Tulani wasn't hard to catch up to. In fact, the silver dragon wasn't taking advantage of her launch lead at all - or even flying the same route they came by. Instead, she's following the trail back instead of going straight, so actually moving deeper into the mountains.
"And just what are you up to? Off to stalk some harmless animal?" Draketraum taunts as he swats her tail. "Or are you possibly stalking that caravan, hmm?"
"No.. something else.." Tulani claims, and points her snout. Overlooking the trail is a tall outcrop of rock - and on the tip of that, nearly blending into the landscape is a Rakhtor. A Rakhtor with a rider.
"That's ... not too uncommon, is it? I thought some Knights rode those," Draketraum remarks as he moves to glide in flying parallel with Tulani. "Think it's a raider, or a guard?"
"Let's get closer and find out!" Tulani says with a grin, and then goes into a dive towards the rider and mount!
"He might attack you! You're crazy, you know that?" Draketraum complains as he dives after Tulani!
There really isn't any way for a diving dragon to be remain stealthy. The noise produced by something that big moving through the air is hard to ignore, and the Rakhtor notices before its rider does.. and takes to the air to flee! Closer now, it's clear that the rider is an Eeee, possibly dressed in a uniform but definitely wearing leather armor. The giant hawk is heading further into the mountains, away from the trail.
"Why would an Eeee ride something?" Draketraum asks the air (and maybe Tulani. Who knows?) Now curious, and perhaps a bit suspicious, he heads after the hawk-thing!
Tulani is already happily giving chase. "Range!" she calls to Draketraum - probably reminding him of the ache Alptraum had trying to keep up with Tulani on the way to Cataract a lifetime ago.
"Still, no self-respecting Eeee would ride something else! That's just not natural!" Draketruam argues as he pursues Tulani. Granted, he could probably overtake her, but it's best to not annoy the female too much.
The Rakhtor is fast, and agile, but is also fighting its own rider who is desperately trying to regain control.
"Mave would," Tulani counters, and then roars just to see what happens.
The pilot looks up and finally notices the dragons when he hears that. He stops struggling with his mount.
"Mave is lazy!" Draketraum comments. "And is scaring them really necessary?"
"It's fun," Tulani claims.
Draketraum rolls his eyes. "Females," he mutters.
Draketruam also tries to look /past/ the rider and the Rahktor and try to spot where they might be flying /to.
The chase goes on, deeper into the mountains - and certainly faster than an Eeee could have traveled unaided. Then the Rakhtor flies up along a mountain peak, instead of trying to go around it.. and disappears into the shadow of a rocky shelf.
"IT's probably not a good idea to follow it up onto that shelf," Draketraum comments ... while heading up the mountain to try and find a place to land on that shelf...
"It went under!" Tulani says, and dives straight for the darkness, clearly in hunting mode!
"Tulani, this is a bad idea," Draketraum barks at Tulani as he dives to pursue her!
Once past the shelf, the dragons amazingly do not crash into the side of the mountain.. because it isn't there. The overhang conceals a wide cave! Rakhtors cry out and panic, but are held in place by rope tethers. The rider of the one they were chasing doesn't even have time to shout a warning before Tulani collides and sends him flying from his mount. The air fills with the high-pitched cries of Eeee. In the torchlight, there are perhaps a dozen of them, all wearing mismatched bits of armor (although some of them look like actual soldiers). The ones that aren't panicked are trying to load crossbows.
"That's enough," Draketraum roars as he lands near Tulani; probably directing it to both the Eeee and Tulani. His long tail snakes out and thumps Tulani's side. "Let him go, you've had your fun," he rumbles. "And look around."
There's something in the air.. Draketraum feels it flowing off of him, just like it did off of Snowcora in the temple. The aura wraps around the Eeee, and seems to freeze them in place with fear. Tulani ignores the thrown Eeee, however, and is trying to strangle the Rakhtor by biting its throat closed. All around the cavern are piles of clothing, baskets and boxes and collections of personal trinkets - hardly what one would expect in a military outpost. There's also the obvious cell at the back of the cavern, made of lashed together saplings to form the bars. It's too dark to see who or what might be inside though.
Draketraum thumps Tulani again with his tail. "Release it. It will not be dinner," he tries to command Tulani. "You are scaring ... refugees," he concludes from the odd assortment of belongings.
"I caught it!" Tulani grumbles back, nearly growling.
"That is not the point. Release it," Draketruam repeats. His head sweeps in a semi-circle. "Which one of you is in charge?" he asks.
One of the Eeee standing near the cell says, "We'll give you sacrifices if you leave!" He opens the cell and pulls out a naked Eeee woman, who looks a bit used. "Whatever you want! We have children, fresh and tender!" he offers. The one with the loaded crossbow hisses at the jail keeper, and points his weapon at him. "I am in charge," this one claims. "Leave us!"
Reluctantly, Tulani lets go of the bird, which staggers back to the aerie. The dragoness doesn't look happy about it - her blood is most definitely 'up' at the moment.
"You would be wise to lower all weapons. Your bows may annoy us, but we can incinerate you," Draketraum notes rather darkly just before snorting a large cloud of smoke from his nostrils. He approaches the self-claimed leader, each footstep echoing in the cave. "And you are?" he asks as his head lowers more to the Eeee's level.
"Serzachiel," the man claims, not lowering his weapon.
"And what to do you here, Serzachiel?" Draketraum inquires in a rumbling, low, voice. His head rolls slightly, indicating the cage. "And who are they?"
"We survive," the Eeee claims, and looks to the cage and the one woman huddled on the floor. "They.. were unable to pay the toll for the use of the trail, and our protection.."
"Bandits," Tulani growls. "Pirates!" The silver dragon spits the word as if it were a curse - and given her life as a sailor, it probably is.
Alptraum's lips draw back, baring fangs. "Ah, you are bandits," he rumbles agreeing with Tulani as he briefly glances back towards her. "Tell me, Serzachiel, why it is I should not incinerate the lot of you where you stand right now?" he asks as he returns to look at the leader. He too is feeling a bit of anger at what it appears these people are doing ... and that, well, he hopes to funnel into the aura that he's radiating currently.
The crossbow comes back up, and the Eeee's answer is a shot that grazes Draketraum's cheek! "Get them!" Serzachiel yells. "Their organs and flesh are worth a fortune!" A few of the others draw Skedat shield-swords and rush the dragons, while the others try to break for the cave entrance.
"As you wish," Draketraum rumbles ... then very simply tries to incinerate the bandit leader! His tail, well, he just snap-whips that across the floor to knock down those rushing them!
The two dragons haven't fought side by side before, but the results are effective. Freezing steam stops those trying to flee, while a cloud of flame in a confined space crisps exposed ears and wings. Bandits are mowed down by Draketraum's swinging tail (which topples a lot of the loot as well), and Tulani is being positively feline with her teeth and claws. Aside from the screams, there is a lot of snapping and crackling. Serzachiel also had pots of oil on him, used for making flaming arrows most likely. The leader ends up deep fried on one side and frozen on the other.
Part of Alptraum is ... bothered by this. He's never been that violent a person and as an Eeee he's rarely killed. However, the other part doesn't care one bit and relishes in completely obliterating this bandit camp. Of course he also doesn't realize it, but Kaira will probably complain about the missed chance to use the dagger, too. But, eh. "Live by the bow, die by the claw," he grows and spits a ball of fire in disgust, then promptly crushes one of the bandits under his tail. So long as anyone raises a weapon or charges ... it's going to continue to be ugly in here.
There aren't any left to keep fighting. And even the captive woman (who managed to avoid all the attacks by staying huddled on the floor) is pinned down under Tulani's claws while the dragoness seems to be deciding what to do about her.
"Release her," Alptraum rumbles as he lumbers over to where she has the woman pinned.
Tulani grumbles. She's still worked up, but does release the woman.. only to take a 'playful' nip at Draketraum's neck. Definitely worked up!
"Calm yourself," Draketraum rumbles at Tulani for the moment. His gaze shifts towards the woman and he lowers his head. "Name?" he asks.
The woman is either paralyzed by fear or has another issue, since she can only make a sort of choking sound in reply.
"I have no intention of devouring you," Draketraum states flatly. He reaches over to one of the corpses with a claw. After picking it up and shaking it violently to dislodge the remains of the person who used to wear it, the clothing is tossed on the choking Eeee woman.
The woman pulls back, but finally realizes what is being offered and pulls on the clothes.
"Name?" Draketraum repeats with a hit of impatience in that rumble.
"Captives from raids," Tulani growls with a sniff. "All women from the smell. They'd have killed the boys and men and anyone too big to carry back."
"Check their health," Draketraum asks of Tulani, "And release them."
The now clothed woman opens her mouth, makes another strangled sound, and then shakes her head and cries. "She can't talk," comes a voice from the cell. "Serzachiel cut out her tongue for insulting him while he raped her." It's another woman, clutching two children to her as she hurries past Tulani. A few others reluctantly come out as well.
Alptraum's head tilts a bit. "I am sorry," he tells the woman in a fit of rather undraconic behavior. He even offers one of his scaled forepaws to the woman should she wish help in standing.
Afraid not to, the woman accepts the offer. The others begin going through the remaining piles of clothes for things to wear. Tulani watches Draketraum, then tells him, "You are intimidating them - the rings are affecting you still.."
Draketraum eyes Tulani, then sighs. Once the Eeee woman is hack to her feet, he carefully draws his forepaw back. "Are all of you well enough to fly?" he asks as he lies down to deal with the matter regarding the rings.
"We haven't eaten well," the speaker for the group notes. "But the Rakhtors will carry us. Are we very far from Zannara here?" she asks.
"It is father than you would normally be able to fly," Alptraum answers from where he now lies on his stomach and has his chin on the floor. "You should be able to reach it on the backs of the Rakhtors," he adds. "Who are all of you? Refugees from Babel?"
farther, not father
"Yes," the woman says. "The silent one was already here when we were captured. Nobody ever said her name. I'm Magda. This is my son, Zon. The other children are orphans. Grisch is the other woman. She's pregnant with one of the raiders' children. I've kept her from committing suicide, and now I am vindicated."
"Why did each of you leave Babel?" Draketraum asks as he looks towards Grisch for a moment, considering. "I know the city in general is in chaos, but what was your reasons?" he adds to his question to the room.
While the children go about looting the bodies (and one girl uses a dagger to make sure the bandits stay dead), Grisch says, "My husband served Lord Malch. When it was clear that Malch was plotting against the new regime, he smuggled us out. We traveled light for speed, but our group could not outrun Rakhtors."
Draketraum's head bobs only slightly since it's mostly on the floor. "I see," he rumbles. "Your husband allies against the Prime Minister, Thath."
"No, that is why we left," the woman claims. "He knew that Malch's treachery would bring doom to us all, because the lord told him he would rather kill every vassal than be dictated to on how to treat them."
"Mm," Draketraum rumbles. "What is your husband's name?"
"His name was Balachi," Grish notes, with a touch of sadness. "He was not spared in the raid, even though he could have been ransomed back to Malch. The bandits care only for what we carry."
Draketraum is silent for a moment. "I am sorry," he says again. "What will you do now?"
"Go on," the woman says. "I am not without skill, so I can find work. Perhaps a husband. We all have grown close here - we will help one another."
"And your unborn child?" Draketraum asks next.
"Our children belong to us," Grisch notes, with a severe tone. "Nobody is going to take them away from us, whether we found them or birthed them, and no matter who they are sired by."
"Good," Draketraum replies simply. He glances towards Tulani for a moment, then back to the women. "I do not know of many I could suggest to seek out for aid," the dragon admits. "I am a stranger to this land."
"You are.." the woman starts to say, looking from one dragon to the other. "You are not agents of Rephath?" she finally asks. "Divine avengers?"
"Well, maybe a little," Tulani claims with a smirk.
"We are best forgotten," is Draketraum's answer to that question. "Valuable parts and all that rot."
"We will give thanks at the Shrine of Vengeance in Zannara," Grisch promises, and bows. The Rakhtors have calmed down some - possibly because the children are feeding them fresh meat, carved from their former masters.
"There are those traveling to Babel in Zannara. Is there any messages you would wish them to take back to Babel for you?" Draketraum asks. He tries to not watch children carve up the bodies of other Eeee.
"There is nothing back there for any of us," Grisch says, frowning. "And I pray that our memories of it and this place fade."
"Then that makes my next request simpler. Do not become like those who died here today. Do not allow your children to become like them. Find a home, find happiness, and find peace," Draketraum rumbles. "The endless cycles must be broken."
"If it pleases the Kindly Ones, I will," Grisch says, and bows to the dragons before helping load up the Rakhtors. There's a lot of loot, and whatever was small and valuable enough to carry has probably already been loaded.
"Shall we leave?" Draketraum asks of Tulani.
"Mmmmm," Tulani says, lying down. "I kind of like this place," she claims, swishing her tail. "We should make sure it isn't used again though, after these people go. I can think of a fun way to destroy what's left.." she all but purrs.
Draketraum snorts a cloud of smoke and smirks. "As you wish," he replies as he lays his head back down to wait. He also eyes the children curiously and can't help but wonder if they're afraid of them and if they'll ever feel like they will have a normal life again.
The remaining Rakhtors are loaded up. After getting some directions and landmarks from Tulani, they begin to launch. Grisch is the last one, carrying her son with her. She turns and asks, "Do you have names, Avengers?"
Draketraum glances towards Tulani to see how she answers that.
"Fire and Ice," the silver dragoness claims. "Think of us when you sit by the fire, and when the snow falls. Admire the beauty in them, and be wary of their ability to kill."
The Eeee woman nods, and launches her Rakhtor, leaving the dragons alone (aside from the various semi-cooked, squashed and freezer-burned corpses of course).
Again, Draketraum snorts. "Just so," he adds to Tulani's creative interpretation of what happened.
"I can be poetic!" Tulani claims, and then pushes on Draketraum's shoulder. "Now roll over! I get to be on top because I'm the best dragon!"
"In a pile of burned and iced over corpses?" Draketraum inquires as one scaled brow-ridge arches up, amused, as Tulani pushes on him.
"Of course!" Tulani growls. "Gotta smear them out! We can lick each other clean afterwards.."
"I think you and I need to have a long talk about this behavior," Draketraum rumbles as he finally allows himself to be rolled over. It doesn't hurt the rings are encouraging enough for him to not think too much on the current environment. And hey, it's still not as bad as that horrible dream at the Temple of Gorphat. Why, he'll even let her think she's the best dragon!
Of course, Tulani doesn't get to stay on top all the time, given the rolling around, flailing and smashing of everything. And it does bother Draketraum that the smell of burnt flesh does seem to excite him a bit more than it should. He does resist the temptation to eat any of it though (and keeps Tulani from doing the same). Once the bandit's nest as been thoroughly destroyed and their remains pulverized in a suitably hideous and discouraging fashion, the place looks more like the lair of a giant Eeee-killing monster. Of course, Tulani is still feeling energized afterwards and takes to the air first, while Draketraum has to deal with sticky feathers. Maybe a trip to that waterfall would be warranted..
Even as a dragon, that innate part of him that abhors killing nags at him a bit as he looks over the horrific carnage in the cave before he takes flight. So ... do deal with that feeling, he snorts, rears back, and bathes as much of the cavern as he can in fire! Satisfied, he kicks backwards and takes to the air! A bath does sound good; particularly when sticky feathers make for annoying flying; it feels like something is constantly pinching his wings when the feathers bind up! He also thinks Tulani really needs to find an outlet for frustrations! It's a pity the slave market is already gone; perhaps they had a savanite guy that would have sufficed. Oh well!