The acrid scent of Nesquo’s Poison Spray fills the air as it arcs wide of the final velociraptor. Nesquo retreats into the ruined airship’s hull, rifling through splintered crates of uniforms and mess supplies—nothing useful.
Outside, Astrid helps the captain to his feet, but the velociraptor launches upward. Those terrible sickle claws slash through leather and flesh. The captain crumples. Canaloa leaps from atop Fred’s shoulders to aid him while Fred charges forward, his morning star cutting only air. The raptor pivots and strikes Fred down hard, and the cleric falls to the jungle floor, dying.
Astrid drags the unconscious captain away and wheels around to see Gandalf and Istyher racing back to the group. The brass dragonborn roars a column of flame that engulfs the velociraptor. Astrid’s blade flashes once—a mercy strike—and the creature falls silent. Three drops beside the captain, working quickly until the officer’s eyes snap open. But Fred lies motionless, untended.
⚔
Through the foliage, Grapalt’s gaze locks with the young steel dragon’s eyes. The dragon sees him, its True Sight piercing his invisibility. Grapalt nocks an arrow and shoots it high over the dragon’s head. The shaft snaps through distant branches, drawing two vine blights toward the sound.
The invisible ranger surges forward, his blade cutting through the vines binding the dragon’s snout and forelimbs. The steel dragon rears up with a thunderous roar and tears into the remaining blight. Grapalt turns and flees back toward the airship.
⚔
Near the crashed vessel, Gandalf, Nesquo, and Istyher hear the distant roar and move to investigate. Nesquo discovers massive tracks circling the airship—are these from Fred’s predicted boot-wearing velociraptors?
Halfway down the hillside, Grapalt materializes from out of the trees before Gandalf, confused. “I don’t remember who I am,” he confesses. Gandalf’s hands move, and clarity floods back into Grapalt’s eyes.
The wizard continues down and calls out in Draconic. “Hello, cousin,” the steel dragon replies, standing over the remains of a vine blight. “Your invisible friend—tell him I have a boon for him. And know there are two others like this one.” The dragon gestures toward the treeline, where the other vine blights were drawn by Grapult’s arrow.
Istyher, who doesn’t speak Draconic, follows the pointing claw and spots a magnificent nightshade flower, but not the threat hiding in the trees. They approach, marveling at the bud’s beauty, and decide to leave it growing. In the branches above, two vine blights shift and wait.
Istyher notices nothing.
