One of the velociraptors darts away from Nesquo into the trees. It is able to creep close, unseen by any of the group. Unknown to them, it is hiding in the trees just out sight of the main group, Sergeant Bailey, the Captain, Fred, Three, the sailor.
Nesquo, startled, races back out of the trees and into the clearing. He moves towards Gandalf and Istyher. The wizard sends a Poison Spray at one of the velociraptors, who chokes off a roar as the cloud of toxic vapor envelopes it. Istyher uses their dagger, but misses.
Behind the group at the treeline, Astrid’s keen eyes spy the subtle movement within the leaves. She has sighted the creature, stalking the group of her allies.
Things progress quickly as the creature steps out from behind one of the tree trunks.
“Watch out!” Astrid cries, and lets fly her dagger at the velociraptor.
Lightning fast, the creature grabs Bailey off his feet and drags him into the dense foliage. Alarmed, Three darts away to hide in the broken belly of the grounded airship.
The captain, startled by the disappearance of Sergeant Bailey, jumps backward…right into the path of Astrid’s oncoming dagger. He gapes down at the knife, which now juts from his chest. He drops to the ground, unmoving.
Horrified, Astrid and shouts, “I didn’t mean to do that!” She turns and races to follow Three into the ruins of the airship. The sailor, enraged, calls, “You’ve killed the Captain! Traitor!” runs after Astrid.
”I didn’t mean to hurt him!” cries Astrid, attempting to dodge the enraged sailor’s club.
Fred plucks up a large rock from the forest floor. He casts a Light spell upon it, causing it to glow brightly. Catching the attention of the dinosaur that is attacking Bailey, Fred waves it around violently. But the velociraptor cannot be distracted by this arcane display and it continues dragging away the now unconscious Sergeant. Fred opts to fix what he can, and crouches, pulling Astrid’s blade from the Captain. He then casts a healing spell upon the him, a stream of amber energy moving from his hands to close the wound.
After a moment, the Captain’s eyes flutter open. He sits up, taking in the chaos around him and calls for the sailor punishing Astrid to leave her alone. With a wary glare, the sailor returns to help the partly healed captain to his feet.
Astrid and Three peer into the brush, plunging in to see if they can spot Sergeant Bailey. They find him, but he is beyond their help. They attempt to drive the velociraptor away.
On the far side of the clearing, Istyher joins Gandalf, and slowly the two defeat the two remaining velociraptors.
At the aft end of the downed ship, the invisible Grapalt can hear the combat going on behind them, and he moves away. He pauses, his attention drawn by the snapping sound from somewhere ahead of him, to the east.
He comes upon a vertical slab of stone that seems to have writing carved upon its surface. Grapalt pulls the vines and greenery that have covered the writing, and is confronted with a message written in four different alphabets. Two, Common and Dranconic, are easily read. Grapalt does not know the other two languages. The message carved on the stone says: “HALT! The realm beyond belongs to FORNAX STEELHEART, Dragon Supreme! His hunger is endless, his fury legendary! Turn back or face certain doom in his terrible jaws!”
Alarmed, he proceeds even more cautiously. Grapalt makes his way through the brush and pulls back a branch. Several yards away, he spies a startling sight.
A small, silvery scaled dragon lay on its side, entangled in ropes or vines. Three humanoid figures surround it, appearing wrapped in whatever traps the dragon. The unfortunate creature’s snout is tied closed, binding it closed so the creature cannot use whatever breath it has to protect itself against enemies. Grapalt is unsure whether this particular type of dragon uses fire, poison or something else.
As he stands wondering at the sight before him, the dragon’s frightened blue find his own. The dragon can see him. And it is imploring him soundlessly to save it.
