As the last pin is removed, Zoboanth and MystWynd grab one end of the rope tied to the net and pull it to the other side (i.e., the butt end) of the dragon. As they try and remove the net, you run over and help, dragging the magical restraint from her. As it slies off her back and you free her tail, she suddenly explodes into motion. The ground shudders from her violence as Pananthys bursts into the sky. In seconds, she is over the hobgoblin army, and a titantic gout of flame bursts from her, incinerating entire platoons. Magic sparkles around her and the ground shudders as she unloads her fury. As the hobgoblin army reacts, no stranger to military tactics, they bring to bear ballistae and large crossbows. Projectiles stream into the air and the dragon... vanishes.
The evil forces are driven hard by the regrouping desert folk. Bird folk streak from the flank and pound them with their own arrows. Suddenly, flames erupt again from thin air, as an invisible dragon lays waste to the Vermillion Reavers siege equipment.
Soon, the Reavers call a retreat, but she does not let them go so easily. She breaks their formations, roasts their supply lines and harries their defenses. The desert folk appear out of now where, rising from the sand to take down those who stray to far.
The shocking violence ends as fast as it began. The unicorn, Albionii, meets you in the Reaver camp, where you have been chasing down those who fled back to the tents. As you wipe blood from your blades, the unicorn bows his head, his blood stained horn twinkling in the flickering light of burning tents. He turns and walks off, vanishing into the darkness.
MystWynd finds you, and alights on a nearby spear jabbed into the dirt. It bounces under his light weight. "The king says that you have done well. With Pananthys free, the Vermillion Reavers will not dare to trouble our corner of the world. There remains one more task, but you have earned our thanks and a rest. Please return to the valley."
Your hippogriffs wait, having had their wounds tended mysteriously. They still bear some wounds, but those are no longer mortal. Something inside you tells you that the wyld powers of the unicorn will save many thought lost this night.
You climb aboard your sharp-eyed winged steeds and fly back to the valley, back all the way to the town of Allaya's Cove. You are left in the field behind the tavern. A single light tells you that Hester is still awake, and when you enter, you find that despite the hour, a thick stew and warm loaves of bread, a platter of vegetables drizzled with honey, and even a plate of honeycakes are being placed on a table. Hester sees you enter, some familar, some strangers.
"The funniest thing, I was sure that I would have unexpected guests tonight, but I really don't know how I knew that. Come in, come in, let me serve you. There is plenty for everyone."
HERE ENDS CHAPTER 1
I'll leave this thread unlocked if you want to RP your reaction to this montage. If you want to continue in this story, then advance your characters to Level 5, and let me know in the Character Creation thread what choices you make.
