What Lies In Darkness

An Invitation Extended

A large wooden ship sails across the blackened ocean at night. Lanterns placed in different areas of the ship give light to the crew that man the vessel. The crew, however, are not human. Their skin is scaly and tough. Their eyes glow in the fire light of the lanterns.

The crew scurry about the deck, setting rigging, and raising three large sails to catch the night wind. While most of the crew are small, only about a meter tall, there is one that stands out from the rest. He is large, about 2 meters in height. He wears heavy plate mail, that clanks when he walks. He growls out orders to the crew.

"Get ready to make port," he shouts. The crew obey silently. They are too busy to make any rebuttal. They follow their leader without protest. One of the crew steps up to the larger one.

"General, are you sure we will be allowed to weigh anchor here? The Humans and Gnomes are not to fond of our kind. We may stir up trouble."

The larger one looks down at the one addressing him.

"Do you think I care what humans and gnomes think? I was asked to come here. If the Humans and Gnomes are in disagreement to my presence they can speak with he who is hosting me."

The smaller bows his head and rushes back to his work.

The larger walks up a set of stairs to the bow of the vessel. In the light of one of the lanterns, scars can be seen running along the left side of his reptilian face. He sniffs the night air. He can smell the city that is still hundreds of yards away. He smiles, showing a row of razor sharp teeth.

The ship, quickened by the wind, finds an empty area in the harbor of the city. The silhouette of dock workers can be seen against the light of lamps. They are preparing for the vessel's arrival, but are they ready for the people which are carried by the vessel?

The crew expertly bring the ship to dock. The call to drop anchor is heard from one of the crew. The dock workers throw ropes to the crewman aboard the ship and they secure the ropes to the railings on the side.

The crew put out a gangplank to the dock. The large creature walks to it and proceeds down the gangplank. As he reaches the bottom, the dock workers stop. They gaze at him, stunned by what they are seeing. Suddenly, one of them shouts out, "Draconian! It's a ship full of Draconians!"

The dock workers all around start to grab up anything that they can use as weapons. The large draconian eyes the human dock workers. A slight grin crosses his face. These Humans are weak, he thinks to himself.

The dock workers form a line, hoping to keep the draconian from entering the city. They are scared though, and the Draconian can smell it.

"I am here at the behest of one in your fine city," he states smoothly. "I do not wish to cause unnecessary bloodshed, but I will if I must."

From behind the workers a group can be seen coming from the city. As they approach, the draconian can see that they are all well dressed. The leaders of the city have come to try and send me away, he thinks to himself.

Once behind the dock workers the group of about 10 stop. "What is it you want from our city Drac?"

The Draconian grimaces at the insult. Godforsaken Humans! They think they control everything, he thinks to himself. Even with these thoughts in his mind, he composes himself on the outside.

He opens his mouth and his voice carries to the city elders. "I have come on the behest of one in your city. A man by the name of Falon. He sent me this as an assurance that I would be allowed to enter." He takes a rolled up parchment out of a small bag hanging at his side and holds it up for all to see.