The other magi bravely run away. Venkath chortles, then scoffs at The Woad's words. He and Maurice growf at one another. Then he will begrudgingly talk in a human tongue.
Look, you. I am a dragon, see? I make men tremble and their widow's cry. I want people to fear and hate me. I have a reputation to be concerned with.
The Woad apologizes, it was mostly just to shut those magi up and send them off. However in Hibernia magi sometimes reach accords with even mighty magical creatures, to the benefit of both. Your reputation, the Woad admits, was not taken into account.
How would dragons view it, if your terrorizing of an area was so great it forced a bribe out of lords and wizards? And then maybe ease off the grand killing, maybe move on a little to other areas, while enjoying the spils of the extortion? That'll still make people fear you, rightfully so. They still remember what you already did and are afraid you'll do it again.
Then both sides would be getting something, and the area would be allowed to recover. Dragons live for along time, the Woad thinks, so after a human generation the area can perhaps support another dragon. It's no use if the area dies out completely. Also, if plauged too much, the wizards will just come at you even harder. Granted, that may still not be enough, but wizards dying does stir things up. There are no provisions among us that we have to avenge a dead sodales. The Woad knows he won't, also because those magi were disagreeable. But it may attract other troublemakers.
Anyway, the Woad thinks we had some other business. Something about Owlbears and the wizards who once made them?
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Marcellus sighs, "That is a dangerous game. You have made enemies of those magi, and we magi can learn and adapt quickly to face challenges. They may very well come back in a few years, much more powerful and ready to face Venkath, or you, or any dragon. And they won't be back to play. They will kill that dragon, and the next ones they meet. And so equiped, with power and knowledge, they will hunt down your kind."
"So what have you gained? Momentary satisfaction of toying with humans? In exchange, you will die in a few years. And here I thought dragons, who live such long lives, would think long term..."
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Hey, don't get on my case about it. I am down with the masquerade and have learned to adopt a human guise. It is my big brother you should be cross with. And I don't think he cares, so I advise you don't do that.
Then The Woad speaks to Venkath, which I shall not quote, but just know that he is impressed enough to listen somewhat. Though he cherry picks what he wants to hear and tunes the rest out.
Yes! Right on the nose there. To become immortal I must first become infamous. There is a whole process to it.
The Woad shrugs and smiles.Well, at least the Woad tried. And those unpleasant magi left. Don’t be surprised when they return in greater strength and numbers. Magi can spend time and take shortcuts of a sort, and attack with great strength. But they might be extra annoyed, because they had to spend time on a project to Kill specifically you, so it’s useless against other dragons.
The future of this this case needs to be discussed with our elders.
Anyway, we had some business about Owlbears?
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Marcellus frowns, "When we arrived, you seemed ready to attack the magi to help your brother. And when I asked you to interpose yourself, you did nothing... even seemed to encourage him..."
He stops and takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly, letting go of his frustration. "Well, you came to speak to your brother and try to convince him. Let us do that."
Marcellus turns to Venkath, "Lord Venkath, your prowess in battle was very impressive! Infamous you will indeed become, with such feats of power! But yet, I cannot help but worry..." He purposefully his words hanging, trying to draw Venkath's curiosity.
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Maurice shrugs.
Hey, what can I say. I always stick up for family. Back them up first, ask questions later. Never take sides against the family. So anyways, let us talk to my brother. Do not fear, you are under my protection
Then Maurice speaks to Venkath, who responds...
Yeah, you better worry. I will abide by my father's treaty though.
Marcellus smiles his crooked smile. "I worry about what it means for you. With such feats and reputation, I worry that these magi, or others like them, will go searching for it and use it against you."
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Venkath shakes his head as to indicate he has no idea what you are talking about and is boggled by your incomprehension. Which is not to say that he comprehends anything. Venkath is not the cerebral sort and wastes little energy on theory of mind.
Maurice is intrigued by the discussion, and as novice theorist of the supernatural, he has an idea of what his brother is up to.
Ah! I think I see what he is up to. He wants to become an Immortal! Though I must say brother, I do not think you are ready for such a mighty transformation. But I am not one to say thee nay.
Marcellus looks from one brother to the other, as if in surprise. "I mean the Spear of Roland. Are you not worried that, faced with your growing power, one of these magi, or others who hear of you, will try to find it?"
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Venkath does not seem to care. But Marice is intrigued.
Spear of Roland, you say? What is this artifact? I thought Roland was a sword man.
Which then catches Venkath's interest.
Treasure?
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"No, no, I am talking about the Spear. You have never heard of it? True, all the stories focus on his sword, but I would have thought, with you being dragons, you would have heard about the spear as well..."
"In any case, the spear is supposed to be a powerful weapon against dragons. So if your reputation grows, your enemies may seek it out in order to destroy you. That is why I am worrying. I would hate to see it used against you."
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Maurice grins.
Treasure!
Venkath seems relaxed. almost friendly.
That sounds like a hero's weapon indeed! I would love to add that to my stash. And if a mighty hero manages to steal it from me and use it, such an accomplishment would be so epic that my immortality would be assured indeed!
I would want to confer with my wife on this. She is a specialist in story magic. I'll let her out of the dungeon to help you guys go find the thing. I'll hold on to her son until she brings it back. What do you think is fair? Seven years? I promise not to eat him for seven years.
Wait, you won’t eat who, that obnoxious wizard?
As interesting as it sounds, to seek out a magic weapon, The Woad Needs to know a little more of the magnitude of the challenge, what clues we have to go on. Seven years is a long time, but he would hate to have another magus’ life as his responsiblity.
But if you ease off the terrorising of that place, spread your hunting around to other areas, then it might work.
Depending on how much of an ass he is
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Maurice is surprised by the bombshell news his brother just let slip.
You have a wife? When did this happen? Congrats!
<Venkath shrugs.
I trapped her a few years ago and have been keeping her prisoner. I wanted to do it the old fashioned way and kidnap a bride. But, y'know, she is strong willed and hawt, so I tricked her into it. There is some sort of distortion in my dungeon she said. Something about a time region.
Anyways, noble warrior. The Woad is it? My bride is a maga. Not of your covenant. She had once petitioned but never hung around long enough to be accepted. Both she and her infant son are prisoners in my dungeon.
Don't give me that look. That is how we dragons do. It is tradition. My father, he has always tried to act human. His brides were either adventuring partners or other dragons. And maybe he rubbed off on me. My bride doesn't realize she is a prisoner. That time region distortion thing. She thinks she has been here for a very short time.
Back to my idea. I will let her out and send her on a quest to find the spear. I will hold her son hostage with a promise to keep him safe for seven years. I like the kid, and I might not eat him after the time expires. But, y'know, I gotta say it. Dragon culture.
You guys are not on the hook. But I do thank you for the lead on the treasure, and I offer you a small favor in return. If you want to help Kallista (my wife), I would be much obliged. In fact, I offer this. My hunting range causes you such concern, if you agree to help her I will agree to take a nap for seven years. At the end of that time I will rage again. But if you help her succeed and bring me that spear, I will...
what seems acceptable...
I will take the Transformation and learn human form. Take up the masquerade and live a human life and ease up on the terror.
For now. I mean, I still want the immortality.
"This seems like a reasonable bargain," says Marcellus. "We will help this maga obtain the Spear of Roland while you sleep for seven years, after which you will learn to take human form and live a more peaceful life amongst humans."
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Yeah, nice try. My speaking my ideas out loud does not count as a bargain. The only promise I will make is to my wife, which is not to eat her son for at least seven years. The rest of what i said is just a planning idea for now.
The Woad thinks we should take it.
But also inform those other magi and their covenant that we have solved the dragon problem. Let them know we can manage diplomacy. And then we’ll see in seven years.
If they insist on seeking out dragons, the Woad votes we should let them be eaten. If they waste seven years of peace on training to fight, so be it.
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"You said that if we agreed to help her find the Spear, you would agree to sleep for seven years. And that if we help her succeed, you would learn human form and 'ease up on the terror,'" Marcellus says. "These are your own words, not mine. Will you commit to them, or not?"
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You did say that brother. You said all of it. You may have been thinking out loud. But you laid out a proposition. You made definitive "if this then that" statements. Now, nothing has bound you to that, and no papers were signed. But if you want these guys to help you, then you have to keep your end of the bargain. Now, we are not like genies and there is nothing keeping you from pulling a double cross. But if you do that, then no one will want to make a bargain with you again. Bargaining gives you power greater than you realize.
Make a deal and keep your word brother. The promise is Treasure! And if they fail, you get to eat them. I will help you. What do you say?
Grrrrrrr.......
FINE. Have it your way. I will agree to the deal.
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