New World Campaign

[Agrabaeus]

The room flickered with bright lights from braziers placed here and there as well as burning statues of some ancient red dragon...or was it a statue of a Dragonborn warrior? The images were vague and a strange mist seemed to blanket the room. It appeared to be some sort of temple with a vaulted and heavily engraved, painted ceiling depicting some battle from a different age.

But there was darkness, deep and penetrating somewhere within the room. This feeling of damning and destructive evil had been growing stronger as of late, disturbing the Ranger’s dreams. They had begun nearly a year earlier during the bonding with Abraxas. The deep and foreboding feelings and disturbing dreams seemed to have reached a peak just a couple of days ago, bringing him out of feverish nightmares covered in a sweat, his heart pounding.

This dream seemed to be a continuation of his last, well, almost. The difference now was that the evil seemed to have a focus or specific source. The scene became far more vivid, moment by moment, than ever before and Vatlaaw felt that he was in the very room with the evil artifact. It was carried in a sheath at the side of a human who stood near a Drow and another human. Both of the others appeared to be spell-casters of some kind, though it was difficult to tell.

The human seemed suspicious of something, and began to separate himself from the small group. But there was a fourth creature in the room. This creature became visible the instant it threw a vial of something. The creature was large with a blue cast to its skin and a single horn protruded from the center of its forehead. It was muscular and carried a huge sword at its side. It had armor of some kind, a mix between hide, leather, and the finest chain links Vatlaaw had ever seen.

The vial landed between the three original occupants and exploded with a violent hiss of gas and smoke. The two humans immediately grasped their throats and began coughing as they collapsed to their knees. The Drow turned and tried to cast a spell while raising a wand. But as he opened his mouth he was overcome by the gas and also collapsed to the ground.

The Oni, for that was the only name that came to Vatlaaw’s mind, approached the fallen trio and looked them over. The three were alive, apparently alert, but paralyzed and barely able to continue breathing. The Oni was drawn to the Human with the long dagger at his side. Reaching down, he drew the vile weapon from its sheath and his eyes flashed in surprise. The Oni opened his mouth a moment in apparent shock before some look of glee passed over him. Smiling broadly and chuckling softly he bent down to deal with the three fallen comrades, the dagger clutched tightly in his grip.

The scene changed and the Oni was walking away, a faint sound of laughter could be heard, though just barely. On the floor were three dried husks. One of them cracked and collapsed into dust inside his robes. Vatlaaw felt the evil moving from the room as he looked down upon the lifeless creatures whose souls were probably destroyed forever, consumed by the dark artifact that was the dagger.

(To Be Continued...)

[Agrabaeus]

Vatlaaw awoke with a start. He sat up and saw that the disk in the sky that served this world as both the sun and the moon was becoming brighter. The day was beginning with a cold and crisp morning. Last night, the last he would spend with Abaraxas for an unknown period of time, had been spent under the stars. He did not look forward to today.

They were on a broad ledge of rock on a nearly sheer side of a tall mountain. Climbing here would have been difficult for the most skilled mountaineers. From this location they could overlook the western side of the mountain and beyond, over a vast plane of forest. A wide river could bee seen meandering through the forest north to south.

“Good morning” Said a voice off to one side. “Ready for one last ride, well, at least for a while?”

Abraxus sat, wings folded against his body. His silver scales seemed to shimmer with the dawning sun, almost giving him a slightly reddish cast. His eyes were no longer blue, but a piercing silver-ish white.

[Vatlaaw]

Tears began to well up in the Ranger's eyes. Turning his head away from Abraxas, he tried to collect himself. When he could at last trust his voice he turned back and smiled at his long bonded friend. "I guess this'll be it for some time eh?" he says in a stable but breaking voice. "I'm guessin we should make this our best ride yet." Vatlaaw then forces out a smile so his friend wouldn't despair. There will be time to tell of my dreams on a later date. Our farewells should not be crowded by such dark tales. With that Vatlaaw smiles again and playfully states, "Well are we gonna wait here till you n me gotta part? Lets get to this."

[Agrabaeus]

Climbing onto Abraxas' back had become routine over the last year. He stepped onto a foreleg, gripped a spine-ridge with his right hand, and hoisted his other leg over and onto the other side. There was no saddle, no stirrup or bridle, just a wide gap between two spine ridges near the shoulders of the dragon. He held onto the ridge in front of him with his left hand and gripped the lower portion of the dragon's neck with his legs. He had been taught the design for the saddle-harness that he would have to have ordered later and a full schematic was in his pack. Such would be needed in less than a year when the dragon's body would be too large for him to ride safely. He just would not fit.

He pulled out his staff, commanded it to lengthen, and was about to tap Abraxas lightly on the top of his head. This was the command to fly. He had learned all of the necessary flight commands that he would need until he reached the level of Dragon Lord. Then, or so he was told, the bond between dragon and rider would be so close that such tools would be unnecessary. "Put away your staff and hold on!" Abraxas said.

Vatlaaw had just barely enough time to do just than before the dragon launched into the air, spread his wings, and dived swiftly. He plunged down towards the tree tops below, leveled off and spun in the air before gaining altitude once more. The wind howled in Vatlaaw's ears. The dragon found the river and turned North while continuing to gain altitude.

*****

It must have been at least four hours later that the pair reached the mountain cave of Abraxas' father. It had been nearly a year since the Ranger had tread within this cavernous treasure-filled lair. The monstrous guards and followers of Mythrillix were still encamped within and without. The many traps were easily avoided since most of them could be flown over. But at the main entrance, Vatlaaw was forced to dismount Abraxas. Although there was still some distance to go, it was tradition and a matter of respect that prevented dragons from flying within each others lairs. Any dragon at wing would be considered an invader and subject to immediate attack.

But within the main chamber everything looked almost exactly the same as when he left. Mythrillix, the ancient silver dragon and father of Abraxas, was still sitting in the center of his hoard. He regarded the pair as they walked in. "So, you have completed your training, initiate of the Draconimani. Are you prepared to meet our founder? She is the oldest of all living dragons, as far as we know. And her name is Callifrathr Agonithral. It is a name she was given by our god Bahamut himself, or so she says. And its meaning in known only to Bahamut. She has sent me a message beckoning you to her side. I know not why since, as I said, you have completed your initiate training and are deemed ready to make your own way in the world.

But before you go, I have some things I would like to gift to you. You do not have to take them, of course. But they are from my own hoard and I would be honored to have you bear them into the world as a Draconimani."

He indicates a pile of stuff near the portal.

OOC: This is the stuff we mentioned earlier. In your post, describe what you are taking, if anything, and what you are leaving behind.

[Vatlaaw]

Vatlaaw kneels before Mythrillix. "Thank you for your most generous offer. I am truly humbled by your generosity, however I must decline any further gifts. You have bestowed upon me so much already," he says while smiling at Abraxis. "I could not think of taking anything more from you. I will, however, spread the word and honor of the most gracious Mythrillix upon my travels out in the world." Then standing, he asks, "Where must I travel to meet the eldest dragon?"

[Agrabaeus]

"She has aligned the Draconimani portals once more and they will obey your commands. These portals exist throughout this world and on many others. She will sense your presence when you step into this portal and bring you to her. Goodbye young one. My your future be bright. May your deeds bring honor among your kind as the legend of the Draconimani comes to life once more. And may your weapons strike fear in the hearts of evil beings throughout this land and the many worlds you will travel."

[Vatlaaw]

Vatlaaw offers Mythrillix a bow and then proceeds to attempt a hug at the large dragon's leg. Whether this is allowed of fails, he will then turn to Abraxis. "So is this where we split? Or am I permitted more time before we must travel towards different horizons?"

[Agrabaeus]

Abraxas seems to smile at Vatlaaw. "Do not worry my friend. We will see each other again soon. The time will fly quickly and we will meet again at your first ascension ceremony. But now, you must go. I have my own learning to get on with." and he looks over at his father before turning his attention back onto the Dragonborn. "I wonder how, if those portals are attuned to the Draconimani, that dragons may use them? They seem awfully small."

Mythrillix gives a sigh. "Yes, you both still have some learning to do. Now, get on with it!"

With another smile and a bow, Vatlaaw moves into the circle. He has finished his goodbyes, but raises his his hand once more, his mouth partly open to say yet one more thing....and a flash of light whisks him away.

The Ranger then finds himself standing in a similar circle but this one is at the edge of a steep precipice. There is only about three or four feet of flat rock on three sides of where he is standing. He is overlooking a vast cavern, a cave of such glorious proportions that it makes him gasp in awe. At his back is an opening to a man-sized cave with steps that go steeply downward into darkness.

Out in the cave below, however, is what he can only describe as another horde of such wealth that it must contain the total riches of several different worlds. At the center is a giant-sized dragon. Her golden scales seem to glitter in the light of the cave. The source of this light is many glowing gems embedded into the ceiling and walls. The dragon looks up at Vatlaaw. Her voice is deep and feminine only in what one would hear from an old grandmother. Her voice certainly has an element of command and authority, as if the very idea of not doing what she said or suggested could not possibly be considered. Here is thousands of years of experience, knowledge, and wisdom.

"Come down from there young one." she says. Her voice was not loud but carried throughout the chamber easily and clearly.

[Vatlaaw]

With a smile and a nod, Vatlaaw turns to the stairwell. "Ill be done in nigh on a moment," He calls back to the eldest dragon. He breaks open another sunrod to better light his way and begins to descend the stairs. On his way down, he revels in the fact that he is meeting the most ancient of the living dragons and the excitement almost causes him to lose his footing.

[Agrabaeus]

Vatlaaw reaches the bottom after a long and winding descent. The Dragon peers down at the Ranger and opens her mouth to speak revealing long and sharp teeth that are dazzling in their pure white, gleaming glory. "Congratulations Vatlaaw of Ember. You have become the first Draconimani Initiate in a very long time. I brought you here for two reasons. One is to set you out on the path of your first quest. You may have already felt the stirrings of evil in your world, but I have been feeling it for thousands of years as it grows, consumes lives and souls, and then shrinks back into obscurity every century only to rise again, always on a different world. The Tower of Morgai was constructed after the first age of the Draconimani had passed. There were no heroes of sufficient power and ability to rise up and meet this evil. But now you have come.

There are already heroes that have risen on your world to meet this evil. Most have died off in the attempt to vanquish its cancerous growth. Only two remain in pursuit of the Dark Key to the tower. I ask that you join these heroes. Together you must recover this key and use it to enter the Tower of Morgai. You must then seek out the source of power within the tower and somehow destroy it forever without awakening Morgai the Doombringer. If you are successful, you must leave the current key within the tower and leave the tower. Although that will forever seal the Doombringer within his tower, it will also prevent the tower from traveling from world to world and break the chain of death and destruction that has continued for all these centuries.

The second reason I have brought you here is to enlist your aid in strengthening the ranks of the Draconimani."

He breathes on the only bare patch of cavern Vatlaaw saw while on the ledge far above. Even now, standing before this venerable dragon, the Ranger is standing on piles of gold, platinum, mithril, astral diamonds and other treasure of incalculable wealth.

But after breathing on the bare spot, there remains a white diamond about the size of a human's thumb. Its flawless perfection glitters in the light. The diamond is in a mithril setting which is attached to a thin platinum and gold alloy chain.

"This will glow softly in the presence of heroes who may be worthy to join your order. Never has an Initiate possessed such as this, since Initiates do not have the experience to make such judgments, or the strength to defend it. But the times are different and our needs great. It is a priceless jewel and must be worn openly to detect those who may be worthy. Guard it, and use it well.

That is all I have to say. Do you have any questions before you begin the first quest in a lifetime of service to creation?"