DnD Tales: The Adventures of Rynalla the Artificer

The History of a Traumatized Black Dragonkin; The One Willingly Spared (4/5)

As soon as the two locked eyes, Stroscath recognized Rynalla immediately; as not many Dragonkin lived in Blackpool and even fewer Dragonkin posessed glowing purple eyes. He didn't bother to struggle and just went limp in her grasp; as he knew that fighting her would only result in him getting injured or killed far more quickly than he would've liked. He figured that maybe- just maybe- he might be able to talk her out of killing him and his family.

"R-Rynalla, please." The cleric whimpered quietly as his gaze shifted to a point somewhere behind her. "Thurkham and I were childhood friends. I was proud of him when he told me about you and how he had planned to raise you to your adult years."

Rynalla tightened her grip around the Wood Elf's throat slightly; causing him to gasp from the sudden pain.

"I don't recall Thurkham ever mentioning a Wood Elf." Rynalla growled lowly as her grip around the male elf's throat tightned yet again.

"Perhaps you may not remember me. My... my name's Stroscath Galenor." The he wheezed desperately. "The Head Cleric for the Temple of the angel Azre. Angel of peace; holy offspring of Viralith, Silvia, and Glacaledge."

He paused as he fought to get air into his lungs as Rynalla rolled her eyes in exasperation. She already knew who the Dragon Gods and the Dragonborn Angels were from Grimbreaker; as it was one of the first things that he had taught her.

"It was myself and a group of my best clerics who treated you after your... apparent blackout."

As Stroscath was visibly starting to faint from the lack of oxygen, Rynalla decided to let him go; however, she kept him restrained by wrapping her tail around his midsection with his arms pinned to his sides, useless. She wouldn't dare admit it, but this Wood Elf was starting to intrigue her with the information that he had divulged so far; as he seemed to know a great deal of valuable information.

"Continue." Rynalla commanded, her tone softening ever so slightly with intrigue.

Now able to breathe easier, Stroscath took a deep, shaky breath before he continued to speak.

"You were brought to my temple by two Goliaths who found you covered in blood and tearing into the corpse of a High Elf female. For your safety and ours, we had to sedate you for treatment."

The memory of Thurkahm's death came flooding back as the Wood Elf spoke and tears even started to spill from the Dragonkin's eyes, as she had failed to contain such a strong feeling of grief. Stroscath obviously noticed; but given the current situation, he decided against bringing it up to the Dragonkin who currently had him in a constrictor's grip with her tail out of fear for his safety.

"After a month and a half, your true father- Lord Grimbreaker, as he demanded we call him- somehow got word of you and came for you; despite our best efforts to prevent such a thing." Stroscath continued. "We knew that it could end quite badly for us if he found out about you."

The elf let out a nervous chuckle.

"The dragon didn't take no for an answer, so we had no choice but to stop treatment and pass you over to him or risk him razing the town then and there."

Stroscath let out a sad sigh.

"He left with you and the command to find a Black Dragonborn by the name of Runekille Nightwing in a span of two weeks or he would destroy Blackpool."

The Wood Elf laughed sadly and shook his head.

"No matter who I talked to- guards, merchants, nobles, or religous figures- no one seemed to be able to find her. There had been rumored sightings left and right, but no one was able to confirm that the individual sighted had been her; even if it was, she proved herself to be quite crafty and evaded any attempts to capture her."