36. Foot Of The Mountain

You've been walking for perhaps two hours, since you broke camp early this morning. Mercy has been making an effort to be pleasant to Amanda since her laying down of the law, and you must admit the last leg of your journey has been much nicer because of it. That does not mean, however, that you are not somewhat relieved to finally round the edge of a cliff and see a familiar view.

Your smile is not unnoticed by your companions, and Amanda is quick to catch on. It's only when Mercy finally asks “Will someone please tell me why the both of you are grinning like loons?” that you deign to speak.

“Home.”

As you get closer to the foot of the mountain however, it becomes clear that your time away has not been without consequence. There are subtle signs: many more tracks through the trees than there were but a fortnight ago, indicative of much increased foot traffic; of the seven trees and bushes that you recognise as resource nodes on the winding path you take, all but one have been harvested; Two clearings with signs of a poorly taken down camp.

Then, there are more obvious signs. A shouted conversation to the east, and half an hour later, the sounds of fighting to the west.

Finally, and most bizarre, lies at the base of the main route up your side of the mountain. Nestled in the foothills and grasses in the narrow band where forest ends and stony mountain proper begins, where you are very sure there was nothing before, sits a stone building.

It's constructed somewhat like a small fortress. The windows are narrow with horizontal bars through them, and heavy looking wooden shutters are closed on the inside of several. The main door is low and reinforced with great wrought iron studs, and pierced by a small peephole, also closed by shutter. A thin plume of smoke is slowly rising from a slightly crooked chimney. A small stables, separate to the main structure, souses a single, sickly looking brown nag but has space for several more. To cap everything off, above the door a small wooden sign has been placed, swinging in the light breeze.

The Red Dragon

“Oh bugger me,” you breathe. There was even a small, crude picture of a red dragon's head. Most upsetting however was the very obvious fact that in the drawing the head had been separated from any body.

Amanda Gasps when she sees it, and Mercy lets out a displeased grunt. All three of you step back into the cover of the trees.

“What is that place?” Mercy asks. Amanda shakes her head but its you who responds.

“No idea. It wasn't here when I left.”

Mercy turns a rictus of a grin to you. “Well. It certainly looks like you're popular around here.”

That prompts a small frown. “As far as I was aware, I was never particularly famous. I was the only red drake on the mountain, but I was little more than a speed bump for a great many of the adventurers who came through.”

“Maybe there's a clue in that fame menu of yours?”

You nod, thoughtfully. You hadn't actually opened your fame menu for the duration of your journey back. Somehow, it just hadn't seemed important.

You shake your head and close the window. “Nothing particularly useful. Might be a guild, might be a response to Feathers and Sapphire's work while I've been gone. One good thing: Mercy, I got the Fame I was after.”

Mercy gives you a lop sided thumbs up without taking her gaze from the building.

Amanda studies it too, before speaking. “Well, we know one thing at least.” Mercy grunts in response, so she continues. “A new building, after the update? Someone's claimed that land.”

With a start, you realise she's right. And the 'who' could well be answered, as just moments later the door swings open.

The interior, from what little you see, is dark and somewhat cramped with tables and chairs. Most of that is blocked however by a woman best described as huge. The small doorway has her bending nearly in two to get through, and when her statuesque frame unfolds to its full height once more you have to suppress a gulp. She must be pushing eight and a half foot. Even at this distance, her arms are layered in muscles that look like melons fucking in a sock, and her legs look like they could crush boulders.

The intimidation factor is somewhat diminished by the outfit – a short red dress that flares out dramatically over white stockings, and a green bodice with white ruffs. But somehow, while diminished it isn't gone entirely. Any woman big enough to shatter your skull with her thighs, who chose (and she must choose, because who could make her?) to wear an outfit like that would never be entirely safe to be around.

The woman looks around for a long moment, her eyes passing right over your hiding place and causing the three of you to duck back behind trees. When a few seconds pass without any shouted exclamation you cautiously poke your head out again. The front door was closed again, the giant woman gone. However, a large bronze bell had been affixed to a hook next to the door, a pulley system that looked to make it ring attached to the clapper. More smoke pours from the chimney.

“Well.” you and Mercy say at the same time.

None of you move for some time, staring at the tavern. It's Amanda who speaks up next.

“At least it'll be nice to get some night life around here.”

You stare at her, agape. She crosses her arms in front of her chest. “What? I'm allowed to make jokes.”

Shaking your head, you turn back to the building ahead.

“What do we do?”

You ponder for a moment, before making your decision. “There's no point waiting here. You two can both pass for adventurers from a distance at least, and I know my way around. We'll have to split up, you two take the path and I'll circle around. I should be able to meet you at the first plateau and lead you the rest of the way.”

Neither Amanda nor Mercy were particularly happy with that plan. And they both immaterially and vocally disagreed.

“No way, splitting up is a bad idea.” said Mercy, first.

“For once I agree with her,” Amanda jumps in. “ I'm not comfortable with us splitting up.”

Unspoken, were the words I don't want you to leave me with her and I don't want you to leave me respectively. You shake your head, and gesture with your forelimb.

“Then what would you suggest?”

Mercy stalls, but Amanda rallies. “I could be a beastmaster, and you my pet?”

All three of you share a grin at that, although Amanda's is tinted with a rose blush. Mercy snorts. “As if anyone would believe that power dynamic.”

You shake your head, “I'm sorry Amanda, but any player who looks at you too hard will see you're an ex-cleric. And more to the point, I'm not sure anyone would believe that you would happen to have a red drakeling familiar around here. Especially not the patrons and owners of 'The Red Dragon'.”

Mercy doesn't look happy, but accepts your reasoning. She claps Amanda on the shoulder. “Come on. He's right. This is the best we have. Let's get going before that place really opens for business.”

After a few reluctant glances, Mercy and Amanda move out, walking with purpose towards the track beyond the tavern that leads up the mountain. You give them a minutes head start and then start slinking your way, using the trees as cover, to a section of cliff you think should be climbable. Once you reach a reasonable height, you can use goat tracks to make the rest of your way, so you're not daunted by the climb.

You keep half an eye on your girls as you move, until the bulk of the inn shields them form your view. Then, you focus on your climb. It's almost as if Imporne is welcoming you back – the stones beneath your feet are dry and stable, allowing you to leap from outcrop to outcrop with ease. You take a moment to revel in your agility.

Evolve form

You don't know exactly what those words entail. Lifting the restrictions on your stats would be a god bet. Maybe some improved feats. But beyond the terms that reality is broken down into, you have no idea. Will your grow so large as to make things like this impossible in the future? Is an evolved Drakeling a Drake; or a six legged, ground bound salamander?

You try your best to avoid letting the questions overwhelm you as you make it to a narrow pathway, some three dozen feet above the earth. What will come, will come.

You cast your eye around, searching for Mercy and Amanda.

You can't see them anywhere.