Chapter 5 - A reluctant rescue


Three men at arms lay dead and two more were screaming in agony in the wake of the dragon's breath, a great blackened swathe coats the top of the walkway with the stink of scorched flesh and ozone lingering on the air as the Dragon soars up and away from the battlements. Morfindion stretched out his hands and with a word darts of force leapt forth and chased the Dragon impacting across the beasts tail and hind quarters. The beast screamed and wheeled turning almost in the length of its own body as it dived once again towards the keep.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Hrodulf shouted as he launched two javelins at the Dragon looking angrily at the Elf "This is nothing to do with us!" one of the javelins sailing wide and the other nicking the giant beast as it passed over the battlements dragging another man at arms to his death.

The Governor, who had  been caught in the wake of the dragon's breath, rose groggily to his feet and steadied himself against the parapet. "We cannot leave these good people to suffer" Morfindion replied preparing another spell as the Dragon wheeled once more.

"I don't give a fuck about the people here..." Hrodulf shouted back launching another two javelins at the on rushing dragon's head, both of which skittered off its armoured hide... As did the many arrows fired by the guards atop the walls.

Again white darts of magical energy lanced out from the fingers of Morf's outstretched fingers peppering across its face. The last dart catching the Dragon in its open maw causing it to pull up and head for the skies.

The Governor clapped Morfindion on his shoulder, eyeing Hrodulf warily he said "please... The folk in the temple... Help them!" "of course" the elf replied "come Hrodulf, let us aid them". Hrodulf rolled his eyes and followed the elf "but there's nothing in it for me..."

They left the keep through the sally port and headed out keeping low and avoiding contact with the roving bands of Kobolds and cultists as they headed for the temple of Chauntea. The temple was a large building constructed of stone and wood. The front held two large double doors that perhaps... fifteen armed raiders were attempting to batter down.

As Hrodulf and Morfindion watched, another group of a dozen raiders were making circuits of the temple looking for a way to rush inside.The raiders at the rear door had piled wood and straw against it and seemed to be arguing about how best to light it. Two human cultists and six Kobolds were clustered arguing loudly as Hrodulf and Morfindion crept quietly towards them. "how do you want to play this?" Morfindion asked looking at a thin stream of smoke starting to rise from the kindling piled at the foot of the door and turning to look at his companion.


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