David was thankful he didn’t need to demonstrate his affinity again for the group. Muansi’docar’s pride wouldn’t let the others deny what he saw and the queen’s words. The matter was settled fairly quickly and David took some time to explain he had different strengths of his healing abilities but he was still fundamentally limited so they had to be smart about how they used it. The trio then discussed how best to use Onyx while firmly ignoring his presence and in the end a rough outline of a battle plan was formed.
The additional support for their spearhead operation arrived in piecemeal. In the end eight more dragons joined them. The lesser wyverns Rydross, Amber, and Arid arrived first. Then the lesser dragons Usag, Rako and Xiga and followed finally by the lesser wurms Kandrem and Branur.
The last piece of the puzzle was the arrival of the kobolds. Their leader was a large, green kobold comparable in size to his own Red. The biggest difference was this kobold lacked wings, or at least that was what David initially thought. As the kobold submitted himself before the massive trio David was shocked to see the nubs of where its wings once were on its back. David was tempted to offer to fix it but he had doubts that the loss of its wings wasn't intentional. The fleshy wing nubs were both too clean, too well healed, and too uniform for it to be from a battle or another event.
“Masters under the Great Broodmother I am Neple. Please forgive my insolence in addressing you all but the queen has ordered me to do such. Bring four hundred kobolds to serve your needs.” Neple bellowed and then bowed. The lines of kobolds behind him did the same, each of the kobolds were small and barely armed. In fact most simply had spears, or what David could surmise as salvaged Orc weapons. Besides their numbers David was not impressed.
Muansi’docar stomped forward as fire bellowed out of his mouth as he replied, “I could destroy your entire lot with one breath. Your only use would be to fuel us and even then we cannot carry you all.”
Serth hissed at Musansi’docar back in reply, “Geloa will take them with him. They will serve as fodder and target practice to slow down the enemy.”
Geloa uncoiled his massive frame and eyed down at the kobolds, “Yes. Muansi’docar let us not turn down a gift from the queen. It is disrespectful and as Serth has said they will prove their worth following me.”
Muansi’docar puffed out his massive chest and snarled down at the army of kobolds, “It is decided. You will march with Geloa. Die slowly and drag down as many of our enemies as you can manage with those weak forms.”
Neple slammed his head down into the ground and bellowed, “Thank you! We shall serve the queen to our dying breaths!” The four hundred other kobolds echoed out in a cry of approval and followed their leader’s actions with no hesitation.
How many of these kobolds were siblings to his precious Blue or Red? David pondered as he stared out at the massive force of kobolds. The plans moved forward quickly after that and everyone was assigned a leader. The lesser dragons were assigned to Musansi’docar, the lesser wyverns to Serth and the wurms to Geloa. The kobolds were also assigned to Geloa and his mission. David was the odd dragon out and Serth and Musansi’docar argued over his placement and it was finally settled, by Geloa’s input, that David would reside with Musansi’docar’s flight but Serth could use his affinity as needed.
The plan, as David understood it, was simplistic in nature but had some complexity that David assumed was Qazayss’s or even Ambass’s doing. Musansi’docar was the hammer, Serth the scout and ambusher, and Geloa the final nail in the plan. David alongside the other lesser dragons and Musansi’docar would fly straight into the enemy territory towards where they believed Nurdiangarh was residing. Serth’s group had vastly superior speed so would fan out in a massive perimeter around Musansi’docar’s force to guide and scout. Serth himself would coordinate them and attack targets he personally believed were worth his time. David got the impression that Serth was as deadly as David felt and was more than just a simple scout as both Geloa and Musansi’docar didn’t object at all to his independence.
The third part of the force involved Geloa and the other wurm’s ability to traverse the underground. Geloa had been digging outwards towards their target for months now completely unseen. The kobolds, wurms, and Geloa himself would use these tunnels to march in a straight line and attempt to ambush Nurdiangarh in his lair around the same time Musansi’docar and Serth assaulted them from above. The plan in theory seemed solid but David wasn’t certain of all the details. The biggest issue that was made aware to himself and the other dragons that were not part of the “great” trio’s inner discussions was that they needed to buy time to let Geloa get into position. It would take much longer for him to move via the earth than it was for them all to simply fly.
Geloa departed first the next morning as he tore into the earth like a fish slipping through the water. The other wurms quickly followed him, and the army of kobolds marched orderly down the massive tear in the earth with their little packs and spears. Serth barked some orders to the other wyverns and they each took off in a different direction, and then the mighty wyvern himself flew up and then shimmered with a soft glow of his affinity. The wind picked up and howled as Serth shot forward in a flash of speed that was so quick and sudden that before David could register what had happened Serth was a dot in the far distance. David shook his head and reminded himself to not pick a fight with Serth, he was the bane to everything that was David’s strengths. Perhaps that was why Musansi’docar seemed careful when dealing with the wyvern despite the clear size advantage he had? David mused to himself as he thought of the two large dragons duking it out.
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Musansi’docar, David, and the others took flight at a much slower pace and headed off. The tingle of his bond burned in his mind as they all flew in formation, and he could tell that they were all experiencing the same sensation. David would be glad to be done with this debt when the time came. They flew steady and strong for a few days straight, no breaks were allowed. It finally got to the point that David spoke up as he flew close to Musansi’docar.
“If we plan to push forward without stopping then let me use my abilities to top off our stamina.” David rumbled.
The giant dragon pivoted in the air and looked like he was going to swipe David like a gnat as he snapped back, “We must preserve your affinity for emergencies. Your betters know what they are doing!”
David sighed. He had planned to keep some of his traits secret but his survivability was tied to everyone in this assault group. David carefully picked his next words, “I have the ability to open my magical pores. I can… regenerate our stamina periodically and keep my affinity topped off.”
Musansi’docar huffed in understanding and David took that as permission as he rose above the pack, “Gather together for a moment and hover.”
The other lesser dragons were reluctant to approach Musansi’docar but they eventually closed the distance. David pivoted and breathed out a breath of Lingering Regeneration upwards causing it to cascade downwards over himself, and the group. The fog clung to their flesh and slowly absorbed into their very being. The lesser dragons were cautious at first but eventually as the first few gasped in glee the others joined them. Musansi’docar was so large that David’s breath couldnt quite fully encase the dragon but enough clung, and sunk into his form that the effects were noticeable.
Musansi’docar was clearly surprised but then began to rumble loudly as fire erupted from his mouth, “Very good. The queen is wise… I have decided you will continue to refresh us.”
David nodded in agreement as he slowly began to open his magical pores and by the time they resumed their trip with renewed energy he began to glow a soft, noticeable blue. He could already feel his affinity reserves regenerating as they soared onwards.
They cruised for a while further before passing over a massive battlefield below. The familiar valley crossroads David had left not too long ago was now flooded with undead. Even from far above David could see that the wall fortification was complete and was doing its job. A tidal wave of corpses were marching and slapping themselves against the walls as waves of scorching fire periodically blasted from the top of the walls. The closely packed undead were burning for miles and yet they didn’t seem inclined to stop.
Massive round boulders were being hurled from behind the walls by something and didn’t appear to notice the dead as they flattened everything as they landed and rolled. The entire battle was chaotic and David’s eyes weren’t able to pick up most of the details. His nostrils though were overwhelmed with the smell of burning, rotting flesh and the periodic smell of sweat, blood and dragon.
Musansi’docar rumbled first in amusement as he too was staring down at the battlefield, “Ambass’s little project seems to be holding.”
Almost as if it was planned, the crossroads below shined bright blue and a torrent of familiar blue projectiles rose up from behind the wall and hammered the hordes of dead in devastating waves. The sheer volume of fire was impressive and mind boggling at the same time. The other lesser dragons gasped in shock, and David simply nodded his head in thought. He didn’t need keen eyesight to know when Ambass was going full out.
The battle soon became a distant clash as they kept powering onwards. Their path remained true and even as the night began they carried on without stop. David continued to restore their stamina everytime his affinity was completely full. As the night dragged on they pivoted from their course to the right little by little before Musansi’docar spoke up with a roar.
“Over the next mountain is the first lair, we will draw the enemies attention and buy time for our plan. Do not disappoint me.” The red dragon's words boomed out.
As they peaked over the mountain the first lair lay before them in all its glory and the morning light made it shine. An incomparably massive skeleton lay half buried in the ground. Massive rib bones and what remained of the enigmatic skull encased a sprawling fortification. Whatever creature the bones came from David couldn't tell, they were too massive and too worn. The fortification nestled inside and around the bones was crude but appeared formidable.
Lines of skeletal beasts and humanoids stood at attention in the fields in front of the fortress unmoving, and uncaring. David's nose was already giving him hints of their necromantic origin but he also picked up the unusual smell of something different. Kobolds and thick bodied grey humanoids clambered and darted across the crude fortress walls. The audible blare of horns and bells rose up as they continued to approach. David’s mind raced as he took in the new sights and smells. Musansi’docar seemed completely unbothered by the scene below. David’s mind continued to race with questions. Who were these creatures? Where were the hordes of mindless dead? Do they serve Nurdiangarh?
Before more questions could materialize David smelt the distinctive smell of a new dragon, and one very much alive. His eyes strained as he rumbled out loud, “There is another dragon about!”
Musansi’docar began to rumble and laugh as he bore his huge teeth and fangs, “Good! I was hoping this would become exciting.” He finished off by letting off a massive, devastating roar that even made David’s heart shutter.
An answering roar matched Musansi’docar as a massive full grown dragon came slithering out from its hideout near the fortifications. Its back three fourths was snake-like with massive protruding spikes going down its spine. On the front fourth of the creature was a pair of massive forelegs with a barrel chest and topped by a vicious dragon head covered in horns. The deep dark green hue of its hide shined as it curled itself into a tightly packed coil and continued to roar in defiance.
Just as David began to analyze what type of dragon it could be, it suddenly launched itself upwards at tremendous speed. David pivoted to the side and dived away as the serpent flashed by and collided with one of his fellow lesser dragons. The pair fell out of the sky as the unknown dragon wrapped itself around its prey and proceeded to pull free the lesser dragon’s head in an instant before they crashed into the ground.
David just cursed as the fortification ringed out in a massive bellowing cheer and call of horns. Small rocks and other projectiles began to fly free from the fortifications' crude walls up at them as the massive enemy dragon quickly recovered and coiled itself back up for another attack.
Shit!
