Enforcer84
Jul 22nd, '06, 02:05 PM
Initiate Carlson was not a happy man. Oh, he had been thrilled to be chosen by Queen Tiamat to make contact with the dragon, Stormscale, but the sacrifice was annoying. She kept trying to escape and he’d actually lost two men in collecting her again when she bolted from their camp in the mountains.
He sighed and shook his head. Soon however, he’d offer her to the dragon as a sacrifice and triumphantly return with the elderwyrm to his queen. Then perhaps he’d be made a knight in the Order.
Dreams of power and prestige kept him going when things got complicated. Initiate Carlson reveled in his future power. He’d show his parents! He didn’t need an MBA to be a man of power!
Three days later the rift in the mountain was found; just like Queen Tiamat told them. They journeyed into the lair of the dragon. Sure his other seven underlings were taken by Stormscale’s traps and security measures; but he dragged the mewling, simpering sacrifice into the dragon’s chamber. He’d succeeded in his quest and as he stood, in the presence of the mighty elderwyrm he suddenly felt very afraid. The dragon was…asleep. Or was it?
“What do we have here?” The voice boomed. Initiate Carlson lost his ability to speak for a moment.
“I am Initiate Carlson, Mighty Stormscale, I bring a sacrifice to you,” He tossed the girl forward. The mighty Dragon didn’t move, “I have been sent by Queen Tiamat to retrieve you. She has need of your power and mighty will to return dragonkind to their rightful place as rulers of this godforsaken planet!”
“Who?” The Dragon asked in a somewhat confused voice. The massive beast looked at the frightened girl and then to the raving madman.
“Er…Initiate Carlson, I understand if you’ve not heard of me-“
“No, not you, this 'Queen Tiamat', who is that?”
Initiate Carlson stood slack jawed. At first he wondered if the great beast was making a joke at his expense. However, Blue Dragons were not the joking type. Perhaps his centuries of inactivity had addled his mind?
“Mighty Stormscale, Queen Tiamat is the avatar of the Queen of All dragons.”
“Queen of All Dragons? That was Azura and her death in the second age of man was mourned for centuries. Who are you and you’re Queen Tiama- Tiamat? That wannabe goddess from the era of Marduk and Gilgamesh? I fear you have me at a loss, human. And why would I want a “Sacrifice”? Humans taste like crap.”
“Tiamat is the Queen of the Evil Dragons!” Initiate Carlson shouted angrily, momentarily forgetting the whole relative size/power ratio he was dealing with, “She has taken human form and calls her chromatic dragons to her side to sweep away the corruptions and petty bickering of humanity to the rule of the mighty Dragons of Legend!”
“Hmm,” The great dragon’s blue eyes fixed on Carlson intently, “Nope never heard of her.”
“For that matter, why would the Queen of Dragons take a Human form?”
“You don’t make any sense, human. Why should I not kill you now?”
Fear began to push aside the anger in Carlson’s heart. He could no more defeat this dragon than he could fly.
“And why would I flock to this “Tiamat’s” Banner? Who said I was evil?”
“All the chromatic dragons are evil. They serve Tiamat in her struggle against Bahamut and his metallic dragons of Light.”
“Baha-who?”
“Don’t you know anything?!?” Carlson snapped before he could help himself. He was angry, he was scared, he was confused, and now he was adding annoyed. It was not the glorious moment he’d been hoping for.
“I know plenty. You go away now. Leave the girl and go.”
“But…”
“Do I need to repeat myself to you? Do you feel that you have some sort of say in this matter? Do you mean to challenge me, human?
Initiate Carlson left in a hurry. He didn’t know what was going to be worse, the return trip or the arrival before his Queen. Perhaps the MBA was a better idea after all.
Amanda Pierce was shaking uncontrollably in the presence of the Dragon. It had said she was not a desirable meal but why would it want her left behind? There was no way she could climb down the mountain herself. And the Initiate would surely kill her if he had the chance.
“Did any of what he said make sense to you?” The dragon asked.
Amanda couldn’t bring herself to answer.
“Hmmm. Perhaps I am a bit intimidating this way. Okay. Let’s try this.”
Amanda gasped as the dragon began to shimmer and shrink before her very eyes. The form slowly began to change as it shrunk, the wings, tail, and horns disappearing, until standing before her was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on.
“Is this better?” The man asked.
“Who are you? Did you pretend to be a dragon?”
“No, I am pretending to be human,” Stormscale said with a calming smile, “What was that all about, do you have any idea?”
“Not really, I was kidnapped on my way home from a bar last Saturday. They told me I’d be a sacrifice to you power and that you would join the Queen’s Flight of Dragons.”
“Really? Well that makes no sense. Where did they steal you from?”
“Denver, Colorado.”
“Hmm, I’ve never heard of it. What year is it?”
“2004.”
“Oh my, that explains that; that was a long slumber. I wonder why I didn’t wake before now.” The man stroked his chin as he thought, “Colorado, where is that?”
“In the United States of America; you’ve really been a sleep more than two hundred years?”
“The Colonies? Oh that is far. Well, you rest here for a bit, when you’re up to it I’ll take you home.”
“You will?”
“Of course, Azorean would never forgive me for letting a damsel in distress down when I was capable of helping her. Then, I think I will need to track down this Queen Tiamat and see what she is all about.”
* * *
“You were a fool, Stormclaw, to think that you could overcome me.” Tiamat said as the Dragon lay in a heap before her. Her loyal Dragons on either side, she rose from her throne.
“I will give me one last chance to accept me as your Queen and fight by my side against the mortal wretches that currently claim rulership of this world.
The ancient blue dragon slowly stood. His flesh still smoking after being bathed in the fires if the Queen’s fury, he leveled his gaze first at her and then the humans at her side and finally the two dragons, one Red, another, Black standing at her command like trained dogs on leashes.
“I don’t know who you are, “Timat” I have no idea how you got such power over my kind, but I, unlike these tame dogs at you side,” He sneered at them and the two dragons started forward, only to stop as Tiamat held up her hand, she apparently was fond of soliloquy, “I serve the court of the Dragon King, not some posturing god-child.”
“You dislike humans that much?” She asked.
“No, if you listened clearly, I have nothing against humans, I said, I don’t like you.”
“Then, I shall curse you to the form you hate the most!” She cried, oblivious to anything he said.
Stormscale let out a roar as pain wracked his body. Against his will he began to transfom into his human form. Weakened from the forced transformation, he was unable to defend himself as the “Consorts of the Dragon” began to beat him within an inch of his life.
Stormscale awoke in a field. His body was aching but he was alive. He concentrated, but proved unable to assume his true form. He laughed bitterly and began walking towards the east.
* * *
Amanda Pierce never thought she’d see him again. But here at her door was Stormscale, the dragon. Trapped in his human form and asking if she’d take him in for a short time while he adjusted to this day and age, and to his life as a “human”. Life was about to get Interesting.
He sighed and shook his head. Soon however, he’d offer her to the dragon as a sacrifice and triumphantly return with the elderwyrm to his queen. Then perhaps he’d be made a knight in the Order.
Dreams of power and prestige kept him going when things got complicated. Initiate Carlson reveled in his future power. He’d show his parents! He didn’t need an MBA to be a man of power!
Three days later the rift in the mountain was found; just like Queen Tiamat told them. They journeyed into the lair of the dragon. Sure his other seven underlings were taken by Stormscale’s traps and security measures; but he dragged the mewling, simpering sacrifice into the dragon’s chamber. He’d succeeded in his quest and as he stood, in the presence of the mighty elderwyrm he suddenly felt very afraid. The dragon was…asleep. Or was it?
“What do we have here?” The voice boomed. Initiate Carlson lost his ability to speak for a moment.
“I am Initiate Carlson, Mighty Stormscale, I bring a sacrifice to you,” He tossed the girl forward. The mighty Dragon didn’t move, “I have been sent by Queen Tiamat to retrieve you. She has need of your power and mighty will to return dragonkind to their rightful place as rulers of this godforsaken planet!”
“Who?” The Dragon asked in a somewhat confused voice. The massive beast looked at the frightened girl and then to the raving madman.
“Er…Initiate Carlson, I understand if you’ve not heard of me-“
“No, not you, this 'Queen Tiamat', who is that?”
Initiate Carlson stood slack jawed. At first he wondered if the great beast was making a joke at his expense. However, Blue Dragons were not the joking type. Perhaps his centuries of inactivity had addled his mind?
“Mighty Stormscale, Queen Tiamat is the avatar of the Queen of All dragons.”
“Queen of All Dragons? That was Azura and her death in the second age of man was mourned for centuries. Who are you and you’re Queen Tiama- Tiamat? That wannabe goddess from the era of Marduk and Gilgamesh? I fear you have me at a loss, human. And why would I want a “Sacrifice”? Humans taste like crap.”
“Tiamat is the Queen of the Evil Dragons!” Initiate Carlson shouted angrily, momentarily forgetting the whole relative size/power ratio he was dealing with, “She has taken human form and calls her chromatic dragons to her side to sweep away the corruptions and petty bickering of humanity to the rule of the mighty Dragons of Legend!”
“Hmm,” The great dragon’s blue eyes fixed on Carlson intently, “Nope never heard of her.”
“For that matter, why would the Queen of Dragons take a Human form?”
“You don’t make any sense, human. Why should I not kill you now?”
Fear began to push aside the anger in Carlson’s heart. He could no more defeat this dragon than he could fly.
“And why would I flock to this “Tiamat’s” Banner? Who said I was evil?”
“All the chromatic dragons are evil. They serve Tiamat in her struggle against Bahamut and his metallic dragons of Light.”
“Baha-who?”
“Don’t you know anything?!?” Carlson snapped before he could help himself. He was angry, he was scared, he was confused, and now he was adding annoyed. It was not the glorious moment he’d been hoping for.
“I know plenty. You go away now. Leave the girl and go.”
“But…”
“Do I need to repeat myself to you? Do you feel that you have some sort of say in this matter? Do you mean to challenge me, human?
Initiate Carlson left in a hurry. He didn’t know what was going to be worse, the return trip or the arrival before his Queen. Perhaps the MBA was a better idea after all.
Amanda Pierce was shaking uncontrollably in the presence of the Dragon. It had said she was not a desirable meal but why would it want her left behind? There was no way she could climb down the mountain herself. And the Initiate would surely kill her if he had the chance.
“Did any of what he said make sense to you?” The dragon asked.
Amanda couldn’t bring herself to answer.
“Hmmm. Perhaps I am a bit intimidating this way. Okay. Let’s try this.”
Amanda gasped as the dragon began to shimmer and shrink before her very eyes. The form slowly began to change as it shrunk, the wings, tail, and horns disappearing, until standing before her was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on.
“Is this better?” The man asked.
“Who are you? Did you pretend to be a dragon?”
“No, I am pretending to be human,” Stormscale said with a calming smile, “What was that all about, do you have any idea?”
“Not really, I was kidnapped on my way home from a bar last Saturday. They told me I’d be a sacrifice to you power and that you would join the Queen’s Flight of Dragons.”
“Really? Well that makes no sense. Where did they steal you from?”
“Denver, Colorado.”
“Hmm, I’ve never heard of it. What year is it?”
“2004.”
“Oh my, that explains that; that was a long slumber. I wonder why I didn’t wake before now.” The man stroked his chin as he thought, “Colorado, where is that?”
“In the United States of America; you’ve really been a sleep more than two hundred years?”
“The Colonies? Oh that is far. Well, you rest here for a bit, when you’re up to it I’ll take you home.”
“You will?”
“Of course, Azorean would never forgive me for letting a damsel in distress down when I was capable of helping her. Then, I think I will need to track down this Queen Tiamat and see what she is all about.”
* * *
“You were a fool, Stormclaw, to think that you could overcome me.” Tiamat said as the Dragon lay in a heap before her. Her loyal Dragons on either side, she rose from her throne.
“I will give me one last chance to accept me as your Queen and fight by my side against the mortal wretches that currently claim rulership of this world.
The ancient blue dragon slowly stood. His flesh still smoking after being bathed in the fires if the Queen’s fury, he leveled his gaze first at her and then the humans at her side and finally the two dragons, one Red, another, Black standing at her command like trained dogs on leashes.
“I don’t know who you are, “Timat” I have no idea how you got such power over my kind, but I, unlike these tame dogs at you side,” He sneered at them and the two dragons started forward, only to stop as Tiamat held up her hand, she apparently was fond of soliloquy, “I serve the court of the Dragon King, not some posturing god-child.”
“You dislike humans that much?” She asked.
“No, if you listened clearly, I have nothing against humans, I said, I don’t like you.”
“Then, I shall curse you to the form you hate the most!” She cried, oblivious to anything he said.
Stormscale let out a roar as pain wracked his body. Against his will he began to transfom into his human form. Weakened from the forced transformation, he was unable to defend himself as the “Consorts of the Dragon” began to beat him within an inch of his life.
Stormscale awoke in a field. His body was aching but he was alive. He concentrated, but proved unable to assume his true form. He laughed bitterly and began walking towards the east.
* * *
Amanda Pierce never thought she’d see him again. But here at her door was Stormscale, the dragon. Trapped in his human form and asking if she’d take him in for a short time while he adjusted to this day and age, and to his life as a “human”. Life was about to get Interesting.