Session 20

After returning from Solstice, we learned that Primus couldn’t be killed. Well, shouldn’t was more along the lines of what the Magus of Myth said. The man-made god was created by the Cabiri, for the Cabiri. Then Primus became sentient and killed all the Cabiri. When an alliance of giants and dragons killed him centuries back, Primus essentially reincarnated. That’s when he was sealed away, locked in eternal sleep. That is, until my friends broke his bonds and released him back into the world to dominate all living things.

Which left us with two options. Wait or fight. We had allies and armies. The dragons were bound to Illium, and in extension, me. Then there was the Arch Magi, who were there to save the world when groups like ours made mistakes. Stopping Primus was our priority, but how did you face a god that controlled you? It’s what kept us from acting, all the while I kept imagining Primus setting his sights elsewhere. Like Illium.

The idea that Primus might come for Illium unnerved me. I already had Tiamat as an enemy, and probably others I didn’t know of. I did what I do best, and stepped away from the city. Having returned from Solstice well past our three day limit had upset Feeps, even when I explained the time spell. He and Killian had taken to reminding me that my place was here, and running about endangering myself wasn’t very princess-like. Fed up, I found solace in the nature beyond Illium’s walls, far from the city as I dared to go alone.

I left without a word. Not like I heeded anyone but myself, a privilege of my birth I suppose. I was working on it. Maybe if I wasn’t so absorbed in resenting my responsibilities, I might have seen the figure that snuck up behind me. When the silver collar snapped around my neck, I only had time to glimpse the familiar black dragon stepping out of the woods. It was a creature I recognized, one I couldn’t forget. The dragon I fought in Illium. Then I blacked out.

I awoke on my knees upon the marshy floors of a swamp. A place I knew. I was in the Sump, in front of some overgrown cavern, cleverly hidden if not for the group of people standing at its entrance. Two elves, casters of some sort, a female and male. Three halflings of varying professions, and a blue dragonborn beside a mysterious woman. Then my focus found a face I recognized. Klotonk.

Another clone? I wondered wearily, my body seemed to ache all over. Definitely. How did I get here?

The gnome’s wide-eyes were watching me, fearfully. I glanced over my shoulder and saw why. The ancient black dragon crouched low, alongside some mage in dark robes. Off to the right was a foreign warrior, bearing accents from the far east.

“Munari. Is the deal on, or off? One princess for the information that I asked for.” The mage behind me asked.

I snorted. Joke’s on you, I’m a bastard.

The black dragon growled as if keeping me in check. I could feel his warm breath on my back, but the silver collar around my neck held me still.

“Easy Shimmerlee,” the mage said to the dragon. “We’re almost done here.”

The mysterious woman named Munari seemed to think on her answer. Eventually, she nodded. “All right, Timony. I’ll take the princess as agreed.” She pulled out a scroll from her robes.

Timony grabbed me by the collar and pushed me forward. He dropped me a few feet in front of the group before taking off the torc and waving it in front of me, smiling. Then he snatched the scroll from Munari’s hand and walked back to the black dragon.

“Munari, I should probably tell you,” Timony began casually, gesturing at the group of individuals. “They’re the ones that killed your dragon friend. What’s the name? Vodja.”

“What?!” The foreign warrior demanded, stepping menacingly toward the group.

Munari gasped, turning to them in disbelief.

“Wreccin,” Shimmerlee snarled. “We got what we came for. Let’s finish this.”

The warrior named Wreccin wasn’t a man at all. He transformed entirely into a black dragon.

I didn’t have another moment to consider this before Shimmerlee pounced on me, talons swiping down. I dropped, instinctively curling up. Still, I could feel the claws shred open my back, my leather armor barely saving me from being torn to ribbons. Satisfied with his work, Shimmerlee stepped away.

In the distance, I could hear Wreccin roaring and charging the others. Combat unfolded at full scale.

Fury wasn’t enough of a word to encompass my feelings. Ignoring the searing wounds on my back, I leapt to my feet and changed into an earth elemental. I watched Shimmerlee’s smug look turn to disbelief.

“Takes more than that,” I said, though the words spilled out in the garbled tongue of elementals.   

I longed to reap my vengeance on the dragon, to see him slain for everything he had done, to me and to Illium. But something else came first on my revenge list. I barreled toward Timony, and loomed over the man. In one motion, I took the silver collar from his hands and slammed it around his throat.

Then time froze.

I was suddenly back in my half elf form, the silver collar around my neck.
Wait, what?

Timony chuckled. “This belongs to me.”

Before he had a chance to spellbind the collar, I remembered something I forgot in the heat of battle. Well, in my unthinking rage. I had the Primordial’s boon, the ability to open what I pleased. I reached up and unlocked the collar. Timony gaped at me, and I relished his shock and fear.

“Now, I’m going to kill you.” I swore darkly.

Timoney hesitated, then vanished from sight. Far away, I could hear him shouting something in draconic, earning an equally vicious snarl from Shimmerlee.

“Munari wait!” Someone was calling.

I turned to see a third black dragon in place of the mysterious woman. Only, this one took flight, as fast as she could from the battle.

Meanwhile, in front of the cavern, Wreccin was engaged with the group, and losing. Even his dangerous bite and lashing tail did little to discourage the seasoned fighters. By the time the larger dragon, Shimmerlee, joined the fray, it was already too late.

A roguish looking halfling had perched atop the cavern, lining up a perfect shot. He fired the killing blow straight into Wreccin’s skull. The dragon toppled.

The battle seemed to come to a standstill.

Timony gave one last look as Shimmerlee made a running leap, scooping up the mage and carrying him way. “This isn’t over!” He shouted.
Said the coward.

Klotonk ran over and I threw my arms around him.

“When Munari said she was bringing a princess--I swear I had no idea--” the gnome tried to explain, but I held up a hand.

“Eh,” was all I replied. “Besides, I got a present out of it.” I held up the silver collar, grinning. “Who are your friends?”

The group gathered round. They called themselves Ornamental Chaos, which seemed fitting considering the shit we just survived. Erdan was an elf wizard, and Xillali was an elf druid. Both were scholars, so my attention fell elsewhere. Derek was the chef/assassin who had delivered the final blow on Wreccin, while Naora was a stout Paladin of Kord. Doki was their jolly, if distracted, bard of questionable allegiance. Finally, Dmitri was the blue dragonborn of little words.

I immediately forgot half their names.

“Well, I have no idea how long I’ve been hostage,” I admitted, unable to resist a bashful grin. “That collar knocks you out….I should probably get back to Illium.”

“Wait, Princess Taelim!” Naora called. “I have to speak with you!”

“Um, sure. You’re all welcome to join me. Illium’s a free city and all--”

“Everybody hush!” Derek called out, perfectly still. His head was tilted, carefully listening. “Do you hear?”

We all fell quiet. Then we heard it, the buzzing steadily drawing near.

“That sounds like a lot of insects,” I said, not exactly optimistic about the matter.

“A swarm,” Xillali confirmed.

It was growing so loud we nearly missed the beat of wings. The black dragon, Munari, landed beside us.
I was the only one who reacted hostilely. Klo put a hand on mine and shook his head, so I remained still. For the moment.

Munari shifted back into a woman, features panicked. “We have to get out of here! Before the plague arrives.”

Klotonk immediately set to work casting a ritual, and Erdan stepped beside him doubling their speed.

“Where to?” The gnome called.

“Illium?” I offered, and the rest consented. We leapt into the teleportation circle and vanished just as the swarm of insects descended.

We were back in Illium’s central hub. Suddenly,  the claw marks on my body were the least of my concerns. In the center of the city, surrounded by thousands, I whipped back around on Munari.

“No! She’s friendly!” Klotonk intervened.
I glanced between the gnome and the dragon woman. Then sighed.

“You cannot turn into a dragon. Not here,” I said warningly, trying to control my voice. “If Klo vouches for you, then you’re welcome to stay. Though I don’t think my aunt will like the idea of--”

“She can stay at my house!” Klo piped up.

I cocked my head. “You have a house?”

The gnome waved a deed happily in front of my face. “Inherited it recently! Oh, you’re going to love my plans for a laboratory. Snee can come and help build…”

I drowned him out. I was already imagining the lecture I was going to get from Aunt Tylda and Feeps. Maybe I shouldn’t tell them about the dragon.

“A word, princess?” Munari asked politely. “And you three as well.” She gestured to Klotonk, Naora and Xillali.

I held up a hand. “Maybe not in the hub of Illium? I’m already getting looks, and it’s a matter of time before I have to report back. Where’s this house of yours, Klo?”

The gnome beamed. “Let me show you!”

The place needed work. That about summed it up. Still, Klotonk seemed happy enough, even as all of us squeezed inside his living room.

“Now then,” Munari said, having pulled the four of us into the kitchen. “I have a request to make, and I believe you four the most inclined to accept.”

I folded my arms and bit my tongue. A black dragon that didn’t try to kill me, it just needed something from me.

Klotonk picked up on my reluctance, and spoke up. “Is this about the masks?”

Munari nodded.

“What masks?” I asked dryly.

“Soooo,” Klotonk said. “Turns out there are dragon masks of different colors. They control dragons….and summon Tiamat if gathered.”

“Like the red one in Solstice?” I blurted, and Klotonk returned a questioning look. “Err, one of your clones came with us. I’ll explain later. Continue.”

“That’s exactly right!” Munari said. “The red one exists in Solstice. I know the location of each. I need you to destroy them all. Please.”

For a time, no one responded.

“Even if I had the time to reap my revenge and destroy all of these masks, what’s in it for you, dragon?”

“With the masks destroyed, Tiamat cannot be summoned. Is that enough?”

“And dragons can’t be controlled.” Xillali added, hand on her hip.

“Yes,” Munari admitted. “A win for each of us. Will you help?”

Again, the four of us exchanged glances. Eventually, we agreed. The opportunity was too great to pass up. Munari told us everything we needed to know.
I started to make mental notes of the accumulating tasks I had on my plate. Between running a kingdom and trying to find favor with the Arch Magi, I already felt stretched thin. Wearily, I headed for the door. I had a lot of explaining to do.

“Wait, Princess Taelim!” Naora came running for me.

“Oh, I forgot. You wanted to chat?”

The paladin halfling nodded. “I won’t bother you with the details, but I originally sought you out to give warning: dragons were going to attack your city.”

I scratched the back of my head. “I hate to break it to you, but that already happened.”

“Er, well, yes. I failed to warn you…”

We stared at each other awkwardly. Then I reach for the door handle.

“No, wait! That’s not the rest! I swore an oath, in failing you earlier, I have to serve your cause.”

“Listen, Naora, I appreciate it, but I have no idea where this is coming from. You really don’t have to do this. Honestly, I don’t even know you.”

“Please! Trust me. Klotonk can vouch for me.”

I sighed, and lifted my gaze. The gnome was happily chatting up the party, going on about digging a basement and building his laboratory.
I shrugged, giving in. “What exactly do you want from me?”

“To serve, to fulfil my pledge really. I had a mentor...I failed her, and you. It’s really a long story…” she trailed off, recollecting some painful memory. Quietly, she finished her train of thought. “A task, give me something to redeem myself.”

I exhaled deeply, shifting uncomfortably beside the door. My eyes swept over the bizarre cast, then they fell on Munari. “All right, Naora. Here’s an idea. You see, whenever I leave Illium, I get grief from my advisors. You can imagine that would make hunting these masks difficult. Since, I despise Tiamat, I want it done. Make that your quest. Find and destroy all of them, then you’ve done your job.”

The halfling paladin beamed brightly. “It will be done. Thank you!”

I inclined my head and slipped out of the house. I gazed up at the castle of Illium in the distance. Taking a deep breath, I headed home, trying to think of a good excuse for being kidnapped.