ALL TALK NO ACTION

We began our third day as ‘normal’ as we escorted the humans and Vespa back to her father. I stood next to her and I tried to act casual, to conceal my emotions. Phobos again was silent.

Behind me I could hear Rhodes complaining… again… and I begged Torin if he had silence to use it. Soon I had had enough and stormed back to where Rhodes and Berrien were and standing to my full height glared at the dwarf and yelled “If you even think of hurting Vespa I will hang you from the nearest breach by your beard, take out your crag hammer and beat you like a piñata!”

He responded in typical dwarfish fashion by asking about my scales/hide obviously threatening to skin me, Berrien asked “what vexed me so?” I, still enraged spat “what stands before or should I say beneath me and if he is not careful I shall put him beneath the ground!” At that I turned away ignoring whatever prattle he was saying.

We soon arrived at the outskirts of the castle. Soon a crowd gathered and despite not being able to understand them (and Torin’s reluctance to translate) I could tell that they too were pro-dragon born and anti-dwarf. And in my mood I would probably be rewarded for impaling Rhodes for the third time in as many days. Phobos was silent, usually it is she who recommends such things.

We reached the castle and a guard approached us. (Torin translated for us) The guard believed that the princess was at her retreat. Vespa told him that she had been kidnapped by people disguised as city guards and how we had rescued her and we were to be trusted. The guard who travelled with us backed the story up with tales of our gallantry on the journey back. He scanned the group, as if to take our measure and when his eyes met mine he VERY quickly moved on, for only darkness lay in my eyes with the promise of death. When his eyes fell upon Rhodes they turned from fear to abject disgust and scowled at him but due to Vespa’s words to the same he trusted him.


I helped Vespa down from the carriage and we escorted her through the ‘commoners’ quarters where we noticed that there were other races here. These races occupy the other classes/casts. While the half-orks were the laborers the Halflings seemed to be merchants. This did not mean there weren’t ‘nobles’ of those races but due to the predominantly human occupation they were few and far between.

During the walk to meet Vespa’s father several people decided to use Rhodes to see how accurate they could throw their assortments of rotten fruit. As has become custom he voiced his concerns and I only heard the same sound that a Mr Brown heard when his elders spoke to him.

We come into a courtyard where a cage held a bedraggled, dirty dwarf which was next to a gallows. Rhodes grumbled “bloody typical” Berrien tried his best to console him but he is a dwarf.

We soon came to the ‘noble’ district this was cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing and soon we reached the palace. As if on cue they promptly ‘requested’ that the dwarf disarm, in a gesture of friendship Berrien offered up his weapons but Rhodes said it was not necessary. Again the guards made a gesture at the dwarf but Vespa spoke to them and we were permitted to see the king. (Under a six man battle hardened guard of course.)

Vespa was then escorted arm in arm by one of the guards to the throne room. There we saw two thrones. Upon one sat the king and on his left was an empty throne. On it sat bejeweled crown. We all bowed in respect to the king and Vespa ran to him and they hugged. Such happiness I have never had for myself was on their faces and I found myself alone in my thoughts for Phobos’ voice had gone. The king looked at us with the same awed look we’d gotten from others and then the speaking bearded cockroach look when he looked at Rhodes.

Vespa told him of her adventure and our bravery and it was plain for us to see that while he was relieved that she was safe he was even more relieved to know that she was ignorant of her ‘other half’. She then told him of the oddity of us not understanding their language. At this he waved over a courtier who then scurried off. After an uncomfortable wait a tall thin man in a purple robe who’s hair was as white as snow and who’s eyes were purple/red and piercing with skin a black hue appeared to address us. Berrien and Palos both hissed in anger at the appearance of their ancient racial foe.

The Black wizard wove his magic and cast a more powerful version of the comprehend languages spell that Torin used and was able to converse with us. This is where we found out that the dragon born, or dragon lords as they called them, along with their good allies fought in a war some centuries ago. In that war the dwarven god was killed and they turned to evil and thus were branded and treated as such. It was apparent that at the conclusion of the war the dragon lords had ‘gone over the mountain’ to continue the fight and the elves and Eladrin had gone to their crystal cities to await the next big war.

We tried to explain our back ground but the black wizard did not seem to believe in other realms. A combination of Rhodes (I believed at the time to be an error to allow a hated race to speak for us but it was intended to show our trust in him) and my using the obvious differences in our culture seemed to arouse his interest. The two other matters the language barrier and ‘trusting the dwarf’ we settled next I vouched for the dwarf but his weapons still had to be peace knotted and as for the language that was the most weirdest thing I had seen so far.

The wizard called in an attendant who carried a fish bowl with strange looking fish in it, apparently from some place called Bayble for they bared the same name. We were asked to put them in our ear, I did so and I finally could hear their language (and thus Vespa’s.) I told Vespa that it was my pleasure to have protected her and she replied in her sweet voice that I was welcome in the palace and could speak to her at any time.

Soon it came time to perform the ancient custom that has been passed down from adventurer to adventurer regardless of age or experience. Gain reward, spend it all and plead poverty. All while chanting that song of old “how much is that vorpal sword in the window”

While the others purchased their wares I felt it was time to make both a fitting name for myself and a proper title for Phobos. So I commissioned a vampiric blade to be made and in the twilight hours I held Phobos in my hand, her blade now so black your eyes slide right off her. I proclaimed my self Snake “eater of souls” and to Phobos, who I have wielded in battle countless times, Phobos The Black Blade. To my astonishment she replied in my adoptive mothers’ voice. Not in my mind as was with Phobos but in my ears. I was for the first time unable to think of a response to her approval of my self proclamations. For it was not an aspect of my mind that craved to love and be loved but some one who did once before.

She told me that she had forgiven me for being the instrument of her death but could you blame the blade or the madwoman wielding it.

During our conversation I found out she did seek vengeance on my parents but would gladly join me in my quest for happiness whatever the battles we might face, and to my delight she felt no jealousy towards my feelings for Vespa. Only that she did not want me to get hurt.

Over the next two weeks while we got used to the languages and customs of the realm we were in I wrote a poem for Vespa. As the others got their items of power and from what I understood Torin had a credenza or a chiffonier purpose built to fit on his chariot. It was during this time that Rhodes found time to talk with the dwarf that was caged. After refusing to talk to him I skillfully (at Rhodes’ request) snuck him some food but he shouted that by the chained god he would get vengeance.

Towards the end of the second week Malachi (the drow wizard) came with Vespa to see us leaving her in the next room he told us the story of what had happened to her and what was going on.

We were told that when she was young a stranger came to the castle and offered his friendship. When it was refused he bestowed the curse on Vespa. The group that had kidnapped her was a rebel group of soldiers.

The King had an uneasy peace with a neighboring country, Rodania, to which its prince Eugene was to marry Vespa in order to mend the rift. For King Carloft had already sent probing raids into the country and if the marriage failed it may be war.

This of course had one problem. Every full moon she turned into a beast. There was a ritual that a warlock had found that could cure her but could only be done on his tribal lands. The King has asked us to escort her there with promises of great reward. I said I would do it for Vespa and needed not reward but Malachi told me they paid their debts.

Arrayed against us was the usual factions that did not want the marriage to take place (and what of me I thought) along with the allotment of random creatures that got in our way. I did ask Vespa how she felt and she was unsure of marrying someone who she did not know. I gave her my poem and I understood that being the only child put immense responsibilities on her. She thanked me for the poem and was happy that a dragon lord took an interest in her.

So be it. Onward we go to save the princess from a monster and for what? To place her in the arms of another, to risk all for the hope that both kingdoms will be nicer to each other. I cannot be there for her always. I can’t be by her side at every moment (It would be very rude come wedding night) and so I will show her how to defend herself and a few other tricks I have picked up. Love may hurt but a blade below the belt is a nice way to persuade someone to discontinue a course of action.