In the end the hunt went off without a hitch. The Lizard King never showed up, and Igama and his men were easily able to spear a hapless Painted Lizard as Aelyx drove it towards them with
sorcerous flame all while keeping himself
hidden. The beast was tough and tried to fight, but harried as it was by magic and spear it inevitably fell with a final groan. They worked quickly after that, harvesting a massive leg and leaving the rest to distract the more dangerous scavengers.
They were celebrated with the usual cheer when they returned to the village, with the womenfolk quickly and efficiently stripping the leg of its meat and leather, and the children crowding around them demanding the story be told. Aelyx basked in the attention as the children begged him to share his side of the tale, to speak of what it was like to hunt from on high, even as Igama's wife Vumela forked over a new braided necklace for his hoard.
He had met these people by chance mere weeks after fleeing that terrifying Pseudodragon in Dragonstone, she who was bound directly to the Dragon. The jungles of Sothoryos were far enough, surely. He hoped. He'd come across Igama and two of his sons in a hunt and told them where the herd they were tracking had gone off to, and Igama not being an idiot instantly saw the value of a flying companion. Since then Aelyx had become a regular sight at the nameless village, and his hoard grew accordingly as he helped with more and more hunts. His first minions, and he didn't even have to kill anyone for it! He particularly loved the way the children would offer up shiny stones to please him, and scratch behind his head
just so in that hard-to-reach spot.
After gorging himself on well-earned meat roasted over an open flame and spiced with the best herbs Vumela had to offer, he curled up on a warm flat stone next to the central fire and went to sleep, knowing he was safe in the village.
Elsewhere Elsewhen
The waking world faded from his senses, but this was no ordinary dream. He fell into reverie, the sound of his blood amplified like great drums sounding among the mountains. He seemed to be falling... no flying, held aloft by great crimson wings. Far below him in the valleys of the Fourteen Everfire Mounts the wingless thralls labored in the dirt for the greatness of the Lords of Fire and Air. They cowered under the shadow of his wings as was right.
He lazily circled, riding the warm updrafts as he went. As he looked on the landscape was changed by his will, and he was pleased. Where there were once grassy slops, spires of obsidian and steel erupted from the earth. He shifted into a lesser draconic form as he slipped through an open skylight, landing with a clink of claw on spell-hardened stone, basking in the servile worship of the wingless as was his due.
Ignoring them, he went further into the depths of his tower, deep below the ground and closer to the heart of the earth's flame. Eventually he stood in a ritual chamber, with the corpse of a treacherous fire-blooded thrall resting at the center, one he'd personally slain when he discovered the deceit. He reached for the depths of his magic and commanded: "Rise."
The corpse twisted wretchedly, and jerked to life.
A savage, vengeful grin split his lips. This one would serve for eternity.
Aelyx shivered as he woke, the nearby fire seeming almost cold to him. The dreams of the eldest were primal, terrifying affairs. Such a wondrous thing to see the world as the Winged Masters saw it, to know their might, to feel the strength of their magic at the tips of his claws.
It was terrifying... but also rewarding, Aelyx reflected.
With every dream the well of his own magic deepened. Perhaps one day he could ascend to that overwhelming might, and have the world over pay homage to him. That sheer power was a seductive thing.
For now, he curled back to sleep and tucked his head under his wings, dreaming gentler dreams this time.
OOC: No, he doesn't own the village, and doesn't have any actual minions. He just deludes himself into thinking the village is his. Igama and the other adults are fully aware, but they don't care so long as he keeps helping in the hunts. Aelyx is embarrassingly cheap right now and can be bought off with trinkets.
