"I see," Simon says. "I see. One question: how do you propose to restrain this oversized bully once he wakes up, and how do you wish to prevent him from returning even if he agrees to depart now? Is it your intention to return to this island at regular intervals to ensure that he will keep his word?"
"Honestly, yes," Asha says, tilting her head. "And as for how to restrain him? I thought we'd already established that: you were going to threaten to kill him. And he's going to run away." She sighs. "It may not be a threat I can make, or intend to carry out, but I am well aware that such things can be useful in the right hands."
"Then I will formally bind you to your word," Simon says in a level tone of voice. "You will become this island's guardian and return here at least once every three years to make sure this dragon has not returned. Do you agree?"
Asha nods without hesitation. "I do, and I so swear on my oaths to Shelyn, the Eternal Rose. As long as her beauty blooms, so long does my oath bind me."
"Very well, then," Simon says. The old man looks to the others. "I am about to wake this creature. Prepare yourselves."
"This seems inept at best, and arrogance the more apt word. Asha, simply put, you cannot best this creature by yourself, so your promise to return every three years is really just placing your personal ideals above the safety and well being of many people. That kind of reckless selfishness is unbefitting anyone who adheres to a code of good, stop thinking about yourself and think of the people on this island, they deserve security and peace more than you deserve to test your strength of will against a vicious creature. Stop this selfish reckless approach and slay this beast, now!" Zak is determined to end the dragon and won't hesitate to do so if the beast stirs.
"This dragon has not threatened anyone who hasn't come to attack him in centuries," Asha replies evenly. "I have no wish to 'test myself' against the dragon again regardless. But I won't become the monster you are suggesting he is either. Instead, I will ask you this: stand with me, Zakarras. Let us meet here again in three years, and join me against Huyanwo if he has returned. Prepared, together, he would not stand against us any more than he has today." She pauses, then says quietly, "And if he has returned, and still threatens the peaceful residents of the island... I will not stay my blade a second time."
"I trust you will not object if I join you for the occasion," Simon says. "Provided I am still alive then."
Zarina finally chirps up. "So what's the decision then?"
At first Zak hesitates, but with Aha's promise to take action if the dragon returns he agrees to her suggestion. "So be it, I give my word that I'll return with you in three years, but we must also receive regular news from the island that all is well for these people." Zak remembers a friend lost to him years ago and hopes that he made the right decision.
"Then so be it," Simon says.
Turning to the dragon, the old man kicks a clod of mud at the creature's sensitive snout.
"Rise, you fretful beast! Judgment is upon you!"
Seeing that his companions are about to wake the dragon, Poog uses his evil eye on the creature , then activates his ring of invisibility as he stands behind Zarina and chants softly.
Following Poog's lead, Zak floats back into his cloud of smoke, flying a good 100' above the dragon with an arrow nocked and ready.
The great beast stirs after a time, and momentarily snaps its head around, its slitted eyes flashing with anger. Its lips curl into a snarl as it notices the four of you, all bearing your weapons and holding them, preparing to strike if necessary. "", he says, his voice low and rumbling, but still powerful over the crashing surf. ""
He listens as Asha gives her ultimatum, and he thinks for a time. "" He shakes his great head and stretches his wings. "" He begins to slink away to the surf.
"" He tenses, and prepares to leap back into the sea.
"רגע, מה זאת אומרת? מה נמלים? להצליח או להיכשל במה?" Poog calls out.
"Wait, what do you mean? What ants? Succeed or fail at what?"
The dragon tenses as his serpentine neck snaps around to search for the source of the speech. ""
""
Draconic
"" The great dragon levels a yellow eye to Asha, its slitted pupil dilating as it focuses upon her.
Huyanwo continues. ""
""
""
Completely lost among all the Draconic, Asha waits to see what the conversation is about - and what its outcome might be.
""
With that, the great beast leaps into the air and dives into the ocean, leaving you alone on the wave-swept rocky shoreline.
""
"The Golden League... the Aspis Consortium... This island is in the middle of a gang war," Simon says once the dragon has disappeared beneath the waves. "Or a merger."
"That's fine and all", hollers Zak as he zips down from his smoke cloud, "but what about the dragon's treasure? Poog and I were planning on getting lootified and the beast just disappeared beneath the waves!"
"Did you hear me?" Simon asks. "The Aspis Consortium. The Golden League. Two very large, very well-organized crime syndicates are here. These are extremely bad people who treat the lives of others as expendable if they do not directly benefit them. Both of them are here. And unless I miss my guess, both are plotting conquest."
Simon frowns at Zakarras in disapproval, but then sighs and smooths his expression.
"You may rest assured that their ilk will have treasure in plenty to loot. And there is less chance of moral conundra when we fight them."
"Wait, when we fight them? Let them kill each other while we win the tournament, then we'll swoop in and decimate the stragglers."
"Weren't you listening? The Aspis Consortium tried to get the dragon on their side to help conquer the island. The Golden League tried to assassinate us just yesterday. Either or both groups may be responsible for the 'accidents' that have been happening during the tournament," Simon says, waggling his fingers. "It's the kind of thing these people do. When they make their move, if no one stops them from doing so, innocent people are going to get hurt. The Tournament is not going to continue unimpeded, not if those syndicates have their own people in there."
"Damnit, by the end of this tournament I'll be the paladin, dang altruistic motivations and do-goodyness. Still, innocent people needing protecting does trump my desire for dragon horde." Though he speaks the words, the longing look Zak gives the sea suggests that the internal conflict remains.
"Moreover," Simon says, his expression dour, "they may not be fighting one another. These are businessmen" -- the old man spits into the surf -- "so they may be working together to overthrow the island and..."
Simon's voice trails off and his eyes widen. His hands start to tremble and he has to resheath his rapier so that he may lean on his cane for support.
"The Vault!" he gasps. "The Ruby Phoenix's Vault! Treasures beyond imagining! Claim the island, drive out all opposition, and you can claim the Vault and its treasures! Wonders and horrors from the far corners of the universe! Fool! Fool! I am an old fool not to have realized it before now! My last chance!"
"We am not letting them get our treasure. But first we am having to find dragon's treasure. He am not taking it with him!"
Poog goes back to looking around, unconcerned with the politics of the groups trying to prevent him from his prize. Knowing their reasons doesn't change anything.
It sniffs around as well, trying to find the treasure.
Zarina looks around as well. "If we can find the treasure, we should take it. The organizers of the tourney used us to get rid of the dragon. We might as well get our just rewards."
Perception
You all search around the pagoda, but find no evidence of Huyanwo's lair.
"Perhaps it am underwater?"
Watching the dragon leave, Asha nods in satisfaction. But the information about the Aspis and the Golden League takes any hint of satisfaction from her expression. "They will not be allowed to take the island," she says flatly. For a moment it appears that she has more to say, but she simply nods, as though that covers it.
Poog and Asha dive into the surf, and after a time, they spy a cave about twenty feet below the water line.
"There am cave! It am 20 feet deep! We am swimming to it?"
Asha nods, a hint of her usual smile beginning to appear around the edges of her mouth. "I believe I still owe you for my potions, don't I?" she grins before diving once again.
"Yes. You am owing Poog 600 gold coins!"
As usual, the goblin seems to be lacking much of a sense of humor.
"I'm not a swimmer. I can help as much as possible, but I'm not good at it!". Zarina was a bit scared of water, but wasn't going to leave her friends by themselves.
Swim check
"Do we have any magic that will let us breathe water?" Zak looks dubiously at the surf, knowing that swimming is not his forte.
In spite of the strength of the waves that crash upon the stone surf, you find the waters below sea level easier to swim, and surface in an underwater grotto. A horde of coins intermixed with sea-green scales leave no doubt as to what lies before you.
Searching for valuable items first, Zak loads up on treasure. "Have at it friends, whatever gets left behind will likely end up funding those nefarious organizations trying to control this place."
Poog quickly casts detect magic and looks around.
Perception
"This am good," Poog says. "Though Poog am no sure what these am doing. We should take this back to town and prepare for next fight. It am even more important to win fire so Poog am able to burn those who am trying to take his prize."
"I feel we should make public our findings," Simon says once the party has rejoined. "Not just to the Emissary and his, but all the people. We have a gathering of champions who may become targets -- and some of them may have noticed something useful by now. At the very least, forwarned is forearmed; we should spare them being assassinated by cowardly crime lords."
"Am we not having easier time getting prize if others am being assassinated? Why we not use these thugs to help us?"
"Because the more people those filthy thugs kill, the stronger they become!" Simon says, thumping his cane's heel against the sand. "I came - most of the entrants came here to fight for their prize with every ounce of their skill and power! I will NOT sit back while a scurrulous murderers cuts them down through treachery!"
Simon calms down slightly, and continues. "Also, recall that the criminals want us dead as well. So far, they have been ineffective, but the more people they eliminate, the more resources they will be able to focus against us. Our fellow contestants must challenge us out in the light. The criminals will keep snipping and sniping at us from the shadows. Sooner or later, they will succeed in weakening us."