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Suddenly, from far to the east, the distant rumble of thunder can be heard.

After only a few minutes, it becomes apparent that this thunderstorm, if that's what it is, is coming on way too quickly. It is a constant rumbler, getting louder and louder. The horses start to get skittish and everyone looks at each other in confusion. As the thunder reaches almost directly overhead, an apparition breaks into view in the sky, less than 100 yards above the party, and it begins to circle. It's quite clear what it is - an enormous black dragon about 30 yards long. It seems to have a rider. It's circling, and it looks like it's either going to either attack or land quite near to the party.

"Manshoon!" Blondung gasps. He scrambles backwards into the covered wagon, hiding.

Soggrin also gasps in fear, looking wildly around, as if for somewhere to hide or run to.

<Ceely aka Robson wrote>:
> Ceely curses as she hears the name Manshoon, and looks at Soggrin. "Damn!
> Damn! Damn!" She quickly trots to Soggrin before she does anything hasty.
> "Milo, get my reigns and leave this place, use the fog to your advantage."
> Jumping to Soggrin's horse "I hope you don't mind, but let leave this place!
> I'll go with you!

As Ceely goes to mount up beside Soggrin, the barbarian woman shakes her head resignedly. Instead, she slips off her mount and simply looks up at the circling dragon and it's rider, waiting for it to descend.

<Herod aka Scott wrote>:
> "Serena, let's move the wagons apart." Herod tries not to yell too loud,
> and tries to get the horses pulling his wagon to move off the road to the
> north.

Herod starts to try to drive his wagon off the road, but manages to get it only about 10 yards, before the dragon suddenly dives arrowing through the air, towards a spot just 20 yards in front of the wagon. The horses shy and try to back away but are held in their harness. They snort and stamp their feet in alarm. Herod himself is overcome by the dragon fear, and can do nothing but drop the reins and scramble back into the wagon, where he cowers.

Similarly, the horses in Serena's wagon toss in their harnesses. Serena, although shivering in fear at the dragon's aura, grips her sword and shield all the harder. Soggrin, standing at the side of her mount, manages to control it, and seems curiously unaffected by the dragon fear. Milo grips the reins of Ceely's mount, momentarily more worried about loosing her horse than the dragon, but the horse simply snorts and widens it's eyes.

<Balnor aka Mike B wrote>:
> Balnor slides off his horse trying to keep it between himself and Moonshine.

OOC: Moonshine?! <made me laugh!)

Balnor's horse shies and bolts and Balnor, similarly overcome, turns and starts to run, bumping into Cleo's horse, which simply stands stock still with fright. Cleo grabs Balnor and tries to calm him.

Lucretia's horse is similarly spooked, and shies, throwing the inexperienced rider heavily to the ground. Filled with dragon fear, Lucretia can do nothing but cower and tremble on the floor.

Yvandel's horse also bolts, half dragging the young wizard several yards before he looses grip on the reins and the wizard staggers to a halt, his horse galloping away. Merrell on the other hand sits on his horse outwardly calm, his white fingered grip on the reins his only sign of fear. His horse, perhaps infected by it's rider's apparent calmness, also remains still.

(OOC: In case you didn't get it - amazingly, only Herod, Balnor and Lucretia failed their save versus dragon fear!)

<Yvandel aka Sebastian wrote>:
> "Do we have <ANY> weapons to thwart this demon?" Yvandel shouted.

Soggrin shakes her head. "There is nothing you can do!" she says.

Meanwhile, the magnificent beast buffets its wings at the last moment, causing the dirt and dust to fly up and making everyone blink and shield their faces a moment, and allowing it to settle down to the ground with grace and ease. To the party's surprise, the beast is fitted with a dark brown saddle of sorts. Even from 20 yards away, they can see the gleam of gems and metals inlaid on it. Even more amazing is the man that sits within the saddle.

He is of average height, with short cropped, jet black hair. He wears a suit of mail and carries a black, rune inscribed staff in one hand, the reigns in another. He wears a pair of gleaming, black leather pants and a loose white shirt, mostly unbuttoned to reveal a chest full of hair - one would think he'd be cold in this climate. Of particular note are his emerald eyes, which startle you even from this distance. A thick corduroy flap sits on the dragons shoulders, just behind the saddle, bearing a black and yellow symbol.

He smiles at you, somewhat condescendingly, and waves his hand. With that simple gesture, the fog surrounding you disappears. Soggrin looks at the dragon and rider, anger and fear on her face for a moment, then bows her head and sighs, dropping her spear to the ground and slumping her shoulders.

"Manshoon" she spits, "It's fitting that your gutless hide would appear after so many foul events." She looks at each of the party briefly then begins to walk towards the black dragon and its rider. The man looks on her, offering a smile and a wink. "Now, now, "milady", don¹t be so glum! It is your good luck, that you will become one of the truly great women of Faerun. Why do you fight it? Fight such an honour?" She does not look up, but continues walking in his direction, a tear sliding down her cheek.

As Soggrin gets closer to the dragon, a long forked tongue darts out from between massive jaws. Soggrin flinches and hesitates, but the tongue simply tastes the air near her.

"Come now my dear, don't worry yourself" says Manshoon, mistaking the reason for her hesitation. "It is your good luck, that you will become one of the truly great women of Faerûn."

He suddenly looks up at the rest of the party, still dumb struck by the simple presence of the Dragon and it's powerful Archmage rider. "Of course, it would be really sad if you were to do anything to convince your friends to be silly. Then I would be forced to simply destroy them. And I really have no reason to do them harm, and because they're complete strangers to me, I don't think they really have any reason to try to do any harm to me either. So please don't be a silly girl and lead them to their destruction."

Söggrin glances around at the party, then continues her resigned walk to the dragon's side saying, "I guess you're right, as usual. And these people did save me, so please don't harm them."

Manshoon looks at the party again. "Well done for defeating Xred!" he complements them.

As Soggrin climbs on board the dragon, he reaches into a pouch. "Let's head home my dear" he says to Soggrin. "I will give your friends a rich reward for rescuing you, and we all can live happily ever after..."

Looking back at the party, he is about to throw a heavy looking bag towards them, when he looks slightly to the east, and frowns a moment.

From that direction, the noise of strange hoofbeats can be heard. Looking in that direction, a figure riding a most strange steed can be seen. As it gets closer, it can be seen to be Von Fedel, looking extremely rough, unwashed and unshaven, riding what looks like a half rotted log which has sprouted wooden animated legs. He is waving desperately.

"Master! Master!" his voice cries.

"Is that Von Fedel?!" Manshoon asks quietly.

Soggrin simply nods.

"Master Master!" gasps Von Fedel, as he finally arrives out of breath, jumping from his wooden steed and skidding to a halt several yards in front of the Dragon. He bows low and starts to speak quickly.

"Master, please forgive me for allowing Xred to kidnap Soggrin. Since our escape, I have watched over Soggrin from afar and kept her from harm. I only wish to come back into your service and help you!" He glances over his shoulder at the party. "These people here have only led her into danger. They should be destroyed!"

Manshoon looks up at the party with raised eyebrows, almost as if expecting someone to respond to Von Fedel's words.

<Serena aka Douglas wrote>:
> Serena calls out, "Manshoon! You don't still want
> Soggrin, do you? Her own tribesmen have branded her
> a whore. You see, her topknot was cut off. She is a
> Black Raven no longer. Right, Soggrin?"

Manshoon simply shrugs as if this doesn't matter to him.

<Milo aka Steve wrote>:
> "Your 'servant'" he spits "has been more threat to
> your precious Soggrin than we could have hoped to be"

Von Fedel turns at Milo's words. "More threat!" he shrieks. "Who kept the hobgoblins from finding you in the Broken Fang woods?! Who brought down the lightning when you were attacked by the Barbarians?! Who diverted the orc war band that was tracking you?!"

Manshoon looks almost amused as the exchange takes place. He leans forward and says something in a low voice to his dragon before checking that Soggrin is securely seated behind him. The dragon slowly lifts it's wings, and then sweeps them down in a mighty thrust, launching the beast almost impossibly into the air. Von Fedel is thrown forward onto his face by the blast of wind, cutting him off in mid rant. He rolls and looks back and up at Manshoon. "Master! Don't leave me!" he cries, as the beast with it's two riders lifts into the air.

"Sort out your own differences..." floats down Manshoon's voice, "...Oh, and thanks!" he finishes, throwing down the bag. The bag hits the mud just off the road, close to Von Fedel with the heavy chink of coins.

Von Fedel scrambles to his feet staring after the dragon as it flies away to the east. He whirls back to the party, looking at Milo and Yvandel particularly. "You bastards!" he cries, before starting to cast a spell...

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