Vyth leads her team <strong>of</strong> adventurers against a wyvern
Walking <strong>the</strong> perimeter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> camp, Vyth was alert for threats. <strong>The</strong> camp was not as secure as she would have liked—no trench and no wall, just a few small traps Charmaine had rigged at dusk. But <strong>the</strong> stopover here was only for one night. Vyth looked about <strong>the</strong> camp at her companions, <strong>the</strong>se folk she had recruited to her cause. Her gaze lingered on Charmaine with affection. <strong>The</strong> little one (as Vyth always called her friend) repeatedly proved herself a wonderful scout and a deadly blade against <strong>the</strong> spawn <strong>of</strong> Tiamat. Charmaine had heard Bahamut’s call, but while rallying to his righteous banner, she had declined to become a dragonborn. She valued <strong>the</strong> li<strong>the</strong>ness <strong>of</strong> her halfl ing form and didn’t want to give up <strong>the</strong> abilities that made her such a lethal dragon foe. Vyth respected <strong>the</strong> halfl ing’s choice but occasionally teased her by calling her “near-sister.” A tall human slept soundly nearby, a medallion <strong>of</strong> silver at his neck shaped like a fist clutching a bolt <strong>of</strong> lightning. He was a human worshiper <strong>of</strong> Heironeous named Claudius Repriquel. Vyth didn’t know him very well—<strong>the</strong>y had never engaged an enemy toge<strong>the</strong>r before. He seemed a fine, conscientious fellow. His devotion to his deity and <strong>the</strong> foundation <strong>of</strong> good was clear in all his actions. <strong>The</strong> last member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> party worried Vyth. Even though she had traveled for several days with Sjach, <strong>the</strong> spellscale sorcerer, she still didn’t know him. Sjach was wildly unpredictable. He <strong>of</strong>ten found new and innovative ways to use his sorcery, but those innovations <strong>of</strong>ten came as a complete surprise to his companions. Indisputably talented, he had a winning personality that served to keep up morale. Vyth wished she trusted him more. <strong>The</strong> remainder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> night passed uneventfully. At dawn, Vyth stood guard while Claudius prayed and Sjach meditated. This day would have need for <strong>the</strong>ir magical abilities. After his meditation, Sjach asked, “Did I tell you about <strong>the</strong> time I bought a dire weasel mount from a kobold merchant?” “Uh, no, but we need to set out. Time for stories on <strong>the</strong> trail,” Vyth replied, turning away. She was eager to get moving. Sjach shrugged and proceeded to entertain Charmaine with <strong>the</strong> tale. Vyth shook her head. At least he packed while he jabbered. At last, her companions indicated <strong>the</strong>y were ready to proceed on <strong>the</strong> journey. In a few hours, <strong>the</strong>y would be in <strong>the</strong> area where Vyth believed <strong>the</strong> wyverns <strong>the</strong>y sought laired. <strong>The</strong> going was slow, <strong>the</strong> terrain rough. Barely an hour after <strong>the</strong>y started, Charmaine pointed. A shape, serpentine and dark, fl ew across <strong>the</strong> sun. It wheeled in <strong>the</strong> sky and turned toward <strong>the</strong> travelers, growing closer with each second. As Vyth had taught <strong>the</strong>m to do against spawn without breath weapons, <strong>the</strong> companions ga<strong>the</strong>red in a tight cluster. Claudius called upon Heironeous to streng<strong>the</strong>n Vyth. Sjach rubbed his lea<strong>the</strong>r belt and muttered an incantation. Both Charmaine and Vyth steeled <strong>the</strong>mselves to meet <strong>the</strong> coming attack. <strong>The</strong> wyvern closed. As it dove toward <strong>the</strong>m, Claudius clutched his medallion and called out, “We adherents to <strong>the</strong> 314th Analect <strong>of</strong> Courage in <strong>the</strong> Face <strong>of</strong> Death call on your blessing, mighty Lord <strong>of</strong> Valor!” At <strong>the</strong> same moment, Sjach threw up his hands, ending <strong>the</strong> casting <strong>of</strong> a spell and sending a buzz through Vyth’s nerves. <strong>The</strong> world seemed to slow down. With a throaty growl and <strong>the</strong> fl apping <strong>of</strong> great, lea<strong>the</strong>ry wings, <strong>the</strong> wyvern was upon <strong>the</strong>m. As <strong>the</strong> creature swooped down to snatch up Claudius, Vyth attacked. A mighty blow from her warhammer smashed down upon its grasping claw. Charmaine sprang forward to fl ing a tanglefoot bag, coating <strong>the</strong> dragon’s wings with <strong>the</strong> bag’s sticky contents. Brought to ground and wild with pain, <strong>the</strong> enraged wyvern lashed out, catching Sjach with its stinging tail. Blood, dark and viscous with poison, trickled from <strong>the</strong> wound. Claudius stepped up behind <strong>the</strong> spellscale as he prayed that <strong>the</strong> poison would slow within Sjach’s veins. “Get behind me,” he urged <strong>the</strong> injured sorcerer. “This’ll be better,” Sjach rasped. He intoned words <strong>of</strong> power and folded his arms. Suddenly, fi ve exact duplicates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> spellscale appeared. Vyth drifted to <strong>the</strong> left, diverting <strong>the</strong> wyvern’s attention from her companions with swings <strong>of</strong> her hammer. Two strikes landed, but only <strong>the</strong> solid blow to its chest drew <strong>the</strong> wyvern around to focus on her. As <strong>the</strong> dragon maneuvered to attack Vyth, Charmaine struck true with her little sword. Thick blood fl owed from under <strong>the</strong> wyvern’s wing. Surrounded by so many seemingly dangerous foes, <strong>the</strong> wyvern spread out its attacks. Vyth recoiled from <strong>the</strong> shock <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> blow as its jaws slammed into her, bruising her badly and puncturing her breastplate in several places. Its talons and wings scrabbled at <strong>the</strong> many images <strong>of</strong> Sjach, causing three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m to disappear, but leaving Sjach no fur<strong>the</strong>r injured. <strong>The</strong> wyvern’s poisonous sting defl ected harmlessly <strong>of</strong>f Claudius’s heavy shield. Claudius swung his morningstar, driving it into <strong>the</strong> wyvern’s side. <strong>The</strong> creature roared and whirled. Sjach crushed a little ovoid onto <strong>the</strong> tip <strong>of</strong> a dart he held, pointing with his o<strong>the</strong>r hand. A greenish fl ash streaked into <strong>the</strong> wyvern’s neck, striking with a pop and a hiss. Vyth came in from <strong>the</strong> side, bringing her hammer down on <strong>the</strong> distracted beast’s skull. <strong>The</strong> wyvern’s head hit <strong>the</strong> ground. Its body toppled and lay twitching on <strong>the</strong> trail. “Well done!” Vyth cried, “Well done indeed, friends!” Claudius entreated Heironeous to mend <strong>the</strong> wounds <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brave. Vyth rested while Charmaine provided Sjach with a vial <strong>of</strong> antivenom. “This day isn’t over,” murmured Vyth, looking up into <strong>the</strong> hills. “Wyverns are aggressive, but that one attacked us specifi cally, far from its lair. It’s protecting something.” “Will <strong>the</strong>re be ano<strong>the</strong>r big one up <strong>the</strong>re?” asked Charmaine. Claudius raised an eyebrow. “Maybe,” said Vyth, “and perhaps some little ones.” “I hope so,” said Sjach, grinning. “That was a bit <strong>of</strong> fun, eh?” Vyth just shook her head and started up into <strong>the</strong> hills. Illus. by S. B elledin CHAPTER 1 DRAGONBORN OF BAHAMUT 7