A dragon's fate

by Gael

Finding a good souvenir proved to be more difficult than I had expected. I was hoping to find Dynia a few good storybooks, since she had to leave most of hers behind at Titania’s tower. The problem however, was that all the books I found were written in Draconic. And I had truly no idea whether she could read that language. Fortunately, just as I was about to give up hope, I stumbled upon a quaint little artificer’s shop. Where a masterfully crafted clock caught my eye. A perfect gift, or at least, so I hoped.

The next day, we set out from Latebra Velora. Our mission was twofold: to confront the Black Knight, and to deal with another, rather unexpected intruder. Lady Morenthene had informed us that a Copper Dragon had recently been sighted in her lands. Likely the same one whose hoard we had previously stumbled upon. She warned us that if it had not departed within a few days, she would deal with it personally. Which would most certainly not end well for the dragon. Hoping that our suspicion, that it was merely here to speak with us, was correct, we were seeking to persuade it to leave peacefully.

It took us about a day to reach the small camp of the skeletal knight near the crossroads. Along the way, we stumbled upon signs that indeed confirmed another dragon’s presence in the area. Though we saw neither scale nor claw of it. At least, not until that evening.

We were still on first watch, having set up camp near the crossroads. Luke and I were keeping an eye out when suddenly a massive deer fell from the sky. Moments later, a huge dragon landed and began cutting the deer into pieces. As she ate, we stepped out of Luke’s protective barrier to greet her. Amused, she introduced herself as Cypria and thanked us not only for sparing her basilisks, but also for not making off with her entire hoard.

We warned her that Lady Morenthene already knew of her presence and that it light be best for her to leave these lands. But Cypria assured us she that she had no intention of confronting her. Instead, she was merely waiting for a chance to speak with us. Or more specifically, to speak with Alistan in private. Our young knight was visibly stunned by thies, but one does not simple turn down a dragon And a moment later, Cypria carried him off into the night sky. Away from prying eyes.
Eventually, she returned him to us. As she flew away, Alistan told us what they had discussed. Cypria revealed that the lance that had been stolen from the Cathedral where Galiene worked, had originally belonged to a former knight of Keralon. Who had also been her rider back in the day. She hoped that upon recovering the lance, we might see fit to return it to his tomb. Which lay at the back of her lair. Alistan had agreed this, though I frankly had no idea how he planned to explain that one to Galiene. But those were problems for another day of course.

Around midday, we arrived once more at the camp of the Black Knight. Liliana issued a challenge, declaring that Lady Morenthene, ruler of these lands, had ordered them to leave immediately. But the knights refused to recognize her authority. Stating they would depart once their business there was concluded.

Alistan stepped forward and asked for more information about the Challenge of the Last Tournament. The wight, however, was in no mood to speak. If Alistan wished to know more, he said, he would have to challenge his master. But Alistan had no desire for this, which led the undead to draw their weapons.

The magical twins struck first. With Luke unleashing a mighty fireball, whereas Hayley unleashed a truly dreadful spell that drained energy from all caught in its wake, living or dead. Alistan and Liliana meanwhile stood at the front, forming a wall of steel as the undead crashed into them. Thus shielding the rearguard.

Despite our coordination, the undead proved to be formidable. Not only slowly pushing us back, but one even landed a devastating blow on Alistan. Thankfully, nothing Liliana and Hayley’s restorative magic couldn’t fix.

Then, the Black Knight himself emerged from his tent. Accompanied by the animated remains of a skeletal dragon. The same skeleton that was taken from the lair near Ravensfield. The implication being clear and chilling. The dragon cult had aligned with the Black Knight. Though whether this meant that they had allied with just him or all three Nemesis Knights remained uncertain. And frankly not something we had the time to ponder at that moment.

The Black Knight demanded to know who had dared attack him. But upon hearing that we were here in name of Lady Morenthene, he laughed. A cold and hollow sound. He offered us a choice: accept his challenge as knights, or leave. Naturally we refused and continued the fight.

The dragon skeleton surged forward, catching Liliana in its deadly breath. Meanwhile, the Black Knight raised a massive wall, separating her from Alistan. We tried to regroup. Hayley reinforcing Alistan and Luke trapping the knight in a ring of fire. When suddenly, Cypria descended from the skies. Slamming into the skeletal dragon with fangs and claws tearing into bone as she pinned it to the earth.

The Black Knight, unfazed, walked through the ring of fire unscathed. In his hand, he held the dragonslaying lance. The very one we had been seeking. He engaged us, fighting with brutal precision and aggression. Meanwhile Cypria finally crushed the skeletal dragon, ending its unholy existence.

Seeing the tides turning, the Black Knight unleashed a blast of necrotic energy that leached life from the surrounding lands and revived the dragon’s remains once more. He leapt onto its back and proclaimed he would be waiting for us at Zwartkeep.
At last, we had won. Sure the lance was still beyond our reach, but we had fulfilled Lady Morenthene’s request and driven the Black Knight from her domain. Meaning we could now return to Keralon to investigate the Challenge of the Last Tournament proper. And plan how to reclaim the lance once and for all.

Things could honestly not have gone much better for us.

Which is why I screamed, whether internally or aloud I honestly don’t remember, when Alistan suddenly leapt onto Cypria’s back and shouted, “Let’s get him!” as Hayley cast a spell to pin the skeletal dragon from the skies.
Cypria and Alistan gave chase. Though the Black Knight fought back ferociously, even landing a mortal blow on Alistan. Though as he moved in for the kill, Cypria bit down hard and unleashed her flames. Cooking him within his own armour.

But in doing so, she sealed her fate.

From the Black Knight’s charred remains, dark tentacles of eldritch energy started to emerge. All reaching for Cypria. She tried to resist, but was eventually overwhelmed. The tendrils draining her strength and leeching the colours from her scales until she collapsed.

Then, the Black Knight’s armour began to dissolve. Revealing the remains of the lost scion of the De La Roost family. Liliana and Alistan’s brother. As we had feared, the curse had indeed turned him into the very monster he once fought. And now, it was doing the same to Cypria.

But that wasn’t the final shock.

As the corruption overtook her, Cypria’s body began to shrink. Her form twisting, reshaping, and transforming, until eventually Galiene lay unconscious before us. None of us spoke. We could only stare in stunned silence as the full weight of what had just occurred began to sink in.

It was a painful and devastating lesson.

We had ignored the rules of chivalry and knighthood.

And someone else had paid the price.

Continue reading...

A day of celebrations and beginnings
30th of Daga, 121 year of the tree

A trial of brambles
30th of Daga, 121 year of the tree

Departure
1st of Lug, 121, Era of the Tree

Dreams and Peril
2-5 Lug, Year 121, Era of the Tree

City of Strife and Secrets
5th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

A complicated situation
6th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

Onwards towards the west
7th & 8th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

Strangers in the mist
8-11th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

For now I am the hunted
11th of Lug, Year 121, Era of the Tree

Hunted no more
12th of Lug, Year 121 Era of the Tree

Trial by fire
13th - 14th of Lug, 121 Era of the Tree

Keralon at last
15th of Lug, 121 Era of the Tree

Has it truly been five years?
1st - 2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Escorting the envoy
2nd of Nuan, Year 126, Era of the Tree

Heart of fire
3rd - 4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

A festive day
10th Nuan, Y126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Shadow of Ravenfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Tomb of Hollow Hill
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The battle for Ravensfield part 1
16th of Nuan, 126 Year of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Journal Entry’s title

The battle for Ravensfield part 2
16th - 17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Return to Keralon
18th - 21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Embassy ball
22nd - 23th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Searching for Norgar
23th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The fall of Robert Talespinner
23rd of Nuan, Y126 E.O.T.

Intermission: Letter home

An Audience With The King
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

A new beginning
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Breaking and making deals
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Nightly intrusions
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Journal Entry’s title

Dinner for Seven
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Graduation Day
25th of Aran, Y126 EOT

A love for the ages
24th of Aran, Y126 EOT

The festival
26th of Aran, 126 Year of the Tree

Battle of the bards
26th of Aran, 126 Year of the Tree

Fire in the night
2nd of Brigan, Y126 E.O.T.

Lord Quinn I presume
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Departure for Latebra Velora
5th - 6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Wurms and Dragons
6th - 8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Gold in the dark
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Heart of Acid
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Meeting Grandmother
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

A shadowy evening
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Latebra Velora
16th of Brigan, Y126 E.O.T.

A dragon's fate
16th - 17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

A royal summons
17th - 20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Planning ahead
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

A Rabbit and a Mole
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Hall
Hopefully 22th - 25th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Into the Warg's den
I think 25th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

On feathered wing
No clue

A Rose at Twilight
7th of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Whitewail
still no idea

Welcome to Nimmerhold
29th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

A day in the library
30th of Gobu 126 Era of the Tree

The Tournament
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Wolf and the Knight
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Fey Dance
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Home at last
2nd of Madan, 126 Year of the Tree

Getting back on track
4th - 10th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

Entering the King' Tomb
11th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

A key challenge
11th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

A dragon's fate

Continue reading...

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies