Early this morning, we set off once again to the northeast on the shining silver back of Otaaryliakkarnos, as Lathander’s rosy fingers tickled the treetops of the High Forest. Our flight path took us directly over Noanar’s Hold. To the west, suspicious smoke rose near the settlement of Calling Horns, where Jundar’s Pass meets Evermoor Way. To the east, The Grandfather Tree, a monstrous oaken behemoth, towered above all the trees of the High Forest. Why the first burns, while the second still stands?… only Beshaba knows.
In the afternoon, we soared directly over the city of Everlund, at the foot of the Nether Mountains. Otaaryliakkarnos kept flying, and gave our Fellowship a briefing on what we could expect in the meetings ahead. We would speak to each of the five Draconic representatives separately, and we may have to offer concessions in our negotiations to convince the dragons to fight alongside the humanoids. Her briefing was peppered with unmistakable hints that Otaaryliakkarnos herself holds a particular dislike of dwarves. Finally, we landed in a cavern hidden deep within the Nethers.
I thought it prudent that we first address the Draconic Council’s leader, Protanther the Golden, and I led the way to his dais, hoping the golden dragon motif of my breastplate might bend the negotiation odds in our favour, Beshaba willing. Protanther professed a dislike for humans and elves as incorrigible, and specifically wanted the elves to make an apology for the Dracorage Mythal. We agreed that his demands were just, and Brick and Jorad, our Fellowship’s human representatives, assured him that King Melandrach would personally make that apology. With that, Protanther was on our side.
Jorad suggested, with a strange, knowing wink, that we should next visit Tazmikella the Copper. As he removed his clothes, Jorad told us what he knew of “Taz,” as he kept calling her, convincing us all, save Tolarin, to remove our clothes as well. Indeed, Taz seemed pleased with our unclothed forms, especially Gunx. But when she spotted Jorad’s staff (no pun intended), she claimed it as her own. Jorad acquiesced like a gentleman and Taz, transforming into the form of an elven wench, warmly declared her allegiance.
It seemed auspicious to next visit Otaaryliakkarnos. The absence of dwarves within our party boded in our favour. Otaaryliakkarnos confided that her relative was hunted and skinned by dwarven trophy hunters. Otaaryliakkarnos wants the remains of her relative returned to her. Though her cause be just, we could not in good faith promise this to her, since none among us could truly speak for the dwarves. She accepted the truth of this, and instead settled for an even share of the spoils of victory. This was a fair compromise and so, we had another dragon ally.
We next went to Nymmurh the Bronze, who seemed pleased with us all from the start. He mentioned his admiration for Dala Silmerhelve of Waterdeep, and we gushed about how great we all thought she was when we met her last Kythorn when we first arrived in the City of Splendors, wow, what a super, super lady… just super. He said he liked the Order of the Gauntlet, so Brick and Gunx thrust forward their lapel pins. He asked if any of our Fellowship were Harpers, and we all flashed him our moon and harp badges. He embraced us all in his tail, and we had another dragon down to clown.
Finally, we went to Ileuthra the Brass, trying to put out strong ‘we saved the best for last’ vibes; but, when we approached he seemed sincerely lost in thought, so I don’t think it mattered. We flat out asked what it would take to get him on our side. He asked for Severin, dead or alive. Done, we said. Then Ileuthra tacked on another request, that we hand over all the dragon masks. We told him that we’d love to, but that’s not something we can promise, since we might never find them all. Our final offer on the table, Ileuthra accepted the terms, and agreed to the allegiance.
Beshaba, I am forever in awe of your ability to gather powerful pawns to deliver holy misfortune unto those who would dare make an enemy of your servants, klaatu barada nicto amen.