Library: Old Bard's tale

It was a dark and rainy autumn evening, but inside the Inn of the Four winds it was cozy. A huge fireplace brought warmth to the large main room of the inn where several parties were sitting at the tables. In the most remote corner, a group of five was huddled around a small table discussing about something. This group consisted of a dwarf, obviously some kind of a fighter, a human with holy symbol of Tarmalen around his neck, an elf wearing robes of mage and a sly looking hobbit. At the head of the table sat a young, well-dressed merchant with a rolled up parchment in his hands. Despite of the noise that all the patrons caused, the bunch at the corner table was speaking in hushed voices. "So..you claim that this scroll of yours is a map to dragon's treasure hoard." said the elf. "And you're willing to give it to us..for a price?" continued the shifty-eyed hobbit. "Indeed.." the merchant replied "and I'm not asking for much, just one item that rightfully belongs to me." "Ah, naturally", the dwarf said sarcastically. "If you ask me, this whole deal doesn't sound very convincing." "At least you could let us see that map before we make any decisions", the priest said. Very well" the merchant said and feigning hesitation opened the scroll to the table. "There it is. As everybody stood up and leaned in to get a good look at the map they they suddenly heard a hoarse voice behind them. "Good evening gentlemen, wanna offer me a dinner? I'll get a full stomach and you'll get to hear a fantastic story." The group turned to face an old, ragged looking man. "Shoo old beggar..Can't you see we're busy? We have no time for your tales." grumbled the dwarf. The young merchant however surprised everyone as he clapped the old man at back and offered him a seat at the table. Some food was ordered and when everyone sat down the old beggar spotted the map. "Aie!" he shouted and looked quite pale. Cursing, the hobbit started to roll the parchment but the elf stopped him. "What is it old man? What spooked you so much" he asked. "That map, I've seen it before..long time ago" the beggar replied. "And it doesn't bring me pleasant memories." So it's a real map?" asked the priest and continued "A map to.. "Dragon's lair, yes" the beggar said in a fearful voice. Suddenly everybody was listening more carefully. "You'd better bring me some beer, if this is the story you want to hear tonight" the old man said and sighed. Short time later he had a tankard of strong Shadowkepian beer in front of him and so the tale telling begun. "It happened over four decades ago. I was a young bard and back then my songs and tales actually contained some might and power, other than the entertaining value of course. I did belong to a small adventuring group, very much like this party of yours. We were young and full of confidence or perhaps young and foolish is a better description. Still, our group had many adventures and those were relatively successful. We stayed alive and gained bunch of magic items, lots of experience and some fame, life was good. Then..one day, this thief who had just recently joined our group showed us the map. Yes, the very same map as this one on the table or an identical copy. I don't think he ever really explained how he had acquired the map but the thief was certain that it was a real deal and would lead us to dragon's lair and it's treasure pile. Sadly, nobody ever bothered to question the method we had gained the map, we were so eager to get going as mountains of gold and other loot waited for us! We prepared hastily for the trip and left soon after. We travelled north towards the colder climates for several weeks, crossed the great river and continued to the land of barbarians. The lair we were seeking was on highher slopes of certain mountain, well hidden from casual wanderers. We saw this mountain from afar, raising ominously at the midst of the plains we were walking. Nothing bothered us on our trip, the barbarians we encountered let us pass peacefully without any problems, we tried to talk with them and ask about the mountain but they were clearly fearful and wouldn't say a word about it. Soon, we had reached the base of the mountain and started to climb up. We didn't run into any trouble, the mountain seemed to be devoid of any life save for a few scrubby tree here and there. At this point we were already quite nervous but we continued our journey. I didn't realize the reason for our anxiety until much later for it wasn't any event that made us nervous..it was the lack of any trouble. Everything had been too easy so far and for any adventurer that's a sure sign of great danger ahead. After a few days of climbing we reached the spot where the entrace to lair should have been and indeed there it was, well hidden inside a large crevice. We weren't going to back down at this point anymore so in we went, our thief taking the lead this time. We expected to find some nasty traps and dragon's slaves guarding the cave but found neither. We wandered around the lair trying to find the main chamber and the dragon's resting place. The place was a huge maze of tunnels, easy to get lost into but we made maps and carefully marked our route by drawing chalk marks on the walls. Eventually we stumbled out from the maze into a huge cavern and what a sight it was. The cave was full of piles of gold, platinum and mithril, magic items, swords and armours. There we stood silently and gaped in awe, no one dared to say anything. Something was missing.. the dragon, there was no sign of it. We didn't move for a several minutes, surely the dragon couldn't be far away. But after ten minutes of waiting we finally dared to take few steps further into the big cave. Still no dragon. Finally our greedy dwarf warrior couldn't contain himself any longer, he ran forward and dived to pile of gold. Others soon followed the example, only I and our thief stayed behind. Something was horribly wrong, I just knew it. Unfortunately, I was right. The map, the journey, the mountain and now that cave, everything had happened too easily and we were about to learn why. I took a few steps further glancing nervously around and started to examine one pile of interesting looking items. Suddenly we heard a thundering laughter. We looked around in panic, most of our party was caught totally off-guard because their attention had been in the riches. Then we saw it. Our thief was no longer a human but something else. His mass was rapidly growing, changing shape and colour. The transformation took only few seconds and then a huge red dragon stood in the cave. "THIS HAS BEEN MOST AMUSING." the dragon roared "BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO END THIS!". I dived for cover as I heard the dragon draw breath, the others were less fortunate and were quickly burned to death by the power of the fiery dragon breath. I tried to quickly think of some spell to get me out but I panicked and could only think of one. Luckily it turned out to be just what I needed. I created a stinking cloud of gas around the dragon causing it's eyes to water and making it cough uncontrollably. I took this chance and quickly darted past it into the tunnel where it couldn't follow me in dragon form. I ran like hell my heart beating faster and faster. Luck was on my side that day, I had been the one holding the map and our chalk marks on the walls helped me to find out fast. After that, I took a small break to catch some breath, the dragon fear was starting to wear off but I was still immediate danger. I searched my backbag for a certain scroll, scroll of recall that would take me off from this cursed mountain, I hastily read it and teleported to safety. That trip ended my adventuring career, from there on I have only told tales about my adventures but this is the first time I told anyone about this unfortunate voyage. Of course I had to do it after seeing that map, to warn you. I have often wondered why the dragon was playing with us like that, but in my years of travelling and wandering I've heard stories about one dragon who likes to lure foolish adventurers to his lair, only to slay them there and add their equipment to his treasure piles. Maybe it's some sick game of their kind, to first pose as a friend and then suddenly strike from behind. Who knows the ways of a dragon. " And so the old man finished his story and started to take a sip from his tankard only to notice he had already drained it empty. Shrugging, he got up from the table and prepared to leave. "I hope you have enough sense to forget you ever saw that map now that you've heard my story." he said. "To forget?!" bellowed the dwarf "After hearing about those treasures dozen dragons couldn't keep my away from that mountain!" The other adventurers nodded in agreement, apparently words of warning had fallen on deaf ears. The treasure part of the story seemed to be the only one they were interested in. Resigned, the old beggar sighed and left the inn. He hadn't made it far when he heard someone call his name. He turned and saw the merchant from the table. "Don't worry." he said "I believe your story." Ah, maybe you could persuade them to forget the map and the mountain. "I could do that." replied the merchant "But that wouldn't be fun, would it? You see, it was I who gave them the map." he continued and smiled. The old man's eyes widened in horror as he realized who he was facing, he opened his mouth to scream but it was too late. The dragon's hand grabbed his throat and with a one swift move snapped his neck. Humming contently the dragon in disguise threw the corpse to nearby bushes, turned around and started to walk back towards the inn. "This new group of adventurers didn't look like much" he mused "but they should provide enough entertainment for a while. Just like countless fools before them."

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Library: Old Bard's tale