Editing The Dragon Mothers

| victory_hint  = 10 {{Cn|Gold Dragon|noname=}}

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{{TErow| 1 |Day 1|Now that the good Dragons fight for the Dragon Queen, several communities  on the outer borders of AvLee have rebelled against the Elf King to side with the Dragons.  They have no real leader, but they do stand in my way from reaching the Gold and Green Dragons.  Numerous Gold Dragons have been seen in the area, so many that they must be hiding in the local caves.  Now, I have the task of finding them.<p>Aspen and the Dragontalker have come up with a plan to use the Vial of Dragon's Blood.  Since it would be impossible for me to track down every good Dragon and touch them with the blood, I must find the Gold Dragon Mothers - the most powerful of their breed.<p>As the Dragontalker explains, the ten Dragon Mothers have a magical link with all Green and Gold Dragons.  All we need to do is cure them and the good Dragons will return to our side.}}

{{TErow| 2 |Day 2|I've received word from a scout that there is a heavily manned Anti-Magic Garrison to the south.  The Elves and Dwarves within refuse to leave, and at the moment I don't have the forces to take the Garrison.  Sooner or later, I may have to deal with them, but for now I am told I can simply go around.}}

{{TErow| 6 |Day 6|Captain Valita, the scout I rescued from a Pit Fiend's prison, completed her Sharpshooter training recently.  She's a natural with the bow.<p>But I have noticed that Valita, who was once a highly respected leader, has become quiet and solitary.  Whenever someone tries to strike up a conversation with her, she answers with single-word sentences until the person goes away.  I'm reluctant to give her more responsibility.<p>I suspect the months she spent in the torture chambers of our enemy has caused this change.}}

{{TErow| 8 |Day 8|Despite my misgivings, I've decided to allow Captain Valita to continue leading some of the men.  She's capable of handling herself and the others.  I just wish I was more confident in her mental state.  I have been on both sides of the torture chamber, and I know that even a week under hot pokers can seem like a lifetime.  The months she spent in captivity must've felt like an eternity.}}

{{TErow| 10 |Day 10|Some troops from this area who still remain loyal to the Elf King are holding the road to one of the renegade towns in the far south.  Since I have little time myself, I have sent word to Captain Valita to build herself a good-sized army and take that town.}}

{{TErow| 13 |Day 13|After my advisor, Aspen, beat me at yet another game of chess, the old Elf leaned back in his chair.<p>"I've received word from the Elf King, Tarnum," he said.<p>"Why didn't I know of this?" I snapped.  I was still a little sore about losing.<p>"I keep my own communications with many people.  The Elf King sent word that he knows you're on an important quest, but if you have the time he requests that you attempt to take back the three renegade towns in this area."<p>"That's just going to delay me if I have to think about that too," I said.<p>"True, but I think the Elf King is attempting to prepare for all-out war.  The Nighons have a head start on us.  When they decide to march - Dragons or not - they will have an advantage, and the Elf King doesn't want Mutare to have even more resources in her grasp."<p>"I see," I said.  "Well, next time you catch the Elf King's ear, tell him I'll do what I can."}}

{{TErow| 18 |Day 18|Kurbon, my Dwarf Master of Supplies, comes to me grumbling about my lack of enthusiasm in retaking the renegade towns in this area.<p>"The Dragons are my concern," I say, "not these rebels."<p>"I don't care about no rebels, but those towns can supply us with lots of Gold.  Troops too!  Troops enough for you find those precious Dragons of yours," Kurbon says.<p>I had not thought of it that way.}}

{{TErow| 23 |Day 23|I received a report from Captain Valita today about her progress.  Everything was in order, although she seemed to gloss over the facts of an ambush that claimed the lives of a few of her men.<p>I've decided to take a clue from Aspen.  I recruited one of my Sharpshooters to spy for me.  I'm sending the man to join Valita's forces under orders to keep a close eye on her.  Once my spy departs, however, I immediately regret my actions.  There was a time when I never would've considered such an underhanded practice such as spying.}}

{{TErow| 29 |Day 29|My spy's first report is rather mundane.  There has been no strange behavior from Captain Valita, and so far she has held her own during combat.  Her men, however, respect her skills but feel distant from her.  They don't feel that she cares for them, or even for herself.  Apparently, in combat she turns wild as if releasing all the emotions that she keeps bottled within.}}

{{TErow| 34 |Day 34|Aspen approached me early today with his chessboard under one arm.<p>"I'm not in the mood for a game today," I said.<p>"Oh, well, these days I just play you for the opportunity to talk," Aspen said, sitting across from me.  He set the board between us and slowly placed the pieces on the board.<p>"Do you have something to say?"<p>Aspen smiled, made the first move.  I always lost quickest when he made the first move.<p>"I have a concern about one of your captains," Aspen said.<p>"Which one?" I asked, although I suspected.<p>"Valita."<p>"I'm handling it," I said sharply, letting him know that I would hear nothing more about it.  Aspen nodded and waited for me to make my move.  Knowing the old Elf, he would not let the matter of Captain Valita alone for long.}}

{{TErow| 39 |Day 39|"I have bad news, Tarnum," Aspen said, interrupting my dinner last night.<p>"How bad?"<p>"You be the judge.  I just learned that the spy you sent to watch Captain Valita is dead.  There was an ambush last night, and although Valita and her men fought off the enemy, your spy was slain."<p>I stood, clenched my fists at my side.  I wasn't really upset that the spy was dead - that's war.  But Aspen acted like he had caught me doing something wrong.<p>"How did you know about my spy?" I said.<p>"You may be an Immortal, Tarnum, but you're an infant when it comes to spying.  When selecting a spy, if you didn't want me to know about it you should've picked someone outside your army," Aspen said.<p>"You're an advisor, Aspen.  Not a teacher!  I don't care about your spying and treachery.  In fact, it disgusts me!  Show me the enemy and let me defeat them!" I said, the Barbarian in me coming out.<p>"The enemy doesn't always fight for the other side, Tarnum.  Remember that."<p>"What do you mean by that, Aspen?" I said, but the elderly Elf did not reply.}}

{{TErow| 43 |Day 43|I grabbed Aspen by the arm before he had a chance to mount up for the day's ride.<p>"You're going to tell me what you meant about enemies not always fighting for the other side, or I'll leave you here!  I'll find another advisor," I said.}}

{{TErow| 50 |Day 50| I've thought long about the matter with Valita, and as much as I refuse to accept that she's a spy for the enemy, there is a chance I am wrong.  Aspen knows spies well, and if he suspects her then I would be stupid not to listen.<p>Although, I'm not going to let Aspen know that.<p>So, I've decided to promote Valita to my Master of Arms.  That way, she'll always be at my side where I can keep an eye on her.  As soon as I've found the Gold Dragon Mothers, I'll remove her from her command.  Right now, the Dragons must be saved, spy or not!}}