Pains and Paths

With the withdrawal of the redscale the fortress went into high gear, the outer walls were quickly manned as Kesellex's scouts faded into the murk of the surrounding swamp. Xing Kah looked to his father briefly before shouting orders to the warriors, the formerly lively atmosphere evolved into a tense battle ready one. Destorianaxe issued a few orders to Kesellex herself before looking to Xing Lei, "You will come with me."

Brooking no arguement the dragoness turned and swiftly strode off towards the heart of the fortress, Xing Lei moved after her curious, he found it strange that she had said nothing of what those three represented, just what battle was being fought out here in this desolate swamp? Leading him through the marching Blackscale armies they finally reached what appeared to be a hill, a large cavern entrance dug down into the ground beneath the walled fortress, it is into this she lead Xing Lei.

Descending from the dim light of the swampy surface Xing Lei was lead into her local lair. Much like the one in the savage lands this cavern was one half dragoness sized the other more fit for her true form. As he looked around he glanced to her as her voice rose with mystical influence, gesturing to one side a shimmering door opened in the air, through it the dusty abandoned lair could be seen.

Figuring she meant to send him away from this fight he turned to object when his eyes flew wide, instead of the dragoness he was greeted with the large black Dragon swinging a backhand his way. With no time to dodge, the massive scaled claw slammed into Xing Lei with uncanny accuracy, the small kobold was lifted and launched like a canon ball through the portal. His small scaled body didnt fly far before smashing into the stone wall of the empty lair. A kobold sized hole was embedded in the rock with just Xing Lei's limbs poking out.

Glancing to the portal from his new job as a wall fitting Xing Lei saw a large, angry yellow eye staring through after him.

YOU HAVE PLAYED A DANGEROUS GAME XING LEI, KNOW WE ARE MOST... DISPLEASED. CHILDE, YOU SEEM TO FORGET WHAT I AM, LET THAT PAIN REMIND YOU THAT TAKING LIBERTIES WITH A DRAGON'S PRIDE HAS A PRICE WHICH MUST ALWAYS BE PAID.

The portal slowly began to fade, the image of that large angry looking yellow eye began to become less and less distinct, yet Destorianaxe's voice still came through strong.

DO NOT LOOK FOR US AGAIN XING LEI, YOU HAVE BECOME STRONGER BUT THIS IS NOT YOUR BATTLE, YOU KNOW NOTHING OF WHAT MY CHILDREN MUST NOW FACE DUE TO YOUR BRASH ACTIONS. IF YOU CARE FOR MY GENERAL AT ALL LEAVE FOR US THIS BODY TEMPERING, AND IN TIME WE MAY WELCOME YOU BACK... DO NOT, AND I SHALL EAT YOU NEXT WE MEET AND ADD YOUR 'STRENGTH' TO MY OWN.

With her ultimatum laid the portal closed completely leaving Xing Lei in a kobold sized hole in the old lairs wall. Pain wracked his body, the backhand by the Dragon had most assuredly used the majority of her strength, unlike their mock battle she held almost nothing back from this blow. He was lucky his body was as tough as it was or her words would have been given to a blood smear on the stone.

Hours past as he laid there, half embedded in the stone wall, his body was slowly stitching itself back together, some of his bones felt outright smashed to powder, and even with his healing spell the number of internal injuries would take awhile to heal. Destorianaxe really must have been pissed at him, though in hindsight claiming to her brood that HE had bedded her, then cowing his son, her general as well as Leaf Dancer... was it any wonder that she forcefully rejected his further presence?

Part laughing, part coughing up blood, Xing Lei had found the experience enlightening. His body tempering had made most normal and lightly enhanced weapons useless against his scales, however overt natural damage still could cause him great harm. In short he feared not basic weapons but he still needed to avoid Destorianaxe swatting him like a bug, Sighing he laid back with a wince, definitely avoid being swat like a bug.

Time passed slowly, as much as the healing magic helped the damage from Destorianaxe's backhand had been excessive, wether she truly meant to kill him or meant this as a serious warning he didn't really know but the ultimatum she left him still hung fresh in his mind, on one hand he did owe the first of his blood the rest of the formula but it was clear Destorianaxe considered the knowledge part of his apology to her as well, to think she would only let her general avail of such strength would be foolish.

Truth be told, as far along as he was he had no reason to keep the matter secret any longer, one more rank for grand completion and then he'd start truly cultivating. No matter how strong Kah or Kesellex got he would stay ahead of them. With a groan he finally pulled himself out of the wall, every bone and muscle screaming at him in pain yet he could no longer afford to delay. Dragging his aching body across the lair to her stone table he began chiseling the formula into her table top. He included no errors or traps only a few suggestions as to how much should be given to a basic army.

With his apology gift carved, he reached into his spatial ring and hauled forth a large animal hide draping it over the carved surface, unexpected visitors would hopefully see nothing odd about a stone table covered with a hide but the dragoness would spot the addition to her lair instantly. With his tribute left he staggered towards the exit, it would be a long, slow return to Ulak, as much as he cast his healing spell he was finding it less effective in dealing with his greater wounds.

It would take over a week before Xing Lei once again saw Ulak, the now firmly dwarven stronghold had changed drastically from his prior visit, gone was the roughness of the old orc fort, now worked stone was everywhere, a stone bastion jutting out of a sea of trees. It would seem they gave up trying to keep the trees back and just let the things surround their bastion, some how a main road was kept free of the mystical growths, he could only surmise that likely the elven detachment was now in place and brought with them means to establish routes through the enspelled woodland.

Approaching the gates the kobold was once again held up, only instead of the dwarven pair this time a pair of sour looking elves held him at arrow point. The taut drawn bows held steady as a messenger was sent to check his prior employment with the dwarves, with his identity cleared the bows were reluctantly lowered and Xing Lei was once again ushered to Ottars tap room. The lord of the fort sat at the usual table looking most dour, even Harn with his distrustful look had looked positively overjoyed in comparison.

Pale lifted his ale in greeting to the kobold as Ottar growled, "Took ye long enough, was figuring ye might have joined up with the rest of them leather faces. So, job done or do ye bring me more sour news?"

Sidling up to his table Xing Lei looked to the surly dwarf, "More sour news? I take it the elven allies are less than allies and more keepers are they?"

Ottar grunted and nodded his head, "Seems that Archmage feller is quick to repay offers of cooperation with power plays, the elven commander, pretty lass even to a dwarf if ye can get past that face that looks like there's an orc's arse strapped beneath her nose. She came in with a threat, either the elves took full control of the outpost or the woods would swallow everything. Ye've seen the road right gecko? Whatever she did coming here she did for the fort, we drive her out and she undoes it we'll have damn trees growing up under our arses! Gods be damned elves!"

Slamming his fist on the table the other two were quick in lifting their tankard, glancing behind Ottar the pile of busted mugs could be seen, little wonder the poor table didn't have his fist imprints in it with how often he seemed to be striking it. Still Xing Lei could well understand his friends tough choice, it would seem the elves of the divided empire were forcing expansion outside swiftly. The Archmage seemed to be in a rush for some reason. "So what's to be done?"

Ottar grumbled, "We're gonna kick some scrawny tree hugger arse is what's to be done, the outpost ain't that important to us, but showing those scrawny idiots the dwarven nation is nobodies push overs is vastly more important."

Harn grinned ear to ear, "Been waiting for that order boss, let's go mash some knife ears!"

Pale sighed and downed his ale, "I'm all for bashing some stuffed up elf but you do realize there's three of us, four counting the kobold, and some twenty of them? Five to one odds is a good match sure but at least five of those twig heads are spell casters."

Harn snorted slapping his own thick hand on the table, "Bah if ye weren't me brother I'd slap ye silly for worrying about those finger wiggling sissies."

Xing Lei looked between the two, "Brothers?"

Pale grinned and scratched his shaggy head, "We share a da, seems the old man was a bit of a horn dog so when out on patrol he managed to get into ma's knickers..."

Harn frowned, "...And me own mum was a little too much into the holy water so joined the pair..."

Pale grinned lifting his tankard, "... so surprise several months later, half brothers and two wives to appease. Poor da."

Ottar sighed looking at Xing Lei, "Before we go smasking anybody did you deal with yer tribe?"

Xing Lei nodded lightly, "The tribe has shifted battlefields, they shouldn't bother you anymore, can't say the same for Destorianaxe but dragons are dragons, leave her alone she'll likely leave you alone. Maybe."

Ottar grumbled, "Oi right pretty thought that mixing a dragon into this mess, thanks fer that ya snakes belly button."

Xing Lei chuckled and shrugged, "Want me to handle your elf issue?"

Ottar shook his head, "Nah, this just be another day of elf-dwarf diplomacy, we can get the message across, besides got some good news for ya. Pale here, he's been scouting the forest for the last week and we think we found yer pirate town path, might just be any old shanty shit ville along the coast but will get ye closer to Blackhearts roost, just be sure if ya do kill him take his ear or something, there's a wee bounty on someone stringing that fella up."

Xing Lei chuckled flexing his hand, a fistful of gold coins appearing amongst his scaled fingers, "Really Ottar, after what I gave to Turk you think I'm short on money?"

Ottar grumbled, "Bah, ye go to the right place they'll pay ye yer weigh-errr a stout dwarf's weight in gold! What sort of right minded individual passes up collecting more gold?"

Xing Lei made the coins vanish and chuckled, "You were about to say my weight in gold weren't you?"

Ottar looked down into his ale and grumbled, "Aw shut yer trap ya skinny arsed crocodile."

Xing Lei and Pale broke out in laughter as Ottar covered his grumblings with a deep pull of ale. "Give him the damn map, we gave him the news so let's get this fella on his way before something else happens, I swear to you boys, he's an I'll omen, when he breezes in shit goes sideways fast-"

Ottar was working into a good rant when loud thumps came from the door, a female voice came from beyond. "Mr. Ottar, it has come to my attention that you are harboring a wanted fugitive from the Silvertree Nation, according to the IronIvy treaty I am demanding that you hand this individual over to our hands..."

Pale and Harn looked to Xing Lei then to Ottar who sighed...

"Aw dip me in goblin blood, it's too late."