Gameplay - The Dragon That Opposed an Empress

True or not (and let's face it - not), Mavis's dour expression cracks into the first honest chuckle she's shared with the orcs.

Oh aye? Tha's either hard or bard ah'll grant thee.

Her hobgoblin face grins from the tale; a tale so tall it should be classified as a flight hazard.

Ah'll mek note o' that, should ah ever 'ave cause to catch dragon. Jutok and Sweets, dragon netters and lullaby singers eh?

Jutok carries on, "Oh, I can prove it. We traded the dragon for three unicorns," Sweets shakes his head sadly, "Which turned out to be a bad trade. Unicorns are devilishly tricky. Anyway, the dragon was taken to the capital. I bet you if it sees us again, it'll be angry as angry can be!" He chuckles.

Raising sceptical eyebrows Mavis counters, Oh aye? Thee bets does tha? Five gold sez if we see dragon, it doesn't recollect thee. An' if tha can put it t' sleep, ah'll pay thee double fer sight on it. Will thee tek wager?

Jutok and Sweets put their heads together, Jutok talking. Sweets shakes his head once, then again, finally nodding.

Jutok looks at Mavis. "It's a wager!"

"A wager, sounds dangerous what if it just drops us on the spot?" Hasan snickers thinking of how large a dragon is.

Mavis underlines Hasan's question with a raised eyebrow at the orcs,

We'll be reet, eh lads? Sweets'll sing lullaby. Mebbe us'll hang back til tha's done.

"The dragon doesn't know most of us yet, dragons don't just attack on sight right?" Ever the optimist Ruby is pretty sure the answer is 'probably'.

We are lucky indeed to have suck tough fighters with us. You lead the way to the Capitol, it will be safer that way. If something attacks, you let us know 8f you need help

"What color wassss thisss dragon you netted? They come in all sssortss." Hehsh flicks his forked tongue.

Jutok looks around, doesn't see anything that he's looking for. "Not really gold, but like that only a little browner. He was a right nasty piece."

"And do you know where they took thisss dragon? I would love to sssssee an example of your sssskillssss. You mentioned the capital, but where in the capital?"

Jutok says, "Why, the keep yard, of course. Unless they're torturing it, but even then, probably the keep yard, then, too."

"Well then... We ssshould go visit. Ssssee what a strong catch our two brave companionsss have caught, yessss?" Hehsh gives the party what he thinks is a knowing look, but since he is a lizard man now, is actually less emotive than his usual face.

Ruby is definitely okay with meeting any dragon right now underlying message or not, positive they'll be great allies. "Good plan. Anything else in this keep yard of interest? You think we need permission to access it?"

The orcs remain cagey about the keep yard, only saying that it is the inner courtyard of the main keep of the citadel.

Over the next full day, you travel to the capital city, arriving near dusk. This former orc stronghold has been conquered by the Vermillion Reavers in the name of their empress. A massive bivouac around the city houses several armies. Drills are conducted, duels fought, and clashes between rival squads make it a tumultuous place. Still, your polymorph disguises hold and you make it to the walls without serious challenge.

Recruiters, not seeing insignia on your clothing, try their best to hire you into their mercenary companies: The Goblin Smashers, the Brave Gold, the 19th Legion, and so forth. They are adamant in the way of salesmen, offering you little in the way of pay but a share of inevitable and legendary pillage. You pass them by with ease.

At the gates to the walled city, you are stopped, joining a line of merchants and mercenaries who are trying to get into the city proper. After fifteen minutes, you are asked by a Vermilion Reaver lieutenant, "What do you dogs want going inside?" with all of the enthusiasm of something he's said two hundred times this day already.