I arose early, as was my habit, the next morning. After washing in the stream, which was always cold, I returned to the cabin and started making tea for Mortici and myself. After he had gotten up we had a simple meal and then I packed for my journey. I didn't really have much to take with me, just a simple backpack with two sets of small clothes, two sets of outer wear, a tinderbox, a whetstone, and a heavy cloak. In a small belt pack I carried about three eagle feathers, a few small sticks, and a few other spell components. I also still had the pouch I had taken from the Bugbear and it contained 40 gold and 30 silver, all the money I had. I buckled on my scimitars, grabbed my staff, and I was ready to go. Mortici and I exchanged farewells as we clasped each others forearms. I was not sure if we would ever meet again, but I thanked him for his teachings and the knowledge he had imparted to me. Then I left his grove to start my long journey.
I still remembered the dream from the night before so I had a fair idea of which way to travel. I headed east towards the coast, as Mortici and I had done on several occasions in the past. As I had no horse, and really didn't need one, I traveled slowly stopping at villages along the way or just camping beside the road at night. I saw many of the people I had met while with Mortici and was always welcomed by them. Of course I passed along any news that I had gained and got new news in each village. I had been on the trail for about two weeks when I came across a caravan of merchants that were under attack by bandits. The bandits were shooting arrows from the woods into the caravan. I dropped my pack and started my approach to the first bandit. With ease I struck him with my staff rendering him unconscious. I went towards the next one, but this time I was not so lucky. The bandit was not alone, there were two of them. One of them pulled his sword and advanced towards me. The fight wasn't very long as he had one sword against my two scimitars. I ended up killing one and crippling the other when he joined the fight. The caravan guards were doing good with their defense of the caravan now that they had only one side to defend against. The rest of the bandits pulled back and escaped into the woods, those that weren't dead that is.
I put away my blades, returned to my pack and then approached the caravan. I was met with arrows notched and bows drawn. I called out that there were two bandits in the woods that would require aid as they had met with my staff and blades. This seemed to help reduce the tension somewhat and I was allowed to approach. After talking with the caravan master I suggested that they camp here for the night as it was getting late and they would be easy targets for more bandits in the dark. The guards had found the two I left in the forest and returned them to the camp. I did what I could to heal the one I had crippled. When the head guard asked why I explained that as a Druid my duty was to help and protect the weak. The caravan master said they would turn the two bandits over to the magistrate in the next village. The night passed without problems, and the next day I traveled with the caravan until we reached a crossroad. They went North and I continued East. Before we separated, the caravan master gave me 20 gold for the help I had given.
I traveled for another two weeks before reaching the coast and the city of Napia. The city was busier than most as it was the major shipping point for this area and the home of the ruling noble. I knew of no Druid in this area so I took a room at a dockside tavern as I found out that it would be two to three days until I could get passage on a ship. I had wondered why the Goddess had not just transported me the way she did before I met Mortici, but she had not done so. But She was the Goddess and had her own plans for me.
I enjoyed the chance to rest in a real bed instead of a hayloft or on the ground. The cook at this tavern was good and seemed to enjoy anyone with a good appetite, and the coin to pay for the food. I met up with a captain that was sailing out towards my destination and arranged passage on his ship. When the day came to leave there was a small disturbance on the dock. It was a group of adventurers, two men, a Hobbit, and a dwarf. The dwarf was not very pleased with the idea of sailing, Dwarves do not like water in quantities greater than they can carry. I asked if I might speak with the dwarf to see if I could convince him to relax and board. I ended up just putting him to sleep and his companions carried him aboard. The captain asked if I could keep the dwarf asleep until we reached the next port in about three days. I said I would ask the companions of the dwarf as to how they felt about it. We agreed that the dwarf would be better off asleep, and we would have less trouble. So I would put the dwarf out every day, after he had eaten, until we reached the next port and the group left the ship.
It took about a month to get to the port I needed, the city of Zyan. Zyan was like Napia in that it was a large seaport. The taverns along the dock were foul smelling and poorly kept so I elected to move further into the city to find a room. This was the poorer part of the city, as far as the residents went, except for the shipping companies. As I made my way into the city I came upon a young girl who was being threatened by a very large man; I stepped in, when he struck the girl, and asked what the problem was. The man was drunk and he wanted company of the female type in his bed. The girl got up from the street and told him she didn't do that, she was the daughter of the baker and was just delivering some items for her father. The man insisted and went to strike the girl again. I struck him instead with my staff putting him to his knees. As he yelled, a trio of city guards came up. It seems that the man I had hit was a friend of theirs and they were acquainted with his actions when he had been drinking. But they were not happy that I had struck him down. They asked what my business was and I explained that I was seeking a decent room for the night. I was told to be on my way and they would handle the matter. I reached out and told the girl to come with me and I would escort her back to her father's shop. The guards weren't happy about this but one of them noticed my blades and suggested we be left alone.
The girl and I went to her father's shop and when he heard what had happened he was relieved that I had come along and helped his daughter. I offered to heal the girl of her cuts and her broken arm. After I had done what I could, the father asked what he owed. I told him there was no charge as it was my pleasure to help the child. The father said that the least he could do was to offer me a home cooked meal. That I didn't turn down; neither did I refuse the offer of a bed for the night. The next morning I was fed a real nice breakfast, which I offered to pay for, and made my way out of the city.
After leaving the city of Zyan, I made for the forest road on my way Eastward. I traveled as before slowly on foot, I would stop at settlements and do what I could to help the people there in exchange for a room and board. I would help out farmers as the need arose and on occasion would save some poor traveler from the local bandits.
I had been on the road for about a month and had heard nothing about any other Druids in the areas I had been through. I happened upon a small settlement, about 100 people strong, and found that they were puzzled by some strange sights and sounds that arose from the mountains to their north. It seems that about a week ago they had been attacked by a dragon who had carried off a young girl. Now I had not had to deal with a dragon before, and did not want to any time soon, but the pleading of the mother convinced me to at least go see if I could do something to help the young girl, or at least recover her body.
The next morning, accompanied by four men from the village, I set off towards the mountains to the north. We traveled all day through the plains and into the forest where we made camp. The men appeared uneasy, the forest was a nice place to be as far as I was concerned. The men wanted to build a huge fire but I cautioned that a large fire might draw the wrong kind of attention to us. I told them that as long as they stayed within the perimeter I established that nothing would harm them or approach them without warning. There were a couple of warning during the night when a Bugbear tried to visit but he left after getting a slight shock. The next day we reached the base of the mountains, now the men were really nervous. That night we heard the most horrible noise coming from up in the mountains and saw bolts of lighting reaching towards the sky.
I told the men to stay at this camp, that I would scout ahead; I assured them that even with me being gone the circle of protection would remain, unless I was killed then the circle would cease with a loud pop - if that occurred then they should head back to their homes. I left them there due to their nervousness and the idea that I could move more silently by myself. It was close to the end of my second day in the mountains when I came upon a large pit or crevasse. There were scorch marks around the top and a foul smell coming from the bottom.
I made my way very carefully down and found the body of a dragon, quiet dead, lying at the bottom. I saw no sign of the young girl. I was about to climb out when I heard soft crying coming from a cave. I thought maybe the girl still lives, so I entered the cave and followed the sound of crying. I found the young girl, she was standing by a large emerald colored dragon and crying "Please don't die" as she tried to stem the flow of blood from a mighty wound on the side of the dragon. I approached carefully least I startle the dragon and cause injury to the girl or myself. As I got closer, the dragon moved it's head and looked at me sadly.
"Come forward human, I sense magic about you. I have saved this young one, but in doing so I am mortally wounded. Would you take care of her and see that she gets back to her family?" the dragon spoke quietly.
"Please sir, this beast saved my life. Please help me to stop his bleeding." the young girl said.
"I am called Medico, I know not what I may be able to do. But if it be within my abilities I will do what I can for him." I said.
Just then there appeared a lady bathed in a silvery light and all stood still. The lady came to me and told me that the one I served would help as She was the one who had guided me to this place. Then the lady disappeared and all resumed. I walked to the dragon and held my hands on the open wound and concentrated on stemming the flow. I felt a great weight lift from me and my hands began to glow green and silver, the two colors merged and the wound started to close. After a few minutes, or was it hours I know not, I passed out. When I awoke the girl was bathing my face with a cool cloth.
"Human, never has a human tried to heal a dragon! But when you touched my wound I felt the presence of two great beings, one I recognize as Ios the father of all dragons, the second I know not. Yet together they have bonded us to one another. I am called Draco in your language. Now I must rest for I still have a long time to complete my healing." Draco said and then closed his yellow eyes and appeared to sleep.
From somewhere within I knew that the dragon call Draco would sleep for several days before awaking. I gathered the young girl and what few scraps of clothing she had left on her and we exited the cave. I told her I would take her to the men who had accompanied me and they would return her to her family. The girl asked what about the dragon. I told her I would return to check on him. But she must never tell about the dragon who saved her, the men might come and try to kill it.
After returning the girl to the townsfolk I returned to the cave where we had left the dragon. I entered cautiously still not sure what to think about this dragon. The cave was cool, and as the sun set it got cooler. For my own comfort, I started a small fire away from the dragon and between the opening and the two of us. I fed myself from the supplies I had with me. I wondered "what does this dragon eat - not me I pray". As I finished my meager meal the dragon awoke and startled me when he spoke.
"Druid, for I know of your calling, I thank you again for helping me. Could you perhaps build the fire a little larger so that the heat will reach me better. I am used to a much warmer climate than these mountains. If you don't mind, I would talk with you as I have many questions, and I assume that you have questions as well." Draco said.
I built the fire up some and moved closer to the dragon. "Is that better?" I inquired.
"Much, I thank you. As I said I'm not used to this climate. I am curious, what spell did you use to heal my wound? While I am a priest even I could not heal a wound that quickly. Ios grants only the power that is minimally needed and only for a few times a day. I had not the strength to heal myself after healing the girl. Did you know that if you remain very still you are difficult to see, if not for your scent even I might have not noticed you. Tell me what exactly is a Druid? Are you a type of priest?" Draco asked.
I answered his questions and posed some of my own. We talked for several hours before we both decided to rest. When I awoke the next morning it was already light out and the sun was just visible at the far end of the cave. Once Draco woke I asked if there was anything I could get for him to eat. He said meat would be nice, but he preferred fish. There was a stream not far away but I doubted that I could catch enough fish to fill a dragon. I said I would try and see what type game was around. He suggested mountain ram if I could find a couple. He also asked that I build a very large fire around the body of the dead dragon so as to consume the body by fire and prevent any illness from erupting from the decay. I left to find what meat I could, and to dispose of the body outside.
In the end we spent several weeks in that cave with Draco growing stronger each day. The population of mountain rams took a decline, much to my disheartenment. While he rested and recovered we exchanged knowledge about the differences between our own spells and granted powers. We talked about the history of dragons and man. I learned that there were 15 primary breeds of dragon divided into three groups - the Chromatic, the Gem, and the Metallic. Draco was a Gem dragon, Emerald due to the green gem-like scales he had. The slain dragon had been a Chromatic, a Black, which was unusual for this type climate and location. Draco had come here from the world of the dragons in search of a friend, a brass dragon, but had not found him as yet. I learned that Draco was due to shed his skin sometime in the next few months and he offered to let me know so I could have armor made from the shedding. Since as a Druid I was forbidden to wear or use metal armaments or weapons, with the exception of my scimitars, I gladly accepted this offer. Draco also told me that as he grew older his scales grew tougher and provided more protection. Once he had shed I collected more than enough dragon-hide to make myself a scale shirt, pants, and belt. I even considered using one of the biggest scales as a shield but gave up on that idea, you can't use two blades and a shield at the same time.
Spending so much time with Draco must be why, until his death, I could always call upon him in a time of need and he upon me. I found out that Gem dragons have a slight chance of becoming psionic after a certain age. Draco had acquired minimal psionic abilities after this shedding. Finally the time had come for us to part, Draco offered to give me a ride on his back to aid me in getting where I was going. I explained that the Goddess only knew where I was headed as she guided my steps for her own purposes. I did let him transport me to just the other side of the settlement though. If you have never rode a dragon, you can not begin to know the feeling, but I still prefer my own two feet. So, my journey continues, to where I know not.