper, we notice that the valley has really come alive during the past two months. The plants, mostly wild, have already begun to conceal the trail, although the marks left by the Avenging Swords are clearly evident. Clandistra and Dimlar are ahead of us acting as scouts.

Clandistra, slightly ahead of the dwarf, suddenly stops, making the hand motion that warns the dwarf to stillness. Carefully backing up with the stealth inherent to all elves, she quietly whispers to him what she has discovered.

“I saw two men gathering firewood in the trees about a hundred yards farther on and about forty feet into the woods on the right.”

“Lets us be tellin’ the others. Were ye able ta tell if they be from the Avengin’ Swords?” asks Delgar.

“I couldn’t recognize anyone through the trees, only their shapes.”

“Well, we had better be getting the others.”

After cautiously making our way back to the others, we inform them of our discovery.

“I think we should scout the area, determine how many of them there are and if we can either take them out, or if we should try to go around them,” decides Mizdar.

“Aye, but I be fer takin’ ‘em out,” comments Delgar. “I not be wantin’ ta come out from the dungeon ta find me stuff gone.”

“If you want, Seldor and I can fly up and do the scouting from the air.”

“No, if they spot you, then we lose whatever surprise we might have. Besides, the way this valley has overgrown, I doubt you could see anyone on the ground anyway. We are going to have to stash the wagons and horses and do this on foot.”

Our plan, as laid out by Mizdar, is for Clandistra to scout the area without her armor. With her woodsman skills, she will be virtually undetectable by the men. And we will be a short distance away from her, in case she needs us.

“There are ten men in all. They have a campsite on the other side of that small hill over there. They seem to be watching this trail from a stand in a tree on top of the hill. Why, I do not know. But if we decide to take them, we may be able to do so by circling around and attacking them from the south.”

“That may be the prudent thing to do. But can we go around them without them seeing us?”

“Maybe, but we will have to backtrack and then go about a day out of our way.”

“What do the rest of you think?”

“Me brother an’ me be thinkin’ we should be takin’ ’em out.”

“I, too, think that is the best plan,” adds Clernon.

“Yes.” “Let’s do it.” And nods from the others are enough to make up Mizdar’s mind on the matter.

“Well then, let’s get our plan of attack.”

Seldor and Nordok, sneaking as close as possible, leap up into the air and come in from above, using Nordok’s fire to kill as many as possible. Nordok’s fire is the signal for the rest of us to attack.

Clandistra, Wiltock, and Nilios attack the south perimeter guard, dispatching him with a suddenness that surprises even them.

Mizdar uses a missile spell to knock the watcher out of the tree to a waiting Delgar, who quickly delivers a killing blow with his battle-axe.

The others attack the main camp, where Nordok’s fire has all but decimated the dragonmen. Seldor, noticing that one man has decided to run, flies after him. Catching the man in the next clearing, he swoops down and drops on the running man feet first, knocking him to the ground unconscious.

Rejoining the others with his prisoner, Seldor discovers that the battle is over. “I have a live one.”

“Good, because none of the rest will be able to tell us anything. Bring him over to this tree and tie him to it. When he comes to, we’ll see what he has to say. In the meantime, let’s get the bodies piled up and see what they had on them.”

We all chip in to drag the bodies together, but a quick search reveals nothing.

“Ye blasted fire has destroyed everything they be having on them,” complains Delgar.

“I admit I may have used a little too much fire, but at least none of us got hurt.”

“I doubt they had anything worthwhile anyway,” adds Seldor.

“Are they all accounted for?” asks Mizdar.

“There be all ten, nary a one got away” replies Delgar, still a little grumpy over the lack of treasure.

“Good. Now let us see to our prisoner. Clandistra, would you mind healing whatever is wrong with him?”

Using a small amount of her healing gift, she restores the man to full strength and to consciousness.

Waking up, the man first tries to struggle. Realizing that he is tied up, he looks around at us fearfully. Seeing the dwarves and an elf causes his eyes to widen in terror.

“We are the Dragons Bane, and we want to know what you and your band of bandits were doing here, spying on the trail like that,” asks Mizdar.

“We are no bandits. And you had better let me go if you know what is good for you. I am in the service of the mighty dragon, and he will avenge this effrontery.”

“I doubt very much that he will avenge your failure. Now why were you watching the road? Tell me or I will send you back to your dragon with the words ‘I talked’ carved on your forehead.”

Realizing that what the dragon would do to him would be far more terrible than what these adventurers could ever manage, the man decides to make a deal. “If I tell you what I know, will you kill me quickly?”

“Aye, me be promisin’ ye a quick death,” says Delgar.

“We were told to watch out for any adventurers that came here and report back to our leader on how many and what race they were. He wanted us to keep an eye out for any dwarves in particular. But the rumor is that he also wants to know about any elves as well. The first group passed by three days ago, but there weren’t any non-humans in it, so we were told to continue our watch. That is all I know, honest. I am just a lowly guard, I really don’t know anything more than that.”

Motioning the other to follow him, Mizdar leads us a short distance away from the prisoner. “Well, what do you think, is he telling the truth?”

“Yes, I do believe he has told us why they were here,” says Clernon, amidst nods of agreement from the rest.

“But why would they be looking for non-humans?” asks Clandistra.

“Me thinks they be lookin’ fer us,” says Delgar.

“You may be right, let’s see what else we can find out from him.”

Going back to the prisoner, Mizdar questions him further but without success.

“You may kill him now, Delgar.”

“Aye, a promise be a promise.”

We make it to camp without any further problems, although the bushes and plants the dwarves planted across the entrance have grown substantially during our absence.

“Mizdar, we cannot be uprootin’ them without leavin’ a clear sign that somethin’ be inside. It just cannot be done this time,” complains Delgar.

“Well, can we get the animals and ourselves inside without cutting them down?” asks Mizdar.

“Aye, but then what we be doin’ with the wagons?”

“Why can’t we just hide them in another building or something?” suggests Mintock.

“Aye, that be an idea,” agrees Delgar.

“All right then, Seldor, Wiltock, and Delgar can start getting the animals and our gear inside. The rest of us will search the area for a place to stash the wagons.”

By the time we have all the animals except those hitched to the two wagons inside the walls of our camp, the others have returned with the news that they have found a structure suitable to hide the wagons in.

“Let’s all chip in and get these wagons unloaded,” orders Mizdar.

With everyone chipping in, we quickly have the wagons unloaded. Dimlar and the three new members then take the wagons to their hiding spot, a building whose crumbling walls are still tall enough to hide them. The dwarf then conceals them further using branches and such, before doing his best to cover any trail made by the passing of the wagons and horses.

After we have set up our camp for the night, we sit down to one of Clernon’s well-cooked meals to discuss our plans.

“So, how do we get into the dungeon,” asks Wiltock.

“We have a concealed tunnel a short distance from here. At least it was concealed the last time we left it,” replies Seldor.

“After breakfast, we will be going to check it out. If it seems undisturbed, we will send the two dwarves and two of the new fighters to check out the other end. With some luck, nobody will have discovered our secret entrance. In the meantime, let’s get our packs together. You three new guys will have to be shown what we bring and how we pack our gear.”

“We’ll show them, won’t we, Seldor,” offers Nordok.

“Aye, an’ I be checkin’ ’em when you be done,” says Delgar, with a look that says he won’t brook any nonsense or practical jokes.

“I think we can pack our own packs,” says Wiltock.

“I’m sure you can, and if it was just your life depending on it, we’d let you. But in the dungeon, it is usually the pack of the person nearest you that you grab something from. And in an emergency, you need to know where everything is. So, we pack all of our packs exactly the same. Make sense?” asks Mizdar.

“Yes, it does,” replies Wiltock, with nods of ascent from the other two.

“Good, because you need to memorize where everything is if you are going to benefit from this method.”

“Aren’t we going to scout the area like the last time?” asks Mintock.

“No, with all these dragonmen running around, I think it would be best if we kept low. They may know we are here, but I don’t want them to know exactly where we are, even if it means risking the animals.”

The night passes uneventfully, although the shortness of the dark period still seems peculiar to everyone except the four oldest members. Clernon, standing watch on third, has breakfast ready when the others wake up.

It is during breakfast that Mizdar gives the new guys their own copies of our map of the first floor of the dungeon. He explains what the various markings are as well as covering the known traps. He also goes over where we have been and when. After all their questions have been answered, we decide that we will explore the left section, hitting the unexplored region closest to our entrance.