Touched by the Unconquered Sun
How Our Heroes Fought a Dragon
The five figures gathered at the arched doorway, iscussing their next move. The Mighty Sea-Warrior Marr, Garland Defender of the Faith, Caldor Oath-Maker and Consort to the Fey Queen, The Cathak Nimmon Who Turned Against His Own To Follow The Sun, and Jev Who-Is-Yet-To-Be-Named. Once these souls had fought side by side against the ravages of the Wyld, the Malpheans and others who would bring Creation to an End. Then they had fought against each other, twisted by the Great Curse that follows the Sun Children like a hungry vulture waiting for its moment. And now, they stand shoulder to shoulder again. A word from Marr and the great Sword Lightening crashes from above, lighting the caverns and rattling the bones of all who stood near. The Cathak ceremoniously hefted his Battle Maul to his shoulder and prepared to move. Garland was already moving, his own Maul used as a staff to help his passage. Caldors hooked swords appeared in his hands, as taunts appeared on his lips. Though his blades carried not the power of Lightening, his words held more power than most would care to face. Jev tested an arrow on his string, and nodded. The group moved like parts of the same machine, The Cathak voicing a few short commands, and battle was begun.
The Earth-Dragon was not too surprised at their entrance, having sensed their approach for hours. But the ferocity of their assault is not not something that even an Elemental Dragon can look on lightly. Crackles of pure Essence ran along blades, Garland's robes of Splendour billowed around his purposeful form as he crossed the rocks, The Cathak's leap took him to the shackles secured high above. Caldor stood at the beast's head, and dared it to oppose them. "Your Fate is already sealed. You WILL submit. By all that you hold dear, We shall not be denied!" and above it all, the white glow, crackling with supernatural flame from the legendary blade bathed the area in the Glory of Sol.
A moment passed, and Marr was on the beast. A blur of motion as Lightening struck its back and flank once, twice, thrice ... the beautiful sparks that threw rainbows across the Fellows told of only one thing; Gemstone Armour! Virtually impenetrable! Even Marrs grand sword was only scatching the surface! Twice now the Sword had not proved the measure of a foe, and the look in Marr's face told of his wonderment and frustration. Before the others had reached it, the immense Dragon drew back its head and let out a deafeneing roar. More troublesome than the tempestuous noise was the razor-sharp shards of stone that issued forth from its open maw. Garland's dive helped him cover the distance, while Caldor threw himself to the ground, one shard catching his shoulder, twisting him round, but not quite peircing his silk-woven armour. As the needle-like missiles subsided, the cavern flared again with Sols Grace. Marr's hands and feet became gripped with the Essence of The Spider, and he ran downwards, along the Dragon's flanktowards its soft underbelly. Garland's hammer-blows rang a deep tune, echoing from the walls, as The Cathak took his chance to show valour, to make up for the sins of His People, to prove his worth yet again ... he jumped from the chain straight into the Dragons closing mouth.
The teeth of stone clamped tight around The Cathak's chest, but his arms were raised high, and with all the fury of a Fire-Blood, he rang his Maul back and forth against the very jaws that held him fast. The air around its head was red with the glow of Fire Itself as the maul rang as though beating iron against an anvil. As though Time had lent him a helping hand, his weapon smashed several blows before the creature raised its head as far as the chains allowed, and spat out the armoured warrior onto a platform below. Into the swirling mists, The Cathak fell heavily but remained whole. Caldor looked towards the broken manacle, as far across as he was tall, looking to use it as a swing-line. "You shalt not defeat us so easily, Earthen One. Your time was passed long agao, and our kind is Destined to set the world right. Bow before us now!". The chain caught him across his chest, and wrapped tight. The hooked blades whirled above his head as the taught chain snapped back towards the Dragon and slammed Caldor into its bejewelled flank. Only a swift twist of his wrists turned a long fall into a tentative suspension, the tip of a blade lodged around a gem, leaving him dangling in air.
What fate befell our intrepid heroes? Did the Great Earth-Dragon prove their match? Find out in our next instalment ...