Blackest Death (Open)

[Rylok]

It was nice to be a goddess.

Angoril stretched out comfortable atop her pile of treasures, sending a bronze cup skittering down the flanks of the pile of coins, gems, and other trinkets. One of the shaman's acolytes ran after the wayward piece of the Lady of Turbid Waters' treasures and reverently returned it to the pile. The black dragoness regarded him with a half slitted eye and she slowly huffed an approval. The trembling goblin returned to his post at the front of her temple, keenly aware that his Lady would show mercy or contempt just as freely and that he was blessed to not be eaten.

Outside of the stone temple, under the dragon's watchful gaze, her tribe constructed a new hovel of mud and sticks and stones. Families were growing and her tribe now numbered eighty families. There were many mouths to feed, and the hunting was getting more difficult. This concerned the dragon, but less for altruistic reasons and more for her own comfort. It had been many moons since she had had to go out and roust any orcs or rival goblin tribes. No basilisk had threatened the borders of her forest kingdom, and she had not gotten to taste the lifeblood of a creature that she herself had hunted...that felt wrong somehow. She was the avatar of the goddess of death! She would be failing her tribe if she did not exercise her divine aspect. She kneaded her claws into the treasure pile and addressed her honor guard.

"Tonight I shall go into the waters and hunt. The tribe has done well and is a fine testimony to the power of their Lady. Tell the hunters that tonight is a night of celebration. Tomorrow, we will have a death ceremony to celebrate the life I consume tonight."

They saluted dutifully as she leveraged herself up. The sun had started its journey towards the horizon, so she walked herself from house to house in the village, greeting her supplicants and blessing them. By the time she reached the swampy edge of the river that ran through her territory, the sky was turning a bloody orange. She slithered into the water and headed out for her night's hunt.

[Lost Martian]

It had been several weeks since Tylla had departed her home for the first time in her life. While it had been a great change to say goodbye to her surviving family, Tylla was glad that at least her fairy dragon friend Vidas had come along on her quest. It helped make the insane mission she had taken on feel less daunting.

Ever since stepping out of the Wyrmin village, Tylla had been trying to make her way through the Draconi Forest, only to underestimate just how massive this woodland was. All Tylla had seen for weeks now was dense forest, with the occasional cottage or small village. The few people who she encountered in the wood had not heard of the poachers she hunted, most of them surprised that anyone would attempt harming a dragon as that could get you the death penalty in the courts of Adela.

What Tylla had learned from the people of the forest was that if she followed certain rivers, it would guide her to the cities that existed east of the Draconi Forest. So that was what she was doing today, walking beside a fast moving river, one that the stars in the sky had confirmed was flowing east. Occasionally Vidas would fly ahead to apparently scout things out, but Tylla was pretty sure she was just hunting food, fairy dragons surviving on a mix of insects and rodents. Tylla figured that it must feel odd for Tylla to actually hunt, as back in the sanctuary the dragons never wanted for food. Perhaps that had made Vidas a little glutenous.

Once more Vidas had flown further down the river, leaving Tylla alone beside a particularly muddy patch of the riverside. While tired from walking all day, Tylla was still alert, memories of stories told by her cousins of dangers of the forest replaying in her head. Apparently bandits were the least of her worries, as animals like dire wolves and monsters like goblins were said to live in the deep wood. While Tylla had yet to see any of these dangers, she trusted that they were real.

A quick glance upward to the sky showed Tylla that it was an orange color, as the day was nearly done. She figured that it was a good time to start making camp, as she dared not risk fumbling around in the dark of the wood. So Tylla tried calling out to Vidas with her beastspeak.

<<Vidas, are you nearby?>> asked Tylla.

<<Here my friend,>> replied the fairy dragon.

Tylla turned to see her companion flapping over to her, the tail of some small mammal being sucked up into her mouth. Vidas would then land on the branch of a nearby tree, her gold eyes locked onto Tylla.

<<I think we should make camp,>> said Tylla.

<<Alright. I didn't see anything too dangerous further ahead. Just it seems that the terrain gets more swampy,>> explained Vidas.

Tylla then began to put out her bed roll underneath the safety of a large tree. So far in her journey she had not made a fire, as she didn't want to attract the alleged dangers of the forest. That and it wasn't that cold at night in this part of the world during this season. She then began to go through her pack to see what food rations were left.

<<Wait,>> ordered Vidas.

Tylla's head immediately turned to the fairy dragon, seeing her eyes locked onto the river ahead of the pair. Tylla neither heard nor saw anything, but then she didn't have the senses of a dragon.

<<Something is in the river. Something big,>> explained Vidas.

Tylla then stood up, wary, but not enough to draw a weapon. She really hoped that it was perhaps a large fish, or even some kind of nature spirit. Encountering one of those wouldn't be too bad. But Vidas's intense stare at the river did give Tylla an unnerving feeling. She wondered if she was about to encounter the danger of the forest from those old stories.

[Rylok]

The water under her scales felt magnificent. Angoril slid upriver through the swampy, grassy channel near the tribe's settlement and then into the deeper river proper. Upstream or downstream? It was always an inconvenient question. If she swam up, then the disturbance of the water could alert her prey. But if she drifted down, then she'd have to swim back upstream carrying her prey with her. Such a hassle...

In the end, she decided to expend the effort to go upstream first, then use the current to carry her back down with her prey in the morning. She nosed down to the muddy riverbed and thrashed her tail once to get enough momentum to half-swim, half-walk along the river bottom. The webbed crest down her back raised, sensing fish and other potential food in the water with her. When she had gone for about a mile, she drifted to the surface, let her ears and crest breach the surface briefly, and submerged again while she contemplated what she had sensed.

Something human sized was on the bank. There had been something smaller, too, and it had made her crest tingle. Was it something magical? It interested her, and she was going to discover what it was.

Angoril drifted closer to the bank and stilled. She waited until the water above her had smoothed itself out, then lunged for the bank. Her golden eyes blazed and her jaws gaped in a predatory leer as she-

missed?

How had she missed her pounce? She was the queen of death and destruction, the Lady of Turbid Waters! She was the Black Death and she MISSED? The thump of her ponderous landing shook her bones and made her snarl in frustration. Her nostrils flared and she cast about, looking for her prey once more.

In a deep, sonorous voice she called out in the goblin dialect of her tribe: <"I will have you, my prey...I will have your bones!">

There. That was the scent she wanted! With a slithering scrabble, the young swamp dragon lunged again.

[Lost Martian]

Tylla and Vidas continued to stare at the fast moving river, both intent on figuring out what dwelt beneath the deep water. After about a minute of this Tylla began to think herself silly, as she believed that Vidas had just sensed a large fish. The particular river they were next to was large enough to house a fish of giant size, which Tylla had heard did exist in the waterways of the Draconi Forest.

<<I think you're a little too alert,>> said Tylla through beastspeak, <<I believe we're getting riled up by nothing.>>

Tylla then began to chuckle only to see movement out of the corner of her eye. With a level of reflexes granted due to martial arts training, Tylla was able to move fast enough as something large pounced out of the river, massive jaws nearly locking around the young woman. Tylla then stumbled back, falling against the tree on which Vidas sat.

As Tylla tried to recover her footing, she saw what had lunged at her. It was a massive creature, one she had never seen before. But something about its body told Tylla that it was some kind of dragon, though she had never encountered one this aggressive before. The dragons of her home sanctuary lived in peace with the humans, while this one evidently wanted to eat Tylla.

The mystery dragon then began to speak, apparently being one of the ones who could speak the language of people. But whatever that language was, Tylla didn't recognize it, as it was neither Common nor any of the local Adelan dialects. Whatever the dragon had said, it sounded very angry and with hostile intent.

Vidas also seemed to recognize the creature as a dragon, speaking to it in the traditional draconic language, "We have no quarrel with you mighty dragon kin."

But before the words even left the fairy dragon's mouth, the dragon in the river lunged again, jaws rushing toward Tylla. The young woman barely had time to roll out of the way, just dodging the teeth of the unknown dragon by a few inches. Tylla then found herself in a pile of mud, her clothes quickly coated in the brown gunk. She then readied herself to her feet, wiping mud off her face.

She then reached out to the dragon with beastspeak, <<Please stop!>>

Tylla then prepared herself for another lunge, but silently hoping she could quell the anger of the beast through communication. She was tempted to draw her sword, but she didn't want to seem aggressive in any way. The dragon seemed large and strong enough to be able to overpower a simple human like Tylla.

[Rylok]

The small flying lizard had tried to say something, perhaps begging for its life, but Angoril ignored him, setting herself up for another lunge. She was out of shape with her hunting if it took three snaps to get a measly human and her pet lizard. She stopped when the human reached out to her, mind to mind, and begged her to stop.

Angoril stopped mid strike, wings and frills impressively flared. The great dragon's gold eyes glittered in curiosity and she spoke verbally in Goblin, not knowing how to respond to the mind speak.

"You do well to beg, prey. What magic is this that you speak in my head?"

Her overly large paws kneaded the mud slowly as she waited for a reply from the two-legger. If this one used magic, perhaps it would be wiser to capture her and learn more magic from her. The shamans couldn't mind speak...and what kind of goddess would she be if she could not do the same?

[Lost Martian]

Tylla tried to ready herself as she still stood in the pile of slippery mud. She was preparing herself for another lunge from the river dragon, unsure if she could manage another last minute dodge, given how fast the creature was still moving. Tylla thought to herself that it would be a great shame if her quest was to end before she even made her way out of the woods.

As Tylla prepared for a lethal strike, Vidas lifted off from the tree branch and began to hover about fifteen feet above the mystery dragon. While Tylla was appreciative that her fairy dragon friend was trying to help, she didn't think she could do much with her small fangs and small burst of blue fire that Vidas could breath.

However, the dragon didn't go in for another strike, its wings and frills flaring out. Apparently Tylla's beastspeak had worked, at least temporarily as the dragon was no longer snapping at the young lady. Tylla's muscles released some tension at the thought of avoiding a battle. While she had been trained in Adelan martial arts, she was loathe to fight a dragon as it went against everything that she stood for.

The dragon then tried to talk to Tylla, once more speaking in the unknown language. Tylla noted that this time it didn't sound as aggressive, somehow sounding more inquisitive in nature. Vidas also seemed to note it, as Tylla could sense her being not quite so on edge.

<<Apparently begging worked,>> thought Vidas, <<I was sure that it was going to eat you.>>

Tylla briefly looked up at her companion before looking back at the river dragon. It seemed to have heard Tylla's beastspeak, but had not responded with it. Tylla's time in the sanctuary had taught her that not all dragons could pick up on beastspeak immediately, especially if they had never encountered telepathy before.

<<Try thinking what you want to say,>> explained Tylla to the dragon, <<Direct your thoughts at me and my beastspeak will do the rest.>>

Tylla was optimistic as she sent her thoughts out. She lived under the impression that all dragons were good at their core, and that this one would behave once realizing that Tylla and Vidas weren't food. Vidas seemed to be not as sure, as she hovered in circles above the river dragon.

[Rylok]

The dragon's jaws parted slightly in pleasure. The two-legger and her small flying lizard would do well to continue to please her; she would grant them an extension on their life if they did so. Angoril stepped closer to the pair to breathe in their scents as she attempted the two-legger's instructions.

<You will come with me to my village. There, you will continue giving me your knowledge. I am Angoril Goldeneyes, Lady of Turbid Waters, Blackest Death and Great Calamity. My shamans will accommodate you and teach you to speak properly.>

Her mental voice was as imperious and uncompromising as her bared fangs. The young swamp dragon turned imperiously and began the trek back to the ruins that housed her hoarded treasure. They would follow, or she would eat them. It was, for her, as simple as that. There was no passing concerns about the human's needs or plans; everything was for and about the dragoness, after all.

[Lost Martian]

Tylla flinched instinctively as the river dragon opened its mouth slightly, a natural fear of being eaten radiating throughout her body. While the rational part of Tylla's brain was telling her to talk her way out of this situation, her more primal part told her to flee into the forest, putting as much distance as possible between her and the river. It took a lot of willpower to not bolt as the river dragon took a few steps toward the pair, apparently breathing their scent in.

<<Is she trying to figure out what seasoning would go best with us?>> asked Vidas with a slight chuckle, and a ton of nervousness.

Tylla ignored her fairy dragon companion and instead stared into the big golden eyes of the dragon, trying to give off vibes of being a friend as she did so. Apparently that did work somewhat as the dragon did not lunge at her, instead using the beastspeak. The dragon, apparently named Angoril Goldeneyes and a whole bunch of other titles that meant nothing to Tylla, was ordering Tylla and Vidas to return to her village with her. Tylla immediately assumed that Angoril must be the head of a village of dragons, and that she had been speaking in some kind of lost draconic tongue.

<<See, Angoril views us as fellow travelers, not food,>> Tylla said quietly to Vidas.

<<Sure, but she did call herself Blackest Death and a Calamity. Those don't exactly scream friendly,>> replied Vidas.

Tylla rolled her eyes at the fairy dragon. She knew it was common for the stronger of magical creatures to accumulate various titles and names over the years, most often given by others who encounter the creatures. Angoril being called some kind of death could just come from how intimidating her form was. For someone not used to seeing dragons, they could easily view her as some terrifying destroyer.

<<My name is Tylla, and this is Vidas,>> stated Tylla to Angoril, <<We'll come to your village. I'm anxious to see where you live and try and answer whatever questions you have.>>

Angoril then turned, evidently in the direction of her village. As the river dragon began to move away, Vidas swooped down and landed on Tylla's shoulder. The fairy dragon didn't say anything, but kept her golden eyes locked on the other golden eyed dragon. Tylla didn't need beastspeak to know that Vidas wasn't pleased with the situation, as the dragon was a lot more wary than the young woman of the Zuan Clan.

But Tylla had sworn an oath to aid all magical creatures she came across, including scary looking river dragons. If there was some kind of way to help Angoril, to give her the information she apparently sought, then Tylla was obliged to do that. Angoril had mentioned shamans in her village, so perhaps Tylla could teach them better how to nurture and aid their native dragon.

[Rylok]

Walking was so tedious. Angoril longed to slip back into the comfortable waters and swim back to the village, but she didn't want her captives to get away. The small flying lizard had wings like hers and was able to fly...her own wings had never taken her off the ground. She'd suspected they had more use than just intimidation and aiding in quick direction changes underwater...hm.

<Small Lizard Vidas...you will teach me the secrets of flying.>

It wasn't a question. The dragoness was so used to her every demand being joyfully met that she didn't even consider the possibility that she could be bossy, demanding, or imperious. Nor did she realize the insult that she had provided Vidas by calling him a lizard. Instead, she kept walking, pushing through the brush and forging a new trail through the increasingly swampy forest.

[Lost Martian]

Vidas was still visibly on edge as Tylla walked behind Angoril, the fairy dragon tightening her position around the young woman's shoulders. Tylla noted her companion's discomfort, but ignored it, mostly assured in her mind that the most dangerous part of the encounter was over. Angoril had decided not to eat them, as Tylla believed that it had simply been a misunderstanding, the river dragon mistaking them for some kind of food.

Tylla could tell that Angoril wasn't comfortable with walking next to the river, the dragon's body clearly designed for maneuvering in water. But the mighty golden eyed creature seemed to want to make sure that they were following her. Tylla figured that Angoril just wanted to keep them on a safe path to the village, as there could be potentially worse things than the dragon waiting in the dark of the forest. And it was almost dark out, the orange of twilight quickly fading.

Tylla then realized she still had her beastspeak active, as Angoril was able to reach out and send a message to Vidas. The fairy dragon was a little taken back as she was referred to as a small lizard and ordered to teach Angoril how to fly. Tylla immediately became wary as Vidas tensed up. To most of the dragons Tylla had met being called a lizard was a slur, a derogatory term. Vidas was clearly not pleased to be referred to as such.

But Tylla was more interested in the demand for flying lessons. She realized that she had never seen Angoril fly, only swim quickly and plod around on land. While Tylla had seen flightless dragons before, that was because they lacked wings. Angoril had a set of wings, ones seemingly large enough to carry the dragon off the ground. And yet it seemed that Angoril had no clue how to use them.

<<First, don't call me a lizard. I'm a dragon like you,>> said Vidas through beastspeak, <<And second, flying comes naturally. You just kind of beat your wings and your body instinctively does the rest.>>

Tylla wasn't sure if Angoril would like that brief explanation, but she knew that she herself would be of no use in helping with flying. As someone decidedly not born with wings, Tylla was definitely ill suited for such lessons.

<<Perhaps Vidas could give you an in depth lesson when we reach your village,>> said Tylla, <<I'm pretty sure your wings can work.>>

That was partly a lie. Tylla had never encountered a dragon such as Angoril before and thus knew nothing of her anatomy. But winged dragons were meant to fly, at least Tylla thought so. Whatever Creator there may be wouldn't design a creature with a part that does nothing, thought Tylla.

[Rylok]

Angoril froze in her tracks when Vidas retorted to her demands. An odd, chuffing growl came from the larger creature. After several seconds it became clear she was laughing.

<The same as me? Ha! You're a small...dragon, you said you're called?...and I am the great living goddess Angoril Naghartha, the aspect of shadow and death within the great goblin pantheon. We are not the same. Follow. You will try again more respectfully in the village. It is up ahead.>

A dim glow was shining through the trees now. Angoril pushed ahead towards the sounds of her people playing drums, working, and preparing for the morning feast that she had ordered. And yet, she had not successfully killed anything. Hm. She considered the two travelers. Neither of them was large enough to be a worthy sacrifice. She would leave them with the shamans and go bear hunting with the final hours of the evening.

[Lost Martian]

Tylla thought that her offer of flying lessons for Angoril once they reached her village was a fair compromise. As such she was caught off guard when the river dragon suddenly stopped in her tracks. For a brief second Tylla wondered if she had done something wrong, especially when Angoril began to emit a noise. While initially Tylla did recognize it, after a few seconds it became clear that it was a very throaty laugh. Apparently Tylla or Vidas had done something to amuse the river dragon.

<<That totally doesn't sound ominous,>> said Vidas through beastspeak to Tylla.

Angoril then totally barged in on the beastspeak conversation. She clearly didn't like Vidas claiming they were alike, apparently unaware of what a dragon was. This confused Tylla as Angoril was clearly a dragon. How would a full grown dragon go its whole life not knowing its nature? Surely her parents or other hatchlings would have been there to inform Angoril of what she was.

Angoril then began to rattle off titles she possessed, apparently being an aspect of shadow and death. While Tylla could pass that off as theatrics, a quirk a lot of dragons get as they get older, she was worried about the mention of goblins. While Tylla had never met one before, she had heard plenty of stories about the tiny monsters, tales of how they would attack travelers in the Draconi Forest or would kidnap children in the night, the babes never being seen again.

<<That is definitely ominous,>> said Vidas, focusing her thoughts so that they only went to Tylla.

Angoril was still talking however, asking for more respect and to follow her to the village proper to train her in flying. Somehow Vidas was able to become even more tense, the fairy dragon's body being wrapped around Tylla's neck like a noose. While it was uncomfortable for Tylla, she allowed it as it seemed to keep Vidas out of trouble. The last thing the pair needed was to pick a fight with a much bigger dragon.

So Tylla continued to follow Angoril through the swampy riverbank. After a few minutes Tylla could see lights in the distance, evidently some kind of civilization. Before she could actually see how the village was constructed, she heard pounding drums. It was a beat unlike any the young woman had heard before, much different then those made by her family in the Zuan Clan. She assumed it had to be goblin music.

<<We will be welcomed in the village?>> asked Tylla, trying not to sound nervous, <<We wouldn't want to cause any kind of problem for you and your kin.>>

In the back of her mind, Tylla wondered just how large the village would be. Perhaps if need be she could fight her way out, managing to escape Angoril who moved slow on land and was unable to fly. But she banished those thoughts, instead hoping for the best. Of course she might raise some ire when she actually sat down and explained to Angoril that she was a dragon, and not an aspect of shadow or whatever she had claimed to be.

[Rylok]

Angoril looked over her shoulder at Tylla and bared her fangs in a ghoulish smile.

<The tribe knows better than to interfere with those offering tribute to me. You will be welcomed because I SAY you will be welcomed.>

The dragon pushed through the last screening hedge into a clearing. On the far side of the clearing, two goblins stood guard at the entrance to the village. They were well armed and armored and stood before a tall wood and junk fence that incorporated the carcasses of traveler's carts, torn hulls of boats, and other detritus. The dragoness swept past them and into the middle of goblin-town. She roared for attention, gathering the close to three hundred members of the tribe to her. They circled the trio, eying the newcomers with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"Look well, goblins! These two have come to offer tribute to me. They will rank with the lower level shamans in receiving food, shelter, and work. Now, the goblins who speak human speech will meet me in my temple. I have spoken!" She concluded her speech and continued on to the ruins of a stone building. She settled herself onto the immense treasure pile in the center and held out a paw. In response, a young goblin stepped up and began cleaning the mud off of her claws.

<Now. I have ordered them to care for you and provide for your needs. Soon, the goblins who speak human will be here to serve you as you require and to teach you to speak correctly.>

She was very pleased with herself, having new servants and provided for them. They owed her service and she would collect.

[Lost Martian]

Tylla was still in positive spirits as she followed the river dragon to her home village. If anything this could lead to Tylla learning more about the world outside the valley. For all Tylla knew, the goblins of the village could be quite nice, the stories about them just being nasty rumors.

This optimism was tested when Angoril spoke to Tylla with a fanged smile. Apparently they would be welcomed because Angoril had decided it. Tylla wondered if this meant that the dragon was the chieftain of the village, or perhaps some other title that denotes leadership. The young woman wasn't sure just how a society of both goblins and dragons would work.

Angoril then led Tylla and Vidas into a clearing, two small humanoids waiting there. Tylla had to assume that the odd looking creatures must be goblins, apparently subservient to Angoril. Tylla also noticed just how well armed the goblins were, clad in armor and bustling with weapons. It was definitely more than Tylla had with her simple short sword.

The goblins said nothing to Angoril, instead looking at her with what might be a look of awe on their faces. The apparent guards would also say nothing to Tylla and Vidas as they passed through the makeshift fence. Tylla thought that maybe they only spoke when asked to by their leader Angoril.

<<Funny looking guys aren't they?>> Vidas said to Tylla.

<<Quiet. We're their guests,>> Tylla shot back, only to be startled by a mighty roar.

Tylla turned back to the river dragon, really not prepared for the loud calling. While Tylla did not speak the dragon tongue, she did recognize a gathering call. Apparently so did the goblins as they began to come to their dragon ruler. Tylla couldn't believe just how many there were, as a seemingly endless stream of goblins came out, popping out from huts, bushes, and anywhere else they could hide.

In less than a minute, Tylla and the two dragons were surrounded by more goblins than the young woman could count. It was a little unnerving, as it felt like dozens of gazes were boring down into Tylla, but she didn't want it to show. So she focused instead on Angoril, trying to calm her breathing as to appear perfectly composed.

Vidas also seemed on edge around Tylla's neck, as Angoril addressed her villagers in the goblin language. Whatever she said, it sounded commanding to the young woman. It appeared that the goblins would immediately do anything Angoril told them to. And it seemed to Tylla that she was expected to do the same, as Angoril departed for a nearby stone ruin.

Tylla and the dragons would then step inside, the young woman's eyes immediately being drawn to a gigantic pile of gold, coin, and other treasures. While Tylla never had much use for wealth growing up, as her valley was self sufficient, she did know that they were coveted in the wider world. And apparently Angoril knew it as she seemed to be pleased with herself as she took a seat atop the treasure.

<<Did she rob the king of Adela?>> Vidas wondered, perhaps not meaning to share it over the beastspeak.

Tylla thought that perhaps Angoril did think of herself as a royal, as she sat on wealth and had a goblin attendant clean her paws of the debris of the river and forest. The river dragon would turn from her grooming, speaking to Tylla and Vidas. Apparently the goblins would see to their needs, and she would find ones who could speak Common. Also apparently they were to be taught how to speak goblin.

<<I thank you Mistress Angoril,>> said Tylla, <<Your courtesy is much appreciated.>>

Tylla was not lying when she said that. She truly thought that this would turn out to be a positive experience. Perhaps she would actually get a real bed for this night's sleep, and maybe some good food. Tylla briefly wondered what goblins ate.

[Rylok]

The dragon stretched languorously on her pile of tribute. It had been decades in the making and consisted of the robbed treasures from dead travelers and caravans. This was befitting her status, she believed, and so never considered it macabre. The goblin serving her finished with the offered paw and moved to start work on the dragon's other paws.

A precession of goblins came in dressed in dyed leather, bright feathers, and bone jewelry. The leading goblin carried a banner: Swamp green with a black dragon's head embroidered in the center. The goblins came up to the dragon and formed a semi circle facing the new guests. One of the younger goblins spoke.

"Greeting, humie. Youse in da presence of da great goddess, brought to da tribe by divine intervention many many years ago. Her egg remains a sacred treasure, an' we, da leading shamans of da tribe, swear by da egg dat so long as youse serve da goddess, you shall belong among us as a member of da tribe. Welcome."

[Lost Martian]

Tylla briefly considered just where this treasure horde had come from, but she wanted to give Angoril the benefit of the doubt, and believe that it had all been acquired ethically. Still, it seemed like way too much to the young woman, as pieces continually fell to the floor as the river dragon adjusted her position.

It seemed that Angoril was used to a life of luxury, a far cry from how the dragons of Tylla's home had lived. Back in the valley, most dragons were content with having tasty food and a nice place to sleep. So it was very different to see the river dragon being pampered, a goblin attendant caring for her feet.

<<Is that what they call a massage?>> Vidas wondered through beastspeak.

Tylla wasn't sure, though she had heard stories of such practices in the big city. Apparently those of wealth could get whatever services they want, as there was always someone in need of coin. And Angoril was definitely a dragon of wealth, though Tylla got the sense that wasn't why the goblins obeyed her.

Seemingly on cue, a entourage of goblins entered the ruins, clad in much more extravagant clothing than the others out in the village. Tylla wondered just how much these goblins were subservient to Angoril, as they had a flag that seemingly represented the river dragon, and were exuding reverence toward the one called the Blackest Death.

Forming a pattern around Tylla and Vidas, the goblins stared intently at the guests to the village, before one of them began to speak. It was definitely in Common, but in an accent that Tylla had never heard before. Traces of the goblin tongue were present, as Tylla had to listen carefully to fully grasp the meaning.

<<What did he say?>> asked Vidas, as the fairy dragon didn't speak Common.

<<Apparently Angoril is a goddess? And we need to swear fealty to her to be accepted,>> replied Tylla.

Tylla paused for a few seconds to try and compose a response to the goblin. Tylla was highly dubious to the claim that Angoril was divine, as stories of gods walking the world were just that, stories. But the young woman had been raised to respect the beliefs of others, as it was the only way to make sense of the world.

"Thank you for the welcome," said Tylla, "As long as Vidas and I are guests in this village we shall respect your traditions and the rule of Angoril."

<<Seriously?>> Vidas shot at Tylla, <<You're laying it on pretty thick. If this keeps up it could be us rubbing her feet.>>

Tylla ignored her companion, instead focusing on the goblin who spoke Common. She hoped that her reply was good enough to satiate the goblin tribe and their dragon goddess. And yet, Tylla still didn't feel like she was in danger. Her unwavering faith in dragons was still present, thus creating a level of trust with the river dragon.

[Rylok]

The translator listened to Tylla and translated her words to the rest of the goblins, then spoke to the human again.

"Is good, is good. I take you to your new home now, so follow. Me called Grist. Is small dragon that rides you your god? What youse names, humie and small god? Some follow! Come come!"

Grist waved a large, three fingered hand and led the new tribe members to a small hut. It was well built, considering the primitive conditions that the goblins lived in. Wood planks had been salvaged from different wagons and boats, lashed together with rope made from braided horse hair, salvaged ropes, and dried river kelp. The bed was a bag of straw with a horse blanket, and there was an ornate, though slightly damaged, dresser that one of the hunting parties had brought back from a raid on a merchant caravan carrying furniture.

"We's be having a feast in Angoril's honor soon. I come back for ya then, okies?"

[Lost Martian]

Tylla hoped that the goblin was able to fully understand the respectful way in which she had addressed them and their apparent goddess. Her uneasiness was helped a little when the goblin translator turned around and spoke in his native language, the tone sounding good and not angry. Tylla really didn't want to upset the village full of so many goblins.

<<You know I heard stories about goblins eating travelers who get lost in the deep wood,>> said Vidas quietly to Tylla.

The young woman ignored her dragon companion, as Vidas did always like causing trouble.  Plus, if the goblins had intended to eat them, they could of easily overpowered the pair. No, Tylla was pretty sure that they were truthful in welcoming them to the village.

The goblin who spoke Common then turned back to Tylla and introduced himself as Grist. He then asked for their names and wondered if Vidas was Tylla's god, before leading them out of the stone ruins that belonged to Angoril.

"I'm Tylla and this is Vidas," replied the young woman, "And no she's not a god, just a good friend.

Tylla had the feeling that Grist wouldn't believe her. It seemed that this goblin society was so entrenched in their belief of Angoril's divinity that all dragons must seem magnificent to them. Tylla didn't feel like changing their beliefs as she felt they were harmless. Dragons were awesome and deserved to be held on a pedestal. Even Vidas, who did often get on Tylla's nerves, was still held in more respect than any other creature the young woman had encountered.

The three of them then reached their destination, a small hut. Grist would then beckon them into the hut, Tylla surprised by how nice it was on the inside. While seemingly made from a hodge podge of different sources, with cart wheels, boat hulls, and other random items, it had a sense of order, as if it was purposively designed. There even was a beautifully made dresser, though Tylla would have no need for it as everything she owned could be carried on her back.

Grist then informed Tylla that there would be a feast for Angoril soon, and that he would return when it was ready. Tylla quickly thanked the well dressed goblin, who then ducked out of the hut. It was only then that the exhaustion of the day hit Tylla, the result of spending almost all day walking alongside the river. Letting her body take over, Tylla collapsed onto the bed of straw.

<<So what's happening? They're not eating us?>> asked Vidas, taking a perch on the dresser.

<<No. In fact they're making us a feast. We seem to be guests of honor,>> replied Tylla.

Vidas's gold eyes then narrowed as she gazed at Tylla. Clearly she was not as enamored with Angoril as Tylla was, not having such an unwavering faith in dragons. But she would go along with it, even if it just meant being there to protect Tylla if things went south. Though, the fairy dragon truly hoped that wouldn't be necessary.