Jakun sneers at the shadow, "Intruders? These are my servants. Harm them not slave.
I have returned to seek that which is mine in this place. Most specifically I need a key to unlock the gates of the vile dwarves that defied me so long ago. The key was a tool of a Dwarven Prince. Know you where it lies in this place?"
As he speaks, Jakun scans the island for the circlets.
Jakun saw no circlets in the horde.
"Master, it has been many long years but a being with a mind such as yours cannot have forgetten our agreement. A courtesy to your new guests, I'm sure. I guard your home against intruders, nothing more. Unless you would care to make a new pact?"
Hearing the mage's words she says nothing but raises an eyebrow.
Loren listens to the back and forth, unsure of whether to feel relief this isn't immediately escalating into a fight or anxious about the prospect of a barter between Jakun and this undead monstrosity.
Seeing the minotaur angry the Revered Daughter will put a calming hand on his shoulder.
Jakun frowns at the shadow beast, "I have not forgotten. Nor have you it seems. I shall... consider whether a new agreement is to my liking but for now, do as you have agreed".
Jakun returns to his allies.
"I see none of these circlets present. Nest to look for them elsewhere..."
Jakun frowns at the shadow beast, "I have not forgotten. Nor have you it seems. I shall... consider whether a new agreement is to my liking but for now, do as you have agreed".
Jakun returns to his allies.
"I see none of these circlets present. Nest to look for them elsewhere..."
"Misplaced something, Master?" the dragon asked, amused.
Caitlyn's hands gripped her weapon tighter and tighter, a thin bead of sweat trickled between her shoulder blades. This was going to end badly...
Jakun turns back to the Dragon glaring, "Such is the result of great risks, only the weak worry over failures, temporary setback that shall soon be rectified".
He mouths to the others, Time to go.
Wow!!! a dragon!!!!!OOOOOoooOOOOOooo!!1
Wow!!! a dragon!!!!!OOOOOoooOOOOOooo!!1
The dragon turned toward Thistletorp, a shifting of shadows that seemed to more melt and reform than move like flesh and blood.
"A small morsel would be worth a small favor, Master," it said. "Very small. A single question, perhaps?"
Loren can't quite help himself any longer and, through clenched teeth, grumbles, "Master, if it pleases, we have a pressing engagement elsewhere." It takes every ounce of discipline to keep his muscles from locking up from the tension and anxiety.
The Revered Daughter reaches out with a calming hand on the shoulder of the Knight.
"Questions? OOOOOOOOO someone should ask the dragon a question. I'd ask, but I'd get confused I think, because of shining things.."
Like a mother would with a naughty child, Caitlyn grabbed Thistletorp and squeezed when it looked like he would babble some more. The words left a bitter taste in her mouth "It's for the Master to ask questions, not us slaves." The look she gave Jackun would curdle milk as she thought 'For the love of all that's holy, get us out of here!'
Like a mother would with a naughty child, Caitlyn grabbed Thistletorp and squeezed when it looked like he would babble some more. The words left a bitter taste in her mouth "It's for the Master to ask questions, not us slaves." The look she gave Jackun would curdle milk as she thought 'For the love of all that's holy, get us out of here!'
"Indeed," the shadowy dragon said.
Jakun coldly declared himself done with the dragon, for now, and the Companions withdrew.
What other options do we have now? she ponders outloud.
"Well we could fight the undead or the chitterlings." replied Caitlyn promptly, "I have a feeling of the two the chitterlings might be our best bet." Not that she was particularly happy with either prospect.
The chitterlings might be easier she says.
"Chitterlings? As in, bugs?" Lauren can't quite keep the look of disgust off his face. "I'm inclined to dispose of these undead. Such creatures are abominations and irredeemably wicked. Would that we could have fought that shadow dragon without putting our mission in jeopardy."
Caitlyn nodded at Loren's words, "I didn't see them but the sound gave me the creeps." She shuddered at the memory, looking miserable she added, "We have no happy options here."
Jakun can do that if it's what you want. Kind of a big decision so I'm leaving it up to the party.
"I can explore more!!! It could be funm!
"This is not a place of happiness. It is of dread and death. Let us not allow the former to take us to the latter. I say we destroy these skeletons. Even with the circlets to control them, they would still be blasphemies needing destruction."
After careful consideration, Jakun believes only two yet-unexplored areas of Skullcap are known to the Companions: the bottom of the shaft where he, Caitlyn, and Thistle faced the skeletal warriors and fled and the crevasse from which Caitlyn heart chittering on the way down. He knows for a fact that more lays beyond the shaft's bottom, as a hallway was visible there, and thinks it likely that the skeleton's circlets would be somewhere in that area if not part of the dragon's treasure.
Discharging the dragon might allow them to safely search the island for the items, but since he doesn't truly know the terms of the agreement he risks freeing it to attack the Companions rather than to go quietly in peace. He further suspects the dragon has the wits to look for such an opportunity. He's sure that outright asking for the exact terms of any past arrangement would invite mischief on the dragon's part too. He has no way to know if it's bound to answer him truthfully, except hard experience.
Cant you order it back from where it came? she inquires of the Red Robe
Thistletorp thinks, tapping his head in deep thought. Think. Think. Think.. Then, he brightens and turns to jakun. [B]"What if we playa guessing game with the dragon? Like riddles and stuff! It's a lot like my uncle Dilo Daggins when he was trapped in the lair of the mushroom king!
"If you want to do that, this is what you need!", interjected Caitlyn patting Wyrmslayer, "That dragon's been here for aeons and will be craftier than you can imagine. There's no way we're pulling a fast one. Perhaps we should search below first?"
We will have trouble with the descent she states.
Cant you order it back from where it came? she inquires of the Red Robe
Jakun thinks that he might be able to dismiss the dragon, but doing so would release it from all its bindings. Unless their prior arrangement includes that the dragon go quietly, it might decide to have a snack before it goes. Since he doesn't know the full terms of its service, he can't rule out the possibility.
Caitlyn as a rule distrusted magic, but she could acknowledge it's utility. "Perhaps Jackun can fly you down?" she suggested, "Unless we wish to slay that dragon, I think we should leave it well alone."
Does he have access still to that spell?
Does he have access still to that spell?
Loren looks positively unsettled at the prospect of being carried on the red robe's magic. "I... appreciate the efficiency of the approach but I think I will do this myself."
Loren sighs as he makes ready to start heading back down the pit once again. Having already slipped and fallen once down just this pit, and also earlier when coming into the dead wizard's fortress, he is not looking forward to the prospect. But, with the rope and a little new wisdom... Corij, guide my hand so I don't wind up a red, pulpy flatcake at the bottom of this unholy pit.
[/spoiler]
It's like 80 ft down correct?