Khyree's Story

Khyree grabs onto the wheel and focuses her energy into the connection. Her eyes are locked on the adversarial mage, casting imaginary daggers at the fiend. "Master!" She cries out. "The mage is targeting the poor Ents again!"

You grab the wheel; the glow of the helm subsides as you do; the ship instantly responds. It heaves and lifts off the forest floor. You see the shape of dragon wings extend off the port and starboard bows, appearing as a dim blue aura. The ship seems to let off a sigh of relief. Massive sail's raise made of the same blue spectral aura. Again you are not sure if the sight and sound is noticeable to you only, or to all around.

While the ship hovers a few feet off the ground, ready to respond to your direction, you see the levitating wizard figure-- who is off the starboard bow--push his orb forward. When he does, lightening flies from the orb in numerous directions. Many of ents are hit and wail in agony as their leaves, trunks, and limbs erupt in flame.

Just after the lightening blast from the orb, another blast, this one of acid, rises up from the undergrowth below the mage and envelopes him. The mage lets out an angry painful scream and falls from his levitating perch, disappearing into the forest cover. "Grekkor", you think to yourself, "his acid breath attack."

Holding tight to the wheel, Khyree calls out, "Master! Jump on!" She focuses as the information floods into her mind how to operate the amazing ship. She holds position, hovering the ship off the ground for a moment longer; waiting for Grekkor to appear.

With the wheel in hand you keep the ship hovering in position. Somehow you intuitively understand how to operate the vessel.

Just after you call out to Grekkor to jump on, a flash of bright electrical energy flares from the forest undergrowth (where the mage fell after Grekkor's acid breath attack). A few moments later you see rigging--that hangs off the starboard rail and is attached to a fallen crosstree brace--go taut as the wooden brace slides across the main deck and wedges snuggly between the ship's rails. You then hear Grekkor yell, "Go, go Khyree! I'm on!" You hear him, but you can't see him.

Wanting urgently to get away from the ground and hopefully cease the attacks on the Ents if there is not reason with the ship gone, Khyree focuses and the ship rises straight up until it reaches a cruising altitude of 500 ft.

Through your focus the ship rises up out of the clearing. It rocks back and forth as if the force that lifts it operates much like waves at sea. As the ship rocks to the starboard side you catch a sight of Grekkor holding on the rope as the ship lifts upward. He appears to be struggling.

Some flaming arrows fly just below the ship where Grekkor struggles to ascend the rope. A flaming arrow lodges into his side as he slowly climbs, igniting his cloak.


Khyree--Current HP: 24, Temp HP: 0, KI: 2

Hoping the ship doesn't plunge, Khyree rushes down the railings and reaches out to help Grekkor. "Here, Master! Take my hand! Quickly!"

The ship stays stable when you let loose the helm. You can feel that your connection to the ship remains and your control of it stays intact.

When you call out to Grekkor he makes a greater effort to climb the rope high enough so you can reach his hand. When he does you grab his hand and pull him aboard the main deck. An arrow is lodged in his side, his cloak is engulfed in flame, and his body shows signs of being struck by lightning. You rip off his cloak and toss it over the side of the ship. Your master's form slumps to the deck as soon as you remove the burning cloak.

You notice that Grekkor's scales show a faint, lingering luminescence, traces of residual electricity flicker along them, their edges appear slightly singed, with small tendrils of smoke rising and dissipating into the air. Where lightning struck him most directly, there are marks left behind—a network of faint, intricate patterns, resemble lightning bolts frozen in time. You master doesn't look good.

There is shouting and human screams from below. It sounds as if the ents are fighting back the human intruders. The ship now hovers safely above the clearing out to range of the human's arrows.

Grekkor coughs and calls you in a weakened voice. "Khyree, I must tell you some things." He waits for you to come close, because he can't speak loudly. He continues, pausing occasionally throughout his story when his body erupts in convulsing pain, "Things...that I was not sure to be true...that I thought were perhaps just myths, have manifested their truth today. This ship...It does exist. It was created by the founder of our order, the great dragon Gradius--whose twin brother, the dragon Sekkor, was lost to the darkness in his exploration of the Underdark. But Gradius' exploration instead took him to uncharted lands of the south, discovering the Dragon Realm Portal. He founded our order, whose original purpose was to protect the Portal and channel its energy to benefit the world. Gradius promised his followers wisdom, focus, peace, and protection, teaching them how to tap into the Dragon Force. His brother, however, created an order of his own. Dark hearted followers of the Deep Dragon, Sekkor, were tasked by their master to find and annihilate those of our order, human and dragonborn alike, until no more remained. The mage I faced below was one such of Sekkor's followers along with other humans down there. They must have been searching for this ship."

Grekkor's body convulses again. He closes his eyes and breaths to regain command of his thoughts and body.

"Very shortly, you...Khyree will be the last of the followers of the Ascendant Dragon."

"It was believed that Gradius constructed the Dragon Ship to aid his followers in traveling between places of power and infused it with his own essence through a gem known as the Dragon Gem. It was believed that the Dragon Gem was a twin to another gem created by Sekkor...two dragon twins and two twin gems embedded with their makers' essence."

"Master..NO!" Khyree knows Grekkor's words of his own approaching end is true, but she still wants to deny it. "These terrible cultists of the dark dragon must be stopped. It is they who should be no more..."

"Yes Khyree it is they that should be stopped. They indeed have nearly accomplished their task of annihilating the Order of the Ascendant Dragon. But not fully. You are the last of our order in this realm. The Deep Dragon Cult must never discover the Dragon Realm Portal. I fear what should happen if they did. I suspect..." He coughs, "...that their search for this forgotten vessel is an attempt to locate that portal, as the ship is connected to its creator, Gradius. The Ascendant Dragon commands that portal and its influence on this realm."

Grekkor pauses. He closes his eyes and takes a heavy breath. His scales still flicker occasionally with sparks of electricity. He continues with his eyes closed,

"I feel the presence of our master here Khyree, maybe not fully here, but with this vessel still."

He opens his eyes.

"I can pass now, join with the Dragon, offer my Ki to this ship and our master. This will help you. You are chosen to command this vessel. Its fate...the fate of the Ascendant Dragon is in your hands now."

"I can feel our master here too, Master Grekkor." She acknowledges and holds his hand. "I don't know if I can do this alone...again, but I will gives it my best. Promise."

The dragonborn monk's body convulses with pain, trembling as relentless agony courses through his veins. With each labored breath, the weight of the searing pain from the lightning strike and the flaming arrow wound seem to overtake him more.

Struggling to speak through clenched teeth, the monk's voice trembles with a mix of pain and determination. With weakened but resolute eyes, he locks gazes with you. Grekkor's voice, though strained, carries an undertone of unwavering conviction.

He says, "I know you will Khyree. You have great strength within you," he manages to say, each word an arduous effort. "I have witnessed your growth, your dedication. You carry the legacy of our teachings. Embrace your potential...embrace your best...you are ready."

With those last words Grekkor's life leaves his body. For a moment his form lies motionless and all seems silent. Then his body begins to glow, getting brighter each second. His glow is soon followed by the blue glow of the ship. The spectral sails and dragon wings are visible to you again. And you hear a distant unearthly dragon roar.

Then the glow fades. Nothing remains of Grekkor. The ship once again looks like a normal seafaring vessel--although it still hovers hundreds of feet above the clearing and the chaos below. And you still feel the connection to the ship, realizing it will respond to your will. But there is something different now. The connection is stronger than before and you can feel the energy of your master has combined with the ship. Dragon Ship Ki reserve: 9

Khyree felt the sudden rush of emotion come over her. She had long ago given up tears, but there they were again, filling her eyes and threatening to stream down her cheeks. She grabbed up Grekkor's cloak and held it close. The old dragonborn had been the only being that had ever shown her kindness. She would miss him dearly.

Alone again, save the lingering essence of her master and that of the great dragon in this ship, she got to her feet and ascended to the helm once more. She had never liked this accursed jungle. Now she had more reason to despise it. Focusing her Ki, Khyree turned the floating vessel and headed for the coast.

Khyree focuses the Ki within the ship and commands it to rise another five hundred feet, before it heads bearing for the coast.

With her course set, she begins an exploration of the vessel, beginning with the captain's cabin.

You enter the captain's cabin and are awestruck by a magnificent dragon statue, its imposing form crafted with remarkable attention to detail. The dragon's outstretched claws both hold items. In one claw, there is a lantern encasing gem that seems to swirl with red and blue energy as if the colors are are competing for superiority...or maybe trying to maintain a balance. It's hard to tell. In the other claw of the dragon statue, there rests an ornate scabbard that looks ready to receive and house its blade.

Carved into the base of the statue are writings in draconic form that say: "Bound by Blood, Forged by Fate, In Unity We Soar, Our Division Escape."

The cabin is otherwise in disarray. Dust, jungle snakes, webs and spiders have laid claim to this room. The webs and dust blow around as wind from elevated air currents blow in through broken window panes behind the statue.

Khyree carefully clears a path across the cabin floor of spiders, snakes, and cobwebs until she can reach the statue. She stands and admires its artistic beauty and then picks up the scabbard. She has no sword herself. The only thing she does have that has a similar shape is the dagger talon dagger she has kept at her hips for years now. She chuckles to herself and, drawing the dagger, attempt to fit it into the mouth of the scabbard.

Making a path toward the statue, you kick at snakes--that fearfully slither away from you--and brush aside webs.

When you touch it and try to lift the scabbard from the statue's claw, the claw closes tightly around it. Suddenly the name of the scabbard rushes into your mind. It is the Soulbound Shealth. It tells you without words, without sound, that it waits only to house Reaver, which you seem now to know is the blade created by Sekkor, infused with his essence through his Dragon Gem embedded in the blade's pommel.

As the nature of the scabbard makes itself known to you, your mind gets flooded with many more images.

You see visions of a grand forge surrounded by intense heat and billowing flames in an obsidian fortress deep within subterranean depths. With skilled and precise movements, the dragon Sekkor forges Reaver there, its blade taking shape under the dragon's powerful claws.

The vision then focuses on the hilt of Reaver, where Sekkor embeds his dragon gem with a surge of raw energy. The gem radiates a blue and red swirling glow, pulsating with the flames of the forge.

The vision transitions and you see a dragonborn pirate captain; you somehow know his name is Ezber. He wields the blade as he boards a ship. The dragonborn's image soon morphs into a tabaxi warlock, also a pirate captain--you know he is Admiral. He waives Reaver and orders his crew to make haste. You somehow know he is the one who possesses Reaver now.

The vision shifts again and reveals a swirling vortex of darkness, a tear in the fabric of reality that exudes an aura of chaos and corruption. It is surrounded by an ominous mist; the air crackles around it with raw energy, and a sense of foreboding permeates the immediate vicinity. This, you somehow know to be the Portal to the Demon Realm.



Finally, the vision settles on the port city of Jahore at night, where Admiral is unconscious, shacked, and being carried into the shadows of a sewer tunnel by skulking armor clad humans and goblins.

After the vision subsides you slide your dagger into the Soulbound Sheath. It's not a good fit, but does slide in. Nothing else happens when it does.

Dragon Ship Ki reserve: 8