211 - “Here With Friends” - Karendle - A Tale of Heroes

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Where did Thissraelle go?

Karendle paced around a tiny, almost round worldlet as it twirled slowly in the vast. It was rocky and uneven, floating nearby to the main stone platform that they had appeared on when they had all first stepped through Heathrax’s portal. There were a lot of these floating chunks of stone all over, and Karendle suspected that they had been gathered there, or created in place more likely, by Heathrax.

Where is she? She was really upset when the fight ended. Then she just flew off.

I get it. By the Creator, those first two dragons were huge. I thought we were all dead. Then she had to deal with her father.

Karendle thought about the first time Thissraelle had talked about her life before they’d met. That night had been back in their dormitory room at the monastery, with DeFrantis. Thissraelle and DeFrantis had giggled and talked like sisters. Karendle had been a little distant, like a neighbor girl that wasn’t quite in the club. It had been strange to hear Thissraelle’s story, though. She’d had it pretty posh there as the daughter of the Twynne Rivers Wizard’s Guildmaster. Karendle had wondered why she’d left that life. Of course, my life in the mountains with my family wasn’t too bad, either. Not as nice as hers, but not bad. But I left it, too. I guess you just have to get out on your own. We really had a lot in common, considering how different we are. 

 I was such a jerk to her, then.

The sight of someone else’s feet in her downturned field of vision startled her, and she stopped walking. Parith was walking around the rock from the other side.

Karendle smiled, “You’re on your feet! You look like you’re doing much better.”

“Yeah. I’m still a bit stiff, though.”

“Well, considering that just a few hours ago, you were almost broken in two, I think you’re in fine shape.”

He smiled back. “Was it just a few hours ago?”

Karendle stepped aside and sat down on a nearby bump of rock. She gestured to Parith, but he shook his hand, saying, “It’s good. For now, I like being able to stand. How’s Thissraelle?”

“Don’t know. She went off alone. Eddiwarth went to look for her, and her father did, too. I should probably go back her up, but... Oh, I don’t know, she's pretty upset.”

“She’s lucky to have a friend like you.”

Karendle laughed and dropped her head.

Parith pressed, “No, seriously. I’ve seen you fight for her. You’re relentless. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that kind of loyalty.”

“Really?” She set her head to one side. “Never seen it? What about you? Weren’t you right there, sticking arrows in the dragon? What was that for? It was all for her.” She paused, “And she would do the same for us.”

“You think so? She and I fought quite a bit in the forest.”

“Yeah, well, she and I fought a lot before the cathedral, too. But she came looking for me. She fought for Eddiwarth, and she also helped you fight off the high elves.”

“True. And in the end, saved my life.”

A peaceful silence settled between them.

Finally Parith broke the silence. “These last few months have really changed me. I’ve always worked alone, guiding all the traders back and forth through the forest. I was by myself in the city until I met Korr, then the rest of you. I’ve never been a part of something like this. Heathrax’s Heroes!” He laughed, “It feels strange, and good.”

He took a deep breath and shifted his feet. “It was weird. I was at home in TreeHaven, but I didn’t feel like it. Even when the captains let me visit my family. They asked me to stay there with them, but I felt a pull to follow Korr and the rest of you.”

“Yeah. I know it,” Karendle agreed. “I keep feeling like, at some point, we’ll figure out what’s going on beyond us, though. What’s with the dragons, right? I have this sense that something is happening out in the bigger world and we’re just walking right past it.”

“Or maybe I just want to watch Eddiwarth embarrass himself trying to impress Thissraelle more.”

Karendle laughed and leaned back. Suddenly her thought jumped to her voice. “Hey, where’s the little drake?”

Parith took a sharp breath and looked away.

What? What did I say? Wait... Did the dragon...? “Oh, no! No. I didn’t see...”

Parith just nodded.

“I am so sorry...”

Parith shrugged. Or was that his shoulders shaking? Karendle jumped up and embraced him.

“I’m so sorry...”

<<<>>>

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210 - “Her Father’s Words” - Thissraelle - A Tale of Heroes

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The two young wizards looked at each other, then sat down. Thissraelle took Eddiwarth’s hand again, squeezing it hard as if asking for support. Eddiwarth’s face clearly showed his fear of his old Guildmaster, but he returned the gesture nonetheless.

“The first question, that of why I ordered the attack on the Cathedrals, is easy to answer- I didn’t.” He leaned back and crossed his legs under his robe in a way that said that this was going to take some time. “When the attack started, I was as surprised as everyone else, although, as I looked back on it, I shouldn’t have been. I was horrified at the thought of our guild members doing such a brazen onslaught. I was especially terrified because I was certain you had been there, and I heard nothing for weeks afterward."

He sighed. “The weeks that followed were tumultuous. The public and the King turned against us. The Church was decimated. Most of its bishops were killed. And all through that I was afraid that you had been, too. I kept trying to find you. I was also under a lot of pressure to find out who in the guild had been involved. I guess I took too long, because the next thing I knew, the King’s Guard raided the Guild Hall. We were all driven underground. Your mother and several others fled to Emberfire, and I followed soon after. It was there that I received an anonymous message that you were well, but it didn’t say where you were.”

“So you didn’t order the strike?” Thissraelle asked, “But the wizards controlling the drakes wore guild robes and guild colors! Who did it?”

“I’m not entirely sure. But while I convalesced in Emberfire, I had a lot of time to think. There is a group, a church, they call it, named ‘The Dragon’s Flame’. I gathered that they worship dragons.” Thissraelle nodded. “Ah. You’ve heard of them. In recent years, I had been told of them recruiting guild member wizards for their cause. Even though I strictly forbade it, just like those Seekers, I imagine there were many who joined. There were also some guild members who, I suspect, were captured and pressed into their organization. I’m almost certain they are the ones that burned the churches.”

Hmm. That could fit. Thissraelle began to feel the tension in her shoulders ease. Her back relaxed and her grip on Eddiwarth’s hand was not so tight. “It was the Dragon’s Flame that attacked us in the forest as well. Did you send the high elf soldiers to capture me?”

His eyebrows furrowed. “High elf soldiers? I don’t know anything about this. Where did it happen?”

“Umbrawood. They attacked wood elven patrols deep in the forest. The wood elves say that Emberfire is amassing soldiers at the foot of the mountains.”

“Flaming stones. That’s not good news. The city is closed up tight, and everyone seems to be afraid of the rest of the world, even more so after the troubles in Twynne Rivers. I had hoped that things would ease with time.”

“Then, what about the quest?”

Again, he wore confusion on his wrinkles. “The quest?”

“Don’t you know about that, either? Didn’t you send illusions to my dreams, someone telling me to find Heathrax?” Her voice was calmer, now, but still carried an edge of harshness.

“Illusions?”

“Visons! Visitations from St. Ivarr? He came to me and told me to find Heathrax. He wasn’t very clear about it, either. He didn’t say why or how to find him. Just ‘go find him’. It might have occurred to him to mention that Heathrax is not a man, but a dragon. That would have been helpful.”

“Honestly, my dear, I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’d better take that up with the dragon himself. I sent you on no quest. Actually, it was Heathrax that told me you were about to be in danger on the mountain.”

“What? How did he know I was there?”

“Again, you’ll have to ask him.”

Thissraelle slumped. “And you haven’t been trying to catch me and drag me back home?”

“Oh, my dear, dear child, what a year you’ve put us through.” He sighed and leaned back in the stone chair. His hand ran through his long white hair. “When you first left, I was sure that the Dragon’s Flame had captured you. I was furious! Your mother was beside herself with hysteria. But it only took a few hours the next day to find you in the city.

“I always knew that at some point you’d want to get out on your own. To be honest, I wanted that for you, too. At the time, I figured that you’d wander through the city and come running back in a few days, happy to be home.”

Thissraelle remembered the dimensional oculus and all that he had done to keep her in the tower, under his control. That was a test!

“I underestimated you. I kept my eye on you, though.” He smiled at her expression of sudden understanding. “Your mother was furious. I tried to explain to her that you would be fine and you would be back soon. After a few days of blame and hostility, I acquiesced to her and agreed to send some of the guild’s finest wizards to retrieve you.”

“That was him?” She said, pointing at Eddiwarth. He smiled.

“Yes. Well, sort of. I didn’t pick him. He and another novice just volunteered. They were first year students. I didn’t expect him to catch you. I didn’t really want him to catch you. But I had to appease your mother. Still, I kept spotting you and getting reports, so I knew where you were, most of the time. I heard what you did in Dirae.” He hesitated and got quiet. “I was... quite proud of you.”

Thissraelle’s heart fell deep. Proud of me? For so long I’ve been afraid of you! You’re... proud of me?

He wiped his eyes. “Many times I lost track of you. When I heard the cathedral was attacked, and that you had been there, I tried so many times to scan the burned out ruin. The city was so angry, I didn’t dare step out of the guild hall. I was so afraid for you.” His shoulders shook.

Thissraelle jumped to her feet and leapt across the gap between them. She landed on his chest and held him tight. She buried her face in his embrace and sobbed. All of her struggles and her fears were melting away into tears in his arms.

“Now look at you. You’re so strong, powerful. You’ve come so far. You’re not my little girl anymore.”

Yes, I am. I hope I never outgrow that.

<<<>>>

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209 - “Her Father” - Thissraelle - A Tale of Heroes

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<<<>>>

Thissraelle sat on a rock.

She was alone. The rock was cold, and hard, and uncomfortable, but that kind of fit her mood. The familiar dark and empty chill of The Vast surrounded her, but she paid no attention to any of it.

What was that old man thinking? He sends me off on a false quest just to trap me and send me home. But our home is gone! The Guild Hall was razed by an angry army! How could he not know it would happen that way when he ordered the attack on the cathedral? 

She hugged her knees tightly and swayed gently from side to side.

And all the suffering! How many were killed? And how many more in the aftermath?

Above her was empty darkness filled with enormous colored clouds. It all rotated, not so slowly, in her sky space as the round rock she was sitting on tumbled along. It wasn’t large, at all, not like a moon or a floating mountain or even a terrace. It was just big enough to sit on, to hide on, and to get away from everyone else for a while.

Especially her father.

It just doesn’t make sense! And the whole thing with St. Ivarr! How did he project that illusion into my head? That’s a lot of strange effort just to get me home.

And why not just have Ivarr tell me to go home? Why the big long quest? Why the danger? I almost got all of my friends killed. I was supposed to lead them, right? “The strongest leader is better the servant...” Some leader I am. Not much of a servant either.

After the battle, her father and Heathrax had gathered everyone together, and they had flown away to one of the Dragonspine peaks. There, Heathrax had shown them the portal point that he used to get to his home in The Vast. Her father had tried to embrace her, to talk to her, but she had just raged at him.

Thissraelle’s mind had been clouded with confusion, anger, and sadness. As soon as she had seen that they were in The Vast, she had jumped onto a stone drifting nearby and pushed away. She hadn’t wanted to leave her friends, but they didn’t seem to be in immediate danger, and she had needed to get away.

Far away.

I need to think.

But I don’t want to think. I can’t figure it all out! It’s not adding up!

She sighed and buried her face between her knees.

When she raised her eyes again, she saw Eddiwarth floating in the space before her. She furrowed her brows, frustrated that he was disturbing her sulk. Still, she tilted her head to her right shoulder to match the angle of his body. He sat on an oddly curved stone dish, but he was turned on his side in the air, as if gravity were working differently for him. Gradually, as her own rock turned, he seemed to go fully upside down.

"So," he said, with hesitation. "You mad at me?"

She adjusted her head the other way as he continued rotating. He went on, "Parith and Korr are OK, I think. Korr didn't waste any time delivering his message once he recovered. He and Heathrax are talking away about his master."

She cut in, "What are you riding on?"

"I don't know. It’s rock, I guess. Do you want one?"

"Where did you find it?"

"I made it. It seems you can make a lot of cool stuff in The Vast if you want to."

She laughed quietly. "So, you have access to all the immense power of the infinite Vast, and you use it to fly upside-down in a stir-fry pan?"

Eddiwarth considered this. "No. I used all that power just to make you smile."

She smiled. "Actually, you're making me dizzy." She held out her arms. "Get over here."

Eddiwarth jumped off the stone plate and sent it spinning away. As soon as he floated to her outstretched arms, he twisted with the new gravity pull of her rock and tumbled into her, knocking her over. She laughed and pushed him aside. He started to drift away, but reached out and grabbed her foot and pulled himself back.

Thissraelle took hold of his other arm and pulled him into an embrace, then a kiss. He settled onto the rock beside her and held her close.

She whispered, "Oh, what's going to happen?"

He shrugged. "All I know is that we're all safe, for the moment, and I'm here with you."

“Does everyone hate me?”

Eddiwarth pulled his head back and gave her a look of surprise and confusion.

"Young novice," a deep and quiet voice interrupted. It carried authority, but was not demanding. Thissraelle tensed. "Would you allow me to speak with my daughter?” Over Eddiwarth's shoulder, she saw her father floating in the void a few feet before her. His arms were crossed in front of the dark robe he wore and his feet dangled in the open air below him.

In a rush, Eddiwarth disentangled himself and stood. Just as quickly, Thissraelle snatched his hand and held it firm. "He will stay." Her voice was terse and determined. The eyes narrowed on her father's face. Eddiwarth sucked in a deep breath.

The silence between them seemed to echo though The Vast as they exchanged stares. Finally, Thissraelle’s father dropped his gaze. “I know it seems strange to hear me say this, but most of all, I want you to know that I am happy to see you well.”

“Well?” Thissraelle shouted, eyes blazing, “Do you call this ‘well’? I am definitely not well!” He raised his hands defensively, but she went on, “We just almost got killed in your little trap!”

His eyes flared open. “My trap?”

“Yes!” she shouted, “And what about all those that were killed by your patrols in the forest? Or killed in the cathedrals?”

“Hold on, hold on...”

“No! I will not ‘hold on’!” Her voice trembled, “How could you? How could you burn them down? Was the Church that much of a problem for you? Did you just want to take them down a notch? You were always hard on them, but that’s no reason to destroy them! Please just tell me why?”

“Cathedrals? Patrols in the forest? My dear, dear child...”

“You will answer me!” She noticed she was standing and pointing. She dropped her hand and stood defiant.

He took a deep breath. “I see there is so much to explain. Perhaps we should all sit down.” He waived his hands and a small boulder spun to him from beyond the rock Thissraelle was on. With a few motions, he shaped it into a crude seat and placed it underneath him.

“Please.” He gestured for Thissraelle and Eddiwarth to relax on their rock.

<<<>>>

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208 - “Ending the Fight” - Thissraelle - A Tale of Heroes

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<<<>>>

Thissraelle collapsed, exhausted, leaning against the fallen pillar. Noise and chaos swarmed around her. She leaned forward and sobbed into her hands.

I’ve killed us all.

What was I thinking? The acrid smoke of the burning around her made her cough. The bridge shook again.

Oh, let’s all take a stroll through the forest. Then we can have a nice picnic in the mountains! I’ve brought them all here to die!

Killed by my own father! Maybe. I don’t know!

It doesn’t matter. Let him take me. Let him kill me. It doesn’t matter, now.

She stood and began walking back along the bridge toward her father. Her companions still fought the green dragon, and it roared and cursed. The flames around her weren’t burning as hot, now, but thin smoke still flowed upward. She coughed. Through the heated air and curling smoke, she could see the wavy image of her father. The great red dragon lay sprawled beside him, broken and distorted.

“Thissraelle, stop!” He called out to her. “Get down!”

Thissraelle kept walking.

“Thissraelle! Get away!”

No. Come take me. Nothing here matters any more. Take me away and let my friends go.

She felt the heat from the ever nearer flames begin to burn on her legs. It was painful, but she kept walking. I am in control. I can choose where I go.

“Thissraelle! STOP!”

A cold whistling wind rushed down from the upper reaches of the canyon, blowing her hair into her face. The chill air also chased away the smoke stinging her tear-stained cheeks. The flames in front of her crackled and sputtered from the rushing. She stopped and looked above her.

A gigantic dragon head followed the wind, flying past her, above the snarling green dragon. Its body followed, snaking and slithering through the canyon air. It was larger than anything she had ever seen, even the eel whales. Its curving body was mostly gray flecked in white, with long white tendrils hanging off its chin, ears and arms, streaming out beside it like banners in a parade. It had tall white spikes along its spine, and though it had wings, even large ones, they remained folded across its back. It circled and flowed through the wind as if held up by deep magic.

The green dragon growled out a threatening roar and launched up into the air before the end of the gray dragon’s tail had even fully passed. The green dragon arched over the bridge and flew straight toward the larger dragon’s head, shouting words that Thissraelle couldn’t understand. They echoed through the canyon, and she dropped to her knees. Eddiwarth crawled over to her.

The gray dragon doubled back toward the bridge, coming up on the other side of the canyon. Its body continued on as if the neck had looped around a giant tree trunk. The green dragon looked much smaller by comparison, like the big drakes at the cathedral would have sized up next to it. Still, the smaller dragon didn’t look at all afraid. It rushed at the larger creature with its claws bared and blowing toxic green gas in a column from its throat.

The gray dragon raised up its head and neck into an S-shaped curve, and unfolded its wings. It threw them forward, three times, and the waves summoned up a cyclone of wind like Thissraelle had never felt before. She huddled down below a fallen pillar with Eddiwarth and Parith to keep from being blown off the bridge. The green dragon didn’t fare so well, losing its stability. It tumbled up the canyon and slammed into the pools on the far side. Steaming water gushed out of the broken pool around the dragon’s legs and tail.

The gray beast pointed its talons toward the green dragon and launched forth bolts of light which exploded in brightness on the green dragon’s tumbling form. It scrambled to try and get a footing on the rock wall, but the stones and pools just crumbled beneath him, washing him further downward. Its wings flailed at the air, but could not get enough force to help it up.

Thissraelle looked back at the gray dragon, her jaw slack, but unable to scream. It looked majestic and calm. Its tail now curled and flowed beneath it as it floated in the air, the wind making its many tendrils flap. It closed its eyes. The heated waters of the springs spouted up from the pools and the streams in the mountainside and flowed over the green dragon. The gray dragon slowly snaked forward, over the heads of the awestruck party, toward its opponent. The gray dragon opened its giant mouth and breathed frosted icy fog onto the green dragon. It shivered as the water froze instantly on its scaly skin, layering on thicker and thicker. Finally, its green eyes glossed over, and its stiff form tumbled down into the misty chasm below.

Satisfied, the great gray dragon turned its head upward, then snaked back down to the bridge. It crossed the bridge, and paused over Thissraelle and her friends. Thissraelle gazed up, her heart pounding in a strange mix of total terror and awestruck worship. Eddiwarth scooted back on his elbows, trying to get between her and the looming beast.

Something moved in the space beside her, and she jolted to look. It was her father. He was calm and unafraid as he approached the dragon.

The dragon’s face shifted, almost as if it were somehow smiling, and it dipped its head briefly. It spoke in a raspy voice, “Hello, Jaxil, old friend.”

Her father smiled and returned the bow. “Blessings to you, Heathrax. It’s nice to see you again.”

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
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207 - “The Brave Little Drake” - Parith - A Tale of Heroes

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<<<>>>

When Parith opened his eyes, the pain that wracked his entire body made him close them tight again. He tried to move but that hurt even more.

My arm. I can’t move my arm. He reached up with the other hand, but found nothing in the air above him. He felt a strange disorientation mixed with the hurting. I’m upside down. Something is scratching my face. When he heard the little drake’s familiar trilling, he turned his head and opened his eyes. The drakeling squawked and began licking his face. From somewhere farther away, he could hear explosions.

The cold stone of the bridge beneath him shook as the big green dragon took another step toward him. Aw, stones, this isn’t over yet?

He shifted his head a little and pain shot down through his back and legs. He saw Thissraelle’s worried face appear over him. He smiled. “Hey. Miss Healer. You gonna patch me up?”

She didn’t smile back. She covered her face in her hands. “I don’t know what I’m doing, or what’s going on. My father-- the dragons--“ She looked at him again. “You’re really hurt.”

“Am I that bad?”

“I’m going to have to try and get you down off this debris. Can you move?”

He tried to rise up, but could only move his head and arm. Pain overwhelmed him and he dropped back down. The drake nuzzled him, cooing timidly.

She sighed, “I’ll take that as a ‘no’.”

He could hear more growling, shouting and exploding and it all seemed so distant, like it was happening in a room down the hall. The bridge shook again. Thissraelle moved back and raised her hands. A faint blue light formed around him, and she lifted him up and eased him flat on the ground. He shouted and winced.

“Sorry! Sorry! I think you’ve got some broken bones. I’ve never tried to heal anything like this. It’s going to take a lot of will.”

“Where’s Korr? And Eddiwarth?” Where am I? Oh, yeah. The shrine... He reached out with his good hand and touched her arm. “Thank you. You’re so good.”

“What?” She was distracted.

 He could only whisper, now. “Whenever things go bad, you’re the first one there to try and fix it. I need to be more like you.”

The dragon’s back leg landed only a few feet from him with a heavy thud and a shake, and Thissraelle screamed. The drakeling shrieked and jumped up onto Parith’s chest, launching itself into the air. Parith coughed with pain.

What’s he doing? Come back here!

They both watched the drake fly up and circle the huge dragon’s neck and head, drawing its attention. The dragon snaked its smoking head back and forth, snapping at the little pest, swinging its large forelegs, and trying to smack it down. Hot drips of flaming drool splattered down around them all.

“Drakie!” Parith wheezed, trying to shout, “Get back here!”

The side of the dragon’s sweeping head struck the drake as it tried to dive under it. The impact dazed it and knocked it upward in the air for only a moment. It flailed about, shrieking, while it tried to twist and regain control of its flight, but one of its wings didn’t respond and the little beast tumbled down. As it fell, the dragon grabbed it in its flaming mouth and bit down hard.

Parith reached out, trying to get up. “Drake!”

Thissraelle screamed again. The dragon shook its head back and forth, crushing the little drake.  It spit out the tiny body onto the bridge floor with a burning splat.

“Drake!” Horror filled Parith’s mind. He barely saw Eddiwarth and Karendle rushing to engage the big dragon, trying to draw it away from Parith and Thissraelle. “No! Save the drake!”

Thissraelle put her hands on Parith. He could feel her summoning her will. “No!” He gasped, “Don’t heal me! Heal Drakie! Save him!” He grabbed her wrist and tried to move her hand away, but he was too weak.

Thissraelle’s shoulders shook. Her tears fell on Parith’s arm. He felt the light swell in her and flow into his broken body. Then, his vision clouded in brightness.

<<<>>>

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206 - “Breaking Reality?” - Eddiwarth - A Tale of Heroes

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<<<>>>

Eddiwarth flew out over the canyon floor, circling away from the bridge, held aloft by blasts of fire pulsing downward from his fists. From that vantage point, he could see the entire battle’s overwhelming chaos. Flames and smoke billowed from his left, sweeping across the bridge. Pillars had fallen, and huge chunks of the bridge edge had broken off from the impact of the dragon’s feet.

He saw the green dragon on the bridge striking at Parith. It smashed its front foot down on the stone bridge as Parith shot his bow and jumped away. Parith scrambled along the edge of the bridge, jumping over the rubble. Eddiwarth could see two or three arrows sticking out of the dragon’s long neck, like needles in a pincushion. It was bleeding, but not much. How are we going to kill this thing?

Beyond the green dragon, Korr was fighting the man in the black cloak. Farther away, clinging precariously to the crumbled edge of one of the water pools on the opposite wall of the canyon, the red dragon sat and growled. It snaked its head from side to side, looking back toward Thissraelle’s father. “Go-o!” it growled. “Go and brrinng him to uss!”

Thissraelle flew up from below on the far side of the bridge. She brought Karendle flying alongside her,  a little lower. Thissraelle pointed, and floated Karendle over to the bridge. As soon as Karendle set foot down, she drew her sword and rushed toward the fight.

The red dragon’s head followed Thissraelle as she flew, and began coughing and churning up its fiery guts. A foul-smelling goo drooled from deep inside his mouth, bursting into flame as soon as it came to air and dribbled off the dragon’s jaw. Its stomach churned, it’s neck flexed, and it’s jaw opened wide.

It’s gonna flame! “Thissraelle!” Eddiwarth leaned and rushed toward her.

Thissraelle saw him and spun in the air. The dragon’s neck pushed its head forward toward her, smoking jaw open. “Get away!” Eddiwarth shouted.

Before she could move, A point of gray energy flew past her, toward the dragon. As it cut the air, it left waves of distorted reality in its wake like the reflections in a pond following a skipped stone. It struck the dragon and exploded, in a way. The dragon looked for an instant like it had been painted on layers of glass, and each layer had been shattered and badly reassembled. Then, in another instant, the panes were put together a different way, but still wrong. The dragon screamed a horrific noise, retching broken streams of fire all around him.

Then just as suddenly, the shards of reality reformed. The dragon shook its head. Eddiwarth saw that its movements were strained, like its bones weren’t quite lined up the same as it had been before. Its neck wasn’t as smooth and fluid, and its wings not as straight. One of its forelegs now protruded from the front of its chest.

It roared again, but it was a strange sound, like its voice came from somewhere else. Its angry eyes fixed on the lone wizard at the far end of the bridge.

A loud voice called out from that terrace. “That’s right! Come and get me! You leave her be!” Eddiwarth startled. That’s Thissraelle’s father? He and Thissraelle both looked in surprise. Her father stood steady and firm where he had before but the world around him seemed to be quaking. He began striding toward the dragon, stepping out onto nothing as if he were walking on solid ground.

The dragon leapt from the pool on the canyon wall and flew at him an awkward jagged path. It spewed its pent-up flames before it at the old man. The wizard waved his hands and the burning retch flew through him as if he weren’t there. The dragon landed on the bridge with a solid crunch.

“What is my father doing?” Thissraelle’s voice beside Eddiwarth startled him.

“I don’t know. I thought you were going to be fried alive!”

Eddiwarth’s eyes were drawn to the bridge just as the green dragon there growled and stomped the stone. It swung its arm before it, catching Parith in the sweep and sending him tumbling and sprawling across the bridge. When he stopped, draped over a broken pillar, he didn’t move.

“No!” Eddiwarth shouted.

“I’ll help him! You draw the dragon!” Thissraelle shot down toward Parith.

Eddiwarth swallowed his fear, and let anger and rage welled up in its place. He flew at the dragon, throwing blasts of fire from his hands, one after the other. The blasts hit the beast, exploding on his neck and chest. Using the flame of his hands as weapons turned his focus away from the flight, however, and he tumbled down, twisting to try and brace for the fall. He crashed hard onto the dragon’s side. Dazed, he landed on the stone of the walkway.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
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205 - “Visions in Smoke” - Tonklyn - A Tale of Heroes

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“You are defeated! End this fight!” The odd warrior’s voice echoed through the dim of Kirraxal’s throne room. The great black dragon lounged on the rich plush padding on his stone dais. As always, Tonklyn stood beside him, along with the everpresent watch of the dragonbonded guard.

Before them swirled a foggy mist of blackness that moved and shifted into shapes. Like ghostly actors on a haunted stage, the mist played out the vision of the distant dragonbonded soldier, the one that Kirraxal had tasked with finding the dragon friend, Giatrice.

At the moment, the soldier was lying on his back and his view was staring up the threatening shaft of his own spear, now held at his throat.

This man fights strangely, attacking with only his bare hands and feet. And yet he’s defeated our armed soldier! The downed figure squirmed, then his hand shot forward. A dark dagger flashed in the sunlight, sticking deep into the abdomen of the opponent. The man reacted in pain, then leaned into the spear, thrusting it forward. The vision before them lurched and went dark, then dissipated into smoke.

The room fell silent.

Tonklyn hesitated, unsure how Kirraxal would react.

The dragon only harrumphed out some smoke, then raised his head up. Finally, he spoke. “Well, I had hoped that one of those dragons would have been able to draw out the dragonfriend. No matter.”

Tonklyn nodded. No raging fury today. Good. “Maybe Giatrice was one of the party there at the shrine. Maybehe’s the old man standing there behind them.”

Kirraxal nodded. He stretched his neck out, wrapping it around his body and settling his head. “He will yet be found. Leave me, now.”

As Tonklyn bowed, Kirraxal added. “These two dragons have served me well. Soon, when you go to speak with them, we’ll offer them high places in my kingdom. Especially Gerixain.”

Tonklyn raised up. “Is he the large greenish one?”

“No,” Kirraxal corrected, “she is.”

Tonklyn smirked, nodded, and stepped away.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
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204 - “Who to Fight?” - Korr - A Tale of Heroes

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Korr rushed forward at the dragon in front of him. He launched himself up high and landed on the back of its hip. The dark green hide was thick and, though it folded into bumps and scales, it was also slick and shiny, making it difficult to grip. The more the dragon moved and shifted, the harder this was. He lashed out at the dragon with a fury of punches, but they only made the dragon flinch. Korr felt the impacts in a line of pain running through his arm.

This hide is so thick. I’ve shattered stones with my fists in practice, but this is not working.  The dragon lashed to one side and knocked Korr momentarily off his balance. There’s no time to waste! No, I will use the Ocean!

He braced his feet against the hip and reached up to the dragon’s side. He tried to set his focus. He drew back with his right hand, shifted his hips, then his shoulders. He imagined his entire body as a rushing wave of the ocean’s energy. He twisted and crashed that energy deep into the rocks of the dragon’s body.

The beast roared with pain and rolled away, making Korr slide down its side. The dragon drew its hind leg claws up and kicked Korr away like a dog scratching off a flea. Korr hit the ground hard and rolled to a kneeling stop, breathing hard from his effort. At least I got his attention. 

His eyes widened with surprise as the dragon’s thick tail swung toward him. With only a moment to react, Korr jumped high, landed his hands on the swinging tail, and vaulted over it, landing on his feet on the other side of the beast.

As he spun around and reset his stance, he saw the guard in black at the far end of the bridge. The man was steady and stoic, watching the fight, but not moving to engage. I wonder if he’s controlling the dragons.

Korr only took a moment to decide. He ran toward the guard just as the tail lashed back, smashing into the bridge railing. A tall column cracked, fell, and shattered to the stones, forcing Korr to jump aside before renewing his charge.

As Korr approached, the man turned slightly and lowered his spear in a defensive stance. Korr shouted, “Call off the attack!” but the man gave no response. He kept his cloak hood up and drawn low over his face. He began to trace small circles in the air with the tip of his spear, keeping it focused on Korr.

The man thrust his spear at Korr, who easily deflected it aside with his forearm. Korr stepped into the fight and thrust a strike at his opponent’s chest. The man blocked upward with the shaft of the spear, and spun around, swapping their positions on the bridge. Korr turned to face him and set a firm square stance.

“Once again, I must demand that you end the attack!” Korr looked in surprise to see the man’s hood had fallen away from one side of his face. His skin was dark and leathery, and covered in folds of scales. His eye had no whites, and only slits for pupils, like a snake’s. Or a dragon’s!

Those eyes narrowed, and the man hissed through his teeth. He snapped his foot forward and lunged with the spear. This time, Korr swept it aside, then brought his hand around to grip the shaft. He pulled hard, yanking the man forward, off his balance, and into an oncoming punch. The man grunted, and Korr took the spear in both hands, dropped it low, and swept the end of it under the man’s legs. He toppled over and landed hard on the stone bridge.

Korr gritted his teeth as he spun the spear around his back and stopped the point just shy of the man’s throat. “You are defeated! End this fight!”

The man responded by flicking his wrist. Instantly, Korr felt pain in his gut. He glanced down and saw a thin dagger sticking out of his reddening shirt. The man squirmed on the ground and Korr quickly plunged the spear into his throat. The man clutched it, gurgling and gasping, then went still.

Korr dropped the spear and staggered back, gripping the dagger’s hilt. He felt an odd burning sensation inside his guts, around the blade. Poison? His head felt light.

The bridge twisted beneath him and he fell.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox, Genevieve Springer!

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203 - “Stones and Rocks” - Karendle - A Tale of Heroes

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<<<>>>

Oh, Creator! Save me! We’re all gonna die! Karendle huddled low behind a stone broken off of one of the pillars lining the bridge. Her breathing was shallow, and her hands and forearms covered her head. Heat and smoke from the flames down the walkway blended with the steam drifting from the pools and the cold winter wind flowing down the canyon. It all made her sweaty face shiver. Her legs shook, curled up to her chest, unable to stand and run. Another growl from the dragon’s throat chilled her spine and made her cower tighter against the stone. It didn’t really provide much cover, but it was all she had.

The dragon took a step forward, and the bridge shook underneath her. It’s a dragon! We are all gonna die! I can’t look. When it had landed on the bridge, it had knocked over several of the pillars on the side like they were candles on a tabletop. Its wings had swept over her and sent her sprawling. As panic gripped her, she had crawled toward the fallen column to hide as best she could.

Now, she just lay on the cold stone of the bridge and felt waves of fear rush over her. Her heart was racing. Or is it stopped? She couldn’t tell. She kept her eyes closed tight and tried to suck in a breath. Her chest muscles were too tense, and she only gasped and coughed. Her hands were clenched so tight that her fingers ached. They each gripped something, but she wasn’t aware of what. It was hard and cold, like stone.

She brought her hands forward, before her face and opened them slightly, looking in her palms. My oculi! She held her two stones, one blue, the other a mix of green and brown.

She could hear shouting, now--  Thissraelle’s and Eddiwarth’s voices. Thissraelle’s father was calling out again as well. The bridge stone below her shook again. Karendle raised her head over the fallen pillar to look. Way up above her was the scaly chest and neck of the beast. Where’s Thissraelle? I can’t see her!

Off to her left was a conflagration making a thick, dark smoke blow her way. Across the bridge, through the smoke, she saw Parith standing with his bow drawn. His aim was fluid, in motion, trying to track the movements of the dragon’s head. He shot, and Karendle saw it bounce off the scales of its face. Parith quickly drew another and loosed it, making the dragon blink. It turned its head and snarled at him, lifting a foot to try and sweep him off the bridge.

Karendle rolled onto her back and focused her will on the boulder she’d been hiding behind. She thrust her arms out and the stone flew up under her power and caught the dragon on the underside of its jaw. Its head jerked back, then snaked toward her, it’s angry eyes flaring and its fanged mouth wide open. She quickly launched a second stone at it, which it easily dodged. A dark greenish-gray fog began to form in its mouth, burping and bubbling out from around its tongue.

Oh, that’s not good. She scrambled to her feet, then reached out with her will to one of the pillars that still remained standing. With a grunt she tried to move it with the mental oculus, but was surprised when it held firm in place.

The dragon sucked in a breath. I can’t break it off!

In a sudden flash of inspiration, she swept the nature oculus forward, cleanly slicing the pillar off near its base. With blue mental oculus in her other hand, she swung it like a giant club at the dragon. It hit the neck, just below the head, knocking it sideways and making it stumble.

It coughed and sputtered. Karendle was gasping for air as well, and the smoke from the fire was burning her lungs. She stepped away to find cleaner air.

The dragon lifted its foreleg and snapped it forward, trying to grab her in its sword-claws. Karendle jumped back to avoid the blow, but slipped on a loose stone and lost her balance. She fell, and her thigh hit the railing of the bridge. She felt herself tumble off the bridge and twisted, trying desperately to grab for the railing. She was already too far off, and her oculi flew from her hands. She fell spinning, screaming into the canyon and the steamy cloud below.

<<<>>>

This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
Thank you: Chet Cox, Genevieve Springer!

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