The scroll tube opened with a thump. DD pulled out the paper and inch. The black ichor within the bottle looked clean and smooth. He looked over his new tube and supplies. It was good finally having a safe place to store his combat reports. His fingers scraped across the smooth paper. He had used parchment before but having paper was a luxury that felt good, even if this never turned into a knight. Journey before destination
He took a deep breath to think about the last few days. His training kicked in to recall all the events. His mind’s eye filled with moments, trying to pull in every detail. The big bunk room helped. Some of the group wanted the private rooms but a bunk room helped DD feel complete. The last five years had been bunkrooms and sleeping in the field. A private room somehow makes him feel alone and afraid. “Take command of yourself” drifted through his mind.
His pen started to move.
We went to Thornwall Keep to recover a chest for Becklin. She asked Lyric to take the chest and its contents to Darrett. We took the little kender to carry the chest. She is amazingly strong for her size. While dealing with the chest a rider from the Iron Guard charged through the gate. She was yelling the alarm that the guard was being overrun and the army would be here within minutes. Three dragon men leaped from the ridge to kill her. Lyric and Arnie charged out of the keep to protect the rider. I took to the bow. I was laying cover fire until they could engage. I then charged to join them. We killed the three dragon men, but she was wounded. We were able to save her. With her report, we knew that we needed to leave Vogler now.
Arnie and Lyric took the rider to the Fishbowl to report to the town’s leaders. We discovered just how well these dragon men could fly. In hopes of blocking their ability to see the town, and to give this army nothing, I started to set the ridge side of Vogler on fire. On the ridge some small set of soldiers showed up. They were wearing ancient armor of Vashir. Their armor looked rusted and dirty. They did not engage and left. We all met back up at the Fishbowl before heading to the docks.
Before getting to the final boats we encountered a mechanical dragon and several more dragon men. They seem to have different deathstroke abilities. Some turn to stone and some explode, making their bones shards of death a last weapon. We can only presume that there are more types. Most seem to be only able to glide, but one type can clearly fly like a bird. It dropped fire on us, but we were not able to kill it, to find its deathstroke.
While attacking the mechanical dragon an ogre came out. It thought the dragon was a bigger threat and it attacked it. During this battle the fire blasts from the dragon took out the ogre, Donnie, Lyric and me. I woke several hours later in one of the boats. Arnie and Eros had dragged us to the boat. Donny was dead, but we recovered his green blade.
A shadow covered DD. He looked up from his report to find a soldier of sorts standing in front of him. “Can I help you?” There had been more surprise in DD’s voice than command.
The man shifted to stand straighter but was missing the mark. “Sir, reporting for duty.”
DD smiled but this was not his soldier. “I am not in command here.” Disappointment washed over the recruit. It was curious trying to know if DD was seeing something or feeling something. In a voice that was filled with pride, “you should find Darrett Highwater.” The memory of him standing firm on that hill as everyone was retreating. The glow of light breaking through the clouds back lit him sitting at the small desk. “He should be in command here. … If he is not in command, follow him, he will be in command.” He knew his journey was not with Darrett directly, but would follow him into the pits of hell. “hmm, your name is Roulf.” The recruit nodded. Taking direct command of his own body he stood and walked around the table to inspect Roulf. “Here, see this loose strap, it will let your armor slip to the left when swinging your sword arm. This could kill you in the field.” Making the strap snug once again, “Find a buddy here among the recruits, check this kind of stuff for each other.” DD gave Roulf a knights salute, “now go find Darrett.”
The return salute from the recruit was unsure but crisp. He turned and ran off to find Darrett. DD moved back to the desk and his report. His inch flowed to the page once again.
After the long trip in the boat, most of the living recovered some. The fires and smoke from Vogler hoovered on the north sky for most of the trip. Arni pulled the boat up on the shore. A messenger came to tell us where the staging location for the Vogler refugees was located. A cry came from the river. We took off running to investigate. A family in a boat had lost their ores and were floating back out to sea. Arni grabbed a rope. Lyric used her magic to take one end of the rope out to the boat. We pulled the family into shore. I want to say we all helped, but Arni, that tiny Kender did most of the work. I wished my horse was here. Life before Death.
We came into camp. Mayor Raven (the Legitimate mayor) found us and asked us to enter the city. She was hoping we could advocate for her and the people of Vogler. We agreed but had to find Darrett first. We found him and delivered the chest. We were honored to give him his first armor as a squire of the Knights of Vashir. He will be a great hero of this war or die trying.
We moved into the castle. A new person from our boat came with us. I am not sure who he is, but when I woke up, he was there in Donny’s seat. He is so beautiful that the guards guide us into the castle. His name is Duexdal. Our team now has two people with great charisma. Eros and Duexdal helped us get into the castle and into the council room.
When we arrived, Lord Bakaris had claimed to be the Mayor and Hero of Vogler. He could not explain how he arrived in Kalaman before any refugees. He implied I was a liar. I challenged him to a duel to the death on the spot. I claimed that he could not be a great hero unless he could defeat me. He stumbled. Governor Miat asked that we table this for twenty-four hours to resolve the mayor issue. I agreed. He is the ruler, and I followed his lead.
The council decided to let the good people of Vogler enter the city. Our group has been asked to join the city militia as a special operations group. We agreed. We asked about the tinker, and were told about Tatina Rookledust. I made sure that going to see her was within our special operations charter. We were offered a bunking area on the fourth floor. They gave us a large space. I asked to offer this to Vogler volunteers, and it is now the bunk room for those soldiers. We geared up and headed out to see Tatina the next day.
Tatina'sTatina’s home was under attack from goblins and a hobgoblin leader. She was holding her own by using a selection of amazing devices. Her weapons did as much damage to our team as the goblins. We defeated them in the field.
A yawn went through DD’s body. He could not write another word this night. He gently put everything away in its protective tube. He repacked his backpack so it could be grabbed rapidly if needed. The last thing he did before laying down for the night was polish his weapons and armor. Sleep came in a rush.