The Deadwood, a vast, primordial forest that clung to life in the long shadow of Mount Drakolt. Trees gnarled and gaunt, bark as black as coal and leaves grey as ash. Inhospitable looking to an outsider, in truth the forest thrived as well as any in Charon. The rich volcanic soil nourishing roots that dug deep into the earth. Life here must be strong, strong enough to weather the elements and the harshness of the land. Strong enough to withstand all the hardships it would face. Which is why the ground shook with each footsteps. Heavy and booming, made by no man or beast. These were the footsteps of a mountain giant, come down from the rocky slopes to hunt mammoth and moose... or in this can men and merchant.

Izanami was no stranger to these lands, she considered them her home. A Dragonkin of Darkveil, she had walked these woods more times than she could count. The quest was simple, and the hunt would pay handsomely. A mountain giant, an old male driven from his tribe. Forced to prey on traders and travelers, too old and weak to hunt the forests' mighty beasts. The giant had become a problem, one Izanami would be paid handsomely to dispose of. Three days she had tracked her prey, following fresh footsteps and trampled trees as it left an obvious swath through the forest groves. She clenched her hands in anticipation, claws tight against her scales. "Soon", she thought to herself, she would be hunting no longer.

The roads were well worn, little more than packed earth winding its way through the clearest route among the trees. Izanami stopped, sniffing at the air. She smelled blood, and a stench far fouler. The clearing ahead told the story. A horse drawn wagon lay smashed to pieces, its cargo scattered across the road, picked through crudely by a thief concerned only with food. Fine silks and tapestries scattered from their crates like discarded scraps of cloth. Izanami narrowed her gaze, "A waste", she thought as she inspected the destruction. More telling though, there were no men, and certainly no horses. The steeds' tracks ended abruptly the animals had not walked away from the scene of the attack. Izanami cast her violet gaze westward, she would have her quarry.

---

maltholloth

Flitting about in the sky, landing in trees to catch his breath and look at the scene around him. Since getting his wings back, he felt renewed. The air rushing by with each flap was like liberation. How much a few short days without them had burdened more than he realised. He looked at Sparky, little licks of flame fall off as they push fast through the air, the two black eyes giving clear indication of joy.

Elrodan had asked about in town for all of the forests, the trees a perpetual comfort. He'd already seen some of Kingswood and he now headed for Deadwood, something that didn't apply to the trees, he was happy to see.

Finding a path, he followed it along, if there were others out here, then the path was a good place to expect them. What he didn't expect, was a broken cart and bits of material scattered around. From his tree top position, nothing seemed to be about, so he dropped down through the branches until on one of the lower ones overlooking the scene. Such a scene was clearly a fight but he always expected to see the bodies. Worse was that things were still everywhere. What thieves would leave behind so much that could gain some extra coin. As he looked at the chaos, Sparky crackled over his left shoulder. "What was that? Terrible scene I know. Shame to leave all these bits around but trying to fit with them would be ever so draining."

Izanami was oblivious to those watching her, as she continued to inspect the sight of the attack. The trail of the attacker was painfully obvious, with huge footprints left in soft earth heading away from the road. Blood followed in their wake, and Izanami followed after them at a brisk pace. Trees along the path had been knocked aside, toppled like twigs and splintered by her quarry. Her tails swished in eager anticipation, her quarry was big, bigger than she had been informed initially. She briefly wondered if the merchants who had hired her had intentionally undersold her task, or been simply ignorant to the truth of the situation.

Either way, the truth soon lay before her. There, ahead in a clearing sat an enormous mountain giant. His skin gnarled and grey, easily mistaken for rock at a distance. Long beard tangled with tree branches and vines, hanging down past his chest. Wearing the skins and furs of elk and mammoth, with crude armor fashioned from tree trunks, bone, and crudely hammered metal plates. The giant had in one hand the carcass of a horse, eating it the way a person eats a fruit, his mouth red with blood and gore. The bones and remains of the merchants and their horses lay at his feet in a grisly pile. Izanami turned up her nose at the smell. The giant seemed ignorant to her presence, too fixated on the first real meal it had eaten in days to care.

"BEAST!" Izanami declared, fists clenched at she stood tall in the clearing. The giant heard her, looking up with a mouthful of entrails and meat. "Your death approaches, ready yourself!" Izanami declared her challenge, knowing well this creature was far too stupid to comprehend her. Giants spoke their own crude, guttural language that was akin to an overly simplified version of dwarvish. They had no capacity that she knew of to speak in the common tongue. The giant stood up, finishing its meal and casting aside the carcass with a wet splatter. He drew his club, a great oaken trunk lashed to a boulder. A fitting weapon for one so large.

Izanami stood motionless, waiting for the giant to make the first move. The beast bellowed, shaking the forest and sending flocks of birds flying into the skies in fear. With surprising speed he leapt from his seat, gripping his weapon tight and charging towards his challengers in a lumbering gate. Raising his weapon high over his head, he brought it down in an overhead arch. Slamming it down hard enough to send tremors through the ground and a crater where it had impacted. When the dust cleared the giant looked down, expecting his foe splattered into red paste. Izanami stood besides the club, unimpressed look upon her face. "Slow, stupid, ugly beast. I'll mount your skull in my father's hall when I'm done with you." A sinister smile crossed her face, gleaming fangs bared and eyes glowing with a wicked violet light.

---

maltholloth

Just as he was about to drop down, he catches sight of a... Multi limbed creature. They looked human ish but they certainly weren't human. As they walk away, he realises the path of chaos they follow, and wonders quite how he missed it. As if the little fire mote would make a load of noise, he turned to it and raised a finger before his lips, "Shhh". The little fire blinked its eyes alternately in response. With that, he starts moving from tree to tree.

At first he didn't spot the giant with his caution in following the other. It wasn't until the creature he followed called out that he looked ahead and noticed it. The fact this... This creature, was taking on this giant spoke volumes to him. Although there could be a plethora of reasons, he decided to watch with interest.

Such a fierce determination, they can't be evil can they? As he studied the creature, he starts to pick out details, it's two tails, horns and spikes... Its a woman. He tried wracking his mind as to identify what kind of race they could be but nothing came to mind, even if it did seem familiar. 

The giant grew enraged, smashing hadn't worked, he would try smashing again. The brute hefted up his club, once more lifting it high into the air. "Fool." Izanami muttered under her breath. "Face the power of the Ebonflame!" She clenched her fists, grit her teeth as chaotic dark magic swirled around her body like a black flame. Primordial magic, passed down through the bloodline of her draconic ancestor. The club can crashing down, this time seeming to meet its mark. There was a deafening sound as it slammed down where Izanami once stood.

Initially the giant looked triumphant, but its expression quickly changed, something was wrong. It could feel tension on the weapon, something pushed back against its club. Izanami could be seen beneath it, holding the boulderous weapon above her head the way Atlas is said to shoulder the world. A wild grin on her face, dark magic pouring forth from her like a wellspring. Her size began to grow, rapidly at that. In mere moments the dragonkin had nearly doubled in height, her strength increasing as her stature grew. Before the giant knew what to think she was brushing his club aside, knocking it from his hands despite his titanic grip.

Double soon became triple, and triple became quadruple. Now Izanami rivaled the giant himself in height, taller yet if you counted her crown of horns. She met the beast eye to eye, his once filled with anger now shimmered for the first time in eons with fear. Mountain giants were not accustomed to foes of their own size. Used to dominating even their smaller giant kin the idea of an equally large foe was almost alien to them. In a rage the beast swung out, throwing a crude punch attempting to just pummel his newly gigantified opponent into submission.

Izanami caught the fist in her hand, doing much the same with the other. The two grappled, their terrible strength pitted evenly against one another. The giant's fear grew more obvious on its panic stricken face, whereas Izanami wore an expression of pure delight. "COME ON BRUTE, LET'S SEE HOW YOU FACE SOMETHING YOUR OWN SIZE!" She bellowed in a voice like thunder. Pushing the giant back, his feet digging trenches in the earth as he tried root himself to no avail. Izanami slammed the giant against several trees, snapping them like twigs. The giant grabbed one like an impromptu weapon and swung for her head. One of her twin tails met the trunk midair and shattered it to splinters.

---

maltholloth

First a dodge, then growing, well lots of growing. How was this possible. Looking at the size of the woman now, it changed how he imagined them. The thought of giant dragons now filled his mind, could she be some form of one? She certainly looked the part. Never would he have expected to see one like her or a dragon in any form. Now to see this spectacle was impressive.

As they crashed through trees, he was glad to be stood behind the woman rather than the giant. As the giant swung a fallen tree he held his breath. Such a blow would turn the tide of battle... One of the tails swung up and stopped the blow leaving fragments of wood flying everywhere. One larger piece flew in his general direction. Luckily catching in other branches, still he jumped into the air before it had chance to shake him from the tree. He wanted to help but one small swat of a bug would be all it seemed. He moved to the tree to the right of the woman, close but other trees looked to small or obscured.

Her booming voice and the happiness of her fight made him smile too. This was no chance meeting with the giant and it was so nice to see the tables turn. He imagined being so large for a moment, throwing punches at the giant. Giants always seemed to be bullies, like so many towards those smaller than them. Was that how the woman would be? Did she take on those who were smaller... No, she'd come at the giant when she was smaller... But then she grew so perhaps... Or was she a defender and protecting those who would normally be bullied. Only one way to find out, wait and see. 

The two titans continued to grapple, Izanami holding back the giant's strength as their contest of strength endured. The beast bellowed and roared, straining itself to its limits. Never before had it faced a foe equal in strength, and that fear was clear on its weathered face. "ENOUGH!" Izanami boomed, as her twin tails shot out, coiling tight around the giant's neck piercing it a dozen times over with their barbed spines. It could do nothing about this, it lacked the limbs to hold back her arms and tails alike. The giant roared in pain, blood pouring from puncture wounds along its neck. Its cries were short lived.

Izanami's tails coiled tightly, there was an audible crunch of bones breaking in the air. The giant's roars of pain grew louder and more primal, fear filled its thoughts and the pain of death approached it. In one terrible motion the tails coiled tight as they could, pulling back and tearing with all their might. The giant's head was ripped clean from his body in a spray of blood. Within seconds his body grew limp, strength fading as it released its grapple with Izanami and fell slowly backwards with a heavy crash. Izanami dusted herself off, standing upright triumphant.

She lifted the severed her to eye level, still bleeding from its neck in her tail's grip. She inspected it closely, the terrified expression of the giant's last moments immortalized on his face in death. Izanami scoffed, taking the head and holding it by the beard in her hand to carry like a trophy. She'd need proof for the merchant's guild she actually slew the beast. And she could find a tanner in the city to bleach the skull for her once that was through. Slowly the giant dragonkin turned to depart, to head back to the destroyed carriages before making way for home.

Izanami did not get far though, pausing when she spotted it. A small creature, with brightly colored hair... and brighter colored wings. Watching her from the top of a nearby tree branch. Sticking out like such a sore thumb, Izanami couldn't help but be curious. She leaned in close to inspect it, eyes big as dinner plates looking over the strange being. "Dovahsebrom, Drem Yol Lok. Zii los dii du." She addressed the strange pixie in the ancient tongue of the dragons first, then again in the common tongue. "You stand before the Ebonflame, who and... what exactly are you?" This was no creature of the Ashlands, life in the harsh mountain region chiefly had a dull coloration for camouflage. Greys and browns, black and bone white. Nothing with blues and rainbows was native to these parts.

---

maltholloth

In a mix of awe and fear, he watches the woman decapitate the giant with her tail. Such savagery and strength. The look on the giants face almost made him laugh that it hadn't expected this end after all of its foul deeds.

Yet, then they stepped away and straight at him. Fear paralysed him in place, the big violet eyes fixed upon him intently. What if she used those tails on him, it wouldn't take much. The voice was in a language he just didn't know! 'Oh no! They're going to kill me!' "Meep!". It was a silly noise and no doubt both the huge woman and he knew it. Then, she repeats it in the common tongue. The fear lessens but still leaves him capable of only "Eeee iiiiii". Then comes his saviour, little Sparky, darting before the face of Elrodan is black eyes turned to triangles of anger and a little mouth articulating small signs and firing forth a volley of small flames that don't reach the woman but will provide some warmth on her nose. Inspired by the little mote, Elrodan finds his courage. "Iii... I am Elrodan. A... A fairy of a far away forest, oh Ebonflame.".

He wants to avert his eyes, but the sheer scale of the woman gives little choice. Up close he can see details he'd before overlooked. Without a doubt, she looked like a dragon in person form. 

"Meep?" Izanami repeated the word, amused and annoyed. She exhaled through her nose, twin jets of black smoke pouring from her nostrils. Though she did not expect the living flame to come to its master's aid. Bravely putting itself between the two like a stubborn little ember. Her gaze narrowing as it fired a volley of flames her way. "Adorable." Izanami cooed, pursing her lips and blowing the mote of fire back towards its master. "Elrodan..." Izanami repeated the name, as if tasting it on her lips. She raised her free hand to run her chin, mulling over the brightly colored creature's story.

"A fairy? This far to the east? This is no forest for your kind little one. These woods harbor death, only the mightiest of beasts can call them home. Only the strong survive in the Ashlands, and that applies doubly to you." Izanami had never seen a fairy in person, she half thought they were fables from children's stories. Though she supposed, the same could be said of her. Dragonkin were not exactly a numerous race, and it was not like there were any dragons around to make new ones. She was grimly aware she was part of an unnatural race, one of the last of a dying breed. That said, this Elrodan did certainly look the part, and would be a fool to lie to face of someone fifty times his size.

"Come then, you and your fire mote will tell me more." Izanami left the two little choice in the matter. Reaching out her free hand to snatch them up in her grip. Depositing them onto the great bony mass of spikes that erupted from her right shoulder. "This form is taxing, I cannot maintain it indefinitely." She added, wasting little time in departing from the scene of her melee. Still carrying the severed head of the giant by its beard with her other hand. Izanami made her way back to the wreck of the carriage quickly with her enormous strides. No sooner did she arrive than she reached for the roof of the carriage, peeling it off like the lid of a jar.

Izanami set the roof down, setting the severed head on top of it. "I would hold on." She advised, as the dragonkin flexed her muscles, clenching her fists as she dispelled her ancient magics. Tendrils of black smoke and ebony flame drifted around her, as her giant magic faded and she shrunk down to her normal stature. The pixie looked like a monkey sitting on her shoulder, making Izanami feel a bit like a pirate. "I was contracted to find this beast and slay it. Does the term Darkveil mean anything to you Pixie?" Izanami rarely addressed strangers by name once she learned it. "This will be the last travelers it has the misfortune of slaying. Though I need to bring back proof of its demise."

Setting about her task, Izanami walked around to the front of the carriage, inspecting the ropes and bindings that once tethered the horses. She found a length of rope long enough for her needs, draping it over her shoulder as she headed back to her makeshift sled. "I am Izanami Shadowscale, dragonkin and Scion of Clan Shadowscale. The Ebonflame, Champion of Darkveil, Blood of Yamata no Akantor the First Flame. I could go on." She spiked the corners of the roof with her tails, using their barbed ends to punch holes to loop her rope through.

"Take anything you desire from the wreckage, they certainly won't be needing it anymore." Izanami said, gathering up what few crates seemed undamaged and piling them besides the head. Either the merchants would reward her for salvaging some of their cargo, or she would claim it herself as spoils of battle. Izanami then took two planks of wood she ripped from the carriage, fastening them together with scavenged nails and making a large cross. She embedded it by the roadside, taking a knee before it. "From the earth we all come, and to the ash we return. Your flame burns out, but your fire never dies. May you find the light of heaven, and bask eternal in the glow of the sun."

Her prayer concluded, Izanami deemed she had sufficiently laid the unknown merchants to rest. She gave one last look of the wreck, before summoning a ball of fire in her hand, and casting it to the remains of the carriage. The wooden vehicle burst into flames, she did not need its wreck blocking most of the road. "I am leaving. I have no more business here." Izanami informed the fairy, double checking her cargo was secured before looping several lengths of rope around the ends of her tails. "These roads are dangerous. You're welcome to follow. I can lead you as far as Darkveil, but that is my destination." She did not wait for an answer, giving a heave as she began dragging the sled along the ground. It would be a long journey back east, and she did not envy the stench of the severed head after a few days baking under the sun.

---

maltholloth

As fierce as the she was, clearly she was no mindless beast. The way she played with Sparky, although possibly in the way a cat plays with a spider before devouring it, reassured him. He was about to ask her name in return when her hand seized him and though scary, the move to place him on her shoulder amused him no end. Just as Sparky found his home on Elrodan's shoulder, he was now mounted on hers.

Holding gently onto one of the many spikes around him he happily sat there to tell his tale. "It is quite by misfortune really. I was happily enjoying my day out among the trees of Four Hazel Wood when a storm descended upon me from no where. If you ever see a tower of whirling wind, run from it. I never had the chance. I struggled trying to fly this way or that but it had me, and a great many other things too. Eventually something struck me and I lost consciousness. When I came to, I was falling, my wings were damaged and I was only just able to direct myself into what turned out to be a tree of Kingswood.".

As Izanami shrunk, he held on with both hands, giving a brief flap of his wings to lighten his minimal weight until she had stabilised at her normal size. "Did you need me to get down and fly? I don't mind. You are nice and warm though. As to here in this forest... I like trees, trees are my home and heart. I wanted to see all of the forests around here. I thought if I can't make it back home then maybe checking out these different ones would be worth doing... Just in case. There may have been some other fairies. And if you please, I'm a fairy, not a sprite or pixie. Not that they're so evil, but we are our own. As I'm sure you would not wish to be thought of as a lizardfolk or... Hmm crocodile walker. As to this Darkveil. It doesn't mean a thing to me no. I am seeing possibly why but all forests have a heart. ".

Jumping lightly into the air, he turned and faced her as he hovered and gave a bow. "Wow, another with a long name, and your one even longer. Regardless, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance Izanami Shadowscale, Ebonflame." At the offer of checking the scraps of battle, he flew over, rifling through anything that might hold value. At last it paid off as a small bag of coins and jewels was found. Returning to the dragonkin he buzzed from side to side above her. 'Am I to sit, should I fly, should I help pull? My word she is a curvy lady, pretty as a picture too'. "Excuse me, miss Ebonflame, may I help you? Did you want some of these by the way? I think they may have been the merchants?" with that he stays in silence as she conducts her prayer. "I would be happy to follow along, I have little need to be anywhere really."

Izanami listened intently as she worked, nodding along at the finer points of the fairy's story. "You are a long way from Four Hazel Wood, that much is certain..." She replied humorously, still focused on her task at hand. The dragonkin shook her head slowly to signify no. "If the weight of you and your little will o wisp on my shoulder were enough to way me down, I'd be a poor dragonkin indeed." She did not mind them hanging out there, in fact is was probably the closest thing she had to a tree branch they'd prefer. "I should hope I am warm, my ancestor was a fire drake all things considered." Izanami chuckled to herself, it was rare someone called her warm. Most beings concerned with her heat were typically on fire.

With a heavy tug Izanami pulled on her sled, beginning to drag her macabre cargo back towards her home city. "There are many forests and woods, and Charon is a vast land... especially for one so small. You are very brave to wish to see them all. Though I hope for your sake you can find your way home." She mulled over the thought to herself for a moment. "A home is a terrible thing to lose, for example, being driven from his tribe is likely what led our giant friend to prey on travelers and not forest beasts. Were he still doing that, he would not have made himself a target to be slain."


Izanami scoffed, then half chuckled at the fairy's preferential terminology. "So be it, Fairy. Though if anyone calls me crocodile walker... they are in dire need of reading glasses. I am no closer to a crocodile than you are to a butterfly." The road was long, and Izanami continued to pull her makeshift sled as she settled about a steady pace. It was easier once she got going, only the initial momentum had been difficult to build. Once she was sufficiently rested too from her fight she could resume her giant form and carry her spoils a ways to save on time.

"Darkveil is a city of those who wish to be alone. Even its name alludes to its purpose." Izanami spoke wistfully as she talked of her home. "It is young, but the standards of a city. Only decades old, my father was a young man when settlers first broke ground, and my grandfather was old enough to remember when it was just a place for travelers to rest." In its brief history, Darkveil had grown rapidly, mostly on the back of less than reputable industries, so far away from the reach of any kingdom's laws. "Darkveil was carved into the very mountains, the stone exhumed used to build its very walls. Sleeping in the long shadow of Mount Drakolt." Izanami lifted a hand and pointed to the east, at a cruel peak rising high above the others in the horizon. Black smoke pouring from its summit. "It is a volcano, a mountain alive with a fire in its belly. It is said Drakolt is the resting place of dragon's, their souls giving it their fiery rage. Others say it is a wound in the earth itself, a place pierced by the gods in some ancient struggle."

Izanami gave a slight shrug. "Whatever the truth, the mountain belches fire, and magma runs in red rivers like blood from a wound. It hides many treasures along its domain, the lands in its shadow are rich in gems and ore. Darkveil produces much gold, silver, iron, coal, and gems. Our forges never hunger, and our smiths are never wanting for work. Metalworking and artisan crafting are two of the city's principle industries. Though smuggling, gambling, gladiatorial fighting, slavery, and the sale of exotic beasts are all profitable sources of revenue." The dragonkin had little quarrel with these less than noble ventures. They were a way of life for her people, and they had no king to outlaw them... and suffered no knights enforcing said laws. "It is a city where every man is free to be his own king."

"The pleasure has been all mine, Elrodan." Izanami spoke as she dipped her head briefly in something of a bow. It was only proper she address the fairy by name this time. "You make for better company than most." She turned to look at the fairy, scoffing a bit at his offer to help. "You may continue to help by continuing to keep me company. The road is long, and conversation trumps silence." She gestured a hand back to the sled. "Toss that in the pile with the rest, I will consider it payment... to hire my services as a guide." Izanami was too proud to take the money as a gift, but also too avaricious to consider turning it down. "Everyone in Darkveil has need of money, first rule of the city. Nothing gets done without money or threats changing hands. And no offense little one, there are few who would take your threats seriously." Izanami laughed to herself, motioning the fairy to sit on her shoulder again. "Tell me more of yourself, and your little will o wisp. It is very brave, loyal to its master."

---

maltholloth

Slowly runs his finger up a nearby horn as she speaks, "It must be nice having such a history. Although I know back a couple of generations... We're only fairies of no real acclaim. So, does a fire drake history mean you can breathe fire? It's ok, you don't need to show me. No need to break stride just for that."

Gazes of into the distance as she speaks of home and forests, "Yes, it is. I don't think I quite realise how much I miss it yet. It's more like this is a big adventure right now and I'm just starting a few days from home. I've done that before. Though, he may have lost his home, I think he decided to choose to live like this. There are ways to make a life without crime."

He laughed at being called a butterfly, there had been a girl who had called him that once. It was a fond memory. "I'm confused, the town sounds nice, just like you are, why would you want to be on your own there? Wouldn't it be better to share it with others, then you can remember the other dragon souls in the mountain together? Or what is a king without his queen?"

Knowing the limits of his own strength against this of Izanami, he doesn't take any slight at not being able to help like that."I have other ways to help though..." draws out a flute that had been stored on his back between his wings. With a lick of his lips, he began to play 'Note of momentum' and Izanami can feel her moves quicken as he plays. Every now and then, he takes a break to say about his life back home dealing with the injured, the Four Hazel Wood, and his he met with the Godling in Kingswood. "...So that's how we came about finding a map. Had you heard of the sol stone? Might such a thing help you as a fire dragon descendant?". As Sparky let's put a crackle in his ear he quickly adds on "Oh! And of course, in that same hole in the tree, I found my little box containing Sparky. It was a funny stone box, full of holes, and on top is a depiction of fire. Do you know if it is common type of stone around here? I've never seen it's sort before. It feels light, even to me, I know it's small but here look.". Takes out the stone (pumice) box and shows it to Izanami.

Izanami shrugged her shoulders slightly. "History makes for a good lineage, but my people have a saying. Better to write your own page in history, than to be a footnote in your ancestor's. We dragonkin make our own history, otherwise we are forgotten in the shadow of own ancestor's legacy." She mused on the fairy's nature for a moment. "I have never heard of a fairy of acclaim now that I think of it. In a way, I suppose that would make it easy for you to become one. Big fish, small pond and all that." Izanami did not answer the question about breathing fire. It was something of a sore spot that she could not, at least not yet. She exhaled sharply at the remark, smoke trailing from her nostrils.

"A big adventure is it? Must be especially big for one so small." Izanami said with a chuckle, it did not stop being funny poking fun at the fairy's diminutive physique. "Darkveil is nice, far nicer than living in the Ash Wastes or in the mountains of the Dragon's Spine." She turned her head slowly to lock eyes with the fairy. "Because, Fairy. My kind are not keen on 'sharing'. It is something of an instinct, call it a weakness. Dragon's hoard gold, and Dragonkin do the same. Even as we speak the idea of 'sharing' my spoils with others makes my scales crawl." She hefted her ropes tighter in her tails, as if to keep her sled from sliding away.

The dragonkin offered a curious look when the fairy stated he had other ways to help. "You do?" Izanami questioned, as he drew forth a flute. The fairy's songs filled her with strength, rejuvenating and refreshing. "I see, so you're something of a bard then?" Izanami tapped a finger to her chin, holding out her clawed hand to inspect. "I can't say I have any talent for music. Claws and talons make for poor playing. My kind prefer war drums to flutes and lyres..." She listened keenly to the fairy, ears perking up at the word map. "Map, you said?" Izanami questioned, turning her head again to face her companion.

"Sol Stone?" Izanami inquired. "Like Solaria? The God of the Sun? No.... I have heard of no such thing. But, there is much I have not heard of." She mulled over this unknown relic for a moment. "It certainly wouldn't hurt to have, assuming it is real." She didn't even know what it was supposed to do. But her draconic nature told her she wanted it. It could sit atop the pile of gold she called her hoard. "Sparky? You named your will o wisp?" Izanami questioned as she looked to the fire mote. Fairies were an... odd bunch it would seem.

She took the box in hand, turning it over inspecting its sides. "The stone is pumice. It is an igneous rock, formed from dried lava. It is light because it is porous, every little air bubble in the magma when it hardens leaves its mark. But just because it is common in the Ashlands... does not mean it isn't rare elsewhere in Charon." Izanami did not know of other volcanos, though she supposed a fire mage could have simply conjured some themselves. "These symbols." Izanami added, tapping a finger to the side of the box. "They all mean fire. This one is draconic, this one elvish, this I assume is dwarf... their letters are as stout as they are." And so on and so on. Izanami handed the box back. "I have never seen such a trinket before, keep it safe. Darkveil has no shortage of pickpockets and you are small enough to be an easy target."

---

maltholloth

After puzzling on famous fairies for a moment, he comes to his decision. "I think the elves sing about their own, so, we don't get to hear about our own. Any we do sing are not repeated by the elves. I guess that means even if I did make a name for myself, I guess it'd be relegated to the footnotes like you say. I don't mind, doesn't stop me having fun, and if I can make others smile and be happy, maybe I'll get to be a mention in someone else's history."

Nods vigorously at this, ignorant or at least choosing to ignore, the size joke at his expense. "Yes, I would never have seen or even imagined most of the things I've already seen since being here. It really has been almost worth it. Though if I hadn't known or been through it all, I'd be None the wiser so wouldn't feel like I've missed out.".

He had heard of tales of dragons building up big hoards and sleeping on them so it made sense. "It is a shame you don't share, you could do twice as much or more by working with others... Oh! Did I make you feel bad by sharing the spoils of that wreck? I guess they are rightfully yours..."

"Even if they don't pass on our songs, I've still learnt and heard a lot from the elves at home that it just felt natural. Though the tricky thing is I can't sing when I play. I've practiced with other instruments like a drum but I didn't think to get one in the shop." he replies, before taking on her follow up question. "Oh yes, not the most advanced map, it was of a similar style as the symbol on the top of Sparky's box. But once we figure out different places to align them to the symbols on the map, then we should be able to follow it. Though you are correct, or at least, that's what I think he was saying about."

With a smile, he nods, looking at Sparky then Izanami, "I didn't call him that, he told me it!". Sparky turns to you, the two round black eyes changes to triangles pointed at Elrodan before spinning then back to circles looking more at you.

Listening with interest as she explains about the stone and the box. "You are most knowledgeable miss Ebonflame. Thank you for your warning, but they wouldn't touch me while you are near would they? You're ever so strong and brave. No one would dare would they? Not while you're my bodyguard. Wow! A dragon as a bodyguard. That's already great enough for a song right?".

Izanami nodded in response. "Then what stops the fairies from singing of their own? Why should your kind be beholden to what elves think?" The dragonkin had by and large, little love for the elves. Some old grudges did not die so easily. The idea of being a footnote in someone else's history foreign to the woman. Izanami would write her own page or die trying. She was too vain not too, too filled with an ancient sense of ambition and avarice.

Though as Elrodan continued to push the topic of sharing, did it begin to grate on her nerves. "I share plenty, just not my wealth." She snapped back, focusing on pulling her heavy cargo as she sulked. "No, it's fine. They are hardly spoils, just the trinkets of dead men. I offered you to take your fill. Rightfully they belong to the merchant's guild, who are no doubt being compensated as we speak for the loss of yet another trader caravan. But that is besides the point..." Were it a room filled with treasure, some ancient and forgotten tomb, her tone would be quite different.

Izanami listened to the origin of the fairy's musical talents. "I see, very ingenious of you. Though I've never heard of a fairy that cannot sing. Though... I've heard of few fairies in general." Now she was mulling over what she did know of their kind. How much was fairy tale and how much was fact. "Wait, you're saying your will o wisp can speak? And it's tied to this map of yours somehow?" Izanami raised an eyebrow questioningly, looking to Sparky as he spun in place. "You two are certainly full of secrets." She blew a ring of smoke at the wisp, just wide enough it passed by the hovering mote of flame.

"The Ebonflame is a title, it is not my surname." Izanami corrected Elrodan. "I am not 'miss' Ebonflame. Miss Shadowscale would be more correct, but call me Izanami if you must keep your formalities." She was not going to let that become a habit of the fairy, otherwise it would wear thin on her nerves. "Knowledge comes with experience, I am native to these lands. It only makes sense I know much about them. You are otherwise correct, no pickpocket would dare approach you in my company." She basked in the compliments, being called brave and strong. Izanami was rather vain. "Dragonkin." She corrected. "I am no closer to a dragon than a mermaid is to a shark."

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maltholloth