The Book and the Dragon
by Scribe Edelgarde Spades
17th of Mirtul 1357
To Mark, Yyiriss, the avowed of Candlekeep, Ashenie, Alexander and all those who made this possible.
Chapter 1: a bookwyrm at Candlekeep's doors
This story starts like many other stories in Candlekeep: with a book.
Before I joined the Keep, a Brass Dragon in the guise of an elf named Mark knocked at our very doors to offer a trade: three rare books for a sketch and poems written by a bard named Yyiriss Valcovani, that was allegedly stolen from him by a blue dragon. As we found out later on, the deceased author was dear to the dragon, his wife to be precise, and he requested that no copy of the book was made.
I joined shortly after and, although I was but an acolyte at the time, my opinion was asked on whether or not it was appropriate to petition the Keeper of the Tomes with such a request. Most of the avowed expressed themselves in favour and a letter to Ulraunt was written. Needless to say, the Keeper of the Tomes denied it.
We didn't hear from the dragon for more than a year, until one day he came back and reiterated his request to the Guide. One of our acolytes, Arendyll Hakwsong, took the dragon's request to heart and this time she decided to petition the First Reader. We all underwrote the letter, but alas our request was denied again.
The first time I met Mark was at the friendly arm on a day of Ches, this year. The earth trembled briefly and violently, and while we all staggered a tall elf in light blue robes advanced towards us, asking to speak with the Guide. At first I did not realize who he was and I asked if he had any idea what could have possibly caused such a tremor.
All of a sudden and without a warning, the elf shifted into a huge wyrm as tall as the Friendly Arm, his body covered in shining scales of brass. He introduced himself as Lyvinicus Drycus, the Golden Maw and such a large list of honorifics that I forgot. Quickly losing focus on his previously stated task, he started recounting a story about red dragons and within moments, a large crowd was gathered in awe listening to the tale of the majestic creature.
Unfortunately, the story was cut short by two guards from the Friendly Arm who requested the dragon to leave as he was, according to them, scaring the merchants.
Chapter 2: Out of the blue
Few weeks later, Mark visited us in Candlekeep, his arrival announced by a guard suddenly falling asleep while walking after breathing his sleeping gas. After a candlemark of pleasantries and stories, he stated his intention to seek audience with Gorion, who promptly confirmed this fact and led the dragon with him inside the main building.
When the door had barely closed behind them, a group of three armored men walked in our courtyard. One of them, the only one whose eyes showed a modicum of intelligence, introduced himself as Azurel Sunderspark and asked if a tall elf had visited the library. I confirmed it and at that point he walked away, while his associate was so kind to notify me that his lord would not waste anymore time talking with "less than a half blood".
It was at that point that I realized that name was ringing a bell. Azurel Sunderspark was in fact a pseudonym for a slaver blue dragon who, as a cherry on top of that unpleasant cake, was also a human supremacist.
Accompanied by Senior Seeker Lucia, I bolted inside the library and walked in the middle of a heated conversation between poor Gorion, who was trying to enunciate the efficacy of our wards, and Mark who seemed to be in great distress.
Without wasting anymore time, I mentioned a blue dragon named Azurel Sunderspark was waiting for him outside and likely not to catch up on the latest fashion on the Sword Coast. Surprisingly, the dragon was startled and dropped the book. I immediately ran towards it to assess the damage, only to discover the book was completely blank. After spending an untold amount of time wondering what manner of calamity could have caused the content of a book to disappear completely, sporting what must have looked like an expression of utter horror, I realized that the book was probably a false to begin with. That could only mean one thing. Well, two: we had been played for fools and the book was still out there somewhere.
Suddenly serious, Mark revealed us that his feud with Azurel had been going ahead for centuries. In fact, the foul creature kept a large amount of slaves in the desert and Lyvinicus' efforts to free them proved fruitless.
The best book seekers of the whole Coast, of course, could not let this chance slip from their hands: help Mark to recover his stolen property and claim whatever books the blue dragon kept in his hoard.
Chapter 3: To the dragon's den.
The first ten-day of Tarsakh and another encounter with Sunderspark as pleasant as the chicken pox where he punched Acolyte Hawksong came to pass. A distressed woman walked within the premises straight to Winthrop and asked him to help her against a group of bandit. Since the poor man was ready to charge ahead armed only with a shovel, we immediately followed suit to prevent the untimely death of our freshly made shovel knight. As soon as we stepped out of the gate though, we literally bumped in a brass-scaled talon.
Our bookwyrm friend kindly shed some light on the distressed woman, who was in fact sent by him to lure Winthrop out so he could accompany him to a scouting mission to the blue dragon's lair, which happened to be in the Calishite desert.
Needless to say, Winthrop was quickly to leave shovel and resolve at the door and run back to the tavern at the mention of said dragon. But fear not, dear reader, this too was planned by Lyvinicus, who now had a group of competent folks ready to venture to the lair.
After preparing, me, Senior Seeker Lucia, Guard in Training Cyran, his aunt Riva and her employer Beram flew towards Calimshan carried by our brass friend. Before departing, he warned us not to intervene and just observe since the previous time he was there the guards proceeded to kill the slaves as soon as they registered Mark's presence.
When we landed near the encampment, concealed by draconic magic, we witnessed a terrifying sight. The landscape was devastated by ruins in flames, the sands dotted by crystal formations, created by sand melted by the blue's lightnings. Deformed sphynxes ravenously flew overhead, like condors circling a carcass and all around the camp Sunderspark's guards forced a group of starved slaves into mining an unknown ore. According to the druid Riva, Sunderspark wasn't only exploiting the people but the land as well.
After sketching the camp from the top of a hill, Cyran hid in the shadows to fetch some books from the camp, but at that moment the earth trembled, the sand boiled and shifted in place. What we thought was a rock outcrop was none but the horn of the blue dragon who had been buried under the sand for the whole time and now was emerging in all his might.
Mark urged me to teleport the others away, and uncaring of my objections he charged ahead against the blue, bringing the fight high in the sky.
We teleported away and for a few candlemarks we worried over our friend's fate. Finally, he answered to Lucia's sending and confirmed he managed to escape with his life.
Chapter 4: Mystery revealed.
Later on, we found out he -barely- escaped with his life, as he returned severely wounded and probably would not have returned at all if someone had not healed him on his way.
While the brass dragon recovered under the care of Winthrop and his forty odd cakes, we avowed analyzed the books Cyran so valiantly recovered from the encampment.
Among our findings were some of the sketchbook's pages that Mark was after, which were promptly returned to him, and other books that all pointed to the sinister goal the blue was working towards. He was in fact building, or repurpousing as we learnt later, a weapon capable of provoking the death for old age of whoever is stricken by it and whose name is spoken in the enchanted green gem the weapon must be fashioned out of. Three names were hastily scribbled at the corner of a page: Marqis Del Nova, Jaques Elena and Alexander Calborn. All three of them related to Baldur's Gate.
With no further ado, a group of avowed guided by Guard Kamine traveled to Baldur's Gate to investigate those three names. Although nothing was found about Calborn, they soon found out that Del Nova and Elena were two artisans capable of fashioning weapons out of stones. The first was reported dead of old age at the age of twenty last year, the second had disappeared more or less at the same time shortly attempting to fashion a dagger out of a spear.
I set myself to the task of finding more about the books found in the lair and therefore proceeded to find a bibliography for its author. In one of those works I found an illustration of a man killing a bronze dragon with a green-tipped spear. The text indicated the man as Alexander Calborn, a fallen ilmateri, and the dragon as Igadol Zymeta, his master. Surprised by this finding, I immediately proceeded to look for any work written by the man and, by the blessing of the Lord of All Glyphs and Images I found his own diary.
Before his fall, Calborn invented a spell capable of saving a person close to the spellcaster from the brink of death. After a fateful encounter, Calborn was changed, his mind slipping away, and that led him to pervert his own spell into one that Azurel was trying to reproduce.
I promptly reported my findings to Lyvinicus and listened to his recount.
Calborn claimed innocence until the end and wrote the name of his instigator in the dirt, dying shortly after in the attempt of uttering it. Yyiriss witnessed the event and was killed shortly after with the same weapon, disguised as a dagger. The dragon revealed that nothing less than a Wish spell would be able to bring her back.
Chapter 5: Reunion.
Encouraged by this new hope of bringing back Lyvinicus' lost love, we set ourselves to two new tasks: tracking the real culprit and finding a Wish spell. The first lead brought me to Baldur's Gate, where I found the aid of the Temple of Ilmater. Thanks to Sister Ashenie's faith, we walked a path that led us without bloodshed, not only to discover the whereabouts of the cursed weapon, but also to an artifact capable of bringing back one of its victims.
With great joy I witnessed Mark and the gracious elven woman of the sketches, now suddenly alive, strolling hand in hand in our courtyard. I was soon to discover her beauty was only a fraction of her kindness, as she thanked us and offered to donate the very book we were meant to recover from the blue, which was also her best work of art, to the Keep.
Chapter 6: Before the "Great Storm"
Now that Livynicus was given the chance to see his spouse again and it was known to us that the weapon was brought to Azurel's encampment after one of his men used it to kill Yyiriss, it was time for a counterattack.
Our was not an easy task: not only we had to defeat Azurel and his elites, but we had to do so while protecting the slaves and breaking the domination spell on his guards. Not to mention we had to seize the weapon before it could be used against Mark. As we could not take any chance, we asked for the aid of not one but two skilled strategists: Alexander Holgart, squire of Sir Althalous Fenwick, and Sir Sean of the Order of the Radiant Heart.
The plan was simple but effective: it only required three separate groups, a druid and a lot of Mind Blanks. Each group was to approach one of the three camps, concealed by a sandstorm conjured by the druid, free the slaves from mental domination, deal with the elites and then join Mark who in the meantie would be keeping the blue in check. There was only one unknown variable: whether or not the weapon was ready.
During the two tendays that followed, Ciran, Acolyte Kayle and Yyriss infiltrated in the western encampment. Those were mostly occupied by guards forcing slaves into hard labor, dragon disciples and flesh golems. When they braved the darkness of the tunnels they found an even worse place: a torture chamber that was being used. Unable to help the slaves in any way, the group proceeded ahead and found themselves in a forge, where a blacksmith was tempering a green gem, as big as half of a dagger, in water. Assuming that this gem was going to be part of the weapon, Cyran relocated it in his pockets. Just before they could leave, though, the found themselves face to face with Azurel Sunderspark in human form. Yyiriss tossed a crystal at him, while Cyran unleashed his powers and conjured a jet of acid right in the face of Azurel. Needless to say, the dragon was not too pleased, but that gave them a moment necessary to flee.
Chapter 7: The fall of Sunderspark
With the weapon, for now out of the picture, we could focus on the attack and on the 16th of Ches we met in Candlekeep ready to leave. Mark joined us shortly after, distributing the potions Seeker Colds prepared that would make us immune to Mark's sleeping gas and that as a boon, tasted like oranges.
Unfortunately, things started going not as planned as soon as Mark informed us that the eastern camp collapsed for unknown reasons. Now our plan required to check the western camp quickly and then move to the north.
As soon as we teleported to the location we visited previously, the one near the western camp, we realized something was very wrong. No living being could be spotted and horrid flesh golems, made with Sunderspark's soldiers and slaves patrolled the land. This and the number of brand new siege engines made us suspect that Sunderspark did not take well the previous visit to his lair, and even less so having half of his face soaked in acid. After the initial horror, we cautiously proceeded towards the western camp, while Mark flew over the cave where the slaves were kept and engulfed it with his sleeping breath.
On our way we were attacked by countless flesh golems and dragon disciples, but Jalib, Alexander, Fenwick and Riva in tiger's form, aided by Lucia, Cyran and Nalissa's spells dismantled them quick enough. In the meantime my wards, Gwyn's songs and Ashenie's healing spells provided support.
The inside of the passage was full of bodies and here too we were attacked by dragon's disciples and flesh golems. Our surprise was great when, after opening one of the doors, two living men of Sunderspark stopped us at spear point. They were guarding a cage full of sleeping slaves and they feared if they moved Sunderspark would turn them into flesh golems. They believed he had lost his mind after Cyran scarred him with acid.
Ashenie offered them mercy and invited them to follow a better path in life. With no objections we let them flee. While we forged ahead, Sir Fenwick and Lucia stayed behind to teleport the unconscious people to the temple of Ilmater and then rejoined us.
Eager to reach Mark, we descended further in the tunnel, into an older part infested by undead and ghosts. In the meantime, the earth trembled under the strife of the two ancient dragons. On our path we found a man busy burning books and Cyran confirmed he was the torturer he saw in his scouting mission. While disarming him, Cyran managed to take from him the book he was going to burn and with great surprise found that it was Yyiriss' book. The torturer, a former Red Wizard, confessed he raised the ghosts to fight the flesh golems. Sister Ashenie, showing great mercy, tried to heal him but he punched her. Uncaring of the blow, sister Ashenie went back on her feet and tried to heal him again, but the spells did not take any effect. Before dying for his wounds, the wizard mocked us for being exactly like him and admitted refusing the healing spell.
Finally we reached the end of the tunnel and resurfaced in the desert, in correspondence of what once was the northern camp. We were welcomed by the booming sounds of thunder and strife. Overhead we could see the glimmer of brass scales and the angry red of fire towards the entrance of the lair. Knowing Mark was still alive we proceeded with renewed vigor and once we got close enough I teleported us to the lair.
The majestic halls were hollow and dark, carrying the heavy steps of the undead and the roaring of the two dragons. We fought our way through the foes and finally found our path blocked by the blue. Azurel the Great Storm stood majestic in his draconic form: rocklike horn and reptilian eyes focused on our group, skin hanging like a curtain where Cyran's acid had burnt him.
Cyran taunted him, while Nalissa tried to get him to see reason. The large wyrm, surprisingly agreed to talk and while his attention was focused on the others, Alexander gestured us to surround him. While we drifted away like ghosts to encircle the dragon, Ashenie tried to stop his madness.
"Help bring back those who are no more" said the priestess. "Instead of violence, choose Mercy."
But Azurel focused on me instead. "Mud rat.. So far away from home.. Not a fiend, not a human. How terrible it must be to be a failure at two entirely seperate matters at once." he said.
"Yet I am not the one who had to turn his people into flesh golems to get allies" I replied with a raised eyebrow.
At that point, Cyran dangled the half weapon he had stolen during the scouting mission right in his face. "You lost to us already" he said.
But the wyrm would not give up, claiming that Tiamat would not allow his failure.
"I don't give a crap what Tiamat thinks! ENOUGH!" shouted Jalib before charging with his spiked mace, Wenchslapper.
"NOW! SLAY THE DRAGON!" Alexander followed suit with his blessed greatsword, signaling the attack.
The battle was fierce and our weapons and spells seemingly bounced on the hard scales of the dragon leaving barely a scratch. As if he wasn't enough, he regularly called upon undead, ordering them to attack us, but he wasn't the only one with allies. Acknowledging the strength of my foe, I touched two of the thaumaturge foci on my necklace, a red feather and a white one, and called upon my planar allies: Jasnah, my Asura planar cohort and long time ally, and Asriel, a planetar sworn to Deneir whose mission is to intervene where knowledge is used for evil purposes. The winged celestials heard my call and joined our efforts, while Lucia blasted the undead the dragon sent against us with acid bursts and Ashenie sustained us with her prayers. No matter how hard the fighters hacked. No matter how many spells we threw at the creature, he still stood in full force, while his electric breath could not get past our wards. We had reached an impasse and it was clear to all we needed our brass friend's aid to prevail.
"GET YER ARSE HERE, MARK!" Jalib shouted in his contact medallion, without stopping his flurry of blows.
In a few heartbeats, the huge figure of Lyvinicus engulfed the entrance of the lair, brass scales glimmering at the light of the torches. He charged is avowed enemy.
"Drycus! I will kill you first!" roared Azurel in response.
But we were quick to move and support Mark, who bolted ahead, biting the blue's neck and breathing fire across his throat. He almost fell to the ground, but did not surrender and raised back on his feet between labored breaths. On the other hand, we did not fare much better and were almost overwhelmed by exhaustion.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps thundered across the large halls. Expecting yet another horror conjured by Sunderspark, we all faced that direction. My heart almost jumped out of my chest when another draconic silhouette covered in shining silver scales approached the battle and charged ahead. I instantly recognized the new comer from Mark's tales: advancing towards us among the surprise cries of my companions was Justice, the Great Void.
With her powerful aid, we quickly prevailed. The blue crumbling with a loud roar.
We all stood for a long moment, catching our breath and still disbelieving it was finally over. Ashenie, in deep sorrow, approached the blue and tended to his body. While those present rejoiced and wounds were tended, Mark and Justice greeted each other. The silver answered to the brass' surprise explaining their late friend Igadol would have wanted her to help him. She then bowed her head gracefully and take to the skies after agreeing to meet with Lyvinicus later on.
Tiredly, we approached the hoard of the blue. At that point, I approached Mark and handed him the book we recovered from the torturer before it was burnt. He picked it at first, but then shook his head and offered to donate it to the Keep.
"At first it was all I had" he said smiling. But you've all have given me back more than I could ever ask for."
Grateful for the kind gift, I thanked him on behalf of the Keep.
In the moments that followed, Mark recovered the things stolen from him, while the rest of us picked whatever we could, us avowed focusing on the books. Sister Ashenie consecrated the bloodied altar, defiled for so long by blood sacrifices.
Chapter 8: A night to remember
While Lyvinicus lingered a while longer we teleported back to Candlekeep. When he rejoined us, only me, Jalib and Cyran remained. He and Yyiriss were to visit Igadol's tomb and then move back to his old lair. Before saying our farewells he thanked us again, with the promise he will never forget us or the Keep.
I will not say "all's well that end's well". I will not say we triumphed as heroes. We failed in saving the slaves and we could not, or were not prepared enough, to save countless lives. I will not hide the truth as failures, like successes, must be recorded for posterity. But I will not focus on only on failure either. We freed a whole region from the tyranny of a blue dragon. We removed prevented a weapon that should never have seen light from being reforged, undoing part of the evil that was done with it. We allowed a couple that was separated in such a violent way to reunite. No less importantly, we all grew up a bit, because this one like all good stories has many lessons to teach. I will therefore leave you one of these lessons, albeit not the most important one:
I can now say with absolute certainty that Candlekeep has the best seekers in Faerun: we were tasked with recovering a book and we brought back the author herself.
THE END