Editing The Dragontalker

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{{TErow| 1 |Day 1|For the past twenty or so years I have lived among the Elves in these beautiful forests.  I have fought beside them, laughed with them, and learned their ways.  Perhaps my favorite time of year is the Spring Festival - everyone is so filled with happiness and a love for life!  It's a cheerful time that helps me forget my past.  But this year the festival was shadowed by the absence of the Green and Gold Dragons.  It's most unlike them to break a promise.<p>And then last night the Ancestors visited me.  They had another task for me to complete, but I already knew what they wanted me to do.<p>"I know," I said.  "The Dragons must be found."<p>Even if the Ancestors hadn't assigned me this task, I would've gone in search of the good Dragons.  Over the years, these long-lived creatures have become my beloved friends.  They understand what I am, and they do not fear me.  To them, my past is just that - over.  For the friendship they have shown me, I owe it to them to find out what has happened.<p>But first there was Waerjak, the orphan boy I have been raising.  I needed to find someone to watch him.}}

{{TErow| 2 |day 2|Considering our past, I almost didn't call upon Adrienne, but she was the only one I trusted to watch the orphan boy I have come to think of as my son.<p>As I approached her solitary hut, which I helped her build when we were still together, Adrienne, a dark-haired beauty, opened the door.<p>"It's been a while, Tarnum," she said.  I could tell by her tone that she wished it hadn't been so long.<p>"I need a favor, Adrienne," I said.<p>"What makes you think I'll help you?" she said.  She was still angry with me, still hurt because I ended our relationship with no excuse.<p>"Because I know you love Waerjak almost as much as I.  I must go away.  I need you to watch him."<p>"Where is the little devil?"<p>"Hunting," I said.  "I don't want to be here when he gets back.  I don't want to have to explain."<p>"Yeah, I understand.  Explanations aren't your strong point, are they?" she snapped.<p>I sighed.  Maybe I shouldn't have come here.<p>Then, Adrienne said, "I'll take him, of course!  How long will you be gone?  Should I tell him you're never coming back?"<p>"That's not fair, Adrienne!"<p>"So what!  I'm not feeling like being fair today!"<p>I shook my head.  If I didn't leave now, I never would.<p>"It may be as short as a couple weeks," I said.  "Or as long as several months.  I don't know yet."<p>"I'll tell him."<p>"Tell him I love him, Adrienne.  And I swear I'll be back as soon as I can."<p>I turned away, telling myself that Waerjak would be safe.<p>"By the Ancestors," I prayed, "let me find the Dragons quickly!"}}

{{TErow| 3 |Day 3|I managed to convince the Elven King of AvLee to send me to find out what happened to the missing Dragons.  He suggests I seek the Dragontalker, an ancient Elven woman who lives among the good Dragons.  She knows them better than any other mortal.  But after centuries living among the Dragons, she has become a bit of a recluse.  Finding her may be a problem.}}

{{TErow| 4 |Day 4|While in the service of AvLee, I fought in the Forest Guard beside a young Vori Elf named Gelu.  He invented an interesting bow, used only by the most experienced archers.  These elite troops were called Sharpshooters.<p>Using Gelu's design for the bow, I am training my own Sharpshooters for the battle ahead.  These bows have an excellent range and are far more effective than almost all other ranged troops.  I just hope they serve me as well as they did Gelu.}}

{{TErow| 6 |Day 6|"What could it be?" I ask one of the Elven captains.  "What could possibly keep the Dragons from the Festival?"<p>"Hard to imagine anything powerful enough to kill them all, or imprison them.  No such force exists!  At least, I hope it doesn't," the captain says.<p>"But the other alternative is just as unreasonable.  Dragons never break a promise, and even if it was something beyond their control, they would've told the Elven King about it and apologized for their absence."<p>"True," says the captain, nodding.  "True."<p>"Then what?"<p>That is the question that plagues me.}}

{{TErow| 7 |Day 7|As I began to formally organize my army, I appointed a Dwarf named Kurbon as the Master of Supplies because his kind are obsessed with every minute detail.  He'll make sure nothing turns up missing.<p>During my first conference with Kurbon, he shook his head at the list in his hand and said, "You don't expect me to support this army on what I have here, do you?"<p>"Well, what do you need?"<p>"Everything!  Wood, Gold, Ore, Gems - everything.  Don't be leaving any piles of resources lying around, and you best flag all mines too.  If such common work is too mundane for you, sir, then hire someone to do it for you while you go off killin' things."}}

{{TErow| 8 |Day 8|The Elves are so willing to help me that I've had to tell many of them to return to their homes and wait.  If I had need of them, I would send word.  Obviously, a strong bond has been formed between Elves and Dragons, and I suddenly realize why I have chosen to stay among these people for so long.<p>In the past, I rarely stayed anywhere for long because I never felt part of any one place.  As an Immortal, I would only make friends that would age and die before my eyes.  But not the Elves and Dragons.  Not only do they live for a long time, but when they form a friendship there is nothing that can break it.}}

{{TErow| 9 |Day 9|I have learned that to reach the Dragontalker I must first pass through the Red Border Guard, and only the Keymaster in the Red tent has the authority to give someone access.<p>I just hope the Dragontalker still lives.  If something happened to the Dragons, then couldn't the same thing have happened to the old healer who lives among them?}}

{{TErow| 11 |Day 11|This morning as we prepared to leave, an elderly Elf approached riding on the back of a powerful stag.  Despite his age, the Elf was still agile enough to drop off his mount and extend a hand.<p>"I am Aspen, a Druid and your advisor," the old Elf said.<p>"My advisor?" I said.  "I don't recall asking for one, much less selecting one."<p>"That's because my people selected one for you.  They wanted someone wise and experienced, someone who knows much of the world.  The choice, I admit, was obvious.  I'm sure no one else was considered, since I am the wisest Elf alive."<p>"And so modest," I said.<p>"Modesty is for Halflings!" Aspen said, jumping onto the back of his stag.  "So, where do we go today?"<p>I mounted my horse and said, "I would think someone as wise as yourself would already know that."<p>Aspen laughed, and we became immediate friends.}}

{{TErow| 13 |Day 13|"Checkmate!" Aspen said as he knocked over my wooden King with his Rook.<p>"You're good," I said.  My fists were clenched at my sides.  I hadn't lost a game of chess in a very long time, and I didn't like it.<p>"Yes, although when you're this good the game loses some of its appeal, I'm afraid," Aspen said as he scooped the wooden pieces into a pouch on his hip.<p>"Tomorrow, a rematch," I grumbled.  It was even worse losing to this arrogant Elf.<p>"You said you had some news," I said.<p>"Oh, yes!  I've arranged for troops to be trained at the Centaur Stables.  Return there each week and they'll have new recruits waiting for you."<p>Aspen tucked his board under one arm and walked away.}}

{{TErow| 17 |Day 17|Last night, I witnessed another trait that I have learned to love about Elves.  Even when the seriousness of our quest to find the Dragons weighs heavily on their thoughts, my soldiers found time for a game.<p>As long as they live, you would think the Elves would become somber, even boring.  Yes, they are thoughtful people, always willing to consider the consequences of their actions before they act, but they also know how to live each day.<p>Upon their request, I joined them.  We kicked around a child's ball with no clear objective other than keeping it away from the other team.  I wish I could say my team won, but maybe next time.}}

{{TErow| 19 |Day 19|When I saw the Green Dragon swooping over the treetops last night, I thought my quest was over.  Perhaps the good Dragons simply forgot about the Spring Festival.  I called out, waving for it to land so we could talk, but the Dragon dove sharply at my position.<p>If I had not known Dragons so well, I would not have recognized its battle dive.  It attacked!  Luckily, my men and I were able to take cover in a thick portion of the forest where the Green Dragon wasn't able to assault us, and eventually it gave up and flew away.<p>But the malevolent expression on its face bothers me still.  What could turn the good creature I know into the enraged beast I saw last night?}}

{{TErow| 23 |Day 23|My Master of Supplies, Kurbon, gripes endlessly about the way I spend Gold.<p>"What are you doing - dropping it on the ground as you ride?" he often says.<p>Kurbon insists I visit the Windmill and the Mystical Garden each week to pick up the Gold and resources they provide.  Anything to shut the Dwarf up!}}

{{TErow| 25 |Day 25|A report comes in that an Elven farm was mysteriously ransacked last night.  The field was torn up and all the animals are missing.  Thankfully, the farmer was away at the time.<p>I sent Aspen to investigate the scene.}}

{{TErow| 30 |Day 30|Aspen returns from his investigation of the ransacked farm.<p>"It's a true mystery, Tarnum.  The entire farm was destroyed and anything that was remotely edible was stolen," Aspen says.<p>"Could it be a Dragon?" I ask.<p>"No.  There were no tracks in or out of the farm, but there were plenty left behind at the site.  They were small, and a lot of them, but I can't tell you what they belong to," the elder Elf says, shaking his head.}}

{{TErow| 33 |Day 33|There have been two more raids on farms.  This time, however, the farmers weren't so lucky as to be away at the time.  They were killed.<p>I have noticed a pattern in the attacks though.  They always happen at night, and they're moving in one direction - north.  I promise to put an end to them, but since I can't be everywhere at once I call upon some of the Elves that wanted to join me earlier to pick up their bows and stand guard over the farms each night.  I hope that's enough.}}