NovelEmber 2024
Write away, sir!
The start of November kicks off a brand new event on World Anvil: NovelEmber! The goal is to write 50k words—or really any writing goal—during November. I think my goal will be 20k, not sure if I’ve got 50k in me, but we’ll see.
After spending most of this past year worldbuilding Legends of the Dragonguard, I guess it should be time to actually sit down and write some stuff for it. So I decided to write it here, where you can see what I’ve written daily.
I like to keep a history of stuff, and while World Anvil and their Manuscripts feature is nice, I’m using that for the official thing. The story and elements might change over time, so to have a unique look at the past, I’ve decided to save a snapshot of what the Legends of the Dragonguard novel was at the time.
I will be picking up from the first scene I have already written; you can check that out on World Anvil here:
Note: Since NovelEmber is about writing, whatever is here won’t necessarily stay in the story and probably won’t read that well. The flow, characters, word choice, plot, and whatever else are all subject to change.
Day One
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface: Continued from Pilot / Intro.
Thornfire and Ivis came into Rayhaven at breakneck speeds, almost slamming into the ground. Ivis was frantically trying to find a trauma kit to take back to Azier.
A few fellow guardians noticed his urgency and asked what was going on.
"Vexx attacked the city's edge, at the [DISTRICT] district! Vailstrym and Azier went after him, but she got hit with an Ire quill." Ivis explained as some of the guardians gasped. "Vailstrym can't fly, they had to land. It looks like she's losing a lot of blood."
One guardian stepped forward and said, "Here, let me take the kit over. I'll get there faster than you will."
“Thanks, Sören,” Ivis replied as the guardian took the trauma kit and took off. A sergeant overheard the conversation and relayed the information to the Lieutenant, who then came outside.
“What happened out there?” Inquired the Lieutenant.
Ivis elaborated, “Vailstrym’s been hit and is bleeding out; Sören just left to get a trauma kit over to her—”
“Yes, the sergeant told me that, what was the initial contact.” Interrupted the Lieutenant.
“We were doing some training and heard screams in the distance. When I looked up, I saw Vexx and some of his guys attacking the [DISTRICT] district. Azier and Vailstrym pursued him, but he dodged them, and Ignistra launched a volley of his dragon quills.”
“I’m gettin’ real fuckin’ tired of this asshole. How many quills hit them? Did you see?”
“Just Vailstrym, I think only one, but it was in the side of her chest. They landed in the Rayhaven Woods, just outside the city.” Explained Ivis, visibly worried.
The Lieutenant sighed. “Well, great, what a day to end the week with. Get some medics on standby to take them in.” He paused. “With an injury like that, she probably can’t fly. We’ll need to bring her in with the Dragonknights’ drakes.” He turned around to the other guardians who were standing around.
“1st Squadron, mount up; I need you to extract Vailstrym and Azier. 3rd Squadron, I need you to do surveillance overhead while they extract them.” Commanded the Lieutenant.
A beaten-up guardian then landed with his dragon, gasping for air. He called out, “Lieutenant Blackthorn, Vexx attacked at the city's edge! He—”
“Yes, I already know, thank you. I’m sending some units out to extract a guardian who tried to intervene.” Said Blackthorn. “Were you in the district when it happened?”
“Yes, we initially got hit by his guys, maybe just in the wrong spot, or maybe they went for us. I don’t know, but he hit hard. I think Vexx was after something and may have gotten it. He retreated back into the Forgotten Forest after the guardian made contact in the sky,” explained the injured guardian.
“Fucking great, it’ll be too difficult to find him in there at night. We’ll deal with him in the morning,” said Blackthorn. “Alright, head over to the infirmary.”
Day Two
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Rewrote the beginning, with better word choice, and some of what I wrote on Day 1. Main characters are actually in the district when it was attacked instead of having Azier impulsively chase Vexx, which is not like her.
Removed from Day 1:
A beaten-up guardian then landed with his dragon, gasping for air. He called out, “Lieutenant Blackthorn, Vexx attacked at the city's edge! He—”
“Yes, I already know, thank you. I’m sending some units out to extract a guardian who tried to intervene.” Said Blackthorn. “Were you in the district when it happened?”
“Yes, we initially got hit by his guys, maybe just in the wrong spot, or maybe they went for us. I don’t know, but he hit hard. I think Vexx was after something and may have gotten it. He retreated back into the Forgotten Forest after the guardian made contact in the sky,” explained the injured guardian.
As Azier and Ivis flew through the orange sunset skies of Rayhaven, Azier yelled out, "You need a better grip than that when flying on dragons, don’t want to fall off now, do we?"
"Yeah, I get it. How hard can flying one of these dumb reptiles be?" retorted Ivis.
"Hey, dragons are brilliant animals; they're not dumb! Look at him; he definitely understood that." Shouted Azier as Ivis looked down to see his dragon's head tilted, looking at him with an irritated scowl. "And they can pull off some amazing aerobatic maneuvers; it can actually be pretty hard to stay on."
"Yeah, sure, whatever." Scoffed Ivis. Azier moved in closer.
"Don't be so mean to them; they’re amazing creatures!" As they slowly barreled over Ivis, Azier added, "And you might want to hold on. I see he's got a look in his eye."
Thornfire smirked as Ivis leaned forward and tightened his grip on the saddle. Then, all of a sudden, Thornfire rolled sharply to the right and drove straight down for a bit before pulling a left corkscrew maneuver. Ivis screamed the whole time as Thornfire performed extreme aerobatic maneuvers. As they came in for a landing, Thornfire stopped short, sending Ivis flying over his head and crashing into the ground. Azier and Vailstrym let out a chuckle.
"Did you see him?! Look at him! He's just as rude as I was!" Yelled Ivis. "Oh, I've got a word with you, reptile!" Ivis ran over to berate Thornfire, who had a dismissive look.
As the two were yelling at each other, an explosion at a building nearby startled the two guardians, and the district erupted in a frenzy. When Azier looked up, she saw Vexx Corvance attacking the locals. After a few seconds, Ivis and Thornfire stopped arguing and noticed Vexx and his henchmen while smoke billowed from a building.
Azier quickly got back onto Vailstrym and yelled out to Ivis, “I’ll deal with Vexx; you deal with those assholes on the ground!” She then bolted into the air like a firework.
Vailstrym shot a plasma blast at Vexx’s wyvern, Ignistra; however, he saw the brightly glowing ball of plasma head towards him at the last moment and dodged it. Vexx turned his head to see the guardian facing him down and another on the ground fighting off his men.
As Vailstrym lunged at Vexx, Ignistra twisted backward, grabbed her, and pierced a hollow dragon quill into her.
Vailstrym then let out a roar, and Azier looked down to see the quill jutting out from the side of her chest. Thornfire and Ivis stopped and looked up. Vailstrym could no longer stay in the air; the quill was embedded too deeply, causing excessive blood loss.
As they came in for a landing, Azier hopped off just before Vailstrym crashed into the ground, then ran over to assess the injury. She could not do anything without the medical equipment from the Rayhaven Dragonguard Academy. She kneeled beside Vailstrym, lying on the ground with labored breathing. Azier wasn't sure if her dragon was going to make it. Ivis and Thornfire sprinted over to assist.
“Go to the Academy and tell the Lieutenant! And bring back a trauma kit!” yelled Azier. Ivis agreed and, with Thornfire, took off and headed back to the campus. Azier looked back at the destruction caused by Vexx.
With the Rayhaven Dragonguard angered even more, Vexx decided to call off the distracting attack before the backup came. After all, he got what he came for; there was no need to overstay his welcome.
They retreated into the dense Forgotten Forest before any locals knew what had happened to them.
Vexx knew he just pissed off the Dragonguard more than he wanted to. He did not intend to take out a dragon that day, but despite the risk, he still counted it as a positive outcome. Vexx was not expecting anyone from the Dragonguard to be right in the spot he wanted to attack.
***
Thornfire and Ivis came into Rayhaven at breakneck speeds, almost slamming into the ground. A few fellow guardians noticed his urgency and asked what was going on.
"Vexx attacked the city's edge, at the [DISTRICT] district! Vailstrym and Azier confronted him, but she got impaled with an Ire quill." Ivis explained as some of the guardians gasped. "I don’t think Vailstrym can't fly; they had to land. It looked like she was losing a lot of blood."
[…]
“Yes, the sergeant told me; what was the initial contact?” Interrupted the Lieutenant.
Ivis elaborated in detail on the events that had just transpired moments before.
“I’m gettin’ real fuckin’ tired of this asshole. How many quills stuck them?”
“Just Vailstrym, I think only one, but it was in the side of her chest. They’re in the district plaza.” Explained Ivis, visibly worried.
The Lieutenant sighed. “Well, great, what a day to end the week with. Get some medics on standby to take them in.” He paused. “With an injury like that, she probably can’t fly. We’ll need to bring her in with the Dragonknights’ drakes.” He turned around to the other guardians who were standing around.
“1st Squadron, mount up; I need you to extract Vailstrym and Azier. 3rd Squadron, I need you to do surveillance overhead while they extract them.” Commanded the Lieutenant. He turned back to Ivis and asked, “Where did Vexx go?”
“I think he and his men went into the Forgotten Forest. It looks like they got what they needed and got the hell out of there.”
“Fucking great, it’ll be too difficult to find him in there at night. We’ll deal with him in the morning,” said Blackthorn. “I need you all to stay overnight, assist the locals as needed, and provide additional security if Vexx returns. I’ll meet up in the morning with more units, and we’ll hunt that fucker down.”
The guardians sounded off with motivation and departed on their mission, creating a commotion reminiscent of a bustling small town.
Day Three
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface: Continued from day 2.
Changed from Day 2
“[..] and departed on their mission [..]”
to
”[..] and prepared for their mission [..]”
“Larkspur, go with the others for surveillance,” Blackthorn ordered in a firm tone. Ivis snapped a quick salute before swiftly joining the squadron as they prepared to move out.
A handful of wingless dragon-like creatures, known as drakes, departed with an escort of a few other guardians. Some rode on flying dragonkin, while others rode drakes used for ground support. Their mission appeared to be the extraction of Vailstrym and Azier, indicating a cautious approach to the operation.
In the moments that followed, the remaining squadrons proceeded to the city's edge. Ivis and Thornfire ascended into the air, both their eyes scanned the horizon for potential dangers. The other guardians followed closely behind, prepared to confront any threats.
Ivis was one of the first to arrive at the district. He looked down and saw a team of medics heading back to the base. Azier noticed the group in the sky and could only assume Ivis was with them. She gave a salute, knowing he would see it.
“Fly high, Guardian,” She murmured to herself while stroking Vailstrym’s head to comfort her. Ivis saw her gesture and returned the salute in solidarity.
Throughout the night, some members of the Dragonguard tirelessly patrolled the streets and stood guard at the city’s borders. Others offered their support and assistance to citizens in need. They helped those in the buildings damaged in the attack with shelter and provided medical aid to the injured, ensuring everyone felt safe amidst the aftermath of the chaos. The Dragonguard’s unwavering dedication and vigilance were crucial in maintaining order and peace.
No sightings of Vexx occurred during the night, leaving everyone on edge. The darkness stretched on, filled with whispers and anxious glances. With each uneventful hour dragging on, the guardians’ tensions only intensified.
As the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, a warm glow spread across the forest floor and illuminated the streets. The soft, golden light melted everyone’s angst, knowing there would be no chance of a stealth attack from Vexx.
A reveille bugle call pierced the still morning air, startling many guardians and their companions. Within seconds, the woods outside the city exploded in a flurry of activity. Those on the last night shift were finally relieved of their duties, while the rest jumped into their assigned responsibilities. In no time, they were ready, awaiting the Lieutenant’s orders upon his arrival.
Ivis rose from his cot, feeling the pleasant sensation as he stretched his arms high above his head. Meanwhile, Thornfire, with a graceful elegance, unfurled his legs, extending his sharp claws, mimicking a feline stretch. He followed this by arching his back and extending his hind limbs in a series of fluid motions.
As they stood there, the bright morning sky was painted a perfect blue with no speck of white cloud to be found anywhere. In the distance, just cresting over the horizon, was the figure of the Lieutenant on his dragonkin, [Lt. DRGNKN NAME], gliding confidently through the sky. His formidable escort surrounded him, a group of seasoned warriors ready for any challenge. Behind them, a few more squadrons trailed in formation, their movements synchronized like it was choreographed.
Another bugle call echoed across the district, slicing through the guardians' murmurs as it signaled the approach of an officer. Instantly, a wave of urgency swept through the crowd, the guardians hastily clearing the district square with practiced precision. The Lieutenant, astride his daunting dragon, descended with a dramatic flourish. The sheer force of the creature’s puissant wings stirred up a gust of wind that left hair in disarray.
With a graceful swoop, [Lt. DRGNKN NAME] massive feet landed on the concrete with a resonant thud. Blackthorn fluently dismounted; his armor rustled with a quick racket. His piercing eyes surveyed over the assembled crowd awaiting his orders. His furrowed brow and cold, sharp glare could be felt in the soul. The air was thick with tension, perceptible enough that anyone in a hundred-mile radius could sense his simmering anger. It radiated from him like an electric charge, semblable to a [ELECTRIC DRAGONKIN SPECIES].
Day Four
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface: Continued from day 3.
Lieutenant Blackthorn addressed the guardians with a loud, booming voice, outlining their mission to search the forest along the paths leading up to the ridge, where the trees become too dense for reliable navigation.
If they haven’t located Vexx by that point, they should regroup and devise a new plan. By that point, he may be too deep within the vast forest, which would make finding him take far too long, or he could already be on the other side of Ardenfell.
Blackthorn ordered only a few surveillance teams into the air, while he sent the rest with guardians on the ground. Ivis was assigned to a group with Sören.
“Hey, Sören, how was it when you showed up yesterday?” asked Ivis, worried for his friends.
“Vailstrym did not look good. Even with Ari’s speed, I think I only got there in the nick of time. Azier looked distraught but also had a new level of hatred for Vexx,” Sören recalled.
One of the other guardians butted in, “Yeah, I don’t blame her.”
Sören continued as they walked into the forest, everyone’s eyes scanning along the trees, looking for anything out of place, “I stabilized her bleeding, but with her labored breathing, it sounded like a collapsed lung maybe.”
A few of the others in the group let out grieving sighs and a few quiet ohs.
“They left just as you came, Ivis. Don’t know if you saw them or not.”
“Yeah, I did,” Ivis quickly responded.
Sören stepped over an exposed tree route in the path, “Vailstrym wanted to lie on one side, so I’m thinking it was a collapsed lung from the quill. Hopefully, she’ll recover well and be back out soon.”
“Azier may be back; they’ll probably give her another dragon to work with for the time being,” mentioned another guardian.
“Maybe. They don’t usually have extra flying dragonkin to give, so she might get a drake,” responded Ivis.
They walked to the base of the ridge and stopped. Azier came running up on the back of a drake and joined the squadron. The guardians greeted her as she approached.
Azier expertly dismounted the drake, gave a firm handshake to Sören, and said, “Thank you so much for your help,” She then nuzzled Ari’s head, “If it wasn’t for you two, I don’t think Vailstrym would have made it.”
Ari let out a soft, low, grumbling sound that could only be described as a dragon’s version of a contented sound, like a cat’s purr.
“Vailstrym’s stable now; she’ll have to rest for a while, so in the meantime, I’m stuck with [TEMP DRAKE’S NAME],” Azier said, patting the drake's side.
The guardians then heard low rumbling sounds in the distance from the right side, well off the path. The squadron then cautiously and slowly snuck closer to the source of the sound, hoping it was Vexx and to get a surprise drop on him.
As they slunk their way over, the group paused for a second as a large shadow of a dragon passed over them. A few guardians looked up, but the dragon had already passed by the small gap in the trees that let the sky through. After holding their positions for a few moments, they continued.
Eventually, the guardians came upon a small glade, a clearing within the forest, where several abnormally large dragonkin were seemingly conversing with one another.
Everyone froze in disbelief, questioning whether their eyes were deceiving them. What stood before the group looked to be not one but two Ancient Dragonkin, mere feet from their faces.
The Ancient Drake peered his head over slightly from beside the dragon and gave a quick nod to tell him something was behind him. The dragon then turned around and stood like a statue, almost as shocked as the guardians were, to see humans standing in front of him.
Eventually, Azier slowly stepped forward and spoke in a shaky voice, “Y— you’re an Ancient, aren’t you?”
The dragon made the tiniest movement of his head, seemingly surprised anyone would recognize an Ancient.
Azier took a few small steps forward, “It’s… it’s you. Holy shit, it’s Golden Claw!”
The ancient’s eyes darted around, unsure what to do next. He relaxed his pose and let out a sigh, in somewhat of defeat.
His voice boomed through the forest, so low and gravely it shook the very bones in your body, “Yes. I’m Airigold, or “Golden Claw” as you know it.”
Day Five
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Added some character introductory descriptions. Also, continued from day 4.
The drake had a powerful stance, [DESCRIBE DRAKE].
The dragon was an impressive sight, its sleek body covered in small, matte black scales that somehow had a speckling shimmering in the light. It bore a striking resemblance to a shadescale dragon, yet it was undeniably larder larger, its remarkable wingspan casting a wide shadow on the ground below. Golden accents adorned its horns, spikes, and razor-sharp claws. The gilded scales shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, creating a dazzling spectacle, particularly at the tips, giving the creature a regal aura as if it were a guardian of the skies.
[…]
A few of the guardians gasped. Azier leaned to the left to see behind the dragon, “And you, you’re the Drake of the West, aren’t you? You’re the drake that lives in this forest!”
The drake gave a subtle nod and said in a voice equally as deep and resonant as Airigold’s, “Just call me Zolt.”
Azier hopped around excitedly, “By the gods, no way! Ancients still do exist!”
The group relaxed their tense stance after seeing that these two Ancients posed no threat. Sören stepped forward and put his hand on Azier to signal her to calm down.
He addressed the two Ancients, “Hey, you guys’ve been in this forest; you don’t happen to know Vexx do you? About ye tall, [DESCRIBES VEXX], rides on an Ire wyvern, like mine, is a massive piece of shit who attacked innocent people yesterday?”
The Ancients shook their head. The gilded-scaled dragon then spoke, “No, I’m here because of Anaq, or the “Wyrm of Chaos” as you know him. Zolt here isn’t with the rest of us, so I’m informing him and asking if he can assist.”
“The Wyrm of Choas? I remember that name while studying about him in history class. I thought he would be dead by now, along with the rest of you Ancients. Is—is he still alive?” Azier’s voice trembled as he spoke, her brow furrowed with concern.
“Yes, he’s been living in Frostcrest, but it seems he’s been more active lately, as reported by Nyrak. I’ve got a bad feeling about him and whatever he has planned.” Explained Airigold.
“Maybe the Dragonguard could help? Just like old time's sake, huh?” Beamed Sören with identical energy Azier had moments before. Airigold let out a puff through his nose and cracked a small smile, recollecting their past history.
After a few moments, he spoke, “Perhaps. Though, I would not want to put you humans in such a situation. I’d like to find out what he’s up to first.”
“Fair enough,” agreed Azier, “Well, I guess we should rendezvous with Lieutenant Blackthorn and—”
“No, please do not tell him about this,” Airigold interrupted sharply, “not before I find out what Anaq is up to. I do not want to cause panic within your society. If need be, I’ll be the one to bring the news.” He turned to Zolt and said, “That is all I know, but would you assist us if needed?”
The drake nodded solemnly and said, “If I could somehow get across the channel and off this piece of land, sure.”
Airigold lowered his head in thought, then responded, “Maybe the humans could help with that.”
The two Ancients then lightly thwacked the tips of their long, powerful tails in a gesture reminiscent of a high-five. In a rush of excitement, Zolt took off with incredible speed, almost soaring over the ridge. Airigold spread his impeccable wings and prepared to take flight but paused. He looked at the guardians and, in a firm, quiet voice, said, “Oh, and don’t tell your commander about us Ancients either. Even mentioning us would most likely cause some alarm amongst your ranks.”
The guardians exchanged silent nods of understanding. Then, with a few impressive beats of Airigold’s wings, the air stirred around him. In an instant he soared into the sky, quickly darting away as to avoid being seen by the few surveillance teams.
The squadron paused for a moment as they tried to process the whirlwind of events that had just unfolded. The air was thick with unspoken thoughts and lingering emotions. Finally, after allowing the weight of their experiences to settle, they returned to the path and made their way back into the familiar surroundings of Rayhaven.
Day Six
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Not really sure where this chapter will set, I didn’t really want to Sabretail to enter the story this early, but I didn’t know what else to write.
The guardians set foot out to the base of the south cliffsides of Rayhaven. They went up the long, sloping, packed dirt to a large, flat plateau. High enough to be above the tree line, they could oversee the Forgotten Forest for many miles from this vantage point. The Dragonguard set a camp atop the flats where it protruded into the forest just a bit.
Azier, Ivis, Sören, and their companions walked along the cliff's edge, having a casual conversation and periodically glancing at the small ridge that resided within the forest.
Upon reaching a spot where the cliffside was doubling back, the group heard a faint, bloodcurdling cry. It sounded like a dragon distress call coming from the bottom of the cliff.
The guardians quickly found their way down, only to find themselves at the bottom with no sign of any dragonkin around.
“We all heard that, right?” Asked Ivis. Thornfire nodded.
“Yeah, I thought it might have been a dragonling or something, judging by how quiet it sounded. Yet, the cliffside here isn’t too far from the bottom here.” Azier remarked, looking up at the top of the cliff. “Well, maybe. Actually, it seems a bit higher than I thought from down here.”
“It almost sounded like it was like an echo or something,” Ivis added.
“Hey guys, I found a cave opening here!” Sören yelled to the others. The rest of the group trotted over.
“Maybe that’s where the sound came from?” Sören said.
“Man, this forest keeps holding secrets from us. I never knew there’d be a cave here.” Ivis said.
Azier took a flashlight, aimed it into the dark cave, and said, “Something doesn’t seem right about this. Look at the claw marks on the wall.”
“And it looks like… blood?” Sören observed.
“Great. Totally not the most terrifying thing we just happened to stumble upon.” retorted Ivis.
A low rumble echoed out of the cavern’s entrance, followed by the faint sounds of metal chains rattling.
“Despite the unsettling entrance here, I think something down there needs our help,” said Azier.
“Are you insane? This could be a trap, probably from Vexx!” Protested Ivis.
“I agree with Azier; that kind of a call we heard wouldn’t be to lure in something; it sounded like a call for help,” Sören said, agreeing with Azier.
The guardians started to walk into the cave, their flashlights darting around, illuminating the walls. Ivis muttered to himself, “I should have stayed behind.”
The cave seemed to extend much deeper into the rock than anyone anticipated. Along the entire corridor were claw marks and periodic blood splotches.
Eventually, the cave expanded into a large chamber; lit torches and several long tables lined the walls. A dragon was chained down in the middle of the room, thrashing about, trying to break free. It stopped and looked up when the guardians walked in. The group froze at the horrific sight.
“It looks like a shadescale, but it looks like someone clipped its wings,” Sören said.
“I think they did a little more than clip his wings. They just whole ass ripped them off. Look over there.” Ivis remarked, pointing to a pile of mutilated remnants of a dragon’s wings in the corner of the room.
“Help me with the chains,” Azier said to the others as she approached the dragon. She noticed its tail and remarked, “God damn, they also tore off his tail fins.”
The group looked around for tools that could help remove the shackles or break the chains. Unfortunately, there were no tools anywhere to be seen.
“Hey, maybe our dragons can break some of the links in the chain,” Ivis mentioned, studying the chain intensely.
Sören responded, “Worth a shot, I guess. Don’t see anything else around here that could help.”
Azier’s temporary drake and Thornfire grabbed hold of the chains on either side of the dragon while Ari held the muzzle to which the chains were attached. With an impressive, mighty pull, the metal creaked, then snapped with a thunderous sound. Thornfire was propelled backward, almost crashing into the table behind.
The muzzle was still on, but at least one side of the chains was broken. They snapped the remaining chains, and the dragon breathed a sigh of relief.
“We should wrap up those open wounds before we take him outside,” Azier said, reaching for a gauze roll. She paused for a moment, “Huh. It looks like they’ve been cauterized. Like someone didn’t want him to bleed out.” She continued to wrap the stubs of the dragon’s wings.
The guardians decided to take the injured dragon to Rayhaven for rehabilitation.
Day Seven
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface: Continued from day 6.
While walking down the road, Ivis asked, “Who would do such a thing?” He paused, thought for a second, and then continued, “How much do you wanna bet it was Vexx?”
After a few moments, no one answered, and then he added, “No, really. How much? Bet.”
“I guarantee it was him, I have no doubt,” Azier responded. She gazed into the dragon’s eye and said, “Rest assured, my friend, he will pay for this.”
A whirlwind of excitement filled the air as they strolled through the city's bustling streets. Curious onlookers turned their heads, their expressions of disbelief. Whispers floated through the air, speculating on the extraordinary sight walking among them.
The group finally made it to the Academy grounds, where they took a well-deserved rest. Azier thought for a moment, then decided to ask if her mother could do something to help the dragon.
Zella made her way outside, her bronze-colored prosthetic left leg making a distinct metallic noise with each step she took. She walked up to the dragon and he sniffed her prosthetic arm and leg as she examined the wing stubs closely.
“Hmm, there might be enough of an appendage left for prosthetic wings, but I don’t know if it’s enough. He might have limited mobility with the wings if he could fly at all. At least he still has the flight muscles that connect to this upper part of the wing, so that’s good.” Zella explained.
The dragon followed her as she walked around, examining the rest of his body. Zella continued, “The tail fins should be easy enough; the rest of the tail, and everything else, looks intact.”
Her brow furrowed as she stepped back, “This doesn’t look like it was an accident; this was done with precision. And, of course, the cauterization. Where did you find him?”
Azier recounted their discovery of the dragon hidden deep within a cavern along the cliffsides in the Forgotten Forest. Along its walls, the entrance to this hidden cave was marked by jagged claw marks etched into the stone the entire way to the large chamber.
Zella looked at the dragon’s claws, which looked worn down. She sighed lightly and said, “Well, I’ll see what I can do. For now, it’s time for him to rest. Unfortunately, I don’t think he’ll do well in the wild, so he might just have to stay. Either with us or a nature center somewhere.”
The group started heading back to the camp on the plateau, but Azier lingered behind. Zella noticed she had something to say and waited for the others to be out of earshot.
“Mom, I don’t know if I should, but I have something to say,” Azier said quietly. “We found some Ancients, Golden Claw and Drake of the West, just before the ridge in the forest.”
“What? Ancient Dragonkin, here? Alive? Are you sure?” Zella interrupted, expressing both surprise and skepticism.
“Yes, Drake of the West told us his name was Zolt. I mean, I kinda knew Golden Claw’s name was Airigold, but I had no clue what West’s name was.”
Zella’s expression changed, realizing Azier was telling the truth. Azier continued, “Anyway, Airigold mentioned that the Wyrm of Chaos was still alive and apparently up to something. But, he told us not to tell anyone, or until he at least finds out what the wyrm's plans are.”
“The Wyrm of Chaos? Well, he should be up the far north in Frostcrest, so I don’t know what he could really do,” Zella said with a puzzled look.
“I don’t know, but Airigold said he was here to inform Zolt, and we just happened to come across them in the forest. He said not to tell anyone for the fear of causing panic amongst the people.”
Zella nodded in agreement, “Yeah, makes sense, smart.”
Azier continued, “He also said not to tell the Lieutenant; didn’t also want to cause a panic within our ranks. He wanted to make sure his speculation was true before telling the Lieutenant himself.”
“Well, if he plans to show himself publicly, after all these years, and inform the Lieutenant directly, I say to listen to what he wants you to do. I wouldn’t argue with an Ancient; I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.” Zella reassured Azier while placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Thanks, Mom. It was just something I wanted to get off my chest,” Azier said, hugging her mother.
“How many others know about this?”
“Ivis, Sören, and a few others in our squad at the time. As far as I know, unless someone else has told the others, but I don’t think anyone has,” responded Azier.
“Alright, good. Hopefully, Vexx wasn’t around to hear about this. I wouldn’t doubt he’d try and use this information to strike fear into others to increase his influence.” The two broke up the hug and glanced over at the injured dragon sitting beside them.
“If this was Vexx, I wonder why he would do this,” Zella said to herself, thinking out loud. She approached the dragon and asked, “You’re not an Ancient, are you? You don’t talk by any chance?”
The dragon tilted his head slightly and blinked, as if he understood he was being addressed but did not comprehend the words.
Zella turned around and said to Azier, “Well, anyway. You should catch up with the others, don’t want Blackthorn to yell at you now.”
Azier nodded in agreement and gave a quick hug. With a last glance back, she climbed onto her drake, and, in a flash, shot off into the city.
Zella turned back to the dragon and said, “Come on, I have some work to do. And I bet you’re hungry, aren’t you?” She playfully booped the dragon's nose with her finger, and he perked up. “Oh, so you understood that one, huh?” she teased the dragon.
Day Eight
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Continued from day 7. Also, the first part was done during a writing sprint on the World Anvil livestream!
[…] as they walked into a building.
Over the next few days, Zella worked on designing and crafting prosthetic wings and tail fins for the dragon. She began with the fins since they were simpler and had fewer mechanical parts compared to the wings.
She attached the piece to the tip of the dragon's tail. She took a step back to get a better view of it. The dragon looked at his tail shortly, then whipped it around a few times. He glanced at the fins, then at Zella.
“Testing to see if it stays on, huh? Well, aren’t you clever,” Zella remarked with a smirk. The dragon released a brief, forceful breath through his nostrils.
As she spent time designing the mechanics of the wings, she would sometimes stop and watch the dragon practice attacking the bayonet dummies. She was entertained at first, but then the more she watched, the more intrigued she became, studying the movements of the attacks.
After a while, she noticed that the dragon liked to use his tail to swipe the dummy and knock it down, but he also used a different version of the attack that seemed to slice with the fins. The dummy had slash marks in it from this, but they were not deep; they almost looked like a paper cut. She also noticed that this sometimes damaged the tail fins if he didn’t do it just right.
Zella then had an idea to reinforce the part and incorporate a bladed edge into the fins. This would make him an even more formidable attacker.
She paused the crafting of the wings and decided to add a blade to the tail fins. After doing so and equipping it back onto the dragon, he tested it out. With an impressive, powerful slash, the dragon cut the head of the dummy clean off. Even he seemed surprised at what he was able to accomplish. Zella walked over to examine if the tail had any damage from such a hard strike. The blade’s edge was completely fine and did not have any chipping.
Zella looked up at the dragon in amazement and said, “That was incredible! You know, I think the name “Sabretail” would suit you. What do you think?”
The dragon perked up and seemed to like the new name. He then resumed attacking dummies while Zella returned to her desk to refine the design of the wings further.
The platoon of guardians returned to the base, unsuccessful in their mission to find Vexx. Azier found her mother training the injured dragon; she and her friends walked over.
As they approached, her mother cheerfully expressed, “I’d like you all to meet Sabretail! I put a blade on his tail fins, hence his name.”
Sabretail, with a proud look on his face, brandished his tail at the group for them to admire.
“Ok, that’s pretty badass, not gonna lie,” commented Sören.
“That is terrifying… and I love it!” said Ivis, running his fingers along the flat of the blade’s face.
Day Nine
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
I didn’t know what else to write, so I used one of the ideas I wanted to put in. I was originally going to write about the Battle of Rayhaven, but wanted something in between what I wrote for day 8 and that. I also worked the night before, so I slept most of the day and didn’t really get much done.
The air was crisp and invigorating, carrying the faint smell of the sea. Vexx had not been seen for months, and whispers of his absence spread throughout Rayhaven.
Many have begun to speculate and fear that he ventured beyond Ardenfell to forge alliances with other formidable adversaries, gathering the strength and resources needed to return more powerful than before. The uncertainty of this whereabouts loomed heavy in the residents of Rayhaven, who recalled his past exploits and the chaos he could unleash.
Vailstrym had recovered weeks prior and was training with Azier by the sea stacks along the shoreline. They flew between the sea stacks, honing their skills to bank at steep angles and high speeds.
“Alright, Vailstrym. Do it again, but let's go as fast as you can,” said Azier as she adjusted her position.
Vailstrym made a wide turn and headed back towards the sea stacks, gaining speed.
However, she couldn't bank quickly enough to avoid some of the rocks at full speed, so in a split-second decision, she executed a rapid barrel roll.
Unfortunately, Azier couldn't hold on and was flung off in another direction against one of the rock faces. She tried to grab hold of something but couldn’t and slid down its slope. Azier called out for Vailstrym, and just before reaching the rock's overhang, she grabbed Azier.
They landed on one of the sea stacks with a flat top to rest. After briefly catching their breath, they tried again.
To no avail, Azier was thrown to the side again. This time, however, she skimmed by the rocks, narrowly missing them. She free-fell for a moment until she grabbed her tasset cape on her armor and hooked it to her boots and wrist with the embedded magnets. She spread her arms, and the canvas caught the wind, slowing her down just enough for Vailstrym to catch up. She gently and cautiously glided underneath Azier until she was on the saddle again.
“I’m not sure if that went better than last time or not. Guess I wasn’t thrown into a cliffside this time, so that’s a plus,” Azier remarked. “Ok, if it happens again, do that next time. Don’t fling me into the rocks, ok?” She snarkily commented to Vailstrym.
They spent the rest of the day attempting to master the intricate maneuver. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows along the shoreline. With each failed attempt, Azier grew increasingly frustrated with the same consistent outcome. As the hours wore on, she couldn’t shake the feeling that their efforts were slipping further from success.
Exhausted and feeling defeated, they drifted back towards the city, Vailstrym’s moments sluggish and heavy. As they descended, the once graceful glide turned into a controlled dive, and they finally touched down with a resonant thud. The fatigue was evident in their posture, each breath a reminder of the challenges they had faced.
Day Ten
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Continued from day 9. Not much written today, since I worked this weekend.
Azier stepped through the front door of her house; she was instantly enveloped by the warm, inviting aroma of a home-cooked meal wafting through the air.
With a soft sigh of relief after a long day, she made her way to the kitchen, her footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor. With a sense of weariness, she plopped down onto one of the chairs.
“Well, what timing you had there! I’ve made your favorite, cheese ravioli,” Zella exclaimed with a warm smile, setting a plate brimming with freshly made cheese ravioli in front of Azier. The aroma of garlic, herbs, and melted cheese mingled together, creating an irresistible invitation to dig in.
“Thanks, Mom,” she replied, a hint of gratitude lacing her voice.
“What’s the matter? Something wrong?” Zella inquired gently, gazing upon Azier’s scratched and scuffed armor.
“Just exhausted. Vailstrym and I were flying around the sea stacks, but I can’t stay on when she does a high-speed roll; I just get flung off in some direction.” Explained Azier with a mouth full of food. “A few times, I got thrown against the rocks. I’m going to be feeling that in the morning.”
“Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself,” Zella said, her voice soothing and encouraging. “You’ll get it down someday. Or, hey, maybe getting flung off to the side could come in handy at some point, in some weird obscure situation…” She trailed off, her eyes drifting as she tried to conjure an image of what that peculiar scenario might look like.
“Yeah, maybe. Thank god the tasset cape works kind of like a wingsuit, so when I wasn’t being hurled face-first into a cliffside, I could at least slow down my free fall enough that Vailstrym could catch up to me.”
“Exactly!” Zella exclaimed, her enthusiasm bubbling over like a pot of boiling water. “With that in mind, it could very well become an effective maneuver to use during certain situations.” As she spoke, she reached for a plate of steaming ravioli.
“I know I’ll be sore tomorrow, so I won’t do that again for a few days,” Azier groaned as she stretched, feeling the aching pain in her arms, shoulders, and back. “Well, one thing's for sure: I'm definitely going to sleep well tonight.”
She glanced over at Vailstrym, who was curled up in the corner, fast asleep. The bright moonlight streaming through the window glistened on her scales. The gentle, rhythmic sound of her deep snoring echoed softly through the room. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, creating an almost melodic symphony in the stillness of the room.
Azier approached her with quiet grace and gave her a tender kiss on the tip of her nose. She softly said, “Good night, Vailstrym,” letting the words linger in the stillness of the moment.
Day Eleven
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Couldn’t think of what else to write, so I worked on the Battle of Rayhaven prose that I never did actually write out. I had it somewhat outlined on World Anvil.
The sun peaked in and out from behind clouds in the cool afternoon. An incessant buzz of radio chatter crackled through the guardians' earpieces; each transmission layered with urgency and tension.
Vexx had finally returned after several long months. He had a sizeable group of adversaries with him.
Vexx’s men advanced through the streets like a relentless tide, their movements coordinated and ruthless. Any guardian who dared confront them found themselves quickly overwhelmed. The sound of clashes and roars echoed off the buildings.
Meanwhile, Vexx and a couple of his associates surveyed the chaos from the air, ensuring their operation ran smoothly. The glint of their weapons caught the afternoon rays of sunlight, a sinister reminder of the violence unfolding below.
As the overlapping radio talk filled his ear with urgent updates, Blackthorn immediately issued a command to the guardians to assist in the fierce battle unfolding outside and to make every effort to apprehend the elusive Vexx.
With wings spread wide, the guardians took to the sky, skillfully maneuvering through the buildings, desperation fueling their speed as they raced toward the chaos that engulfed the streets below.
Meanwhile, Vexx’s men advanced with calculated precision, their fierce drakes charging into the fray. The mercenaries moved like a well-oiled machine, systematically cutting a path through the streets. Their intent was clear; to reach the Dragonguard’s base at the shoreline.
The Lieutenant ascended briefly into the sky, the cool wind washing over him as he surveyed the chaos unfolding below. With his binoculars firmly in hand, his keen eyes noticed the faces mingling amidst the turmoil. To his disbelief, he spotted some of the notorious members of the Black Clutch gang—a ruthless organization that had long haunted the city with its nefarious underground drug trafficking operations.
“And just when I thought he couldn’t stoop lower,” Blackthorn muttered to himself, a wave of frustration washed over him. He clenched his jaw as he tucked away his binoculars, his furrowed brow conveying the simmering anger within him. He maneuvered his dragon into a steep descent, the creature's wings cutting through the air. He landed with a heavy thud; anger surged through him as he dismounted with a fierce urgency.
“Can he fight?” Blackthorn addressed Zella with a bold voice, pointing to Sabretail. The dragon perked up in disbelief that the lieutenant wanted him in the fight.
Zella was surprised herself and replied, “Sabretail? Well, he has been training with the blade in his tail fins, so I’d say he’d be able to.”
“Great, I need everyone I can get. Looks like Vexx has recruited some of the Black Clutch, maybe made a deal with them or something. That tail of his should prove useful for the guys on the ground.”
“Oh no, I’m going for Vexx. That fucker’s mine.” Zella asserted as she climbed onto Sabretail’s saddle.
“He can fly? Well, even better! But Vexx has a few others with him in the air; we’ll need to get him alone.” Responded Blackthorn.
“Have a few go for his wingmen; that’ll distract them so I have a chance to get in.” Suggested Zella.
The Lieutenant commanded a squadron in the air over the radio to attack Vexx’s wingmen. He gave a thumbs up to Zella, and then Sabretail took flight, his wings making a myriad of mechanical sounds. They flew low to the ground, flanked to the side, in between buildings to avoid detection by the enemies' scrying eyes.
As they turned down an alleyway, flanking Vexx from the side, Zella noticed guardians engaging his wingmen in the air. They briefly fought when Zella said over her headset, “Draw them away! I’m going underneath Vexx; I can’t risk them seeing me.”
The guardians listened and drew the enemy away from their positions. Vexx was the only one in sight in the vignette view of the alleyway.
“Almost there, just a few blocks away,” Zella said to herself, her heartbeat pounding with adrenaline from the intense high-stakes situation about to unfold.
As they approached the intersection beneath Vexx, Sabretail quickly pulled up into a vertical climb, grunting with each powerful stroke of his wings. At the precise moment, he halted his ascent and, reaching the apex of the climb, twisted his body to the right. He whipped his tail for added strength and his left tail fin sliced through Ignistra’s throat. Sabretail finished the wingover maneuver by diving down, then off to the side to dodge the falling wyvern corpse.
Day Twelve
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Continued from day 11, after a little planning.
Vexx clung tightly to the saddle as his wyvern plummeted from the sky, his heart racing with confusion and despair. It took a moment for reality to sink in—the brutal death of Ignistra, his loyal companion, flashed through his mind like a speeding Ire wyvern flying by.
As he was free-falling, he frantically called for one of his airmen over his radio. The chaos around him felt like a violent storm. Just then, his wingman swooped in from behind a building, still being chased by a guardian.
With an impressive display of agility and precision, and in a moment that felt surreal, the dragon extended its powerful back claws, snatching Vexx out of the air with grace.
The lifeless wyvern tumbled from the sky, its massive body hitting the street below with a resounding thud. The impact was so forceful that it sent a shockwave through the ground, scattering dust into the air. The weight of the impact formed a small depression in the street.
The relentless pursuit continued, suspended from the clawed grip of his ally’s dragon, the wind whipping through his hair. With adrenaline fueling his every thought, Vexx reached for his pistol, the cool metal feeling reassuring in his hands as he aimed it directly at the looming figure of the guardian. His finger slowly squeezed the trigger, anticipation surging through him when suddenly, the guardian’s dragon spread its wings and decelerated.
The guardian hovered in mid-air momentarily before their dragon dipped its massive wings and swooped down gracefully, landing on top of a nearby building.
Vexx had a maniacal expression etched on his face as they pulled away from the city. His gaze was locked onto the lifeless corpse of his companion, a pool of blood surrounding its head.
“What about the others on the ground, sir?” Inquired the rider.
“Let the drug runners be slaughtered; they are of no use to me,” Vexx replied with a voice that rumbled like distant thunder, his anger apparent with every syllable. They withdrew into the depths of the Forgotten Forest.
A few of the gang members heard the heavy thud reverberate through the air of the corpse crashed onto the street. They turned just in time to see Vexx being carried off by one of his loyal wingmen. As they soared back into the dense cover of the forest, the reality of the situation began to sink in for the remaining members of the gang. Panic surged through them as they realized that Vexx had strategically abandoned them so he could escape, leaving them to confront the full force of the city’s Dragonguard.
As the rest of the gang grasped the gravity of their situation, they quickly mounted their drakes, the magnificent creatures snorting and pawing the ground in anticipation. With urgency propelling them forward, they darted in different directions through the narrow streets, weaving skillfully between towering buildings and shadowy alleyways. Their hearts raced as they sought to outmaneuver any guardians who might be on their trail, the echo of this pursuer’s footsteps growing distant.
Once each member managed to shake off the threat, they sought after strategic hideouts scattered throughout the city. They squeezed into dark recesses of abandoned buildings, where the air was thick with dust and memories of a once-vibrant life, or slipped into the cool, damp embrace of underground tunnels.
Unfortunately, fate was not kind to everyone. A few members found themselves cornered and were captured by the relentless Dragonguard. Among those apprehended was a high-ranking gang member, whose knowledge and experience made them a particularly valuable prize. The tension of the escape mingled with the dread of betrayal as the remaining members were left to contemplate their next move in the shadowy depths of their hiding places.
While the guardians diligently swept the streets and patrolled the area, Sabretail and Zella soared gracefully back to their base; a bloody red streak stained Sabretail’s left tail fin. As they landed, sounds of celebration greeted their ears. Their fellow guardians, filled with gratitude and admiration, erupted into applause and cheers. The camaraderie of the team was warm and inviting, each member expressing their appreciation for the bravery and determination displayed by Sabretail and Zella during their mission, with several guardians beginning to elevate Sabretail’s status to that of a legend.
“Outstanding work!” Blackthorn exclaimed, a broad grin spreading across his face as he affectionately patted Sabretail’s head. However, the atmosphere of celebration abruptly shifted into a frenzy with everyone scattered about when two dark, large, imposing dragonkin shadows appeared around them.
The imposing Ancients descended from the skies, Airigold, his gilded tipped scales, claws, and horns glimmered in the evening sun. His powerful wings stirred the air with such intensity that tendrils of dust spiraled upwards from the ground. Just beside him, an Ancient Novascale amphithere swooped down, its elongated body adorned with shimmering iridescent scales that reflected colors akin to the twilight sky.
Both creatures landed with a grace that defied their immense size, the ground trembling slightly under their combined weight. A hushed ripple of awe swiftly spread through the assembled crowd, their eyes wide with wonder as they recognized the dragons as Ancient Dragonkin, beings of legend.
Amidst the gathering, Blackthorn stood frozen in place, his expression a mix of disbelief and reverence. The sight of an Ancient creature, so close that he could almost feel the warmth radiating from its majestic form, left him momentarily speechless. It was a moment he had only ever dreamed about, and now, standing before a couple of the legends themselves and the embodiment of ancient power, he felt an overwhelming sense of both fear and fascination.
“You must be the Lieutenant, yes?” boomed Airigold, his voice resonating with a calming authority as it echoed through the expansive courtyard.
Blackthorn, still grasping the reality of the magnificent creatures before him, stammered as he struggled to find his words. “Y—Yes. You are Ancients, no doubt. I never imagined any if you were still alive in this age.”
Airigold’s expression turned somber and let out a sigh. “Yes, you and everyone else. Unfortunately, I do not have good news.” He paused, his golden eyes caught the peculiar dragon next to Blackthorn
“What happened to this one?” Airigold inquired, his voice a mix of concern and curiosity, as he studied the mechanical wings and tail fins of Sabretail with a keen interest.
Zella took a deep breath as she stepped into the center of the circle formed by the watchful guardians. “We believe it was Vexx,” she began, “my daughter and her friends found him in a cave, chained up, his wings and tail fins cut off. He was brought back here, and I designed and created prosthetics for him.”
“Incredible,” Airigold said, his voice tingled with disbelief and admiration. He then turned to Azier and quipped, “You weren’t kidding about Vexx being a piece of shit, weren’t you?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Blackthorn interjected, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Airigold took a deep breath, recalling the previous encounter. “We came across each other in the forest a while ago. I specifically warned them not to disclose it to anyone; I did not want to incite fear about the Ancients returning into the light,” he explained, his tone growing more serious. He paused briefly as if weighing his next words carefully.
“Speaking of which,” he continued, shifting his focus to the pressing matter at hand, “Sphyii and I have uncovered alarming information about the Wyrm of Chaos and his sinister plans; important enough that the Dragonguard should be informed.”
“The Wyrm of Chaos?” Blackthorn exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief and fear as he let out a nervous chuckle. “You fucking serious?”
Airigold’s expression was steely and unwavering. “I’m afraid not. I felt it was important to relay the information to you directly, as to prevent any doubts and rumors that might otherwise arise,” he said, a hint of gravity in his tone that dispelled any lingering humor of the moment.
Day Thirteen
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Continued from day 12, and I wasn’t really sure where it was gonna go this day, but in the middle of writing, I had some new ideas.Definitely spoilers!
(From day 12)
[… he said, a hint of gravity in his tone that dispelled any lingering humor of the moment.]
“Additionally,” he continued, “I am much closer to you than I am to the city of Eldrya, so I figured you would use long-distance communications to reach the Dragonguard headquarters.”
“And it would be faster than you flying there; good call,” Blackthorn commented, impressed that another creature poses such intelligence. He ordered the crowd of guardians to disperse and return to their duties. The guardians somberly broke off and disbanded.
***
“Now,” Blackthorn addressed the two Ancients, now that they were alone, “what’s this about the Wyrm of Chaos? What can Dragonguard do?”
“I have probable cause that Anaq is planning on [SOMETHING],” Airigold began to explain.
Blackthorn interrupted him, “Hold on, “probable cause”? You mean you think he’s done something, or worse, likely to do something but hasn’t yet.”
“It’s more of the latter,” Airigold responded, slightly irritated for being questioned.
“Let me get this straight,” Blackthorn berated the Ancient, anger ringing through his voice, “so you think he will do something and have no proof of it? That’s just a suspicion, not probable cause. You’re going to sit here and waste my time about some petty shit between bitter rivals that have nothing to do with us anymore.”
Airigold quickly added in, speaking through his teeth, trying to keep calm, “Forgive my incorrect use of your language, but it’s not—”
“And another thing,” Blackthorn said, cutting off the Ancient again; Airigold’s nose wrinkled in frustration, “I don’t appreciate you landing on my base without the proper clearance to do so. You may be an Ancient, but unless if you have actual intel, you don’t get to just land here.”
Blackthorn started to walk away; Airigold quietly let out a low growl, “Valen, I know Vexx is your brother.”
The Lieutenant stopped and paused, then slowly turned around. His anger was much more apparent on his face. “You better choose your next words very carefully,” he said, pointing sharply at the Ancient.
“This isn’t just about Anaq; Vexx is working with, or maybe a part of, the Dragonbane Order. Their very existence is a matter of concern for all of us. Both human and dragonkin,” Airigold responded with a firm tone.
“Now,” he continued as Blackthorn’s expression changed and his eyes darted back and forth in thought, “I don’t know if Anaq is working with the Order or if he’s doing his own thing. But I do know he’s up to something.”
“So then, what do you propose I relay to the headquarters?” Blackthorn inquired.
“That actually won’t be necessary,” Airigold started to explain, now calm and collected. “Nyrak, the drake who guards the Drakeridge Pass, will relay the information about Anaq to the Dragonguard. He’s probably already there by now. I’m here because of Vexx, but I did not want to; what do you humans say? “Spill the beans” about your relation to him with the others around.”
“Thank you for that,” Blackthorn thanked with deep sincerity.
“Anyhow, Vexx will undoubtedly continue to be a thorn in your side,” Airigold gave a slight chuckle as his own pun, “While your guardian did incredible work disposing of his formidable wyvern, that won’t stop him, and you know this.”
“So, what are you planning?” Blackthorn asked, still confused about what his role is in this.
“Sphyii and I remove him from the picture,” Airigold said quietly as if trying to keep a secret.
“The two of you?”
Airigold responded, “Well, probably Zolt too, or the Drake of the West as you know him.”
“The Drake of the—How many Ancients are still alive?” Blackthorn retorted.
“Several.”
“Ok, but wouldn’t this plan be a grave breach of the Draconian Concord?” Blackthorn insisted, glanced around to see if anyone was eavesdropping.
“Not if we did it stealthily, at night, and no one else knew,” Airigold said in a hushed voice.
“And why are you telling me this?”
Sphyii responded in a harsh, raspy voice, her injuries still visible on her throat from a battle long ago: “Because you will run surveillance and alert us if anything is out of the ordinary. You have short-wave radios in those earpieces, yes? Put one in our ears, and we’ll have direct contact with your teams.”
“I thought she couldn’t talk; that’s why she was named “The Voiceless”,” Blackthorn commented, politely pointing to the novascale.
“Common misconception,” Sphyii responded.
“She usually keeps quiet, as it’s not easy for her to talk,” Airigold added, his expression turning to a somber pain, “Thanks to Anaq, in the final battle that ended the Draconian War, her throat was almost entirely ripped out.”
Day Fourteen
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Late last night I had some story elements pop into my head, and I continued from day 13. Also, this day puts me at my halfway point for my 20k goal! And, I’ve written everyday for two weeks, so that’s cool too.
[… “her throat was almost entirely ripped out.”]
“Alright, so, what day were you thinking of carrying out this plan?” Blackthorn asked.
“As soon as possible, really. Hell, tonight even, if you can.” Responded Airigold.
“And what makes you think I’d just kill my brother in cold blood like this? Despite his abhorrent atrocities.” Inquired Blackthorn, his brow furrowing slightly as he recalled the crimes Vexx had committed over the years.
“You don’t have to be a part of this. We just want your team’s help with the reconnaissance.”
“Yes, but I would have to sign off on that. And now you’ve just told me the plan. I can’t in good conscience use the Dragongaurd to aid in a murder.”
“He has murdered innocent humans! Hell, I’ve had to kill my own kind when they’ve acted like Vexx has! He just attacked the city moments before we landed!” Airigold’s voice rose in anger.
“We aren’t dragons; it’s different from your kind. Vexx may be a rabid animal, but the rest of us aren’t like that; I can’t just murder him.” Blackthorn retorted; Airigold pulled his head back and snorted in disgust, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Blackthorn continued, “If you want to get rid of him, that’s on you.”
“Come on, Sphyii,” Airigold said with a scowl. We rabid animals aren’t clearly welcomed here anymore.”
Both Ancients began to unfurl their wings and take off when Blackthorn stopped them.
“Wait!” he shouted just before they took flight. “I won’t kill him, but we can capture him. If you agree to bring him in — alive — then you can have my team for recon.”
The two Ancients looked at each other. Sphyii nodded slightly. Airigold thought for a moment and then responded, “Fine. We’ll bring him in alive. However, I will not hesitate to use self-defense if necessary.”
“Perfectly understandable,” Blackthorn replied. “But, how will you find him? When he attacked the edge of the city months ago, we couldn’t locate him anywhere.”
“I just spoke to Zolt, who saw him traveling through the Forgotten Forest Ridge. He had others with him, and I don’t think he could get too far through that forest. We’ll start there.” Airigold explained.
Blackthorn stroked his beard as he thought of a plan, “when the sun completely sets in a few hours, we execute the mission. I’d recommend flying over to the cliffsides either north or south of the city.” Blackthorn pointed to the cliffsides in the distance.
“Wouldn’t recommend having Ancients fly through the city at night with all the lights,” the lieutenant continued, “Unfortunately for Vexx if he took flight, we’d still see him from our tallest building, so he should still be within the forest. I’ll have a look out on the building until it's time for our mission.”
Airigold nodded in agreement, adding, “If he is with others, we’ll need to separate him somehow. Maybe when they stop to rest, we can snatch him like the rodent he is.”
“If you’re able to do that quietly, then sure. Bring him back; we’ll put him in the correctional facility here at the base.” Blackthorn paused to think of anything else to add.
Airigold broke the silence after a few moments, saying, “Sounds like a good enough plan.” He turned to Sphyii and said, “We should stay up there on the cliff in the trees for the time being; otherwise, we’ll be too much of a distraction at the base here.”
Sphyii nodded in agreement, and then they both spread their wings and took to the air, the orange sunset casting long shadows.
***
As the sun crested the horizon and its last ray of light faded away, a small squadron of guardians landed at the southern cliff. As they stood amidst the dense underbrush of the sparse forest, they scanned the darkened surroundings. The beams from their flashlights cut through the shadows, illuminating the gnarled branches and exposed rock. They searched for the two Ancients momentarily when Airigold came out from behind a large boulder. A few of the guardians were startled by the sudden movement.
“Oh my god!” Ivis jumped backward, “How is an Ancient that stealthy?”
Airigold chuckled quietly and responded, “Well, you do call my species “shadescale”, don’t you?”
Sphyii slithered out from behind the same boulder and perched next to Airigold as Azier approached them both.
“Here,” she said, holding out her hand. “These are bone induction earpieces, it’s what we use for communication. I’ll put it in one of your ears.”
Both Ancients lowered their head for Azier to insert the earpieces. Airigold then said, “What are you doing here? I didn’t think you were on the surveillance team. You’re a dragonknight, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, but the lieutenant asked me to accompany you since I kind of already know you,” she responded. "I believe he doesn't fully trust you."
Airigold let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes in frustration. “Alright, fine,” he relented, his tone slightly softened. “But stay close.”
He walked to the edge of the cliff, its rugged edges slightly crumbling under his weight. The rest of the guardians gathered, their expressions a mix of anticipation and determination.
The two Ancients unfurled their expansive wings. With a few powerful, rhythmic beats, they ascended into the night sky. Meanwhile, the guardians and their dragonkin dove off the towering cliff. As they plummeted for a brief moment to allow space for the Ancients to climb into the air, they then extended their wings, catching the wind. One by one, each guardian then soared upwards, joining the Ancients in a breathtaking display of strength and unity.
Day Fifteen
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Continued from day 14. I planned out a little earlier in the day, during the World Anvil live stream writing sprints.
The group eventually came across the small ridge in the forest, its peak barely poking through the trees.
Azier broke the radio silence, saying, “We’ll have to land on the ridge; it’s too dense otherwise. Airigold, Sören, [guardian], let’s go.”
The four of them landed, stirring up leaves and dust. They began to walk quickly along the path through the forest. Finally, they came across light flickering through the trees, and the smell of a campfire filled the air.
Sören quietly said over the radio, “We’ve potentially made contact; looks like there’s a campfire ahead.”
Another guardian came over their earpieces, “We see a faint light through the trees; I can smell it too. We’ll hold here and survey the airspace if they try to take off.”
“I’ll go and check for positive ID,” Sören said as he quietly crept forward. He peered from behind a tree, seeing Vexx and a few of his loyal companions sitting around a campfire; a few of their dragonkin slept nearby.
Sören whispered into his radio, “Yeah, it’s him. We’ll have to come in from the side; his back isn’t to me.” He returned to the group.
“There are some large rocks in the way, so I think it’s best if the humans grab him and drag him here. Then we restrain him and take off. Airigold can hold onto him or something when we fly back,” Sören suggested; the other guardians agreed.
Azier, Sören, and another guardian snuck over to the rock and each of them hid behind a tree. Vexx was alone sitting at the fire; one of his men was asleep, while another took a piss on a tree. Azier whispered, “I’ll cover his mouth and drag him off the log, then you guys get his legs. Nice and quick.”
The other two guardians confirmed and slowly crept out from behind the trees, closely following Azier. She stepped on a stick, just mere feet away from behind Vexx, and made a loud crack. Luckily, the campfire popped simultaneously and threw out a small burning ember. Vexx bent over and flicked it back into the fire.
When he sat back up, Azier quickly covered his mouth and pulled him backward with such force she almost lost her balance. His legs went into the air, and the other two guardians swooped in and grabbed them before he even knew what was happening.
They quickly but quietly returned to their dragons and began tying him up. He kept trying to push away and break free. Azier shoved a cloth into his mouth so she could help restrain him. Vailstrym then held him on the ground with her foot as the guardians tried to tie his hands behind his back.
After some time, they finally managed to gain control over Vexx. Just before they were about to take off, they heard a twig snap nearby.
“We need to go. Now.” Airigold said as quietly as he could.
Suddenly, the group was attacked by Vexx’s men and their dragons. Sören yelled out over his radio, “Contact! Contact! We’re being attacked!”
Vexx managed to break free, and as he bolted away, Airigold clawed at him, cutting a deep gash in his face. Vexx’s henchmen slashed his knife at Airigold, cutting his hand. With his powerful arm, Airigold threw him to the side and tried to chase after Vexx. The other mercenary stepped before Airigold and aimed a pistol into his face.
Airigold quickly swiped it away and said in a low voice, his anger smoldering like the coals of a fire, “You think your weapons hurt me? They only piss me off more.”
The man stood there frozen in place, trembling as he realized he was staring at the face of an Ancient dragon, the warm glow of the withering campfire highlighting his golden features.
As Vexx returned to the campfire, he found a crevasse in the large rocks to hide in. He cut the rope with a sharp rock he found inside, then the cloth out of his mouth and applied pressure to his wound with it.
“These fuckers think they can grab me in the middle of the night? Valen will pay for this,” Vexx said to himself, slouching against the wall of the rock shelter.
All within a few seconds, Vexx escaped, and his henchmen were captured. The rest of the guardians dove through the trees and landed with a loud thud that shook the earth.
“Too late, guys. Vexx is gone, but we got his rabid dogs,” Azier said, angrily gesturing to the captured mercenaries.
“Damn. We tried to get here fast; must have been too high,” responded Sphyii.
One of the mercenaries’ faces lit up upon seeing Sphyii and said, “The Novascale? I’ve heard pirate stories about you!” The other lightly kicked him to signal him to be quiet.
“Did anyone see where Vexx went?” Asked Azier, addressing the squadron. They looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Nah, one of their dragons was attacking Ari, so I was dealing with that.” Responded Sören.
“I almost had him before these two wyrms got in my way,” Airigold said, his brow furrowing when he looked over at Vexx’s men kneeling on the ground, “I think I managed to cut him, so he’s probably injured and bleeding.”
“This slippery fuck, he’s like an eel,” Azier said irately in frustration. “It’s too dark in this forest at night, so he’s probably long gone.”
“Wait,” interjected Shpyii, “You said you cut him? Is there blood on your claw?” Airigold held up his claw, the faintest amount of red covering the golden color. Sphyii sniffed the blood and said, “I’ll see if I can get his scent. Shine your flashlights just ahead of me.”
Shpyii sniffed the ground around Vexx’s campsite; a guardian followed her around with a flashlight to illuminate the area. After making a few passes, Shpyii returned to the group.
“Nah, it all smells like him here. I can’t pick anything up around this area,” she remarked in defeat.
“Yeah,” the guardian added, ”I didn’t see any blood on the ground either, so he must not have been bleeding that badly.”
“Son of a bitch,” Azier exclaimed, “Well, we can take these two back to Rayhaven and question them. Kick some dirt onto those coals; don’t want to burn down the forest. Although, at this point, that’d help us.”
“What do we do about their dragons?” One of the guardians inquired, kicking dirt onto the smoldering coals.
“I don’t know; take the saddles off and set them free, I guess,” Azier said, walking over to Vailstrym, who had one of their dragons pinned to the ground.
The dragon snarled as Azier walked to the side. She gently stroked its neck to convey she wasn’t a threat. She unlatched the saddle buckles, pulled off all the equipment, and threw it to the side.
Azier backed away and commanded Vailstrym to let go. The dragon pulled away and barred its teeth at the group, growling in a low, deep rumble. The guardians raised their weapons in anticipation when one of the mercenaries looked back and slightly shook his head. The dragon picked up on this cue and stopped. It stood there for a moment until it turned around and ran off into the dark forest.
Day Sixteen
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface: Continued from day 15.
They did the same with the other dragonkin and then went on their way back to Rayhaven.
Upon reaching the base, they called for the lieutenant over the radio to meet them in the courtyard. Airigold released the two mercenaries from his grip, placing them on the cold, hard concrete before landing himself.
Blackthorn and a few guardians who followed him walked towards the team. The lieutenant noticed who they brought back, his arms out wide, and said, “Where the hell is Vexx? Who the fuck are these two?”
“These two,” Azier began, “are Vexx’s men, who were with him when they left after attacking the city.”
“How does that bastard keep slipping out of our hands?” Retorted Blackthorn, rubbing his forehead in frustration.
“I ask the same thing, sir,” Azier stated.
Sören started to explain, “These guys somehow knew we got Vexx and attacked us—”
“You had him?” Blackthorn interrupted with exasperation in his voice.
“Yeah, it went perfectly. Not even a sound. But somehow, these assholes knew and attacked us. He slipped away when that happened.”
“Is everyone alright; any injuries?” Blackthorn quickly examined the group, and the guardians shook their heads.
“Maybe some bruises, but other than that, I think we’re fine.” Responded Sören as the lieutenant halted when he got to Airigold.
“Your claw; you’ve been cut,” Blackthorn mentioned, pointing to his bleeding claw.
“I’m fine. This one got me with his dagger. The other claw has Vexx’s blood on it. When he ran, I tried to grab him but only ended up gashing his face. The other pile of garbage here stepped in front of me and put a pistol in my face. By then, Vexx had disappeared into the darkness somewhere.”
“Great. Well, at least we have these two to question. Take them to the cells.” Blackthorn commanded the guardians who accompanied him. They grabbed the mercenaries and dragged them away.
“Well,” Blackthorn continued, “I sent word to the headquarters about Vexx’s attack on the city and his affiliations. They’ve just decided to declare him as “an enemy of mankind”; anyone can now bring him to any dragonguard personnel, dead or alive.”
He sighed in defeat and said, “Well, I guess we’ve got a couple of his men, so we can start questioning them. Get some rest; you’ve done well.”
They all started to disperse when Blackthorn stopped and turned around briefly, addressing Airigold, saying, “Hey, get that gash in your foot bandaged.”
Airigold let out a soft snort through his nose as he waved away Blackthorn’s worries. The two Ancients then took to the midnight sky and flew north, off into the dimly light moonlight horizon. The rest of the guardians and their dragonkin took off their equipment and went to sleep.
Day Seventeen
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Added just a little more to the Sabretail chapter. Other than that, started a new chapter, as I didn’t know what else to do. Not much written this day.
[… said Ivis, running his fingers along the flat of the blade’s face.]
“I’ve still got to work out the wings,” Zella mentioned, gazing at the bandaged stumps of the arm wings.
“Wings?” Azier said intriguingly, “You think that’ll work?”
“I don’t know, but I want to try at least.”
“That would be awesome!” Exclaimed Ivis with such energy to startle Sabretail. “I think he’s my favorite. No offense, Thornfire.” His dragon scoffed in very much offense.
The guardians woke up early in the morning; the golden rays of the sun shone between the buildings and over the cliffsides that surrounded the city.
The lieutenant was already standing out in the courtyard, waiting for them. He ordered them to fall in on him.
“Listen up, some heard this last night, but to those who haven’t: Headquarters has declared Vexx as “an enemy of mankind”; anyone can now bring him to any dragonguard personnel, dead or alive.”
Murmurs and whispers started flowing through the crowd. Blackthorn continued, “However, there are more pressing matters. Early this morning, I got a message that HQ has requested a handful of individuals for a special assignment. The names I’m about to list off will be traveling to HQ in Eldrya.”
The whispers got louder with anticipation of what the special mission could be and Blackthorn quickly hushed them.
“Azier, Sören, Ivis, Zella, and Airigold, you and your dragonkin will be leaving in a few hours.”
The guardians looked at each other, confused about why they were picked.
Blackthorn paused and looked around, then said, “Well, if anyone finds Airigold, tell him to go to Eldrya. Now, go eat. Dismissed.”
The guardians broke apart and headed for the mess hall. The group whose names were called out stood there talking amongst themselves.
After eating, the team packed for their trip. The lieutenant approached them and said, "Hey, we haven't seen Airigold yet today. Would you mind flying up north first and see if you can find him somewhere?”
The guardians agreed and then took to the skies, the cold air rushing by them. They crested over the northern cliff and followed the shoreline.
“I hope he didn’t go all the way back to Dragonspire up in Ravia,” Ivis stated with concern.
“I don’t think he can fly that fast; it’s only been like less than 12 hours since the last time we saw him and the novascale.” Azier responded.
“He never did get that gash on his hand bandaged, did he?” Inquired Sören, recalling the events from the night before.
Azier chuckled, “No, I don’t think so.”
After a few hours of flying, the team landed and rested on the beach, grabbing snacks from their backpacks.
A few minutes passed, and Sphyii spotted them from the sky and descended onto the sand.
“Hey!” she said as cheerfully as she could muster, “You haven’t seen Airigold have you?”
“No, we’re trying to find him ourselves,” Zella responded. “He’s supposed to come with us to Eldrya. I guess the Archon wants us for some ‘special mission.’”
“The Archon? Wanting to work with an Ancient after all these years? That can’t be a good sign,” Sphyii said with concern in her raspy voice.
“Well, I don’t know if he wants to meet him or actually use him in a mission with us,” Zella remarked. “To be fair, Ancients haven’t been seen in a century, so…”
The amphithere nodded slightly in agreement, the afternoon sun glinting off her iridescent scales.
“Well, I’ll tell him he’s needed in Eldrya if I see him then. Fly high, Guardians!” She said bubbly as if she’d waited a long time to say that again.
“Fly high, guardian,” the group responded, cracking a smile at the fact an Ancient had just saluted them.
“Wow, what a beautiful creature, such incredible scales,” Zella stated, her gaze fixed on the magnificent novascale disappearing into the clouds. The other guardians agreed.
They packed their things and headed off again, searching the tree line from the skies. Ivis and Thornfire flew much higher than the rest of the group, scanning the horizon with his binoculars in hopes of seeing a gilt of golden light from Airigold’s shiny claws and horns.
Day Eighteen
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Continued from day 17. We get to meet the Archon of the Dragonguard finally!
After several hours of flying, they reached the next city. Upon landing, they were met by a guardian.
“Rayhaven’s Dragonguard?” The soldier asked.
“Yes?” Zella responded.
“You’ve got new orders; just go to Eldrya. An important asset is missing. A ship will be ready for you first thing in the morning.” Relayed the guardian.
“Understood,” Zella said as she and the rest of the group saluted the guardian. He then climbed onto his drake and went on his way.
“Well, this can’t be good,” Azier commented, worried about the ancient dragon.
“Man, am I tired,” Sören said as he yawed, “We should just stay here for the night.” The others agreed.
***
The following day, the guardians woke up and ate breakfast.
“I hope he’s okay. I wonder what happened to him,” Azier said with concern.
“I don’t, but we should get going. It’s gonna be a long ride to Eldrya,” responded Sören, enthusiasm laced his voice.
The guardians finished their breakfast and then went to the dock, where a dragonguard naval ship awaited them. The captain waved them down, urging them to board the ship.
“Great, first I had to get used to flying high, and now I’ve got to deal with the sea,” Ivis remarked, a sense of dread in his voice.
They set sail northward and after reaching the tip of the continent, headed southeast and navigated through the channel between Ardenfell and Dragon’s Tail. From there, they sailed directly to Eldrya, an old city split between the borders of Drakemyst and Arkynshire, located on a large island deep within an estuary.
When they reached the port in the southern part of town, they were immediately met by Dragonguard Sentinels, a type of military police for high-ranking officers and guards of the headquarters.
The city of Eldya was unique, split between the borders of two continents, it doesn’t have its own city guardians, but rather uses the Sentinels to protect the city. The city, as old as the Dragonguard itself, grew over time, right up to the edges of the cliffsides of the island it sits on.
The guardians were escorted to the headquarters building, entering through the first set of gates guarded by Sentinels with their menacing drakes. A few guarded the skies, circling above the compound like vultures.
Once inside the walls, they continued into the building itself, with more security, and finally into a chamber with a round table. Sitting in one of the chairs was the Archon himself, the leader of the Dragonguard's military operations.
He turned around when the door opened and said, “Ah! Rayhaven’s best guardians, I presume?”
“That would be us, sir!” Exclaimed Ivis, his excitement bubbling over like a pot of boiling water that wasn’t being watched.
“I like the enthusiasm of this one,” the Archon chuckled, “Sorry you had to leave your companions outside. We have a strict no dragons inside the chamber rule—not even mine.”
He then held out his hand and said, “Hallard, Hallard Null, if you didn’t know that already. I know most people go throughout their whole dragonguard career without knowing the man commanding it all.”
They each shook his hand and introduced themselves. He then gestured for the guardians to sit at the table.
“There has been a new development since I requested you all to come here,” Hallard began to explain, his expression and tone changing. “I have been informed that the ancient, Airigold, has been captured. Your original mission will be delayed until we get him back.”
“What happened? Who captured him?” Asked Azier.
“Nyrak,” the Archon responded, “another ancient, told me the Dragonbane Order has captured him.”
“Dragonbane Order?” Ivis questioned, confused.
“Yes, a secret order that began after the Draconian War. I thought they had dispersed since then, but even after a hundred years, it seems they’re still around.”
A few of the guardians gasped.
“This is not good,” he continued, “their objective is to undo what we’ve accomplished after all these years. They think dragonkin should not have been assimilated into human society. Many Scalebreakers work with the Order, an older group who specialize in assassinations, and know how to take down practically any dragonkin.”
Hallard paused and leaned in, then said, “I cannot stress this enough; if we do not get to him, Airigold is as good as dead. We are all dead.”
Day Nineteen
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Wasn’t really feeling it this day, but sat down to write a little something and ended up with this. Continued from day 18.
He got up and gestured for the others to exit the room. They went out into the courtyard, and the Archon mounted his dragon.
“I’d like to meet with someone,” the Archon said as he ascended into the sky. The guardians followed suit, along with a few Sentinels.
They flew off the island and onto the mainland, just past the estuary's shoreline.
“This is Nyrak,” the Arhcon introduced, “He’s been guarding the Drakeridge Pass for the past 100 years and is evidently still alive.”
The Ancient Drake stood there in a menacing pose. His jet-black scales were lustrous in the sunlight, almost like obsidian.
He chuckled and spoke with a booming voice like any Ancient dragonkin, “I noticed some suspicious humans in Drakeridge; I had a bad feeling about them. So, I left my post and tailed them. Eventually, I found their hidden base of operations in an abandoned, decrepit town. They’re likely underground because it doesn’t look lived in by any animal for 50 years.”
“So… what’s that got to do with us?” Ivis asked impatiently.
“I saw Airigold just before they took him in. He was shackled, caged, and all that.”
The guardians gasped in surprise; their excitement of meeting another Ancient changed to worry.
Nyrak continued, “When the Archon here requested you guys, I heard Airigold was a part of that list, too. So, I decided to break the silence, show my Ancient ass publically, and tell the Archon about Airigold’s situation.”
He paused momentarily, trailing off in an angry thought, then came back.
“I saw a symbol,” the drake said, more a simmering hatred laced his voice, “for a brief moment when the door was open, just inside the hidden entrance. I recognized it as the symbol of the Dragonbane Order. If we don’t get him out of there, he will die.”
His last three words echoed throughout the edge of the forest and sat in the pit of the guardians’ stomachs. The weight of the reality that one of the most revered Ancient Dragonkin might be so brutally slaughtered was almost too much to bear.
“Where is this place?” Asked Zella.
“Further in Drakemyst, quite a ways. I’ll lead you there,” Responded Nyrak.
The Archon spoke, “This, Guardians, is your new mission. Get him out of there—alive. Bring him back here, and we’ll proceed from there.”
“We’ll need to first do some recon, both from the air and the underground parts. Do you know any other ways to get in?” Inquired Azier.
“Not that I know of. I didn’t dare go near the town; I hid just outside in the bushes and trees. We’ll have to see what there is when we recon.”
“I’d say the best bet is to do it at night,” Sören suggested.
“At night? How would you see?” Nyrak questioned.
“Night vision!” Sören responded excitedly, “As long it’s not a new moon.”
“Ah, humans and their technological advances,” Nyrak said with an impressive tone.
“It might take a few days if we only do this at night and how big the compound is,” Ivis said.
Nyrak quickly responded, “We don’t have a few days.”
“Yeah…” Ivis said quietly in defeat.
“Oh, we can give you an earpiece so that you can be in contact with us,” Zella mentioned, holding one up.
“Hah!” Nyrak exclaimed, “Even after a hundred years, you humans came up with a new way of using old tech. Not once during the Draconian War did anyone think of putting an earpiece in an Ancient.”
The drake paused momentarily; a thought bounced around in his head. When it came through, he said, “Hey, does Airigold have one?”
“Well, we did work with him back in Rayhaven, so maybe? I don’t remember anyone taking it out.” Replied Azier.
“We can try to make contact when we get close; maybe it’ll reach him, depending on how far underground he is,” Sören added.
Azier continued, “And let’s hope they didn’t find it in his ear. Although, I wouldn’t suspect they would since no one expects an Ancient to have one.”
Day Twenty
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface: Continued from day 19.
“We should get going; it’ll probably be night by the time we get there,” suggested Nyrak. The guardians agreed and flew back to Eldrya to pack their equipment.
“Well,” Nyrak said, “are we ready?”
The guardians agreed. They all climbed onto their dragonkin saddles and ascended into the sky.
Upon arriving, they hid in the bushes and trees outside the dilapidated town; Ivis stayed behind and surveyed from the air.
“Well,” Zella said, “we made great time. It’s just barely sundown.”
Nyrak then asked Ivis over the radio, “What can you see from up there?”
“Looks like an abandoned town,” responded Ivis. “Let me see from a higher altitude for a bit.”
Thornfire soared higher in the sky, utilizing the sun behind them to their advantage. They surveyed the town from high in the sky for a while and saw no activity on the surface.
Ivis radioed to the others, “I haven’t seen anything for a while. We could try some ground recon and see if there’s another way in.”
“Yeah, I’ll agree to that,” said Nyrak, “One of you others should also come with, get the other side of town.”
“Vailstrym and I can,” Azier volunteered.
The three slowly crept into the ghostly town, looking into the run-down buildings. Most structures were so damaged and rotten that they were unsafe to enter.
“Hey, I found a grate in the ground,” Azier said. “Looks like an air vent or something for whatever’s underground. Can’t really see into it, but it definitely doesn’t seem like a storm drain.”
“God damn!” A low voice came over their headsets. “You’ve nearly scared me half to death.”
“Airigold, is that you?”
“Nyrak, how’d you find me?” Airigold inquired.
“I tailed some shifty humans in Drakeridge, and when I got here, I saw them taking you inside. I’ve got the Dragonguard team from Rayhaven with me.” Nyrak responded
“I don’t know where I am exactly,” Responded Airigold, “but I feel it’s rather deep within here. I can’t talk much more; they’ll know something’s up and likely find the earpiece.”
“We’ll get you out; if not, we’re all screwed.” Asked Azier.
“I wouldn’t recommend breaking into this place. They’ve got enforcers everywhere. All I know is that Vexx captured me, and I was brought here.” Airigold stated.
“That little bitch; working with the Black Clutch gang and now the Dragonbane Order?” Ivis exclaimed, still sky-high.
“I overheard the Dragonguard declare him an enemy of mankind,” Nyrak said.
“Good, I get to return him as a corpse now,” Airigold paused momentarily, then said, “Do they need to identify the body for that?”
Nyrak chuckled and said, “We’ll try to find a way in that isn’t the front door. Do this as quietly as we can.”
“Heads up,” Ivis came over the radio, “There a few guys coming into town. No dragonkin, just humans.”
“Sounds like the Scalebreakers of the Order.” Stated Airigold.
“Scalebrakers are still around?” Sören paused briefly, thought for a moment, then continued, “Well, it would make sense that it would be them; they don’t use any dragonkin themselves.”
Day Twenty-one
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface: Continued from day 20.
“Looks like they’re going through that secret entrance Nyrak mentioned,” Ivis relayed. “You should be good where you’re at.”
“They’ve got to have some kind of backdoor or something; they can’t all go through their main entrance if there’s an emergency. This air vent is too small for even me,” Azier stated as she looked around.
“There might be something by the nearby creek. It’s got some overhanging areas and some little cliff walls; maybe there’s something there. Plus, I could go for a drink,” Nyrak suggested.
“I’ll meet you down there,” Azier said. “I don’t think there’s anything in town.”
The two quietly made their way through the rest of the dusty town and down to a little creek. Nyrak took a drink as Azier looked around. After he was done, they walked along the creek briefly before coming to a concrete pipe.
“Hey, look!” Azier pointed out. “Looks like a drainage pipe. It should be big enough for you Ancients to fit through.”
Azier shined a flashlight down the dark tunnel. The light illuminated the pipe's inner walls only so far, but the darkness seemed endless.
“I guess this will have to do,” Nyrak said. “Let’s hope it goes to where we want it to.”
“And that it doesn’t get smaller,” Azier added. “If this is an actual storm drain, then it’ll just go under the streets.”
She thought for a moment, then continued, “Although this seems like a rather large drain, much bigger than what would be needed for this town, I feel like. But there is a bit of water here, so it seems legit.”
“Perhaps there’s a hidden entrance inside,” Sören suggested over their radios.
“If this is it,” Nyrak said, “we probably need another human. Any dragonkin inside won’t be useful for the agile and nimble things. We can get the shackles off of Airigold.”
“I’ll stay as a lookout on the ground. I think Sabretail’s prosthetics would be too noisy.” Zella said.
“Well,” Sören said, “that leaves us Ari. I’ll bring Vailstrym with me, too.”
Sören led the two dragonkin through the city to the creek in the forest.
They all stood briefly looking into the large concrete pipe, and then the guardians turned on their flashlights and headed in, their dragonkin following behind.
“I really hope this doesn’t get smaller; I barely fit in here,” The Ancient drake said, almost rubbing against the pipe walls. A tiny frog jumped past his foot.
“I think I’ve unlocked a new fear; I do not like walking through drainage pipes,” Sören stated.
They came upon the bottom of a large vertical shaft. A few small crawfish darted away as the group stepped into the shallow water. An embedded rebar ladder lined one of the walls and led to a portion of the shaft that was cut out.
I might not know much about storm drains, but I don’t feel like that’s a standard thing,” Sören said, pointing to the top of the ladder and the cutout.
“Looks like they just cut through the concrete. Hopefully, that tunnel will lead inside.” Azier said as she climbed the rusty rebar rungs poorly embedded into the concrete walls.
She peeked over the edge, her flashlight barely lighting the expanse of the tunnel.
“It certainly goes on,” She said. “This seems like it’s it to me.”
“I don’t think there’s any other way to go,” Sören said.
Azier clambered the rest of the way up and stood in the tunnel. She turned around and motioned for the others to climb up.
Day Twenty-two
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Continued from day 21. Done during World Anvil’s writing sprint stream! I also worked this weekend, so I didn’t get much else done this day.
They walked for what felt like an eternity, their steps echoing throughout the endless tunnel.
Eventually, they saw light spilling into the tunnel, and when they reached it, they peered through the grate embedded in the wall. The tunnel ran near the ceiling, and looking down into the room, they saw Airigold shackled and chained down.
“We need to find a vent that’s big enough for him to fit through. If we can get him in here, it’ll be easy getting out,” Sören said quietly. They continued to walk down the tunnel until it eventually split.
“Oh, great,” Sören said disgruntingly.
“We could split up and see where each way goes,” Suggested Azier. “Just put some tape on the wall so we know the way back.”
Azier pulled out a roll of orange tape, tore a small piece off, and placed it on the wall. “There,” she said, “always put it on the right so that when we go the opposite way, it’ll be on the left. Then we’ll know we’re going the right way.”
Sören and Ari headed down the right tunnel while Azier, Vailstrym, and Nyrak went to the left. Azier came upon a large grate, almost at ground level.
“I think this would work,” she said, “now we just have to figure out how to get it off.”
“I could bust it open,” Nyrak suggested.
“We’re trying not to be caught. And we need to put it back on when we leave.” Azier said. “I don’t think the radios work in this tunnel, so we’ll need to go back and meet up with Sören.”
They returned to the point where the tunnel split and turned the corner.
“Hey,” Sören said as he walked up to the fork in the tunnel, “I found a vent that should be big enough for our dragons to get through. It’s quite a ways down there, though.”
“Yeah, we did, too,” Azier responded. “Ours might be closer to the room he’s in, but we’ll need to find a way to get it off.”
“I’m sure the drake can bust it off,” Sören said sarcastically.
Azier facepalmed and said, “Yeah, that’s what he suggested.”
Sören chuckled lightly, then said, “Well, there was one part where it went straight down. I don’t know where it goes. The flashlight didn’t help, but it didn’t seem too deep. We might be able to climb down.”
“Worth a shot, I guess,” Azier said.
The group then walked down the right tunnel, eventually coming across the hole in the ground. Azier shined her flashlight into the hole and peered down.
“It almost looks like they dug this hole; that looks like a whole different system. Maybe an old sewer or drainage system.” Azier said.
“That’s probably what that little pipe was halfway up that vertical shaft we climbed up,” Sören mentioned.
“If it’s a drainage thing for the lower floors of this underground base, there might be a floor grate we can just lift up and get through. Don’t have to deal with any bolts.” Azier said.
“Well, let’s take a look!” Sören said with excitement.
Day Twenty-three
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Worked this weekend but managed to write a story twist idea I thought of a couple days ago!
Azier and Sören clambered down the hole and peered down the tapered floor tunnel. In the distance, a few rays of light streamed through the ceiling into the small corridor.
“I can barely stand up in here,” Sören said.
“Hopefully, our dragons will fit,” Azier said, “Come on, this way.”
They walked to the first light streaming in, and above them was a small metal grate. An enforcer walked over them, unaware of what was below his feet. The two then walked back to the hole.
“Well,” Azier said quietly, “it’s looking promising. All we need to do is find one big enough for you guys to fit through. Nyrak, can you even fit down here?”
Nyrak studied the hole briefly, then climbed down. “It’s a tight fit, but I think it’ll work,” He said.
“Alright, cool. Let’s move on then,” Sören said as he squeezed past the Ancient drake.
“Let’s leave our dragonkin at the hole,” Azier suggested. ”We don’t need all of us trying to hide and sneak around once we’re out of this tunnel.”
Azier popped back up the hole and stopped Ari from trying to follow them down it. She told Ari and Vailstrym to stay, and after a few attempts and whimpers, they listened.
She dropped back down and said, “Alright, let’s go.”
The three walked through the tunnel, checking each floor grate in the ceiling to see if it was big enough. Eventually, they finally came across a large two-sectioned grate.
“Ok, this one should definitely be big enough,” Sören said as he pressed against the metal bars. “It’s really heavy, though.”
“Let me try,” Nyrak said. He pressed his head against the metal grate and lifted it up, grunting under its weight. When it was high enough, Sören peaked out and looked around the room. No one was in sight, so Nyrak gently put the heavy metal grate on the concrete floor.
“Ok,” Sören whispered as he clambered out of the hole, “Judging by how far we walked underground, I feel like Airigold should roughly be off in that distance. Let’s just hope the walkways aren’t a maze like the pipes and tunnels were.”
The rest climbed out of the opening, and Nyrak put the metal grate back over the drain. They snuck around for a while, peering into various rooms to see if anyone was inside, finding something to hide behind whenever an Order member walked by.
“This is taking longer than I’d like,” Azier mentioned, “Airigold, if you can still hear us over the radio, make some noise with the chains or something; maybe we can hear it.”
After a second, they heard a faint metal rattling in the distance. They all turned their heads toward the direction the sound came from.
“Alright, this way,” Azier said.
After a few more attempts to locate the direction and walking down several more hallways, the three finally found the large room Airigold was chained down in. They ran over to him and tried to figure out how to get the shackles off as quietly as possible. A few minutes later, they were interrupted by someone walking in, and they all turned around in unison.
“Leaving so soon?” Vexx said, standing menacingly in the doorway.
“Ah, shit,” Sören quietly mumbled to himself.
Azier stepped forward, aiming a pistol at Vexx. Her voice had an irritated tone when she spoke, “You. I should have known you’re ass was working with some kind of secret cult. Can you be an even bigger piece of shit, than this?”
“If you want to get out alive, you’ll need my help.” He stated, staring down Azier’s handgun. The others looked at each other, confused at Vexx’s words.
“I may be old, but did I hear that right?” Nyrak said.
“Ah, another Ancient. Yes, you heard me right,” Vexx responded, taking a few steps forward.
Azier stopped him. raised her handgun again, and said, “And why should we trust you?”
“Look,” He said as he waved the pistol aside and continued to approach Airigold. “I’m sorry about Rayhaven, but this Order has now become absolutely unhinged, even for me. That’s why I persuaded the Order to let me use the Black Clutch to attack the city. I could botch the job and leave them there to be captured by you guys. I gave you some high-ranking gang members.”
Vexx pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the shackles. He handed one of them to the drake and said, “Here, bend this backward to break the hinge. We need to make this look like an escape, and they won’t suspect me for anything.”
Nyrak followed his instructions and snapped the shackle in half. He did the same for the others once Vexx took the rest of them off.
Day Twenty-four
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Even though it was a weekend I worked, and I slept most of the day, I got a lot written! Continued from day 23.
“What about the other shit for all those years? And when you attacked Rayhaven and almost killed Vailstrym?” Azier angrily questioned.
Vexx hushed her and said, “We don’t have the time for this. Do you not want to get out of here?” He gently placed down the broken shackle.
“I never meant to do that to your dragon; Ignistra was protecting me. Besides, you actually killed mine with the bladed-tailed one.” Vexx peeked around the corner of the doorway to see if anyone was in the hallway.
“Anyway,” he began, “I don’t know how the hell you even got in here, but we’ll need a vent big enough for you guys, and I know where. Follow me.”
The group followed Vexx down various hallways and to a metal grate in the wall at ground level and took it off with ease.
“Wait, there’s no bolts in this one?” Asked Azier.
“No, not this one. This is the only one that doesn’t; I made it look like it does, in case I ever had to escape. Follow the tunnel this way,” Vexx said, pointing to the direction that leads out.
“God dammit,” Azier said quietly.
“What?” Vexx inquired.
“We found this one,” Azier explained, “but I wasn’t sure how we would deal with the bolts. We found another way that led to the drainage tunnels in the floor with a grate big enough for us.”
“Oh, well, then you know your way out,” Vexx said as he put the register back on the wall.
He then turned around and walked away, running into one of the enforcers who was in a hurry. The enforcer yelled out that the Ancient had escaped as he ran past Vexx.
“We need to get the hell out of here. They’re going to be sending people out to look for you, Goldie.” Sören said.
They walked through the tunnel and finally came upon the split.
“Go ahead and get him out of here; I’ll get our dragons we left down this way,” Sören said.
Azier led Airigold onwards while Sören walked down the right branch of the tunnel. He eventually reached Ari and Vailstrym, who were lying down, still waiting for them to pop up through the hole. When Sören approached them, they perked their heads up. He beckoned for them to follow him.
“Where does this lead?” Airigold asked, his booming voice echoing off the tunnel walls.
“It eventually goes to an extensive drainage pipe system for the city. That then goes to a creek just outside of it.” Azier responded.
They reached the cutout of the vertical shaft, and one by one, they climbed down.
Airigold studied the wall as he waited and said, “They really made this to be an escape route. Looks like they just blasted the wall and dug a tunnel.”
He stepped up to the ledge to climb down and continued, “Even if it was for air, this wouldn’t make sense.”
“Seems like that’s why they had the entrance this deep in the sewers,” Nyrak commented. “It gets a little tighter up ahead. Can’t imagine it will feel good on your wing arms.”
Airigold landed at the bottom of the shaft, splashing in the stagnant pool of water. They walked through the pipe, and Airigold pressed his wings as much as possible.
“I swear I’m scraping every spider web and slime off the walls of this pipe,” Airgold said as he pushed through.
They finally reached the outside and took a relieving breath of fresh air. Airigold looked at his wings in disgust.
“Oh, thank ‘kin, there’s a creek here,” He said, rolling around in the water to wash the sludge off his back.
“Hey, guys,” Azier radioed the others, “The Order knows Airigold is missing, so they will probably send some of their enforcers out to search for him.” Zella and Ivis acknowledged Azier’s message over the radio.
They waited a few minutes for Sören to return, but with each passing second was the possibility of the Dragonbane Order to find them.
“I don’t like how long this is taking,” Nyrak said.
“We might have to leave him,” Azier suggested. “He’s got Ari and Vailstrym, so he can get out of here. We can’t wait out in the open here.”
“How are you getting out of here without your dragon?” Airigold asked. Azier thought for a moment, then stared at Airigold.
“Oh, no. You’re not riding on my back. I don’t give rides.” He said.
“I think it’s the only way,” Azier responded.
“I’m not even equipped for it; there’s no saddle!” Airigold retorted.
“It’ll be fine; I’ll just lie down and hold on to your horns or something.”
Airigold thought briefly, then lowered his head, “Fine. But don’t pull on them.”
They then heard noises off in the distance and turned their heads.
Ivis came over the radio, “Heads up, they’re mobilizing. It’s a small group, but they’re searching the abandoned town.”
Azier jumped onto Airigold's back; Nyrak let out a chuckle.
“Oh, shut it. Run off into the forest already,” Airigold retorted. Nyrak then sprinted away, disappearing quickly into the forest underbrush.
With a few powerful strokes of Airigold’s wings, he ascended into the air. Azier held onto his horns for dear life, trying not to fall off. Airigold then darted away so fast just above the tree line that Azier almost lost her grip.
“Holy shit! So much faster than Vailstrym,” She said to herself. Airigold heard her and chortled.
Ivis came over their radios again, “Get out there, Sören! They’re looking for us!”
“They’ve already sent units out?” Sören responded, climbing into Ari.
“Just fly, dude!” Ivis yelled out.
Sören, Ari, and Vailstrym took to the skies, staying as close to the top of the tree line as possible.
“Where’s Azier?” Sören asked.
“On the back of Airigold,” Ivis responded.
“Lucky,” He said.
“We should head back to Eldrya, but first, let’s meet up at [TOWN],” Zella suggested. The others agreed and started to make their way to the town.
Eventually, they all landed at a courtyard in the town, and Nyrak came trotting in.
“Oh, you’re here, too,” Azier said.
“Yeah, I heard. I’ve still got the radio in my ear,” Nyrak said. “We should take a minute to rest here.”
“I don’t know about that,” Ivis interrupted, “those guys over there look shifty; I think they’re Dragonbane.”
Day Twenty-five
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
I’ve thought of something funnier than 24… 25! Continued from day 24 lol. I didn’t really know what else to write, I’m kinda runnin out of idea here…
“Fuckin’ great. Let’s just head to Eldrya,” Sören said.
The rest of the group agreed. Azier clambered off of Airigold and onto Vailstrym’s saddle.
“Thanks for the ride, Airigold, but this is much better,” She said.
Airigold chuckled as they ascended into the sky, stirring the leaves and dust. The flight to Eldrya stretched long into the night, the stars twinkling sharply against the inky black sky. Exhaustion weighed heavily on their eyelids, but the rush of adrenaline coursing through their veins kept them alert and focused.
They finally reached the city just before sunrise, each landing with a heavy thud. Airigold was clearly out of breath and barely had the energy to stand.
“I thought you’d be able to fly long distances,” Ivis commented.
“I’m old! Hell, you call us “ancients” for ‘kin sake.” Airigold responded as he dragged himself to a fountain. The guardians laughed at his remark as the Archon then came out into the courtyard.
“Well, we got him back!” Ivis said cheerfully, holding his arms out as if presenting him to the Archon.
Day Twenty-six
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Was running out of ideas to write, but continued a little bit from day 25. Then went onto another part further in the story. Only needed 600-some words after this to reach my goal!
Hallard spoke, “Well done, have—”
“Vexx was there,” Airigold interrupted.
“He was there? Inside?” Hallard inquired with a firm tone.
Airigold continued, “He initially was the one who captured me and was ordered to bring me to that underground base.”
“You guys saw him in there and didn’t capture him?” Hallard questioned harshly.
“He actually helped us escape,” Azier added.
“He’s an enemy of mankind; I don’t care if you even bring him back alive,” Hallard stated.
“We were not in a position to do so,” Airigold retaliated with irritation. “We’ve already got the Order on our tail just from them finding out I was missing. Couldn’t risk fighting with Vexx at that time.”
Sören explained, “He put the vent register back on after we got into a tunnel, and shortly after that, one of the Dragonbane enforcers discovered Airigold was missing.”
“And by the time we got out of there, they had already mobilized enforcers,” Azier added.
“Alright,” Hallard said, “since you’re here now, just stay low and out of their sight. In the meantime, I’ve got something else for the rest of you to do.”
The group landed in Drakemyst and met with the Ancients in the town square, where a small crowd had gathered.
“Hey!” Azier chirped, “Zolt, you’re here! Guess you finally asked the Dragonguard for help getting off Ardenfell, huh?”
“Is there a place we can go where we aren’t being bothered?” He said with an annoying tone.
Ryvak chuckled and said, “He’s not used to being famous, is he brother?”
Nyrak laughed, “Guess not.”
The crowd dispersed when Stlyx, the Ancient necrodrake strutted in.
“Ah!” She spoke, her voice always sent shivers down everyone’s spine. “Pleasure seeing our esteemed Dragonguard team is here!”
“The Dragonguard base in this town is over there,” Azier said, pointing in the direction of the base.
“Good, let’s go already,” Zolt pressured the others.
“Let me guess, he doesn’t want to be out in the middle of town with the humans, does he?” Stlyx chuckled.
They all headed toward the base, and Nyrak said, “No. No, he does not.”
The Sentinals at the entrance let the Ancients through and assembled in the courtyard.
When Stlyx walked in, she spotted Sphyii chatting with a guardian. “Hey, girl! It’s been a while.”
Shpyii perked up and greeted her friend. The two of them started chatting, along with the rest of the guardians and Ancients. Shortly after they congregated in the courtyard, Hallard landed in the base and addressed them.
“Alright, we need to deal with Anaq before he becomes a bigger problem. Despite what the public thinks—that this isn’t our problem, and it’s beef between you Ancients—it will become all of our problem if he does fight. Drakeridge will likely be the first to be hit, as it’s the closest to him right now.”
“What about Vexx?” Stlyx asked excitedly.
“He’s still wanted, dead or alive,” Hallard responded.
Stlyx stood up, lowered her head slightly, and laughed maniacally, “Oh, I’m going to bite that little sausage in half. That bitch is getting cooked if I see him.”
Sphyii gave her friend a concerned look and said, “Stlyx, sometimes you scare me.”
Stlyx laughed and sat back down.
“Preferably in one piece,” Hallard said.
“Ah, you’re no fun,” Stlyx responded to the Archon’s statement.
“Alright, let’s head out to the Drakeridge Pass just outside of town. That’ll be our initial staging point.” Hallard commanded.
They all moved out, ascending to the sky, and the drakes ran through town. They got to the gate, and Hallard and [SENTINAL COMMANDER] told the Sentinels at the gate about the situation and their orders.
While setting up the checkpoint, a surveillance team blasted over their radios.
“He’s out! He’s in the forest! He’s here!” A guardian cried over the radio with an ungodly sense of urgency.
Everyone, including the sentinels, took their positions behind the cover of various objects and the walls at the checkpoint, all looking into the frosted forest.
Before too long, they heard trees cracking in the distance, the tense moment only increasing as the giant wyrm approached ever closer.
“Ah, shit,” Hallard exclaimed. A few of the Ancients stepped out in front, in the open, to confront Anaq directly.
He came slithering down the pathway, his weight crushing the stones beneath him. He came right up to the gate and the Ancients that were standing guard.
Airigold shouted at him, “Anaq! Stop! Any further, the humans will have to defend their city.”
Anaq lowered his head and looked directly at them.
“You know an attack on humans is a grave breach of the Draconian Concord, and we’ll have to intervene,” said Nyrak.
Anaq’s deep and gravelly voice echoed through the valley and was somehow even more menacing than Stlyxs’.
“You and what army,” he responded. Even the ground shook as he spoke.
“The Dragonguard, dumbass, you cannot pass through here,” Stlyx said insultingly.
“I surrendered all those years ago, and this is what you do to me? Put me in the most inhospitable place on this forsaken planet,” Anaq said.
“You terrorized us for twenty years,” one of the Sentinels shouted.
“I have been in Frostcrest for a hundred!” Anaq shouted, shaking the trees and echoing through the city.
He continued, “My horn has frostbite, my scaleplates are cracked, the food is scarce here, and I can’t swim around this mountain ridge. I’d kill every last one of you Ancient assholes if I could; if you weren’t hiding behind the humans and the protection of the Concord.”
He scoffed, and his anger increased as he continued to monologue, “You bastards sit high in the Shatterscale Mountains, and the few who don’t are too close to human civilizations. I have been left here to starve and freeze to death. The very least you Ancients could do was help with that. Not a single one of you stayed with me in the caverns.”
He moved in closer, “Hell, Nyrak isn’t native to this area either, and yet, he stays by Drakeridge to ‘guard the pass’!”
“Cut the bullshit, Anaq,” Airigold said sharply. “You want to take out Eldrya and cripple the Dragonguard so you can resume your tyranny.”
“The ‘dragonguard’,” Scoffed the wyrm. “What an asinine name. And your “legends”? Tuh! None of you are legends; I am a legend. I ruled over this land for twenty years. You humans are small and weak like the rest of the fauna.”
Sabretail stepped out into the open and stood beside Airigold; Zella desperately tried to reel him back in.
“I will not hesitate to end you if it’s the last thing I do,” Sabretail spoke, to everyone’s surprise. His voice had a tone and intonation similar to Airigold’s. Whispers started flowing throughout the crowd of guardians at the gate. Even the other Ancients had a shocked expression. No one knew that Sabretail was an Ancient himself as he never talked before.
The wyrm laughed maniacally and said, “The broken one? Take me out?” He leaned in close to Sabretail; the warmth of his breath was evident. "I’d like to see you try."
Sabretail lowered his sleek head, his eyes narrowing as he bared his sharp teeth in a low, warning growl. The sound rumbled deep within his chest, vibrating with the same intensity as any other Ancient his size. With a swift flick of his long, muscular tail, the blades hidden within his prosthetic tail fins extended outward, the blackened steel gleaming menacingly in the light. His stance became more poised and threatening, prepared for whatever might come next.
Day Twenty-seven
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface: Continued from day 26. I didn’t really know what to do…
Vexx flew in from over the mountain range and approached the enormous wyrm.
“What are you doing? Just run through them!” He yelled out.
Aanq turned his head and said, “I have done this once before, and it did not end well; why would you think it would be any different? I was defeated once; I know the next defeat will be my death.”
“Then you’d be smart enough to turn around and go back,” growled Stlyx.
Vexx yelled out, “We had a deal, wyrm!”
“Who do you take me for?” The Ancient Wyrm said, becoming more irritated with each passing second.
“In what way did you think that I, the Wyrm of Chaos, would ally with you? I’ve seen what you’ve done with other humans and dragonkin, my own kind. You are a disgrace. You, Vexx, have no place on Azlov.”
Vexx furrowed his brow and turned his dragon to fly away when the Dragonguard intercepted him. As he was taken out of the sky, Vexx pulled out his pistol and shot at the giant wyrm, hitting one of his scaleplates on his neck. Anaq became aggravated and swiped his tail at them, taking out the group of guardians. The other Ancients standing at the gate jumped into action and Zella climbed onto Sabretail’s saddle.
Day Twenty-eight
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Happy Thanksgiving! Continued from day 27, just some dialogue stuff, idk.
This also put me over my goal of 20k words!!
The guardians that were knocked out of the sky scrambled to get up and detain Vexx. They kicked the back of his knee and forced him to kneel as they tied his hands.
Vexx yelled at Anaq, “You were supposed to bring me the amberstone!”
The wyrm responded, “I wasn’t supposed to do anything; I don’t work for you. But your ‘kinshit plan had me thinking about my freedom from Frostcrest. I only came here to do that on my own and nothing to do with you.”
The Archon flew over to the guardians, holding down Vexx. He looked up and said, with an irritated scowl, “Labeling me as “an enemy of mankind” has ruined my life. I could sue the Dragonguard for this.”
Hallard leaned in and said with a firm tone, “Everyone knows that any Dragonbane member, or anyone working with them, is labeled as such, just like with pirates. This is no one’s fault but your own.”
Vexx stared at Hallard with a piercing glare, his anger insurmountable. The guardians hastily hosted Vexx to his feet and escorted him into a jail in town.
Hallard turned to the gigantic wyrm and said, “I’ve had enough of you. You attack my guardians like that again, and you will be taken down.”
He started to walk back to the gate, stopped, turned around, and said, “This seems like something between you and the Ancients, not with us, but I cannot let you destroy any city or town.”
Before Hallard walked away, the wyrm responded, “There is no other way. The only way to get anywhere from up here in Frostcrest, for me at least, is through this pass. The sea serpent surely wouldn’t help, not after what I’ve done a hundred years ago.”
“Figure it out,” Hallard said sternly, “dig into the mountain or something; you’re an earthwyrm for gods sake.”
“I’ve tried that; the rock is too hard. I cannot dig through it.” Anaq responded. “You can’t make a tunnel big enough; you don’t have a ship big enough for me. Taavi was the one who brought me here; I need her to agree to take me elsewhere.”
“Where else is there? There are humans on every continent, in every biome and location. There is practically no place you can go where you wouldn’t be running into a town.” Hallard said.
The wyrm grunted, “Ugh, you humans are like ants, just fucking everywhere.”
“We could put you in the World Hole; there might be enough space down there,” Ivis said sarcastically.
“And live in another prison? With the potential of flooding and drowning?” Anaq asked rhetorically.
Azier approached Hallard and said, “I still don’t trust him; he'll go on another rampage as soon as he gets by this mountain ridge. Maybe not right away, but someday.”
“That’s exactly why I don’t want him passing through,” responded Hallard. “Until we deal with the Dragonbane threat, he’s not going anywhere. It seemed like Vexx was trying to work with him; who knows if Anaq has been working with the Order after all these years.”
Day Twenty-nine
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
Even though I met my goal the day before, there was still something else I wanted to write down. This takes place somewhere in the middle of the story, but not exactly sure where it’ll go.
The guardians came to the edge of the Echoing Woods and stared into the creepy dead forest. The arid landscape stretched out endlessly, fine dust swirled in the air like a shimmering veil. The gnarled, hollow trees stood as silent sentinels, their branches hollowing in the wind.
Each step the guardians took seemed to echo throughout the flat landscape as if they were in a canyon. The hollow trees amplified even the quietest sounds.
“I hate this place, the echoing trees make it creepy,” Azier said.
Ivis sneezed and it echoed loudly through the sparse arid forest, reverberating through the dry landscape.
“Oh, wow,” he said wiping his nose. “You weren’t kidding about the echoing part.”
They continued through the woods, their eyes scanning the ground for deadly snakes in their path.
“So you say there’s another Ancient that lives out here?” Sören inquired.
“Yeah, the necrodrake,” responded Airigold. “I never understood why she moved to this place. There’s not even any caves around here.”
Day Thirty
Follow on World Anvil!
Preface:
LAST DAY OF NOVELEMBER! And WorldEmber starts this day!
I just wanted to finish off the idea that I had, so this is continued from day 29.
And with that, I’ve also written something for every. single. day. in November; a 30 day writing streak! So that’s cool! :)
I hope you’ve had fun with your NovelEmber. This concludes the event and what I wrote for it, anything else added/changed after this will not be in this post. Thanks for reading!
Then, a necrodrake jumped out from behind a rock in a flash of commotion. Its grotesque off-white scales and skin glistened unsettlingly in the afternoon light. The drake snapped at the guardians with its large mandibles, designed to break bones in half. The guardians screamed out and jumped backward, and the drake laughed.
Ivis collected himself and said, “You know, I’m starting to get real tired of these Ancients. No offense, Golden Claw.”
Airigold nodded his head in agreement, “Yeah, even I’m getting annoyed at this point.”
“You’re guys’ entrance every time is just dropping in out of nowhere,” Ivis stated.
“Ah, I miss doing that. It never gets old.” The necrodrake spoke.
“Hey, Lleah,” Airigold said with an underwhelming tone.
“Hi, Goldie! Brought me some food, eh? They’re a little too fresh for me, though,” Lleah said, her voice more disturbing than any other Ancient the guardians have heard. Airigold just shook his head slightly, dismissing her joking tone.
“Awesome, an Ancient necrodrake!” Ivis exclaimed as he approached Lleah, studying her scales.
“This one has questionable decisions,” Lleah said, pointing to the guardian with her claw. “I’ll eat that one first.”
Lleah and Ivis chuckled.
“Oh, and for your information, there are caves here. Not many, but there are,” She jokingly snapped at Airigold.
“So, why do you live here?” Asked Azier with a tremble in her voice.
The drake noticed her frightened expression and slowly stepped towards her. “You’re not scared of me, are you? I’m an Ancient! Don’t worry; I’m on your side.”
She then drew near Azier’s face and said, “I won’t eat you… Yet.”
Azier took a step back, unsure if Lleah was joking or not.
“Look, all I want is your bones, that’s all,” Lleah said, jokingly licking her lips and mimicking a hungry stare at Azier.
“I like this one; she's fun,” Ivis commented with a smile.
Lleah snorted, “Someone who likes a necrodrake like me? Don’t lie to me like that.”
“No, necrodrakes are badass!” Ivis said.
Lleah perked up slightly, “How flattering.”
She paused momentarily, then lowered her head, similar to a defensive pose, “You’re damn right I am!”
“Anyway,” Lleah resumed, “look at this place! It’s secluded, no humans. An excellent area for things to die of thirst and rot in the sun, exposing the bones for easy removal. I like the crispy ones; they’ve got a little extra flavor.”
“You can’t be serious,” Azier said with disgust.
“Hey, I’m a necrodrake,” Lleah responded. “You know our diet is just bones and sometimes a little rotting flesh. That’s why I’d wait until you’ve started to rot before eating your bones. ‘Corse, if I was really hungry, I could just rip ‘em out with my large canine teeth and sharp claws.”
“Lleah, stop terrorizing the humans,” Airigold said. The drake let out a frightening chuckle.
Well, I somehow wrote 20,000 words, and also write something for 30 straight days. I’m actually a little surprised I managed to do that, I’m not a writer, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.
Anyway, that’s the end of NovelEmber! Have a great WorldEmber / Holidays / New Year!!