The Adventures of Tormod Rotbart-The Case of the Greedy Dragon
The air flowed around his face and through his hair as he plummeted from the wreckage of the Phoenix Gunship, teeth gritted as he tried to follow the exercises his Grandfather had said were good for calming the nerves when falling from a crashing aircraft. Surprisingly specific advice, but in this case it was certainly a lot better than screaming at the top of his lungs.
Raoulf and Yasmin were beside him so his detail had survived, but what about the pilot?
"Stay calm my Lord, we'll start slowing down for landing in a second and have already called for a transport."
He could barely hear whoever had said that over the roar of the wind, but nodded, narrowing his eyes as the ground approached, while the metal gauntlets of the Own gently took his shoulders, the thruster systems of their suits activating.
"Did the pilot make it are there any wounded?"
Now that he could properly assess the situation, trails of burning wreckage falling gently to earth around them he saw the Own members floating, in a defensive formation, eyes scanning the horizon.
"He'll be fine sir" he looked up and saw the pilot's his armour's life support systems active held in the arms of another member of the Own. "Took quite a ding as did a few of us, but we should be…"
The slight hissing boom of an Utter Bastard Dragon's breath tipped him off to what was about to happen, but it wasn't enough for him to do much, trapped in the air as he was.
The explosion was caught by his defensive shield, but both of the hands keeping him from falling let go of him as he restarted his free fall towards the earth again, the sounds of neutron fire erupting above him, the ground approaching at perilous speeds.
"Ti Kol Ul."
With sudden slowness he turned his head towards the source of the roar, eyes widening at the vast scale behemoth flying towards him at impossible speeds, its mouth wide from its roar. The Own too were reacting, but it was...as if they had been trapped in taffy. Their guns were rising, the Grav Sheer weapons ready to unleash fury, but they could not move their arms fast enough to compensate for whatever it was the Dragon had done, as in the background the perforated corpse of a second Utter Bastard seemed to be floating rather than falling to earth.
Slipping his plasma foil blade from his concealed pocket he tried to activate the blade, but found that even the act of it moving into his palm was slow as molasses as the Dragon swept over him, snagging him in a claw and wrenching him from his free fall, but dragging him away from his guards.
"Vir Nahl Rast"
If he had thought that he had been buffeted with air before, now he was blown away by the force of what he experienced. He could not breath as distance shrank to nothing, while the air in his lungs was forced from them, the acceleration making his eyes roll back in his head.
Then it came to a stop, still flying at vast speeds, but no longer so fast that he could no longer breath. Forcing his eyes open and blinking away the spots he looked around frantically, and stopped mouth agog.
Less than five seconds ago by his count he had almost been at the Lonely Mountain. Now it was far in the distance, hundreds of miles away at a minimum.
His holovox crackled into life, Yasmin's voice bellowing out over it. "My Lord what happened, where is that beast taking you!"
He seized it in one hand her face appearing out of it in holoform. "No idea, no idea. Can you track my location." Holding up his other hand he saw that despite the odds the lessons Jane had beaten into him had held. He still held his weapon.
He focused his attention as Yasmin responded "Yes sir. Orbital command says the Dragon's moving too fast for a precise strike to hit it or for a teleportation lock. I will be requisitioning the forces needed to bring it down. For now hang tight unless it tries to eat you. Then run."
Looking up at the massive claw, that was almost daintily holding the back of his clothes he raised an eyebrow, before looking back with an even expression. "I don't think that will be a problem...oh and tell mom and dad not to freak out and attack the Dragon? Please!"
He hung up when she glared at him with enough force to kill and began twisting around in the clawed grip, trying to get a better view of the giant bulk carrying him as it went into a slow languid dive, lurching his stomach suddenly.
With a practised motion the Dragon swept into the mouth of a massive cave, as he tucked his legs in as far as they would go to avoid the stoney points of stalagmites that protruded from the floor, ready to skewer him if he came even a fraction closer. Their passage must have also disturbed the local wildlife as a swarm of terrified incandescent bats flew past them, their radiant heat scorching him as he held in a sharp yell of pain.
Then he was dropped. The fell to the suddenly smoove floor of the cavern, rolling to his feet in a practised manoeuvre, plasma foil at the ready, before starting to look around assessing where he had been dropped and checking for spiders.
While no spiders were found thankfully he did see piled in the centre of the room was a vast effervescent mountain of weapons, books and seemingly random items, sparkling merrily in the light of a huge sun like globe, while the cavern was carved and smooth.
Around this hall the dragon swooped before finally alighting upon its hoard where he could finally get a good look at it, feeling the cry of fear welling within himself.
The Dragon was massive, easily as large as the titan Sanctus Forem, its burnished flame red scales glistening in the light, while its yellow cat like eyes focused down upon him with an eerie gleam, but most notable were the scars that marred its body, hinting at its chilling violent past.
"Who are you!"
His voice echoed within the cavern, feeling oh so small next to the vast bulk glowering at him, as it opened its cavernous mouth, revealing teeth as large as he was.
"I am the great Yasssaakamativ, your rescuer fragile one."
It spoke high gothic with a tone that reminded him of an earthquake, the air seeming to shake slightly as it spoke, laying its head down upon the treasure, causing a small avalanche to fall from the pile onto the floor.
For his part Tormod was still afraid and confused, and began to advance upon the dragon, plasma foil clasped tightly in his hand for comfort.
"Rescuer? What are you talking about? I was completely fine..."
The Dragon's lips seemed to twitch upwards as if in a smile as it huffed a great puff of smoke from its nostrils.
"Says the pathetic human free falling, likely faster than your guards could dive to save you...at least not without snapping that twig like spine catching you. It would be a shame for someone of your importance to die so ignominiously. A 'princess' or something of that nature?"
Instead of advancing he came to a still stop, eyebrow cocked and processing what he had been told.
"Erm...Yassaakamtiv…"
At the dragon's nod he presumed he had pronounced the name correctly, or at least not mangled it too badly.
"While I thank you for the rescue I think you got the wrong impression. We maybe fragile compared to you, but we do have means of dealing with our frailty. I was in no real danger...barring a third utter bastard...also I'm not a princess. I am a prince."
"Hrem."
With sudden speed the Dragon rose from the pile and advanced on him, snatching him up with a pair of talons and bringing him close to his eye, the pupil contracted to a pinprick point examining him closely.
"Oh? In no danger? Then what about the Warven pack just below your likely landing sight? Or the River Dragon you would have landed next to? Even If I accept that you would not have died on impact...or on catch, you and yours would be dead or in sever danger if I had not so generously intervened."
Gulping deeply, he stared back into that unblinking eye. "Be that as it may, it doesn't explain why you decided the best course of action would be to cart me off."
Only be to interrupted by the dragon shrugging. An oddly human action at least if it was a true shrug.
"I was curious and I was interested in ensuring that I acquired a reward for my services."
Breathing shallowly he smiled at the Dragon. "So that's what this is about then...you want to ransom me?"
It chuckled, the action seeming to shake the entire cavern.
"Ransom is such a dirty word. No I intend to learn more of your people through practical experience little Princess. Its all very well talking to metal humans, yelling questions, its quite another to see how you react under"
at that he drew him closer to his face, close enough to feel the burning sensation of his breath upon his face
"pressure."
Breathing deeply to calm his nerves, Tormod looked at him as serenely as he could muster.
"First there is one thing I need to correct...I am not princess I am a prince. Male not female?"
The Dragon cocked it's eyebrow before Tormod shivered at the feeling of a talon running through his hair, tied back in an Asgard style braid that his father suggested before training.
"Oh so you do have separate genders? The metal ones told me the same, but it's rather indistinct under all that armour and augments. Regardless it makes no difference to me little one."
At this the Dragon began to turn, prompting Tormod to speak again.
"Second I would very much like to leave if there's no other reason for you to keep me here aside from...gauging human reactions? I think I can prove we react quite well under pressure."
Instead of considering Yassaakamtiv immediately shook his head.
"No I think not. You do not have any right to leave while you are within my care. You cannot force me to let you leave and I wish to keep you here, for the pleasure of your company...and because I desire something from your people."
"I thought you said ransom was a dirty word?"
The dragon huffed again.
"Perhaps, but sometimes it is accurate."
Unceremoniously he was dropped to the floor, landing well despite the high drop, looking up at the Dragon moving towards the treasure trove again.
"What if I could though!"
His words echoed throughout the cavern and his mind, as he ruthlessly cursed himself for his own stupidity. The Dragon looked back at him, teeth baring slightly.
"What did you say?"
"What if I did kill you, or at least wound you? Force you to let me go."
At this the Dragon turned back fully rearing onto his hind legs, wings billowing, kicking up a wind so strong he was blow clean off his feet onto the floor.
"Kill me, you believe that you could even scratch me! There are only a handful of creatures that one such as I fear and you are not one of them impudent welp!"
He was sent careening back by the force until he got far enough away that he was able to stand to his feet and hold his position against the blasts of wind being blasted in his direction.
"THEN LETS MAKE A BET…" he howled over the wind.
"IF I CAN HURT YOU THEN YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER LETTING ME GO FREE WITHOUT EXTRACTING SUCH A PRICE FROM MY PEOPLE!!"
At that the wind stopped and he looked at the Dragon coming down again onto all fours, looking at him with a gaze of unmistakable interest.
"Very well fledgling. I accept your bet. In fact I will make it quick. I will give you a chance to attack me wherever you wish, one clean hit. But, if you fail then you swear away your freedom until I decide on whatever price I see fit. Is this acceptable?"
It was not.
But, he doubted he had a real choice. At least not unless he wanted to save potentially millions of lives who would otherwise die fighting the Dragon or whatever likely insane price it would demand.
"I accept."
Yasssaakamativ seemed to grin again, before he roared
"SHIR VIR ROC."
A pulse went through his body, as purple light emanated from both himself and his captor, who laid down upon the ground, head resting on his forelegs, mouth slightly a jar, eyes closed, thick scaly eyelids covering the most obvious vulnerable area from harm.
"Get on with it fledgling."
Drawing up his plasma foil he finally activated it, assuming the stance that Master Oakheart had taught him, before beginning to charge.
Across the considerable distance between him and the Dragon he charged, angling himself towards his target as the Dragon seemed to descend into slumber, breathing slowly as smoke emanated intermittently from its nostrils.
Holding his breath he put on a burst of speed before leaping into the partially opened cavernous mouth, of the Dragon.
That got it's attention.
Yasssaakamativ lurched back, as he tried to balance on the vast tongue as he was buffeted by the air racing into the titanic lungs of the dragon, as everything went suddenly very quiet with a sharp pop.
He ignored this and the sulphurous stench emanating all around him, and focused on his prize, taking a running leap towards one large bank of fangs, before using them springboards to launch himself into the roof of the mouth towards what he hoped was a major vein.
While he could tell the exterior of the dragon was impervious to anything his little plasma foil could put out, its interior was very slightly weaker.
Instead of bouncing off completely, the plasma blade cut a tiny area, causing a stream of high pressure boiling blood to burst straight into his face, covering and burning him while the tongue he had landed on roiled and he was sent bouncing across the Dragon's mouth, more bright red ruby blood spurting onto his body as the mouth began to fill with it. Face down in the blood and folds of the tongue he felt as if he were dying, his body was burning all over, and within from where he had accidentally gulped down the blood while he was drowning in the blood more and more pouring in from above, the fangs cutting into him easily when he scraped them.
Then the tongue rippled as he and the blood were spat onto the floor at speed. He could feel his ribs crack and his arm shatter as he landed on the hard stone, but as he blearily looked at the Dragon he felt a small feeling of elation as Yassaakamtiv seemed to be in considerable distress, blood leaking from its jaws.
A burst of fire erupted from said jaws, scorching the ceiling of the cavern as it turned its gaze upon him.
Tormod closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
"Haeiss"
The word penetrated his mind before he realised he could hear again, then felt with a terrifying lack of pain from the sensation of his arm mending itself, the claw marks on his chest sealing shut and the burning of the blood in his throat dissipating. Groggily he looked up at Yasssaakamativ who was staring at him with an undefinable expression on his face.
Spitting out some of the last of the dragon's blood and wiping more from his eyes, he stood.
"So...is this the part where you eat me for impudence?"
At that Yasssaakamativ burst into laughter.
It was an almost catastrophically loud noise, but it was filled with so much...heart. So much enjoyment that he could not help, but laugh along with him as the Dragon picked him up again, briskly walking back to the pile and setting him down upon a well appointed pillow almost unholy comfortable pillow, embroidered in a strange language.
"You realise...you realise that in my 500 years of life, I have only once had to deal with someone so small I could eat them by accident jumping into my mouth to try and kill me. You precocious little hatchling."
He grinned and leaned back on the overwhelmingly large pillow enjoying the comfort offered by its fluffy embrace.
"What can I say, your body is impenetrable from the outside, but the inside should be slightly less durable. I just had to hope you didn't barbecue me while I was inside your mouth."
Finally calming down the Dragon looked at him and sighed.
"Yes, well then. You have won your consideration bound by my own oath. When your people come to find you and they inevitably will then I shall be amenable to negotiate your release. Worry not, my price will be reasonable."
At that moment, his holovox began to buzz, and upon activation he was greeted by the face of his frantic father.
"Tormod, are yo...WHAT HAPPENED!"
It was then that he realised that his face was still covered in dragon's blood.
"Dad its ok its ok I was just...well..."
"Your ferocious spawn stabbed me in the mouth. I would be proud, few have ever had the audacity to try and even fewer are alive to tell the tale!"
At that his father turned, his holographic face livid.
"You."
Instead of cowed by one of the more dangerous people in the Trust when not in the giant mech suit Yasssaakamativ merely grinned.
"Me. And greetings to you ancient lineage?"
His father seemed not to care about the statement, gritting his teeth and mouthing out his next sentence.
"You. Will. Return. My son. Or I swear I will reduce you to ashes!"
Before he could get a word to tell his dad that he was fine Yasssaakamativ laughed, although this time it wasn't the laugh of the amused and impressed dragon, this was the haughty laugh of a being of almighty strength.
"Know your place welp. You are lucky that I am in a good mood and am willing to release your spawn for a small fee."
His father's face contorts, growing if anything more furious if that were possible.
"You would hold him to ransom?!"
The dragon's shoulders raised in an equivalent of a shrug.
"There's that word again, but yes. What is worth more, the lives you waste trying and failing to kill me, or ten tons of precious metals and gems as well as a few hundred thousand of those...what are they called Grox?"
Father and son both blinked in surprise. Neither of those were particularly onerous to acquire.
Noticing the quiet surprise on both their faces, he quietly laughed.
"Now now, little welps, I am not unreasonable. Simply acquire those two things and I will let him go post haste. The faster you assemble them the faster he shall be returned to you. Oh and make sure the metals are in bar or coin form. More comfortable than blocks."
His father left the holovox quickly with naught, but another deadly glare at the Dragon and a nod to him, leaving him alone with his...unusual rescuer.
"Was that...all you wanted? A few tons of precious metals and food?"
Once again the massive shoulders shrugged, before moving a claw to gesture to the giant pile of artefacts.
"Look upon this hoard of mine and tell me what you see?"
And so he did, looking at the piles of psycically enhanced silks, the ornate club like weapons, gems and orbs pulsating with power. Tens of thousands of artefacts, books, relics and more carefully organised and piled up for the grand wyrm to lounge around on and show his power in a rather garish display of strength.
"...ehhh almost all of it is practical in some way? Or at least psycic"
The massive head bobbed, a scar on its left temple thrown into sharp relief by the movement.
Knowing he was now on the right track he continued on, confidence building in his voice.
"You have items presumably from across Avernus, ones of immense power, probably rarity and complexity I can't properly grasp...but there's not much in the way of regular metals presumably because those can be hard to acquire on Avernus in large quantities?"
"Oh there are ways, but the easiest ones take far too much time for me to want to do them. And the faster ones tend to involve danger even I would baulk at."
He scratched the scar on his temple.
"I remember, when I thought I could fight the Slayer and win? Barely survived with this wound to remind me. At least the Skinks paid me for what was I was owed."
He stretched, dabbing at the dry blood covering his face and sighing.
"Slayer? Must be someone impressive to be called that by a Therondy Dragon?"
"Hah! You would be right about that. More of my kind have fallen on that Lizard's blades than any other. But that is a tale for another time."
Yawning widely, he seemed to mutter a phrase, causing a large assortment of foods to fly from hidden areas around the cavern.
"Come tell me of your people? I have told yours much of mine, so I think it is only fair."
Shrugging Tormod thought.
"My people have a lot of history, but I'm afraid in so much of my reading it tends to be people making mistakes over and over again. It'd probably get quite repetitive to hear the same punchlines repeated ad infinitum."
The head shook with contained merriment.
"Indeed, tis a failing of lesser creatures that cannot match the majesty of a Dragon. Still then tell me what you find interesting then, and if I grow board I will make sure to inform you."
Tormod placed a bloody hand upon his chin, considering. "Well...let me tell you of General Macharius. His rise and his fall."
Hours later he felt both stimulated and exhausted. With some report built between them Yasssaakamativ was proving to be an excellent conversationalist, interested and asking questions, but also being a genuinely good listener.
Meanwhile he was enjoying putting into practise the things he had learned in Muspelheim's archives and teasing out small fragments of Avernus's lore to feed his growing imagination.
But, even then he was only human he had his limits and this had been an extraordinarily stressful day.
This continued until at last Yasssaakamativ asked him to stop.
"I fear our time together is growing to an end for now. I can sense the approach of large vessels of your kin."
Flipping to his feet Tormod bowed. "Yasssaakamativ, while I think there were better ways of going about this...thank you. Thank you for the adventure."
Another laugh was pried from the Dragon's lips
"Think nothing of it welp, but thank you for the Gold...mmm."
The dragon tailed off, seeming to size him up again.
"Well. It would hardly be fair for me not to give something in return."
Tormod backed away cautiously, just in case this was another of the Dragon's schemes. "Who are you referring too?"
The Dragon looked up sharply.
"You of course...well it is decided. Take a look at my hoard and pick something for yourself out."
He blinked…"A gift after all this?"
"I can be generous you know. Take a look and take your pick. I've removed the things I won't be parted from already."
Still searching for the second boot to drop, he scaled the piles of treasures and started to look at the myriad artefacts.
Weapons he quickly discounted, most were impractical for him to wield Master Oakheart had taught him at a young age the folly of picking a weapon because it looked impressive. The books as well were discounted, written in languages he did not know and he doubted any human on Avernus could translate.
That left the third major pile, which seemed to be random trinkets.
As he lifted an engraved mirror to his face, seeing a triple inverted reflection he saw that he had dislodged something strange from within the mound.
An orb, filled with a thunderstorm.
Moving to pick it up, he felt something hot rush through his body, while thunder boomed within his skull and his hair stood high in the air electrified.
"Ah an interesting find."
Yasssaakamativ was behind him although how such a massive creature had moved so silently he could not tell. Maybe it was through use of his voice, but equally he could have just been so distracted that he missed him.
"That is my Primal Orb."
Yasssaakamativ sounded almost wistful nostalgic even.
"A relic of my younger days. I was engaged in a mating duel to show my suitability to a powerful female. My rival was a far older dragon than I, more experienced, larger and more powerful. By all appearances I was doomed."
A single talon extended to tap the surface of the orb as Tormod gazed into its storm filled depths.
"But, I had the advantage. I was young, dynamic active. Instead of arrogantly sitting around like my rival, content with my power, I went forth. I gathered knowledge, allies and weapons. When I returned I had the core of my hoard, my armoury. And that orb was part of it. During my travels I encountered a primal storm. A time when the raw warp of Avernus coalesces into a natural phenomenon of unthinkable power. I took that power, I seized that might and I used my will to direct it. To channel it down into that orb you hold in your hands. When I faced my rival I did so with the backing of the storm. With it and my other relics I smote him from the sky."
Tormod heard this, but he could barely focus upon what the Dragon was saying. He felt like he was lost within the tempest, the lightning crashing around him, the thunder in his chest ready to explode.
Like the sky was held in the palm of his hands, but he was falling within it. Lost within the fury of the heavens.
He looked up at last, eyes wide as Yasssaakamativ's talon tapped him upon the head.
"It feels overwhelming does it not? Good then you can learn to respect that power. To harness it and channel it."
He breathed hard and fast, tears almost bursting from his eyes. "But, how? I can't it's…"
Yasssaakamativ laughed.
"Why, you must force your will upon it. You must think like a Dragon. You must know that it is strong, unfathomably strong, but you are a dragon. You are stronger than it, and it will obey you at your command nothing more."
"Stand."
He found himself rising to his feet, Yasssaakamativ's snout coming down next to him.
"You are in command, not it. Do not let it take over you."
He breathed. Trying to calm himself.
"Now...hold that within your mind and repeat what I say."
With bated breath he listened to the whisper, trying to force the thunder in his soul to the edge of his mind, listening to the phrase given to him, by the strange Draconic being.
"LAK!"
He bellowed, focusing upon the word, and all that Yasssaakamativ had said it meant, his voice horse from the force of yelling so hard. He felt like his throat was going to rupture, his body shaking from the energy suddenly charging through it from the Orb, his mind battered by the storm as it reacted to his command furious that he would dare even consider commanding it, matching his willpower against its own.
And his.
Was.
Stronger.
An almighty burst of air emerged from the orb, dancing towards the exit to crash harmlessly against the wall as he fell once more to his knees, spasming from the backlash, the orb falling to the floor and bouncing away.
"Not bad. Not bad for a first time little Prince."
He felt Yasssaakamativ gently pick him up as the orb, now covered in a dark blue cloth was placed in his arms.
"And now I think it is time that I returned you to your people. Climb on my back and hold on."
Tormod looked up at the vast cliff of scales before sighing, still unstable on his feet, but unmistakably avernite. He powered through the pain and climbed up, nestling himself at the neck of the giant lizard, who took off far more gently than when he had arrived. It seemed like he was taking his comfort into account...how kind.
As they flew from the cavern he looked up and saw a veritable army of forces assembled, from the majority of the knights on Avernus, to a Descent Destroyer hovering in the background.
In front of them all was a new transport ship and the unmistakable forms of the Governor's Own.
Perhaps more importantly were several large crates that presumably contained the valuables Yasssaakamativ had asked for, while in far larger and louder containers were the furious Grox, loudly proclaiming their displeasure.
In the distance he saw his father stride forward in his knight, vox casters activated and speaking.
"We have done what you have requested. Release him now."
Yasssaakamativ simply moved forward sniffing the containers and then the giant Grox pen, fishing out a single angry Grox between two claws, and popping the wildly clawing and spitting creature into his mouth, the creature fighting to the last, swallowing it with an easy air.
Without asking for permission Tormod simply leapt down from the Dragon's shoulders, rolling to the floor clutching the covered orb and began to trudge towards the transport, Yasmin and Raoulf instantly taking defensive positions around him and hustling him into the ship, eyes attempting to look in all directions at once.
"Tormod Rotbart!"
As Yasssaakamativ spoke he rolled his eyes and spun on his heel.
"What now!"
With a smile the Dragon turned.
"I was merely going to offer you an invitation to return, with my guarantee of safety if you do. After all you need someone to teach you how to use the orb."
As his guards glared at the Dragon with undisguised contempt he nodded.
"I'll consider it, but I refuse to be kidnapped by you again."
With that he turned and strode into the awaiting transport, before collapsing onto the chair, feeling a bone deep tiredness seeping into his bones.
He knew he should stay awake.
He needed to reassure his mother and father, he needed to explain what had happened...but he was just so tired.
A few minutes nap wouldn't kill him would it?
Knowing his luck it probably would.
Well...this got away from me.
The power of plot bunnies.
Thank
@Durin
