The hunt for glory

[Dodgen]

He had been wandering the lands for a bit. Sure, having his own shop back in the little town was nice... But making horse shoes and wagon wheels was getting a bit old. He came to the surface for gold and glory. He was a Hammerfist for Moradins sake! He should be making armor for kings and lords, making jewelry for ladies and queens. His father would be ashamed of him. He left their home deep underground with a head full of stories, abandoned his heritage and for what?

Drunk, as was usual for most nights, he heard of a little town called Trolls pass. It filled him with a rage he hadn't known in a long time. At least this was a monster he was used to fighting. His bags were packed in the morning, a long with a stiff headache. He had some alchemists fire bottled very carefully and wrapped in layers of cloth. All it took was a little clink and BOOM. Couldn't have that, but he was a damned drawf. Used to toting around explosives.

With a smile on his face he started on his way, and uneventful weeks later he had found this town. It had been days since he had run out of ale, which was just unacceptable. So of course, the first place he headed was the tavern, easily identified as it was right smack in the middle of the town, and there was a mug on the door.

"Barkeep, gimmie a room and some ale to wet me lips," he said pounding his fist on the table jovially. Everyone was looking at hima little strangely right now, like they'd never seen a dwarf or somethin. His spic'n span shined up plate armor probably didn't help either. The ale slid his way with a room key, "Thank ye ser." Drink in hand he went upstairs, unloaded his pack, and walked back downstairs. There was a nifty little surprise in his pack. Anyone tried to open it without knowing the trick, those great vials would explode. Sure he'd lose his stuff, but better that than some mangy thief get a hand on it! Back downstairs! Time to drink like he was back with his clan!

It was comin onto evening time and the tavern was starting to fill up a bit, folks giving him a little room. He kept pounding down the drinks, his shield on his back and his hammer on his side where it always was. He never took off his armor unless he was around folks he could really trust. He took up an old dwarven drinking song, singing it loudly in his native tongue. It was a bold song about the adventures of dwarves takin out hordes of trolls in their tunnels. Tomorrow he would start his hunt. Maybe someone here would say somethin to him other than, 'here's your drink.'

[Pony Swag]

"Altiuiri di iejir astahii tir vihaga.
Mrith ixenic taq di dartak.
Ivah di ixen vur miirik ti foud.
Ekess rechan mojka thurkear ihk nakit siksta"

-Song of Dragon, act 3-

The village had flourished under his ever vigil gaze. From Troll to man all enemies were stricken by virtuous flame. The silver eyed dragon had become a symbol of amorousness for the folk of this picturesque village. But this tranquility would only be temporary. For soon he would hear the call and soar toward his fate. Abdicating this village behind to fend for itself until such a day as he fulfilled his destiny and role in the cosmos. With each quietus moment the silver dragon could sense the war drums beating harder and harder. Bringing with it the end of the placidity that looms preceding the storm. And in it's aftermath all hope would be unfurled as the world would once more be cast into degeneration. But this was they way of things. For everything there was a season.

And no season lasts forever. Some are brisker then others. But no matter the seasons which are too come. If there is one thing the silver eyed dragon knew to be tangible. It is this; that beauty and hope will always persevere. For no matter how dark the night may be. There will always be a star to admonish it home. And though most would turn a blind eye to this star and focus on the near infinite truancy of space. The dragon understood and relished it's value. And would trade nothing in the world for it's obscured light. As the silver dragon soared high in the heavens. His gaze would detect the life sign that is a dwarf. A foreigner no doubt, most likely seeking riches and fame. The silver eyed dragon knew the folk of the village would culminate from parleying with him.

For albeit they were canonically Kind hearted people. They were xenophobic to some amplitude. Perhaps in due time this fear of foreigners would fade and instead of keeping them at arms length the villagers would instead embrace them. Thus invigorating their citizenry. However such a day would not come for many moons. The dragon would roar, it's call piercing the sound barrier. It was its way of acquiescing the villagers know he would soon descend on their land. And while most might run and scream at the sight of such a dragon as he. The villagers instead embraced his weekly visits with open arms. No doubt due to his ability to sustain them from the banes which populate this realm.

After circling the village several times the silver eyed dragon would make its approach. The tavern once filled with patrons would empty as the spectators watched from a safe distance as he landed in the village square. A few of the children would clap and cheer as the adults remained silent. They knew this dragon cared not for their acclaim. Yet still it helped them for nothing more then a few healing spells which they did cast to convalesce whatever wounds he bore. The silver dragon would remain still as the village elders approached him. "Silver eyed dragon we thank you for your service. Do you require aid?" The eldest man would ask as the dragon gazed into his eyes.

"Vraktor di sthyr (children of man.) your thanks are not needed. I am merely doing what is expected of me. It is my job to purge this realm from the whedab iri. (dark ones.) I need not your ioth (healing) spells. I am just checking in on my iejir vur yobolat. (Blood and flesh.)" The dragon would end. It's voice thunderous and authoritative as usual, demanding respect. "I see...there is nothing new to report silver eyed dragon. Our village has prospered due to your watch." The old man replied with a bow and smile. Knowing full well that the dragon esteems proper social adherence as oppose to words.

"all good things must in due time end. For just as the siksta lleisgaric vur seilor (sun rises and sets.) so must the era of peace and prosperity vanish beyond the horizon. You need only endure those days Vraktor di sthyr. (Children of man.) Where is thevrak di ternesj? (child of stone) The foreigner whom I sensed. I do pray you are treating him with as much civility as you show me on a daily basis tilabil ir? (elder one)" The Dragon replied as he lowers his head as to studying the mans body language more alertly. "but of course." The elder would lie. The Dragon saw right through his facade. "Wharacic!! (Lies)You are like vyklade persvek shanin. (the snake in the grass.) You will do well to speak the teno! (truth) You must learn that not all none sthyr (man) are vile. Otherwise you will one day loreat (perish) due to your inability to change." The silver eyed dragon would finish rebuking the old man.

"I am sorry I meant no offense. Here I will make sure he gets all his drinks free for the rest of the night and refund him for his room." The village elderly would imprudently state. "It is your sepa (soul) not mine Vraktor di sthyr. (Children of man)" The Dragon would state as it raised it's head on high.

[Dodgen]

He heard a loud roar... Did they put something in these drinks? Certainly nothing he knew of made that sound. Perhaps it was some strange kind of town call. Whatever it was it seemed that it would be interrupting his drink. The tavern emptied out right quick, as did his drink. Horrible. He made his way behind the counter and simply refilled his large glass himself. Everyone was outside talking in hushed tones. He could feel the waves of excitement rolling through the town. Maybe there was some entertainment coming to down?

Grumbling under his breath about the strange ways of humans he stepped outside just in time for the dragon to make his thunderous landing. What... He dropped his glass, its sound quiet when compared to the dragon speaking in the common tongue. His people had had to deal with dragons for as far back as history was written. Vile evil wicked things that found homes in the underground cave. This one was silver. Beautiful really. It started to fill him with a sense of wonder as light reflected off of his scales. Then it his him. He shook his head vehemently, stomping his boots on the ground while he slid his shield off of his back, clumsily drawing his hammer from his belt. his equipment was masterfully crafted, and as drunk and small as he was he was still a formidable opponent against most men. Perhaps all it would take was one rallying cry for them to realize they had been tricked.

He stumbled as gracefully as any half drunk lout would coming down the steps before he pointed his hammer at the Dragon. "What foul trickery is this Dragon! What have you done to ensnare these people!" It made some sense to him now. No wonder they were all closed off. Maybe they were all dragon worshipers. Maybe the dragon had them held in some foul wizardry. Maybe...he just signed his death warrant. So be it. If that was to be it, it would be a glorious fight with himself dieing only doing the right thing. Humans were so weak.

[Pony Swag]

The drunken dwarf would step out of the bar. His reaction to the silver eyed dragon was to be expected. For few in the realms possessed enough intellect not to run off of stereotypes. Silently he would listen as the drunken fool accused him of trickery. As if he would weave a spell to manipulate these folk. A bunch of villagers with little to their name. They were void of wealth and power. Of what materialistic or military use were they? A sigh would part from the silver dragons lips as the dwarf drew his weapon and shield. Bearing them rather clumsy as he concluded his rant. The locals would simply observe as he acted the fool. Ignoring him for nothing needed to be said. Still only the elder would entertain the Dwarf.

"Silence you drunken food. We do not worship this one nor does he control our minds. He is our protector, has protected us for sometime." The old man would state as he turned to face the silver eyed dragon. "Forgive him silver eyed dragon. He knows not what he says." The elder would beseech the dragon on the dwarf's behalf. "Deevdru di ternesj (son of stone.) you have self intoxicated yourself beyond reason. What use would these people be to me from a military stand point? Hofiba! (Fool!) Do not judge me under the same light as you would my wielgtor (fallen) kin." The silver dragon would rebuke this one.

Meanwhile the elder would once more call out to the dragon. "His tongue is loosen by the taint of drink. Please do not take anything he says to heart silver eyed dragon" The elder would reassure him that no personal spite was meant. The silver dragon knew that his words expressed his honest opinion. But for now he would ignore the tiny one. "Deevdru di sthyr (Son of man) you may of saved this deevdru di ternesj (son of stone) life. Deevdru di ternesj (Son of stone) why have you ventured from the safety of earths belly? What is it you seek?" The silver eyed dragon would ask, entertaining the possibility of conveying thoughts with this one.

[Dodgen]

"What're ye on about!" His mouth moved before his mind could catch up with what was going on. He had heard of good Drow, Dueragar, even a good Goblin and Kobold so why not a Dragon. He clumsily flipped his shield back onto his back, relaxing his grip on his hammer. The way the dragon spoke was almost humbling. Just outside the line of belittling. Of course a dwarf would never admit he was humbled, and if he felt belittled it was time for a fight, but the dragon somehow melded ever so delicately between the two. What he said did seem to make some sense though...

"Harumph," his mind rumbled through what to say to try and recover from this. Drunk he may have been, but he was always pretty good that way, though maybe the harsh ways his clan spoke weren't to be appreciated by the likes of this one. He figured he may as well try the polite thing out. After all, aint much he could really do against this one even if he were to be tellin' lies. "Well Ser Dragon, (For he assumed it was a male) if ye must be knowin', I left me home to seek me destiny. I left me home to find true inspiration, that I might find the person who moved my heart so i can create my truest creation as all me clan has done. It be tradition that if we don't find our inspiration in the deep that we travel to the surface," he said matter of factly. "I seek to learn of this strange place without a ceiling, and most of all, I seek to rid whatever place i come to of the wickedness that seems to always grip the lands above, even more so than below." At the end he stomped his foot indignantly. He thought he sounded pretty dang elegant. Stupid common tongue not having all the right words, or him not knowing them.

He fiddled with the handle to his hammer nervously. Stupid dwarven rashness. Not that it mattered. Looking back on the situation he still would have done the same thing, time and time again. He always did what he felt was right, something he had seen everywhere as a major fault in this treacherous human race. Liars were branded in his house. Thieves lost a hand. Traitors died. Spies were unheard of. A friend is someone you would die for, not someone who was convenient. If the bleedin dragon was really good, it would see that he did what he thought was right and respect that. If not, then maybe it wasn't as elegant and smart as it seemed. Where he came from that dragon would've been attacked on sight. No mercy was ever shown to the evil races, for to many of them had betrayed their vows and promises.

[Pony Swag]

Every one had a tale of plight; a reasoning behind their desire to aspire into something greater then their current position. The races who walked the earth always surprised the dragon. Never were they content with their current seating in life. Always evolving, expanding their grasp. A near fathomless appetite for self progression which he had found quite admirable. His kind lived a long time and so the need to better oneself was not nearly as hastenly realized as these more finite creatures. This was their one intimidating trait. Silently the silver eyed dragon listened to the stone born as he spouted his most inner desire for self-improvement.

The locals remained silent once more as the intoxicated dwarf spoke. Listening to his words as they awaited to see how their guardian would react. Even the elder seemed to be stricken with silence. The dragon would growl under his breath as he formulated a reply to this ones words. "Deevdru di ternesj (Son of stone) you ground walkers amuse me. You speak of thirku (Change) so lightly. As if it could be so easily ascertained. It is ibleuair (Humbling) enough so that one such as I a darastrix find himself moved by your words." The silver eyed dragon would speak as it lowered it's head to this ones level. Showing a sign of equality. A sense of humility absent in most of his kind.

"To Wurunwi...(Dream)" The dragon would whisper to itself as it stretched out it's four wings. To dream, something the silver dragon had not done for sometime. Not since his hibernation. And even then his dreams were never self centered. He dreamnt only of his duties. For that was his only reason he had left to live. Never in his five thousand years of life did the elder dragon live for himself. For that was not his destiny. No, rather his destiny called him down a different path. Still he often wondered how things would be different if he had taken the road not traveled. A thought which the silver eyed dragon knew he was not alone in having. For many in their lifetime found themselves at some juncture in time meditating over this very same thought.

But he had done the math enough to know the dangers of a second guessing. and so he would coup with the reality of things. Finding solace in his current road. "Your Wurunwi (dream) deevdru di ternesj (son of stone) never lose sight of it." The dragon would whisper. His voice still demanding authority.

[Dodgen]

"Aye," he said, sliding his hammer back into his belt and crossing his arms. He was stubborn, and unchanging. His only dream was to fulfill his destiny. When the time was right he would return back to his beloved tunnels. He would never, could never, forget the way home. Now the dragons head rested on the ground, wings spread. Well... Thing was pretty damned big. Too big really. "Guess that means them trolls i heard tell of around here are gone then... Don't get to bash none of them twin headed freaks heads together then. You stole me fun Dragon!"

Never got its name either. Rude creatures it would seem Dragons were. Then again... He never gave his. "You can call me Beldrum, and since you stole me fun by meltin' all the trolls (By their conversation he assumed the dragon had) i think you need to tell me where i can find some goblins or somethin' like that. Maybe some Giants!" Nothing was more fun to a dwarf on the surface than choppin' down a giant. Stupid big lumbering things always lookin' down on everythin'. Nice to make them look up at you. Of course, with this dragon around it seemed that it was unlikely that there would be anything left in quite a wide range that needed to have their heads bashed in. Idiot at the bar lied to him. No point in ever comin' to trolls pass. Met a dragon, made it mad. Made a whole bleedin town mad, and he didn't even get to bash any trolls heads in. Bah. Felt kind of let down about this entire trip. Abandoned his forge to piss of a dragon. Great job Beldrum.