《We dream of Worlds》 Intro - Once more unto the Dream Re-edited on Nov 5th, 2015. Author¡¯s Forward: Sorry if the intro is a bit long, so if you skip to the next chapter I wont hold it against you. It ties in to other works I intend to write later. Most of this story takes place in full VR. While their bodies are preserved, their minds are connected to the Network. I stopped writing for a few years ago and it took it¡¯s toll me. As I get back into things, I¡¯ll endeavor to craft a professional story. I may go back and edit some to improve flow and readability. Feedback, suggestions and reviews are welcome. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After working a double shift top side, Darin found he was hesitant to rejoin the sleepers. The last two years had been busy, lonely and painfully dull. More than a thousand other crew were on duty with him, but he¡¯d met only a few. The sheer size of the ship was to blame. The Long Shot, was a massive colony ship. As part of the Exodus fleet she carried over 5 million souls between the stars. Most of her passengers were ¡°sleeping¡± soundly in Bio-stasis. Their bodies would barely feel the passing of time, aging perhaps a year or so for every century of voyage. But their minds, their minds were an entirely different story. While their bodies slept, stowed away like common freight, their minds stayed connected to the ships Net. Free from most physical constraints they lived in a virtual city, one full of homes, gardens, pets, impossible buildings and the like. In the Net they were not constrained by the slow sensory of the body. Time passed faster there, keeping pace with the dream like state of its occupants. Darin had only been away from it for two years, but to his friends a decade had passed. Being occupied most of the time, and living at different speeds had cost him most of his old friends. His contacts list had dwindled to a pittance, as one by one people left him in the past. You might think that family members would always be there, but his sister had been one of the first to delete him. She¡¯d been celebrating her virtual birthdays, and he¡¯d missed it once. It surprised him when it happened, but it hadn¡¯t hurt him much. Even if she was his only blood relative on board, she was still a bitch, so he didn¡¯t consider it much a loss. ¡°Please enter the pod. No overtime will be paid for delays in return to stasis¡± The computer reminded him. He sighed again, and eyed the pod with a shudder. The pods were engineering and medical marvels, but did they have to look like a metal sarcophagus? But hesitation would do him no good, every minute he spent here was another five he lost on the Net. ¡°If there is a problem with the pod, please notify technical support immediately. If you were considering an additional shift, your paper work should have been filed a week ago. If you would like-¡± ¡°Okay,¡± he responded, ¡°but whoever programmed you to nag people, they did their job too well.¡± Well enough, to take a short hike out an airlock. ¡°Query not recognized. If you require-¡± ¡°Entering now.¡± He stated, before the AI could pester him again. With that he stepped into the standing pod, turned around and leaned back into the padding. He took one last breath of ships air before the lid closed. Instead of comforting him it only saddened him. On the colony, the air had smelled of moist earth and gardens. On the ship there was nothing, the filtration system worked too well. The last breath he may take for a few hundred years, and it tasted canned. ¡°Please breath softly and relax,¡± it instructed. Warm, semi-transparent goo started seeping into the pod. Where it touched him, his skin seemed to crawl before going numb. ¡°The Bio-gel is your friend, it will protect your body and prevent the ravages of time.¡± A display appeared in front of him, all systems showed green. As the chamber tilted back, he once again suspected the display was only meant to distract him. His fingers started to twitch when the gel touched them. And a wave of sensations crawled up his spine, as the chemicals and nano machines went to work. ¡°In a few minutes you will be fully submerged. Do not worry the gel is perfectly safe to breath in.¡± The AI told him. Yes, it was technically true, but it tended to sugar coat things. It always neglected to mention that what goes in, must come out when you wake up. Gods, was that part foul. Darin was about to say something when his implant began to tickle the back of his skull. When the gel reached his face, he closed his eyes and drifted into darkness. * * * * * Once the darkness passed, Darin found himself looking down at his own pod from a lens. His black hair made a lazy halo around him. All life signs showed green, and the chamber had filled properly. He found himself regretting that he hadn¡¯t shaved this morning, but that was a minor detail. He checked off the safety list and confirmed himself ready for the Net. * * * * * Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Darin found himself at home, in his virtual apartment. ¡°Is this really my home, or my home away from home?¡± He asked. Nothing had changed in the last two, no make that ten years. It was still as just as humble(drab) as he had left it. No artificial scents, no extra textures, no vivid colors or exotic meshes, put simply: no frills. But frills cost, and in the Net there was only a single type of currency, computer rations or as they were commonly called: Cores. No matter how large a ship is, short of an overhaul, it¡¯s processing systems are limited from the time of it¡¯s creation. Survival is a priority, thus a ships systems always came first. A massive amount of resources were reserved against future needs and emergencies. A small portion of what remains was divided up into Cores. Cores were allotted as allowance to the passengers and increased shares where granted to those who served. Games have become immensely popular on the Net. When living in virtual reality, the more Cores that are being used on a game the more real the experience. This made MMOs and other multi-player games extremely popular. The more players that contribute Cores the the server, the more lifelike the experience. The competition for players become fierce, as each world lived or died by a supply of Cores. Darin took a moment to pull up his personal account. Running a double shift had paid off well. He couldn¡¯t help but smile at when he saw his allotment had doubled to ten cores. But his joy was short lived, as he looked at his contacts list next. Only a few people still listed him as a friend. Before his shift he had over a hundred friends and contacts, gaming with them regularly. Damn¡­ ¡°Start message dictation.¡± he instructed. A text box opened on his wall, awaiting his next words. ¡°Hey all, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve been away so long. It was only a double shift topside, but I understand how much longer that is down here. I¡¯d like to catch up with everyone. A virtual bar on my cores is an option. A game to catch up for lost time would be fine to. I wouldn¡¯t mind playing on a good game server either. Sadly, I am a bit out of the loop these days. So feel free to let me know what¡¯s popular. Thanks again, Darin. End dictation.¡± ¡°Whom would you like to address the message to?¡± ¡°My remaining friends list. Notify me when they respond¡± Darin said. So what if most people had deleted him. A few good friends were worth a horde of strangers anyway. ¡°Message sent to all six recipients,¡± the bland voice informed him. Six? Weren¡¯t there more a moment ago. A glance at his contact list confirmed it. ¡°Response received, and another.¡± ¡°Display all responses¡± Darin instructed. A moment later several text boxes opened.
System Error: Send message failed, target Mailbox is full.
Auto Reply: Gone topside for more Cores, see you in 4.5 Net years.
How did you even get on my list? Never mind...Blocked!
Who the hell are you again? Never mind. Get lost.
¡°Well, shit.¡± Was all Darin managed to say. His contacts list now showed 4¡­3¡­now 2 contacts remaining. He wondered if he should just delete the rest and start over, but that would be petty. Beside that, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to delete someone for going topside. With a sigh, he slumped back into his sofa. ¡°Show me a list of popular games. Narrow it to games that show player count growth in the last 4 months¡± A list of servers came to life on his wall. There was no rhyme or reason to them. And most of them were poorly described at best. Just then, another box opened beside it.
Hey man, haven¡¯t seen you in years. I honestly forgot about you while you were topside. If you are still looking for a game, check out ¡°Dreams of a Forgotten World.¡± They opened up about a year ago and are still growing. Magic, myths, legends, races, playable intelligent creatures¡­hell some things can even fly. It¡¯s a lot of fun and the world is huge. Maybe I¡¯ll run into you there. -Dervish
¡°Being able to fly? That does sound interesting. System, display information on ¡®Dreams of a Forgotten World¡¯ as well as their website.¡± Darin spent the rest of the evening reading up on the game. The more he read, the deeper the hook was set. The game was based off an assortment of old earth myths and legends. Dragons and Beasts, Elves and Dwarfs, Wizards and Swordsmen. It sounded amazing, though he couldn¡¯t quite figure out if the chain mail bikini references were a running joke¡­ Chapter 1 Darin had spent the night reading up on Dreams of a Forgotten World, until sleep had caught up with him. He woke refreshed and eager to explore a new world. Stretching his arms, he climbed off the sofa and began to walk towards the restroom on reflex. A puzzled expression crossed his face as he looked around. The only door in sight was the exit. ¡°Right, I¡¯m back in the Net,¡± he muttered. Only the most eccentric and obsessive bothered to add a toilet here. Who would really waste Cores for the ¡®privilege¡¯ of needing to answer nature¡¯s call? Awake now he walked to the exit and placed his hand on the door. ¡°Connect me to Dreams of a Forgotten World,¡± he commanded. His door melted away and he stepped into an ornate chamber with statues and mosaics on every wall. He took a moment to absorb the scenery, wondering who had created such breath taking art. Eager to take part in this new world, he made for the ornate archway that lead into the world. Finally, his epic journey would begin, or not. ¡°You shall not pass...until you read!¡± Declared the statue of a knight as it stepped forward. It was an impressive sight with its burning red eyes, armed with a black tower shield and war hammer. It was all the more intimidating due to the three letters carved into its hammer ¡®B A N¡¯. Even more disturbing was the inscription upon the knight¡¯s helm. In four letters, it spelled out hours of pain and suffering ¡®E U L A¡¯. Darin sighed. ¡°Fine. Show me¡­¡± he requested. A moment later, the black tower shield filled with white text. As he began to read, the text crept up the shield, only to be replaced by more at the bottom. ¡°There may be a quiz afterward¡± the knight warned him. Someone had clearly taken great care to program it to act sadistic. Bastards¡­ * * * * * Two excruciating hours later, Darin was able to escape the knights clutches. By then he was quite well versed in his rights, obligations and even the rules of the server. But there it was in front of him, the door to his new world. Ornate carvings and a warming glow drew him closer to it. As he reached for the door, he found himself faced with a system message.
Welcome, to Dreams of a Forgotten World An active subscription is required to play, and you do not currently have one. Subscriptions are for 30 Net days, based on server cycles. If you wish to play, please choose an appropriate subscription: 1 Core - "Get Out Now" Damned Freeloaders! 2 Cores - "Budget Player" Lowest simulation levels, bland foods, low priority player. 3 Cores - "Basic Player" Average Player, normal priority and settings. 4 Cores - "Premium Player" Priority log in, high quality simulation. 5 Cores - "Are you an NPC?" All senses rendered at real world quality, priority log in, tiny perks.
Having plenty of Cores to spare, Darin went ahead and selected the NPC level. What he didn¡¯t spend would just go to waste anyway. Once he confirmed his subscription, a bright light enveloped him with a sense of warmth. When it left moments later, he found himself in a smaller room with mirrors and an NPC. The NPC was easy on the eyes, but wore a strange white cloth with golden trim. ¡°Welcome to ¡®Dreams of a Forgotten World¡¯ or simply Dreams as most like to call it. My name is Muse, and I am here to help you create your new form. Yes, I am wearing a toga,¡± she stated. He opened his mouth but she gestured him to remain quite. ¡°It¡¯s usually the first question asked. And if you get fresh with me, I¡¯ll let Eula know that you require a refresher course¡± she added with a impish grin. Darin couldn¡¯t help but cringe. ¡°So do I start by picking a name?¡± he asked. It was the normal starting point for most games. ¡°Of course not. What good is a name that doesn¡¯t fit your character? And you only get one character unless a restart is approved. And don¡¯t hold your breath on it¡± she replied. Muse took a moment to play with the soft black curls of her hair, forcing him to wait. For a moment, he wondered if Muse had forgotten him, until she spoke again. ¡°First, we need to find a Race that will fit you. If you had your heart set on one, I think you¡¯d have told me by now. And no, I will not list them all. There are dozens of races and I¡¯d be bored long before I was done. To find your the right character, I am going to focus on you¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°On me?¡± Darin asked, his disappointment showing on his face. Somehow it seemed the exact opposite of what he was here to do. He hadn¡¯t come here to be himself. He¡¯d come to see something new, to be something new and to feel a new world around him. She laughed at him. ¡°Of course I am going to focus on you. Your character is an extension of you. What do you want? What do you want to see? What do you want to feel? You have entered the Dream. So what do you dream of, most of all?¡± ¡°To fly,¡± he responded, before taking a moment to think. ¡°No, not just to fly. I want to soar, to kiss the sky and feel the wind again. I think¡­I think I miss the wind¡± ¡°Wonderful,¡± Muse exclaimed before she pulled a slate out from behind her. Her hand blurred as she refined her list, adding notes about what he¡¯d stated. ¡°Now, are you the type to follow the herd and keep to a predictable path? Or you adventurous type, who will take a harder road that feels more rewarding?¡± He paused for a moment. But in the end it was an easy decision. If he followed the herd, he would never have gone topside for a double shift. He also would have had half as many Cores per month. ¡°I¡¯m feeling adventurous. I¡¯d rather have fun, working towards a rewarding goal¡± Muse worked away on her slate for a few moments and then offered him a smile. ¡°Good. We are almost done here. I¡¯ve set the parameters and it¡¯s come down to a few interesting choices,¡± She paused for a dramatic effect, or perhaps she was simply programed with a poor attention span. ¡°First, you can adjust your base stats in order to min/max. But if you do so, you will start with a slightly smaller stat pool in exchange. And second, if you accept base stats, you can accept a randomized sub race from my list. The sub race will fit my criteria, and you will be awarded a small bonus to your base stats. So what do you say?¡± she asked. She was doing her very best to look innocent, so he knew it was a trap. But he had no real plan, and stat points are a terrible thing to waste. ¡°No changes. I¡¯ll accept a random sub race, after all I can-¡± ¡°Hurray! Not many people actually listen to me. Most of them just demand to play a copy of some build they found on the forums. It¡¯s such a boring way to play,¡± she interrupted him. Never giving her actions a second thought. With a quick snap of her fingers the mirrors in the room melted and pooled around his feet. ¡°But what do I do if-¡± Darin tried to ask. Again, she cut him off to avoid unnecessary questions. ¡°No time to chat. Players to help, poets to inspire, nails to paint and you know,¡± Muse told him. He was about to protest, when the liquid mirrors swirled up and encased him. There was darkness, and a feeling of motion. A few moments later everything grew still. He couldn¡¯t help but feel uncomfortable, as if he¡¯d forced into the fetal position. Dustin was trying to bring up the system help files, when a notification appeared.
You are trapped inside your egg shell. The world awaits you, break free young one...
¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very promising. Wait, how do I get out?¡± - - - - - Author¡¯s note: It¡¯s late, I¡¯m tired. Here, have another 1300+ words. Chapter 2 Darin shifted about, but it was impossible find a comfortable position. The lack of sound and total darkness did nothing to improve the mood. ¡°Can I hatch now?¡± he asked. Nothing replied and nothing changed in the next few breaths. ¡°Hatch. Open. Be Born. Open sesame. Uh, start game?¡± he tried. A few seconds later and he was forced to give up any hope of a hatch on demand system. He sighed. ¡°Okay, I guess I do it the hard way¡± he grumbled. He reached out with his right arm and tapped the shell. Tink. Tink. Darin¡¯s stomach dropped at the sound of metal on stone. ¡°Aren¡¯t egg shells supposed to be fragile?¡± he asked. No one would design a game that couldn¡¯t be played, so clearly there was a way out. Trying another tactic, he began to scratch at the shell and was rewarded with a system prompt.
Warning: You lack the strength to damage this material.
¡°Who the hell designed this? Rrraaaah!¡± he screamed into the darkness, only to be blinded by a sudden light. Several breaths later, the pain in his eyes subsided enough to open his eyes. When he did, he was rewarded with a text box.
Racial magic unlocked: Breathe Flames "Note: breath mints not included..."
¡°Oh, this is going to be fun. Breathe Flames¡± he cried out, closing his eyes and opening his mouth towards the shell. Nothing happened, other than his withering a bit. ¡°Flames. Fire. Burn. Flame on. Rrrah? Roar? Well damn. I guess it¡¯s based on motions and gestures then¡± Darin filled his lungs, pausing only a moment to wonder where the air came from. He exhaled, and flames roared across his tiny prison. It was amazing, it was exhilarating, and it-Hurts! Against the soft red glow of heated stone, he could clearly see the outline of his abused tail.
Notice: You can not take damage until you have hatched.
¡°Hot, hot, hot. Damn it,¡± he cursed. Pain it turned out, was a different story. He thrashed about, desperate to get his tail to safety. Darin¡¯s stomach twisted in knots as the world shifted and found himself upside down. There was a brief sideways rolling motion and then a drop. The trip to the ground was brutal, the egg spun wildly and smacked him around with every bump. His torment ended with a jarring impact on the floor. His prison shattered, leaving him laying on his wings, dry heaving at the distant ceiling. When finally he was able to see straight a new message came into focus.
You have finally hatched and may join your kin in the wider world. But first, you should really see the elders in the Hatchery for guidance. You wouldn¡¯t want to bring shame upon your people. You can now take damage. You can now be killed. Your respawn point has been bound to the Hatchery.
¡°Finally I can actually do some-¡±
Welcome to your Tutorial. You can leave and return to the tutorial at any time. If you need to restart your tutorial just-
Darin swiped it closed before it could finish, and then took a moment to look about. The cavern he was in was filled with old nests, but there was no sign of another dragon. The lighting was dim, but small glowing crystals had been set sporadically in the rock face. Thin patches of moss clung to a few walls, but none of it grew near the eggs. As he explored, he came to realize that most of the clutches here were quite old. The fresher eggs still showed ribbons and swirls of vibrant color. Others had lost their luster, only to become drab and bland. ¡°But my egg was as gray as stone,¡± he mused. Having wasted several minutes walking around the boulders, he was no closer to finding an exit. ¡°I need to get higher up to find my way out¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Jumping for a rock formation, instinct took over. In the next moment Darin learned two valuable lessons. The first was that flight came naturally to him in this body. It would have been a more blissful moment, had he not also learned the second lesson a moment later. The worst possible way to land on a rock, is face first.
Crash: A rock has dealt you 3 damage. You have dealt 1 damage to a rock.
Racial ability unlocked: Flight "First you learn to fly, and then you learn to land..."
¡°Smart asses,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯m starting to wonder if something is really wrong with the coders here, or maybe just the writers¡± * * * * * It took him almost an hour to find the exit, the poor lighting and sheer size of the cavern worked against him. It also turned out to be good practice with his wings, and very few rocks were harmed in his travels. He had long since realized this was not the Hatchery. It seemed more like a warehouse or a shrine to lost eggs. But I hatched from one of those lost eggs he mused. A warehouse then, or something. Entering the Hatchery for first time Darin nearly soiled himself. There in the middle of the room was a massive green dragoness, picture perfect to the European myth. She was easily several times his size and looked quite strong. As she worked her way through a menu, it became clear that she was not the most agile of dragons. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said trying to gain her attention. Her head popped up and she started to glance around. ¡°Ahem. Down here,¡± he offered as she seemed confused. Her gaze locked onto him and her jaw dropped. Her next words, caused his gut to twist. ¡°Whoa. Hey guys, check this freak out!¡± Greenie cried out, causing several other dragons to rush into the Hatchery. He couldn¡¯t help but cringe as they circled around him. Even the smallest amongst them, a spikey black dragon, was at least four times his size. Over his life time Darin had encountered a number of bad first impressions, but this one set a record. It set his teeth on edge, wait, teeth? His tongue flicked around in his mouth and found only a single hard form with ridges. ¡°Crazy, is that a pygmy?¡± Asked a blue. ¡°Maybe its a pocket dragon,¡± suggested a gray Wyvern. ¡°Why does it have a Beak?¡± someone asked. ¡°Could it be some kind of illusion?¡± suggested Greenie. ¡°I¡¯ll step on it and find out,¡± stated a huge red dragon. A moment later the red brute took a swipe at him, but he easily dodged it. A second claw swung for him and he easily hopped over it. The larger dragons were surprisingly slow. He could have kept it up a while, but one of the blues got bored and blind sided him with a back hand. It did no damage, but it gave the red one a chance to pounce. ¡°Now what shall I do with you?¡± it asked as it pressed its claw into him.
PVP Combat: Dragon whelp has dealt you 2 damage.
¡°Let me go, asshole¡± Darin demanded, as the message vanished from his sight. The brute laughed at him. ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± the red whelp asked. The brute was grinning as he leaned in face to face. ¡°What then snack size?¡± he taunted. With nothing to loose Darin did what came naturally, and sucked in a lung full of air. - - - - - - Author¡¯s note: 1200+ words, I hope you enjoyed it, the next chapter should flow a bit more easily. This wasn¡¯t an easy chapter to write, but its done now. Feed back welcome. So is sleep. Zzz. Chapter 3 ¡°Well? Going to scream for Mommy now?¡± Demeaned the red, his foul breath washing over Darin. The others were laughing at the taunts. It seemed to be a universal truth in games, no matter where you play, you can always find assholes. Darin released both his breath and his anger in a glorious cone of orange flames. From the roar of pain, he knew his tormentor hadn¡¯t pulled back in time. Knowing he wouldn¡¯t get another shot, he held the flames for as long as he could. The other dragons were all shouting at once, but he couldn¡¯t make it out over the roar of the flames. His chest ached, but he didn¡¯t care. In the corner of his vision he saw something beautiful, the combat report.
Attack, Critical Hit: You deal 8 damage, status inflicted Blind, status inflicted Smell Loss. Attack, Critical Hit: You deal 8 damage, status inflicted Burning, status inflicted Taste Loss. Burning: You deal 4 damage. Attack, Critical Hit: You deal 8 damage, status inflicted Hearing Loss. Burning: You deal 4 damage. Dragon whelp has dealt you 7 damage. Attack, Critical Hit: 8 damage. Burning: 4 damage. Insufficient Mana to continue. Burning: 4 damage.
It felt great to strike back at someone who deserved it, but the claws digging into him did dampen the mood. ¡°-can¡¯t see! It hurts, it hurts. Arrgh, I¡¯m gonna kill that little sh-¡± Red¡¯s screams hadn¡¯t ended, but Darin couldn¡¯t hear a thing. The battle log in the corner expanded as the world faded to black.
Dragon whelp has dealt you 7 damage, it is Fatal... ... You have died. You are now 00.00% of the way to your next level. Burning: 4 damage, target is no longer on fire.
Darin waited in a world of gray mist for his chance to respawn. He hadn¡¯t picked anything up, so he doubted they could loot anything from him. ¡°Interesting. Burn damage applies every second. A pity that it doesn¡¯t last long. Now, how do I get out of here?¡± He asked.
System Notification: Dying sucks, try not to do it often. In most circumstances you will loose 25% of the XP required to reach the next level. If you lack XP you will be rolled back a level. You can not be rolled back below level 1. If you have enough XP to level up but have not opted to do so, your losses will be based on the highest level your XP could currently reach. If you are being respawn griefed, please notify a GM so we can return the favor.
After acknowledging the message, three massive tombstones appeared out of the mist. The first was ornate and the ankh carded into it gave off a warming glow. It listed the occupant as ¡°Respawn¡± and showed only dashes for the important dates. Beside respawn was ¡°Lounge¡±, who had stylized engravings of bottles and cups. It seemed that lounge had lived from negative infinity to positive infinity. ¡°That¡¯s one way to say it¡¯s always open.¡± Darin muttered. The last tombstone was cracked and dirt. With foul looking plants growing on it, it seemed the designers didn¡¯t hold ¡°Log Out¡± in high regard. Ah well, there is one in every family. Making the obvious choice he reached for respawn. The moment his claw touch stone, he was blinded by a wave of soothing light. As the gentle warmth of the light faded, Darin found himself in carved stone room. ¡°So he is a dragon after all. You win. I owe you a deer next time I hunt.¡± Darin turned around only to find the dragons from the other room had come here too. He cringed seeing an angry red dragon amongst them, one who¡¯s face was charred black. He had no idea what to say, so the two just stared at one another. The awkward silence lingered in the air, as the others waited to see if they would fight again. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°So how did you do it?¡± The gray Wyvern finally asked. Curiosity had won out in the serpent tailed dragon kin. A few of the others gave him disgusted looks, as if he¡¯d ruined their favorite show. ¡°Do what?¡± Darin asked. Didn¡¯t all dragons get a breath attack? ¡°You used Flames at level 1.¡± The Wyvern explained. ¡°Well not only did you light them up, but you kept right on cooking Red over there¡± ¡°Watch it!¡± The large dragon growled at him. Only to be distracted by the green dragoness laughing. He turned his stare on her, but she didn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°Now, now boy¡­size matters.¡± Greenie said, before starting to giggle. It wasn¡¯t very dragon like, but it did lighten the mood. She had progressed to open laughing before the blue one figured it out. ¡°Oh, I get it. It¡¯s the flame size, it affects the cost. The bigger the fire, the more mana you need to fuel it¡± ¡°And out brave and fearless bully,¡± the wyvern said, pausing to look at Red. The other dragon glared back, but no one seemed to care. ¡°He stuck his face right in front of that itty-bitty flame thrower¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Red demanded. This time everyone got a good laugh at his expense. The fact that most of his face was still charred black did nothing to help him. ¡°But how are you even level 1?¡± Greenie asked, looking right at Darin. He opted to remain silent, in hopes of saving face. ¡°Didn¡¯t he just die?¡± Someone asked. Murmurs of agreement echoed around. But Greenie shook her massive head. ¡°He was level 1 before the fight.¡± She announced, causing everyone pause. ¡°Did you die, or did you just refuse your egg?¡± She gave him an appraising look, only to cause him to shrink back a bit. ¡°What do you mean refuse my egg?¡± Darin asked. The room fell silent as everyone stared at him. Red¡¯s jaw hung open in surprise, it was anything but a pretty sight right now. The others exchanged concerned looks as the spikey black dragon rushed off. The uncomfortable silence continued, until massive golden dragon poked her head into the room. She was old he realized, old¡­but she had a kind of presence. ¡°Oh my, oh my. What ever is going on here?¡± She asked, looking first at the red dragon¡¯s wounds. A moment later her gaze shifted to Darin, her eyes went wide first and then she let out a rumbling sigh. ¡°A missed hatching, a fight in the Hatchery and tiny beaked dragon,¡± she grumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll be lucky if the elders don¡¯t take a chunk out of my tail for this. At this rate, I¡¯ll be lucky if they leave me with a chunk at all¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Was all Darin could manage to ask. The others were laughing amongst themselves, but she didn¡¯t seem to appreciate that. ¡°Could you heal me now?¡± Red asked, looking up at the golden dragon. Being true to form, he hadn¡¯t even bothered to be polite. ¡°Whelp, you want me to heal you?¡± She asked him. He nodded, then cringed at the pain he¡¯d just caused. ¡°You attacked a Hatchling, inside the Hatchery. And now you want me to heal you?¡± She asked again, this time the red dragon didn¡¯t dare to nod. ¡°I could bite you in half for your troubles, and let the gods heal you. No? Then get out of my sight!¡± Red wasted no time in leaving. Once he was gone, her she glanced at the others and raised the ridge above her eye. When the other whelps were slow to take the hint, she made a shooing motion with her claws. With a few mumbled complaints, the other dragons left the room. Now only the grand golden dragon and and the tiny hatchling remained. They eyed each other for a few moments before she let out a deep and rumbling sigh. ¡°You and I,¡± she stated, with a resigned look upon her face. ¡°I believe we need to have a talk¡± - - - - - - Author¡¯s note: About 1300 new words today, but I am trying to focus more on quality than quantity(Edit: Reversed them I was so tired). That stated, I know I need to revise the first few chapters a little. Nothing major like plot changes, but I would like to make them smoother and more enjoyable for the reader. With that said, feel free to point out any painfully glaring mistakes. Also, feel free to comment about the things you enjoyed and those you don¡¯t. I won¡¯t flip the plot 180 degrees, but I am willing to smooth out my own rough edges. Thanks for reading! Chapter 4 ¡°A talk?¡± Darin asked, looking up at her. ¡°Yes, a talk. But really it will go a lot better if first I talk, while you just listen.¡± She informed him. Already this conversation seemed to be taking a turn for the worse. Rather than argue, he nodded. Long ago she had learned to avoid trying to smile at hatchling, showing teeth tended to be taken the wrong way. ¡°I¡¯ll start with the most basic things first. My name is Blood Claw, and I am considered the Den Mother here¡± ¡°I¡¯m-¡± he began. ¡°No. You don¡¯t have a name yet, you are a hatchling.¡± She stated with a raised voice. ¡°You wont even become a whelp until you¡¯ve gained some strength, and oh¡­¡± she paused a moment and looked him over. ¡°Well, with a few levels you¡¯ll become a whelp anyway. Then, once you are feeling brave or reckless you can take your trials¡± ¡°My trials?¡± He asked. He visibly drooped a bit, when he realized he¡¯d just interrupted her again. She gave him a dirt look before resuming her introductions. ¡°Why do they never read the fine print? Oh well. Yes, your trails. Before you can leave our sheltered grounds you need to prove you can survive in the wider world. Well, you need to at least not bring shame on us Dragons.¡± She paused a moment to glare at him. ¡°Because if you embarrass our people, we will make sure you regret it. We understand that different sub species have different skills. We wouldn¡¯t ask a Land Wyrm to fly. Nor would we ask an Ice Dragon to prove his fire resistance. But if the gods gave you a skill, you¡¯d damned well better know how to use it before you leave here¡± ¡°How do I find my sub species and skills?¡± He asked. Her head lowered a few feet and shook side to side slowly. Her deep rumbling sigh confirmed that he¡¯d just said something stupid. ¡°Gods, why can¡¯t I just eat the ones like this?¡± Blood Claw asked, not quite under her breath. With a sudden motion of her neck she lunged at him, stopping only a few feet away. She started at him for several seconds and then groaned. ¡°So it was Muse again? She really needs to stop being so creative in how she ¡®helps¡¯ new players. That poor girl who got a hydra nearly had a breakdown. Can you imagine, having four extra heads stuck to you? One of the heads had a thing for music, it wouldn¡¯t stop singing until the others bit it off.¡± Blood Claws shuddered at the memory. ¡°Um?¡± Darin asked. No longer sure if he was dealing with a player or a high class AI. ¡°Oh right, the stupid ones, sorry. Oh, sorry.¡± She stated, realizing what she had just said. ¡°Let me answer your questions first. I¡¯ll try to get them all, before you ask them. If I miss anything, wait until the end.¡± She instructed him. He nodded, which she took as a good sign. ¡°First young hatchling, I can tell you skipped the Tutorial. While it is understandable, doing so is still quite stupid.¡± She glared at him to be sure he kept silent. He let his wings sag in response. ¡°If you had bothered to read it, you would have learned the magic words. Character, Equipment, Status, Skills, Identify, Inventory, Lounge, Duel and Party. All of those words are very useful and many more exist as well¡± ¡°I see.¡± He said, feeling like a complete idiot. He had tried voice commands at times, but he had never tired the right ones. ¡°Yes. For more information consult your Tutorial.¡± She added, being sure to rub it in. While she waited, he called up his character for the first time.
CHARACTER SHEET
NAME:Hatchling*RACE:Dragon
GENDER:MaleSUB SPECIES:Unknown
LEVEL:1PROGRESS:00.00%
UNSPENT POINTS:0HEALTH:13 / 13
REGEN:HP + 0.07, MP + 0.30MAGIC:25 / 25
STRENGTH:2~FORTITUDE:3~
AGILITY:40DEFENSE:10
KARMA:0RENOWN:0
LOAD:0.0 / 13.75 Stones.SIZE FACTOR:0.25
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°How the hell are my Stats so mangled?¡± His magic looked good and his agility was amazing. But his strength was so low he wondered how he would even carry his own food. ¡°Well you see¡­size matters,¡± she explained. Her torso was shaking as she tried to suppress her laughter. ¡°Your strength is your Base stat times your size and you, little hatchling are tiny¡± ¡°I noticed.¡± He grumbled, making a theatric show of looking between his legs. If he was going to be the butt of the joke, he might as well be good at it. Blood Claw lost control finally and her laugher flooded the room. A brave whelp tried to slip in and discover what was so funny, but a quick lash from her tail sent them running. ¡°Goodness child. I¡¯ve not laughed that hard in a while¡± ¡°Well at least someone other then Muse can get a laugh out of it.¡± He was trying to be a good sport about it all. But it was disappointing, finding out just how weak he was. If not for the joy of flying, he might have given up on the character. ¡°Now, now, it isn¡¯t all bad. You are probably the fastest hatchling here. Sure you might be the weakest and have the lowest health, but they have to hit you before they can hurt you.¡± Somehow she managed to sound motherly. Well, she was the Den Mother after all. He Shrugged. ¡°Besides, you still haven¡¯t even found out your subspecies yet. Who knows what kind of bonuses you¡¯ll get¡± ¡°Okay, how do I find that out?¡± Darin asked. He started to get excited at the possibilities. If he was lucky, maybe it would even negate a few of his weaknesses. As he perked up, she gave him a strange look. ¡°Well, that might be a little complex¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± He asked. His wings drooped as he started to get a bad feeling about this. She sighed at his puppy dog reaction. ¡°Normally we move eggs to the Hatchery, before they hatch, so we can instruct them. But when Muse got creative she, caused us to miss that step¡± ¡°Well that explains why I had such a rough time of it. And why it took me ages to find my way out of that cave¡± ¡°The Hall of Dreamers,¡± she corrected him. ¡°It is called, the ¡®Hall of Dreamers¡¯ always remember that. All dragons go there first to dream, until the gods urge them to wake.¡± Her tone was stern and respectful. He understood now that it was a sacred place for Dragons. ¡°I will remember that. But please tell me Blood Claw, how do I learn of my subspecies?¡± He asked. She turned and looked at her shoulder, as if the scales had just become interesting. She sighed, stalling would only work for so long. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to tell you this, normally it would be quite easy, but this is a mess. To absorb the memories your parents left you, to gain your knowledge and your blessings¡­¡± ¡°What do I need to do?¡± he asked. ¡°You need to eat your own egg shell. When you do, you-¡± ¡°But I hatched somewhere in the the Hall of-Oh shit!¡± He looked at her in disbelief. In return, she gave him a sad nod. - - - - - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: I went back and Edited the Intro chapter tonight while I had time. Hopefully it is a smoother read now. Chapter 5 ¡°I spent an hour finding my way out of that mess. And now I get to march back in on a fools quest?¡± Darin asked. His irritation had crept into his voice. ¡°Well, yes.¡± Blood Claw admitted. She would have scolded anyone else for using that tone. But given his situation, she was lenient on the hatchling. He rumbled out a sigh, as much as his tiny frame allowed. ¡°Which way to the Hall of Dreamers then?¡± He asked in a flat tone. If he needed to do something tedious, it was best to do it now rather than later. He shook his wings and flexed his neck in preparation. ¡°I ¡®could¡¯ send you on your way right now, but I wont,¡± she replied. He opened his mouth, but she cut him off. ¡°I¡¯d like to prepare you first, if you¡¯re willing to wait. You need to eat and there is someone you need to meet¡± Darin nodded but held his tongue. He wanted to move forward in the game, not backwards. If he died of hunger, he¡¯d only return here and have to begin his search again. Even thinking of it made him sigh. Perhaps with her preparations he could save time in finding his shell. Given the size of the cavern, he feared he might be there for days on his own. Turning about, the golden dragoness fell into her tour guide routine. ¡°Follow me.¡± She commanded. After she led him through a few rooms, she stopped and indicated the opening to her left. ¡°That¡¯s the room you died in, so you know it leads to the Hall.¡± A quick glance through the door showed a faint chalk outline on the floor. The outline looked like a very small dragon in a painful position. Instead of going left, she took him down a long and well lit hallway. When they reached the room at the other end, he was surprised and repulsed. ¡°What the hell?¡± Darin asked. Large slabs of stone and some flattened boulders were scattered around the room. There were dragons here, but they drew his attention far less than the scattered bones. Many of the stones had animals laying atop them. Okay, it would be too generous to call them animals. Parts of animals might be more accurate. Some of them were charred, while other seemed quite rare. At the far end of the room, some of the parts had grown quite ripe. He shuddered to even look at it. ¡°This is the dining hall,¡± she replied. The look she gave him was one of surprise. ¡°Why else would we leave food laying on the tables?¡± ¡°Tables? Wait, that¡¯s food?¡± He asked, his stomach was twisting at the thought. He kept his eyes on the near side of the room, where the food was fresh. A few of the nearby dragons had stopped and looked his way. Most didn¡¯t even bother to stop chewing when they turned. Gross! ¡°In case you hadn¡¯t quite figured it out. Dragons are carnivores. Hunt, kill and eat. Are you following so far?¡± Blood Claw asked. He nodded, feeling a bit stupid. She didn¡¯t seem surprised by his outburst, so it may be common from new players. ¡°Different subspecies have different dietary requirements. Some can only eat heavily charred meat, thus the blackened meat on a few tables. Another group can only eat meat on the rare side. And for the truly unfortunate, they can only eat ¡®aged¡¯ meat¡­so we make them dine at the far end of the room. Their food smells horrible to the rest of us, but it¡¯s not like we can exclude our kin¡± ¡°So how do I tell what to eat?¡± ¡°Well you follow your no- well your beak, in your case anyway¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never eaten raw meat before, or charred ash.¡± Darin told her, his bland color had started to turn an unhealthy shade. The idea of having to eat raw meat to survive was more offensive than he was ready to admit. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Oh! That¡¯s right, players tend to get turned off by the thought of eating meat. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s all digital and it¡¯s all sensory mapping anyway. Nothing living was killed for your meal, well nothing really alive. Also taste and texture shouldn¡¯t be an issue. Foods that your body approves of will taste like something you enjoy. I¡¯ve been told that deer often taste like pizza, and many have said rabbits can taste like a fruit or salad¡± ¡°Clever, very clever.¡± He admitted. For appearance sake, they could still look like ravenous beasts. All while enjoying something far less offensive. ¡°So I just sniff it, to see what I get?¡± ¡°In essence.¡± She replied. ¡°The better it smells, the better it is to eat. Thus the better the food it will taste like. If it smell bland, you can eat it, but it is sub par. If something smells bad, avoid it. And remember that your body is different here. Foods you enjoyed as a human may smell bad to you. If you eat them anyway, you might end up being poisoned. So if you absolutely must have your favorite dish, find it in the wild or go to the lounge¡± ¡°Thanks for the warning, I¡¯ll keep it in mind¡± ¡°You¡¯ll forget at some point.¡± She said with some amusement. ¡°They always forget at some point. Old habits can be the most amusing.¡± She gave him an odd look, then pointed to a smaller table in the corner. ¡°Sit by that one, I¡¯ll bring you a few samples¡± ¡°None of the aged stuff, please.¡± He requested. She just laughed and made a shooing gesture with her claw. He walked over to the table and sat down with the wall behind him. As she gathered his food, he realized why this felt familiar. It was like sitting at the kids table during a family gathering. He couldn¡¯t help but cringe and hope the dragons were less dysfunctional than his own family. Well, they had already killed him once¡­ ¡°Here, try these.¡± Blood Claw instructed. A moment later she dropped several chunks of assorted meat on the table. Well chunk was a relative term, as each piece was larger than his head. He noticed she was watching him with some curiosity. ¡°You seem rather interested, is there something odd about the meat?¡± He asked. She blinked and shook her massive head. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen your subspecies before. So I¡¯ve become rather curious about what you can eat, and what you prefer¡± ¡°Fine, I guess I better find out then.¡± Reaching out he grabbed the nearest piece and promptly slapped his beak with it. ¡°Body shape, right.¡± He muttered while she laughed. He wiped his beak off with his other claw and carefully tried again. This time he brought the food close and sniffed. ¡°Edible, but not great.¡± He told her. Looking at it, it did seem pretty rare. He set it aside and picked up charred chunk. He was thankful that it smelled bland. In the end his favorite was fresh cow roasted medium well. Ironically, it tasted a like steak. - - - - - Author¡¯s note: Busy day, thus a short chapter. Perhaps not as exciting as other chapters, but still needed to help show how the world works. Questions, comments and feedback welcome. And sorry if I grossed anyone out. Chapter 6 With a belly full of steak, Darin leaned back and let out a contented little sigh. Having found steak already, he wondered if could find something that tasted like potatoes. Sure it had been awkward, eating with a beak. But he¡¯d learned to shred the meat first. He had envied the others their teeth at first, but he¡¯d soon realized their disadvantages. Seeing dragons try to pick bone shards out of their teeth, it was not a pretty sight. ¡°Finally full?¡± Blood Claw asked him. She¡¯d wandered off for her own meal long ago. He suspected she¡¯d been annoyed with his eating habits. Carving up your meal before chewing it, seemed to be playing with your food. When he saw her swallow a chunk larger than him, he decided not to anger her. ¡°Yes, thank you¡± ¡°Then get moving. If you are going to find your shell in the Hall, then there is someone you need to meet first.¡± She told him. Before he could reply she¡¯d turned about and started down another hallway. She had a decent head start, so dropped to all fours and dashed after her. Just as he reached her, he noticed the dining hall had gone silent. Darin turned about and saw several dragons staring at him, food still in their mouths. I probably just broke some social rule again. Drooping his wings slightly he continued to chase his guide, but at a more dignified pace. A few smooth tunnels later, they came to a stop outside a chamber with an actual door. Darin studied the hinges and handle, as he had seen no other doors in his entire stay. A metal sign was set into the wall, it was covered in a writing carved out by claws. As he stared at it, a system message appeared.
Racial skill unlocked: Read Draconic Dragons have deep minds and long memories, so very little is written down. So what they do write down, is often important.
A few moments later the draconic script faded from the plaque. In its place new words formed in his native language. ¡°Greed¡¯s Lair. All who steal will be fed to the Mother.¡± He read it aloud. The dragoness gave him an appraising look, paused and then nodded. ¡°I see your blood is pure enough to read the Mother¡¯s script. There are a few subspecies that are too diluted and can not make sense of it. And then there are some whelps, who are simply too stupid.¡± The disgust in her voice was clear. She¡¯d been kind to him, but he doubted she¡¯d have been as kind if he¡¯d min/maxed his mental stats away. ¡°The Mother¡¯s script?¡± He asked. ¡°The Mother of Dragons. She loves her children. But you would be wise to bring Honor to your name, before you meet her. Those brought before our Goddess in shame,¡± she hesitated turning somewhat pale, ¡°most of them are never seen again. Others are stripped of their name and then banished. They may not return until they have redeemed themselves¡± ¡°And if they don¡¯t redeem themselves, or if they can¡¯t?¡± He asked. He didn¡¯t like where this was going, but thought it wise to know. She gave him a long hard look and tilted her head to the side. Not a word was said between them for several breaths, until her decision was made. ¡°Those who give up hope of redemption often lose their minds. They are still allowed to respawn, but they are never allowed into our lands again. Even the children she is angry with, the Mother does not consign them to a true death. So they live and they die, time and again as hermits or monsters in the wider world. If you have to battle one, the Mother will not be angry at you. She can be emotional, but she is deep and wise¡± ¡°And those who don¡¯t lose hope? Do they just wander endlessly until forgiven?¡± He asked. She sighed and nodded. She was holding back on something, but he didn¡¯t press her for it. ¡°Enough of this, we are wasting time.¡± She grumbled. With a massive claw she gently knocked on the door, not bothering with the handle. ¡°It¡¯s time I introduced you to Greed.¡± He blinked at her, feeling a bit thrown off by her last statement. Seeing his expression she laughed as the door opened. Behind the door, standing on his hind legs, was a mid-sized black dragon. The odd visor he wore gave him a look of spectacles, though it appeared magical in nature. ¡°Hello again Blood Claw. Please tell me you¡¯re not here because your ¡®helpers¡¯ or charges broke something important again.¡± His blatant statement made even the dragoness pause. When she didn¡¯t respond right away, he took it as confirmation. ¡°Oh gods, not again. It better not have been hard to replace¡­or I¡¯ll bite their heads off myself!¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Uh, no Greed it wasn¡¯t-¡± ¡°Oh thank the Mother, last time it took months to replace.¡± He let out a heavy breath and relaxed. He didn¡¯t even seem to realize he¡¯d interrupted her. It seemed he was all too used to receiving bad news, when others came knocking. A moment later he cringed and asked her, ¡°What is it, what did they brake?¡± ¡°Nothing. Nothing has broken, that I am aware of.¡± She replied, a playful tone in her voice. He looked like he was going to cheer up, but then braced himself. She laughed at his antics, causing him to look away. When he did, he finally noticed Darin standing there. ¡°Well I suppose a social visit would have been too much to ask for. So what¡¯s with the little one there?¡± He asked, then paused to give her a stern look. ¡°And no more ¡®well guess what, you¡¯re a father now¡¯ jokes. It¡¯s one thing if it was true, but that joke gets old quickly¡± ¡°I, but¡­¡± Was all she managed. This time it was her turn to look away embarrassed. Her rear claws scratched at the floor a moment before she turned back to him. ¡°Okay, okay, I had that coming. But I am here on business, so to speak. I could use a favor¡± ¡°I make no promises.¡± Greed informed her, before softening his tone a bit. ¡°But for you Blood Claw, I will at least listen to your request. Come in both of you. Business is not meant for open hallways¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She replied. Darin thought he noticed a gentle undertone in her voice. As they followed him into the well lit shop, the reason for the door became more apparent. For the first time since he¡¯d joined the game, he felt like he was in a proper civilized place. Shelves had been lovingly carved out of the walls, while standing displays held numerous trinkets and trade goods. Behind the stone counter, there was an assortment of locked chests and containers. Once they were all settled in, Greed took a few moments to study Darin. ¡°I take it there is a reason, why you didn¡¯t have him eat his shell?¡± Greed asked in a soft tone. She sighed. ¡°There is a long version of events, and I could bore you with all the details. But the shorter one works just as well. Muse was involved¡± ¡°Oh gods, tell me he doesn¡¯t sing! My ears can¡¯t take another episode like that damned hydra.¡± He said, before shooting Darin a look. If looks could kill, Darin would have already been back in the afterlife. It took a moment before Greed returned to his senses. ¡°Sorry, sorry. It was a rather traumatic incident for me. One of her heads wouldn¡¯t stop singing, another bounced about banging into every display, while a third tried to steal anything that wasn¡¯t nailed down. All the while, I couldn¡¯t kill just the problematic heads, without harming the poor girl.¡± He explained, a shudder running down his fair sized frame. Blood Claws was looking at him with sympathy in her eyes. ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯m sorry about that Greed. You know I am. I am told the Mother will keep all new Hydras dreaming indefinitely. But now Muse has dropped a new mess in my claws¡± ¡°Sorry¡­¡± was all Darin could offer in reply. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault hatchling, but it will likely be Blood Claw who gets in trouble for Muse¡¯s creativity. But I suspect, that leads us back to why you¡¯ve come here.¡± Greed said. He looked between the two for any sign of argument, but found none. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± She agreed. She seemed reluctant to say any more. Greed sighed, this could only be leading in one direction. ¡°So what rare treasure do you expect me to give away this time?¡± He asked. His tone wasn¡¯t sharp, but nor was it cheerful. Much to Darin¡¯s surprise, the dragoness cringed. - - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The side characters aren¡¯t trivial, I swear. If nothing else, I like to go from A to B logically. I am also fond of the living world view in stories. A well written world needs to feel complete. As if it would still be there and would keep on living even if you weren¡¯t watching. Chapter 7 - The First Quest ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. What can help me at this point?¡± Darin asked. Both dragons looked at him in surprise. Having little to loose, he explained his point of view. ¡°I don¡¯t have a map of the cavern- I mean the Hall of Dreamers. If I did have a map, I doubt I would recognize where I hatched amongst the ledges, nests and stray boulders¡± ¡°Boulders, what boulders? Has there been a rock fall?¡± Blood Claw asked with concern. She knew a great deal of work had gone into tending the cavern. Her fears were soon dispelled by Greed¡¯s laughter. He gave Darin a pitying look. ¡°Oh you poor, tiny, little hatchling. You clearly don¡¯t think very big.¡± Greed said, traces of his amusement rippling in his voice. ¡°Those were not boulders, my little friend. Those were eggs¡­¡± ¡°But they- they¡­oh hell¡± ¡°Did you think all of us are born from tiny little eggs, dear hatchling?¡± Blood Claw asked. Her massive chest was rumbling as she tried not to laugh. ¡°Well, perspective¡­¡± Darin said, it was a weak defense. ¡°Perspective indeed.¡± Greed replied. He laughed a few moments, before offering some enlightenment. ¡°Eggs are relative to the size of their mother.¡± He glanced at Blood Claw for a moment before continuing. ¡°The more magnificent the mother, the more impressive the brood¡± ¡°And that doesn¡¯t even take into account all the evolution we have undergone. Nor should you forget the many branches of the bloodline, the sub races of our species. Little hatchling, whatever subspecies you may be, you yourself have drifted far from the rest of us. But we still welcome you, as we would welcome all the Mother¡¯s children.¡± She explained. He wasn¡¯t sure if she was teaching or preaching, perhaps both. Then again, she had said the dragon goddess could be met. ¡°Finding out what subspecies I am¡­¡± He sighed. The others only nodded in response. ¡°So I have to find the shell fragments, somewhere on the ground, in a poorly lit cave. And I doubt you¡¯d let me live, if my flames got too close to an egg.¡± ¡°No, I doubt I would.¡± She readily agreed. ¡°But perhaps we can provide you with another light source?¡± Blood Claw suggested. ¡°I don¡¯t think I could carry a lantern or torch, given my size. Even if I could, I¡¯d have to walk up-right and be blinded by the glare.¡± Darin replied with a sigh. He appreciated the sentiment, but didn¡¯t see many options. ¡°But what if you had a ring or amulet that cast light?¡± She suggested. This time it was Greed¡¯s turn to look unhappy. ¡°I can¡¯t give him something like that! It cost a small fortune to import them.¡± He protested. ¡°To make things worse, they take mana to keep them lit, and I doubt he can do much at Level 1¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have to ¡®give¡¯ it to him. It could be entrusted as a Quest item. But you¡¯re right, nothing can make up for having low mana.¡± Blood Claw said with a rumbling sigh. She went back to her silent musings. Even Greed seemed lost in thought for a moment. ¡°So 25 Mana is really low then?¡± Darin asked. Both dragons swung their heads around and stared at him. Their gazes held an odd fixation, and it was unnerving to say the least. Their mouths were moving, but they seemed to be speaking under their breath. For several moments they stared at him unmoving. ¡°Okay. That¡¯s not creepy at all guys¡­¡± The two older dragons turned to one another, and said as one, ¡°Damn it, Muse!¡± ¡°Uh, Sorry?¡± Darin¡¯s apology came out more like a question. He was still somewhat certain he was dealing with AI. But this meeting was clearly not a scripted encounter. ¡°Don¡¯t be.¡± Greed told him, as he put a paw over his face and shook his head. Did a dragon just face-palm? ¡°And no, 25 Mana is quite nice for your level¡± ¡°Most of your kin in the Hatchery chose to adjust their stats. In short, they are bigger, stronger and dumber than you.¡± She sighed. ¡°I really wish players put more thought into their characters. These slow and stupid brutes will affect how others see our race¡± ¡°Claw, careful with the 4th wall sweetie. We have appearances to keep up¡­¡± Greed said. A moment later his color shifted towards ashen, as he realized what he¡¯d said. In response she leaned over and brushed her neck against his. ¡°Darin has been a good sport. And he¡¯s a Platinum level customer, I doubt he¡¯ll complain much about a few Class 3 AI making his world seem more realistic. Right ¡®Hatchling¡¯?¡± She asked, turning to face him. He squirmed under their gaze a moment before he replied. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t have a problem with it. I wasn¡¯t quite positive you were AI anyway. You know about players, but you interacted with the world naturally. Your jobs are each rather important, which means it is unlikely that a player would fill your shoes. If you were a player and left for a week, you¡¯d harm the entire race. But both of you emulate life so well, it was hard to say¡± ¡°Good emulation.¡± Greed said with a toothy smile. ¡°Back to your situation, Muse may have given you something interesting. But the way she did it, is a complete pain in the ass¡± ¡°We would like to keep you happy, but we can only flex the rules a little bit.¡± Blood Claw told him. While he listened, Darin folded his claws together as if twiddling his thumbs. She gave him an odd look and continued. ¡°Every core in the server keeps our world alive longer¡± ¡°You probably shouldn¡¯t tell him that much.¡± Greed advised her. ¡°And yes, we can help with a rare perk or two. But I can¡¯t just give him things. There are rules and conditions¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Darin said in a soft tone, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to get you two in trouble¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I¡¯d like to help you, but I need you to have a quest first. And I would need you to do a few things for me. Then, just maybe, I can help you.¡± Greed explained. As he did, he kept gesturing with a tilt of the head towards Blood Claw. After a few moments, the black dragon sighed and pointed at her. ¡°Oh right.¡± Darin muttered, feeling a bit slow. He pitched his voice in a formal tone when he asked her. ¡°Den Mother, I have a problem. I need to find my egg shell, so that I can grow properly. Can you help me?¡± ¡°Poor hatchling, I have not the tools to help you. But I can send you to someone who might.¡± She seemed to be trying rather hard to keep a straight face. Even as she spoke, she couldn¡¯t keep her chest from rumbling. He was about to speak again when she held up a claw to silence him. She then proceeded to frantically type in the air. Did she just snicker? A moment later, her handy work appeared in front of him.
Quest: A shattered Shell of Hope, part I. Your creative Muse, has once again made a serious mess. You need to find and eat your shell(candy coated?) to advance, but it is somewhere in the big, mean, dark cave. And ¡®it is dangerous to go alone¡¯... ... Seek out the charming, black-scaled merchant and see if he can help you with your quest. Completion condition: Speak with Greed. Reward: You will learn the location of his shop, and always be able to find your way back there. Failure condition: Fail to find him within 2 weeks. Penalty: You will loose relationship points with both, also they will make jokes about you for years to come...
¡°Accept¡± Darin muttered, causing the quest window to vanish. He shot her a dirty look, as she attempted to feign innocence. Greed looked at them with some confusion until Darin spoke to him. ¡°So, Mr merchant, I-¡± was all Darin got out before Greed¡¯s laughter filled the room. It took him a while to stop laughing, once done, he completed Darin¡¯s quest. After a few moments of intense typing another message greeted Darin.
Quest: A shattered Shell of Hope, part II. Greed is willing to help you, if only for Blood Claw''s sake. Still there is one little catch. The item you need is locked in a problematic chest. If you can open the BLUE chest in the back, Greed would be willing to loan you an item in return. ... Completion condition: Unlock the BLUE chest in Greed''s Lair, then notify him upon completion. Rewards: Increased relationship with Greed, possible side work in the future, and a light source you can borrow. Failure conditions: Steal from Greed, break the chests, open the wrong chest, take more than 1 week. Penalties: Decreased relationship with Greed, worse prices in the future, and be forced to find your shell the hard way.
¡°Accept,¡± he grumbled, causing the window to clear. ¡°I have to learn lock picking now?¡± he asked. The dragoness looked between them in surprise. ¡°Well, not really. I have the key to the chest, but it¡¯s so small that its rather hard to use.¡± Greed admitted, then spoke more in his own defense. ¡±I¡¯m a lot more nimble than most of the other dragons. It¡¯s just that the key and lock were crafted by one of the smaller races¡± ¡°Then why did you buy it?¡± Darin asked, as the merchant handed him a tiny key. No wonder he didn¡¯t want to open that chest. ¡°Very few merchants will come here, as so few dragons care about outside trade. I end up having to pay terrible prices for whatever junk they happen to have on hand.¡± Greed explained, there was a pained note in his voice. The question had apparently struck a nerve. ¡°Ouch. Sorry to hear that Greed. Shall we open the chest then?¡± Greed got up, walked into the back and returned a bit later placing a small chest on the table. Well ¡®chest¡¯ may have been too generous a term, it looked more like a cobalt jewelry box. The key felt a little large in Darin¡¯s palm, but he held it with ease. Greed was easily ten times Darin¡¯s size, no wonder he hated the thought of unlocking this chest. After a few seconds of work, the lock clicked open. Darin swelled with excitement as the lid popped up. His first glance at the treasures inside filled him with hope, which was swiftly replaced with dread. - - - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: A bit longer than usual, but a bit slower. Alas the eternal war. What I need to tell VS telling it an a way that keeps people interested. As ever: Questions, thoughts, feedback and reviews are welcome. Chapter 8 - Blue chest blues ¡°Identify. Identify. Oh gods¡­Identify¡± Darin mumbled, scanning through the box. His character¡¯s face was unable to properly express his horror. He cringed at the though of wearing any of this.
Pretty princess circlet of might. Slot: Head (Neck) Durability: 5/5 Restrictions: Female only Effects: STR +2, INT -1. "Now you can be a princess too, in pretend."
Pink flamingo ring of poison resistance. Slot: Finger (none) Durability: 10/10 Effects: +10% poison resistance, +20% alcohol resistance. "Out drink your friends, and look stylish doing it."
Sun flower belt of radiance. Slot: Belt (None) Durability: 20/20 Effects: Grants the user a soft golden glow, light yellow 5 feet. "Glow softly with light of the sun."
¡°Is there anything that I wouldn¡¯t be ashamed to-¡± Darin began. ¡°Pretty!¡± Blood Claw exclaimed cutting him off. Both of them turned to look at her, but she had eyes only for the sun flowers. Darin sighed. ¡°The bracelet?¡± Greed inquired. When she nodded with excitement he reached into the chest and pull the belt out. ¡°Would you like to have this?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s so pretty¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s yours.¡± Greed declared as he unbuckled it with care, then wrapped it around her wrist. When the clasp closed, a soft yet warm light surrounded the den mother. The joyous sound she made, had Darin cringing and covering his ears. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that a belt?¡± Darin asked, once she¡¯d calmed down. The two dragons continued to share a moment, until they realized he¡¯d asked a question. Greed turned towards him, giving him a look that was confusing at best. ¡°It was a belt by default.¡± Blood claw explained, turning her wrist to study her new treasure. ¡°But your body size will affect what you can wear. It will also change where you can wear it. If I tired to wear this lovely bracelet as a belt, that would just end poorly¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Said Darin. It dawned on him, that he shouldn¡¯t have interrupted their moment. It was rude, and more importantly¡­he still needed Greed¡¯s help. ¡°It goes wonderfully with your golden scales¡± ¡°Oh indeed, it looks quite stunning on you.¡± Greed added, he meant it too. She gave him a soft look, before looking back to her new trinket. ¡°Finish his quest, before you forget dear.¡± She reminded him, without looking up. Off to the side Darin gave the black dragon a small thumbs up. ¡°The chest is open, if you didn¡¯t notice.¡± Darin said, in his best false-formal tone. The quest had required him to notify Greed after all. ¡°Right.¡± Greed muttered, as he dealt with the quest screen. A moment later he reached in to the open container and pulled out an odd amulet. After glancing at it a moment, he tapped it to his quest screen then turned to Darin.
Quest: A shattered Shell of Hope, part III. You can now find your way back to Greed¡¯s Lair. Relationship with Greed has improved, you are now considered to be ¡°Better than most of those damn brats¡± To help you, Greed is willing to lend you a {Quest Item} Amulet for a few days. This will help when you go hunting for your shell. Greed will want it back when you are done. If you lose it, destroy it or try to sell it¡­Greed will bite you in half. ... Completion condition: Return the amulet, in working condition, within 1 week. Rewards: Increased relationship with Greed, possible side work in the future, and a gift from Greed. Failure conditions: Piss off Greed, lose/break/damage/sell the amulet, take more than 1 week. Penalties: Decreased relationship with Greed, worse prices in the future, Greed will bite you in half.
¡°Accept.¡± Darin managed to mumble. The quest window went away, but the shiver down his spine did not. The black dragon wasn¡¯t a bad individual, but he was quite serious about keeping his shop afloat. ¡°And here you go.¡± Greed stated, handing Darin the amulet. ¡°Do. Not. Break. It.¡± He added, with unnecessary emphasis. The hatchling could only nod at the threat. ¡°Id- Identify¡± Darin murmured, focused on the amulet.
{Quest Item} Iron amulet of light. Slot: Neck (bandoleer) Durability: 25/25 Effects: Activate for white light, 30 feet. Costs 15 Mana/Minute. Special: Can not be dropped, stolen or looted from your body. "Never stub your toe in the dark again."
¡°Sorry but-¡± ¡°But what?¡± Greed asked, giving him a careful look. ¡°What exactly is a bandoleer?¡± He asked. Blood Claw looked up from her bracelet and laughed. All at once the tension seemed to fade from the room. ¡°Dear little hatchling, a bandoleer is much like a sash.¡± For effect she traced a line on her body from her shoulder to her opposite hip. She waited, watching him until he tried it on. After a few, somewhat painful, attempts Darin managed to get it on. It seemed he had to get it over his wing, before his arm or his head. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Well?¡± Greed asked. His tone was far more civil now. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to try it now?¡± ¡°Oh right¡­¡± Darin thought for a few moments, while they waited. Maybe it¡¯s voice activated? ¡°Amulet activate? Amulet On?¡± ¡°You really should have read the tutorial more carefully.¡± Blood Claw scolded him. ¡°But to save us an hour so we can actually go to sleep, I¡¯ll give you the quick version. First, you can open your equipment screen and toggle it. Second, you can macro an on/off gesture or word. Third, if you have a sense of magic, you can push the energy into it. Or fourth-¡± She had to stop, to gain control of her sudden laughter. ¡°And fourth, you can just push the power button on the side. Hint. Hint.¡± Greed finished for her. She shot him an amused look while they waited on Darin. He studied the amulet across his chest and reached for the button. ¡°You know if this keeps up, I¡¯m going to be the only dragon in the land with no pride left.¡± He complained as he pressed the button. For a brief moment the inner circle on the amulet started to glow but nothing happened. Concerned for his goods, Greed leaned in close to examine it. A moment later, the amulet flared to life at full power.
Attack: You deal no damage to Greed, status inflicted Blind.
¡°Damn it!¡± Greed growled out. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. He was blinking a lot, trying to clear his sight. A moment later, Blood Claw leaned in and exhaled a golden mist on him. A few seconds later his eyes began to clear up. Once his sight was restored, Greed glared at Darin. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. I mean¡­at least we know it lights up.¡± He pleaded. ¡°You little -¡± ¡°Sweetie, he did exactly what you told him to do. It¡¯s not his fault you wanted to put your eyes to a light source.¡± She interjected. The merchant looked at her, looked back to Darin, looked at her again and sighed. ¡°Well?¡± She asked. He sighed again, and then shrugged. ¡°Fine, fine. At least I know I got my coins worth. You can turn it off now, hatchling.¡± He commanded. Darin tapped the power button again. The amulet continued to shine as if nothing happened. He grew more nervous, when nothing changed for several more seconds. ¡°Uh. Equipment?¡± Darin requested. Feeling nervous at being watched. A window opened up, he saw an figure of himself. A figure wearing far too few pieces of pseudo gear. He checked his bandoleer spot and and examined the amulet. It had several more seconds of light, before it ran out of power. Checking the rest of his options, he found he couldn¡¯t wear a hell of a lot. Bracelets, amulet, bandoleer and backpack, was that really it? ¡°Inventory!¡± He demanded. Another screen popped up and made him cringe. ¡°I have two carrying claws, a mouth and two stomachs? That¡¯s it? I don¡¯t even have a fucking inventory?¡± In his horror he hadn¡¯t even noticed the light had gone out. Nor the concerned looks from the NPCs. ¡°You need a backpack to have an inventory.¡± Blood Claw told him, before he got carried away. ¡°It¡¯s not starting gear for Dragons, as it¡¯s hard to explain hatching out fully equipped¡± ¡°Calm down and relax. You already know where to find the merchant in town.¡± Greed hinted. That was enough to take the edge off of Darin¡¯s growing anger. Darin swiped the windows closed and looked at the amulet. ¡°Oh good, it finally turned off¡± he muttered. ¡°Character Sheet¡±
CHARACTER SHEET
NAME:Hatchling*RACE:Dragon
GENDER:MaleSUB SPECIES:Unknown
LEVEL:1PROGRESS:05.00%
FREE POINTS:0HEALTH:13 / 13
REGEN:HP +0.07, MP +0.30MAGIC:25 / 25
STRENGTH:2~FORTITUDE:3~
AGILITY:40DEFENSE:10
KARMA:10RENOWN:10
LOAD:1.0 / 13.75 Stones.SIZE FACTOR:0.25
Darin closed the window with a sigh. ¡°I can carry all of 13 stones weight. Even with a backpack, I don¡¯t see this character achieving a lot.¡± This time his words seemed to strike a nerve. ¡°It¡¯ll get better in a few quests. I can promise you that. You worry about growing and getting your quests done. And we¡¯ll make sure the game stays fun, if not somewhat fair.¡± Greed stated. There was something reassuring in his voice. At the same time, he noticed that Blood Claw is typing like mad into a console window. Darin looked between them for a moment and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you two. After all, you know this world a lot better than I do.¡± ¡°Thank you Darin, it means a lot. It¡¯s gotten a bit late, why don¡¯t you get some rest. That way you¡¯ll be fresh enough, when you search out your shell in the morning.¡± Greed suggested. A moment later he began typing in a quest box. As expected, it appeared a few seconds later.
Quest: Bed time. You can now find your way to the Rumbling Rooms. You will have better luck finding your shell in the morning. Fresh eyes and a fresh mind will make short work of such a task. Find your way to the Rumbling Rooms, find a safe ledge and get some sleep. ... Completion condition: Get a few hours sleep on a ledge. Rewards: Improved disposition, you will gain the Hatchery location and be able to find it from anywhere in the world. Failure conditions: Fail to complete the quest within 1 week. Penalties: Greed will have doubts about you, you will fall asleep somewhere else, you will be a cranky little hatchling no one wants to be around.
¡°Really Greed? Really¡± Darin asked. The black dragon gave him a wink. ¡°Fine, I accept.¡± He grumbled. Now where are the Rumbling Rooms? As soon as he thought about it, he knew he needed to exit the shop and take a right. Finding the room had just become a game of following the bread crumbs. With a nod to the AIs, he exited the shop and turned right. About 200 feet down the passage, he would need to take another right. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± - - - - - - Author¡¯s note: No idea on word count, BB code counts in the tracker. They can be useful plot devices, but I don¡¯t like to use them too heavily. I guess it¡¯s a balancing act, I will just have to figure out. Thank you all for the interactions and feed back. I got my first review today, as well as my first positive reputation. Time to do a happy dance off screen. Chapter 9 - Rumble room It only took a few minutes to reach the Rumbling Rooms. There was no sign or wall carving, but there was plenty of rumbling. It wasn¡¯t a single loud noise but a chorus of sorts, just strong enough to make the floor vibrate. His suspicions were confirmed with a single glance. Inside one cavern, scattered across carved ledges, slept hundreds of dragons. Darin entered the nearest room and took a moment to look about. The largest of the dragons slept in the most convenient spots. Their roosts were as massive as they were, only a few inches above the ground. The walls were covered with alcoves, terraces and precarious ledges. Walkways connected the different tiers to the cavern floor. As the path got higher, it got thinner and the ledges got smaller. He paused to watch as two individuals landed on the same perch at the same time. Darin was too far away to hear them, but he could tell that both were posturing. Neither dragon wished to back down, and a fight broke out. It was a flurry of flared wings, slashing claws and teeth gnashing. While the battle was brutal, it lasted only a few moments. The vanquished fled from the perch, and the victor roared his triumph. His celebration however was quite short lived, as a large dragon on the tier below him took offense. One prolonged glare later, and the would be champion went silent. With head lowered in shame, he plopped down on his ledge and closed his eyes. Satisfied the larger dragon below him also returned to his rest, his expression shifting from angry to amused. Having stood there too long, Darin was caught off guard when a massive claw slammed into the ground beside him. ¡°Oh, a youngling.¡± Said a rather sleepy dragoness. Darin looked up in fear, only to be gently brushed aside by the claw. ¡°Do not block the path. I nearly stepped on you by mistake.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­elder?¡± He apologized, not quiet sure what to call her. She just laughed and shook her massive head before walking off. Realizing how close he¡¯d come to a respawn, Darin made haste to get out of the path. Scanning the room, he spotted a nice ledge that was unoccupied. It was much longer than it was wide and seemed troublesome to reach on foot. ¡°Perfect¡± He¡¯d seen other dragons fly to their preferred ledge, so he doubted it was taboo. After a quick loop to spiral up, he came around and landed on her new bed with ease. No one was around to bother him, so he took a moment to look around. He panned his head slowly, taking 3 screen captures that would traumatize anyone with a fear of reptiles. Feeling he achieved something, however minor, was still a good feeling. He lay down with care, being sure to protect the amulet(bandoleer) he was wearing. A soft yawn escaped him, sounding more like a chirp. After he finished the damn bed time quest, he intended to¡­ Darin never even realized when he fell asleep, nor did he notice the quest timer lingering in the background. The soft chorus of rumbling had become a gentle lullaby. * * * * *
Tail whip: Dragon whelp has dealt you 2 damage.
Darin came awake with a sudden stabbing pain. The dim lighting in the cavern did nothing to help with the room spinning. He crashed into something, causing his wing to scream at him before falling further. The next impact was softer, as he crashed into the side of a massive dragon sleeping below him. A his combat log updated while he tried to get his feet under him.
Fall damage, rock ledge has dealt you 3 damage. Some of your equipment has been damaged.
Fall damage: Elder Dragon has dealt you 1 damage. You have dealt 0 damage to Elder Dragon.
As he read the updates his blood went cold, he¡¯d lost almost half of his hit points to a surprise attack. And he only had one piece of equipment. A quick check on the amulet confirmed his fears.
{Quest Item} Iron amulet of light. Slot: Neck (bandoleer) Durability: 24/25 (scratched) Effects: Activate for white light, 30 feet. Costs 15 Mana/Minute. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Special: Can not be dropped, stolen or looted from your body. "Never stub your toe in the dark again."
He cleared the messages and looked up at his prior perch. In his place was a spikey black whelp, the very one from this morning. The smug expression, as it watched him, was the clincher. Darin let out a soft growl, eyes fixed on the whelp before he noticed a rather large eye focused on him. He froze as the massive head of an elder dragon lifted slightly and swung around to face him. ¡°Kicked off your ledge little one?¡± It asked, it¡¯s tone was quiet but deep. The eyes narrowed on him a moment. ¡°Yes, while I was asleep.¡± He admitted, he saw the eyes narrow in response. ¡°I am sorry for crashing into you on my way down.¡± He added. He didn¡¯t want to finish his evening by being chewed and swallowed for waking his betters. ¡°How rude.¡± The larger dragon mumbled. Darin grew nervous for a moment. ¡°Sleepers are supposed to be left alone, unless they are clearly on too large a perch. To attack someone in their sleep, is considered cowardly. It¡¯s almost as frowned upon as using flames in here¡± ¡°I will be mindful of that.¡± He told her, his eyes drifting back up to the ledge that had been his. The dragon drew a deep breath and exhaled a golden mist onto him. A moment later, his aches went away and his hit points were restored. He turned back to the elder in surprise. ¡°Thank you.¡± Without any acknowledgment, the massive eye closed. A moment later the elder moved back into their preferred sleeping position. He was ready to leave, when the eye flicked open again. ¡°When kicked from your perch, you have two choices.¡± It told him. Darin sat at attention and listened, revenge was second to respect. ¡°You can find a new perch and sleep there. Or, you can kick them right back.¡± It was clear from the way it spoke which option it would choose. Still angry about the sneak attack, he was of the same opinion. If Spikey wanted that ledge, he was going to have to fight for it. ¡°I think, he needs to learn some manners.¡± Darin growled out. A moment later he took flight and began circling up to the ledge. Behind him, a slow and deep chuckle could be heard. It seemed that he had chosen well. A few moments later, he landed on the far end of his previous ledge. As he landed, Spikey¡¯s expression changed from smug to shocked. He was being challenged by a Level 1 hatchling, a mere quarter of his size. The very same hatchling, who had stood up to the red whelp. True the little one had lost, but the red bully still looked scorched from their exchange. As they looked around the ledge, there was easily room for both. But as the two began to posture, it was clear that neither dragon was willing to share. ¡°You sneaky little shit.¡± Darin confronted him, anger clear in his voice. ¡°You attacked me in my sleep and damaged a quest item¡± ¡°Quest- Never mind, learn your place, little winged runt. I¡¯m about to do a lot more damage.¡± Spikey growled. He turned about and slashed though the air with his long, barbed tail. Darin dodged by ducking under it, he already knew it would be a short fight if he let himself get hit. He tried to close the gap, but Spikey simply lashed back and forth with his tail. Damn one trick pony. The black whelp wasn¡¯t very fast, but he held range with his tail. Darin could dodge him for a while, but he had no way to strike back, not with that damned tail whip. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s the opening I need¡­¡± Darin mumbled, as he moved closer to the back wall. ¡°I wont give you any openings. Give up or die freak!¡± The black whelp hissed. The more noise they made, the more dragons turned to watch them. He put extra force into his next swipe of his tail, trying to smash him flat. Darin jumped over his attack which hammered at the wall. Seeing his chance he dove at the black dragon, not for his body, but for his tail. - - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: Let me know if it¡¯s going to slow. I¡¯m trying to only describe each area fully on the first pass. As it¡¯s still early in the story, I keep having to flesh out the world. Thank you for reading, it means a lot to me to see those numbers rise. As ever, feedback, corrections and reviews are welcome. Chapter 10 - Pecking order Darin grabbed the whelp¡¯s tail while being careful to avoid the spikes. He sunk his claws in to get a better grip, but failed to cause any damage. ¡°Let go of me, you runt.¡± The black whelp demanded. A moment later he lashed out again, but failed to free his tail. ¡°My turn.¡± Darin declared before attacking. Following a hunch, he bit down on the tail with all his might. The thing about beaks, is that they are often designed to crack things open. Darin was rewarded with a soft crunch, a loud cry of pain and a very satisfying pop up window.
Racial ability unlocked: Crushing Bite ¡°Deals damage, strips armor, and hurts like hell."
Attack: You deal 2 damage, status inflicted Armor Break, status inflicted Broken Tail.
¡°I¡¯ll kill you, you little shit!¡± Roared the whelp, waking up a few more sleeping dragons. Darin was so distracted by the message window, he barely dodged when his foe whirled about and lunged at him. Letting go of the broken tail, he jumped to the side as a Spikey slashed. He didn¡¯t have enough hit points to fight a straight battle. What did have, was crazy agility and natural can opener. It could work, he mused. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got? Are you a dragon, or just a spiked shelled turtle with a whip tail?¡± Darin taunted. The rage in his opponent¡¯s eyes told him it had worked. A moment later, Spikey dashed forward and tried to bite his head off. Darin avoided him by jumping up, flying forward and landing on his assailant¡¯s back. As the whelp turned to thrash, he dug his claws in to keep his footing.
Attack: You deal 1 damage.
¡°Now that¡¯s more like it.¡± Darin cheered. It seems that after lowering their defense, even his weak attacks do damage. He was all set to bit one of the spinal spikes, when a wing bone clubbed him in the face. The world seemed to spin, but he managed to keep his grip. Falling off, would surely mean death by now.
Dragon whelp has dealt you 2 damage.
¡°You like that? Want some more, pocket sized?¡± Spikey taunted, before pressing his attack. He swung his wings at Darin again and again, expecting to beat him into submission.
Dragon whelp has dealt you 1 damage. Dragon whelp has dealt you 2 damage.
¡°Sure. I¡¯ll take a bite!¡± Darin growled back, snapping his beak onto the next wing to come close. This asshole really needs to learn his place. ¡°What? Hold-¡± The whelp began. His voice failed him, as a loud crunch filled the air. Many of the on lookers cringed or looked away as the wing flopped over. A few others looked on with savage glee.
Attack, Critical Hit: You deal 7 damage, status inflicted Armor Break, status inflicted Broken Wing.
Spikey¡¯s whole body began to shake, causing Darin to tense up further. He looked toward the other wing, but saw the it swing well out of reach. A piteous wail filled the air around him, he soon realized it was the whelps. ¡°Stop. Please stop. I give, I give. Your perch, I leave¡­¡± Was all the black whelp could managed. He sounded so pathetic that Darin agreed. With a few strokes of his wings, Darin left his back and watched from a few feet above him. This caused a murmur amongst the other dragons, but he was more worried about the whelp in front of him. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Then go.¡± He commanded. Spikey looked up at him, where he hovered. In his eyes was a mix of pain, rage and fear. The fear must have won out, because he departed as fast as he could. Though a whimper or curse could be heard, when ever something touched a broken limb. Once he was clear, Darin relaxed his wings and came in to land. The perch smelled like fresh blood now, but in time it would join the old stains in the stone. It seemed strange, but the smell of his foe¡¯s blood made it all the more cozy here. ¡°I never realized you were that cruel, Hatchling.¡± Said a familiar voice. Turning his head he realized that Greenie was occupying one of the nearby ledges. He hadn¡¯t even noticed her during the fight. ¡°Cruel?¡± He asked. Battle was battle after all, and he¡¯d been provoked. ¡°You crippled his favorite weapon and his wing. And I can tell you from experience, a broken wing hurts like hell. Unless a powerful healer takes pity on him, he wont be flying for a few days either. Oh, and you rubbed his face in it too.¡± ¡°What? I let him go after he gave up¡­¡± Darin protested. ¡°Yes, you did. And then you flew in place, above the person who¡¯s wing you just snapped. Like I said, cruel. And all that just to challenge him for a ledge¡± ¡°No. I flew out of his reach, because I didn¡¯t trust him.¡± Darin countered, but he could tell she didn¡¯t actually care. ¡°As to the ledge, I was already sleeping here before he attacked me. I¡¯m not fond of waking up injured and falling.¡± He explained. She eyed him for a moment and shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s one way to climb the social ladder. He might think of revenge, but I doubt he¡¯ll try for a rematch.¡± Greenie told him. She let the point sink in, while lowering her head and closing her eyes. ¡°So you¡¯re the smallest, but not the weakest¡­¡± Soon after she spoke, her breathing changed. Sleep claimed her swiftly, leaving Darin alone on his ledge. He took one last paranoid look about, then lowered his head and closed his eyes. He still had several hit points to recover, and the gentle rumbling lulled him to sleep. While he rested easy, the counter on his quest resumed. No one else dared wake the little spit-fire before morning. * * * * * Darin woke later the next morning, feeling refreshed and restored. He¡¯d never have expected to sleep so well on solid stone, but it had been blissful. As he stretched his wings, a notification popped up.
Quest: Bed time - Completed. You can now know the location: Hatchery. A good night sleep has helped to refresh and restore you. Now you are less likely to be a cranky little Hatchling. Good luck with finding your shell.
He cleared the message and thought of the Hatchery. He knew right away that he needed to exit the Rumbling Room he was in and turn right. ¡°Another game of follow the bread crumbs then.¡± He muttered. If he couldn¡¯t have a map, there were worse ways to navigate than knowing where places are. A quick check showed that his bandoleer hadn¡¯t taken damage in the fight. His stomach made a noise, encouraging him to detour first. He focused on the Dinning Hall, only to feel his sense of navigate fade away. ¡°Right,¡± he grumbled, ¡°I never learned that one from a quest.¡± With no one he recognized around, he headed for the Hatchery. He was sure that someone there could lead him to the Dinning Hall¡­even if he had to burn someone¡¯s face off. - - - - - - Author¡¯s Notes: Thanks for reading, I hope you liked. I¡¯m still trying to get him out into the wider world of mishaps. There are still a few scenes to play out first, as well as a few good-bad jokes. Feedback always welcome. Chapter 11 - Odd one out It turned out, that the Hatchery was really a cluster of several rooms. Darin wasn¡¯t sure what they were, but they did look interesting. The room with Lava rocks seemed fairly straight forward. There were enough scorch marks on the floor and wall around the stones. He had little doubt that the young came here to practice their flames. A few corners held other oddities, such as basins with flowers. He assumed he¡¯d figure that part out later. The next empty room he saw puzzled him. Water flowed across center of the chamber, perhaps 1 foot deep and 30 feet wide. The current was somewhat swift, as if this was the shallows of some river. The air carried an odd salty smell, not a foul one, but the type one would recognize at a beach. On each side of the chamber, dry sections of stone connected to small ramps. Each ramp lead up to a shelf carved half way up the wall. Each shelf offered a single ledge, one that extended a few paces toward the other side of the room. There was perhaps 40 feet from ledge to ledge, but the significance escaped him. At the edge, he leaned his head over for a quick glance at the water. ¡°No fish?¡± He asked, sounding a little disappointed. Below him, the water frothed and murmured with the faint sound of laughter. Darin took that as his cue to leave. It was a few rooms later where Darin finally found his objective. In the center of the chamber sat Blood Claw, lecturing the other whelps about the history of dragons. ¡°It was said when the Mother first created-¡± She paused seeing Darin, causing every head to turn. ¡°I see our midnight warrior has finally rejoined the waking world.¡± This earned him a few laughs, and an odd sounding giggle from Greenie. Giggling dragons, that combination just seems wrong, he mused. ¡°What can I say, someone woke me up in the middle of the night. So I ended up sleeping in.¡± Darin offered, glancing towards the black whelp. His wing and tail appeared to be healed, but he still edged away from Darin. A few of the others laughed, but the den mother responded in a more serious way. ¡°I doubt he will do it again. But I¡¯d appreciate if you don¡¯t go breaking any more wings.¡± She let the statement hang a moment, causing a few to cringe. ¡°They are quite a pain to heal properly. And if they don¡¯t get enough practice in, they might never learn to fly. You don¡¯t intend to permanently cripple your kin, do you?¡± ¡°No, den mother.¡± He said with in a lower tone. ¡°I just didn¡¯t like getting hit with his wings during the fight. Had he not attacked me with them, I¡¯d have just torn up his scales and spikes.¡± Darin knew it was a weak defense, but still it was better than nothing. ¡°But, but¡­¡± Was all Spikey managed to say. Blood Claw was now looking at him, in a less than flattering way. ¡°Strange. I didn¡¯t hear about that aspect of the fight. Nor the part about waking someone up.¡± She addressed everyone for a moment. ¡°And it is in poor form to wake anyone up in the Rumbling Rooms, as well it is in poor form to scream or shout there.¡± She stated, before fixing both of them in place with a glare. Darin nodded his head, but the whelp visibly shrunk as he lowered himself to the ground. ¡°Red may have gotten off easy, when someone knocked him down yesterday.¡± Greenie commented, having seen both fights. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, someone?¡± She asked, looking directly at the blue whelp. The whelp only shot her a dirty look in response, annoyed at being sold out for his mischief. When he noticed the hatchling staring at him he sighed. ¡°Am I next on your list then?¡± Blue asked. He knew how the pecking order worked all too well. With the weakest whelp thrashed, he expected to be challenged for his own meager position next. ¡°Are you planning to start a fight?¡± Darin asked. It was an odd moment, seeing a room full of dragons in shocked silence. A moment later he decided to clarify on things. ¡°I¡¯m small, I¡¯ll likely always be small. But it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m weak. I don¡¯t much care about the pecking order. But if you try to pick on me, or go out of your way to anger me. I will make sure you regret it. Right scorch?¡± He asked the red whelp, still sporting some traces of the damage. ¡°Scorch?¡± The red whelp growled. His lips twitched back in the start of a snarl, but he didn¡¯t say anything else. ¡°Nicknames don¡¯t count.¡± Blood Claw interjected. ¡°He could end up with that name, or he could earn a better name before his trials. I¡¯m positive,¡± she said slowly, ¡°that this will encourage him to work harder. So he can prove that he is a prime example, of our proud race.¡± She said. And while her words were encouraging, her tone and glare made it clear she expected no less. Did he just gulp? ¡°Den mother, I have a question.¡± ¡°Yes, Hatchling?¡± She asked, her tone sounded amused at his polite wording. ¡°I know a few locations, but not the Dinning Room. How do I get there?¡± Darin asked. He ignored the murmurs from his peers and focused on her response. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Why do you wish to know? You were already fed yesterday.¡± ¡°But that was yesterday. I¡¯m hungry again.¡± He explained, only to cause the others to murmur more. Most surprising was Blood Claw, who sat there with her jaw hanging open. She did not seem the type to be easily surprised. ¡°Dar-Ahem, dear little hatchling. That¡¯s a joke right? Many of us need eat only once every few days or each week. Surely at your size, you aren¡¯t able to absorb a full meal that fast. Did you not eat properly? You said something about a second stomach before¡­¡± The others were watching the exchange with a good deal of interest. Their abnormal little companion had the metabolism of a mammal? And a second stomach as well? Darin ignored them while he looked at his Inventory screen. It showed the same thing, two carrying claws, a mouth and two stomachs. He examined them closer and found the cause of his confusion. ¡°That¡¯s odd.¡± He muttered. ¡°What is it?¡± Greenie asked, being ever curious. She seemed to ignore the den mother¡¯s glare. ¡°My second stomach lists as ¡®{Unknown}, subspecies required to activate¡¯. Is that normal?¡± He asked. Blood Claw just stared at him, jaw hanging wide once again. Everyone else was looking back and forth between the two. The silence lingered for several uncomfortable seconds, until finally she spoke. ¡°I know you¡¯re a dragon. But past that¡­just what the hell are you?¡± She asked. He didn¡¯t have an answer, not yet. But somehow he doubted it would be the last time he heard such a question. He sighed. The others all started talking at once, or perhaps gossiping would be more accurate. A few moments later a notification appeared.
Location learned: Dinning Hall. You can now find the Dinning Hall from anywhere in the world. ¡°When you are hungry and near by, it¡¯s a great place to eat¡­if you don¡¯t mind meat, meat, and more meat.
He looked up and nodded to Blood Claw. It had not taken her long to get past her confusion. ¡°Go, eat, and return. When you get back, I want you to go find your shell. Enough is enough, and this mystery is driving me crazy.¡± She told him, causing the others to quiet down. He nodded and started to focus on his destination. ¡°And little one¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Blood Claw?¡± He asked in a respectful tone. ¡°When you do learn what you are, I will not hold it against you. Even if you¡¯re some kind of mutation, a rare and failed breed of dragon, or just an unlucky runt.¡± She paused for emphasis, rather than insult. ¡°You are still one of the Mother¡¯s children, and you are still a dragon. No matter how well you do or don¡¯t match with your more pure blooded kin.¡± She meant it to be reassuring, but it caused him to wonder how well he would ever fit in. In the Dinning Hall, he made short work of his breakfast. The only thing acceptable to his nose was a giant mole like creature. With great care he dragged a chunk back to the ¡°kids table¡± and cooked it with care. To his utter disappointment, his entire meal tasted like nothing but roast potatoes. Several tedious pounds, of roast potatoes. No gravy, no salt, no butter, not even cheese and bacon. No wonder they only eat every few days, if it was like this every day, they might willingly starve themselves. At least he understood now, why no one had beaten him to the mole. With a disappointing meal in his stomach, he paused to check his inventory again. It showed that his first stomach was full of mole, while the second one was empty and locked. He was curious, as well as annoyed. His return to the Hatchery was uneventful. Darin suspected he might get lazy about path finding in time, with turn by turn directions in his head. When he returned to the others, he found them still in the middle of a history lesson. ¡°¡­and that was why the fire clan formed. Nearly a thousand years after the Fall of the Stars.¡± She paused a moment seeing that he¡¯d returned. ¡°You are ready then?¡± She asked. Darin nodded. She pointed towards the Hall of Dreamers with a single claw. ¡°Then go, and good luck little hatchling¡­¡± - - - - - - Author¡¯s note: I hope I am keeping the world believable and and presenting it as a living thing. Thank you for the feed back and reviews. Doubly so for the good ones. I know I don¡¯t have a flash title and theme, but I¡¯m happy to see the slow and steady increase in my Reads, Follows and Favorites. I hope to keep up the nightly pace, but I don¡¯t want to promise it. I¡¯m all too well acquainted with Murphy¡¯s Law. As ever, thank you for taking the time to read. And thank you for the the positive feedback. Chapter 12 - Origins and Dreams With the others trapped in their history lesson, Darin walked himself to the cave. As he entered the Hall of Dreamers, he felt a tingle and a shiver down his spine. He hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but if he had entered on a whim, he would have chosen to turn back. But he had a reason to be here, and he was thankful when the sensation went away moments later. Taking a breath he activated the Iron Amulet of Light and waited for it to shine. He felt his magical energy drain away, as the amulet(bandoleer) warmed up slowly. A small circle of light became visible at the center of his chest. Moments later, it burst into full power and illuminated well ahead of him. Darin paused a moment in surprise. The faint glowing crystals, the carefully carved walls, the assortment of eggs showing swirls of color¡­it was beautiful. Not being one to waste a precious moment, he grabbed a few screen shots before taking flight. The first time he¡¯d been here, he hadn¡¯t even noticed the carved pillars. They¡¯d been too high up on the rock formations, and too deep in shadow. In the first hour, he applied a methodical search. By the third hour he was making random loops and swirls, focusing only on the floor level. The more he saw of the cavern, the more shocked he became. He¡¯d thought that thousands of eggs were kept here, but he was wrong. He now wondered if the sleepers counted amongst the hundreds of thousands. But one thing was for sure, he wasn¡¯t going to stop and count. Somewhere about the sixth hour, he¡¯d landed to give his poor wings a break. Flying was freedom, it was joy, it was exciting, and it was starting to hurt. Wings, like any joint of the body seemed to require some rest after a while. So he spent an hour of foot, searching around, in the eerie silence of the Hall. By the eighth hour, he had finally found his shell. He would have cried, if his eyes were capable of it. He made a strong mental note of the location, hopeful the he could create his own markers. Looking up he saw an angled rock face, reaching up into shadow. An egg in a nest partway up seemed out of place. ¡°So that¡¯s what I hit, when I fell.¡± He muttered. A short flight up the hill led him to a shadow covered ledge with an old nest. Inside, were several other eggs, each as small as his own. But the eggs were not alone. Ancient and dried, black seeds the size of a small melon had been stored with the eggs. He found he was unable to identify them, so he left them be. Flying back down, he gathered up the shards of his egg shell. It was as pale and gray as stone, nothing had changed. ¡°Identify.¡± He commanded, while focused on it.
A small, broken egg shell {It¡¯s Yours!} The memories of your ancestors are woven into the shell. Absorb it to absorb the memories. (Hint: Eat Me!)
Darin groaned. If he¡¯d just read the tutorial and identified his shell yesterday-No, there was no point in dwelling on what if. There was only one thing left to do, he picked up a chunk of the egg shell¡­and stared at it. ¡°Do I really have to eat this thing?¡± He asked, though only silence answered him. ¡°Wait, first. Character.¡±
CHARACTER SHEET
NAME:Hatchling*RACE:Dragon
GENDER:MaleSUB SPECIES:Unknown
LEVEL:1PROGRESS:08.00%
FREE POINTS:0HEALTH:13 / 13
REGEN:HP +0.07, MP +0.30MAGIC:25 / 25
STRENGTH:2~FORTITUDE:3~
AGILITY:40DEFENSE:10
KARMA:5RENOWN:15
LOAD:1.0 / 13.75 Stones.SIZE FACTOR:0.25
¡°So I¡¯ve earned some experience. Wait, how did I loose 5 Karma but gain 5 more Renown?¡± He asked. ¡°Oh, so Karma is your Good minus your Evil. So I guess they considered that win cruel after all. Oh well, I¡¯ll earn it back.¡± He told himself. Returning his focus to the egg shell, he gave it a tentative sniff and found it smelled nice. He took a tentative first bite and found it tasted like a cinnamon roll. With a shrug he started shoving the shards into his beak, crushing them and swallowing. A moment later a vibrant golden light surrounded him. Rings of light cascaded down, flowing around him from above. A moment later a system prompt appeared.
Congratulations, you have reached Level 2. As this is a freebie for your race, no free points will be awarded. However, stat points may be awarded based on your subspecies. You may no longer have your level reduced below Level 2. But you will still loose experience and suffer other penalties upon death. Good luck.
Racial Ability Unlocked: Keen Tongue. You can now tell aspects of things by tasting them. Useful when trying to evolve. ¡°For best results, don¡¯t taste test poisons¡­¡±
¡°Well that¡¯s, well, something. Too bad I can still loose levels above 2.¡± He grumbled. ¡°Character.¡± He requested.
CHARACTER SHEET
NAME:Whelp*RACE:Dragon
GENDER:MaleSUB SPECIES:Primal
LEVEL:2PROGRESS:04.00%
FREE POINTS:0 Stat, 0 EvolutionHEALTH:13 / 16
REGEN:HP +0.07, MP +0.45MAGIC:25 / 55
STRENGTH:2~FORTITUDE:3~
AGILITY:60DEFENSE:10
KARMA:5RENOWN:25
LOAD:1.0 / 13.75 Stones.SIZE FACTOR:0.25
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Darin was going to study it in more depth, when the rest of the shell fragments melted into a soft blue glow. Like a mist, it rose up and wrapped itself around his body. His vision blurred and he dropped to the ground. He¡¯d lost complete control of his character and was getting worried when the message appeared.
Congratulations, you have absorbed your ancestral memories. Your sub-race is ¡°Primal - The first children of the Mother.¡± You have gained an additional +15% racial fire resistance. Evolutionary stomach has been unlocked, think before you eat. Your mental stats have been adjusted according to your race, improving your magical essence. You¡¯ve gained 5 points to your base Agility. You have not grown noticeably larger. You have gained 10 points of neutral fame, increasing your Renown. Please remain calm, while your ancestral memories are played out. Your body will be kept safe until control is restored.
He wanted to ask if he had a choice. But after the hardships caused by skipping his tutorial, he shut up and mentally settled in for the show. * * * * * When the blue mist faded away, he saw before him a giant forest. Ancient trees, carefully spaced apart, each reaching hundreds of feet towards the sky. The air was fresh clear, it carried with it scents of dirt, and rain, and life. The soft breeze whispered with the fluttering of millions of leaves. I can''t move? I¡¯m just reliving someone¡¯s memories then, he mused. The light was a bit dim, with a thick cover of clouds shielding the sky. In the distance he could hear singing, the joyous singing of dragons. His ancestor gave one last look to the mouth of the cave and took flight. His wings cut through the wind, as if he was born of it. The slightest ripple in the air currents could be turned into a graceful loop or roll. When his ancestor finally selected a tree to land on, he arced in and landed near the trunk. From here, he saw the blue undersides of the vibrant green leaves. He felt the sturdy bark between his feet, it was a healthy ashen gray. It was similar to his host''s color he realized. Leaning forward, he placed the top of his beak against the tree. From that gentle contact, he felt it, a warmth spread across his body. Each tree, spoke for the forest. The tree was happy, thus all of their trees were happy. A glance to the side showed that the berries were blooming again. Each berry was a brilliant orange color, perhaps a foot across, though a smaller seed was at it¡¯s core. Soon, soon there would be good harvest. The wind brought him an important song, his breath quickened and he took flight. As his host wove between the trees, he saw many game animals down below. The forest floor was not brown with dirt, it was green with grasses and full of life. Every thing here was alive, no not just alive, it was all thriving. There was a sense or warmth, of pride in that. In several minutes of flight, Darin saw no other type tree. Nor was there any place where the trees grew too close and harmed one another. At times his ancestor would loop around a tree, a brief check upon it¡¯s health. This forest was not just a home, it was maintained, it was a garden. At times his host would pass other dragons and call out a greeting. They where all similar in size, even if the elders had grown larger. But the coloration of the others threw Darin off. A few were vibrant colors, like silver, gold, emerald and sapphire. Others wore the colors of the woods, the orange of the berries, the green of the leaves, the gray of the bark or even the white of fresh bones. It was a chaotic mix of so many colors, yet they never seemed to care. It felt strange, given that most of the modern dragons were born in somewhat common hues. Following the song, he eventually reached a clearing at the edge of the forest. Several of his kin were burning back the plant growth, leaving a layer of ash to cover the ground. In the center lay a mound of animals parts, fallen branches, old bones and other other assorted bits of nature. One by one the dragons gathered around the mound, save one. Holding a dried berry like a precious egg, one stood aside and sang. As their words filled the air, their kin set flame to the mounds. Under slow melodic verses, they turned it all to ash. ¡°We children of the Mother, the forest we do keep. Clearing all that threatens, our offerings piled deep. Flames to purify them, and burn away the ill. When only ash remains, the deep earth will we till. And deepest in the center, we plant the sacred seed. So that our descendants, the forest too may feed.¡± The seed holder kept repeating the song, verse after verse while the others worked. When finally they where done, they took up the song in his place. With great care, the seed was buried deep in the mound of ashen earth. The warmth of the soil, served as a catalyst for it¡¯s growth. The vision blurred, and the dream jumped ahead¡­ - - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: Sorry to not keep the entire set of memories in one chapter. There is a fair bit more that I need it to cover. I don¡¯t have it in me to finish it all tonight. The chapter itself is longer than usual, but I am still trying to stick to a daily writing schedule. In truth, I want writing to become a permanent part of my future, not a short term hobby. Ergo, a daily part of life. Thank you all for taking the time to read, offer feedback and review. Chapter 13 - Hunting hearts When the vision returned, the cold crisp air told Darin that he was in memories of winter. His ancestor looked at the caverns, where the stone glowed with warmth then sighed. Turning around, he headed for the mouth of the cavern and took flight. A shiver ran through him at the first cross wind, it would snow soon and so too would come the lean times. The great trees were bare now, ash skinned giants who slept and dreamed of spring. The sky was gray with clouds, the sun only breaking through for moments at a time. There was a faint haze in the distance, snowfall, flurries as it were. That didn¡¯t bode well for hunting, most animals hid away from the storms. Darin could feel the hunger in his ancestor, a need to find food. Spotting herd beasts ahead, they made a silent landing on a branch and observed. There were five females, a large male and a scraped up younger male. The young buck seemed healthy, despite his prior injuries, he would do well in the coming year. His older counterpart though was not fairing so well, his rear leg seemed stiff but showed no sign injury. ¡°Age is setting in and his joints are wearing out. He¡¯s sired young for the spring, but would be lucky to see the spring himself. It is a simple choice which to cull.¡± His ancestor whispered to himself. Darin was surprised by the whispered monologue. His host hadn¡¯t even considered the females, who lacked natural weapons. The young in spring, he mused. Oh, of course. They would be pregnant by now, giving birth in the spring. With a simple motion, his host leaned forward and launched himself into the air. His ancestor was quite a skilled hunter. For the last stretch of his hunt he came in silence, gliding well above his prey. A quick turn of his wings and he dove onto the beast¡¯s back. His claws dug into it¡¯s hide, as his prey reared up and cried out in alarm. The rest herd bolted for the safety of the woods, but for the old buck it was already too late. His beak darted forward, snapping shut on the back of the animal¡¯s neck. There was another cry of terror, but it ended mid-way with a loud crunch. His host let go as his prey fell, landing on the beast, rather than under him. He watched in silence as massive ribs lifted once, twice, and then¡­never again. ¡°We thank you for this meal.¡± He intoned. His voice sounded respectful, but not merciful. The next two minutes was confusing for Darin, to say the least. His host went around the kill checking; hoofs, hide, horns, blood, muscle and bone. Each and every part he checked, he did so with is tongue. The blood tasted like hot chocolate, of all things, at least that was how Darin¡¯s senses interpreted it. He didn¡¯t mind the taste as much, but the situation made his stomach twist. There was just something wrong about being forced to drink hot coco, from a fresh kill. His ancestor had quenched his thirst, but otherwise had seemed disappointed with everything else he had tasted. After a few moments of eying his kill, he tipped back his head and sang. He was loud, he was earnest, and in truth¡­he seemed a bit off key. ¡°Join us now, a feast has come. Waste not food, the deed is done. We share our prize, we share our strength. So hunger will not claim our kin. As our Mother teaches, I too shall abide. So join me at the feast here, and share food by my side.¡± After a few verses of the song, he waited and listened. Nothing was heard, except the cold wind cutting through the trees. He shifted a bit, as he looked around and then took up the song again. When he heard a twig snap he turned around to look, but what he saw caused him to drop the song. It was a wolf, well some sort of wolf anyway. The over grown gray fur that ruffled in the wind seemed normal enough, but sickly look and the teeth gave it away. With extra long canines and a double row of teeth, this clearly wasn¡¯t the normal variety. ¡°Vermin.¡± His host snarled. ¡°You know better then to enter our forest, rat-eater!¡± His body tensed, getting ready for battle. A moment later, he heard the brush behind him move. He took flight in a panic, weaving to avoid the jaws snapping at him. Once he was far enough from the ground, he circled around and took stock of his foes. Three rat-eaters paced below him, their eyes shifting between his kill and himself. Drawing in a lung full of air, his host let out a wordless war cry. He was getting ready to attack the mass of fangs and jaws, when he heard an echo nearby. He raised the war cry again, and hopeful that his ally would join him before it was too late. If he left the beasts alone much longer, they would sink their dirty fangs into his kill. Darin could sense the fear and anger in his host, the heart beat and the slightest shift in his wings. Just before the attack, something else shot by him and cut low across the ground. A lithe streak of gray, went down the length of one wolf bathing it in flame the entire way. It cut past the next, swerving only as much as it needed to avoid snapping jaws. Like it¡¯s kin, the second wolf was blessed with fire and pain. The third wolf however, was about to have their revenge. As the brave dragon angled away from it¡¯s first strafing run, the wolf leapt on a perfect intercept. Darin¡¯s host however, would have none of that. Diving at the wolf, it seemed like it was a but a second too slow. To Darin¡¯s surprise, his beak flashed out and snapped shut on the wolf¡¯s tail. A loud snapping sound filled the air, as his ancestor back winged desperately, slowing the wolf mid-pounce. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Yipe!¡± The wolf exclaimed, echoing through the woods. Adding insult to injury, the ancestor added a gout of flame at his no¡­her ass. Both dragons swirled skyward several feet, before they could be counter attacked. One of the smaller wolves broke ranks and ran, but to be fair it¡¯s fur was on fire. ¡°Pass in the middle.¡± The other dragon told him, as they darted off to strafe again. Taking another vector to attack, his host swooped in on the same bitch he¡¯d burned before. The she-wolf was fast, but he was faster. As he passed a mere inch or two was all the space between her teeth and his body. Her foul breath was warm on his belly, but his breath was flame on her hide. The darting about and snapping of jaws continued for another few minutes, when it ended only two dragons and three corpses remained. The last wolf was long gone, it would live or die from its wounds, on it¡¯s own. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± His ancestor stated, taking a moment to be sure they had not fouled his kill. When he looked up at his new companion, he froze. The valiant and swift warrior, happened to be a slightly smaller dragoness. ¡°They needed to be removed from our woods. Normally a hunting party would gather to destroy them. What possessed you to take on three alone?¡± She demanded. Darin could feel a sense of warmth and embarrassment from his host. The question hung in the air, perhaps a moment too long. ¡°I¡¯d just made a kill, and I didn¡¯t want them to steal it. They crept up on me while I sang.¡± He stated. When she said nothing in reply, he added more with a somewhat nervous shift in his tone. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be here. And I¡¯d just made a fine kill, a wise cull and¡­yea.¡± ¡°A good kill. A wise cull.¡± She repeated, looking from the herd beast to him and back again. ¡°I suppose then, you had a good reason to take such a large buck from the herd?¡± She asked, her tone made it clear she expected a good answer. ¡°Five females and a younger buck remained, this one is likely to have sired the next crop of young.¡± He said, tapping the large corpse with a claw. ¡°But it¡¯s back legs were growing stiff with age. If it saw another year, it would not have been a pleasant one.¡± He explained. A few seconds of silence hung in the air before she spoke. ¡°Well chosen then, young hunter. They call me Ember, for my strong flames. And yourself?¡± She asked. Her tone of voice had shifted, becoming softer on the ear. ¡°Well met Ember. They call me Shadow, for the silent way in which I reach my prey.¡± ¡°Well met Shadow.¡± She said, sounding amused. After a long pause, she asked him in playful tones. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you going to offer me a meal?¡± ¡°I. Well. That¡¯s¡­join me please?¡± Shadow asked, once the words came out. Flustered already? He¡¯s worse than me, Darin mused. She laughed softly at his confusion. ¡°Gladly, shall we sing then?¡± Ember asked. She drew in a breath and tipped her head back reflexively. ¡°But no one else is coming.¡± He said with a trace of sorrow. She blinked at him surprised, then sighed. ¡°Right. They¡¯d have heard the war cry and responded, even if they weren¡¯t hungry.¡± Her wings drooped for a moment while she thought. ¡°No matter. Sing for me anyway, so it doesn¡¯t feel strange to eat?¡± Ember asked, before adding more. ¡°Even just a verse or two, if that¡¯s all you¡¯re willing¡­¡± ¡°If it makes you happy, that would make me happy.¡± Shadow agreed. And so they sang, as one verse turned to two, and two turned to many. The longer they sang, the more sweet their duet became. When the song finally ended, the two were already seated side by side. Ember leaned over and entwined her neck with his, a gesture he readily reciprocated. They ate in silence, taking their time, despite the flurries of snow. Shadow¡¯s emotions were strong and easy to feel. So this is how love begins¡­ As before, the vision blurred and Darin found himself jumping ahead in time. - - - - - - - Author¡¯s note: Seemed like a good point to stop for tonight. There are still at least two major things left for the memories to cover. On the bright side this makes 14 days and 14 chapters. I hope you liked the chapter. In case you were wondering, he is not getting a combat log because 1) it is not him and 2) these are back story memories from the game. Thank you again for all the encouraging comments and reviews. Seeing my humble count of reads, follows and favorites go up has brightened my day a few times. Chapter 14 - Summer changes When the vision resumed, Darin guessed it to be early summer. The new born animals of spring, had grown in the safety of their herds. The air was warm, humid and filled with the singing of insects. Much to Darin¡¯s surprise, his host, Shadow had noticeably grown. His wings seemed an inch or two longer, and his muscles felt more developed. Just how old was he before? Something felt odd around his neck, but Shadow paid it no attention. It was early in the day when his ancestor(father?) set out. Ember wasn¡¯t with him right now, but it wasn¡¯t as if Darin could ask. After leaving the cave, they took a sharp turn and traveled along the mountain. Shadow didn¡¯t enter the forest today, instead flying over ridge after ridge. The view was magnificent, but with no control Darin dozed off well before they reached their goal. He woke later, to the sound of Shadow¡¯s joyous cries. The air smelled foul here, but he could sense the excitement of his host. Ahead was a sight Darin never dreamed he would see, except perhaps from space. A black spike of rock stood alone, sputtering out smoke and steam. Around it was not land, but a small volcanic lake. The land all about was a mix of bare stone, ash and soot. By the edges of the lake, floated sections of nearly molten stone. Between the cracks, the lava seemed like blood surging through it¡¯s veins. A few of his kin circled the fire lake, each fixed upon their own desires. At times one dragon or another would dare to fly low and take a swipe at a black stone. But the lake did not so easily give up it¡¯s treasures. The stones took great effort to break, and most were far too hot to grab. Shadow it seemed had other plans, he circled the lake a few times, but seemed disgusted. Leaving the lake, he followed one of the lava flows that bled from it. Darin noticed that he took great care to fly as slow and steady. The next hour was spent coasting on the lava¡¯s thermal lift, eyes ever watchful at the edge of the flow. Shadow was determined, but also starting to resonate fear. A claw strayed up to his neck and light tugged at the odd weight. His fears eased only slightly as necklace held firm. Another hour passed them by, before something glimmered. Shadow glanced behind him to be sure he¡¯d not been followed, then dove for the spot. He landed with great care on the charred and blackened stone, a surge of fear spread through him as he let it hold his weight. Once he was sure he the ground wouldn¡¯t crumble, Shadow eased his way towards his goal. His target was the charred and jagged rock, which had housed a slight amber glow. Around the other side of the rock he found it, and his heart soared. ¡°Flame amber.¡± Shadow whispered, his voice was full of awe. Darin was surprised at how beautiful the gem was, but the reverence confused him. The small gem was no larger than his host¡¯s palm, smooth but not truly round. It was a deep golden color, with a red flame like color flickering about inside it. Amber from lava? He mused. Only in a world of magic I suppose. The better part of the next hour was lost to the gem¡¯s extraction. Shadow¡¯s claws and beak both seemed a little worse for wear by the time the gem was free. But in his elation, it seemed the dragon could care less. With great care, he brought it to his beak and touched it to his tongue. To Darin, it tasted like the most decedent desert he¡¯d ever tried. Thus he was all the more surprised, when Shadow chose not to eat it. ¡°It¡¯s perfect!¡± Shadow cried in delight. His outburst caused a surge of panic, holding the gem with both sets of claws as he looked about. Nothing was around him, so the fear soon drained away. Before doing anything else, Shadow took a few bipedal steps onto smoother stone. Then with great care, his claws opened the item hung about his neck. A pouch, on a cord? I didn¡¯t realize they even crafted things. Shadow soon had the gem tucked away and the pouch closed. He took a few steps, hopped into the air and landed again. A quick, if not paranoid check confirmed that his treasure remained secure. For the entire flight back, he kept checking on the pouch. Darin began to wonder if his fear of loosing it might become a self fulfilling prophecy. When they finally reached the mountain cave they called home, Darin realized how strange it felt. Many of the younger dragons, Shadow included, wore pouches or carried items wrapped in hide. The air was tense in the cavern, with many seeming anxious and on edge. A few of the older dragons were relaxed, watching the young fret and pace seemed only to amuse them. Others had gone off, seeing quiet places to call their own for a while. Shadow seemed more calm than the rest, but he never went far into the cave. Every few minutes his eyes would flick up to the largest of the three moons, trying to gauge how much of it¡¯s blue-green form remained in shadow. In time the sky turned red, then orange, before fading to a pleasant black. As the moon shined bright, it seemed to be full enough for the dragons. The number of dragons in the cave had doubled, but the tension had grown far faster. It was the elders who broke the silence. Far larger than their young kin, the pair entwined their necks a moment and then murmured to one another. ¡°Summer is here and the true moon rises, this night will be it¡¯s best.¡± Declared the male, stating the lore as if they might not know otherwise. Ceremony perhaps, Darin mused. ¡°As with the tides of the Mother¡¯s water, so too shall we feel the moon¡¯s pull. Many already know it¡¯s calling, yet many now find it new.¡± The female elder decreed. ¡°Go now, to that which pulls you. Go now, bearing gifts, and see if you too hold sway.¡± Both elders sang in chorus. With their blessings, the room erupted into chaos. Names where called, dragons bumped into one another rushing about. Echoes of joy and sorrow filled the room as they sought each other out. Not every meeting ended well, when two or more gathered on a single dragon, trouble often started. Darin saw it all so clearly, but it seemed that Shadow was oblivious. His host was still busy searching about, ignoring all others until he heard his own name called. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Shadow!¡± It was Ember¡¯s voice. His head whipped about and he charged in the direction of the voice. He even jumped onto, and over, one poor soul who blocked his path. As he neared where she had called from, he could not see her in the crowd. ¡°Ember, where are you?¡± He called out across the chaos. Her answer from the cluster near the wall. As shadow drew near, his gut wrenched and his temper flared. Several would be suitors had gathered about her and showed no signs of leaving. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± He told her, as he shoved aside a one of the pests. Many of the would be suitors, had not tried very hard. They came bearing gifts of flowers, horn or a chunk of glass. One carried nothing, assuming his grand stature alone should suffice. ¡°I told you, he would come for me when I called to him.¡± She told the other males, a polite dismissal at best. Many left, but the brown tinted brute and the horn bearer remained. Darin could feel Shadow¡¯s irritation, and he couldn¡¯t blame him. ¡°I would always come to you Ember. You are my song and my fire.¡± Shadow declared, his every word the truth. She brightened and preened to hear it, despite the slight burns on her claws. Beside him, the horn bearer sighed and crept off into the cavern. Perhaps his luck would be better elsewhere. ¡°My eyes seek out only you, dear Shadow.¡± She told him, her voice as soothing as the sky. It would have been a sweet moment, had not the brown tinted brute still lingered on. ¡°Then you should see more impressive things in this world, before you sell yourself short.¡± The brute suggested, earning glares from both of them. Yep, in every world known to man¡­you can always find an asshole, Darin grumbled in silence. ¡°You should leave now, and go find someone as stupid as you.¡± She suggested. ¡°Yes, you should runt. Now run along as she says.¡± The larger suitor told Shadow. Anger flared, leaving Darin to wonder if blood lust was part of the package. ¡°She spoke such to you, rat-eater.¡± Shadow growled. The larger dragon seemed to cringe at the name, as if a nerve had been struck. The two began to posture for battle, but it was Ember that ended the dispute. A single burst of flame caused the interloper to jump back. His expression was one of surprise, that he would not simply have what he wished. Shadow opened his beak, emitting a soft red glow. Only when Ember echoed his threat, did their larger kin withdraw. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for that, my dear. I¡¯ve made you this.¡± She said in a quiet voice, embarrassed by the display. Looking away she passed him a small, yet heavy bundle of hide. With excitement he opened it and found a lump of purified iron. Shadow cooed softly as he saw it, looking up to her in admiration. ¡°Is it, good for you to use?¡± She asked, a nervous flutter in her voice. He placed the iron in his beak with care, his eyes going wide a moment later. Darin was forced to ride waves of emotion as the metal was crushed an swallowed. It had amazed his host, what every it was. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Shadow murmured, as wave of silver energy coursed through his form. Once it had passed, Darin could see that his claws, beak and hide all showed faint traces of metallic ore. ¡°It was amazing my dear, I have no doubt that my bite shall be stronger than ever before.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pleased.¡± She responded, watching as he carefully took the pouch from his neck and offered it to her. Darin kept sensing waves of nervous anticipation from his host. He suspected she¡¯d have approved almost anything from Shadow, but he knew it was special. When she opened the top, a faint light escaped. With a gasp, she drew out the gem and cradled it with care. Around her many of the other couples turned in surprise, envy and awe were common amongst the onlookers. ¡°By the Mother.¡± She murmured before placing the gem in her beak and swallowing it whole. A soft moan escaped her, as an amber glow rippled across her body. When the change had run it¡¯s course, her beak and claws had gained faint hints of red while her scales had taken a slight golden hue. She tipped her head back and exhaled an amber flame, larger and brighter than before. So that¡¯s how evolution works. ¡°You like?¡± Shadow asked in a soft, playful tone. His emotions were thick, overwhelming Darin for a moment. Love, joy, adoration and delight. ¡°Not like¡­¡± She said as she stepped close and pressed her beak against his. ¡°Not like.¡± she repeated softly. ¡°Love¡­¡± As that memory came to an end, Darin greeted the familiar blur of a transition. - - - - - - - - Author¡¯s note: Large chapter, trouble posting it. I hope you enjoyed. As always, thank you for the feed back, encouragement, follows, favorites and reviews. Chapter 15 - Harvest and Fall When the vision resumed, Darin was greeted by the an usual sight. It was early in the Fall and the dragons were busy harvesting the giant berries. They flew from tree to tree, branch to branch, each seeking out the brightest and ripest of the fruits. It was a surprise, the first time he saw a dragon devouring the fruit around the seed. When the hungry dragon did not shimmer or change, it became clear that berries were a food source. I thought dragons only ate meat, Darin pondered. ¡°Shadow.¡± Ember¡¯s voice called, causing his vision to swing to the right. She looked a little smaller again, except near the waist, where her form was more rounded. She sat beside him on the branch, holding a pair of berries. Darin sensed warmth when their eyes met and felt the cringe, when she cocked her head at him. A moment later Shadow looked down and opened the top of the sash-like net he wore. A curious design, Darin noted. It appeared to be a woven tube of small branches, knotted together with some strips of untreated hide. The craftsmanship left a lot to be desired, but it still held many fruit. ¡°No more love, it will not take another.¡± Shadow cautioned, when she grabbed another from the tree. She eyed the space at the top of the bag, then shot him a doubtful look. ¡°There is still room.¡± Ember argued, her free claw pointing at the top. She was practical in her own way, when she wasn¡¯t the one carrying their spoils. Ember reached for the bag, but he put his claw across the top. ¡°It will break.¡± He cautioned. Her glare caused Darin to mentally cringe. ¡°But it-¡± ¡°Again? Do you want it to break, again? We lost many berries and a fair bit of time, last time.¡± Shadow reminded her. She didn¡¯t agree, nor did she argue, instead she turned her head away. ¡°Shall we go then?¡± Ember asked a few moments later. Not the type to admit a mistake? Not waiting for an answer, she held her lone berry to her chest and launched from the branch. With a soft laugh, Shadow swung his wings wide and left the branch. Darin could feel the effort he took to make the launch as smooth as possible. In the first few moments the bag shifted, causing a wave of fear. ¡°Easy. Easy now¡­¡± Shadow whispered, as his claws steadied the bag with care. The entire flight back felt heavy and slow, as if he were flying in mud. His wings were being pushed, but not yet strained. Ember¡¯s impatience did nothing to lighten his mood, as she made lazy loops around him. ¡°Finally!¡± She cried out in excitement as they neared the cave mouth. It had been a long flight for her, but far longer for Shadow who did the hauling. ¡°It took so long to get-¡± Her words stopped, leaving her with her beak hanging open. The glare her mate was sending her, caused her to rethink the situation. Neither spoke another word, until they reached the nesting chamber. ¡°Thank the Mother, we made it.¡± He said, gliding in for a smooth landing. His breathing had been heavy for the last several minutes. Darin felt the relief of his ancestor as they landed, as well as the ache of his wings. The swaying mass and slow chafing of the bag, did nothing to help matters. ¡°Darling?¡± Ember asked, as she landed beside him. ¡°Yes, my heart?¡± ¡°The nest, is up there.¡± She pointed up into the shadowy section, a good 50 feet up the slanted rock face. ¡°So why don¡¯t you fly the berries up, one by one dear?¡± He suggested, causing her to blink. All the while, he kept working his wings in slow motion, trying to soothe the joints. ¡°But-¡± She began to argue, then snapped her beak shut with a click. She glanced at her lone berry, her belly and then the load he¡¯d just flown back. ¡°Fine then, fair is fair. Be a dear and wait here then.¡± She said in her sweetest tone. A moment later she flew into the air. Shadow let out a breath, one that Darin hadn¡¯t realized he was holding. A short while later she made a soft landing, and held out her claws to him. He opened the bag and gave her the topmost fruit. While they unloaded a few other dragons flew in, carrying a single fruits as they flew to their own nests. A fourth entered, with three berries nested in a crude hide sack. Using their bag was a strain, but it seemed efficient. ¡°Do you need a rest?¡± She asked, once they finished. It was likely tempting, but Shadow shook his head. ¡°Not during harvest season, my love.¡± He replied. She leaned in and rubbed her beak against his, red against smoky gray. Their colors are darker, more vibrant, have the evolved again? Darin wondered. They gathered three more loads that day, before a storm struck. The cold, heavy rains and strong gusts of wind sent most of berries plummeting to the ground. Despite the ill fortune, the two tired dragons slept that night beside the glorious mound of fruit. One that enshrined their few eggs. As the two slept, the vision began to blur. Darin expected this, but not what it brought. * * * * * The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. When the memory returned, Darin- No Shadow, sat on a branch in late winter. Years must have passed since the last memory, his body had changed a good deal. Under the moon light, his beak shined like steel despite a nasty scar. Shadow was tense, almost terrified, but it took Darin a moment to realize why. He kept looking about the forest for prey, but his eyes kept returning to the moons. My god, what happened? Darin wished he could ask. Where three moons once hung like gems in the night sky, now there were only two. The third one was not missing, it was in ruins. While most of the debris headed towards the horizon, it was clear that not all of it would become a ring. Gravity was taking it toll, and a great deal of debris was going to come down on the world. Where, when and how where the only questions that remained. A herd beast wandered into Shadow¡¯s sight, he prepared to hunt it but his claws refused to let go. Looking down at his own claws, Shadow sighed. Even the tree branch beneath his feet, it felt as if it was tense. ¡°You wish to talk?¡± Shadow asked. He started to move towards the trunk, and found it easy to move again. When he reached the trunk, he patted it and then pressed the top of his beak against it. A wave of emotions, struck like a hammer. (Confusion. Loss. Wrongness. Fear.) ¡°You sense it, but you know not what it is?¡± Shadow asked it. The emotions were less painful this time, but still strong. (Confusion. Agreement. Fear.) ¡°I know not why, but one of the moons has died. It shattered in the sky, my kin, we fear as well.¡± Shadow explained. The trees were more magical than Darin had realized, they had an intelligence of their own. (Sorrow. Loss. Fear. Family. Fear.) ¡°Many of your seeds, we keep with our own young. We will watch over them. The Mother will guide us as always.¡± Shadow did not voice his own fears, the deep and obvious fear that something would destroy their cave. (Joy. Fear. Hope.) After that the tree fell silent, so Shadow returned to his feeble attempts to hunt. An hour later he was able to pull his eyes off the sky long enough to find prey. It was some type of mole, not the best tasting, but it was still fresh meat. With a sigh of disgust, he flew his prey back to the cave and brought it straight to Ember at their nest. A fresh egg lay amongst the others, vibrant and bright, with only a few traces of blood. ¡°Welcome back my love, I see I can¡¯t get rid of you for too long.¡± She greeted him. Ember must have been tired, she didn¡¯t even grumble that he¡¯d brought back mole. ¡°Thank you for hunting for me, even at such a dreadful time.¡± ¡°All I managed to catch tonight, was a mole.¡± He said as an apology. She gave him a soft look, but he still seemed haunted. As she ate, he moved beside her and laid a wing across her for comfort. ¡°Even the forest. Even the trees, they fear what happens in they sky. Are the other gods at war?¡± He dared to ask. She didn¡¯t have an answer. * * * * * Cries of panic in the distance woke Shadow. His fears clawed at him, and his stomach was in knots. Ember stayed with their eggs while he flew towards the cries, ready to defend his home. When he reach the mouth of the cave, one look at the sky and his emotions surged in awe and terror. Bright streaks of light and flame crossed the sky. Many fell faster and became larger as they neared his home. One of the first landed in the far distance, and for a brief moment there was silence. Then the earth shook, tossing fallen branches and dragons about as easily as a breeze moves a leaf. ¡°Mother!¡± Cried out dozens of his kin, pleading to their goddess in desperation. One glance at the sky told him that their world was ending. Untold thousands of burning lights fell from the sky, each bringing with it destruction on a scale undreamed of. Ignoring the others, Shadow took of like a bolt of lightning. He dodged or knocked aside all who stood between him and Ember. He had almost reached their nest when the earth shook and a voice roared through all the caves at once. ¡°Go Far Into The Cave!¡± The voice commanded, from every wall and floor. Deep, rich and beyond reproach¡­it was the voice of the Mother. Sounds like a great battle echoed through the caves, but the stone shook very little. When he reached the nest, he landed at her side and pressed close. Ember looked at him, pleading for an answer to her silent question. ¡°The world is being horribly mauled. As if the very stars are falling from the sky, and crushing the world below.¡± He told her, unable to keep the fear from his voice. She shuddered, then brushed his beak with hers. Looking to the eggs, she gathered her strength. ¡°Then we must sing to our children.¡± She declared, her tone full of resolve. ¡°Sing them into the deepest sleep, the strongest shells, not to wake until the world has healed and the Mother calls them back.¡± ¡°They will never meet us¡­¡± Shadow said in sorrow. His expression soon changed. ¡°But, they will always remember us.¡± He promised. Ember¡¯s eyes lit up in sudden understanding. She nodded, the two raised their voices, and the vision faded away into mist¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s note: Thus ends the tale of his origins. Of what once was, and what since was lost. A longer chapter, a little hard to write and a bit sad. I hope you¡¯ve enjoyed, think you as always for the encouragement and support. Chapter 16 - The Return When the blue mist cleared, Darin found himself once more in the Hall of Dreamers. Without even thinking, he launched himself into the air and flew up the cliff. He searched around the nest, his fear driving him on for several seconds. ¡°No bones. Oh thank god, no bones here.¡± He stated, before his gut twisted. ¡°They would have died at some point. But what happened to them after that? Did they survive it all? Damn it, I¡¯ll never find out¡­¡± A few minutes passed with tremors racking his tiny frame, sobbing in silence for those he never met, unable to shed tears from his armored eyes. When he regained his composure, Darin looked back at the nest. Knowing who built he, he held it in greater respect. ¡°To think, the first time I was here, I had such a bad perception of this place.¡± He pondered aloud. He took a moment to look around the area in greater detail, the amulet could only light up a small region inside the cave. Hundreds of nests filled the area around him, all nameless an lost in the giant cavern. Darin turned to leave, when one last though crossed his mind. Two hours later, he spread his wings and took flight. He focused on the Hatchery and began to sense his way there. His forward claws ached, and showed signs of wear, but his expression was pleased. Holy place or not, he¡¯d done what was required for him to find peace. Up on the ledge behind him, cut into the ancient stone, was a new inscription. It read in a simple script: SHADOW EMBER. With a small heart carved, between the names. Everyone else¡¯s nest could remain nameless, but they would be remembered. The first time he had escaped the Hall, it had taken him almost an hour to find an exit. Compared to Shadow¡¯s excursions, the ten minutes it took him passed in a flash. He landed with grace and turned off the amulet before leaving. It was a handy thing, but he still needed to get it back to Greed in the next few days. That whole bitten in half thing, would be a bit of a downer. Before he made it through the Hatchery, he ran into the others. As ever, trouble was not far behind. ¡°What, you¡¯re back? I thought you quit or rerolled.¡± The red whelp grumbled aloud. ¡°Where have you been?¡± ¡°Gave up when you got hungry?¡± ¡°He must not have found it, he¡¯s still tiny.¡± Spikey suggested, looking a bit bigger than he used to. ¡°Do you need help searching for your shell? I know how large that cave-¡± Greenie began. Only to be interrupted, by a soft warning growl from the den mother. ¡°I mean, I¡¯ve heard about it from others.¡± She corrected herself. ¡°Well?¡± Blood Claw asked, being far more to the point than the whelps. When Darin nodded she focused on him with an intent graze. Startled, she shook her massive head and focused on him again. A few seconds later her jaw dropped and her lovely golden scales seemed to pale. The others looked between the two of them, some even trying to identify Darin. Seeing only his primary race, they failed to understand the change, beyond his level. ¡°What¡¯s wrong Blood Claw?¡± Greenie asked, puzzled by the exchange. Darin was keeping quiet, as he was confused by her reaction as well. ¡°Not now Jana-Sorry, whelps. Hold on, I need some happy thoughts.¡± She declared. A moment later she reached into a small, scale-colored pouch on her hind leg and pulled out the sun flower belt. None of them could recall ever hearing her speak that way. ¡°Den Mother?¡± Greenie asked, surprised by the use of her name. Blood Claw sat with a thud, and wrapped the belt around her wrist. A moment later it clicked closed, granting her body a soft golden glow. ¡°Oh, pretty¡­¡± Greenie stated, eying the belt(bracelet). The males seem to find it less eye pleasing, but none of them were dumb enough to say so. So much for guidance, Darin mused. Realizing he¡¯d not eaten in a while he focused on the Dining Hall and took the first step. ¡°Hey runt, where the hell do you think you are going?¡± Red asked, blocking his way. His idiocy and strong opinions were starting to get annoying. The others simply watched, willing to enjoy the show without needing to risk anything themselves. ¡°I¡¯m going to get something to eat, then I¡¯m going to turn in a quest. After that, I need to go see the sky.¡± Darin stated, with a glance at the cave¡¯s ceiling. This causes a murmur amongst the others. When the larger whelp didn¡¯t budge, Darin decided to offer some incentive. ¡°If you really want to stand in my way, it¡¯s not like I can push you aside. But you can help me test my improved flames.¡± He could see the muscles in Red¡¯s right arm tense, preparing to swipe. Sure he¡¯s big but what an idiot, telling me his attack ahead of time. ¡°Learn your place freak. I¡¯ll see the sky long before you do. I¡¯ll help you understand why. I¡¯ll show you what a true dragon looks like.¡± Red growled. A moment later he swung his claw, his muscles were huge but his speed was a joke. For Darin it seemed effortless to dodge. But he¡¯d seen Shadow¡¯s battle and knew this was child¡¯s play. He was getting ready to strike back, when Blood Claw spoke. ¡°Enough of this pathetic play fighting. You, go see Greed before he bites you in half. You can see your sky, after the trials¡­if you do well.¡± She ordered Darin, reminding him of the late penalty. ¡°And you.¡± She turned to face the other whelp. ¡°You call that an attack? Even the black one¡¯s tail whips are less predictable than that. Did you forget that you where challenging an opponent that can dodge? Or one that can fight back for that matter? Do you honestly plan to fight like that?¡± As Darin headed off down the hallway, he could still hear the Den Mother criticizing Scorch¡¯s poor performance. He couldn¡¯t help but snicker a bit on the inside. A few minutes later, Darin found himself at the door to Greed¡¯s lair. Much to his displeasure, the door was closed. He tried the door handle, but found it too high for him to reach. He flew up and grabbed it, but lacked the traction to turn it far. Knocking with the bottom of his claws, made too little noise. ¡°Stupid door.¡± He grumbled. As no other dragons were around, he went ahead and tried flying body slam.
Crash: A solid door has dealt you 2 damage. You have dealt 0 damage to a solid door.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Stupid, damned door. Are you in there Greed?¡± He called out, but heard no reply for a few moments. In frustration, he reared back and struck the door as hard as he could with his beak. It produced a nice loud noise, as well as a pair system messages. The first window caused his hopes to soar, then the second helped them crash.
Racial ability unlocked: Mighty Peck ¡°A derivative of Crushing Bite, hurt your foe and your pride in one attack."
Attack: You deal 5 damage to a solid door, status inflicted Armor Break. A solid door has dealt you 0 damage. By magic, Greed has become aware of your actions. Greed does not like vandalism. Reputation with Greed decreased.
¡°Vandalism? But all I was trying to do was knock.¡± He grumbled, a glance at his character showed him that he¡¯d earned another point of Evil. He sighed. But so long as that was the worst of it, he¡¯d live with it. He sat by the wall and waited, trying not to notice the new dent in the door. A few moments later he heard the rumble of a storm from down the hall. As the rumbling rounded the corner, a tired and very angry looking Greed closed on him. ¡°Greed, I was just-¡± Darin managed to say. The black dragon leapt forward, one large claw slamming him into the floor with excessive force. Caught by surprise, his world started to fade to black.
Subdue, Critical hit: Greed has pinned you down for 75 damage, it is Fatal... Some of your equipment has been damaged. You have died. Your were killed by a faction NPC, faction relation decreased. You are now 00.00% of the way to your next level.
¡°Holy shit. I only have 16 HP max, and he hit me for 75?¡± Darin grumbled, ¡°I tried to knock and he killed me for it? If he¡¯s gone aggro on me, I can¡¯t turn in the quest¡­¡± As the mist receded, the three familiar tombstones came into view. This time Darin sat back on his haunches and thought it over. He hadn¡¯t had a good stiff drink in a while, maybe the aggro timer would wear off before the quest ran out. At this point, that sounded like the best option. He started to reach for ¡°Lounge¡± when a pop up message got in his way.
System Notification: Greed might have overreacted, a bit. Greed is fully awake now. Reputation with Greed has been restored to previous levels. Reputation with faction has been restored to previous levels. Reward offered by greed for your quest has been increased. Quest time limit has been increased. ¡­ Greed is afraid of what Blood Claw might do, if you don¡¯t come back soon.
Darin pulled his hand back from the tombstone and read the message. ¡°At least I can finish the quest.¡± He said with some relief. Realizing how panicked the black dragon must be right now, he decided to count to 100 in his head before respawning. Given that he¡¯d just killed his character, it only seemed fair to let him panic for a bit. He got up to 63 before another window appeared.
Quest: Get over here, now. Blood Claw would like to have a few words with Greed. But she needs you there to do so. She wants to sort out this damned mess. Greed will be unable to harm you during the quest. Completion condition: Respawn, speak with Blood Claw and speak with Greed. Reward: I¡¯ll figure that out later. Failure condition: Fail to complete the quest within 1 week. Penalty: Your relationship with both will be strained, Greed will need to do a lot to return to her good graces...
¡°So the first one was clearly from Greed. But the second sounds a lot more like her. Honestly, even for AI, what is with the NPCs here?¡± He asked. He accepted the quest and reached for the Respawn grave. When the mists blurred and were replaced with the Hatchery, it was only Darin and Blood Claw in the room. The others had already been sent off it seemed. She gave him an odd look, she seemed to be at a loss for words. ¡°Shall we then?¡± He asked. In response, she sucked in a deep breath. - - - - - Author¡¯s note: What an impish way to end a chapter. Bad author, bad. I think my dark sense of humor infected this chapter. Fear not folks, things have to get better¡­so they can get worse later. On a more serious note, I hope you enjoyed the read. Thank you to those who¡¯ve helped me find errors. And thank you to all those who¡¯ve been encouraging me with positive feedback! Chapter 17 - About time Darin was a bit nervous when Blood Claw inhaled. But when she exhaled, he found himself surrounded by a multi-colored mist. He was about to ask, when the system clued him in.
Rainbow Breath: Full HP has been restored. Full MP has been restored. +10 to all Base stats for 1 hour. +100 defense for 1 hour.
Darin opened his mouth to say something, when she cut him off. ¡°Not a word of this, to anyone. Are. We. Clear?¡± She asked. He gave her a sharp nod in reply. ¡°Good. That¡¯s a ¡®special circumstances¡¯ ability I use-Ahem, didn¡¯t just use.¡± ¡°So, we can¡¯t take a five minute detour to flamb¨¦ a certain red whelp?¡± He asked, in jest. Her jaw dropped for a moment, then she threw back her head and roared with laughter. ¡°No Darin, I think that might just give me away. A shame too, I do like the idea.¡± She replied, causing him to laugh. It was amazing, how much a little laughter could turn around one¡¯s day. ¡°Shall we go torment Greed?¡± ¡°What have you got in mind?¡± He asked. He already had, but he wasn¡¯t going to admit it aloud. Besides, he was curious. Her devious expression promised something good. ¡°Well you act a bit hurt and distrustful. Not too much mind you, but just a bit since he did kill you.¡± She began. That shouldn¡¯t be too hard about now¡­ ¡°And I¡¯ll make it sound, like you only came back in because of my request- err quest.¡± ¡°To his shop then, the timer keeps ticking.¡± Darin said, focusing on Greed¡¯s Lair and sensing the way. I may never get tired of Knowing my way to places, he mused. On the way he schooled his expression back to a mask of caution. Blood Claw soon took the lead, a deep scowl masking her mirth. It wasn¡¯t a long trip, but the few dragons they passed made no attempt to chat. Before the final corner, she drew in a deep breath and got ready to offer her best growl. She stormed around the corner in a huff, then slowed to a stop a few paces later. Darin peered around her, playing at caution, and froze in his tracks. There in the hall, all sad and droopy, sat Greed. His eyes were fixed on the chalk outline, across the hall from his door. The 2D representation of a whelp smashed flat, seemed eerily accurate this time. Greed saw Blood Claw first, causing him to droop even more. When he spotted Darin, he cringed and tried to hide his face under his claw. ¡°Damn it, Greed.¡± She huffed out. In response, he tried to shrink away further. ¡°I was all set to come over here and scold you good and proper. But no, by the time I get here you already look like a guilty puppy.¡± That one made him cringe. Even Darin was starting to feel bad for him. He opened his mouth, but she spoke first. ¡°First you take away my chance to scold you. You go and accidentally kill a whelp, and what¡¯s worse? You don¡¯t even kill the right one. You really don¡¯t let me have any fun, do you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to hurt him it- wait, what?¡± Greed asked, with a puzzled look on his face. When the others stated laughing, he sighed and shook his head. A moment later, he¡¯d recovered and decided to play along. ¡°Oh, so sorry dear. Which one was a supposed to smash?¡± He asked, doing his best to look serious. ¡°The red one.¡± Darin called out. ¡°One of the annoying ones.¡± She suggested at the same time. They looked at each other a moment, then all started laughing. With their tensions released, things felt more normal again. Once they¡¯d regained enough of the composure, Blood Claw glanced at the door. ¡°Shall we go inside? Or should I peck the door to get your attention?¡± She asked. Both of them groaned. ¡°Who pecks a door, really?¡± Greed asked aloud. A sideways look from the dragoness shut him up. Remembering his own precarious situation, he made haste to open the door. ¡°Someone who can¡¯t knock loud enough or reach the handle¡­¡± Darin muttered. With everything sized for the modern adult dragons, he was begging to feel like a Lilliputian. The AIs did their best not to hear him, as they all entered the shop. Once inside, they got more comfortable, stepping out of their roles. ¡°Darin, I¡¯m sorry for well¡­stomping on you.¡± Greed began, doing his best not to cringe. ¡°I was doing what I always do. I pounce on trouble makers and pin them down. That way I can get to the truth, without needing to chase them down. But reflex¡­doesn¡¯t scale very well.¡± ¡°Size matters.¡± Blood Claw chided him, doing her best not to snicker. Darin couldn¡¯t help but groan. ¡°Crits matter too.¡± Greed grumbled. ¡°That was supposed to be a zero damage stun attack. It has a -100 damage modifier on it. I didn¡¯t even know it could go Critical.¡± As he spoke, she brought up a window and was typing into it. When it went away, Darin was surprised that he didn¡¯t see any notification. ¡°Bug report submitted, before anyone else gets hugged to death. Oh, don¡¯t mind me boys.¡± She explained with a shrug. Darin sighed. ¡°Apology accepted Greed. And sorry about well, armor breaking your door and denting it.¡± He began. ¡°And I had no idea I get a killer peck attack. Talk about a strange racial bonus.¡± He mumbled out the last part. The other¡¯s just shook their heads in quiet understanding. ¡°At least you¡¯ll never die by flying into a window.¡± The dragoness suggested. Her joke, fell rather short of the mark. Seeing the puzzled expression on Darin¡¯s character, Greed decided to fill the silence. ¡°Sweetie, did you happen to glance at which colony he grew up in?¡± He asked. She gave him a blank look, before furrowing her brow. When she didn¡¯t come up with an answer, he filled her in. ¡°One of the War Forge stations.¡± He hinted, and waited. After a few moments she shrugged, causing him to sigh again. ¡°They took in processed materials and made ships parts. Cut and dry survival, no perks, no amenities. No pets, no parks¡­no birds.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Oh,¡± she began, ¡°wait then¡­Oh. You know, you could have just said he didn¡¯t get it. But oh, to see his face when he sees his first flock.¡± ¡°Right. So, um quests?¡± Greed said, changing the topic to something less awkward. He hoped. He¡¯s more analytical, definitely a fit for the shop keeper role. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± She said clicking her claws together. She brought up a window and typed in a few lines. It disappeared from sight, only to have another open in front of Darin.
Quest Complete: Get over here, now. The mess seems to be sorted out now. Accidents flatten- err, happen. Reward: We will answer questions for a little while.
Darin gave her a sidelong glare, then dismissed the completion notice. There was something dark and impish about her sense of humor. That aside, he carefully took off his bandoleer(amulet) and offered it over to Greed. ¡°Sorry it got damaged a bit. Some crazy dragon jumped me outside your door.¡± He explained, rubbing salt in the wound while he had a chance. Greed groaned and did his best rendition of a face-palm, before accepting the amulet. ¡°We know how much you hate it when your merchandise gets damaged.¡± She reminded him, doing her best to look innocent again. He gave her dirty looks, but returned his attention to the quest window he was working in. He stopped part way though to properly ¡®identify¡¯ Darin. The first few seconds seemed normal enough. It got weird after six seconds, and downright awkward after ten. ¡°About those questions.¡± Darin suggested, turning to look at Blood Claw. ¡°Oh yes, I¡¯ll answer those that I can. Within reason of course. But I¡¯m sure you-¡± She told him. ¡°Really?¡± Greed asked, interrupting them. Both heads swung around towards him. ¡°This isn¡¯t just some bad joke Muse created. It¡¯s true, he really is a Primal Dragon.¡± He said with a forced laugh. ¡°I didn¡¯t take the news much better.¡± Blood Claw admitted. She paused to give Darin an apologetic look. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± She told him, as if that helped. ¡°We¡¯ve had thousands of years, of surviving by the strength of our claws. Where bigger means stronger, and stronger means being better able to fight. Our kin scattered across the lands, seeking new ways to survive. Some even turned their back on the Mother. It wasn¡¯t until the clans brought peace-¡± Greed stopped when he noticed the odd look Darin was giving him. ¡°Oh, right. I¡¯ll stay on topic this time. Dragons evolved, we diversified, and we splintered into subspecies. Each type competing with the others, or cross breeding where they found love or admirable traits.¡± ¡°Ahem. And?¡± Darin asked. ¡°We always knew we¡¯d lost something, well lost a lot of things. We held up our ideals of the perfect dragons, the first born of our kind. We passed down legends, of how they controlled a huge swath of land. Stories of how they could enemies into embers, leaving only a mound of ash behind. From generation to generation, there where tales of hunting beasts of enormous size. Of claiming trophies from the very heart of a volcano. How they could cave caverns from stone with their flames. And how the bent the very lands to their will, shaping it as far as the eye could see. They could gather their magic without fire and weave it into spells. They-¡± Greed continued to ramble, getting more and more excited about the ancient legends his character was raised on. ¡°They used songs.¡± Darin corrected him. Both dragons twitched at hearing the word, but stopped to stare. Still touchy after the Hydra I see. ¡°Gathering their magic without fire, weaving it into spells? They worked in harmony with each other. They sang their magic to the Mother. The rest of it isn¡¯t really wrong either, well a bit misconstrued, but not wrong.¡± ¡°But, but, you were supposed to be HUGE. Lords, of the very sky¡­¡± Greed complained, it sounded more like a whimper. Blood Claw nodded her agreement and sighed. Disheartened, Greed returned his attention to the quest window. While they watched, he sighed and grabbed a wrapped package off a shelf. When he tapped it against the quest window the package glowed for a few seconds and squirmed in his hand. Once satisfied, he closed the window and tossed the item to Darin.
Quest Complete: A shattered Shell of Hope, part III. Relationship with Greed has improved, you are now considered to be ¡°On good terms.¡± Despite crushing Greed¡¯s childhood dreams of someday meeting a massive ancient dragon, you really are a Primal Dragon. By knowing your own nature, you can now carve your own path. ... Reward: Personal bag. It will always fit you, should you ever stop being a midget.
¡°Are you ever going to let me live that down?¡± Darin asked, as he cleared the message. His eyes drifted to the package he was holding. Finally, I can have a real inventory¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s note: More tired than I want to admit. I may be away part of the weekend, which could mess up my posting schedule. I hope you guys like the chapter. If you didn¡¯t¡­I better start editing. As always, thank you for all the positive feedback. It has been really encouraging to see my reads, follows, favorites and reviews grow steadily over the last few weeks! Chapter 18 - Doggy Bag Darin opened his reward package, eager to equip his near gear. He¡¯d expected some kind of backpack, or a leg pouch like the adults used. In truth, it looked more like the love child of bondage gear and a utility belt for a dog. His excitement, died on the spot. A few moments later he managed to mumble, ¡°identify.¡±
{Personal}{Unbreakable}{Unique}Pet Cargo Pack. Slot: Torso Restrictions: All medium sized pets, or Primal Dragons. Weight: 5 stones Effects: Creates an accessible inventory your pet(or you) can wear. Grants +15 stones to max carry weight. Contains a separate coin pouch. All stowed items weigh 50% less. Stowed coins have no weight. Special: Soul-bound. Reduced item drop on death. "It was the best I could provide you, at least I didn¡¯t start with the pink one."
¡°Thank you.¡± He managed to say, after letting out a rather long sigh. Rather then trying to figure out how to slip into it, he opened his inventory and slapped it into his bandoleer slot. It wasn¡¯t great for immersion, but it saved him trying to figure out how to put it on. Blood Claw gave Greed a rather questioning look, to which he shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a backpack he can wear, and he really needs one.¡± Greed pleaded, trying to defend his handiwork. The dragoness looked at him in disbelief. Well, I do really need a pack. And the stats are nice, but still, Darin pondered. ¡°Oh, then what shall we give him for his next quest?¡± She asked, with a false sweetness in her voice. ¡°Perhaps a dragoness in high heels, with a fondness of whips. Maybe a unique beak shaped ball gag.¡± She suggested, her voice full of sarcasm. Even Darin cringed when he heard that. Greed seemed to go pale for a moment, not an easy task for a black scaled dragon. ¡°I. I, uh¡­had not considered that.¡± He stated in a rather shaken tone. ¡°Oh right, I promised an improved reward. Ahem. For returning to complete your quest so quickly.¡± He opened a system window, pointed at the bondage-baggy and started typing. A minute or so later, he looked satisfied and saved his work. The pack dissolved into mist and reformed in its new shape, a much more humble looking contraption. A belt above Darin¡¯s hips held a moderate sized pack on his lower back, along with two small pouches on the front. Across his torso, there was a single diagonal strip, connecting belt to shoulder and back again. There were no pouches along the sash section, but there were mounting points, which was interesting. ¡°That looks a bit better dear, what did you do?¡± Blood Claw asked. Not waiting for an answer, she examined the item herself. ¡°Interesting, very creative. It¡¯s not as nice for now, but that will be quite handy in time. If nothing else, it doesn¡¯t look nearly as kinky.¡± She purred. ¡°Not as nice for now? But it looks a lot better, okay wait. Identify.¡± Darin mumbled, starting to grow concerned.
{Personal}{Unbreakable}{Unique}Primal Backpack. Slot: Torso (Bandoleer and Belt) Restrictions: Primal Dragons. Weight: 5 stones Effects: Functions as a backpack, coin purse and inventory. Grants 5 + (LEVEL / 10) stones to max carry weight. Includes a coin pouch. Stowed items weigh 50% less. Stowed coins have no weight. Grants +1 Defense. Special: Soul-bound. Reduced item drop on death. Pack can be modified by user, scope of modifications are limited by the user¡¯s level. "Given by Greed at Level 2, after you earned his respect."
Both AIs watched him as he examined the new equipment, and changed the color to an off-white. It was about the only change he could make at his current level. The loss of +10 max weight hurt. It would have almost doubled his capacity. ¡°Well, it looks better.¡± He said, earning a sign of relief from the merchant. ¡°Don¡¯t fret about the carry difference, you¡¯ll get it back in time and more.¡± Greed stated, sounding quite proud of his work. Well, better he takes pride in this version. The dragoness seemed to agree with him. ¡°I guess so. If I ever reach level 100. It¡¯s taken me days to even reach level 2.¡± Darin grumbled. ¡°Got better plans for the next few hundred years?¡± Blood Claw asked, while raising the ridge over her right eye. He spent the next next several seconds in shock, his beak hanging wide open. She chuckled at his surprise, while he recovered. ¡°No. As long as I don¡¯t work another shift top-side, or get tired of ¡®Dreams¡¯ and go elsewhere. I expect that I¡¯ll be playing for quite a while.¡± He agreed. ¡°Your new pack has other perks too.¡± Greed reminded him. ¡°The point of Defense, or the ability to change it¡¯s color?¡± ¡°It has a lot more than that.¡± Greed declared, he almost sounded offended. ¡°The scope of modifications increases with your level. In time you¡¯ll be able to add to it, increasing carry weight. Or maybe you¡¯ll upgrade the stat bonuses. Sure, at level 2 you can change the color. But a few years from now, you might be very glad you got that pack. Besides, it will never break, wear out, be outgrown or out dated.¡± He really was a merchant at heart. ¡°In other words, shut up and say thanks.¡± Blood Claw suggested, being rather blunt. ¡°Oh, right. Greed, thank you for the gift. I expect to get a lot of use out of it.¡± He said, careful to keep his tone formal. The shop keeper nodded in response. ¡°You had other questions?¡± The dragoness asked. Darin thought back to the visions he¡¯d seen, and the questions that lingered. ¡°Can you teach me where the mouth of the cave is?¡± He asked with a long sigh. ¡°I need to see what¡¯s become of the world I knew.¡± He explained. His mentors looked at each other a moment, trying to decide where to even begin. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°We can, but not quite yet. Can you tell me what you meant when you said the ¡®world you knew¡¯ ?¡± Greed asked. There was an odd note of tension in his voice. ¡°I spent a lot of time there, maybe days. His memories were so clear, it felt like I was living in them.¡± Darin explained. He could see concern and confusion growing on their faces. ¡°Is that a bad thing?¡± ¡°No. Not really, it¡¯s just very unusual. The less pure a dragon¡¯s blood line is, and the further from the Mother they are¡­the simpler their ancestor¡¯s memories. Well a lot of players also min/max away their mental stats, which cuts into their magical nature.¡± Blood Claw explained. ¡°And he¡¯s a premium player. Thus allowed a few extra perks, so long as there are minimal effects to game balance.¡± Greed added. ¡°So with all that, you actually lived through a few bits of their memories?¡± ¡°Well, yes. I thought that was normal, but I guess that¡¯s why everyone wondered where I was.¡± Darin stated. The other¡¯s just nodded in response. ¡°So, why can¡¯t you let me go outside yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡± Greed stated. ¡°You have a lot to learn first, and then you can take the trials.¡± Blood Claw told him. He started to ask something, when she cut him off. ¡°Let me just get through this without interruption, please. Save any questions for the end.¡± She paused, and he nodded his agreement. ¡°Good. The trials are to prove yourself and earn a name. If you get enough points in your trials, you will be permitted outside to hunt in the sheltered valley. From there, you will be able to practice your skills and grow. Once you feel confident, you can retake the trials the next time they are offered. If you pass with enough points, you are granted the right to travel. You can pass through the main exit to explore, or be sent to a common starter town by teleportation. Okay, questions?¡± ¡°Okay, what do I need to know in order to pass these trials?¡± Darin asked. They looked at him a moment, collecting their thoughts before answering. ¡°In essence, how to be a dragon. How to fly, or at least glide, how to hunt, how to breathe fire or what have ye. In truth, you are proving to the elders that you can take care of yourself in the wider world. If you are too stupid to figure out the basics, then you¡¯d probably die of stupidity in the wilds. Doing so would bring shame to the Mother. The elders aren¡¯t very happy when that happens. And yes,¡± Greed paused to grumble, ¡°that has happened.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll also be tested, to see what you know. Which will also test your integrity. It¡¯s better to admit ignorance, than to be caught in a lie. And while you are being tested, it is important to realize there may be more than one solution to any given challenge. The more impressive your solution, the more points you will earn.¡± Blood Claw added. ¡°Well, unless he gets fancy and screws up.¡± ¡°Well, yes. There is always that option too.¡± ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence, really.¡± Darin grumbled. Greed shrugged, while she just laughed. ¡°So when do these trials occur? I¡¯m not going to have to wait for a full moon or a solstice, am I?¡± ¡°No, of course not. No one would play a dragon with rules like that. Trials are the first day of each week, about an hour after normal downtime ends.¡± She explained, once she stopped laughing. ¡°Down time? The server is running live, on cores. Why would you need a downtime?¡± ¡°Oh you know. Bug fixes, patches, new content generation, rule updates, remediation, spawn clean-up and trouble shooting. All of those are great excuses for why we have downtime.¡± Greed was happy to explain. ¡°Excuses?¡± Darin asked, puzzled by the honest answer. Blood Claw sent Greed a dirty look. ¡°The unofficial answer is for the players. Once a week, you have to spend time back in your ¡®real¡¯ bio-forms, so that you don¡¯t forget how to use them properly. The neural interface helps to translate motion and actions. But the more adept you get as using this body, the less that interface actually does. Stay in that form for the next 300 years without a refresher, then wake up in an emergency to repair the ship. What do you think would happen?¡± Blood Claw asked. Darin thought about it for a moment and cringed. In response both AIs nodded. ¡°I¡¯d fumble around, or try to run around on all fours. If I didn¡¯t reflexively try to Fly to where I needed to fix things. Then my hand-eye coordination would be terrible, so I¡¯d botch the repairs or take too long.¡± He replied. The more he thought about it, the more the concept of forgetting your own body horrified him. ¡°That¡¯s the same reason that Dreams only allows players to play the gender logged in their ship¡¯s file. The plumbing really is different, and all the studies so far, well¡­it gets messy. Ergo, be what you want to be, love who you want to love and do what you want to do. Within the constraints of a gender lock. If you don¡¯t like it, good luck finding another server.¡± Greed explained. Darin recalled seeing something about that in the EULA, but as he hadn¡¯t had a heavy say in his character creation, he¡¯d never checked. At least Muse hadn¡¯t screwed with that for fun, but maybe the game wouldn¡¯t let her. Small favors, right? ¡°So when is the next downtime?¡± He asked, wondering how much time he had to prepare. Maybe I can check the forums for tips and- ¡°Tomorrow morning.¡± Greed replied. ¡°So you¡¯d better go eat and sleep, or you¡¯ll miss social hour. And no, you aren¡¯t allowed to sleep through downtime. EULA will make sure you can¡¯t play until you¡¯ve spent time in your virtual ¡®real¡¯ body.¡± He warned. ¡°Tomorrow, but how will I prepare?¡± He asked. ¡°It¡¯s already after dark. All you can do now, is go get some sleep.¡± She informed him. Darin tried to protest, only to be shooed out of the shop. And there to greet him, across the hall, was his own chalk outline. - - - - - Author¡¯s note: Trying a different browser, due to posting troubles. Story is moving forward, I hope this wasn¡¯t too slow for you. I couldn¡¯t resist ending on a slightly impish note again. Twisted sense of humor, what can I say? I crossed the 500 views per page line today, which I think is awesome. I know I don¡¯t have a flashy title, an OP MC and a glamorous plot. So I¡¯m doing what I can, to keep my writing quality up. Again, thank you all for all the positive feedback and encouragement. It really does make it easier to write, when I know people are reading and enjoying it. Chapter 19 - Lounge Lizard The next morning, Darin got his first introduction to the lounge. He¡¯d envisioned a bar, drinks, seating and maybe some music. He hadn¡¯t really realized what was needed to keep a quarter million people happy and occupied for hours. How it started, was not at all like he expected. There he was, in his glorious splendor as a level 2 whelp. A notification warned of the system downtime, and created an accompanying timer. At 30 seconds, no new combat could be initiated. At 20 seconds, all fighting had ceased and players could not change areas. By 10 seconds the NPCs had all frozen, though Greed still winked at him. And in the last few seconds, Darin himself was unable to move. A bright white light enveloped him and when it cleared, he found himself laying in his back in a fake stasis unit. He could tell it was fake, as he¡¯d just gotten into the real one less than a week ago. The fact that he wasn¡¯t vigorously emptying all the nano-gel from his lungs, confirmed he was still virtual. After the hardware was done tilting him upright, the transparent lid slid away allowing him to step free. A simple plaque on the opposite wall welcomed him to the lounge. Below it a count down informed him the server would be down for 3 hours, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. Oh, joy. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll take a look around.¡± He announced. Given that there was only one exit, it seemed a pretty simple choice. Much to his relief, walking came naturally and he didn¡¯t miss when he reached for the button to open the door. Beyond it was a 30 foot long hallway, with walls of metal so shiny that they made perfect mirrors. Darin paused to look himself over, not from vanity but from curiosity. He looked exactly as he had when he got into the bio-stasis unit, stubble and all. ¡°Interesting. I guess they want to make sure we don¡¯t forget who we really are.¡± He pondered aloud, taking a moment to run his fingers over the stubble. ¡°Would you prefer to appear without the stubble?¡± A disembodied voice inquired. He thought for a moment, and declined. He wasn¡¯t here to find the love of his life, he had no illusions of that happening. Especially not when he expected to live another several hundred years, before even having the option of starting a family. How many couples would be complete strangers, by the time they arrived at a new home? The worst he had to worry about was an estranged sister, no real loss in his books. The other end of the mirrored hall opened into an elevator. Once he entered, the door closed behind him. A few taps on the interface terminal and he was stunned at the extensive list of options. ¡°If they can offer over 10,000 types of game rooms, are they really using the Cores on updating the game?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes. But up to 10% of the Cores are used to keep the players occupied and happy. And because the simulations are typically shared between multiple users, we are able to save on overhead. Mainly by reusing bits of stimuli and sensation.¡± Replied the same phantom voice as before. He jumped in surprise, then chided himself. If the voice was in one section it was likely to be in all of them. ¡°Interesting. And if I were to get something to eat, you would simulate real food textures and flavors?¡± ¡°The level of realism would depend upon the quality of the item you purchased. Quality varies from decorative, up to full realism. To preempt your next question, items in the lounge are purchased with credits. You get 10 credits upon character creation and 1 per subscription Core each game day. You currently have 40 credits.¡± It explained. ¡°Credits can only be used in the lounge?¡± Darin asked, checking for odd clauses. ¡°Correct, though there is a store in the lounge which will sell minor In Game boosters, for rather high prices. Would you like to visit the store?¡± ¡°No. Take me somewhere I can get food and drink. I¡¯ve had a rather limited dietary selections these last few days. I could use a treat.¡± He replied. The elevator hummed and the lights on the sides simulated movement. When the door opened, he saw around 40 people milling about a small cafe. Instead of a waiting staff, there were vending machines against the far wall. He was curious to see what they had, but he already knew he didn¡¯t want steak, potatoes or hot chocolate. No one gave him more than a casual glance, until he stopped in front of gold plated vending machine. The old joke being, that good food was worth it¡¯s weight on gold. A few minutes later, and many credits lighter he was sitting down with his bounty. ¡°Ah, so good.¡± Darin murmured, after biting a slice of gourmet 5 cheese pizza. Warm cheese, rich sauce, and a deep dish crust. It tasted like paradise after a few days of living as a dragon. There were probably good meals to be found somewhere in game, but he hadn¡¯t come across them yet. Sure, he¡¯d found steak fast enough. But eating five pounds of steak in a sitting, with no seasonings or condiments tended to dull the experience. ¡°Sucks being a carnivore.¡± He told himself, before taking a long draw of good beer from a permanently frosty mug. ¡°Pardon?¡± Asked an older man hovering around his table, drawn in by the smell. Darin looked up suddenly, and realized he had drawn a crowd. Looking down at his table, he realized that with a pizza, a cheesecake and a pitcher of beer¡­the seasoned fries might just have been overkill. ¡°Oh. Thinking aloud, sorry.¡± He apologized, but the man didn¡¯t move away and the silence grew awkward. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± He asked, a few moments later. ¡°Well, most people don¡¯t order that much food for just themselves. But you don¡¯t seem to be waiting on anyone. Food only lasts so long on timers, but everyone nearby smells it. So either you are very hungry, very sadistic, or very new¡­¡± He explained. ¡°Ah sorry about that. Very new, I just got back in from top side and started playing. Very hungry too, I wound up with some dietary restrictions and not a lot of choices have opened up yet.¡± ¡°Well if you¡¯re going to eat all of that.¡± The man said gesturing to his feast. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you be, but I know you can¡¯t order just a slice of the high end stuff.¡± He waited for Darin to nod. ¡°That¡¯s why most folks shop around and buy as a group, or see if others are interested and resell portions at part of the cost.¡± ¡°Interesting. Which means¡­I just broke social rules right from the start.¡± Darin said, earning him a few laughs. ¡°Well if you¡¯re interested, then pull up a chair. I¡¯m willing to part with the other slices of pizza at a fair price each, especially if you¡¯ll tell me more about the game. The beer is mine though.¡± He added with a grin. ¡°And the cheesecake?¡± Asked an older lady with warm eyes and a few gray hairs. ¡°As long as I get to try a slice, before the rest gets sold off. I can live with that. Especially if I got to learn more about the game world.¡± He told her in good spirits. Much to his surprise, several chairs were scraped across the floor to his now packed table. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Call me Fred. And that lovely lady there, getting ready to kill for a slice of premium cheesecake, is my wife Jane. We play a pair of Dwarfs, down in the under city of Blue End. If you ever get down our way, I can cut you a fair deal on ores.¡± While Fred talked, he and the others seemed to be tapping on the table rather than reaching for the food. ¡°I¡¯m Darin, and I have no idea if I¡¯ll ever get down to Blue End.¡± He told them, they looked shocked for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m a Dragon, only a little whelp if truth be told. So it may be some while before they even let me out of the nest. And then I¡¯ll have to explore of visit a neutral starter town, before I can ever think of finding other cities.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. No wonder you¡¯ve never heard of it then. But if you¡¯re in the far south, it¡¯s a pretty big trade hub.¡± Fred replied. Once he finished typing on the table, a trade window displayed on the table top for Darin. To his surprise, several more followed. He read a few of them over, agreeing one by one until he got to Jane¡¯s. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re offering 4 credits for the entire cheesecake?¡± Darin asked, expecting she made a mistake. ¡°Can you blame a gal for trying?¡± She asked with a shameless grin. Darin was about to reply when her husband beat him to it. ¡°Yes! I swear, you¡¯ve been playing a shop keeper too long, woman.¡± Fred grumbled. For the next several minutes, Darin ate fries and sipped beer. All the while, Fred and Jane continued to prove they could bicker like an old married couple. If they were this good at it now, he really didn¡¯t know what to expect down the line. Once they¡¯d had a few hundred extra years to practice, that is. While they bickered, he continued to trade off spare food and even stopped to make Jane a counter offer. When it showed up, she stopped mid insult to read the trade window. Fred waited, seeming more amused than angry, with his wife¡¯s sudden shift in focus. ¡°You drive a Hard bargain.¡± She said a few moments later, looking at Darin. ¡°I drive a Fair bargain.¡± He replied with a wide grin. She laughed, accepted the deal. Wasting no time, she grabbed a fork and started in on dessert. ¡°That¡¯s one way to shut her up.¡± Fred teased. She stopped, fork half way to her mouth and glared for a moment. After a moment she huffed at him and took the bite, taking her time to savor it. ¡°You just wait Fred. This cheesecake has a timer, but you are a different story. I can tan your old goat hide any old day.¡± She threatened. Despite her harsh words, her eyes were twinkling with suppressed laughter. There was a lot of love between them, with a lot of play fighting for fun. I wonder what that¡¯s like. Noticing his expression change, Fred turned his attention back to his host. ¡°Got a lass of your own, or one you¡¯re waiting on?¡± Fred asked. When Darin sighed, he knew he¡¯d hit the right button at least. ¡°Mister sensitivity, as ever.¡± Jane muttered, causing her husband to shrug. ¡°Well, not exactly. I had something going, for a bit while I was topside. But that wasn¡¯t quite the same.¡± Darin admitted. ¡°Oh! A steamy affair in your real bodies? A romantic sneaking about while on duty? Or was it more of a tragic unrequited love?¡± Jane asked, quiet excited and eager now that the topic was dear to her heart. In the process she¡¯d managed to draw the attention of half the room. Great, one of those type of people. ¡°Couldn¡¯t contain yourself a bit, could ya?¡± Fred asked her. She had the good graces to blush and look away. ¡°Nothing like that really.¡± Darin began. ¡°Sara was another tech, but it wasn¡¯t romantic or anything of the sort.¡± That earned him a few odd looks, and a lot of silent questions. ¡°It was really a matter of convenience. There are few people topside. I was there, single and male. So after shift, she¡¯d drop by every few weeks for a night. We both needed the company and any stress relief didn¡¯t hurt after 12 hour days.¡± ¡°Not buying that one.¡± Jane declared. ¡°There are several hundred people topside at any give time. Don¡¯t pull a ¡®so lonely¡¯ line on me lad. I wasn¡¯t born yesterday.¡± ¡°How about I put it in perspective. You said Blue End is a major trade hub, right?¡± Darin asked. Those near him nodded. ¡°So if you took Blue End for size scale, you¡¯d probably need to include a mile around it.¡± He explained, trying to get them to visualize something the size of the Long Shot. ¡°And?¡± ¡°Now strip out all the NPCs that can talk or give quests. Get rid of any animals, because they¡¯d just take up life support. Pull out the mobs, because they wouldn¡¯t apply.¡± He instructed, painting a bleak picture. ¡°Now, limit the player population in that whole area to about a thousand. Then shuffle them around the area, so that they can tend to the different things, like crops and stores.¡± ¡°That would be a bloody ghost town, we¡¯d barely ever run into one another.¡± Fred commented, looking a bit pale. The others seemed to dislike the idea as well. ¡°I spent two years topside. I can tell you that yes, it really is as bleak as it sounds. And yes Jane, under those conditions, I really didn¡¯t care how she treated social interactions.¡± The conversations drifted on, to more pleasant game related topics, and continued long after the food was gone. By the time the server reopened, his contacts list had two new additions. Much to his chagrin, he had to return to his fake pod in order to return to the game. It had been nice to interact with people, real people, for a change. As the fake pod sealed and began to tilt back, one final thought crossed his mind. ¡°Oh Shit, I forgot to research the trials!¡± - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: Trouble posting again. Thanks for the feedback and encouragement!
Not sure why. If I get close to 2000 words or go past it, I end up spending 15 minutes just to get it to post. *sighs* Chapter 20 - Trial time Returning to the game, Darin found himself back in the Hatchery. There were less players present, but the rest showed up as the minutes passed. A few of the young dragons tried to make conversation, but their attempts never made it past a few words. A few wings were flapped, or claws scratched, while others simply sat or paced. All in all, there were a half dozen of them awaiting their trials. The minutes dragged on, but no one dared to leave the room. There was a mix of relief and terror, when Blood Claw showed her face at last. ¡°I see all the nameless have gathered on time. Good. Before we begin, are there any who do not wish to take the trials?¡± She asked. At once the room was silent, not a tail flicked nor a wing flapped. ¡°Then follow me young ones, prove yourself before the elders. Earn yourself a name, and make the Mother proud.¡± She told them, before turning about. The massive red whelp was the first to follow her, with the others behind him in a solemn line. There was no cutting in line or pushing others aside, there was no horseplay at all. Everyone knew that if they made a poor showing of themselves now, it could be held against them. After a few minutes of walking, they entered a spacious room with a lower section by the far wall. Blood Claw led them well into the room, then stopped half way and pointed to the far back. Darin was puzzled at first, but Red seemed to know the routine and walked all the way to the back. Like a good little row of ducklings they followed, before lining up along the far wall. And there they waited, as a few more minutes passed. No one dared to speak, but even the dragoness was tapping her claws with impatience. When the elders did appear, they took their sweet time to enter the room and ready themselves. The elders had a presence of strength, and power. They carried with them hundreds of years of wisdom and experience. What they lacked, Darin realized, was showmanship. ¡°Oh ye, feeble hatchlings that have come before us.¡± The large, black scaled elder boomed out. ¡°You have drawn our attention and ire, and such is not-¡± He was cut off when the green scaled elder beside him elbowed him hard. ¡°Damn it, Dark Flame, that¡¯s the wrong speech.¡± The Green dragon chided him. ¡°What?¡± Dark Flame asked in surprise. Well, clearly they have their act together here. ¡°We are here to over see the Trials of Passage, not a Judgment of the Wayward.¡± He stated, showing traces of embarrassment as he looked out at the whelps. The blue dragoness with them offered only a wordless sound of agreement. ¡°Oh, bah. Fine then, you do it Vile Fang. Since you¡¯re so sure of yourself.¡± He replied, not bothering to hide the glare he was giving the green elder. ¡°If you insist then, I guess I shall.¡± Vile Fang replied, before taking a moment to gather his thoughts. As the silence dragged on, Blood Claw produced two fake coughs to cue him on. When that earned her only a curious look, she tried harder. ¡°Please, great elders. Would you proceed with the introduction, so that we may begin with the trials?¡± She asked, in her most diplomatic tone. It seemed she did not tolerate fools, and she especially hated to honor them. ¡°Nameless ones, hatchlings and whelps, we are all children of-¡± Vile Fang paused when he spotted Darin. ¡°Is that a midget?¡± He asked aloud. The look that Blood Claw shot him, caused cringe before he got back to his speech. But by then the damage was done, already the red whelp was snickering. ¡°I swear he¡¯s a bird that got lost, maybe-¡± Scorch began. ¡°Silence!¡± The Den Mother roared at him, before gesturing for the elder to continue. She took such rites very seriously, they were part of her job after all. Not a single whelp even dared to blink, until the elder spoke again. ¡°We are all, even the tiny ones, children of the Mother. You have come before us this day for opportunity to prove yourselves. Prove to us, that you carry the essence of a dragon. Prove to us, that the blessings of the Mother are strong in your veins. Prove to us, that you are worthy of a name. We shall lead you to the first area, and from there, your trials shall begin¡­¡± Vile Fang informed them. As the elders turned to leave the room, a notification appeared.
Quest: Trials of the Nameless. A dragon is not born with a name, they must earn one. Prove to the elders that you are worthy of a name, and a name you shall be granted. Completion condition: Earn enough respect points from the elders to pass the trials. Possible Rewards: A name, additional rights, the right to travel, being upgraded from whelp to dragon. Failure condition: Fail to earn enough points or quit. Penalty: Loss of respect. You will be stuck in the cave until you are able to pass the trials.
Darin accepted the quest without a word, he noticed that several of the other whelps did as well. Spikey and the Wyvern however, did not get a quest message. After the elders filed out of the room. Blood Claw followed, leading the whelps behind her. This march was just as quiet as the other, yet the mood was not quiet so solemn this time. When they entered the next room, Darin could only ponder at it¡¯s function. It¡¯s only abnormal trait was a large circular ring carved into the floor. There were markings and inscriptions carved around it, yet even as he stared they did not translate to words. ¡°We have brought you here, so that you may tell us of your ancestry and have it recorded in memory.¡± The blue elder told them. Some of the others did not seem surprised, but to Darin this was news. ¡°Den Mother, if you would honor us and send the first of the young forward?¡± He requested. Scorch, as Darin liked to think of the red whelp, was the first to enter the circle. One of the elders spoke a few strange words and the ring began to glow with a faint white light. ¡°Tell us of your parents, so that we may know you, and perhaps even identify them.¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°My father was a mighty and powerful red dragon. Perhaps even of the fire clan.¡± Scorch began. As he spoke, the rings recorded different symbols in different colors. ¡°My mother was a green dragoness that he claimed, he was impressed with her skill in battle and wanted her as his own.¡± He stated, tossing a glance at Greenie. ¡°Thank you, your words have been recorded.¡± Dark Flame informed him. Blood Claw and the elders maintained a professional mask of indifference as he stepped out of the circle. The markings shimmered and reset themselves, before the blue whelp entered the ring. The blue whelp spoke for a few minutes, in praise of their parents, but said very little in truth. The first surprise did not occur until the gray wyvern entered the ring. ¡°My ancestors diverged quite far from the common line, as is shown by my form.¡± He paused to highlight his twin tails and bird like arm-wings. ¡°As my blood is thin, I know very little of my parents, except that they must be like me.¡± With that he bowed his head respectfully and walked out of the magic ring. They thanked him as before, but Darin noticed far fewer colors and symbols in the patterns they recorded. One of the elders actually sighed as Darin entered the ring. ¡°This should be good.¡± Scorch mutter. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to hear this story.¡± Said the blue whelp. ¡°He¡¯s probably too thin blooded to remember anything.¡± Spikey suggested. The others were wise enough, or kind enough to keep silent. Blood Claw sent them an odd look, but returned her attention to the circle and the small dragon there in. ¡°Just tell us what you can of your parents, little one.¡± Dark Flame asked in a polite voice. Even if he didn¡¯t expect much, he still was keeping with the proper form. Darin nodded, took a breath and got ready to speak. In the back of his mind, he recalled the advice he was given. Better to speak the truth, even if it¡¯s that you know nothing. Lies are dishonorable, his mind paraphrased. The room had fallen silent, so he began. ¡°My father was given the name Shadow, for his ability to move in silence for the last stretch of the hunt. I believe the name referred to being ¡®as silent as a shadow¡¯ when he needed to be. He was well larger than me, but still small by the standards of those in this room. He evolved with refined iron, granting him a shiny metals claws and a silver looking beak. Shadow was a skilled hunter, and a good warrior. It was how he met Ember, my mother. Compared to him, she did not grow much larger with time or evolution. But she did grow more powerful with her flames. She was swift like an arrow and agile enough to weave and turn. Once she evolved with flame amber, her fire breathe took on an amber tone. They sang to the mother with their people and-¡± ¡°Sang?¡± The red whelp asked incredulously. ¡°What sort of defective dragons sing?¡± His questions, as the others burst into chatter amid the rite. ¡°Silence!¡± Roared the blue elder, restoring order in a single command. Her eyes had never left the circle and her expression was perplexed. ¡°You said they sang?¡± She asked in a polite tone. ¡°Yes elder. All the dragons sang, together as one, at certain times. Each song was like a prayer to the Mother and related to the event at hand. Such as the planting of another great tree, to expand their forest. My memories of them end, as they stated they would sing their eggs into a deeper sleep. So that they might wake in better times.¡± He explained. ¡°Lullabies,¡± one of the whelps muttered, causing the others to snicker. ¡°Great there are more of them.¡± Spikey added, earning a glare from Blood Claw. The elders however, seemed to be taking him far more seriously. ¡°To wake in better times, you say?¡± Vile Fang asked, his eyes going over recordings of the circle. Darin noticed that the colors of the markings varied very little. There were only golds and green symbols, except for the odd hint of blue. Many of the others, had produced far more colorful displays. ¡°Yes elder Vile Fang. The third moon had perished and-¡± ¡°Idiot, there are only two moons in the sky.¡± Red declared, earning agreement from most of the whelps. Greenie however said not a single word, with her eyes still drawn to the markings. The elders all glared at the red whelp, causing him to fall silent for a while. ¡°The third moon had perished, and broken apart in the sky. All the dragons were frightened, and the mood was oppressive. They would barely talk or venture out to hunt in the forest, and then it happened.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± She asked. ¡°Some of the debris came down on the planet, and the Mother had to protect them in the caves.¡± He explained. ¡°Oh? And what was that like?¡± Dark flame asked, his voice now full of doubt and scorn. Darin took a break and sighed. ¡°Well, whelp?¡± ¡°It was like the very stars were falling from the sky¡­¡± He replied, in a hushed tone. As one, the adult dragons snapped their eyes to the last segment around the circle. And for a moment, the room had gone deathly quiet. - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: More fun to come in future chapters. Headaches suck, so I¡¯ll be brief. I hope you guys liked the chapter, I expect the pace to pickup a bit soon. Thank you all for the feedback, error spotting and encouragement. Chapter 21 - Trial by Fire ¡°How full of shit, can you get?¡± Asked the blue whelp, the first to break the silence. Which caused a flurry of laughter, and jeering amongst the whelps. ¡°Who the hell sees that much?¡± ¡°Man, he must have to compensate a lot¡­¡± ¡°His tales are as believable, as his flames are long. Only an idiot would get caught in -¡± ¡°Hey. It was a sneak attack, a sneak attack I tell you. He¡¯s a tricky little bastard.¡± Scorch defend himself. ¡°Either way, it¡¯s not nice to bully.¡± Greenie said, looking at the others. ¡°Ahem. Thank you whelp, your story has been recorded.¡± Vile Fang told him, having some trouble keeping his voice formal. They followed the same ritual as the rest, but all of the adult dragons seemed pained by something. Darin left the circle and resumed his place in line, while the remaining whelps went through the rite. Blood Claw unlike the elders, seemed angry and brooding. To her credit, she did her best to preform her role. ¡°We have heard and recorded your testimonies of ancestry.¡± She declared, her scolding gaze raked across the young. ¡°As well, we have heard many other words that had no place here. So I will remind you, that you may be judged by how you present yourself at ALL times during the trials. Not just,¡± she snarled out, ¡°when you yourself are being tested.¡± ¡°Blood Claw, your den mother, kindly warns you of the truth. Heed her words, young ones.¡± The blue elder stated in formal tones. When the other elders nodded in agreement, the room went quiet again. If dragons could sweat, a few of the whelps would have been standing in puddles in the silence that followed. Blood Claw sighed, and moved on to the next task at hand. ¡°The next stage of your trials, shall be the trial of-¡± She began. ¡°Fire.¡± Stated the elder named Dark Flame, cutting her off. She looked shocked and her jaw hung open for half a second. The red and black whelps, showed eyes wide in surprise. It seemed that this was not their first time taking the trials, but they dared not speak up yet. ¡°Pardon elder. But does not a different trial come next?¡± Blood Claw asked. She had been quick to regain her mental balance, but seemed a bit shaken by a change to the script. ¡°Yes, yes. Normally, we would have the trial of Lore next. But considering how long we¡¯ve been here already. I¡¯d prefer to move to the other trials for now. We will come back when the room is more properly¡­¡± The black scaled elder paused to consider his wording. ¡°More properly prepared, for the depth of such questions.¡± ¡°Honorable and patient Den Mother. Would you lead them to the room of Flames, and wait there for us? It may take us a few minutes, to get the recordings into the archivist¡¯s hands. As well, I believe a few other elders had interest in today¡¯s events. It might give them a better chance to¡­catch up.¡± He suggested. The others looked from him, to her and then to Darin. Oh hell, what now? ¡°Why yes dear Elders. I will lead them there, please take all the time you need.¡± She responded in a sweet, yet savage tone. ¡°You lot,¡± she snapped at the whelps, ¡°follow me. Now.¡± She commanded. And with that, she turned about and headed out the door. In short order, all six whelps followed her out. Some reacting and moving with more speed and dignity than the others. As he passed through the exit, Darin caught a small snippet of of rumbling as the elders murmured to one another. ¡°No, to deal with this we need-¡± Darin couldn¡¯t tell who had spoken, but he knew it was going to be a mess. Should I have played stupid, and said very little? Or was all this part of Muse¡¯s grand scheme? He wondered. The walk to the next room was quite, and quite nervous. If that wasn¡¯t bad enough, the gray wyvern was in front of him this time. Having one tail thrashing about was bad enough. But having two tails in front of you, which kept accidentally taking swipes at your head was just annoying. By the time they reached the room of Flames, he was more than a little ready to set something or someone on fire. When the entered the room, Darin realized that he¡¯d been there before. It was the room with scorch marks and a fair selection of lava rocks. In silence, they lined up a dozen feet back from the nearest rocks and then, they waited. Blood Claw hadn¡¯t said a word, so neither had the brood she was overseeing. A few claws tapped nervous rhythms on the stone, and a few tails lashed about. Otherwise, the next several minutes passed in silence. Truth be told, the waiting did nothing to improve Darin¡¯s mood. After the first few minutes of waiting, the two whelps on either side of him had drifted back. As if they had sensed, the small furnace of agitation burning in his core. For an angry dragon, is a very dangerous thing. When the elders made their appearance, it was a great relief as well as a surprise. The blue female elder was no longer with them, in her place was a red female who seemed to emanate an aura of heat distortion. When the elders had taken their place, with a clear view of all, the rite began. ¡°I am Firebrand, an elder with the honor of serving in the Fire Clan. And I have joined you today, so that I may see for myself the truth behind your flames. Den Mother, please do begin.¡± She declared. There was a fierce determination to her, and it carried over in her voice. ¡°We have gathered here today. To begin testing you in the gifts of the Mother. Fire was one of the first gifts given, it gives us a means to defend ourselves and lay waste to our foes. While some of the blood lines diverged, changing from fire to-¡± Blood Claw began, then noticed the look that Firebrand was giving her. ¡°Shall I just skip ahead then?¡± She asked with a sigh. When the elders nodded, she turned to face the whelps. ¡°Okay, who¡¯s first?¡± She asked, dropping all pretense of ritual and getting down to the test itself. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Scorch announced. He eyed the large red dragoness with something akin to hero worship. He had probably already set his sights on joining such an honorable clan. A terrible shame, that he had to earn that honor before it could be awarded. ¡°Then do so.¡± Firebrand stated in a cold, blunt tone. The whelp looked shaken, but puffed himself up, reared his head back and loosed a single fireball at a lava rock. At ten feet away, it did not take the flame long to reach the rock and explode on it¡¯s side. It wasn¡¯t the cleanest shot, a glancing blow, but still it hit. He seemed quite proud of himself, so proud that he attempted a second shot. Eager to impress, he puffed himself up again, reared back¡­and exhaled smoke. His wings drooped a bit at his folly, he¡¯d over extended himself. When he turned to look at the elders, he lowered his head in shame. ¡°Next.¡± Was the only judgment they stated aloud. But if one thing was clear, his new hero looked more disgusted than amused. There was a brief silence in the rooms, then Greenie stepped forward next. She gave a single nod to Blood Claw, then a nod to the elders. In a sudden gust of breath she launched a single, somewhat smaller, fireball into a lava rock. So the inhale is optional? She made no attempt at a second shot, but her first had hit her target dead center and left the stone glowing. With a slight bow of her head, she stepped backwards into line. ¡°I don¡¯t breathe fire.¡± Spikey admitted in a weak tone. When all eyes turned to him, he walked over towards one of the stone vases filled with flowers. At about five feet back, he inhaled and steadied himself. A moment later, he exhaled a dark fog onto the flowers. Within moments, they had withered into ruin. The water they had floated in now churned in agitation. He looked back to the elders, who nodded at him, then he marched back to his place in line. Well, that¡¯s one mystery solved. ¡°I¡¯ll go next.¡± Offered the gray wyvern. When no one protested, he walked closer to the lava rocks. He closed his eyes a moment and gathered himself, before taking a deep breath. When he exhaled, a shimmering cloud of fog surrounded a pair of rocks. A moment later, small flashes of lightning arced all around within the cloud. The stones were hit several times and the energy leapt between them freely. It only caused the faintest of glows amongst the rocks, but it was clear that it had done something. Returning to his place in line, he turned too sharply and slapped Darin with one of his tails. A small Growl escaped Darin, as a notification popped up.
Wyvern whelp has dealt you 1 damage.
A few of the other whelps snickered, but the wyvern had the grace to mouth an apology in silence. It didn¡¯t do much good for Darin¡¯s disposition, by now he was quite ready to set something ablaze. ¡°You, go next.¡± Blood Claw commanded, pointing at Darin with her claw. She was giving him a target to vent his anger on, before that became one of the other whelps. As he walked up towards the lava rocks, the snickering behind him only got worse. It might have had something to do with the fact that he had to enter point blank range to hit the stones. When he stopped, there was not quite two feet between him and either of the closest two stones. ¡°Should we get you a step stool too, itty bitty dragon?¡± The red whelp taunted him, earning a sudden and nasty glare from Firebrand. All eyes swung back the Darin. ¡°Show me your Anger, show me your Flames!¡± Firebrand roared at him, goading him further. It was all it took, and the dam inside him shattered. He didn¡¯t even bother to inhale, he just opened his beak and let the anger fly out. Savage flames, short as they may be walked their way up the lava rock to his right. After about five seconds of constant flame, he¡¯d reached the top and cut off the breath. Without skipping a beat, he turned to the left and seared that stone from top to bottom before his mana ran out. He sat there for a moment, saying nothing as both stones glowed with a vibrant red light. He took a long slow breath, and was surprised to see a notification window.
Racial Passive unlocked: Heart of Fire. You have reached deep within yourself, and now you know what it is to truly burn. Effects: +5% Flame Range, +5% Flame damage, -5% MP cost of Fire Magic. "Fire Fire, burning bright. Leave naught but ash, by morning¡¯s light."
Darin cleared the message and looked up. The room had fallen silent, and the glow of the rocks was just starting to fade. He gave a sharp nod to the elders and turned about. Feeling a little more at peace with himself, he marched back into line. Funny, is it me¡­or is scorch suddenly looking quite pale? He mused. ¡°You were right, Vile Fang.¡± Firebrand stated, opting to break the lingering silence. ¡°I should come to these trials, more often¡­¡± - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: I hope you enjoyed, I believe I did. I was also really glad to see that my humble little story has gotten over 100 followers and 25 favorites. Thank you! As ever, thank you to those that have helped me catch mistakes. And thank you for all the positive encouragement and feedback. Night! Chapter 22 - Trial by Stone ¡°You only say that, because you are amused dear Firebrand.¡± Vile Fang replied. The red dragoness offered only a shrug in her own defense. The green scaled elder sighed, then turned to Blood Claw after a moment. ¡°Is the last one going to try, or do they expect to simply sit this week out?¡± He asked. Blood Claw turned and gave the blue whelp and inquisitive look. With a slight droop of his wings, the whelp marched half way to the stones and stopped. He nodded to the elders, drew in a tentative breath and breathed out flames. His fire reached far further and far longer than Darin¡¯s, allowing him to wash it over several stones. Despite that, he flames caused very little of the stones to glow, during his brief three seconds of flame. ¡°Tough crowd.¡± He muttered aloud, once done. After a sharp nod to the elders, he marched back to his place in line. He had not missed out on the fact, that no one could be bothered to comment on his performance. You should have gone before me then. Not my fault. ¡°Thank you Den Mother. Would you now guide them to the trial of Earth?¡± Vile Fang asked, in as formal a tone as he could manage. Several others looked surprised by his request, Blood Claw amongst them. ¡°Earth next, you say?¡± She asked, to verify. He sighed and nodded his green head. ¡°Yes, the trial of Earth shall be next today. I know that this is not the normal course of the tests, but I ask you to be understanding. Some days, we must simply work with what the Mother gives us.¡± He replied, causing the other elders to nod. ¡°You heard the elders, my dear whelps. We go now to the Trial of Earth.¡± She paused for a moment, seeming to think things over. ¡°I would also remind you. That it is rare for someone to master every test. We are each differently blessed by the Mother, thus the honored elders will evaluate you across the sum of all your tests. So that you may show yourselves, to be worthy.¡± Blood Claw explained. The elders gave her a few curious looks, for her speech, but said nothing. Was that for them, or for my sake? Darin pondered. ¡°Follow.¡± Firebrand commanded, skipping all pretenses and leading the other elders out. After the elders, came the rest of the pack. After a short walk down the hallway, they entered the room for the Trial of Earth and Darin¡¯s heart sank. The nature of the room was both obvious and painful. In the center was a long elliptical track carved deep into the smooth stone floor. Around the outside of the track, was a series of markers at equal length. Inside the track was a large cube of stone, the edges were rounded but it was still about three feet to a side. The way the carved stone fit so well into the track, could only mean this was a test of strength. Darin¡¯s wings drooped for a moment, before he pulled himself back into shape. If I fail the test, I refuse to look pathetic doing it. ¡°All ye whelps, who seek now to prove yourself. Now you are tested on the strength you were given by the Mother. Some of you will be blessed with great magic, others will be blessed with great power of body. Before the elders-¡± Blood Claw began her formal speech. ¡°Ahem.¡± Firebrand interrupted with a false cough. The two shot dirty looks back and forth a moment, before Blood Claw gave way to rank. ¡°It would seem our esteemed elders,¡± she began, ¡°are eager to get back to their mid morning naps. As not to keep them awake until they grow cranky, we will get to the point more swiftly.¡± Blood Claw snapped out, earning her a few laughs from the whelps an a few dirty looks from her betters. ¡°This test is a simple trial of strength. You get in the pit, and you push the stone when told. The further you can push it, in a give time, the more you prove your strength of arm. If you¡¯re too stupid to figure that out, you don¡¯t deserve the Mother¡¯s blessings. If you can¡¯t move it far before we tell you to stop, then you are weak. Accept it and move on. Questions?¡± She asked, casting a scathing glance at the whelps. When they were smart enough to keep quiet she nodded and continued. ¡°You went first last time, you may as well go first as the largest.¡± She instructed, gesturing to the red whelp. ¡°As you wish, Den Mother.¡± Scorch replied, before stepping down into the pit with an awkward motion. All of Red¡¯s strengths, seemed to be centered on his physical size and strength. So it was not much of a surprise to anyone, when he pushed the stone most of the way around the track. He was only given a minute, but he had shown his might quite clear. It was his exit that surprised Darin the most. If Scorch had looked awkward getting into the pit, that was nothing compared to his exit. It took him 2 tries and several seconds to free himself from the groove. Instead of flying out, he presented himself more like a drunken herd beast, trying to climb onto a sofa. Do you have any agility at all? ¡°I¡¯ll go next, Den Mother.¡± Greenie offered. When the Den Mother nodded, she simply jumped into the pit and got into place. She put her paws on the carved stone and looked to the Elders for permission. ¡°Begin, child.¡± Dark Flame instructed. And so she did, using her back legs for force and putting her body weight on the cube at an angle. She looked more like a worker sliding a crate across the floor, but it moved at a steady pace. She did not move it quite as far as the red whelp, but she still did well. She had used both her muscles and her mind, each to their own best leverage. ¡°That will suffice, thank you whelp.¡± The elder informed her. Greenie also managed to earn some respect with her exit. She put her front claws on the upper floor, jumped with her hind legs and pushed down with her front legs, allowing a smooth exit. ¡°I¡¯ll get this over with now.¡± Stated the Wyvern, before stepping into the hole and gliding down. His body¡¯s design worked against him. There was a lot of flailing of his tails, but his wing-arms were not built for strength. He braced his chest against the stone and pushed with all his might. A minute later, when the elders called him to a stop he was short on breath and the stone had only moved a few notches. Scorch was grinning at him, not bothering to hide his smugness at his own strength. When the Wyvern exited, a bit of the smugness faded away. A single flap of his wing-arms, paired with a jump from his legs and the wyvern glided back into his place in line. So far, the strongest of the dragon whelps had been the least capable of climbing out of a simple hole. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Here we go again.¡± The black spiked whelp grumbled as he fell, more than jumped into the pit. The elders shared a glance between one another, but said nothing. At their command, he threw his whole body at the stone. He used his head, neck and forward shoulder to push against the solid rock. All four of his legs, where clawing at the floor desperate for traction. There was even a sound of flapping wings as the stone inched forward, crossing a single marker before time ran out. If his performance was off to a bad start, it only got worse as he tried to exit the pit. He attempted to exit as Greenie had, but he lacked her size and strength. When he jumped and pushed, he came up short and smacked his chest hard into the stone. With a frantic scraping of claws, he managed to not fall back in. Scorch and a few others snickered in hushed tones, as the black whelp belly crawled his way to freedom. He didn¡¯t even bother to nod to the elders before returning to line. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Offered the blue whelp, not wanting to be last again. His results were average at best, but he didn¡¯t disgrace himself anywhere in the process. With the other whelps already done, all eyes shifted to the one little dragon in their midst. ¡°Time to impress us, little wings.¡± Scorch taunted. This earned him a few laughs and a few glares from those in the room. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do it, if you don¡¯t want to, little one.¡± Greenie suggested. She said it out of kindness, but it was clear that everyone held the same expectations. ¡°No. He has to do something.¡± Blood Claw stated, causing the whelps to turn to her. Greenie even looked ready to protest, but was silenced with a shake of the head. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Firebrand stated, speaking softer than usual. ¡°You don¡¯t have to pass the test, but you must at least touch the stone and fail the test to move on. Were he to skip the test entirely, he would not be able to seek a name this week. Do as you must, young one. Sorry¡­¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Darin replied, nodding to the elders. ¡°So I need to touch the stone, until the time runs out. Even, if I do not make it move?¡± He asked for clarity. When all three nodded at once, he walked forward toward the stone. ¡°Oh. This should be good.¡± Scorch gloated, unable to contain his enthusiasm. As he reached the pit, Darin dropped in without a sound. ¡°Begin.¡± Vile Fang commanded, before stepping up with the other elders to get a better view. As the elders leaned their heads over the pit they all burst into laughter. Surprised by this, Blood Claw moved forward to look and joined them in the their mirth. ¡°Oh gods, you would¡­wouldn¡¯t you?¡± She asked Darin, though she received no reply. At her words, the other five whelps rushed up and peered into the pit. With their jaws hanging wide in disbelief, they stared at their companion. Down in the pit Darin was not struggling with the stone. He stood upright on his back legs and was leaning his right shoulder against the stone, as if putting his weight against the rock. Most of the humor, was in the fact that he was using his right hand claws, to scrape clean the claws on his left hand. While he was observing the requirements of the test, for all intents and purposes, he spent the minute on the equivalent of cleaning his nails. ¡°And done.¡± Firebrand declared, trying to keep her humor out of her voice. ¡°You did not manage to move the stone at all.¡± She told him, her tone softening the rebuke. ¡°But you have met the requirements and completed the test. If you wish to earn a name, I strongly suggest, that you perform better in your other trials.¡± She told him, before laughing. ¡°It seems that there is a first time for everything.¡± Blood Claw grumbled, before tossing him a wink. ¡°So are you getting out of there, so that we can move on. Or do you have another claw to clean?¡± She asked. Darin blew across his claws, as well as his beak allowed, for show. It earned him a few more laughs before he turned and looked for an exit through the crowd. Turning about, he jumped with a single down-flap of the wings and landed on the trial stone itself. ¡°I¡¯ve got some redeeming to do. Shall we move on to the next trial?¡± He asked, doing his best not to laugh. - - - - - Author¡¯s note: So tired today, my hour nap turned into a several hour sleep. Chapter is a little late, yet work still looms in the morning. Thank you all for your feed back and suggestions. They do help me to refine and improve upon my story. As well, I¡¯d like to think that what I post will eventually count as my first draft of a book. Or books, if the future takes me in such a direction. One can hope. As ever, thank you all for your positive feedback, your support and even for calling me on my mistakes. Chapter 23 - Trial by Wind ¡°Yes, young one. Do show us how you plan redeem yourself in the next trial. I look forward to it.¡± Firebrand stated. Her words were not the warmest, but her tone was softer than before. Still, the laughter gave way to their solemn rite after she spoke. Did I push a bit too far? ¡°And which trial shall we go to next?¡± Blood Claw asked, looking to the elders. It seemed she had already given up on sticking to the script. Not that anyone could blame her. ¡°The Trial of Wind, would be most fitting next. Do you not agree?¡± Dark Flame asked, the other elders glanced at him and nodded in agreement. ¡°Please, lead the young there, honored Den Mother.¡± ¡°As you request, Elder.¡± She replied. A quick glance caused the whelps to fall in line. As she exited, they marched behind her in silence. If dragons could sweat, their little pack would have reeked of fear. Darin was nervous enough, that he might have misinterpreted the hints he was given. The others feared for their own standings, given how easily they had broken formality and joined the mirth. Still, there was nothing left to do but move forward. When they reached the next room of the trials, it was neither empty nor new to Darin. The room was divided by fair sized chasm, through which flowed the murmuring waters with a salty breeze. It was not that the fall was deep, as the waters began about a foot below floor level. It was more that this shallow section of a river, seemed to be about 30 feet across. ¡°The room without fish.¡± Darin commented. He realized he¡¯d spoken aloud, when several heads turned to him at once. He shrunk a little under their combined gaze, but to no avail. ¡°Fish?¡± Asked an old wyvern, who seemed to squint at him. The wyvern elder had but one tail, though he had a more unique tone of color. He was marbled, from white to gray in a random swirling of patterns. ¡°Why would there be fish here?¡± ¡°I just-¡± Darin began. Unable to say more at once. ¡°Thought you¡¯d settle in, with a net and some tartar sauce?¡± Blood Claw inquired. She was having trouble keeping a straight face as she asked. The old wyvern laughed, as did many of the other whelps. Seeing no easy way out, Darin shifted to his hind legs and offered a full shrug with both arms and wings. The others laughed more at that, even Greenie who often refrained. Once the others had gotten it out of their system, he turned back and nodded to the elder. ¡°Honored elder, the reason I wondered about fish. Is because, moving water often nurtures life.¡± He explained, trying to sound less like a fool. As ever, others were ready to challenge him on that point. ¡°That¡¯s salt water, not fresh water. Can¡¯t you smell the difference, or are you just that slow?¡± Asked the little black whelp with spikes. The adults in the room shared a quick glance, but said nothing at first. ¡°Salt water can be home to life, just as easily as fresh water. Is there no life in the oceans here?¡± Darin asked. The whelps were looking at one another as Greenie started to giggle. And yes it is just as weird as it sounds, seeing a dragoness giggle. ¡°What do you think, elder Tome?¡± Blood Claw asked, a hint of playfulness in her voice. The marbled wyvern looked at her and laughed before bothering to reply. ¡°I think the Mother would be quite cross with me, if I decided to believe that salt water could bear no life. That said however, this river is strange and special.¡± He leaned over and looked down into the waters. ¡°I have never yet seen fish here, so I doubt they travel these waters.¡± He paused a moment to look at Darin, not bothering to hide his amusement. ¡°So yes, I guess this would be the room without fish.¡± Darin would have blushed in his human form. He had no idea if his current body was capable of the same feat. If it was, he had little doubt he must be showing colors. ¡°What an odd thing to say.¡± Dark Flame stated from the doorway. ¡°Are you feeling quite well Tome?¡± He asked as he entered the room. Behind him Firebrand and the blue dragoness from before entered as well. ¡°Oh, it was just the mirth of the young. I¡¯ll explain it all later, so do please take your posts.¡± Tome requested. A moment later Dark Flame and the blue elder flew across the small river and took their positions by the walls near the water. Firebrand and Tome took similar positions on this side of the water, creating a rectangle of elders. ¡°Blood Claw, would you be so kind as to instruct them. Should some be new to this room,¡± he paused to laugh, ¡°or simply new to the trial.¡± ¡°Whelps, as Firebrand is not known for her great patience I shall make this simple and concise. In this-¡± She began. ¡°What does concise mean?¡± Asked the black whelp, interrupting without apology. She sighed at that, as did Tome. ¡°Go see the lore keepers later, they can help with the big words, that you remember that you¡¯ve forgotten.¡± Firebrand replied, adding an extra word play to confuse him further. While the message was confusing, the tone she used made it clear he should shut up. To his credit, he took the hint. ¡°Ahem. In this trial, you will show us how much you have learned of the Mother¡¯s gift of flight. Land dragons are uncommon, so we expect all of you to try your best.¡± Blood Claw paused a moment, and shot Darin a scolding look. ¡°Even if the the trial seems too difficult for you, you must try your best. You will be judged upon mastery and distance. I know some of you think this is unimportant. You can breathe flames and push stones, but if you can¡¯t even glide¡­you will bring shame to your fellow dragons in time. It would be quite pathetic to win a great battle, only to fall to your death trying to get down from a mountain or cliff.¡± ¡°Indeed, and those who can not move quickly would be of no use to the Fire Clan. Do keep that in mind. Without your wings in good shape, how would you answer a call to battle?¡± Firebrand asked, reinforcing the Den Mother¡¯s point. When none of the whelps did more than blink or nod, she nodded to Blood Claw to continue. Stolen story; please report. ¡°The trial itself is simple. You walk up the ramp on this side, and line up on the shelf behind it. One by one you will go forward to the ledge and try to fly or glide your way across the river. These are the Mother¡¯s waters, so do not fear harm. That is unless you anger her, or try to cheat your way across.¡± Blood Claw stated, leaving the last bit as a cryptic warning. She hadn¡¯t seen many attempts to cheat, but she had never seen them tried twice. With a single word, she sent the whelps up the ramp. Darin marched along, letting himself fall into last place. As he¡¯d never seen the trials before, he wondered if there was some trick to it. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Offered the wyvern. His performance in the last trial had been hindered by his natural flight build. It seemed he was eager to prove himself as he got up to the start of the ledge. Each ledge ended about five feet short of the water, putting them at about forty feet apart. Will he fly to the other ledge then? Darin wondered. ¡°Begin.¡± Blood Claw told him. At that the gray wyvern took two dashing steps forward, and leapt with all his might. As he left the ledge he spread his arm-wings wide like a glider, and coasted across the gap. He landed on the dry stone below the other ledge, seeming quite proud of his achievement. ¡°Well done lad.¡± The elder wyvern told him. The others saw no reason to scold Tome for breaking the mask of an impartial judge. Or perhaps he¡¯s here to be the encouraging one, Darin mused. A moment later, the wyvern whelp walked up the other ramp and waited, out of the way, on the shelf. The blue whelp was the next to step up, he eyed the water for a moment and shook his head. ¡°I know, I know. You¡¯d rather go for a swim. Not today young one.¡± The blue dragoness advised him. It caused a few soft chuckles, but no one took offense. The whelp gave her a brief nod, took a running start and made his way across with several wing beats. He landed much closer to the water than the wyvern had, his tail almost getting wet. A moment later, he joined the first whelp up on the shelf. ¡°I¡¯ll go next.¡± Greenie said with a huff. It was clear that she didn¡¯t have high hopes for this, but she at least intended to try. Despite a good jumping start, she didn¡¯t even reach the land on the other side. The water around her splashed and frothed for a moment, making sure she got quite wet. After that it returned to it¡¯s tranquil flow as she climbed back onto the land. She sighed and made her way up the ramp, dripping as she went. ¡°One swimming lesson coming up.¡± Stated the black scaled whelp. A moment later he dashed down the ledge. Despite his best attempts to fly or glide, he fell more like a stone. The water thrashed where he landed, swelled up in anger and washed him down to where Dark Flame waited to fish him out. ¡°You should have been much more respectful if you intended to swim today.¡± The elder dragon chided him, after scooping the sputtering whelp from the waters. Spikey just looked confused and didn¡¯t bother to reply. Blood Claw simply shook her head and looked up at the remaining whelps. She raised the ridge over her right eye and waited to see who would go first. ¡°You went last, on the prior trial. You go first this time. Once you start drying off, I¡¯ll show you how a real dragon does it.¡± Scorch stated, his voice filled with false bravado. You¡¯ll show ¡®me¡¯ how? ¡°If that¡¯s what you want.¡± Darin agreed, walking up to the very end of the ledge and stopping. This caused a few of the others to give him odd looks. Thus far, no one had given up the advantage of a running start. ¡°So I just need to get to the other side?¡± He asked. They nodded, so he pressed further. ¡°How far I go before I land, and my level of Mastery are what you¡¯ll evaluate me on?¡± ¡°Yes. So if you¡¯d be so kind as to give us something to evaluate. Unless you¡¯re afraid of getting wet, that is¡­¡± Said the blue dragoness. Darin laughed aloud at the suggestion, and then stepped of the ledge into free fall. ¡°What?¡± Blood Claw gasped out, before his little wings spread and flapped. A few feet above the ground, his direction changed and he shot forward over the river. The waters churned and bubbled, excited by the display. As he passed back over the land he pulled up, oblivious to the small spouts of water behind him. A moment later, he ended his graceful arc and landed on the ledge. The other whelps, waiting on the stone shelf, were frozen stiff. More than one mouth was hanging wide, as the soft sound of laughter filled the air. Tome was eying the small stretch of river, as if he¡¯d never seen it behave that way. ¡°The Mother¡¯s blessings.¡± The elder wyvern muttered, before giving Darin an appraising look. As the waters began to calm, several dragons began to whisper back and forth. ¡°Well, I really hope I passed.¡± Darin stated in his best false-innocent voice. A few of the others laughed, while the rest still doubted what they¡¯d seen. Not being one to pass up a chance for payback, Darin turned around and looked across the room. Locking eyes with the red whelp, he called out to him. ¡°It¡¯s your turn Scorch. Now you can teach me how a real dragon should fly.¡± If looks could kill, he had little doubt he¡¯d be respawning again. But he doubted it would matter much in the long run. After all, the red whelp had more than started their rivalry. With an angry roar, Scorch took off for flight. A few seconds later, Darin got a screen shot of a most glorious splash¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s note: I hope you liked the chapter. We all knew how it would end, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t have fun with it. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. It does brighten my day to see the numbers of Views Follows, Favorites, and Reviews slowly climb. I¡¯m still trying to manage a (good) chapter a day. I can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll keep the pace, but I am trying. An extra thanks goes out to the people finding my mistakes. I haven¡¯t found the time to fix quite all of them, but I do appreciate knowing where they are. Chapter 24 - Trial by Combat It turned out that getting soaked did very little to dampen Scorch¡¯s temper. The other whelps were laughing, as he struggled to pull himself from the water. As soon as he was up on dry land, Blood Claw returned their attention to the trials. ¡°Some of you have done well in this test. Others have demonstrated a need for more practice. The first part of overcoming one¡¯s own weakness, is to identify it.¡± She let her words sink in a moment. For many of the whelps, that meant stopping to stare at the ground below them. ¡°Suck it up, young ones. You¡¯ve only recently hatched and still have much to grow. We all have strengths and weaknesses. But if you let yourself be defeated by your weakness, rather than trying to overcome it. You will receive no pity from me.¡± Firebrand informed them. She had a unique way of being inspiring one moment, then mocking the next. The other elders must have understood her better, as none bothered to argue. ¡°Another fun life lesson, for our young whelps. The road ahead of you, is often just as hard as the road behind you. If you hadn¡¯t noticed, there is but one way to leave this room.¡± Dark Flame stated, not bothering to hide the amusement in his voice. The whelps began to mumble to themselves, only the gray wyvern walked up to the ledge with haste. ¡°Fly, glide or step aside little one.¡± He told Darin, who still sat on the ledge. ¡°I have no intention of missing my next trial.¡± Despite the bluntness of his statement, his tone was light hearted. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go in a moment. Say, why don¡¯t you try flying instead of gliding on the way back. You¡¯ve got gliding down, so why not work on your next skill?¡± Darin suggested. Rather than wait for a response, he leapt into the air and began flying spirals and loops. He never caught the surprised look on the wyvern¡¯s face, nor did he notice the jealous states of his peers. The elders glanced at one another, but none dared to speak or interrupt. A few moments later the air filled with whelps, trying not to be left behind. It was sheer chaos, cheerful cries and challenges passed between the whelps, though many such tries ended with water landings. But there was just something contagious about seeing someone fly around like a fool. All the while, the red whelp glared from the shore. ¡°Enough. You can play more later.¡± Blood Claw informed them, calling an end to the repeated attempts of some. At her command, everyone quieted down and landed. It was still a few moments, before the river returned to its normal slow murmur. ¡°We must still see to the rest of the trials, no matter how much you enjoy this one. For our next trial, I believe we shall go to-¡± ¡°The battle room, for the Trial of Combat.¡± Dark Flame suggested. It was the fastest Darin ever remember seeing a room turn gloomy. A few of the elders glared at Dark Flame, but chose not to argue. The cheerful atmosphere of moments before was gone, as each of the whelps looked at one another. Most seemed nervous at the prospect of doing battle. They looked at their companions, wondering who they would have to fight. Scorch however, had perked right up. The leer he was giving Darin, made it all too clear whom he hoped to fight. Shit. ¡°Fine. That¡¯s on the list you can choose from.¡± Blood Claw stated, far past caring what they chose next. If she was fond of standing on ceremony, today must have been a serious thorn in her side. I wonder if Greed will get stuck with her ill temper for this, he mused. ¡°You lot, let¡¯s go.¡± The march to the next room was brisk, made worse for Darin with his smaller legs. Blood Claw hadn¡¯t even waited for the elders to lead the way, she just marched them straight to the next room. When they arrived at the battle room, it looked odd to say the least. The upper regions, level with the door were wide enough for two adult dragons to pass. Below the lip of the pit, strange glowing symbols were carved around the walls, parting only were ramps sloped down. But no, a simple fighting pit would have been too boring. Instead the grand pit was divided into three separate regions, each large enough for a pair of adult dragons to settle their dispute. To the left, was a massive circle carved deeper into the stone. Just inside of the ring, was a decorative band of carvings. It seemed fairly familiar as many sports forced you to contend in such a space. In the middle, was something that could only represent a bridge. It stood like a stone slab, 10 feet wide by 50 feet long, though it was only 5 feet tall from the floor. A wide stone ramp at each end made it clear where you would start from. In the middle, on each side of the mock bridge was a long pit filled with dirt. Mud was intended to mark the loser that fell, but it seems no one had bothered to water it of late. The right most arena was full of staged broken rocks and jagged stones. Some had fallen over, and others had fallen together making crude arches. It reminded Darin of the harsh lands, near the old lava lake. ¡°Going to have some fun now.¡± The red whelp declared, eying the arenas with glee. ¡°Perhaps, or perhaps not.¡± Firebrand replied, as the elders finally joined them. It seemed that Tome had not come along this time. ¡°Good, we can finally begin.¡± Blood Claw stated, showing a poor mood. She turned to the whelps, and gave the abbreviated lecture. ¡°It¡¯ll keep it simple. You wont die in the pit, no matter how grave your wounds. You will however, lose your challenge and a bit of pride. If you haven¡¯t figured out there are three separate arenas down there, then I¡¯m sorry. I can heal, but I can¡¯t cure stupid. Yes, you will have to fight in each arena unless the elders get bored again. No, you will not always choose your opponents. Traditionally, the elders select who should battle who, by pairing up those of similar stature and strengths. When they do that, we get to see your level of skill. But lets be honest, today is hardly a normal day in the trials and by all rights, we are at the mercy of their whims.¡± ¡°Ahem. Why don¡¯t you vent less, dear Den Mother, and tell them more about each battle ground?¡± Firebrand suggested. The other two elders agreed, though Dark Flame was giving her dirty looks. ¡°As you wish, elder. The left most ring is simple, strike your opponent down or knock them out of the ring to win. The center is a bridge, simple and yet not. Often a battle is drawn out in a choke point. Be it a bridge, a narrow valley, a stone cleft or any of the like. You may do well in such a battle by holding your foe back, defeating them, knocking them off or passing them to reach their exit. However in a true battle, to simply pass your foes by would mean to leave an enemy at your back. To the right is the broken lands. Some parts of the world still hold the-¡± Blood Claw paused and thought a moment. After choosing her words with care she continued. ¡°The scars of times long past. Such places, were harsh to survive in and scarce of food. The dragon who could master such places, was far more likely to survive and produce young. Thus, to not lose the value of their lessons,¡± she glanced at Darin from the corner of her eye, ¡°we too practice battle in such a place. There is only one way to win in the broken lands, crush all that oppose you¡­¡± Stolen story; please report. ¡°The rules are set by mutual agreement, or by those that oversee the battle. Now who shall we have go first?¡± The blue dragoness asked. The red whelp turned to her, full of excitement, but was too slow to speak. ¡°Lets see the little black one and the wyvern in the ring. They each have wider breath attacks and seem a fairly decent match.¡± Dark Flame suggested. When no one protested, Blood Claw clicked her claws and gestured towards the ring. With a sigh, the wyvern glided down with a spiral. Only to have to wait for Spikey who took the ramp. Darin was unsure of their levels, and started by watching with care. This should be good, he hoped. But alas, the two of them spent more time dodging one another¡¯s attacks and very little time attacking. ¡°Enough!¡± Firebrand called out, ending the fight with no clear victor. She seemed disgusted that neither had even harmed the other. Darin had doubts that either would pass the test. ¡°This is a battle grounds, not some squishy human harvest dance. Show me a real fight next, lest I fail you all.¡± She threatened, turning to the remaining hatchlings. ¡°Perhaps a match between-¡± Dark Flame began. Rather than angry, he seemed bored by the poor display. ¡°I¡¯ll gladly show you a real battle.¡± Scorch stated, not even caring that he interrupted an elder. With a soft growl, he turned and stared at Darin. His pride had been injured in the last test, and it seems he was not one to let insults stand. Funny, the first one to toss insults can¡¯t take them. ¡°Fine.¡± Darin said with a resigned sigh. He knew what Scorch had in mind. If he ran away now, he¡¯d just look like a coward. The others looked between them, wondering if he¡¯d gone insane. ¡°If you wish to fight that bad, we can fight again. This time I¡¯m level 2, so I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be a better match than the last time you attacked.¡± Darin¡¯s barb hit the mark. The elders looked between the two, concerned with what may have transpired before. Scorch seemed to shrink under the additional scrutiny. ¡°He attacked, a hatchling¡­in the Hatchery?¡± Firebrand asked, looking at Blood Claw. She paled a bit, and then nodded. ¡°And you allowed this to occur?¡± The second question, seemed far more pointed. ¡°I was in another room, helping a whelp when he first exited the Hall of Dreamers.¡± The Den Mother explained, a touch of fear in her voice. The elders all looked at Darin, who nodded at their silent question. ¡°But then why did he hatch in-¡± ¡°Muse.¡± Darin stated. There was an instant look of recognition on the faces of the elders. He was beginning to wonder how many woes in life, were going to be traced back to her. He offered a shrug, wings and all, and the elders moved on. ¡°Very well, little red whelp.¡± Firebrand began, causing him to cringe. ¡°You may have a battle with the foe you have chosen. The fact that you have selected to battle someone of half your level, has already enlightened us to your measure.¡± ¡°I-¡± He started to protest. His words, did not get very far. ¡°But we will have to make this a fair fight, so what arena shall we choose and what rules?¡± The blue dragoness asked. The railroading had already begun. ¡°Well I think we¡¯ll have to make them fight on the bridge. The red one does seem to take things head on, rather than think them through. We must be fair after all.¡± Dark Flame suggested, getting in on the act. There was something savage in his tone of voice. ¡°But we must take into account the skill level of each. And the handicaps that would create.¡± Blood Claw stated, trying to keep things fair. Thank you! ¡°Oh, of course. Given how pathetic one of them has performed so far. We must surely even the playing field. I mean, on the bridge we can¡¯t let this be a one sided battle. So I suggest we rule out the use of flight.¡± Firebrand stated, looking right at Scorch. The idea thrilled the red whelp, until he realized the implication of her words. If the little one wasn¡¯t the pathetic one¡­ ¡°Hey-¡± Scorch started to argue. Torn between his advantages and his pride. ¡°Agreed.¡± The other adults said in unison. Darin felt betrayed that even the Den Mother had been eager to set the odds against him. His opponent was ready to go into a rage at all the insults. ¡°But I-¡± The red whelp tried again, only to have his protest silenced by the elders. ¡°The match is already set. You don¡¯t have to win, but you have to compete. So go ahead and impress us, oh biggest of the brood. With how you can hold your own against an opponent half your level and unable to fly. Unless you intend to withdraw from the rites, that is¡­¡± Firebrand told him, her voice dripping with venom. Darin had to close his beak, he¡¯d not even realized he had left it hanging open. The odds were stacked against him, the match was anything but fair. Or was that the point? If Scorch won, he would still look pathetic for picking on a weaker foe. If Darin won, then Scorch would suffer a great deal of shame. There was just one problem that came to mind. He¡¯s so angry, he¡¯s going to fucking kill me¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s notes: Keeping it short as I should have gone to sleep an hour or two ago. I didn¡¯t cover as much as I liked, but I did move the story ahead. So I¡¯m a bit torn on this chapter. On the other hand, the ending felt natural in my own impish ways. Thank you for the feedback and encouragement all. Chapter 25 - Battle of the Bridge ¡°Young ones, we await your battle on the bridge.¡± Blood Claw stated, giving Darin and odd look. Scorch looked ready to attack him, then and there, outside of the no-death zone. Despite that, all the other whelps were looking at Darin. He hadn¡¯t been one to back down from a fight, nor had he been one to go on a fools errand. ¡°At least they didn¡¯t rule out my flames.¡± Darin stated, working hard to keep his voice relaxed. Being closer in size to a house pet than a human, he knew his odds were terrible. But he¡¯d be damned if he let fear rule him. Without another word he walked off the ledge and spread his wings. Wary of their wording, he didn¡¯t fly down, but glided in on a long spiral. As he landed, he called up his character sheet.
CHARACTER SHEET
NAME:Whelp*RACE:Dragon
GENDER:MaleSUB SPECIES:Primal
LEVEL:2PROGRESS:10.00%
FREE POINTS:0 Stat, 0 EvolutionHEALTH:16 / 16
REGEN:HP +0.07, MP +0.45MAGIC:55 / 55
STRENGTH:2~FORTITUDE:3~
AGILITY:60DEFENSE:11
KARMA:4RENOWN:41
LOAD:5.0 / 18.95 Stones.SIZE FACTOR:0.25
A large roar sounded above him as the red whelp tried to make his way down by flying. As they watched, he managed to cross the pit on shaking wings. His landing, if it could be called that, was a bit abrupt. Maybe he knocked off a few hit points, and saved me the trouble, Darin mused. ¡°Are you ready to battle?¡± Firebrand called down. Darin gave her a nod, he hoped she could see from there and moved to his ramp. ¡°I¡¯m ready to kill that little shit!¡± His opponent yelled back. Always such a charmer. A moment later, he took his place at the other entrance to the bridge. Darin use a few seconds to take stock of the scenario. The bridge was only 50 feet long, but it was 10 feet wide. It might have been possible to run past him, but Firebrand had warned about leaving an enemy at your back. Over, under or through then. ¡°Stop sitting around. Hurry up and fight.¡± Dark Flame urged them, putting an end to his planning phase. Darin never looked up, so he didn¡¯t see that everyone else was watching them. Just like the when he¡¯d been attacked in the Hatchery. Scorch had worn soot and burn marks for days after that encounter. The memory would have made him smile, if his beak could. With a steady stride, Darin began to walk toward his next painful demise. ¡°You¡¯re mine now, pocket dragon.¡± Scorch called out as he began to rush towards Darin. Well, run may have been too generous a term for such crude and uncoordinated motion. Despite his haste, it was still near the middle of the bride when Darin came into range. Scorch skidded to a stop, reared back and pulled in a massive breath. Damn, he telegraphs worse than a boss mob, Darin mused. A moment later he hopped aside and dodged a crude fireball. It exploded somewhere far behind him, as he closed the distance. From above them, suggestions, taunts and cat calls rained down. ¡°Step on the midget.¡± ¡°Burn his face off!¡± Was that Greenie? ¡°Fight, fight, fight.¡± ¡°Prove yourselves¡­¡± That one sounded like Dark Flame. ¡°Bite him in half!¡± ¡°Show them what a real dragon can do.¡± Blood Claw¡¯s voice echoed down. At first he though she was cheering on Scorch, until he remembered what she knew. Cute. ¡°What can I say,¡± Darin taunted, ¡°they want me to bite you in half.¡± ¡°Die, snack-size.¡± Scorch snarled, then lunged at him. He¡¯d aimed for Darin, but his jaws snapped shut on empty air. As skilled of an escape as it may have seemed, he was still close enough to smell sour breath and count teeth. It was hardly what one would call a margin of safety, but still it worked. From only inches away, Darin¡¯s first attack shrouded his face in flames. He only got got a brief attack in, before Scorch yanked his face away from the fire. The numbers Darin saw in his combat log were so high, he froze in shock. His momentary pause, almost cost him a direct hit.
Attack, Critical Hit: You deal 28 damage, status inflicted Taste Loss, status inflicted Smell Loss.
¡°Damn¡­¡± Was all Darin managed to mumble out, before dodging another massive swipe. I only have 16 HP max, what the hell kind of attack was that? He wondered. Scorch reared back and attempted a slashing combo, as if he were some kind of giant boxer. With his low agility, he ended up looking more like a drunken bear. Still it had forced Darin to keep his distance. If the red whelp had been pissed before, he was seething now. ¡°Scorch his face, scorch his face, scorch his face¡­¡± Someone up top had started chanting. He wasn¡¯t sure which whelp it was, and he didn¡¯t have time to turn and look. Much to his joy, his foe was not so well disciplined. ¡°Shut up!¡± Scorch yelled at them, taking a moment to stare daggers at the crowd. He was used to being at the top of pecking order. This taunting and insolence, it was not something he would tolerate. In his moment of distraction, Darin made a mad dash. With his crazy agility, the smaller whelp might have made it to the other side of the bridge. But instead of running for the exit, he ran under the red whelp and began his next attack. From his chest to his tail, Darin ran beneath his own personal Goliath. For the length of the run, Darin¡¯s head was held high. It wasn¡¯t a simple matter of pride, it was so that he could breathe flames the entire way. Above him, the angry red whelp screamed in pain. It was already a satisfying attack run, but once he passed the sheathed nether regions, the scream went up an octave. His combat log, told all.
Attack: You deal 14 damage. Attack: You deal 14 damage, status inflicted Burning. Burning: You deal 7 damage. Attack, Cheap Shot: You deal 28 damage, status inflicted A Man¡¯s Pain. Burning: You deal 7 damage.
¡°Bastard¡­¡± Scorch squeaked out, before dropping down to the ground, trying to crush him. Darin managed to dodge to the side, but not without getting kicked by a flailing leg.
Dragon whelp has dealt you 5 damage. Burning: 7 damage. Burning: 7 damage, target is no longer on fire.
Staggered by the blow, Darin came to a stop with his back left leg hanging out over the air. A quick flick of his tail confirmed he¡¯d reached the edge of the bridge. For a brief moment he made eye contact with his foe, it was a terrible mistake. Both of Scorch¡¯s eyes were bloodshot from pain. Even with the reduced pain filters, having your chestnuts over an open fire must have hurt. There was something savage, angry and desperate in the way he looked at Darin. Only one thing was certain though, an unspoken promise of pain. ¡°Scorch them off, scorch them off, scorch them off¡­¡± The chant echoed down from above. The chanter, no chanters had changed the words in response to the battle. A moment later, Darin was forced to jump up to dodge a lashing tail. He was careful to keep his wings closed, lest he be disqualified. As he landed, Scorch shifted his posture to bring a back leg into play as well. It seemed odd to see him attack while laying down, but he did have his reasons. Still keeping your nuts out of the line of fire. Smart, for once. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°No where left to run. I¡¯ve got your cornered, and it¡¯s time to pay for that.¡± Scorch declared, with less bravado than before. He was still angry, but he seemed to be using his head now. Over all, that didn¡¯t bode well. Scorch kicked with his hind claws, cringing as he did. Must still hurt. Seeing no other escape, Darin jumped onto the attacking leg and ran on top of his foe. The cheering and jeering from above was distracting, so Darin did his best to tune it out. Seeing no good targets to attack from Scorch¡¯s hip, he did the only thing that came to mind.
Mighty Peck: You deal 1 damage, status inflicted Armor Break. Mighty Peck: You deal 2 damage, status inflicted Armor Break. Mighty Peck: You deal 3 damage, status inflicted Armor Break.
That has got to be the most embarrassing attack in the whole damned game, Darin grumbled in his head. He¡¯d managed to slam his face into his foe 3 times before being forced to dodge a puff of flame. He got ready to breathe fire on his foe, when a tail smacked him in the back. Stumbling forward, trying to regain his balance, his claws sank into Scorch¡¯s wing and got tangled.
Tail whip: Dragon whelp has dealt you 6 damage. Attack, Critical Hit: You deal 4 damage, status inflicted Wing Damage.
¡°Just die already!¡± Scorch snarled at him, his voice filled with both anger and desperation. Darin had trouble getting his claws free, which seemed to cause more pain. In a desperate move, the larger whelp began to roll over, fully intending to crush the pest on his back. Darin hit him with a quick gout of flame, but it wasn¡¯t enough to stop the roll.
Attack: You deal 14 damage.
The stone of the bridge rolled towards him fast, at the last moment Darin opened his beak in surprise. He rolled the wrong way. Instead of being turned into a fine paste below his opponent, Darin found himself dangling over the edge of the bridge. As the rolling continued, both whelps fell to the dirt below. Much to Darin¡¯s relief he ended up beside the red whelp, rather than under him. A system notification greeted them both.
You have fallen off the bridge into the mud and been disqualified. . . . Your opponent has fallen off the bridge. Update: Draw.
¡°Mud?¡± Darin asked, looking at the cracked dirt below them. As the battle was over, he took a moment to separate himself from his opponents wing. ¡°Sometimes it is mud. They just didn¡¯t water it today.¡± Scorch informed him, sounding both tired and defeated. ¡°You¡¯ve done this before?¡± Darin asked. The look it earned him, made him realize it was a stupid question. Scorch sighed and seemed to deflate. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve done it before and I¡¯ll do it again. After I performed that badly, I doubt I¡¯ll earn my name this week either.¡± He complained. It was surprising how swift he¡¯d gone melancholy. ¡°If this keeps up, I might just delete and make a squishy.¡± ¡°A squishy?¡± ¡°A human, an elf, you know anything small-¡± Scorch paused and looked at Darin a moment. ¡°Well, smaller than most dragons and poorly armored. They tend to squish if you pounce on them.¡± Darin winced, recalling his episode with Greed in the hallway. ¡°I see¡­¡± Was all he could manage to say as he got up. Wondering about the flight rule, he began walking towards the ramp at a slow and steady pace. To his surprise, the red whelp joined him a moment later. The larger whelps jaw muscles were clenching and shifting, as if he were chewing on something. It was a few seconds before either spoke again. ¡°So why do they like you so much? And why do they hate me?¡± Scorch asked, giving a voice to his inner monologue. The question caught his companion off guard. ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± Darin paused to gather his thoughts a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t think they hate you. I think they are getting pissed that you wont listen. They¡¯ve given us a lot of hints during the trials, but it seems like only a few of us are even listening.¡± Darin admitted, as they began walking up the long slope. ¡°They did?¡± He asked. ¡°Exactly. You¡¯ve been too busy telling them things, but you haven¡¯t listened to them. Like they pointed out how honor is important to dragons, and you seemed to ignore them.¡± ¡°No I didn¡¯t!¡± Scorch protested, his tone growing more defensive as they talked. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing all of this to build my honor up, and earn my reputation as a powerful dragon¡­¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been building up your honor. And you haven¡¯t been working to protect your honor.¡± Darin stated with a sigh. When the larger whelp gave him a confused look, he decided to elaborate. ¡°You¡¯ve been focused on your Pride, not your Honor. An honorable dragon would do their best during each trial. A proud dragon would try to make themselves look the best during each trial.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t even push the stone in the other trial.¡± Scorch countered. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s true. But in my defense, I had no way to move that large of a stone. The direct test was impossible for me to complete, so I did what I could to pass the indirect test.¡± Darin explained. ¡°Indirect test?¡± Scorch asked. He¡¯d never heard them mention another test in that room. ¡°I knew my limits. I couldn¡¯t move the rock, and the elders all knew it.¡± Darin stated, getting a nod from Scorch. ¡°So I chose not to bring Shame on myself. If I¡¯d spent the test throwing myself at the stone, I¡¯d have looked pathetic. You can¡¯t argue against that one either.¡± ¡°Okay, you have a point. But how does that relate?¡± Scorch asked, still looking for the point to all this. ¡°I knew my own limits, which is a good thing. I had no choice but to fail the test. So I chose to fail it with my honor intact. Rather than fail the test and bring shame on myself. A lot of the other tests had little things like that as well.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Scorch asked. It seemed that Darin had his full attention. ¡°For instance, I think you slipped up in the fire breathing test. Sure you managed a fireball, but your aim was terrible. You barely hit the stone, which showed that you hadn¡¯t been practicing. And you tried to fire another and couldn¡¯t, which told them you had no idea of your own limits. It was pathetic.¡± Darin told him, only realizing afterward that he probably shouldn¡¯t have added the final judgment. Anger flared in the larger whelps eyes, but only for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it¡­¡± Scorch muttered, as they neared the top of the ramp. As they neared the top of the room, they realized that everyone else had gone quiet. Every dragon in the room seemed to be looking right at Darin. Not all of them were giving him favorable looks. He realized then, that their little private conversation had been anything but private. Can I go one day, just one day, without sticking my claw in my beak? - - - - - Author¡¯s Notes: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, sorry it was a little late. Yes, I know he did a ton of damage to Scorch. Size matters with endurance and endurance matters with HP. He actually did pretty well, considering that he was fighting someone with 10x his HP. Thank you for all the feedback and encouragement. It was really neat to see so many people discussing what would happen next. I always have to be careful when I reply. I don¡¯t want to give spoilers or ruin a good surprise. Once again, thank you all for the reads, replies, follows, favorites and reviews. It helps to know I¡¯m not just posting into the void. Chapter 26 - Clearing the Air Silence lingered in the air as Dustin came to a stop. Even the elders were giving him strange, conflicted looks. Amongst them all, Firebrand was the first to break the silence. ¡°You know, I didn¡¯t expect you to win. And you didn¡¯t. But I am surprised you earned a draw.¡± She stated. Several heads nodded in agreement. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d get that far either.¡± Darin admitted, being honest. A few of the whelps blinked in surprise. ¡°But you weren¡¯t afraid of him, even with your wings clipped. You just went into battle like it was a walk in caves.¡± Greenie stated, remembering events under a different light. Even the red whelp was eying him now. ¡°I knew I was out matched.¡± He stated, glancing at Scorch. ¡°But if I showed fear, he would have monopolized on it. If I acted rashly, he¡¯d have taken me out in a few good hits. So I went in calmly and casually, using that to throw him off balance instead.¡± Darin stated, tossing his foe an apologetic look. Much to their surprise, Firebrand roared with laughter. ¡°In all my years, I have never seen someone run under their foe like that. I will admit it was a creative use of your size.¡± Dark Flame stated. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you scorched him, down there.¡± The blue dragoness stated, trying not to laugh. ¡°I might have wanted to do that very same thing to someone before. But that was the first time I¡¯d seen it done.¡± Her words brought laughter from a few, but cringes from many others. ¡°The real problem right now-¡± Blood Claw began, looking right at Darin. ¡°Is that you¡¯ve been a little too loose with your words, young one.¡± Dark Flame stated, traces of disapproval in his voice. The other elders nodded, leaving an uneasy feeling in the air. ¡°You figured out more than most have ever bothered to. But by saying it aloud, you¡¯ve removed an element of natural selection. Thus you¡¯ve either saved, or tainted some of your fellow whelps.¡± ¡°Leave him be Dark Flames. He just spelled out what we¡¯ve been trying to make obvious anyway. And you confirmed it all, when you scolded him about it.¡± Firebrand replied. When he tried to argue with her, she raised the ridge over her eye while staring at him. ¡°So less is left to chance now, and more depends on their common sense. I don¡¯t see that as a problem. We¡¯ll just keep an eye on this batch of whelps and see if they do better or worse over time.¡± The blue dragoness suggested. ¡°Very well, there isn¡¯t much we can do to make them forget what he said. So I guess Blue Shark has a valid point.¡± Dark Flame stated, trying not to grin at the use of her name. She growled at him, annoyed at the use of her name. Blue Shark, what the hell does a dragon have to do to earn a name like that? Darin wondered. ¡°It¡¯s already been said Shark, I know you don¡¯t like your name but, they all heard it. While we are waiting for Dark Flame to show maturity, we still have two whelps who haven¡¯t battled yet.¡± Blood Claw stated, looking to the green and blue whelps. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± She asked them. Catching their clue they rushed over the side of the pit to make their way down. A few seconds later, there was a cry of panic, and a loud thump echoed up from the pit. Joining the others at the edge of the pit, Darin looked down in disbelief. Far below them lay two dragons, entangled and splayed out at odd angles. Well, that must suck. ¡°Oh great, another draw.¡± Dark Flame commented, tossing a verbal barb at Darin and Scorch. ¡°At least they got to it quickly this time.¡± He added, with no sense of shame. ¡°Well, there goes that test.¡± Blue Shark muttered, wondering to do about it. ¡°I don¡¯t know, they did kind of make an impression.¡± Darin stated, unwilling to pass up a good joke. ¡°That¡¯s the wrong kind of impression to make.¡± Firebrand stated in a serious tone. Then she cringed when Darin and a few others burst into laughter. His wordplay clicked a moment later and she groaned. ¡°Ugh, I can believe I just walked into that¡­¡± ¡°And she fell for it too.¡± Darin added in mirth. Several others turned to him in disbelief. Blood Claw was the only one to laugh, with her warped sense of humor. Tough crowd, I didn¡¯t even make a dent. ¡°So what was that about honor and how we act?¡± Scorch asked him, dealing a low blow. It caught him off guard and he froze with his beak wide open. He¡¯d have countered with a fancy retort, if it weren¡¯t true. ¡°If you two are done with nap time, come back up before we go to the next trial.¡± Dark Flame called down to them. It seemed the elders were serious about calling it a draw. A minute later, when all the whelps were gathered, Blood Claw covered them all in a breath of golden mist. It was a simple thing, but no one complained about having their wounds healed. Maybe I can learn that some day, Darin pondered. ¡°Normally I would have all of you fight further, to take better stock of you.¡± Firebrand stated. ¡°But we¡¯ve had three ties in a row, and only one of them was a good show. I¡¯d rather not see more of that today.¡± The other elders nodded in agreement. Several of the whelps just looked down in shame. ¡°Trial of the Hunter?¡± Blood Claw suggested. There weren¡¯t many trials left to choose from, and she seemed hopeful. If there was one thing in the universe that could always motivate the young, it was their stomachs. ¡°Lead on then, Den Mother. Let us see if this lot can hunt. Or if they would simply starve in the wilds.¡± Blue Shark agreed. There was something in her voice, that didn¡¯t show confidence. While the others grew nervous at the prospect, Darin grew quite excited. It was quite possible that the hunting grounds were outside. And if took the main exit, he¡¯d be able to see the forest with his own eyes. As the group marched on, Darin tried to memorize the pathways. After the first few minutes, he gave up realizing he would be hopelessly lost. The caves must have been expanded a great deal since the time of Ember and Shadow. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. When they reached the exit to the hunting grounds, it was disappointing. Darin knew right away this was not the same exit. The old entrance had been a large room with a massive opening, which faced the world outside. The hunting grounds had but a small room, one that served as a guard post. The cave mouth was much smaller, forcing the elders to pass in single file. The moment they stepped outside, Darin was blinded by the light. He squinted and stumbled, beneath the blazing light of the sun. ¡°Are those your trees?¡± Greenie asked him. As his eyes cleared he looked about and shook his head. They were in a small enclosed valley, ringed on all sides by mountain ridges. There were trees here, but they looked wrong. This was something akin to a pine forest, he recognized that from other games. He doubted any of the trees reached more than 50 feet high. The trees seemed as small to him, as he seemed to other dragons. He realized that several of the others were looking at him. ¡°No. These are not the trees my ancestors hunted in. These are not the trees from my memories.¡± He stated. When they kept looking at him, he decided to elaborate. ¡°In the forest that they kept, the trees were a good five times taller and much thicker. They were shaped more like oaks than these pines. And they-¡± ¡°Fir trees, these are fir trees not pines.¡± Spikey commented. Darin just shot him a dirty look and continued. ¡°Those trees grew fast with magic and they grew tall. They were spaced far enough apart that they¡¯d never compete for sunlight and would never fully choke out the ground cover. These trees,¡± he gestured at them, ¡°are growing where the seeds fell. They fight for the sun, they choke out the grasses that our prey feed upon and they fall into one another when they break.¡± He said with disgust. He didn¡¯t have long to focus on his sorrows, as the elders would have none of it. ¡°If you are quite through with story time. We have a trial to partake of. Den Mother, if you would.¡± Firebrand stated, not caring much about the past. ¡°The trial of the Hunter is rather simple. You,¡± she paused to eye the whelps, ¡°will hunt in the valley and make a kill. Once you have found and killed your prey, you will bring it back to us so that we may judge. You will all have one hour to hunt, you may bring back more than one prey. But if you bring nothing back, you will have failed.¡± ¡°And if it¡¯s too heavy for me?¡± Darin asked, getting a few odd looks. The exchanged a few glances and in the end Blue Shark sighed. ¡°Fine, if you¡¯ve made a kill and it¡¯s too heavy call out to me. Sit on it and call out, and I¡¯ll come collect it for you. Not that I expect you to get anything large, but it wouldn¡¯t be fair to force you to hunt only rabbits and mice.¡± She grumbled. Her words caused more than a little laughter from his peers. ¡°Shadow was a very skilled hunter, his memories will serve me well.¡± It was something about the way he said it, as if stating a fact. There was no boasting in his voice and no trace of uncertainty. It caused all the laughter and mirth around him to stop. ¡°You¡¯re being serious, aren¡¯t you?¡± Greenie asked in surprise. He gave her a nod, in response. ¡°So you remember hunting trips, from before you were hatched?¡± ¡°I already told everyone at the first test. I don¡¯t see why anyone would be surprised to hear me say so now.¡± Darin stated, somewhat annoyed. They¡¯d had enough laughs at his expense, they can¡¯t have forgotten so soon. ¡°Well no. I just thought that was empty boasting. Since you are so small you might need to stretch your story a bit more.¡± Greenie explained. He shot her an angry look, so she looked away. ¡°If you did embellish your history a little, you wouldn¡¯t be the only one.¡± Scorch admitted with a sigh. A few of the others looked away, finding something distracting in the distance. ¡°Wait, so after everything about names and honor-¡± ¡°Yea, I lied. Or at least, I stretched the truth a bit.¡± Scorch said, turning to face the elders. From his expression, it seemed like he expected a harsh punishment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve brought shame upon myself with my actions.¡± ¡°Then you already know, you will not pass this time. But you know now what you must do in the trials next week?¡± Blood Claw asked him. ¡°Yes. I must train myself better first and act like a proper dragon, rather than a whining brat.¡± Scorch stated. Firebrand nodded her approval and the others followed suit. There was something odd about it though. There was no anger, no rage, no wrath¡­they weren¡¯t even surprised. ¡°You already knew! All that shit I had to put up with, but you already knew who was lying and who wasn¡¯t.¡± Darin blurted out, his anger getting the better of him. Firebrand sighed and exhaled a puff of smoke. Blood Claw cringed and looked away. ¡°Damn it!¡± Dark Flame cursed, turning to glare at Darin. ¡°Didn¡¯t we just have this conversation, in the other room?¡± This time, he looked right and truly pissed¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: So close, nearing the end of the trials. In some ways its not moving quite as fast as I expected. I hope you liked the chapter, it wasn¡¯t an easy one to write. On a cheerful side note, I recently passed the 1000 views average line. I know that¡¯s nothing compared to the big name stories, but from my humble start I¡¯m glad to get there. As ever thanks for the feedback and encouragement. Chapter 27 - Shut up and Hunt ¡°Well now, this certainly complicates matters.¡± Firebrand stated, looking from Darin to Dark Flame. Blood Claw remained silent for now, but wore a pained expression. She seemed to be deep in thought. Several of the other whelps, were moving about with nervous tension. The silent question, how much else had they screwed up, hung in the air. All the while, Dark Flame looked ready to demonstrate his name sake. ¡°Well, we never did tell them any of it was a secret. Nor have we sworn him to silence on anything, yet.¡± Blue Shark pointed out, earning her an irate glare from Dark Flame. Despite his ire, the others seemed to agree. ¡°In my years, I have seen many smart whelps and many stupid whelps. But it is rare, that I see a whelps so smart, that they act stupid.¡± Firebrand stated. She wasn¡¯t laughing as she said it, but a few whelps laughed when they heard it. In response, Darin could only droop his wings and lower his head a bit. ¡°He¡¯s still made a mess of things. And we need to tend to this damage, before it spreads.¡± Dark Flame reminded them. ¡°And you¡¯d probably fix the issue, by culling the whole batch. Or perhaps you¡¯d simply cull the brightest in the batch, to make sure dragons in general stay as dumb as you? I¡¯m sure the Mother would be pleased with that.¡± Blue Shark responded, not bothering to hide the venom in her voice. The black dragon was ready to turn on her, when Firebrand interrupted. ¡°You know she¡¯s right. Your quick and dirty solutions to everything would earn our Mother¡¯s wrath. But we do have other, less wasteful ways to deal with this issue. Don¡¯t you agree Blood Claw?¡± She asked, dragging the den mother into the conversation. ¡°Give me a moment to think.¡± Blood Claw requested, taking a moment to ponder before bring up a system window. ¡°All of you.¡± She addressed the whelps as she began typing. ¡°Do you so swear, in the name of the Mother, not to reveal the secrets behind the trials? You may still use what you have learned to better yourself, but you may not share it with others.¡± As she asked them, she finished typing and her box vanished.
Oath of Secrets. You have learned things that you should not. You must keep these things secret, for the good of all. You take this Oath in the Mother¡¯s name. Should you break this Oath, the results shall be most dire. Completion condition: Do not share the secrets behind the Trials of the Nameless for 1000 years, or until they become common knowledge. Reward: You continue to exist. Failure condition: Break the Oath. Penalty: You will earn the Mother¡¯s wrath. She takes betrayal very poorly.
¡°Agreed.¡± Darin stated, causing the message to clear. It seems they took the Trials very seriously. A few moments later, the other whelps had all accepted their Oaths. There was a lot of tension in the air, and even a bit of anger. From the looks the other whelps were giving him, none of them appreciated the additional burden. As ever, the strongest force in the universe seemed to be Darwinism. ¡°You asshole.¡± Spikey snarled at Darin. ¡°Do you know how much I could have traded that information for?¡± He asked, earning him glares from the elders. ¡°Do you know how many favors I could have earned, just for information about the lie detector?¡± He demanded, in a show of grand stupidity. ¡°Silence!¡± Blood Claw warned, but already it was too late. Everyone watched in surprise and horror, as an image of a golden ring appeared above his head and shattered. Multiple simultaneous bolts of lightning struck where the black whelp had been standing, blinding all who watched. When his vision cleared enough to focus, only scorch marks and black smoke remained where the whelp had been. All the whelps stepped back involuntarily, then shot Darin and Blood Claw looks of horror. ¡°He broke his oath and brought it upon himself. No one else is to blame, for his lapse of honor and judgment.¡± Firebrand stated, shaking her head in disbelief. She looked up and glanced at each of the whelps in turn a moment later. ¡°I take it, that all of you will take your oaths more seriously?¡± She asked. No one dared to argue. ¡°You were right.¡± Dark Flame stated, looking quite pleased. ¡°This is a much more enjoyable way to resolve the issue. Would anyone else care to give me a light show?¡± He asked, relishing their fear. When no one responded or broke their oaths, he turned to Darin with a sadistic grin. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve killed off one of your foes. Have you learned to shut up yet? Or are you perhaps looking for ways to get rid of the others?¡± Bastard! He¡¯s clearly enjoying this. Darin shook his head no, unwilling to trust his voice just yet. His eyes must have given his feelings away as the elder scoffed and looked away. ¡°A shame,¡± Dark Flame began, ¡°I was just starting to find you amusing. Oh well, at least you saved me an of hour waiting on the hunt.¡± A few seconds of silence followed his statement. It seemed no one else agreed with his particular brand of humor. A moment later, a somewhat disheartened Blood Claw turned to Darin. ¡°You, go first. Take down your prey and carry it back, or call out to us if it¡¯s too heavy.¡± She told him. He opened his beak to say something, but she cut him off. ¡°Save it. Shut up and hunt.¡± She commanded, doing her best to keep her emotions out of her voice. Darin didn¡¯t want to argue, he¡¯d just cost her one of her charges. Even if, it was a really stupid one. ¡°One hour.¡± Firebrand reminded him, as he took flight. ¡°I wonder if he knows-¡± Was all he heard behind him, as he flew out of earshot. knows about what? He wondered, as he began to soar over the forest of pines. He realized by the sights and smells that it was early in the year, spring perhaps. The plants were thriving, but the whole forest smelled of old pine needles. It was musty, nothing like his own forest. I better make it quick, so I can get out of here. He hadn¡¯t seen any prey from above the trees yet, so he may need to fly lower to see more clearly. A shrill cry behind him, let him know that something had seen him. A glance over his shoulder showed him a ugly red bird was following. It also gave him the moment he needed to use identify. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Blood Vulture, Level 5.
¡°Great. Just what I needed.¡± He grumbled, before looping back in a wide arc to meet his. The creatures must have worked by a detection radius, as he looped back to his target, two more screeched and took flight. He didn¡¯t have time to look back as he was closing with the first vulture. Just before impact, the vulture pulled up to bring its talons into play. Darin folded his wings and dove under it, filling the air above him with flames. A horrid noise filled the air as his attack landed, causing excited cries from the other vultures. He spread his wings again and spared a glance at his combat logs. It was hard not to be pleased, with what he saw there.
Attack, Critical Hit: You deal 31 damage, status inflicted Burning, status inflicted Burning Feathers. Burning: You deal 15 damage. Burning: You deal 16 damage.
¡°I guess they don¡¯t have fire resistance.¡± He pondered aloud. He¡¯d gotten more distance, and a few more damage indicators, before the sounds changed. He looked back over his shoulder, and was so startled he lost altitude and almost slammed into a tree. Instead of following him the other two Blood Vultures had turned on their weakened brethren. It tried to defend itself, as each bit down on a side and started draining the life from it. He steadied his flight to a hover, and watched in horror. Together, they drained it of blood and dropped the corpse to the forest floor. Full and happy, the remaining vultures flew back to their own nests. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll try flying below the canopy.¡± He muttered. Dropping to only 10 feet above the ground, he was forced to fly at a much slower pace. While pine trees loved to shed their lower branches, there were plenty of exceptions. Several large branches near ground level had been broken off, leaving a forest of natural spears aimed at the unwary. He had little doubt of what would happen if he flew into one by mistake. This place is annoying, he grumbled in silence. He flew around for several minutes, until he heard sounds of animals in the distance. Heading that way, he spotted a fair cluster of deer-like creatures. Much to his disappointment, and despite the time of year, the males still wore their antlers. He was ready to mimic Shadow¡¯s hunting skills, but at this height, he was spotted too soon. A cry of alarm sounded from one of herd, causing Darin to cringe. Much to his surprise, the creatures didn¡¯t flee. Instead the males gathered towards him and formed ranks. ¡°Identify.¡± He mumbled, focusing on one in the center. There was no longer any reason to remain silent.
Guardian Buck, Level 12.
Five of the bucks in the center, lowered their heads in unison and snorted. Oh shit! For a second or two, no one moved. Darin was debating retreat, when they all dashed at him. He had no doubt that a single one of these creatures could do him in, if he gave it a fair fight. But five of charging together looked like a scene from a horror film. In a panic, he flew to the side, only to have them change their course to match. He ducked behind a tree for shelter, and gained height as fast as he could. A loud crash could be heard, and the tree smacked into him. Below him, two deer passed on each side, looped wide and returned to the herd. A quick glance at his combat log confirmed his fear.
Attack: You deal 20 damage. Guardian Buck has dealt you 1 damage.
¡°So if I cause damage indirectly, I still get attributed with the damage. Useful to know. I guess I should be careful what I set on fire then.¡± Taking one look at the angry buck below him Darin shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll go find something a bit closer to my level.¡± He declared and took off, flying away from the herd. Much to his displeasure, the beast kept following him. By the time Darin had regenerated his missing HP, he realized the Buck had no range limit. It had taken damage in their battle and was not so quick to forgive. ¡°So what the hell am I going to do with you?¡± He asked it. In response it snorted and shook it¡¯s antlers at him. He¡¯d already wasted a good 15 minutes of his hour. Even if he managed to escape the beast, he doubted he would have much time left to hunt. With a sigh, he started to circle the buck looking for openings. The beast however was careful to keep it¡¯s antlers between them. He tried flying over it, but it reared up on it¡¯s hind legs and almost impaled him. ¡°Bastard.¡± He cried, shooting flames at it no avail. The fire didn¡¯t even singe the antlers, ruling out his favorite attack. Darin flew up and landed on a branch in frustration. How the hell am I-shit. He leapt off the branch and took flight, just before the Buck rammed the tree. His combat log updated again, and the beast glared at him with hatred. Maybe this wont be so hard after all, he mused. Flying across the small gap, he landed on the branch of another tree and waited. The beast scuffed the ground and snorted. Much to his disappointment, it refused to make the same mistake again. Adaptive AI. Great, just great. - - - - - Author¡¯s notes: I hope you enjoyed the chapter and sorry for ending the chapter before the battle ends. Honestly, it seems like the best time to do so with what¡¯s ahead. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and that no one was overly fond of Spikey. Chapter 27, means I¡¯ve been writing and posting for 28 days straight. My goal is at least a month, and from then on to make writing part of my normal life. I just went back and cleared the Author¡¯s Notes out of my previous chapters in my editor program. It tells my I have over 51,000 words written, but it lies. BBCode tags are probably 2-3 thousand words. Still, that¡¯s pretty sweet so don¡¯t mind if I do a happy dance. As ever, thank you for the positive feed back and encouragements. As ever; Comments, corrections, feedback, follows, favorites and reviews(especially ones with depth), are always appreciated. Thank you all! Chapter 28 - To the point ¡°You aren¡¯t going to make this easy on me, are you?¡± Darin asked. Below him, the Guardian Buck snorted and stomped. ¡°Didn¡¯t think so.¡± He complained. As the buck walked up and started examining his tree, Darin was busy studying the forest around them. He still hadn¡¯t seen any type of wood, other than these smelly pines. He¡¯d have flown much faster, if not for all those broken branches jutting out from the trees. An idea began to form, as the branch below him shook. A glance down showed him that his prey, was now up on it¡¯s hind legs, stomping against the tree. There wasn¡¯t much noise, but the branch he was on began to shake with each impact. Darin hadn¡¯t lost any HP yet, but the tree was starting to show damage. Annoying little-. Crack! The branch beneath him swung downward, causing Darin to take flight in alarm. The falling wood hit the buck, but it didn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°You wont catch me that easily, hat stand.¡± Darin taunted. He doubted the words made much difference, but he wasn¡¯t beyond trying. For the first time since the battle began, Darin wanted to be followed. If it¡¯s crazy, but it works, it¡¯s not crazy¡­right? ¡°Too ashamed to go back a failure? Too bad, you¡¯ll never catch me.¡± He taunted, then then took off at high speed. His foe let out a bestial cry and gave chase. Somewhere between madness and bravery, Darin let himself drop to a high that the buck could reach him. But as he made his way across the forest, he wove from tree to tree, choosing the ones with the thickest branches at ground level. He was rewarded with loud snapping sounds and cries of pain. But the hoof beats continued to hammer the ground, not that far behind him. Darin heard his heart, pounding in his ears, as the wind rushed past. He was flying as fast as he could manage, avoiding branches by only a narrow margin. Over time the pounding of hoofs grew nearer and nearer, but he¡¯d been writing that off as fear. When he felt something hard touch his tail, he realized the chase was almost over. Faster damn it! Just a bit faster. He was almost back to where the other dragons waited. His lungs ached and his wings felt like they were on fire. He might have appreciated the realism, had it come at a better time. As he crossed a clearing, his eyes flicked down to the damage logs. A long string of low damage hits had battered his foe. It¡¯s not enough! Where? I need to find- There! Veering off with a sharp twist, he felt the antlers strike his leg, but without a solid impact they failed to pierce his scales. He only gained a sliver of time, as beast soon corrected it¡¯s course. ¡°Too close!¡± He screamed, as he aimed just right of a thick tree. His wings were about to give out, and he could hear the breath of the buck behind him. Oh shit! At the very last moment, he yanked his wings and swung hard to the left. He¡¯d tried to duck under the branch, but instead had clipped it and tumbled through the air. A horrible cry filled the air as the buck turned to follow. Unable to change course as quickly, it slammed sideways into the tree. A thick pine branch, now coated red, stuck out from the neck of the deer. Darin started to laugh as he picked himself up, only to gasp in pain. The buck jerked its head, letting out a cry of pain, but was unable to free itself. Darin looked to his combat log as he limped to flank his prey.
Attack, Critical Hit: You deal 40 damage, status inflicted Bleeding, status inflicted Immobilized. Guardian Buck has dealt you 8 damage, status inflicted Broken Wing, status inflicted Broken Leg. Bleeding: You deal 20 damage. Bleeding: You deal 18 damage. Bleeding: You deal 16 damage.
¡°Damn it.¡± Darin grumbled, as he shuffled around the back of the tree. The bleeding damage continued to eat away at the beast, but it showed no signs of dying. The crazy beast even tried to kick him, but it couldn¡¯t get a good angle around the tree. Darin charred it¡¯s hind legs from the side, unwilling to trust bleeding to finish the job.
Attack: You deal 14 damage. Bleeding: You deal 4 damage. Attack: You deal 14 damage, status inflicted Burning. Burning: You deal 7 damage. Bleeding: You deal 2 damage, Bleeding has worn off. Attack: You deal 14 damage, status inflicted Mobility Decrease. Burning: You deal 7 damage. Immobilization has worn off.
Darin moved back in fear, as the Buck wrenched itself off the tree. A moment later, it had turned around to face him. In his current state, he could neither run nor fly. From a half dozen feet away, the beast glared at him with bloodshot eyes and lowered its antlers. ¡°After all that, I still lose.¡± He said with a sigh. The buck dashed at him, but after three steps it stumbled and fell on it¡¯s side. The crippled hind legs, had been unable to keep up with the attack. No sooner than it had fallen, the buck begun trying to right itself. As slow as he was, Darin moved in snapped his beak shut on it spine. A loud crack echoed through the now quiet forest. It jerked once, let out a weak cry and fell over dead. A familiar golden light surrounded Darin. Rings of vibrant color cascaded down around him. He felt a sudden warmth, followed by a bit of pain, as his bones moved back into place. A system message appeared, and he was more than happy to see it.
Congratulations, you have reached Level 3. You have been awarded 2 stat points and 0 evolution points. You have not changed in size.
¡°Woohoo!¡± He cried out. He was eager to spend his stats then and there, until he realized how unwise that would be. First things first, he reminded himself. Darin leaned over to the fallen buck and stuck his beak to the neck wound, trying to drink. Instead of hot chocolate, he was awarded with the taste of hot spiced cider. The game¡¯s way of telling him, this was a good source of food. As he started to drink, when a notification distracted him.
Keen Tongue: Guardian Blood. A base evolutionary material for the {Blood Dragon} path. Fill evolution stomach? YES / NO
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Gross. No.¡± He stated and declined it. He had looked up what it offered, but didn¡¯t think it would suit him well. After seeing the Blood Vultures earlier, he didn¡¯t want to become anything like them. However, that didn¡¯t stop him from drinking his fill. Hypocrite, he poked fun at himself. ¡°So if blood is one option¡­¡± He pondered aloud. After a bit of trial and error, he discovered two interesting things. The first was that he didn¡¯t have to eat something, only touch it with his tongue, to identify it. The second was that the antlers were also a valid material.
Keen Tongue: Majestic Antlers. A base evolutionary material for the {Bone Dragon} path.
Darin pondered it for a moment, but Bone Dragons were heavy melee fighters. Given how terrible his physical stats were, it seemed like a dead-end evolution. He considered seeing if any other parts of the buck would qualify. But he decided against it, there were a lot of parts that he¡¯d rather not try and taste. With his future starting to open up, he decided to grab a bit of loot. It took him a minute, but he was able to separate the antlers from the skull with minimal damage. Much to his joy, they still somehow fit in his tiny backpack. He knew there was no way he could drag the creature back, not in the time that remained. Projecting his voice as best he could, he called in the direction of the others. ¡°Blue Shark. I¡¯ve taken down large prey.¡± He heard a faint response in the distance, then looked down at his meal. Something felt off to him. It was quiet, and he¡¯d made his first kill. Oh what the hell, I¡¯ll celebrate, he decided. Tipping his head back, he found that the words came with ease. ¡°Join us now, a feast has come. Waste not food, the deed is done. We share our prize, we share our strength. So hunger will not claim our kin. As our Mother teaches, I too shall abide. So join me at the feast here, and share food by my side.¡± Darin had gone through three iterations, before he noticed Blue Shark. She stood in silence, watching with a dazed look upon her face. He stopped, once the fourth was completed. She blinked at him, her mouth hanging open, as she looked for words she couldn¡¯t find. The snapping of branches brought them back to the present. A moment later Greenie, Scorch, and Firebrand emerged from the woods. Each of them wore a strange expression. The five dragons looked at one another in the awkward silence that followed. ¡°What was with that weird song? Wait, you killed that?¡± Scorch asked, looking down at the dead buck. He was the first to break the silence. ¡°It was a song my parents would sing. And it wasn¡¯t an easy hunt. It nearly killed me instead.¡± Darin admitted. ¡°By rights it should have. It had you by 10 levels.¡± Firebrand stated, looking between Darin and the corpse. After a few seconds she laughed and shook her head. ¡°So I suppose it¡¯s only fair that you took the horns as a trophy, or ate them.¡± ¡°Horns?¡± Greenie asked. She glanced down at the blood spots on the head, then back to Darin. ¡°Is that how you got the blood on your face?¡± With a sigh Darin reached back to his pack, and pulled free the pair of antlers. Each one was larger than him, once removed from the pack. ¡°Pretty.¡± She muttered, that was his warning sign, so he put them away. ¡°I find the antlers interesting, and I think Greed might be able to trade them to passing merchants.¡± Darin explained, choosing to not respond to the question about the blood. For all I know, that¡¯s another social taboo. The elders nodded in agreement, confirming his suspicions. ¡°I assume we eat it, once we are done here. But shall we take this back so that I can pass the trial?¡± ¡°You already have.¡± Blue Shark informed him, scooping up the corpse and swinging it over her shoulder. ¡°Normally, I would refrain from judgment aloud. But given this feat, I¡¯ll beat Dark Flame into submission if he disagrees.¡± ¡°Seconded.¡± Firebrand stated, giving Darin a wink. Somewhere along the line, he must have made a good impression. Her harsh disposition had softened since the trial of flames. A few minutes later, they¡¯d rejoined the other¡¯s by the cave. And by then, Darin realized just how hungry he was. Blood Claw was kind enough to rip a rear haunch off for him, before the others tore into the rest. It was already half-cooked from the fight and it took him very little time to get it right. Why it tasted like smoked sausages, Darin wondered if he¡¯d ever figure out. While the other whelps went hunting, conversation was light at best. Darin spent most of the time studying his character sheet. Well that and cursing under his breath. His size, still crippled most of his physical stats. And his inner gamer, was agonizing over how to spend the points.
CHARACTER SHEET
NAME:Whelp*RACE:Dragon
GENDER:MaleSUB SPECIES:Primal
LEVEL:3PROGRESS:55.00%
FREE POINTS:2 Stat, 0 EvolutionHEALTH:20 / 20
REGEN:HP +0.07, MP +0.45MAGIC:77 / 77
STRENGTH:2~FORTITUDE:3~
AGILITY:60DEFENSE:11
KARMA:4RENOWN:51
LOAD:10.0 / 19.05 Stones.SIZE FACTOR:0.25
- - - - - Authors notes: I told the parts I had to, and I moved it ahead. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for reading my story thus far, and for the positive feedback many of you have given. Let me know if I slipped up somewhere, I¡¯ll try and fix it. Thanks and good night. Chapter 29 - To what remains ¡°Would you please stop mumbling to yourself and pick something?¡± Blood Claw asked. He¡¯d been at it so long that two other whelps to finished their hunts. Well, finish may be a tad generous of a term. The blue whelp had rejoined them after respawning in the hatchery. The wyvern though, had at least managed to return with a dead Blood Vulture. Darin looked up from his character sheet, and realized that the others were staring as well. ¡°I don¡¯t want to mess it up, I didn¡¯t get a lot of points.¡± He explained, in his own defense. Firebrand just shook her head at him. Her expression was somewhere between amusement and annoyance. ¡°Just put them in Size. You¡¯re too small anyway.¡± Scorch suggested. There was no malice in his voice, but there was an obvious disconnect. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Darin explained. ¡°Size, defense, carry weight, HP and MP are all locked.¡± That drew a few odd looks from the others. Blood Claw mumbled under her breath and studied the window the appeared. ¡°I see. Well, you still have physical and mental stats you can spend them on. Honestly, you are fretting far too much.¡± Blood Claw advised him. ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty more points in time. For now, just spend them on what ever gives you the largest return.¡± She then gave him a glare, one that dared him to disagree. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. If I can¡¯t kill them, I may as well be able to escape them.¡± Darin grumbled, as he put both points into his Agility. His base Agility raised from 15 to 17, which factored with his Size raised his effective stat to 68. Much to his disappointment, it didn¡¯t affect his other stats. The lack of visual changes or special effects also seemed underwhelming. Maybe I just move a bit faster now, he pondered. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Scorch asked, when Darin¡¯s window closed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been in a rotten mood for an hour, with your beak pressed to the status window. Then she nudges you once, just once, and you go with it?¡± He asked. Darin didn¡¯t know how to answer at first. It was true, but somehow it wasn¡¯t quite accurate. Blood Claw had already earned his trust. Beyond that, it was her job to help new players. ¡°If she hadn¡¯t said something, I might have.¡± Firebrand stated, much to their surprise. ¡°In battle he thought fast and acted faster. Doing so served him well. But left to his own time and devices, he¡¯d have gone all day before making a simple decision. Heed me whelps, you are far too young to let such a small decision bewitch you for so long a time. When you are old and tired, then you can act senile like Dark Flame.¡± ¡°Indeed- What?¡± Dark Flame asked, turning to glare at her. He puffed himself up before returning her insult. ¡°Insolent soldier, I am an Elder and to be respected.¡± ¡°So am I.¡± Firebrand reminded him, taking him down a peg. ¡°Me too.¡± Blue Shark added, though no one had asked her. The black dragon glared at both of them before exhaling smoke. ¡°Are you really threatening a member of the Fire Clan, with flames?¡± Firebrand asked, not bothering to hide her amusement. That must have meant something to the others, because he huffed once and turned away. ¡°I thought not.¡± She added, sounding quite pleased. ¡°Insolent wyrm.¡± He muttered before looking back to the forest. ¡°Has it been long enough to disqualify her yet?¡± Dark Flame asked. ¡°It¡¯s been less than 10 minutes since the green one went in.¡± Blue Shark reminded him. He glared at her in disgust and laid down. ¡°Can we get one of the others to break the oath?¡± Dark Flame suggested, looking for ways to break his boredom. When the others glared at him, he snorted and let his eyes drift closed. ¡°Typical.¡± Blood Claw muttered. ¡°Growing senile.¡± Blue Shark replied. To which the other¡¯s nodded. Not long afterwords, a low rhythmic rumbling announced that the elder was down for his nap. Not a bad idea actually. ¡°If I were to nap, would you wake me before we moved on?¡± Darin asked, as he¡¯d exerted both body and mind earlier. ¡°Go ahead. We will wake you, when it is time.¡± Blood Claw assured him. A glance upward showed that the sun had almost reached it¡¯s zenith. A siesta then, Darin mused before closing his eyes. * * * * * ¡°Come now, we are ready for you.¡± Darin wasn¡¯t sure who was speaking, but it didn¡¯t sound like Blood Claw. ¡°Young one. We have taken the time to prepare, don¡¯t let it be wasted.¡± The voice urged him on. With a slow and muddled effort, Darin roused himself from his sleep. With great effort he opened his weary eyes, only to find confusion. The amber glow of sunset, colored the distant sky. But wasn¡¯t it mid-day when we were hunting? He mused. ¡°Did I miss it?¡± He cried out in alarm, snapping awake and leaving claw marks in the ground. He looked around in panic, but only found a single dragon near him. It was the wyvern elder with the marbled hide. ¡°No young one, no. Calm down.¡± Tome instructed, his voice was both soothing and level. ¡°But where are the others? Shouldn¡¯t we be moving on to the next test? Have I been left behind to fail?¡± Darin asked, unable to keep the fear out of his voice. If nothing else, it was an unpleasant way to awake. ¡°Do not fear little one, all is well. Yes, the others have moved on to their next trial. Long since, actually. But no, you have not failed. Blood Claw stayed with you until I was able to arrive and keep watch. She oversaw the final testing of the others and now, as the sun sets we are able to test you as well.¡± Tome stated in a calm and pleasant voice. ¡°I- I don¡¯t understand. I thought we would all take the tests together.¡± Darin told him, looking to the elder for some explanation. ¡°And you have, for all your normal trials. Even if they were not in proper order. Your final test, I regret, is not a normal test at all. With all that you have said and done in this day, you have created circumstances we need to deal with.¡± Tome explained, or tried to anyway. The more he spoke, the more it put Darin ill at ease. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°And just what will be involved, elder Tome?¡± He asked. In response the elder sighed. ¡°I fear that I am poorly explaining this. My answers are only causing more questions, and I fear that will be the case for quite a while. Come, let us skip this headache and simply go now to your trial.¡± The elder had not stated it as a request. Nor was it the most friendly wording, despite the elder¡¯s prior assurances. But as the Elder turned about, Darin was left with no choice but to follow. ¡°Where are we going?¡± He asked, in hopes he might learn more along the way. The elder wyvern turned his neck and glared at Darin a moment without even bothering to stop. ¡°We are going to the Council Chamber, now that all is prepared. So save your questions until we have arrived.¡± Tome replied, cutting off any further questions before they could be asked. Not the talkative type I see. Or are we back to the solemn ceremony, the one we derailed? Darin pondered, but he didn¡¯t dare to ask. After several minutes of walking, the two of them had traveled deep into the mountain. The air stayed fresh and the crystals set in the wall, kept their path well lit. It was strange though, for such a wide and well kept hallway, they passed very few dragons. Despite the length of their journey, Darin remained relaxed. He knew that he could not get lost, so he doubted that his guide could either. When they turned a corner, into a small room with other dragons, Darin couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed. The room was well decorated, with carvings and arches, but it was not impressive. Metals had been worked into the stone walls, there were even full sized stone doors leading out, but the room still felt quite humble. Compared to the Dining Hall and the Rumble Rooms, this room was more like an alcove than a council chamber. Blood Claw waited at the far end of the room, with some of the elders he¡¯d me today. There murmurings stopped as Darin and Tome approached. So this is our majestic council chamber, and they our council, he mused. ¡°Thank you for keeping watch over my charge, elder Tome.¡± Blood Claw stated, her tone was respectful and she bowed her head in thanks. ¡°Think nothing of it Den Mother. You do us all a great service with your vigilance of duty.¡± He replied. The others, except Dark Flame were all quick to agree. ¡°So, my trial?¡± Darin asked, keeping his voice neutral to hide his concerns. The older dragons turned to him, studying him for a moment and putting his nerves on edge. The room went silent for a few moments, until the Den Mother spoke. ¡°Your last trial will begin just as soon as things are ready.¡± She began, before pausing to think. ¡°Please understand that there is a natural course to things. And even for such rarities and oddities as today, we must still follow the Mother¡¯s will.¡± She explained. ¡°So all of you will be the,¡± he paused seeking the correct words, ¡°judges of this trial?¡± ¡°We will be amongst those present, yes.¡± Blood Claw stated, giving him an odd look. She glanced to the others for support, but none of them seemed better equipped to answer him. ¡°Amongst. So there will be others there as well?¡± Darin asked, trying to glean what information he could. He suspected his own ignorance, but something didn¡¯t quite add up. ¡°There will be many, many others in attendance.¡± Firebrand stated, sounding quite pleased with the notion. Darin would have frowned, but beaks really weren¡¯t designed for it. He glanced about and waited a few moments, but no one else volunteered to speak. ¡°Then, when will the others be arriving?¡± He asked, trying not to grow frustrated with them. The elders, still had a great deal of sway in his fate. Firebrand looked at him in confusion, but it was Dark Flame who made the connection. ¡°Did you actually think that this,¡± Dark Flame gestured around them, ¡°was the council chamber?¡± After asking the elder began to laugh, and was soon joined by the others. Darin couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed, even Blood Claw was laughing at him. ¡°I¡¯d hoped not¡­¡± He stated in a timid voice, causing them to laugh more. It took a few moments before any of the elders had collected themselves enough to speak. Blood Claw, was the first to find her voice. ¡°Oh Darin, do give us more credit than that.¡± She stated, her voice was gentle yet full of mirth. A few of the others gave her odd looks, but she thought nothing of it. ¡°Names are earned, not carried over.¡± Firebrand reminded her, with a light nudge into her side. A hint, to behave in front of the other NPCs? ¡°Are we ready then?¡± Darin asked, choosing to ignore her slip. Several of the elders nodded in response. ¡°Follow me, I will lead you to the center where you must stand. The rest shall be explained once we begin.¡± Blood Claw instructed. When he nodded in agreement, she walked over and pushed open the massive stone doors. Darin followed close behind her, and saw the light stream in as the doors swung wide. As she stepped down, into the room, he got his first clear view of the council chamber. Darin froze mid-stride, as his beak fell open. Holy shit... - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: Oh look, a good place to stop for the night. *Evil grin* I hope all of you enjoyed the chapter. It wasn¡¯t the easiest to write, but I gave it my best. I¡¯d like to thank everyone who has read this far. And extra thanks goes out to those who have given encouragement, help and feedback. I¡¯m treating the chapters I post as my first draft of the story. Under that view, I am slowly closing in on the end of book 1. How long it takes me to get to that point, will depend on how the story flows between it¡¯s set points. I tend to give some allowance for things that need to be fleshed out, while trying to skim past anything pointless. Fear not, finishing book 1 would just mean that the next chapter posted would be the start of book 2. Personal side note: Today, counting the intro(should it be prologue?), makes 30 days of a chapter a day. Easy? Hell no. Rewarding? Hell yea! I wonder if I can stretch this to 45 days or even 60? No promises, but man it feels good to be productive and appreciated. Ahem. Please pay no further attention to the man behind the curtain, he¡¯s doing a happy dance. Chapter 30 - Before the Council For a few seconds Darin stood frozen, as his eyes swept across the massive and well lit chamber. The lower half of the room had been carved out of the stone, like a massive bowl, but with a small central platform and a ramp leading to it. The lowest parts of the chamber were flooded, by design it seemed, as several dragons lounged in the shallows. ¡°Are you coming, or do you intend to gawk?¡± Blood Claw asked, while glancing over her shoulder. She was already a good bit ahead, so he jumped forward and spread his wings. He crossed the distance in but a moment, and began to walk behind her again. ¡°Sorry, I was caught off guard by the scale of the room.¡± He admitted. He continued to look as they walked, but was careful not to fall behind. As they traveled down the ramp, his eyes traveled up the walls. Niches, perches and ledges continued all the way up until the angle made them difficult to use. Dear gods, it¡¯s an amphitheater. One with a dome on top, carved out of solid stone. The scale of the room impressed him, given that it was hundreds of feet to the small dais in the center. ¡°How many elders are here?¡± Darin asked, having to raise his voice over the noise of the room. ¡°I¡¯d guess that less than a thousand made it back in time.¡± She stated, giving a casual glance around the room. As she spoke, he noticed a few latecomers fly in from another entrance and hurry to find a ledge. As they reached the platform, Darin noticed another oddity behind it. One section contained no seating, but a single massive pool of water. So deep and dark was the pool, that he could not see the bottom. No dragons dared to enter that section, be it out fear or respect. Water from the pool poured out in a constant overflow, replenishing the waters in the bowl below. ¡°Why does no one go near that water?¡± He asked aloud. Blood Claw laughed and shook her head. ¡°For one so bright, you can still be quite dense. It is a matter of respect. Look higher, my bright yet oh so foolish charge.¡± Blood Claw instructed. Darin looked up from the waters, only to feel like a proper fool. Set into the wall, well behind the opening as a single mosaic spanning well over a hundred feet across. The image was a simple one and needed little interpretation. Dragons of many colors and shapes, cowered at the feet of one giant dragoness who wore an angry expression. She held her wings high, spread out as a shield above her children. Across the top of the image lay a thick ring of stars, many of which rained from the sky. ¡°The night the stars fell, and the Mother, as she sheltered us all.¡± He said, in a quiet and respectful voice. It wasn¡¯t quite accurate, but it conveyed the heart of events. Blood Claw nodded and looked around them. The noise had already started to die down. ¡°I believe, we are about to begin. Once we¡¯ve started, do not leave the center of the platform until things have concluded. Answer the questions that are asked, if you can. Be honorable.¡± She paused and raised an eye ridge at him. ¡°And do not be ashamed of yourself. Not for your strengths, nor for your weaknesses. Not everyone will like what you have to say, but be respectful. And always remember, you are a child of the Mother.¡± She warned. ¡°Thank you, I will do my best.¡± He replied, keeping his head up and his voice level. She nodded to him, then looked out into the crowd. She nodded her head to someone else then straightened up and closed her eyes. ¡°So it begins.¡± She stated, then stepped beside him on the platform. She murmured something he couldn¡¯t understand. In response, several crystals set into the floor began to glow. A hush fell over the assembled dragons, and Blood Claw addressed the crowd. ¡°Honorable elders, children of the Mother, wise ones of the clans. We gather here today, not for a discipline, but for a Trial of Lore.¡± Her words caused a murmur amongst the crowd. At first Darin wondered what had amplified her voice so well. Once the hecklers began, he instead wondered if the requirements for being an Elder were too low. ¡°But the disciplining sessions are a lot more fun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, but where is the rest of the whelp?¡± ¡°We were summoned back for this?¡± ¡°If the midget is the first act. Will we have elven jugglers for the next?¡± ¡°Oh, oh. Fire-breathers would be a great act too!¡± A blue from the water declared. ¡°What¡¯s so good about seeing a squishy breathing fire?¡± His neighbor inquired. ¡°When they fail, of course. That¡¯s always the best part.¡± The blue replied. ¡°Silence!¡± Blood Claw roared, surprising the elders. Once her echo had ended, she took a deep breath and spoke into the silence. ¡°If all of you are quite finished-¡± ¡°Almost.¡± Dark Flame interrupted her, looking smug. Bastard. If looks could kill, she and half the room would have just sent him to his bind point. With a huff, he looked away admitting his defeat. ¡°Under normal circumstances, we would not bother the council with a mere Trial of Lore. But we have we have been given something unique, and the Mother does not teach us to be wasteful or ignorant.¡± She stated, pausing only to take a breath. ¡°You could have fed him better at least.¡± Mumbled a blue in the nearby waters. After the look that Blood Claw gave him, he ducked beneath the waters and swam to another location. ¡°The whelp before you is not malformed or defective.¡± She began, causing another murmur in the crowd. She ignored them and pressed on, slightly louder. ¡°He was born from an ancient egg, one long asleep in the Hall of Dreamers. His ancestral memories were very strong, and he carries some knowledge of long ago. I would advise the honorable elders, to not waste this chance. Rather than to quiz him over things that happened in recent years, ask him of the past he knows. Use this chance to fill holes in our own history.¡± She implored. Darin steadied himself for the questions as the room grew loud with murmured conversations. ¡°Shall we?¡± Darin asked. She nodded once, stepped of the platform intoned the starting sequence. ¡°Thus begins the Trial of Lore. Honored elders, please ask your questions one at a time.¡± She requested, as the circle that Darin stood in began to glow. It was similar to the first trial, so he knew it would record his words and his honesty. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Do you remember your parents? Were they like you?¡± A silver dragon asked, starting the questions. ¡°I am an egg from Shadow and Ember. They were like me, but they evolved differently in the time, likely years, that they were together.¡± Darin stated. ¡°They evolved differently, while living together? Are you sure they weren¡¯t from different tribes?¡± A graceful brown elder asked. ¡°They evolved based upon the gifts they gave each other, while courting. Shadow was given purified iron, and he took on metallic aspects. Ember was given a beautiful piece of Flame Amber and took on aspects of magical fire.¡± He explained, causing many of those gathered to whisper to their neighbors. ¡°Yes, yes. But were they from different tribes?¡± They asked again, sounding annoyed. ¡°Different tribes?¡± Darin asked, puzzled. ¡°There were no tribes, all dragons lived together in the caves. We all tended the same forests, hunted the same prey and protected the same lands.¡± He explained. At once the room was in an uproar, with every elder trying to speak at once. He¡¯d expected a strong reaction, but it made it impossible to reply to anyone. Only those few elders willing to shout could even be heard above the din. ¡°The little half-thing lies, sacrifice it to the Mother!¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be true, there have always been tribes.¡± ¡°Tell me more!¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be lies, look at the runes! By the Mother¡­¡± ¡°Just bite him in half, and be done with it.¡± The bickering and the insults continued to thunder through the room. Darin did his best to remain calm and respectful, but as the minutes ticked by his anger began to grow. These are the Elders. The so called wise and noble of our race? As the insults continued to pile on, Darin reached his breaking point. ¡°Shut The Hell Up!¡±. He roared, with the magic of the dais amplifying his voice into a wave of pressure. Beneath him, the last few symbols in the circle were colored to show his rage. When the echos of his outburst faded, every eye in the room was fixed on him and not a whisper could be heard. While some appreciated a return to order, the majority of the elders did not enjoy being put in their place, not by a mere nameless whelp. To say it was a hostile crowd, would be an understatement. ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Blood Claw asked, breaking the silence. ¡°Could you please take a moment and prove to us, that the runes are working properly?¡± Tome asked, causing several others to agree. ¡°And how would you have me do that, honored Elder?¡± Darin asked, doing his best to project respect. ¡°You would need to state a simple and obvious lie. One that all of us can recognize for it¡¯s falseness. If the runes react properly, then we will know they are working correctly.¡± Tome explained. Darin nodded and then had to think a moment. What single thing could he say, to convey an obvious lie that everyone would recognize. That¡¯s it! ¡°Then as you request. Ahem. Dark Flame, has a wonderful and caring personality.¡± He stated, lying through his beak. The black scaled elder gave him an angry glare, but many in the room laughed at his choice of lies. Looking to the circle, Darin could see red in his recording for the first time. ¡°Does that satisfy your concerns, elder Tome?¡± He asked. ¡°That does indeed, young whelp. And I am sorry to cause another uproar, but I am most curious. What subspecies were you born into?¡± Tome asked. Darin sighed and took a breath. He glanced at Blood Claw who seemed to be cringing. After a moment, she gave him a nod. ¡°Honored elders, I am sorry if I do not live up to your dreams and ideals. I would rather hide such knowledge, but I fear that would be unacceptable.¡± He paused, hopeful of a reprieve. But no such mercy was granted. Under their stares, he held his head high and spoke. ¡°Honored elders. I, am a Primal Dragon.¡± For a few seconds, not a sound was heard in the room. Every eye was focused on the color of the markings. It was as if they were unwilling to believe what their eyes and ears just told them. ¡°By the Mother, he speaks true.¡± Someone stated. In a single moment, almost a thousand elder dragons realized some of their deepest dreams had been met¡­or crushed. In the seconds that followed there were cheers of joy, cries of pain, screamed insults, shouted threats, angry gouts of flame and wails of sorrow. In short, all hell broke loose¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s note: Good place to call it a night. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. It takes a bit to sit down and write after a full day at work, but I have to admit I like the results. Thank you all for the reviews, feedback and assistance. I¡¯ve been doing my own edits and PR so, I do miss a bit here and there. On another note, I have a small favor to ask. Could one or two people let me know if the Early chapters are showing up with different or weird fonts? I got a comment earlier but I can¡¯t easily check. You see I¡¯m writing everything in scrivener, then copy/pasting into the post box once it¡¯s ready. But I had to switch browsers at times, for one reason or another. One of the browsers (IE: Internet Exploder) flooded the text with extra {font} and {size} tags, when I posted. If the old chapters are harder to read, I can re-upload them from my source files, via chrome. I just have to know about it. So if one or two people would let me know and reply here, that¡¯d be great. Thank you, and good night! Chapter 31 - Council in Chaos Darin had expected some discord amongst the elders. He¡¯d already seen how Blood Claw and Greed took the news. However the reactions of the elders were not as Honorable and Wise, as he had expected. Some saw him as a gift from the Mother, as if his tiny body was shrouded in golden light. Other¡¯s grieved, as if they were a child who had broken their favorite toy. But it was the rest of them, that sent shivers down Darin¡¯s spine. It was those elders who viewed him as a mutant, a freak, a mockery of their Glory. ¡°Destroy the abomination!¡± Someone roared, their call was soon echoed by others. That¡¯s not good. ¡°That creature, is a mockery of the Mother!¡± Dark Flame shouted over the crowd. As others repeated his words, he paused and tossed Darin a smug wink. You sadistic bastard¡­ ¡°For the Purity of our blood.¡± ¡°For the future of our race.¡± ¡°Destroy that stain on our Honor.¡± ¡°Remove it from our Mother¡¯s sight.¡± ¡°Stay in the circle, until all is complete.¡± Blood Claw reminded him. He blinked at her and nodded. To his surprise she then dove off the ramp, into the waters below. He didn¡¯t understand why, until he looked up. Several of the elders had taken flight. All of them looked enraged as they streaked across the chambers from all sides. Behind them, a great many more elders seemed ready to join the attack. I¡¯m going to die, I¡¯m so going to- Screw it. The realization that escape was impossible, was followed with the fact that panic was pointless. As fiery death barreled towards him on wings, he did what any true gamer would do. He moved his head, side to side, taking as many screenshots as he could. From all sides, they launched merciless death at him. Fire, ice, acid, lightning, magma and other things he could not even name rushed towards him. Screenshot. A moment later, an eerie silence filled the room. ¡°I¡¯m not dead?¡± Darin asked, surprised by the lack of horrific pain. The elders that attacked him, seemed to be just as surprised by the outcome. All eyes glanced down, only to see that the circle was still recording. ¡°Ahem. Technicality. I guess we need to conclude the Trial first. Would someone please dispel that?¡± A massive red elder asked, gesturing to the circle. He looked around, waiting for someone to clear his path. ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re suddenly polite and reasonable?¡± Darin asked, his amplified voice filling the chamber. In his annoyance, he¡¯d dropped all pretense of respect. The elder looked at him, with his jaw hanging wide in shock. In response they huffed and looked away, deeming him unworthy of a response. Another of his attackers, a brown dragoness, look to Blood Claw. ¡°Den Mother, as an elder of our people, I demand you end this farce. Drop the protections and end the ritual at once.¡± She commanded, glaring at her with open scorn. Much to her surprise, Blood Claw simply shook her head. ¡°The only farce here, is that those called elders would attack during a rite. You,¡± she paused to gesture to all the attackers, ¡°have brought shame on the council.¡± Blood Claw stated, her voice carried but her tone was calm. ¡°Land wyrm. You perpetuate this mockery, so you too shall be punished.¡± The dragoness snarled at her, moving into position to attack. A few others turned towards Blood Claw, showing teeth and claws. This looks bad. I need to distract them, fast. ¡°The only mockery here, is your behavior. You are elders, supposedly the wisest amongst our race-¡± Darin declared, drawing all eyes to him for a moment. ¡°Twisted little thing, you are Not a part our proud and noble race.¡± The brown dragoness screamed at him, cutting off his speech. She lashed out in rage, only to have their claws bounce away. Their attention shifted back to the Den Mother, so he had little choice but to provoke them. Behind him, unnoticed to all, the pond had started to churn. ¡°Is it that your eyes are too feeble for you to even use ¡®Identify¡¯?¡± Darin asked, causing them to glare at him. ¡°Is it that your blood has thinned so much, that you are too stupid to understand the circle? Or have you simply gone so senile that you would disrupt a rite? That you would throw a tantrum and attack your own kin, merely because you learned a truth you do not like?¡± He demanded, with each insulting question asked louder than the last. The rest of the dragons had fallen silent as his accusations boomed through the chamber. Even worse, was that the runes of the circle agreed with him. ¡°Silence!¡± The red elder roared as his temper took control. ¡°You will die in a moment Wyrm.¡± He promised Darin, before turning his attention to Blood Claw. ¡°This is your last warning. Dispel it now or I will rip you apart, limb by limb.¡± ¡°Now elders, a ceremony is not to-¡± Blood Claw began, only to be cut off by their snarls. She gave Darin an a brief regretful look, to which he simply shrugged. It was clear, he wouldn¡¯t hold it against her, but still she hesitated. As the elders closed in on her, a new voice filled the air. ¡°Fire Clan. You are called to fulfill the oath you have sworn.¡± That sounded like Firebrand¡¯s voice. ¡°Protect the Den Mother from those without Honor!¡± ¡°What?¡± Asked the puzzled brown dragoness, who moments ago was so intent on murder. She did not have long to ponder as dozens of dragons took flight at once. In seconds, members of the Fire Clan had reached the wayward elders. Fire, fang and claw rained down on them without pity. The battle was brief, but incredibly savage. Darin¡¯s fights had been but a joke, when compared to this brutality. He still didn¡¯t know what the Fire Clan was. But they had definitely added to his collection of amazing images. ¡°Are there any others who would disrupt the Trial of Lore?¡± Firebrand asked, as she stood atop a corpse. While he watched, the body melted into the floor and left only a chalk outline. Cool, so that¡¯s what I look like when I go, he mused. Several wings rustled, but no one dared speak against them. As the seconds passed by, Firebrand nodded and turned to Blood Claw. ¡°Then I would request that you continue.¡± She stated, before she and the others flew off to reclaim their seats. Much to Darin¡¯s surprise a system message appeared. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
Achievement Award: Balls of Brass. ¡°You not only talked down to several elder dragons, but you did it to protect a friend. Living to tell about it is beside the point.¡± Neutral renown increase, XP bonus, you are still an annoying midget. Awarded by Dark Flame.
Darin blinked a few times and swiped the box away. What the hell is wrong with that dragon? He shot Dark Flame a dirty look, only to find him laughing. With a sigh, Darin shook his head and addressed the elders. ¡°Your next question?¡± ¡°If I might ask another?¡± Tome, the dear old wyvern asked. ¡°Hopefully, it will cause less of a disruption than your last question.¡± Darin stated in a playful tone. He was trying to come across more pleasant than he felt, but it sounded somewhat hollow. ¡°My apologies.¡± Tome stated, causing him to feel guilty. ¡°Perhaps you could tell us of the most amazing thing from the distant past?¡± He asked. It caused Darin to think for several seconds, before he could reply. ¡°Dear elder, it is difficult to choose between the Songs of our people and the Trees of our forest.¡± He stated, causing the crowd to murmur again. The last thing he wanted, was to cause another battle to take place. ¡°Then would you tell me first about the forest, and then about the songs?¡± Tome asked, happy to move the conversation forward. ¡°As you wish, elder Tome.¡± Darin stated, glad that no one was calling for his death just now. ¡°In the memories from my father, the forest was more than just a part of our territory. It was our garden, our hunting grounds and an extension of our home.¡± The murmuring in the room increased, and Darin felt his heart sink at the implications. ¡°The trees were treated with respect, while limited, they were beings of magic and intellect.¡± ¡°The trees?¡± Someone interrupted him. ¡°They had emotions, and they communicated them at times. The trees also seemed to sense one another and what the dragons perched on them felt.¡± Darin explained. ¡°Did you say perched? Since when would a dragon sit on a tiny little branch?¡± An elder interrupted to ask. Darin sighed, but tried to explain anyway. ¡°Our forest was kept with only a single type of tree. With shape and limbs like an oak, and bark of an ashen tone. Their wood was hardy, and their large red berries helped us stay fed in the winter.¡± He wasn¡¯t surprised at the additional noise his last comment generated. What he was surprised by, was the lack of interrupting questions. ¡°It is also worth noting, that each adult tree stood several hundred feet tall. I never saw a single tree that had grown wild, but I did see one being planted.¡± ¡°Dragons, planting trees?¡± Tome asked, disrupting the tale this time. Despite the runes at his feet, Darin could hear the murmurs of disbelief. ¡°It was only with great effort, that they prepared the ground and planted the seed. The entire time they worked, they kept a song going. A simple song, that was also a prayer to the Mother.¡± He stated. He took a breath and waited, expecting shouts of disagreement or pointless complaints. The room had fallen silent, except for the murmuring from the waters behind him. As the silence lingered, even he turned back to look at the pool. ¡°Sing it.¡± An unseen elder requested. ¡°Yes. Sing one of these songs that you speak so highly of.¡± Dark Flame demanded, a playful expression on his face. Now that means trouble. Several others made similar requests, leaving him little choice. Darin took a deep breath, tipped his head back and began. To his credit, he did a fair job of repeating the slow and melodic tune. ¡°We children of the Mother, the forest we do keep. Clearing all that threatens, our offerings piled deep. Flames to purify them, and burn away the ill. When only ash remains, the deep earth will we till. And deepest in the center, we plant the sacred seed. So that our descendants, the forest too may feed.¡± As no interrupted him, he continued to sing with his eyes closed. He repeated the song, verse after verse, and on the third repetition another voice joined in. The new voice did not sing the words, but accompanied with the melody itself, in deep in pleasant tones. Enjoying the harmony, he sang the song for one round before bringing it to a gentle close. Whose voice was that? Darin wondered, as he finally opened his eyes. - - - - - Author¡¯s note: I hope you enjoyed tonight¡¯s chapter folks. No spoilers from me on who, you¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow. Thank you for all the support and positive feedback. A few of you took the time to leave detailed and honest reviews, thank you! I actually quoted one of them, to a good friend who knows I write. Also I crossed 1400 average reads today, though I know that will probably back slide once I post. Okay, enough mental happy dances. Let me know if I need to fix something. Night folks. Chapter 32 - For a song When Darin opened his eyes, no elder dared to speak a word. The room was silent, but for the murmuring and dripping of water. Was there dripping before? A breeze from the ocean washed over him, blissful, cool and refreshing. Had he been on a beach, he¡¯d not have thought twice about it. But deep inside a mountain, it sent shivers down his spine. Darin turned about, at a cautious pace, unsure of what awaited him. ¡°Hello, little one.¡± She said in a gentle tone, one that still caused the floor to vibrate. She was the most beautifully sculpted dragon that Darin had ever seen. Her muscles spoke of tremendous power, her claws looked sharp enough to cleave stone with ease, and yet the lines of her body held a gentle and artful grace. She was large enough to pick up an elder by their wings, or to snap them in half on a whim. And her color, it was not one color but many, and it was hypnotic. ¡°Hel-¡­Hello Mother.¡± Darin managed to stammer out, before averting his gaze by lowering his eyes. Fearful to insult her, he lowered his head until his beak touched the stone and spread his wings. Oh gods, I hope I¡¯m showing proper respect. They never told me what to do if I meet a God, he complained in his head. It must have worked, for a room filled with the sounds of motion. A glance to the side, showed that the elders had stopped gawking and now copied his gesture. Copycats. I guess they had no idea either¡­ ¡°So formal, the children these days.¡± The goddess said, with some mirth. ¡°But so you know, little one. I preferred the singing, to the stares and the bowing.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Darin managed to say, as he blinked and raised his head. His simple reaction caused deep and rumbling laughter to fill the room. When he looked at her again, he was more prepared this time and more able to appreciate what he saw. Her scales did not mark her as a single breed or evolution. Her colors shifted through every tone her children wore. Copper, silver, bronze, gold, the blues, the grays, the marbled blends, the red of flame, the black of night, and untold other shades. Darin looked to her eyes instead, surprised to see they did not change. Her eyes looked back, perfect silver mirrors, in which the world could easily see itself. ¡°First you sing for me. But now you barely speak?¡± She asked. It broke him from his distraction, as he most definitely did not with to offend her. ¡°I am honored by your presence, Mother of Dragons.¡± He stated formally, to which she seemed pleased. And yet she waited, forcing him to speak more into the silence. ¡°And I thank you, for joining me in song.¡± In response she smiled, it was both less and more frightening all at once. There was warmth in her smile, but her teeth put any sword to shame. ¡°I thank you, for singing.¡± She began, pausing to look about. ¡°They, have all forgotten to sing. But I do suspect, that you have reminded them.¡± ¡°After your visit, dear Mother, I would image so.¡± Darin stated. He paused a moment as he noticed the rite was still recording the exchange. She raised the ridge above her eye, then turned her attention to the larger room. ¡°Perhaps one of you would be so kind as to tell my why a Trial of Lore takes place in my chamber?¡± She asked, pointing out her own prior claim on the chamber. There were a few murmured whispers but none of the elders seemed eager to speak. ¡°It was because his egg, from so long ago, recently hatched. With his blood true and his memories strong, we wanted to learn all we could from him. At least, that was our intent.¡± Blood Claw stated, her tone dipped a bit as it was clear that reality and intentions had taken separate paths. ¡°And then why do I see that several of my children fell near him, and were sent to brief slumber?¡± The goddess asked, viewing the outlines that lingered on. She swept her gaze across the gathered elders, but many of them looked down or glanced away. ¡°Not all were willing to accept the truth when they hear it. Nor the runes, when they see them, honored Mother.¡± Tome stated, giving his most formal bow. She studied the runes beneath him a moment, looked around the chamber and sighed. ¡°And what could they not believe about the truth that is written?¡± Demanded the Mother. When no one answered right away, the room seemed to grow darker in her presence. Best screenshot, ever. She glanced at Darin a moment, before returning her focus to the rest. Oh shit, did she sense that? ¡°Do you doubt my craftsmanship? Do you doubt that the children I created, were adaptable enough to survive the times of sorrow? Do you mock your own existence, or that of your ancestors?¡± The goddess asked them with roar. Once the echos cleared, the room was silent for a few moments. ¡°Honored and beloved Mother. It is not that they mock the life you gave us. Nor is it that they mock your first children. I strongly suspect, it was their shock at how much our people have changed with the passing of time. Our knowledge of our past is lacking, we know little of the time before the stars fell. Much was lost when we were scattered. And in the time before we felt the call to return home.¡± Tome explained, trying to ease the Mother¡¯s anger. She turned her gaze on him and let it linger there. After a few breaths, she sighed. ¡°You speak the truth, as politely as you can word it. You are wise, little wyvern. Your name was given well. Had you been less fascinated with your records¡­¡± She trailed off, not bothering to finish. ¡°You honor me, great Mother of us all.¡± Tome replied, bowing his head. ¡°So if you were attacked, little one, why do you still live?¡± The goddess asked, turning her attention back to Darin. It caught him off guard, and he answered before thinking. Stolen story; please report. ¡°I would have been killed in moments. The elders each have tremendous power, any one of them could smite me with ease.¡± He stated, which caused her to smile for a moment. ¡°It was the circle from the Trial itself, that protected me. And the honorable Den Mother, she refused to dispel it at their whim.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± She asked, with traces of amusement in her voice. Looking down at the golden dragoness, she studied her with intensity. ¡°Do not the Elders outrank a mere Den Mother? Could they not have easily killed you for your insolence? And yet you still breathe, while they slumber. Explain this.¡± ¡°You are correct, Mother. Every elder outranks me, and thus I am at their mercy. I refused to dispel the circle, as the Trial had not ended. If I am to be punished for disobedience, then so be it.¡± Blood Claw admitted, seeming resigned to her fate. To her credit, she tried to shelter those who had protected her. ¡°I will deal with you in a moment, Den Mother.¡± The goddess declared. She glanced at Darin, then turned to the assembled elders. ¡°She did not slay several elders on her own. So I would like to know Who has shed blood in my chamber and Why.¡± She announced. Her expression grew angry, when no one else spoke up. Her mouth opened to say something, but stopped at the sound of flapping wings. A few seconds later, Firebrand landed near the circle. ¡°It was the Fire Clan who struck them down. And it was I, Firebrand, who gave the order. If I am to be punished for this, I accept what you so choose.¡± She declared, holding her head high and showing no sign of regret. She¡¯s protecting her clan. As the Mother did not reply right away, she spoke again. ¡°Those who disrupted this Trial, did so because of their pride. It would not allow them to accept that he,¡± she gestured at Darin, ¡°was an ancestor.¡± ¡°So then, you killed them for their pride?¡± The goddess asked, her tone of voice was flat. ¡°Not so, honored Mother. We killed them, because they acted without honor or justice. They disrupted a ceremony and moved to slay the Den Mother for doing her duty. Such actions, could not be allowed to continue. The oath of the Fire Clan requires us to uphold the honor of our people. If you feel the need to punish me for this, my life is yours great Mother.¡± Firebrand stated, with resigned determination. The goddess glared at her for a long moment before she spoke. ¡°Your life, was already mine Firebrand. It is my choice, of when you meet the ferryman and go to your final sleep. You, and all other dragons, would do well to remember that.¡± Declared the Mother, in a somewhat scolding tone. Oh shit, she controls our ability to respawn? ¡°It is as you say.¡± Firebrand agreed. A moment later, every other adult dragon in the room repeated those same words. Yea. That¡¯s not creepy at all The goddess turned to look at Darin for his silence, then returned her attention to the elders. ¡°Do any others protest the account of today¡¯s events?¡± She asked. When none answered, she nodded and closed her eyes in thought. Several seconds passed before the Mother moved or spoke. ¡°I have come to a decision about Firebrand and the other members of the Fire Clan.¡± She stated, causing the red dragoness to cringe. She¡¯d shown no fear for herself, but it seems she did fear for her clan. ¡°I am most displeased, that my children shed each other¡¯s blood in my chamber.¡± ¡°Yes, Mother.¡± Was all Firebrand choose to say. The room grew tense as she spoke. For the next several seconds, only silence filled the air. ¡°And I have not forgotten, that you chose to ignore the requests of the elders.¡± She stated, looking at Blood Claw. The Den Mother simply lowered her head in silent apology. For the first time in his life, Darin could sense actual fear coming from another entity. ¡°Please don¡¯t be too harsh on them. They only did what they felt was right.¡± Darin pleaded, before realizing he was in no position to ask. Every eye in the room turned to him, for daring to speak out of turn. Unlike the adults, he did gulp. The dragon goddess leaned in, and towered over him for a moment. Looking up at her mirrored eyes, he wanted to shrink even more to escape her sight. ¡°So even a nameless whelp, would dare make such a request. Interesting.¡± She stated, letting the last word echo around the chamber. ¡°Very well little one, I will give you a choice. You may bow your head and apologize now, or you can throw your lot in with them. Whatever befalls one, will echo on the others.¡± She paused a moment, to let her words sink in before she asked. ¡°So what do you choose?¡± Oh shit. If I side with them, I might make things worse. If I don¡¯t side with them, then pleading for mercy was just a fickle act. A few seconds had passed in silence and the Mother began to narrow her eyes. Screenshot. Screw it! ¡°I accept!¡± - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: Sorry it took 2 days to get this chapter out. Life has been busy the last few days, and it wasn¡¯t an easy chapter. I hope everyone liked it. Thank you again, for all the positive feedback and support. It does make it a bit easier to stay up an extra hour or two at the keyboard. Let me know if I missed any bad typos. Chapter 33 - The price we pay ¡°Very well.¡± Sated the Mother, looking to all who gathered. Silence fell across the room, as they waited on the Mother¡¯s next words. ¡°I can not reward the good, if I do not punish the bad.¡± ¡°We understand and accept.¡± Firebrand stated, ready to accept whatever befell her. The others simply nodded, as there was no point in arguing now. ¡°You will not prosper or learn, for shedding your kin¡¯s blood in my room.¡± The goddess declared. A system box appeared before each of the three, and a black glow emanated from the red dragoness. The rest of the room began to murmur in hushed tones about what they saw.
Divine Punishment {Echo}: Your XP progress to the next level has been reset to 00.00%. Lost: 60.00%.
Ouch. Wait, did that black glow mean she lost a level or more? Darin couldn¡¯t help but wince. The higher a character¡¯s level, the harder it was to gain experience. Firebrand lowered her head in acceptance of her punishment. ¡°Blood Claw,¡± the Mother began, ¡°you have failed to respect the elders. Right or wrong, they outrank you.¡± Oh, shit. A dark mist spiraled around the Den Mother, before another message appeared.
Divine Punishment {Echo}: You have lost 5 good Karma, reducing your total Renown by 5. Your new Karma is -1.
Before he could ponder what that meant for the dragoness, the Mother turned towards him. What did I do? ¡°And you, little whelp. You were off key. You need more practice.¡± Faint black lines crawled from the ground, up to his beak.
Divine Punishment: You need to practice your singing voice. You will gain experience 5% slower, if you have not sung within 24 hours. Duration: 1 month.
¡°Yes, Mother.¡± Darin stated, as he cleared the message box. He was being careful not to give her any reason to do worse. Blood Claw and Firebrand both gave him odd looks as they closed their notices. Wait, so they need to sing too? Darin pondered, unable to avoid a touch of amusement. ¡°Are there any here who question or doubt that fair punishments have been dealt out?¡± The goddess asked, pausing to sweep her gaze across the chamber. The murmuring in the background, all fell silent in an instant. Not a soul dared to challenge the Mother¡¯s decisions. The room was silent for many seconds, before the mother let out a deep and rumbling sigh. ¡°Very well. Punishment has been resolved. Let no one else lift a claw or light a flame against them, for their actions today.¡± She declared. ¡°Thank you, wise Mother.¡± Blood Claw said, in a hushed tone. Around them, the noise in the chamber went up greatly as the elders discussed what the punishments meant. After all, when one¡¯s patron arrived, it was wise to know how not to anger them. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet, child.¡± The Mother replied, with traces of mirth in her tone. Oh hell, now what? ¡°Now that punishment has been resolved, we focus next on rewards.¡± Declared the goddess, causing some confusion amongst the elders. A red dragon, flew from the entrance and landed on the dais. Darin recognized him, as one of the elders who had attacked him. ¡°I died in their ambush, what shall be my reward?¡± He asked, in a loud and demanding voice. From the Mother¡¯s expression, entitlement and disrespect where not traits she approved of. So it¡¯s fine when I¡¯m out numbered, but unfair when it happens to you? My, aren¡¯t we bold and stupid, Darin mused. ¡°As you wish.¡± Stated the goddess, as she speared the elder with a claw. He made a single startled gasp, before sliding down the claw to the floor. ¡°Another death penalty, should be reward enough for your insolence.¡± She stated, flicking the blood off her claw. ¡°Now where was I? Ah yes, you three.¡± She stated, turning back to Darin and company. ¡°Yes, Mother?¡± He squeaked out, his nerves getting the better of him. The others shot him a quick look to shut him up, but any damage was already done. The goddess looked at him and paused. A moment later, her deep and rumbling laughter filled the room. ¡°Relax, little one. I was speaking of rewards. I have not forgotten that you have already paid, for any trouble that was caused. And the others, they have paid far worse.¡± She looked at the red elder¡¯s body, which was even now melting into a chalk outline. ¡°Firebrand, you upheld the oath of the Fire Clan. And then you protected them, shouldering all responsibility on yourself. I did not miss that action, nor do I frown upon such honorable acts.¡± As she finished speaking gold and silver light swirled around the red dragoness.
Divine Blessing {Echo}: You have gained +10 good Karma, and you have gained +10 neutral renown. Your Karma is now: +9.
¡°Thank you, honored Mother.¡± Firebrand stated, giving a bow with her wings wide. I guess the gesture worked¡­ ¡°Blood Claw, you have done well and fulfilled your duties with honor. You are not yet old enough or strong enough, to be an elder. I will not push you ahead, but I will give you the right to stand your ground with them. Use it with honor and wisdom, lest it be retracted.
Divine Blessing {Echo}: You have gained +10 respect from Dragons. You are now slightly respected by this faction. This may negatively affect your relationship, with factions who dislike dragons.
¡°Whoa.¡± Darin whispered, only to be amplified by the runes. Ack. He¡¯d heard of gaining respect from factions, but one rarely gained it from their native people. With the extra respect they might actually treat me, well normal, he mused. Only to sigh in silence at the realization. ¡°And you little one.¡± The Mother stated, as she loomed over him. He looked up into her large, mirrored eyes and blinked. ¡°I will not grant you any unfair power or blessings. Your path ahead will be long and hard.¡± She paused a moment to let that sink in. She waited until he nodded, and then continued. ¡°The world has changed greatly, since the old eggs were sung to sleep. The falling of stars forever changed our world, and it forced my children to grow and change. You are a relic of the early world, as are all your kin who still sleep.¡± Despite the strength of her voice and the message it conveyed, the tone was gentle. She seemed to care about all of her children, even the sleepers. True, she practiced tough love, but she really was a Mother. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I understand Mother.¡± Darin said with a nod. No lords of fiery death born today, he mused. She tilted her head to the side and gave him an odd look. After thinking for a few seconds, she clicked her tongue which echoed through the chamber. ¡°I wasn¡¯t done yet, little one.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± Darin said, before offering a polite bow. ¡°I will not give you some great power. That would only end up causing you more suffering over time. Instead,¡± the goddess began, ¡°I will give you a small blessing to ease the pain of your long journey.¡± As she stated it, she reached through the circle, and tapped a claw gently on his head. How did she bypass the-.
Divine Blessing: Tiamat¡¯s gift. Your XP penalty on death has been reduced by 5%. Current penalty: -20%. ¡°May this ease the hardships of your journey.¡±
Darin¡¯s beak dropped wide open in surprise. He had to read the message twice, to be sure he understood it. When he cleared it, he realized the others were looking at him with similar expressions. So they got an echo of that blessing? Sweet! Regaining his composure he turned to Tiamat and gave a deep and formal bow. ¡°Thank you Mother, for your kindness.¡± Darin replied. Beneath his feet, the colors of the recording showed truth and excitement. A few seconds later, those colors changed to fear. ¡°I believe an appropriate thank you, would be to offer me a new song.¡± The goddess declared, sending a shiver of panic down his spine. He¡¯d witnessed a few songs, and many verses in the memories, but his selection was¡­limited. What can I sing? ¡°Pardon, but did you say an new song?¡± Darin asked, starting to realize what she meant. She nodded and gave him an expectant look as the color drained out of him. ¡°Yes, I haven¡¯t been given a new song in ages.¡± Tiamat replied, causing him to think about all the songs he¡¯d heard. None of the songs were too complex, he mused. She looked quite excited at the prospect of new music. To calm himself he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Screw it, I¡¯ll have to wing it! Tiling his head back, his voice rang out. With the amplification of the circle, his voice filled the chamber. ¡°The Mother shelters all her young. As she has, since time begun.¡± He took a breath to find the next lines. When they formed in him mind, he approved and sang them too. ¡°She made us strong and taught us flames. So we could earn our very names.¡± A few of the non-fire type dragons were glaring at him now. Sketchy line, oh well. It was still too short, so he for the music and came up with another pair of lines. ¡°We seek to make our Mother proud. So raise your voice and sing aloud.¡± Darin paused for a breath. If his body was able to sweat, he was sure he¡¯d be in a puddle by now. His mind was frantic, as it searched for another verse, but it could find nothing. Suppressing a sigh, he opened his eyes and looked at Tiamat. ¡°I meant,¡± she paused to laugh, ¡°that you would write me one, in time. But I approve, little one. And you¡¯ll write more songs for me later, right?¡± She asked. Darin had no choice but to nod. ¡°It would be my honor.¡± He stated, trying to calm his heart and lungs. It took him a moment to notice, that the end of his tail was twitching with his nerves. ¡°Stage fright.¡± Blood Claw declared, after glancing at his tail. Laughter filled the chamber, much to Darin¡¯s chagrin. Even the Mother joined in with the mirth. ¡°Now that there is a new song, it should be sung.¡± Tiamat declared, once things settled down. There were a few murmurs amongst the elders, as not all seemed pleased by that. ¡°The young one wrote it, so he will lead the first round. Then I would enjoy it, if other voices would follow him on the next.¡± She suggested, in a polite and less than subtle way. With a tiny sigh, Darin tipped his head back and began. ¡°The Mother shelters all her young. As she has, since time begun. She made us strong and taught us flames. So we could earn our very names. We seek to make our Mother proud. So raise your voice and sing aloud.¡± As the Mother had suggested, the first time through he sang alone while the others listened. He suspected, that was so they would memorize the song. As he repeated the song, Blood Claw was the first to join him. Within a few lines, hundreds of dragons had added their voices. The melodic humming of Tiamat underscored the horde of voices, and the song went on for several minutes. When the song finally came to and end, Darin was struck with one horrible thought. Wait, is this going to affect my name? - - - - - Author¡¯s note: I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. I¡¯d have posted a little sooner, but my nap ran a little(lot) later than intended. It¡¯s been a busy weekend, but it was neat being able to tell a few friends about my story. I¡¯d like to take a moment to thank everyone who¡¯s written a review, especially the detailed ones. Those have brightened my day a few times, in the last several weeks. I¡¯d also like to thank everyone who pointed out errors, I know I¡¯m not perfect and many things have slipped past me. For all the Follows, Favorites, Reads and Replies¡­thanks. I have a running joke in the back of my mind: ¡°I¡¯d get 2x the views if I added the Mature tag. I¡¯d get 10x the views, if I added Mature + Harem.¡± But that isn¡¯t the story I want to tell. So thank you to everyone encouraging me to keep going, telling the story I like, not the story that¡¯s popular. Night all! Chapter 34 - By all accounts ¡°I believe, that should be sufficient for a mere Trial of Lore, do you not?¡± Tiamat asked, addressing the whole of the chamber. It caused many of the elders, to be embarrassed by their lack of attention. Things had started as a test, before they¡¯d taken a foul turn into an angry mob. The intervention and attention of the Mother had only confused the elders more, as none could remember the last time she had appeared in the flesh. ¡°If you would, Den Mother.¡± She asked. ¡°By your command, Mother.¡± Blood Claw replied, before whispering the sequence to end the rite. The circle faded, as the symbols recorded spiraled around it and into the crystals of the floor. This time, one of the crystals changed color and began to glow. A very sad looking Tome flew down from his ledge and collected the crystal, replacing it with a fresh one. ¡°What bothers you so?¡± Blood Claw asked him. He looked up and sighed at her, earning an odd glance from the goddess. ¡°We could have asked so much more, things of importance and lost truths.¡± The wyvern replied, while cradling the recording crystal as if it were a precious treasure. The way he spoke, he sounded like a child who¡¯s birthday had just been canceled. Even the Mother took note of this. ¡°Master archivist, I will not torture the poor whelp with questions until you learn all he knows. He has proven himself, more so than usual, so the rite must come to an end.¡± Tiamat told him, in gentle tones. Once he gave her a sad nod, she continued. ¡°If you still have questions about the times long past, then come to me. Sing me a song by the waters edge, and ask me your questions there. Perhaps¡­I shall answer.¡± ¡°Thank you, great Mother.¡± He stated, bowing his head as far as his old spine allowed. A moment later, Tome tucked the recording into a padded pouch and flew back to his perch. Even if he was eager to archive the recording, he did not want to miss any time the Mother spent here. ¡°Is everything in order then?¡± Tiamat asked the Den Mother. ¡°Indeed Mother. Everything is in order and the Trial ended well.¡± She replied. After the goddess continued to stare at her for a moment, she decided to ask. ¡°Is there anything wrong?¡± ¡°If everything is in order, why have you not proceeded to the next stage then?¡± The goddess asked, raising the ridge above her eye in a common gesture. ¡°Ahem. Right, forgive me.¡± Blood Claw stated, before walking up beside Darin. She whispered something, too low for him to hear and restored the amplification. She paused for a single deep breath and then addressed the entire chamber. ¡°Honored elders, the Trial of Lore has been passed beyond all doubt. As the Mother has given her blessings, it would be unwise of anyone to protest this.¡± She paused to let that sink in, earning her a slight smile from her deity. ¡°This whelp beside me has acquitted himself well in his Trials this day. True, he failed the test of strength. But he has shone brightly, in all other tests. In battle he scorched and mauled a large red whelp, twice his level, leading to a draw. At a mere level 2, he took down a Guardian Buck in the hunt. He has-¡± ¡°He did what?¡± Demanded a large green elder, interrupting her monologue. At once several conversation erupted in the room. To Darin¡¯s surprise it was Firebrand who walked up and stood on the other side of him on the dais. ¡°My fellow elders.¡± She addressed them, then paused to let the room fall silent. You¡¯d think she¡¯s done this before. ¡°I give my word as an elder and as a member of the Fire Clan. He went forth to hunt in the sheltered woods, alone and the first to hunt. Within half an hour he called out to Blue Shark to let her know he had slain a beast too large to carry back. When she and some of the other whelps arrived to see, there he sat, singing to the Mother over a freshly slain Buck. Were that not enough to convince you, he left at level 2 and returned at level 3. I believe that all other circumstances are irrelevant.¡± ¡°And elder Blue Shark,¡± they paused to snicker at the name, ¡°will attest to this as well?¡± Another asked. ¡°Indeed, it is as she says. He proved himself well, in the hunt.¡± Blue Shark confirmed, from somewhere off to the right. This led to some murmuring in the room. ¡°I don¡¯t even like him very much, and I too can confirm the tale.¡± Dark Flame announced, though no one had bothered to asked him. ¡°As I was saying.¡± Blood Claw reminded them, before they could get of track again. ¡°He also flew better as a Hatchling than many dragons I have seen, when they reach their adult stage. He also can-¡± ¡°He flies with ease you say?¡± Asked a heavyset, copper scaled dragon. There was a hint of disbelief in his voice. ¡°This we would need to see, to¡­fully appreciate.¡± ¡°If it will allow me to finish my speech and move this along, very well.¡± Blood Claw stated, not bothering to hide her agitation. She sighed, then glanced to Darin. ¡°As you wish.¡± He stated, his amplified voice easily filling the chamber. With a slight jump he began to back-wing, and hover a few feet off the ground. The chamber fell silent, so he turned and flew a large sweeping loop around the dais. With his second pass he gained both speed and a bit of height. There where a few gasps or murmurs, but no one let him know they were satisfied. Heck with it, time to put on a show. Turning outward, he few over the lower waters and then dipped down, before pulling up and doing a double loop. With whispers and murmurs passing amongst the elders, he decided to bring things to a close. As he came out of the second loop he shot upward and out, arcing across the room. Despite the speed he was traveling at, he spread his wings for a full air brake and came to a momentary stop before an elder. The very same elder that had requested a demonstration. ¡°Do you still question my ability to fly, honored elder?¡± He asked in his loudest voice. It was all the more impressive as he back-winged, taking care to keep himself at eye level. ¡°I- I believe that is sufficient to prove your skill.¡± The copper elder acknowledged. His words were fair, but there seemed some agitation in his voice. I don¡¯t want him to disturb things again. ¡°While I am here, honored elder, would you also like a demonstration of my ability to breath fire?¡± Darin asked, in a loud and mirth filled voice. The implications caused many nearby elders to laugh. Stolen story; please report. ¡°Ahem. No, to do so from the dais would suffice quite well.¡± He replied, less than eager to get a face full of flames. To do so in front of his peers, would have wounded his body and his pride. He followed it up with a shooing motion, to send the whelp off. Gotcha! ¡°As you wish, honored elder.¡± Darin stated, before pulling his wings in and causing himself to drop like a rock. It caused the desired gasp from many of the elders. In mid air, Darin turned about and opened his wings once more. The acceleration from his fall was easily turned into forward motion. It allowed him a smooth glide back to the dais, without needing to flap even once. He landed with grace, causing the chatter in the room to pickup further. ¡°Well done, young one.¡± Firebrand whispered, only to be amplified by the magic. Blood Claw nodded her agreement then opened her mouth to speak, only to be cut off. ¡°As the honorable elder has requested. I will be happy to demonstrate my flames.¡± Darin stated, addressing the room and cutting off the next set of interruptions. ¡°Would anyone like to be my target, for the sake of demonstration?¡± He asked aloud, causing the gathered elders to grow quiet. Funny, everyone loves a good joke. But no one wants to be part of the punchline, he mused. ¡°I am glad to see that Wisdom is a trait of the Elders. My first children were weaker in body, but very strong in magic and potential.¡± Declared the Mother, causing several murmurs in the room. Darin glanced up to her and she nodded, then gestured to the open air. He drew in a gentle breath for his lungs, rather than his fire, and then began. Though he couldn¡¯t see it, his flames didn¡¯t even reach two and a half feet from his beak. ¡°Look at that tiny little flame.¡± Called out a dragoness, thinking it was adorable. Many others laughed. All the while, Darin kept his fire going. ¡°At least its the right size for his body. I¡¯d be embarrassed, if mine looked like that.¡± A male stated, causing several others to laugh at his innuendo. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. But you could stand to learn about stamina from him.¡± A female elder teased in response. There was a short burst of laughter followed by silence. Despite their momentary distraction, his flame was still burning strong. 12¡­13¡­14, he counted in his head. After 14, the flames died out. He spared a glance at his combat log, and confirmed his suspicions.
Insufficient Mana to continue.
¡°Does anyone question that this child was blessed with strong flames?¡± Firebrand asked, her amplified voice echoing in the chamber. For several seconds, no one spoke until the Mother broke the silence. ¡°Did I not tell you that my first children were blessed with strong magic?¡± She asked the room, causing many to avert their gaze. ¡°You really are Ember¡¯s child, little one.¡± ¡°Then -¡± He turned and started to ask, ignoring his own trials for the moment. To his disappointment, she hushed him instead. ¡°Another time, little one. Another time. For now, you still need to get your name.¡± She reminded him. In response his wings drooped a little, before he turned back to the front of the chamber. Much to his surprise, Blood Claw let out a frustrated sigh and glared at him. ¡°You. Quiet. Wait.¡± She stated, before turning to the chamber as a whole. ¡°I grow tired of all these interruptions. Does anyone here doubt he has earned a name?¡± She asked. Darin¡¯s eyes flicked to Dark Flame, if anyone was going to be a pest, it would be him. To his surprise, the black dragon shrugged and tossed him a wink. I guess he¡¯s saving up his mischief for something else then, Darin mused. ¡°It would seem that all are in agreement, the whelp has passed his Trials with honors.¡± Firebrand stated, giving a moment for anyone to protest. When no one did, she nodded to the Den Mother. ¡°Then hear by I declare-¡± Blood Claw stated, only to be interrupted again. ¡°Forgive me Den Mother, but if I might have the honor.¡± Tiamat requested, or rather declared the right. When she received a nod, the goddess herself spoke to the elders. ¡°Honored elders amongst my children. It is my great pleasure to announce that this whelp has grown into a young dragon. He has passed his trails and earned a great deal of respect. I would have you remember, that he is the first of the long sleepers to awaken. But I doubt that he will be the last. It falls now on you, the elders, to grant him a name worthy of respect and worthy of his deeds.¡± She declared, with a hint of motherly pride. At once the noise of murmurs and whispered conversations filled the room. ¡°Elders, I ask you now. What names do you suggest that that our youngest of dragons should be known by?¡± Blood Claw asked, in a formal and ritualistic tone. It was in that moment, that a huge grin spread across Dark Flame¡¯s face. Oh, no. Whatever it is, don¡¯t you dare¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s note: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I expected it to move a little faster, but I tend to believe in telling whatever needs to be told. I got a lot of wonderful feedback from people, which is great. And no, don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t see this story taking a Harem turn folks, that¡¯s why that remained a joke. As to all the prior requests for images or screen shots, I apologize but I¡¯m not an artist. I¡¯m also planning to make e-books out of my stories if all goes well. Thus it would be bad of me to ¡®borrow¡¯ peoples artwork without asking. I¡¯m trying to respect the copyright of others, and expecting them to return the favor. (By law: If you write/draw/compose it, you own it.) As ever, thank you for all the positive feedback. It really does brighten my day sometimes. Feel free to let me know if I typo¡¯ed something. I do my own edits and PRing at this stage, so stuff does slip past me. Night all! Chapter 35 - The truth of a name ¡°I know this might be a little obvious. But I couldn¡¯t help but notice, how fast the little one can fly on his little wings.¡± Dark Flame responded, once they asked for names. ¡°And what does that have to do with anything?¡± Blood Claw asked, trying to suppress her annoyance. ¡°Well with his little claws, little feet and little beak- Well, it shouldn¡¯t be that hard to find something that describes him.¡± Dark Flame replied. Within moments, the chamber filled with the murmur of side conversations. Darin glared at him, only to get a smug wink in reply. You scumbag. ¡°And he has that cute little flame too!¡± One dragoness crooned, causing Darin to cringe. Many others agreed, leading the conversation in a direction he didn¡¯t like. ¡°He sings too, so many he¡¯s a bird.¡± Someone called out. ¡°A little bird.¡± Another responded. ¡°I still like ¡®little wing¡¯.¡± An elder suggested. ¡°Pocket Dragon?¡± Dark Flame suggested. Damn you. ¡°No!¡± Several elders responded at once. Whew¡­ ¡°Oh, oh. A song bird?¡± ¡°A tiny little bird indeed, with a beak and all.¡± ¡°So is he a dragon or a Bardic Bird?¡± ¡°Maybe we can call him Song Weaver?¡± ¡°Well he has strong fire magic.¡± Firebrand reminded them. Thank you. ¡°So a fire bird?¡± ¡°Lord of the fiery doom?¡± ¡°Little fiery doom?¡± ¡°Little Pyro?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s name him Inferno.¡± ¡°How about Little In-¡± ¡°A flaming bard.¡± ¡°Drop the bard bit, that sounds like a class, not a name.¡± Someone reminded them. For the next several minutes, chaos ruled in the council chamber. Tiamat even denounced a few of the worst suggestions. Darin wasn¡¯t able to keep track, as names were tossed about in rapid fire. Thankfully, most of the names were struck down just as fast. ¡°Enough!¡± Tiamat roared, as her patience with her children ran out. Once the echos ended, she spoke again. ¡°Stop trying to name the young one for just his size before he has a chance to grow. And stop trying to choose intentionally insulting names.¡± She growled out. A moment later, the smug expression on Dark Flame¡¯s face vanished. ¡°He is a child of Shadow and Ember. He flies well and has strong fire magic. He is of very pure blood and a strong magical spirit. Let us focus on these things when we seek a name. Rather than size or slurs.¡± Firebrand stated, allowing the dais to amplify her voice for effect. The elders looked at one another for a few long moments, before the murmuring returned. Not long afterwords, the calling out of names resumed. This time, the choices were made with greater care. None of them wanted to anger the goddess. ¡°Swift Wing, would fit him well.¡± Tome suggested. Being the first to offer a name. ¡°That¡¯s a nice name.¡± Blood Claw replied. ¡°Inferno is fire related.¡± Called out one dragoness. ¡°But hardly accurate.¡± Another replied. ¡°Pyro is not taken.¡± ¡°But that suggests an obsession with fire.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°You should have seen him fight though, it was like his very soul was ablaze with fury.¡± Blue Shark called out. ¡°Should we name him after his battle skills or blood lust?¡± Oh dear¡­ ¡°Ablaze you say¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Blaze is a nice name.¡± ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s taken.¡± Someone replied. The room fell silent for a long moment. Several of the elders drooped their wings and looked down. ¡°What? What is it?¡± Darin asked. ¡°That name. It¡¯s um, not taken anymore. It¡¯s been available for almost a month this time.¡± Someone explained, a trace of pain in their voice. ¡°Oh. Oh¡­I see.¡± He replied, having the decency to look down for a moment too. So the last name holder died, or was deleted.. ¡°Well it¡¯s not like the name is unlucky or anything.¡± Vile Fang stated, a little too fast. The murmuring in the room returned, but with an unhealthy tone mixed in. For some reason, he wasn¡¯t looking towards the dais as he spoke. ¡°Is there something I should know?¡± Darin asked, growing concerned. Most of the elders found something else to look at, for a few moments anyway. That is, anything but him. That¡¯s not a good sign. ¡°Well uh. A few different dragons have had that name in recent years.¡± Firebrand began to explain. But I thought Dragons lived for centuries. ¡°One broke a powerful oath. One tried to defile another god¡¯s temple.¡± She paused to cringe at that one. ¡°Two of them had a fateful meeting with the dark knight EULA. And the other, well, returned to the eternal sleep without an egg.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s a cursed name. Maybe we should find-¡± Darin began. Trying to look for new alternatives. ¡°Who better to restore honor to the name?¡± Dark Flame asked, cutting him off. It set off several excited conversations at once. ¡°The name is unclaimed, and in need to restoration. Who better than one of the ancient sleepers to bring honor back to the once proud name of Blaze?¡± He asked. Moments later, the room was awash in noise. Almost every elder present was soon discussing the possibilities for the name. With their attention drawn away, Dark Flame shot Darin a smug grin. You bastard. The elders had just about agreed, when it was Tome to called out above the noise. ¡°Honored Elders.¡± He began, drawing in their attention. ¡°While the name Blaze itself is good, it is also somewhat jinxed. What say we pair it with another name or title, so that it may be redeemed, without dooming our youngest dragon?¡± He asked them. It set off another flurry of discussions. To Darin, the best part was that Dark Flame¡¯s expression went from elated to defeated. ¡°What would pair well with Blaze then, oh wise elders?¡± Blood Claw asked. The elders began to call out names again, but this time they seemed less painful. ¡°Little Blaze?¡± ¡°No, that sounds insulting.¡± ¡°Vibrant Blaze?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just kind of weird.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.¡°Soul Blaze, Soul Blazer, Blazing Soul?¡± Blue Shark asked. ¡°¡­¡± No one even deemed to reply, opting to ignore the blue dragoness. ¡°Savage Blaze?¡± ¡°Sounds like we¡¯re over-selling him there.¡± ¡°Blazing Inferno?¡± ¡°Would you knock it off with the Inferno bit already?¡± ¡°Blazing Bard?¡± ¡°Oh gods, not you too¡­¡± ¡°Swift Blaze?¡± Firebrand asked, in a quiet tone, only to be amplified by the dais. The elders conferred with their neighbors a moment, and the consensus seemed to be growing. ¡°We could just go with Blaze, plain old unlucky Blaze.¡± Dark Flame suggested again. Darin and several others shot him dirty looks, causing him to sigh and lay down on his ledge. ¡°Can we agree that Swift Blaze is fitting for this young dragon?¡± Blood Claw asked the room at large. ¡°You could get stuck with a much worse name. Trust me on that.¡± Firebrand whispered to him, as the elders began to voice their consent. He nodded to her and then waited for it to be done. ¡°Honored elders, by your consensus I-¡± Blood Claw began, once enough elders had chimed in. ¡°Ahem.¡± Tiamat stated, from behind the Den Mother. In response, she actually sighed at her own goddess. ¡°Would you like the honor then?¡± She asked. ¡°My children.¡± She stated, then paused for effect. ¡°I give you ¡®Swift Blaze¡¯, the newest member of our family. He now leaves behind the stage of Whelp and begins the path of Dragon. Welcome him. Guide him. And be sure that he lives up to our standards.¡± She commanded. That last line, didn¡¯t sound all that friendly, he mused. ¡°Congratulations, my dear Swift Blaze.¡± Blood Claw stated, before the wave of well wishers drowned out all else. Darin was excited to see the first system message, and even more excited by the second. After all, it was accompanied by the familiar glow of a level up. Finally!
Quest Complete: Trials of the Nameless. You have completed the Trials and performed above all expectation. You have thus earned the core name of Blaze, but with lesser addition of Swift. You are currently known as ¡°Swift Blaze¡±. You have been upgraded from whelp to dragon. You have gained basic adult rights: You may travel freely in dragon lands. You may leave dragon lands. You may join a guild. You may join a clan. You may take a job. You may seek to court a mate, if one will have you. You now outrank whelps and below.
Congratulations, you have reached Level 4. You have been awarded 2 stat points and 0 evolution points. You have not changed in size.
¡°That eager to get ahead, are we?¡± Firebrand asked, after seeing his level increase. ¡°And it seemed like just yesterday he was a level 2. How fast they grow up and leave the nest behind.¡± Blood Claw stated, her voice full of false sorrow. For effect she added a few fake sniffles, causing many of the elders to laugh. Once she dispelled the amplification, many of the elders flew down to offer encouragement and well wishing. Dark Flame was not amongst them, as he chose to sulk instead. ¡°Finally I can go outside. I¡¯ve been wondering what has happened, and it has been driving me crazy.¡± Darin stated, happy about his new-found freedom. Blood Claw gave him an odd look but said nothing. He focused on the exit to the great woods, but nothing happened. He sighed, gaining him a few odd looks. Maybe that was too vague. Darin focused on the cave¡¯s exit instead. After spending a few moments looking as if he might be constipated, he realized the simplest of details. I don¡¯t know those locations yet. Damn it! ¡°It¡¯s late at night, Swift Blaze. Why don¡¯t you go to the rumbling rooms and get some rest?¡± Firebrand suggested, wondering about his odd behavior. ¡°I¡¯d like to go outside and see the world myself.¡± He stated, earning him a great deal of laughter from those nearby. ¡°Oh my, he really is quite eager. He¡¯s only just earned a name and now he wants to travel the world.¡± Tome stated, his voice rich with mirth. Many of the others laughed with him. ¡°But I said- Oh, crap. That wasn¡¯t quite what I meant.¡± He stated, trying to defend himself. ¡°And what is it you would expect to see, at this late time?¡± Tiamat asked, giving him a sad look. A moment later, she slipped back into her pool and vanished back into the deep. A number of sad noises came from the elders as she left, many bowed to the waters or mumbled their goodbyes. ¡°She¡¯s right you know, Blaze.¡± Blood Claw stated, causing him to blink. ¡°It¡¯s well past dark and I doubt the moons will be visible tonight with the clouds so thick. What do you expect to see, in a world blanketed by darkness?¡± She asked. His beak fell open, and he failed to find the words to reply. ¡°The rumbling rooms are the best place for all of us at this hour.¡± Firebrand stated, causing many other¡¯s to nod. ¡°Indeed, it took me three hours to fly back in time for this trial. But I am rather glad that I did.¡± An unintroduced elder stated. ¡°But-¡± Darin started to protest, only to be cut off. ¡°Come see me in the hatchery in the morning, after you¡¯ve eaten. I¡¯ll make sure you start off right.¡± Blood Claw promised, before starting to walk off. With a sigh, Darin focused on the rumbling rooms. Lets see, take the main exit and turn left at¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s note: A name, he has a name! I hope you all liked the chapter, and the fact that we finally got to the name. It fits him the best, out of names that came to mind. Sorry but I¡¯m fairly sure that ¡°Dragon god with the flames that destroy all foes¡± was either taken, or too long to fit in the character sheet. In other news: WOOT! Fallout 4 is out now. Heck yea! See you guys in a couple weeks! ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Okay, okay. It was a bad joke. You can put down the knives now. Um, please? *grins* It¡¯s my twisted sense of humor again, sorry. I¡¯m actually trying to avoid that game for a while, for that very reason. Thank you all for your encouragement and support. To those who left reviews and especially detailed reviews: You rock. I am drawing in on a close to book 1. Which is a little bit funny, because the first ideas I had for this story, would actually be in book 2. Fear not I intent to flow from one to the next, without any major breaks to vacation in the Fallout wastelands. Chapter 36 - Night to mourning Darin hated to return to the Rumbling Rooms, but he knew that they had been right. At this hour, even if he found the exit, there would be very little of the world he could see. He still had questions he wished to answer, but one more night would change nothing. On the long walk back to the sleeping chambers, he thought on the things he knew. They¡¯d said that the Fire Clan had formed a thousand years after the stars fell. But they¡¯ve never mentioned how long ago that was. It didn¡¯t seem encouraging, but he already knew he¡¯d come from an ancient egg. The diversity of dragons, even amongst the elders, hinted at just how much time had passed. ¡°So how much has the world changed?¡± He asked before looking around. Darin was fortunate, no one was near enough to hear the question. As he neared the rumbling rooms, he felt it in the floor this time, well before he heard it. In the real world, he was sure that such vibrations would have long since caused a cave-in. When he finally entered one of the rooms, he was greeted by a chorus of deep breaths and slow snores. Not wanting another battle, he flew up high and chose a small nook with no ground access. The noise was softer up there, sounding more like a heavy rain. Despite the soothing noise, he would have been frowning if his beak allowed it. Why isn¡¯t it morning yet, grumbled in his head. Despite all his fretting, the day had taken it¡¯s toll on his emotions. It was not long, before the noise lulled him to sleep. * * * * * Darin found himself walking along a hazy hallway, with no idea how he¡¯d gotten there. It didn¡¯t matter, he felt something pulling at him, drawing him down the hallway. As he walked along, he saw a two headed dragon and a cleaning bot playing cards on a table. Damned slacker, you¡¯re supposed to be cleaning the ship. Still he found it odd, that they were above him on the ceiling. Or am I on the ceiling? Something strange is-. Darin found himself walking down a hallway, but at least he was on the floor this time. He was further ahead, and the songs and noises were closer. Wait, how did I get here? The thought fled his mind, as the singing grew louder. He ran ahead as fast as he could, on just his hind legs. He didn¡¯t even realize how odd and awkward that should be in Swift Blaze¡¯s body. That song! He took the corner at a run and skidded to a halt. I know this place. It¡¯s the entrance! His heart leapt for joy in his little chest, not even noticing the oddities in the room. The missing hall, the fog, and the warped shape. None of those things mattered to him, not now. Light was streaming in from the open mouth of the cave, blocking his view. He ran into the bright light, and found himself on the small ledge outside. It was night time now and before him stood the ancient forests, proud, and majestic. A few trees even paused to wave their branches in greetings. Wait, they didn¡¯t do that-. The sky held many of his kin, smaller primal dragons like him, flying happily about. And above them, lighting up the night sky, was death. Hundreds, if not thousands, fireballs hung like decorations. Maybe I can stop it, maybe I can warn them or gather seeds. Or I could- Oh gods no¡­ As he watched, unable to look away, the first fireball fell to the ground. It dropped in slow motion. Yet when it hit, the ground beneath it rippled like a wave. Fire exploded out from the middle, and anything within range was tossed aside in flames. Bits of trees, plants and stone flew outward leaving burning trails. Where they struck secondary fires started, causing the great trees to writhe and thrash. No. A second piece of flame fell, faster than the first, devastating another chunk of the forest. No, this isn¡¯t happening. This can¡¯t be happening. All around, the other dragons seemed oblivious to the destruction. They sang as they hunted and as they harvested giant berries. Several dragons were killed as more stones fell, yet the survivors seemed unaware. ¡°Get Inside. Get to safety!¡± Darin called out, but no one paid him any heed. ¡°Get to the caves. Why aren¡¯t you listening?¡± He yelled at them, to no avail. They can¡¯t hear me, he realized. ¡°Of course they can¡¯t hear you. And no, you can¡¯t change what¡¯s already happened.¡± Ember said, from beside him. He almost jumped in surprise, not having seen her arrive. ¡°But you¡¯re- You can¡¯t be- Unless, this is a dream?¡± He asked, as the gears began to turn in his head. She eyed him for a long moment and nodded. As they talked, the sky dropped more and more fire upon the land. ¡°So what can I do to end this?¡± He asked, looking out across the wounded forest. His chest hurt, he felt pain, true emotional pain at watching such beauty be destroyed. ¡°You want me to make you wake up?¡± She asked. He realized she was in her late-life form now, with the faint red glow to her scales. He looked at her for several seconds, not wanting to leave her so soon, but unwilling to stay. ¡°You never met me, but thank you. And yes, help me wake. I can¡¯t stand to watch the forest burn, even if this may have happened ages ago.¡± Darin stated, which caused her to stare at him for a long moment. She turned and looked at the woods, or what was left of them and sighed. One of her claws went to her chest, covering where the heart would be and clenching. She didn¡¯t even scratch her scales, but the expression of pain was clear. She understood. ¡°Let us end this horror then. Though it would have been nice to talk.¡± She stated, turning back to him. ¡°I wish my real family, had been as caring as you and Shadow.¡± He confessed, though he knew it was pointless. To his surprise she smiled at him. Darin didn¡¯t know how she made a beak smile, but she did. Another fireball fell, far closer to them, and much louder. She looked at the destruction, then back at him with one last sad glace. He was about to speak again, when she opened her beak and shot flames into his face. Darin jerked back out of reflexes and felt pain. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. * * * * * Darin opened his eyes and the room still seemed to be spinning. The fires had disappeared but the pain had not. After a few breaths he was able to make sense of the world around him. He was still in the little alcove, the one he¡¯d fallen asleep in. And he seemed to be laying on his back. ¡°That explains the pain.¡± He grumbled as he righted himself, taking care not to abuse his wings further. A quick look at his status told him that he hadn¡¯t taken much damage, nor had he injured his wings. ¡°What a horrid dream.¡± He grumbled, but no one was close enough to care. He wanted a stiff drink, but he¡¯d yet to see a bar or a drunkard amongst the dragons. Stupid cultural values. The noise in the room had not abated, as it was still late in the night and most of the dragons were asleep. He wanted to go outside already, but he was more afraid now than he¡¯d been before. The worst of it, was that there was no blue mists when he woke. That nightmare had been his own. His mind betraying him, and voicing his growing fears. Darin sighed and laid down. After a few minutes he closed his bloodshot eyes, a long while later, sleep claimed him once again. * * * * * When he woke in the morning, he felt physically refreshed, but not mentally. His nightmare and the sleepless time after it, had taken their toll on his disposition. The room was much quieter as many dragons had left, to see to their daily tasks. With a sigh and a few muttered curses he stretched and took flight. He focused on the Dining Room and glided down towards the exit. A few minutes and a few odd stares later, he found his way to food. Perhaps you aren¡¯t supposed to fly in the halls, but that never stopped Shadow. The only table that was his height had a mostly devoured mole beast. Darin wasn¡¯t in the mood to eat several pounds of the carrots it tasted like. So he went to peruse the larger tables. He¡¯d found something tempting on one table, but was interrupted before he could start in. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be at the small table, youngling?¡± An iron-gray dragoness asked, her tone was as much a suggestion as a reprimand. He looked at her for a moment, identified her and sighed. She wasn¡¯t an elder, so she wouldn¡¯t have been at the rite yesterday. So to her, I look like a stray whelp.
Razor Claw, Level 51 Dragon.
¡°By size, that table fits me. True. But I would think I¡¯ve at least earned some choice in what I eat. And the moles are not much to my liking.¡± He replied, doing his best to keep his voice level. ¡°Well yes, I imaging there is some brave tale behind those blood shot eyes, little one. But hatchlings and whelps are at the bottom of the order. They take what they are given, and eat without complaint. You should know that the Mother does not like fussy children.¡± She stated, as if she¡¯d taken it upon herself to play den mother. He was doing well to restrain himself, but he heard the edges of his beak grind together as she talked. ¡°I would imaging that the Mother does not.¡± He agreed, with some dark trace of mirth. ¡°But as I am a dragon, I¡¯d like to enjoy my meal today.¡± Darin stated, hoping that she might take the hint. Yesterday had caused him stress enough, he didn¡¯t need more grief. ¡°You would do well to learn the way of things young whelp. And you¡¯d also do well to learn your place.¡± She growled at him. Her polite reprimands of before, were quick to give way to threats it seemed. Darin just shook his little beaked head at her. ¡°Do you lack the ability to identify someone? Or do you lack the sense to use it Razor Claw?¡± He asked, causing her to blink then show her fangs. After a few seconds, she grumbled and muttered something under her breath. ¡°You. You have a name?¡± She asked, her eyes going wide. Man, you can almost watch the gears turn, he mused. A moment later she blinked and looked away in embarrassment. When she did look back at him, she lowered head out of respect. ¡°Forgive me Swift Blaze, I did not intend to be rude to a fellow dragon.¡± She offered in apology. He was about to accept, when she added another line. ¡°Even if I am surprised to see one so small, even at level 4.¡± ¡°Mistakes as such, are bound to occur.¡± He said, trying to be somewhat diplomatic. She nodded in agreement. Am I to get that for life here? ¡°Perhaps you¡¯d be so kind as to carve off a small slab of the bison there?¡± He asked, glancing at the delicious smelling meal on the table. She glanced at him a moment and nodded. It may have been an odd request, but it was an easy one to make. Especially while she still felt guilty. In less than a minute a slab of bison a quarter of his size, lay at the edge of the table. Well now, we can¡¯t let that go to waste. - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: Hey all, sorry it took me an extra day to post. Yesterday, sleep seemed to be very important. So important in fact, that I tried for a whole 8 hours of it. I wont say I succeeded, but *gasp* luxury. Back on topic, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. As well, I hope you¡¯ve been enjoying the story thus far. Today I hit 25 reviews and 100 favorites, so don¡¯t mind me celebrating those small milestones. Yes, I know the Mature+Harem stories get 10x the views. But for my humble little story, I¡¯m glad to see so many people like it. As ever, thank you for the support and thank you for pointing out any errors. Night! Chapter 37 - Ready thy self Much to his delight, the the bison tasted like a fine pasta dish. One wouldn¡¯t think that cooked meet would taste like that, but Darin wasn¡¯t going to complain. After the meal, he even licked his claws clean, only to receive an odd message.
Keen Tongue: Part of you. This is not an evolutionary material! It is strongly advised, that you do not try to eat yourself. ¡°It didn¡¯t do Ouroboros any good.¡±
What. The. Hell? He shook his head a moment and swiped the message away. Whoever programmed this world, had one strange sense of humor. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Razor Claw asked, noticing the window and his odd behavior. ¡°Just one of my abilities kicking in, at an odd moment.¡± He explained, expecting that to end any questions. Given that he¡¯d not seen any other dragons licking their claws, that was probably considered rude too. ¡°Oh? Do tell.¡± She requested, causing him to wince. She blinked at his reaction and waited a moment for him to speak. ¡°I was licking the juices off my claw.¡± He admitted with a sigh, causing her to shake her head. ¡°And Keen Tongue informed me it would not be a good idea to eat myself.¡± He stated. When she laughed, he added more. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to, it just surprised me.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Razor Claw stated with some mirth. ¡°I¡¯m unfamiliar with that ability. What is a Keen Tongue?¡± She asked, before cutting off the obvious smart reply. ¡°And don¡¯t say a sharp wit.¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s a sort of taste identification.¡± Darin replied, sounding a bit embarrassed. ¡°It tells me if something is an evolutionary material, and what path it would push me along.¡± He explained in a level tone. For him, he might as well be talking about the weather. After a few moments of silence, he looked back up to find her staring at him. Worse, many of the others at nearby tables stared as well. Darin glanced around, finding that many of the others had stopped eating just to observe him. A few even had enough sense to mumble under their breaths and identify him. Again? He sighed. ¡°Little one- I mean, Swift Blaze. You have been blessed by the Mother.¡± Razor Claw stated, causing many to nod. To his surprise, several of the others just remained frozen. Did their AI crash or something? ¡°More than you realize, Razor Claw. More than you realize.¡± He stated, not bothering to hide his mirth. A quick glance confirmed that the frozen dragons had not yet returned to motion. You¡¯d think that Dragons would have more mental fortitude. ¡°I thank you for sharing the meal, but I need to go see someone before I travel.¡± ¡°Safe journeys, young dragon. May you grow strong, and bring pride to the Mother.¡± She replied as he focused his attention on the Hatchery. He felt a pull towards the exit and took flight. Before he had gotten too far, he heard some of the other dragons talking. ¡°Why do you look so surprised? You even stopped eating.¡± Someone asked their companion. ¡°That little one, he¡¯s a¡­¡± They stated in disbelief. ¡°Primal.¡± Another finished, sounding torn between excitement and horror. Darin couldn¡¯t hear the rest as he passed through the doorway, but the noise behind him picked up quickly. In flight, the journey to the Hatchery seemed far shorter than he remembered. * * * * * ¡°Well, good morning. It looks like our sleeping dragon has finally awoken.¡± Blood Claw greeted him, once he found her in the Hatchery. Beside her, sat a glowing blue shell of dreams. As well, a few of the other young dragons were present. ¡°They do say, to leave sleeping dragons be.¡± Scorch added, causing the dragoness to laugh. For once, the red-scaled whelp seemed to be in a good mood. ¡°My dreams woke me first.¡± Darin grumbled, despite their mirth. The others looked at him and made note of his bloodshot eyes. This earned him a deep and rumbling sigh from the Den Mother. ¡°And so you ate and rushed straight here, expecting to be sent on your way?¡± She asked. After a moment he gave her a slow nod. In reply she just sighed and shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re already a half day behind the others, due to your last trial. But as creative as you are, I doubt that will hold you back.¡± Oh great, I¡¯m late again? ¡°Since I-¡± He began, sounding less than thrilled at her revelation. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t! You earned a Name last night.¡± She stated, cutting him off. ¡°Now that you are a dragon, act like one. I better not see you lazing about all glum and lethargic.¡± She paused to let her words sink in. After a few seconds under her harsh stare, he straightened himself up and nodded to her. ¡°Good. So tell me, young Swift Blaze, have you prepared for adventures?¡± ¡°Uh.¡± He paused and looked at his pack for a moment, then back to her. ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°I expected as much.¡± Blood Claw said with a sigh. Despite shaking her head at him, she seemed a bit more amused. ¡°Well then. Before we send you out and about, we had better make sure you are prepared.¡± ¡°That, would probably be wise.¡± Darin agreed, feeling a bit embarrassed. Scorch gave a hearty laugh, which earned him a questioning look from Darin. ¡°You¡¯re hardly the first one she¡¯s had to rein in, before they ran off naked into the wilds. Not even the first one today.¡± Scorch explained, causing the others to laugh. Even the dragoness nodded in agreement. ¡°I guess I¡¯m a little to eager to see what became of the world.¡± He stated, causing Blood Claw to give him a questioning look. ¡°Or a little afraid of what you might find?¡± She asked, her tone softer than usual. Darin looked at her for a few moments, with his beak hanging open. Once he regained his composure, he nodded and sighed. ¡°In the memories, it was such a vivid and beautiful place. The trees were alive and intelligent, as if they were our partners. But everyone has this surprised look when I speak of them. No one remembers the songs of their planting.¡± He looked into Blood Claw¡¯s eyes and sighed. ¡°They are gone, aren¡¯t they?¡± After a long moment, the Den Mother let out a deep and rumbling sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t answer that.¡± She admitted. Before he could ask, she spoke again. ¡°I only know of the lands near our home. The world is a large place, it has many different lands within it. If what you seek isn¡¯t in the Mother¡¯s lands, go further and go farther. Your search may not be in vain.¡± Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°That could take years, to search the whole world over.¡± He stated. ¡°No, given the size of our world it could take decades.¡± She replied. Darin opened his beak to protest, but she cut him off. ¡°You could find what you seek with ease, or you may have to travel far and wide. But just imagine all the lands you might see, and all the people you might meet in your travels. It is a beautiful world, this place we live in.¡± ¡°But what if I can¡¯t find them?¡± He asked. And then he voiced a deeper fear. ¡°What if I spend years searching for something that no longer exists?¡± ¡°Darin- Ahem. Swift Blaze, I think you worry far too much. As much effort as was put in to making those trees for your memories, do you really think the server would just throw that away? A little tip. The boss is big on recycling.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Darin acknowledged. It was an argument he¡¯d not thought of before. Scorched eyed their exchange in disbelief, as an AI disregarded the fourth wall. To his credit, he managed to keep his mouth shut. The low level NPCs in the room however, remained oblivious to the conversation. An awkward silence hung around for several seconds before Darin spoke again. ¡°So um, getting prepared?¡± ¡°Yes. You already have a pack, but you don¡¯t really have anything worthwhile in it. You might be wise to carry some coin, some rations and some emergency items. I guess you¡¯ve figured out that you don¡¯t need water?¡± She asked. By now the whelps in the room were carrying on their own side conversations. ¡°Right, as long as I eat meat I don¡¯t seem to get thirsty. And I can supplement my meal by drinking my prey¡¯s blood.¡± Darin replied. An eerie silence filled the room, and every head turned back to him. Shit. ¡°You¡­what?¡± The dragoness asked, giving him a strange look. ¡°I can drink the blood of my prey while its warm. It tastes good anyway.¡± Darin stated, noticing all the strange looks he was receiving. ¡°I think all of my kind could¡­¡± He added, sounding a bit defensive. ¡°Even if it tastes good, I¡¯d advise you not to. That can lead to some unsavory evolutions.¡± Blood Claw advised. ¡°Not to mention, that¡¯s really gross.¡± Scorch added. ¡°What? So it¡¯s fine to eat raw or ¡®well aged¡¯ meat, but the blood is gross? And don¡¯t worry about it Den Mother, I didn¡¯t want to become a blood dragon either. It sounded gross to me, so I declined that path and used the guardian buck¡¯s blood to fill my normal stomach.¡± He explained. This only served to cause everyone to direct questions at him. ¡°You have multiple stomachs?¡± Scorch asked. ¡°You drank blood? Yuck.¡± ¡°You chose which stomach your food goes into?¡± ¡°What types of stomachs do you have?¡± ¡°You saw what you could become, and opted against it?¡± Blood Claw asked. She seemed to be surprised yet again. Am I that weird? Darin sighed and took a deep breath before trying to answer. ¡°Yes, I have two stomachs. One for meals and one for future evolution material. When-¡± ¡°Lucky bastard.¡± Scorch grumbled, interrupting his response. A quick glare from the dragoness shut him up. ¡°Ahem. When I eat, I can see what paths of evolution my food might lead me to. Then I have the option to direct evolutionary materials to the appropriate stomach. And before I spend all day explaining how I¡¯m different.¡± He paused to look at Blood Claw. ¡°You were saying something about provisions?¡± ¡°Yes. Before your tangent, anyway. So you would like to get yourself ready to travel?¡± She asked, starting to sound amused. When he nodded, she brought up a window and tapped it once.
Quest: Get ready to travel. Blood Claw would like you to go see Greed. He will be able to trade with you and help you prepare for travel. Completion condition: Speak with Greed. Reward: Learn more, get prepared for travel, learn new locations. Failure condition: Fail to complete the quest within 1 week. Penalty: Blood Claw will be disappointed with you and will force you to go through the tutorial again. There will be a quiz afterwords.
¡°Really, Blood Claw?¡± He asked, dropping out of character. She laughed for a few seconds and nodded. ¡°You had a quest all prepared, but waited until now to give it to me? You could have given me the quest last night and I¡¯d have done it already.¡± ¡°Yes, but then you¡¯d have woken up Greed to complete it last night. And he gets really cranky when he first wakes up.¡± She paused to shoot him a frightening grin. ¡°But I suppose you already know that. Besides, if you hadn¡¯t stopped by, how would I congratulate you?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Darin began. ¡°But you didn¡¯t even congratulate me on passing the trails and earning a name.¡± He corrected her. ¡°Oh.¡± Blood Claw muttered, looking thoughtful for a moment. ¡°I guess you are right. Congratulations then, young Swift Blaze.¡± She stated, as if it were a mere formality. ¡°Gee, thanks.¡± He replied, in a bland tone. His lack of enthusiasm caused her to laugh. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll be off to visit Greed.¡± Before you send me on a shrubbery quest¡­ - - - - - Author¡¯s Note: Sorry it took so long to get back to things. I¡¯ve had a lot going on in the past week, but I still thought I¡¯d get a new chapter done sooner. Work, life, personal health, good books, catching up on my shows, fallout 4 and lets not forget sleep deficit. That said I haven¡¯t given up on the story. I intend to finish out this book, which is a prelude to the larger adventures to come. Thank you to everyone who has patiently waited for the update. And thank you for all the support and feedback. Night! Chapter 38 - But wait Author¡¯s Note (Part 1): Rumors of my demise, may be mildly premature. A quick shout out to BlueCoat for the awesome review. Also SciFiAddict, SpartanLoki and several others for encouragement(and patience). - - - - - Darin didn¡¯t bother to walk on the way to Greed¡¯s lair. It earned him a few dirty looks, but he wasn¡¯t in the mood to care. He was half a day behind the others and eager to be on his way, despite the worry twisting in his gut. His wings made short work of the hallways and soon he landed outside of Greed¡¯s lair. Darin was about to knock when he froze. This didn¡¯t end well last time, he mused. ¡°Ahem. Greed, are you in there?¡± He called at the door. Several moments passed with no response, causing him to sigh. He eyed the door handle for a while before deciding to test it. He stood up on his hind legs and found it was just out of his reach. He was about to try and grab it with his beak when he remembered he had a bite attack. Visions of Greed pouncing on him filled his head and caused him to shrink back. Blood Claw would send me here again, wouldn¡¯t she. ¡°So, how do I do this without being reduced to a chalk outline?¡± He mused. A glance behind him showed this his old outline had almost faded away. On a whim, he went over and tapped it. He was greeted with a system message as the outline erased itself.
Corpse recovery complete, outline removed. Items recovered: 0. Coins recovered: 0.
Darin read the message twice before he cleared it. For several seconds he sat there, stunned into silence as he processed the implications. ¡°They didn¡¯t bother to tell me about that sooner?¡± He yelled. After the embarrassing deaths he¡¯d suffered, no one had told him how to recover things he dropped or remove the outlines. Looking back at Greed¡¯s door, he realized his only way for him to reach the handle was by flight. He took to wing, and a few moments later he was reaching for the handle¡­just when the world started to spin. Something blue blocked his vision, but he couldn¡¯t read it until the room stopped spinning.
Sneak Attack: Greed has hit you with a door for 5 damage, status inflicted Dazed.
¡°I thought I heard- What are you doing down- Oh¡­¡± Greed stated, as his thoughts caught up with the chain of events. There was a long pause as Darin righted himself and gave Greed a dirty look. ¡°You know my friend, you have the worst luck with doors.¡± Darin¡¯s beak hung open in disbelief. He might have said something untoward, but Greed spoke first. ¡°Well, come on in Swift Blaze. And congratulations on earning a name. Now lets get you ready for the wider world, I¡¯m sure you want to get outside already.¡± ¡°Well, yes.¡± Darin agreed as he followed him into the store. The room hadn¡¯t changed much since last he¡¯d seen it. It seemed most dragons weren¡¯t big on trade. ¡°I¡¯ve got a quest to -¡± ¡°Get ready to travel. You need to see me, so you can trade with me or run errands to get supplies.¡± Greed agreed. At Darin¡¯s puzzled look he decided to explain. ¡°It is pretty much a standard quest for any dragon when they earn their name. They all want to go see, or go conquer the world. But typically they have no idea what a coin is or how to use it. For such a mighty race, we sure hatch our fair share of dimwits.¡± ¡°Yea. I¡¯ve met a few during my stay here.¡± Darin agreed. Both dragons took a moment to sigh at that. ¡°So now you explain this world¡¯s coinage to me, so that we can trade?¡± He asked, sounding hopeful. ¡°Do you have something to trade?¡± Greed asked, with a trace of concern in his voice. When the smaller dragon nodded he let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Oh good, you wouldn¡¯t believe how many young dragons think that ¡®trade¡¯ means give them what they want for free. Depending on it¡¯s value, I may still need you to run errands. Why don¡¯t we go over the value of coins first?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen references to them, but I¡¯ve yet to see anything that looks like a coin or credit yet.¡± Darin agreed, earning him an odd look. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°Try not to use the words Core or Credit in an in-game context. All trade is done in barter and coins. Trust me, the local coin system is rich enough and confusing enough as is.¡± The merchant informed him, before pausing to open a chest behind the counter. ¡°This is the most basic form of currency, the ¡®coin¡¯.¡± As he spoke, he handed the flat square of metal over to Darin for inspection.
A copper coin, a standard of trade. 1¡± x 1¡± x 1/16¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t look like much.¡± Darin commented, turning the coin in his claws. ¡°It doesn¡¯t even have markings or a value stamp.¡± He added, sounding a bit disappointed. ¡°Ah, but that¡¯s the beauty of it.¡± Greed explained. ¡°Every coin is identical, and blank for a reason. The copper coin is the lowest form of currency, but it is a standard of trade.¡± The more he explained, the more excited the black dragon seemed to be. ¡°The coins are blank, to make sure they are all the exact same size and mass¡± ¡°But, why?¡± Darin asked, wondering what had the merchant so riled up. He glanced again at the blank square of metal in his claws, finding it bland. ¡°Utility!¡± Greed exclaimed. The dumbfounded look on his companion¡¯s face caused him to sigh. After a few moments of awkward silence, he tried again. ¡°All the coins have the same mass, making them interchangeable. That grows more important, when you need to melt down coins to make a tool or weapon. If a copper skinning knife weighs as much as 8 coins, you know already that the smithy will need that many to make it plus compensation for time and trouble.¡± ¡°But, isn¡¯t copper kind of a crappy metal?¡± Darin asked, pausing to poke the coin with his claw. From his time as a technician, he knew his people didn¡¯t use raw copper for anything. It corroded far to easily to be trusted and was quick to overheat. It didn¡¯t even hold a shape well when abused. ¡°Well, yes¡­¡± Greed agreed, it was his turn to sigh. ¡°But it¡¯s a system fixed value currency. Which can be used to trade for other metals and materials. Any time you deal with a merchant or player, expect copper coins to be involved. But I haven¡¯t even gotten to the good part yet, did-¡± ¡°Please do. Get to the good part that is.¡± Darin interrupted, afraid of a long winded speech he didn¡¯t care about. The merchant shot him a glare, and he at least tried to look remorseful. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll skip the usual lecture and cut to the highlights.¡± He agreed, only to roll his eyes when the smaller dragon perked up. ¡°Kids these days.¡± He muttered, only to cringe when Darin raised the ridge over his right eye. ¡°You were saying?¡± ¡°Right, right. Copper is the base currency, and because of that the width of the coin was based on some old earth copper coin called a ¡®penny¡¯. That¡¯s why it¡¯s 1/16th of an inch. Now if you put 16 of these coins together, you get the next form of currency, the copper cube.¡± As Greed explained this, he placed a tall stack of 20 coins on the counter and carefully aligned them. After a dramatic pause, he gave the stack a single tap on the top. A moment later the seams between the bottom 16 coins vanished, leaving a copper cube with 4 coins on top. ¡°Now, isn¡¯t that cool?¡± He asked, sweeping the coins off the top and picking up the cube. Darin¡¯s beak hung open for a moment, he remembered to close it only before trying to speak. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll admit that one is a fun party trick.¡± As he spoke, Greed tossed the cube into the air with a spin. Not a single coin came free, the cube landed as a solid mass. It was a perfect cube, with 1 inch along each edge. ¡°But how do you-¡± ¡°Get the coins back? Like this of course.¡± Greed answered, as he tapped the cube in his claw causing the coins to slide apart. ¡°That would be a cube. Much easier to count, carry and store.¡± He added, before pausing to look smug. ¡°But wait, there¡¯s more¡­¡± ¡°More?¡± Darin asked, groaning inwardly at the showmanship. I bet he could have explained it in under a minute, maybe even with a quest screen¡­ If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Indeed, there is much more.¡± Greed confirmed, as he pulled a pile of cubes from a chest. In a few moments, he had 16 copper cubes lined up in a row. Oh, it runs on base 16. That¡¯s not too hard to follow. ¡°And for my next trick I will -Hey!¡± Much to his displeasure Darin reached over and tapped the end cube on it¡¯s side, causing them the meld together. Greed glared at him a moment, then let out a small huff of air. ¡°Ahem. So 16 cubes, when merged make a bar. Impatient brat.¡± He grumbled, with traces of humor in his voice. After a moment he put the currency back in his chest. ¡°Okay that¡¯s not too bad. So it goes coin, cube and then bar. All on a base 16 system. I can remember that.¡± Darin stated, more to himself. ¡°But wait, there¡¯s more.¡± Greed stated, trying not to laugh. ¡°Ugh. So what do 16 bars make?¡± ¡°They make a slab.¡± Greed informed him in a cheerful tone. As he spoke, he pulled something out and set it on the counter. It would have been impressive, being 16 inches to a side and 1 inch tall, except that it was made out of wood. ¡°Wood. Really?¡± ¡°Hush. I don¡¯t keep that many copper coins around. You realize that¡¯s over four thousand coins right? But don¡¯t worry, because -¡± ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± Darin asked, trying not to cringe. When his companion nodded, he openly sighed. ¡°Okay, so what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°The next form of currency is the block.¡± Greed said happily, pulling out a large cube of wood an even 16 inches to a side. ¡°And if your mind is too numb for the math by now¡­that¡¯s over 65,000 coins worth¡± ¡°That,¡± he pointed at the block, ¡°is a form of currency?¡± Darin asked in actual horror. ¡°It almost my size. But If that was pure copper, it would weigh, um¡­¡± ¡°Oh this little thing? Yes blocks are a form of currency, but don¡¯t worry only banks, the rich and large guilds ever deal with them. If it was pure copper it would only weight around 1,325 stones or so.¡± He said in a cheerful tone. Despite his tone, he seemed to enjoy the whimper that escaped Darin¡¯s beak. ¡°I can carry, a little over 19 stones¡­with the pack.¡± He managed to squeak out. The black dragon roared with laugher for a moment, before taking pity on him. ¡°Oh poor little Swift Blaze, you should be thanking me right about now.¡± ¡°What?¡± Darin asked. ¡°Because of that backpack I gave you as a quest reward.¡± Greed paused to grin. ¡°It makes coins stored in the coin pouch weightless. And the coin pouch doesn¡¯t have a size limit.¡± Darin¡¯s eyes went wide as he looked between his backpack and the ridiculously large wooden block. ¡°You¡¯d still need to be able to lift them store them, but yes. You are welcome.¡± ¡°Wow, ahem. I mean- Uh, thank you Greed.¡± He stated, earning a nod from the merchant. ¡°So now if I die in poverty, at least it wont be simply because I can¡¯t carry the weight of the coins.¡± He added, only half in jest. ¡°So you understand the coin system now?¡± Greed asked. ¡°Yea, yea. Coin, cube, bar, slab and then monstrosity¡­I mean block. Multiples of 16 to move between them and don¡¯t trust any money changers.¡± He stated, adding the last bit for levity. ¡°Excellent, I¡¯m glad you got it all on the first try. Not everyone young dragon does¡­sadly.¡± Greed stated, with an impish glimmer in his eyes. ¡°But wait, there¡¯s more.¡± ¡°Arrgh!¡± Darin glared at him this time, feeling a slight temptation to set his friend on fire. ¡°Copper, iron, silver, gold and mithril.¡± He stated, trying to defuse the sudden aggravation. ¡°What?¡± ¡°There are only five metals that always have the same value. Other metals or even alloys can be made into coins for ease of trade. But only copper, iron, silver, gold and mithril have fixed values.¡± Greed explained. ¡°So how do they relate?¡± Darin asked, traces of caution in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s simple really. One copper cube is worth and iron coin. An iron cube or a copper bar would be worth a silver coin. A silver cube is worth a gold coin. And of course a gold cube is worth a mithril coin. Coincidentally, that means 1 mithril coin is worth an entire block of copper. But you¡¯ll be hard pressed to find a merchant or bank that will trade them directly¡± ¡°But why? Aren¡¯t they both fixed value items?¡± Darin asked. ¡°Yes, but not every merchant has that much copper laying around. And a lot of them don¡¯t have mithril coins on hand around with thieves out there. And mostly, because it would be a pain in the ass.¡± Greed explained. ¡°Oh, okay. Are we done now?¡± Darin asked, trying to make sure his head wasn¡¯t swimming in numbers. ¡°Yes, that sums it up nicely. You should now be ready to trade and do business in the wider world.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you Greed. I think I¡¯ll just leave before a headache sets in.¡± Darin stated, as he set down the coin and headed towards the door. ¡°But wait-¡± Greed began, only to have Swift Blaze turn and give him a stare that could kill. The elder dragon slowly held up his claws in surrender or perhaps as a sign of peace. ¡°If we don¡¯t trade, you can¡¯t complete your quest.¡± It¡¯s rather hard to face-palm with a beak and claws. But somehow, he still pulled it off¡­ - - - - - Authors Note¡¯s (part 2): First I want to say sorry for all the people who¡¯ve been waiting on an update for¡­months. I hate when stories I like fall into the void, so I¡¯m sorry that I did that to others. No, I haven¡¯t given up on this story. Nor on the little side project I started a while back (Why gods, why?). I had a lot of foolish things like self doubt to work through. I had some extra stresses in life. I had a couple weeks of being sick/under the weather, etc. I know the pressure I added to myself with daily updates both helped me get a LOT done and hurt me a few times along the way. Worse, it was kind of like a steam engine¡­the first time that pressure vented it didn¡¯t stop. It flipped from: ¡°Tonight I want to bring the story up to point X, I want to get this done, I want to finish that battle, etc.¡± And it turned it into ¡°Yea, I don¡¯t really have to post tonight. I¡¯ve got so many games, anime, friends, good books, other RRL stories, and such to catch up with¡­¡± So all my productivity in fiction was like a steam engine that cracked the boiler. I could never build up enough internal motivation to get it going, but I couldn¡¯t really fix it until I let it cool either. Again, I¡¯d like to thank everyone who gave a well thought out and honest review. I¡¯d also like to thank those who left positive comments for me in the threads or sent encouraging messages when I was dealing with self doubt, etc. I don¡¯t want to admit how many times I opened up scrivener only to stare at the page or the partially finished chapter, sigh deeply and then do something else. As a small side service, I may do a non-story FAQ post soon. Since a lot of comments had questions about the world and setting in it. But I don¡¯t want to read back through 38 posts for unanswered questions. If you all would like, go ahead and ask the questions you are puzzled about or unsure about in the comments below. If I read them before I do the post, I¡¯ll try to add them in an respond to them. If its past then, sorry maybe next time. Also I reserve the right to say ¡°PLOT¡± or ¡°Spoiler!¡± instead of answering things that might ruin the story. Thank you for reading! I¡¯d make a joke about donating, but I don¡¯t have button and haven¡¯t asked. :P Reviews are accepted though. That FAQ post... Time for that promised FAQ post. Also known as Frequently Asked Questions, or ¡°Busy/Lazy Author stalls for time.¡± I¡¯ll try to address a few of the questions for last chapter and some I recalled from previous chapters. I doubt I¡¯ll put them into any kind of logical order, but I hope it helps to clarify things. Starting from the top, questions about the ship. There is the small chance that in cleaning up editing earlier posts I missed a point on something. If I did, feel free to give me a nudge and I¡¯ll bemoan and try and fix it. I also apologize that a few of these questions were asked in person. Others have just not had a chance to come up in the story yet. I¡¯m not huge on 5 page info dumps, so it¡¯s hard to kneed it into the narrative. - - - - - How big is the ship, how many people does it hold? The ship is pretty large, explicit size not stated but the crew/passenger compliment is about 5 million. How many crew are there? At any given time there are about a thousand people as topside crew. Those are the ones in real time, double checking maintenance bots and doing small repairs. There is a small topside command staff, but they almost never leave the bridge area. How do they choose crew? What if no one wants to be crew? Crew have to first train and pass a lot of certifications and tests. Once they qualify and are seen as reliable, they an go on the waiting list for a crew slot. Yes, they would have to re-certify periodically. The waiting list for being crew is pretty long, as it is the only way to increase your allowance of Cores. If the list ever starts to get short, they can just increase the incentives. So none of the dreamers are on duty? Oops. I gave the wrong impression here. There are people working from within the ships Net. There is a virtual bridge with command staff, able to react in the accelerated 5x speed of the ships Net. There are even people working part time shifts for some things. But the pay for virtual crew is far lower, given that it¡¯s less stress on the body and runs at a 5:1 ratio. But if there is a dreamer crew, why would they need anyone topside? When you have over 5 million lives on the line, your own included, redundancy is a good thing. You wouldn¡¯t want a system glitch to cause to ships to crash, to cause your ship to veer off course or to let your ship break down. Having a catastrophic failure during a long range FTL flight is a bad thing. A very bad thing. Wait, did you say other ships? *sigh* Yes. There are other ships in the Exodus fleet, but no they aren¡¯t actively communicating. So no, no inter-ship game events. The lag would be horrid and defeat the whole ¡®radio silence¡¯ thing. For the most part, they are just keeping track of each other¡¯s positions and running as a convoy. Cores, Credits, Coins¡­ ¡°I C-¡± *Groan* Accidental alliterations, honest. I¡¯m sorry if this confused anyone. Ahem: Cores are the allowance granted to people on the ship. They can be used to run programs ¡®pay¡¯ or ¡®subscribe¡¯ to join someone else¡¯s programs. They represent an chunk of processor cycles per second and RAM to go with it. Every citizen was alloted 5 to start with to see to their basic happiness and need for mental stimulation. If you do not spend your Cores, you don¡¯t get to keep them. That is done to prevent abuse of the system. Conveniently *coughs* Cores renew just before most games ask you to renew your subscriptions. If you want more, to do more, you have to earn it. See above. Credits are the OOC (Out Of Character) currency used in the game ¡°Dreams of a Forgotten World.¡± (IE old earth myths). Every week there is downtime, for patches, updates, new content generation and for the player¡¯s sakes. What I mean by that part, is it forces them to spend time back in their real body so they don¡¯t disassociate from it. If you were to play for example a Naga, you would slowly get more adept at moving with a tail instead of Legs. That would really suck when you got back into your real form. Ergo, time in the lounge as yourself. Credits are used to buy food you missed or can¡¯t get in game¡­for nostalgia sake. Yes, you can buy some small temporary boosters if you save enough but it is less rewarding than comfort food. You get an amount of Credits when you first sign up for the game, and every day you stay subscribed you get 1 per subscription core level. Coins are the IG (In Game) form of money. It is described in CH 38, so just look there. *grins* Anything you do or earn in game will be in coins. As they say, money makes the world go round. But Darin only subscribed at 5 Cores, is he wasting the other 5? Yes, he actually is. During sign up they didn¡¯t ofter a higher subscription and he didn¡¯t ask. On the one hand, it gave him the option that if he didn¡¯t like the game he could leave and still have up to 5 Cores to do try something else. Most people don¡¯t have more than 5 cores yet anyway. On the other hand, he¡¯ll probably face palm when he realizes it later. So he¡¯s extra powerful since he¡¯s paying 5 cores right? Nope, no pay to win here. What he gets is that the system puts more effort into making his simulation life like. Sight, sound, taste, touch and smell are rendered with extra depth. For example a 2 Core subscription(minimum level) wouldn¡¯t get a lot of flavor from food and drink. He also does get minor perks, but they have to stay minor. Like he was allowed to Borrow the amulet that produced light, when going to look for his shell. He didn¡¯t have to beg or promise to make future repayment etc. It was minor, but it made his life less tedious. But he got the super rare epic ultra dragon? Uh, keep telling yourself that one. He got something a bit special because he didn¡¯t choose his character. Most players go into the complex process of designing a character, tweaking everything and often min/maxing but he didn¡¯t. He let Muse roll a random choice off of a list of races/sub-races that met his criteria. Doing so, he ended up with a sub-race that wasn¡¯t yet unlocked for public use. Especially since it hadn¡¯t really been play tested yet. Size Scale: How big are dragons? How do they compare to other races? Such a simple question and you made me to MATHS. You hear me folks, MATHS! Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.*Ahem* This same question was asked in a few ways by a few people, but to answer it I have to fist explain the ¡°Size Scale¡±. As I said, I hope, 1.00 on the size scale is the average adult human. Taking both genders into account and the fact that they¡¯ve drifted from us slightly in the last few thousand years I hope no one takes offense to the numbers. A 1.00 human is about 5.5 feet tall and 140 lbs(stones). This is a rough estimation of the body mass. The bigger your physical body, the bigger your Size. Your base Strength is multiplied times your Size to get your active strength. Endurance is multiplied times size, but with other factors. Agility on the other hand is divided by your size. The average dragon hatchling has a size between 2.0 and about 3.0. As they gain levels their size will increase slowly over time. It is often a geometric growth based on a percentage of their current size. I should point out that different sub-races and evolutions can change size at different rates. IE a melee type evolution will swiftly gain in Size, Strength and Endurance. An example might be a Bone Dragon path evolution. While a magic focused evolution will probably gain in Intelligence and Wisdom. Other things can be affected by size. Swift Blaze¡¯s flame breath for example is a tiny cone of fire because of his body size. But in his favor, the mana cost is also reduced by his small size. In case anyone forgot, poor Swift Blaze has a Size of 0.25. So around 35 lbs in a quadruped form¡­ so small-mid sized dog? Yes, for a dragon that puts him small enough that some of the Elders have to be careful not to step on him. But with his high agility, he can fly like it¡¯s second nature to him. (Thanks program code assists!) This is also why when looking at the wooden block in the currency display he commented about it being his size. Oh yea, and that¡¯s why he hates door handles with a passion right now. But wasn¡¯t the ¡°Mother¡± supposed to be huge? *Evil grin* She can pick up an elder dragon in one claw. I¡¯ll leave that to your imagination. Tip, don¡¯t piss off the goddess of dragons in her own home. In the Starting town, Are the buildings and roads dragon accessible? Like the adventures guild. Most things are made to accommodate a mix of sizes. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem for most hatchlings, but an elder dragon wouldn¡¯t have an easy time in a starting town. A few places can bypass this by being more spacious and having double doors on the way in. Still most dragons hang out in the massive caverns of the home, or in other locations with similar design. Water sub species may prefer oceans, rivers or lakes¡­but that is to be expected. How many races and sub-races are there? Oh ye gods, I don¡¯t even want to think of that. I¡¯ll answer thousands and leave it be. Remember, it started with myths from earth¡­and expanded from there. In an emergency, would they use a copper bar as a weapon? You¡¯d have to be hard pressed to beat something down with money. On the up side, it would probably have unlimited durability. On the down side it would never count as more than a crude improvised weapon. Worse, if it was used in PvP and they managed to tap the end in combat¡­ you might find yourself with a fist full of change. If Cores are a precious recourse, why not just slow things down and not run the ships Net at the full 5x speed? The ship has enough power to easily assign everyone way more cores and still not make a dent in the available resources. But they are used as incentives to get people to work. But why would anyone work if they loose all those years of life? A standard topside shift is 1 year. During that year you¡¯d miss 5 virtual years sure. But you¡¯d also be given the best medical treatment available to reduce any affects of aging from your time surface side. Will we ever learn the history of the Dragons after the "Stars Fell"? If you mean Dragons as a whole, parts of that info will be scattered across the story slowly. It¡¯s not an absolute history, as some segments are murky or missing. If you mean Shadow and Ember (loved those two), I¡¯m not sure. Only so much was put in the original memory for their hatchlings. On the other hand, the caves are so old there are pieces of history stored away in long forgotten corners. And you never know what one of the more learned dragons may have tucked away somewhere. Dragons are big on their history after all. Final answer: Play it by ear? Paraphrase: Hey, this isn¡¯t bad for a Fan Fiction. Swift Blaze, burninate them! *Ahem* I mean, no¡­this is an Original Fiction, not a Fan Fiction. There are a lot of good FF on this site, and there are others with no effort put into grammar, logic, readability etc. It is of course the second set that often gives FFs a bad name. Original Fiction: Your own world, characters, mechanics, plot and creativity. You have only your self to rely for better or worse. In that sense OF is hard and even harder to do well. (Ergo being thankful so many people take the time to read mine) Typically you own the copyright of your work, unless you lose it by posting on a site with a nasty EULA. This means only you have the rights to market it commercially or try to make any coin off it. Fan Fiction is a different beast entirely. It¡¯s when you borrow the world, setting, plot, mechanics and or characters of someone else¡¯s work to make a new story. It is easier in the sense that you don¡¯t have to create those from scratch. Also there is very often a fan base of the existing work. Ex: Harry Potter, writing about what happens during summer break. Dull but okay, that¡¯s a FF. Lord of the Rings, you write about Gimloy¡¯s epic bar crawling celebration after the Sauron is defeated and he meets up with the other dwarfs. Even crossovers fall under this, Ex: Naruto meets a Jedi. Yea, I got nothing for that one. But now that you can see the difference as established, you can see why we might occasionally give people dirty looks if people call original works a ¡®fan fiction¡¯. Oh, and to be fair to all the skill FF writers out there¡­ Yes, there are plenty of OF stories that were never meant to be. *cringe* - - - - - So that about wraps up my horribly worded FAQ post and minor rants. If I missed anything major let me know. I have things to get to, today being Mother¡¯s day. So hopefully I¡¯ll have some time later to make progress on the next chapter. Thanks all! Chapter 39 - How to fleece a friend With a sigh, Darin opened his quest log again.
Quest: Get ready to travel. Blood Claw would like you to go see Greed. He will be able to trade with you and help you prepare for travel. Completion condition: Speak with Greed. Reward: Learn more, get prepared for travel, learn new locations. Failure condition: Fail to complete the quest within 1 week. Penalty: Blood Claw will be disappointed with you and will force you to go through the tutorial again. There will be a quiz afterwords.
¡°Wait a minute.¡± He grumbled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t say I have to trade with you, just that I need to speak with you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Greed asked, taking a moment open a window himself. ¡°How odd, she must have been in an strange mood. The normal quest involves trade or errands. Well technically, I could complete your quest now.¡± ¡°But you wont, because of¡­?¡± Darin asked. Despite his strange sense of humor, the black dragon had always been fair and friendly. ¡°If you complete the quest on the bare minimum of goals, I can only reward you accordingly. But if you live up to the spirit of things, we can start you out right.¡± Greed explained. There was no mischief or mirth in his voice this time, unlike his theatrics with the coins. ¡°That makes sense. So where shall we begin?¡± He asked. His friend was far more used to this after all. To Darin¡¯s surprise, Greed paused and thought for a moment. ¡°You already have a Backpack, which puts you ahead of most young dragons. As well, you told me earlier that you have things to trade.¡± He stated. When Darin nodded to him, the merchant continued his speech. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll trust they have enough value. If not, I¡¯ll send you to gather things like the others. So lets start with provisions. Normally I advise to carry at least twenty five stones worth of preserved meat when you start out. That should keep you fed for a day or two, in an emergency.¡± Greed explained as he went down his mental checklist. A moment later, he realized Swift Blaze was giving him an odd look. ¡°Shall I assume that advice scales up, or down, with ones size?¡± Darin asked, trying hard not to laugh. ¡°Or do all dragons carry more than half their body weight in food¡­for emergencies?¡± ¡°Um, yes. You may be able to get away with¡­slightly less.¡± Greed acknowledged, trying to contain his embarrassment. ¡°Given your ¡®grand stature¡¯, I¡¯d say two or three stones worth should be fine. So I can figure out a scale for your consumption, how much water do you normally drink each day?¡± He asked. ¡°Well so far, since I¡¯ve hatched, I haven¡¯t actually needed any water.¡± Darin admitted. Of course his answer only led to more questions. ¡°No thirst?¡± Greed asked, pausing just long enough to see Darin shake his head ¡®no¡¯. ¡°No dryness of the mouth?¡± Another shake of the head. Greed paused for a moment before asking his next barrage of questions. ¡°Hunger even after eating? No? You sure? Sore throat? Um, dryness of scales? Guess not. Sudden mood swings? Fever? Redness, swelling or unexplained rashes? Stiffness of joint? Any-¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Darin asked, interrupting him. The elder black dragon paused for a moment, blinked and then cringed. ¡°Ahem.¡± Greed paused and gave a fake cough to clear his throat. ¡°Wrong symptom- Er, questionnaire list.¡± He stated, before looking away and suddenly finding one of his shelves quite interesting. ¡°Perfectly normal mistake.¡± He added a few seconds later, not yet willing to turn back to Darin. ¡°Right¡­¡± He replied, managing to drawl the word out for several seconds. ¡°So, you drank nothing at all in the last few days?¡± Greed finally asked. As he spoke he turned back to face the system window, rather than looking him in the eye. This time it was Darin¡¯s turn to cringe. ¡°Well, I did drink some blood from-¡± ¡°Yuck. You know that¡¯s gross right? And it can lead to some nasty changes in the future.¡± Greed interrupted him to ask. Even going so far as to scrunch his nostrils in disgust. Darin could only sigh. ¡°So how is it you¡¯re perfectly fine with some dragons needing to ¡®age¡¯ their meal for a week before they eat it. Or others that like their meal so fresh it¡¯s still trying to run away. But you turn your snout up, at blood?¡± He asked, still trying to wrap his head around the intricacies of draconic culture. To his surprise, Greed mumbled out a reply he couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°I mean, um- After the Fall of the Stars, our ancestors learned to survive in a harsh and devastated world. They evolved all types of survival mechanisms, even¡­¡± he paused to sigh, ¡°scavenging. When food or rather fresh meat was not available, there was always the chance that something larger left part of it¡¯s prey behind. Most dragons can only stomach food that is less than a day or two old, unless it¡¯s been kept well. The rest would simply spoil and go to waste. When the different tribes of dragons heard the Mother¡¯s call and returned home, the diversity of¡­¡¯eating habits¡¯ helped us to coexist. During some of the leaner times, it helped prevent famine. So yes, we tend ignore what one another eats.¡± He stated, then amended his words. ¡°Provided they eat it at a different table, preferably across the room, of course.¡± ¡°And you still get grossed out by blood?¡± Darin asked. It earned him another sigh. ¡°The age of your food, doesn¡¯t affect your future growth. Blood can have some rather adverse effects, even if it¡¯s not well documented. So most of us avoid it, unless it comes with a fresh meal.¡± He explained. ¡°The blood dragon evolutionary path?¡± Darin asked. He continued after Greed gave him a nod. ¡°Yea I saw that option when I drank from my prey. It did sound a bit disgusting, so I chose not to use it as an evolutionary material.¡± ¡°You chose? You get to choose?¡± Greed asked, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. ¡°Yea, if I don¡¯t like the evolutionary path it offers I don¡¯t eat it-¡± ¡°Wait is that all?¡± Greed interrupted, sounding a bit disappointed. ¡°I don¡¯t eat it. Or I simply direct it to my normal stomach instead of my evolutionary one.¡± Darin explained. ¡°Thus I get all the tasty, nourishing goodness, and none of those unwanted random mutations.¡± ¡°Lucky bastard.¡± Greed mumbled, as he gave the smaller dragon a dirty look. Darin could only raise the ridge over his eyebrow in surprise. After a moment the black dragon restored his composure and returned to the business at hand. ¡°Well you are rather lucky to have that choice. Every so often a glutton ends up evolving in a less that favorable direction. More often than not, it¡¯s something they ate weeks ago. It makes it much harder to track what leads to a given evolution.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Wait. You mean the knowledge of evolutionary materials is actually rare?¡± He asked. When the merchant nodded, Darin grew excited. ¡°So you mean to say, that knowledge is valuable?¡± ¡°Of course it- Wait. ¡­shit.¡± Was all Greed managed to say. Darin could almost watch the gears turn in Greed¡¯s head as he processed the implications of the statement. The worst thing a merchant could do, was admit how much they needed something you had to offer. Gotcha! ¡°Oh, how lovely. How much would such information be worth?¡± He asked, in his best near-innocent voice. Greed blinked a moment and sighed. ¡°Not a lot actually. Most dragons avoid blood, as I stated before. Normally I¡¯d offer about 8 copper for it, but given your ¡®friends with the merchant¡¯ discount¡­how about 5 copper?¡± Greed asked, with a hint of a grin. Darin opened his beak to protest, only to stop himself before he spoke. Damn, never play dirty with a merchant. ¡°Well I wouldn¡¯t be one to refuse a discount amongst friends.¡± He began, giving the words a moment to sink in. ¡°I¡¯ll accept 5 copper for the information about the Blood Dragon path, it¡¯s not very popular after all.¡± This earned him a happy nod from Greed, and perhaps a trace of a smug grin. Now that I¡¯ve baited the trap. ¡°So how much for knowledge on the Bone Dragon path? I¡¯m sure it¡¯s far more popular¡­¡± It was rare to see someone so excited one moment, then look quite pained the next. Darin savored his reaction, without a hint of shame. ¡°Ahem. Swift Blaze my friend. I would be happy to pay you 10 copper for that tidbit.¡± Greed began, using his best merchant¡¯s voice. ¡°I could probably pay a bit more, but I¡¯d need some of the materials to go with it. If you had both, I could sell them as a package deal. But with only the information, I might have a hard time reselling it to others.¡± He explained, doing his best to sound sad about the lack of merchandise. To be fair, once the knowledge was spread around, he might never sell it again. ¡°Well if having the product to go with the knowledge is so important¡­¡± Darin began, earning him a solemn nod from Greed. ¡°Then it¡¯s a good thing I have a few in my pack.¡± He explained, doing his best to copy Greed¡¯s selling voice. The black dragon looked at him for a few seconds and then face palmed. ¡°I walked into that one, didn¡¯t I?¡± Greed asked. ¡°Indeed my friend, indeed.¡± ¡°Well played Swift Blaze, well played.¡± He stated, shrugging off his defeat. ¡°It¡¯s not like I am going to fleece you Greed. But if you tell me what it¡¯s worth, we can move on to establishing a value for the items next.¡± Darin stated, opting to be kind to his friend. ¡°You couldn¡¯t show me first, for simplicity?¡± Greed asked. Darin laughed and shook his head. His response actually surprised the merchant. ¡°Well if you were being really impish, once I showed you. You could simply opt not to buy the information.¡± He stated, and watched Greed¡¯s jaw drop. ¡°Not that you would. But I need to be ready for dealing with less reputable merchants in the future. Especially when I travel.¡± He explained, taking care not to hurt his friend¡¯s feelings. ¡°Too true. Not every merchant is as fair, or as honest.¡± Greed agreed, with a slight shake of his head. Or as inexperienced. ¡°I¡¯ll give you 15 copper for the knowledge and then we can price items based on their worth.¡± He offered. Darin pondered a moment before replying. ¡°How about an iron coin for what I know about Bone Dragons, in addition to the 5 for the Blood Dragon tidbit.¡± Darin suggested, with a trace of amusement in his voice. ¡°I need to practice my haggling skills too.¡± He added, in his own defense. ¡°Oh, fine. Thats still within reason.¡± Greed agreed, eager to get to the good part. ¡°Now, with that taken care of, show me what you brought. I¡¯ll need to get ready to sell them to whelps and ¡®would-bes¡¯ next week.¡± He added, not bothering to hide his mirth. ¡°I got these off of a Guardian Buck.¡± Darin explained as he stood on his hind legs and reached behind his back. He pulled the antlers from his backpack, only to be interrupted by Greed¡¯s deep and rumbling laughter. In surprise he froze, which only made the laughter worse. ¡°What?¡± ¡°New mutation- Hard to sell. Ow. My sides¡­¡± Greed whimpered, as he tried to regain his composure. He glanced at Darin, who was still frozen in place, and lost it again. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± He asked, still confused by his friend¡¯s reaction. It couldn¡¯t be the first time he¡¯d seen someone take an item from their pack. ¡°You reached behind you-¡± Greed had to pause, in order to catch his breath. ¡°Into your tiny, little backpack. And then, you pull out that¡­¡± ¡°And? ¡­I don¡¯t get the joke this time.¡± Darin admitted, growing confused. Trying hard not to laugh, Greed point up with a single claw. Taking the hint, Darin tipped his head back to have a look. The pair of antlers were interlocked, towering a few feet above his head with tines pointed everywhere. It looked strange to say the least. And then it clicked. Oh gods. I must look like I¡¯ve sprouted a tree. ¡°So¡­¡± Darin stated, pausing to point up with a free claw. ¡°How much will you pay for the tree?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you an iron for both-¡± Greed offered, struggling to keep a straight face. The fact that Darin hadn¡¯t moved them yet did not help at all. ¡°Make it two and you can share the screenshot with Blood Claw. Just so long as you send me a copy too.¡± She¡¯d hear about it anyway, he had no doubt of that. ¡°Deal!¡± Greed exclaimed, squinting his right eye for a moment. ¡°Oh, she is going to love this¡­¡± Ah well, Darin pondered. There are far worse ways to fleece a friend. - - - - - Author¡¯s note: Hard to follow up after Greed¡¯s mischief last chapter. But at least this one turned light hearted. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, sorry it took so long to get it done. *coughs* I¡¯ll see if I can get back to something more like weekly posts, not this monthly shenanigans. As ever, if I slipped up somewhere let me know. I¡¯d like to thank my readers for keeping with me, giving feed back and sometimes even leaving or rating reviews. Another thank you goes to everyone who¡¯s been patient during my *ahem* slower months. And an extra thank you, to all the people who¡¯ve been encouraging me. Some of those bright and wonderful comments have really made my day.