Defeated dragon, lost friends

[Dorn]

A write up of a quest...as you can no doubt tell:)

He blinked bleary and bloodshot eyes as they slowly focussed on the spilled bottle of spirits lying next to his head on the floorboards of the room. Letting himself wake a little more he slowly turned his head to look underneath the bed he should have been lying on. His nose wrinkled and stomach churned at the smell that seemed to physically hit him. He could see his pack was open and the hacked ends of the dragons claws and skin had spilled from their leather bag. He also saw his axe, uncleaned with the gore of the Sharians, the Dragon and the Werecat still baked onto its shaft where it’s fire had not burned it away.

Pushing down with his hands Dorn slowly raised himself to sit on the edge of the bed. The motion brought waves of pain to his head and he winced. Reaching for the half empty spilled bottle he took a long draught, the smell of the day old flesh knocked away by the harsh liqor.

Looking up he saw Narimer sprawled across the next bed along from him. Greaves still attached and resting his head on the dented breastplate. He smiled slightly in memory of the night before drinking all afternoon and evening with Narimer. His friends ability to talk had slowly improved with time, but the huge quantity of drink they had consumed had made them both unintelligible. Far towards the end when Belvyn had finally got the guards to carry them to Tabra’s dorm Dorn had been muttering and yelling nonsense drinking alone with Narimers’ head lying flat on the table. Brushing off the guards Dorn had heaved his friend armour and all onto his shoulder and stumbled into the night.

Carried his friend over his shoulder……

Even his slight smile faded.

He felt sick all over again as he remembered what had happened.

They had known it was to be dangerous, perhaps more so than any of their adventures before. Greoas words of Gundrins body being guarded by ‘white coiled death’ could only mean one thing in the sword mountains where they had all seen the young spawn of dragons. But with the threat of the army of Shar building they needed Gundrin and his magic back to aid them in the coming fight.

The path to the mountains had been easier then normal. Hill giants usually stalked the valley but now only ettins crossed their path. The five of them had no issue with dispatching the two headed creatures falling into the old pattern. Dorn and Narimer at the front taking any threat front on, Greoa attacking with her considerable druid enhanced strength form one side or yelling words of healing against the damage Dorn and Narmer took Joe darting in to slash at the beasts sides and of course Jena. Jena standing behind them cool under pressure at once sending deadly arrows through her friends striking the enemy and bringing down her divine powers to heal those hurt.

The pass turned from grassed valleys to bare hard rock as they went higher. Finding the narrow crevice they followed it until it opened into a wider pass. Here before Jena’s scouting report could warn they were set upon but the Hill Giants larger kin. The huge Mountain giants run up the small rise they stood upon and set about them with mighty blows. Managing to score them a few times Dorn was still knocked heavily several times only just keeping his feet. As the blows from the two rained down on him he did his best to block them while his friends drew deadly wounds from them. Eventually the beasts went down but not before a crushing blow had dislocated Dorns shoulder and smashed Narimers’ jaw. Immediately Jena and Greoe brought their arts to bear resetting broken bones and knitting split skin. Joe stood there coolly observing after searching the huge bodies for valuabes.

They pressed on further following Greoa’s directions coming from the pull of the dagger she carried. Up ancient and great steps carved for beings much larger than the humans and elves that used them now. They snuck past another group of mountain giants, knowing they had to save themselves for the final battle. Over a thin rocky bridge they climbed watching their footing for the slippery ice and looking down the vast chasm below them. They finally stood in from of a cave mouth. Pausing they prepared as the dagger pulled downwards into the mountain.

On entering the cavern lightened from the dark of the mountain night outside. Moss glowed faintly throwing soft blue lights against the rock and ice of the walls. They walked through but even here where it seemed most unlikely a trap was sprung and fire burst from the walls to engulf them. So Joe took point now to rid the path of them with Greoa standing close looking ahead with enhanced vision for the enemy. Hey were not long in coming.

Gnome casters, half orc clerics and human warriors charged them or set foul magics to work. Huge spiders and other beasts appeared as if from nowhere and attacked the party. Running through this melee dodging sword, teeth and claws Dorn ran for the casters and clerics knowing that to destroy them would destroy the beasts. Time and again they were ambushed or drawn into a fight with these cultists and fanatics. Sometimes they were accompanied by strange green slimes seemingly half ice and half jelly but cold and caustic to touch. These creatures were hard to kill. Weapons seemed not to damage them as much as they should although the flame on his axe did its work well.

Finally through more of the constant fighting they arrived at a room unlike the others. Three natural pipes or tunnels sank down into the ground with a bitterly cold wind howling up from the depths. The largest had some ledge running down it’s side that could be walked on. So they did so knowing they walked into more danger but knowing they had to go on to rescue the Dwarven mage.

The tunnels were bitterly cold at the bottom. But more they were HUGE! From the close quarters above these cavernous fissures stretched over 200 feet to the dim ceiling and hundreds again wide. Walking behind Greoa now as she followed the daggers pull the fighters prepared them selves having potions ready to hand t protect their minds and bodies from the evil ahead. Looking around the caverns the merest rock knocked echoed only faintly as it was drowned out be the freezing wind blowing in from somewhere.

Following the turns on the great tunnels Greoa halted suddenly. “Oh no”.

A terrifying and deep scream of rage trumpeted a challenge off the walls as they rounded the corner next to Greoa to see the huge scaled beast launch itself into the air. They stood stunned for a moment awed by the white dragon as it hovered o great wings for a moment and again sounded its challenge. Here was the stuff of legends. He had thought it possible, but now as it flew at them the certainty that they were going to fight and maybe die to the greatest of beasts became reality.

As the beast flew toward him his nerve was sorely tested as he had no glamour upon him from the casters. He fumbled and drank quickly one potion to resist the effects of the dragons cold breath and reached for the second to protect his mind from the power of dragons to drive the mind to terror.

Too late. The dragon thumped to the ground raking claws and throwing him to the ground. He dove to the floor and grasped the dropped potion but spinning onto his back he saw the great head sink close and roar deafeningly in his face. Scrambling he jumped to his feet as a huge claw crashed into the ground where his head was moments earlier. Narimer cut an overhead swing at the beast but then he to retreated with Dorn as the neck wound back and then shot forward spewing a cone of frost from it’s mouth strong enough to extinguish Dorns axe for a long moment. While the potion protected their bodies the onslaught and the Dragons grip on their minds was too much and the warriors sped away from t to the far cave wall ice cracking on their clothes as they did. The dragon followed but as it did so Dorn was aware of arrows from Jena and the shapes of Greoa and Joe dashing forwards to slash at the beasts underside as it moved towards them. It turned away and went for them.

Dorn stood and watched numbly as the giant creature loosed another fearsome breath at his friends. Greoa’s magic protecting her and Joe dodging away in the last second. It now charged jean as her arrows became more than painful to it. Now Dorn saw the danger as she was pressed away from the others. With a hoarse cry he charged back into battle his mind free from the dragons terror. Leaping from behind he brought the flaming axe in a huge arc down into the shoulder of the dragon. The heat an flame flared on contact the dragon screaming from the extra pain of the fire. Dorn saw that the others had done their work well while he had fled seeing blood run heavily from the beast he hacked again at the already scored flesh of the underside where Greoa and Joe had done their worst. Gain thos the fear grips him as the Dragon stared balefully at him eye to ey and he ducked away from the beast. In the corner of his eye he saw both women healing themselves and Narimer as the dragon turned on Dorn leaving them a moment to attack freely. Another volley of attacks on the beast and the Dragon swayed as a fresh blood sprayed from it. A renewed attack from all sides and it leapt into the air and flew down the passage with Jena’s arrows following.

Cursing he smashed the icicles nearby swearing and calling after the beast. Looking around he saw everyone tired and hurt, but again the healing had been swift and Jena came again to tend his wounds. Turning he saw Gundrins body. Cold and stiff he lifted it into his arms as the others lifted sacks of gold and gems from the floor. The dragons horde. Even the sight of these riches could not cheer him. He wanted revenge on the beast for taking his mind and filling it with terror. He wanted blood.

With no site of the beast they moved back though the huge caverns towards the the pipes upwards. Nearing the pipes they saw a huge opening into the night outside. Looking out they could see the walk bridge above where they had come from and in the distance a strange red castle perched high on the mountains. They turned and walked away but suddenly the wind rushed from behind them stronger than ever and Dorn spun to see the dragon had returned in silence. No mark or cut upon it now, healed full. He ran for the wall. Not in terror, but knowing what the dragon brought with it. He drank a potion to guard his mind and as he turned saw Greoa disappear in a cloud of ice and cold then get knocked to the ground. Jena ran past the dragons head stabbing it’s eyes with her arrows before running paste towards him. Shrieking in rage it turned from Greoa and clawed Jena as she ran bringing out a cry of pain. Dorn exploded into rage at the sight of both his friends so battered and loosed a terrible battle cry of his own. As Jena ran past him he faced the dragon and cleaved into it’s neck with awesome rage filled strength and deadly accuracy between dislodged scales. The creature reared back in pain allowing Jena to heal herself and Dorn to reverse his axe spinning on the spot and burying the blade deep in its chest.

As the others able pressed from behind and a few had scattered from fear Dorn set himself and took two quick hits from the dragon. The stung deeply but he knew after the last time he had to keep its attention from those who couldn’t fight. Yelling and leaping to the left he all but severed the dragons’ front leg with two huge blows and then scoring it along the back near the wounds caused by his companions’ attacks. The beast once again leapt into the air and limped away out the vast opening into the dawn screaming in pain.

Cursing at the fled beast he once again picked up Gundrins body and they slowly climbed up the tubes and towards the mouth of the cave. The beast has been so close to death he thought it long gone to tend it’s wounds. As the left the cave mouth into the dawn of the mountain day the snow flew into their faces with the strong breeze. All felt tired as their bodies were racked with the after effects of so many potions and the effort to keep fighting such a strong opponent but physically and mentally.

They set off with Greoa Jena and Narimer leading then Dorn carrying the corpse and Joe behind him. Then beyond belief a trumpeting and strong challenge echoed through the flying snowflakes and as Dorn let Gundrins body slip to the ground and grabbed his axe a lighter shade of a fully healed white appeared in front of him and the stone bridge shook under its landing. This time the rage had not taken him and his mind was plunged into terror and he backed up hitting Joe who himself looked up and fled on sight of the dragon. Dorn also saw Narimer sprinting away on the other side of the Dragons as he saw Greoa and turn to fight with Jena start up a stream of arrows again. Pressed against the wall near the cave entrance Dorn spied a half-orc cleric rise up in front of Narimer. A dire wolf appeared and both of them attacked his firend. But then the bulk of the Dragon blocked his view and Greoa and Jena pressed the attack. They had not hurt it greatly but had held it while Dorn wrestled within himself to return to the fight. Suddenly the two front legs of the beast lashed out successively and Dorn saw Jena’s eye widen suddenly as both passed thorough her leather armour as if not there and plunged deeply into her body almost tearing her in two. As she turned to her friend Greoa was knocked backwards and lay still as well. Dorn then saw the life flood from Jena’s eyes and beyond saw the defenceless Narimer go down beneath the clerics mace.

Deep within himself a wild rage burst thorough any hold the dragon had on his mind. A deep roar echoed from his throat as all vision vanished but a red tinged view of the dragon who turned towards the sound. Without care or concern he threw himself at the Dragon swinging with such ferocity as he had never before, he had lost his mind in pure white hot fury and even the powerful strikes of the dragon was swept aside as he hewed into the cheast of the dragon. His battle rage renewed and another roar issuing from him he worked up the torso of the failing beast as it screamed and dealt sever blows mortally wounding it in critical blows. Then as it fell he sunk his axe into the beasts head bursting it’s eye and cleaving the skull and it stumbled then wrenching the axe out he saw a fiery bolt fly over his head and bury itself through the gash already opened by his axe and buried in the dragons skull.

The beast fell….dead.

The rage cleared as he turned to see Joe sighting down his crossbow and looked back to see other bolts buried in the bloody mass of the dragon alongside the deep smoking wounds opened by his axe. His vision cleared some and his breath calmed. The enemy was dead.

The he looked up to see the half-orc cleric dead next to Greoa…..who knelt between The shattered body of Jena and the pool of blood forming around Narimer.