Post by zeverus on Nov 18, 2011 22:25:44 GMT -5
The farmer gulped. When he'd heard the noise out towards the barn he thought one of his animals had injured itself. Maybe even wolves or goblins prowling about. Goblins were an awful problem in these parts but far more welcome than this. Anything but this. Anything but a large red dragon sitting on top of his large red barn. No not sitting. Sprawling. Sprawling and snoring. God awful snoring. Thats what the noise had been. Snoring mixed with the cries and squeals and whinnying of frightened barn animals. The farmer wanted nothing more but to turn around and go back to bed. If there was ever a morning to sleep in, this was it... but there were chores to be done and a livelihood to maintain. And a dragon to get off ones barn.
He collected a pitchfork, a ladder, and his courage and ascended to the roof of the barn. Legend had it dragons used to be terrible pest, stealing gold and livestock, but they were intelligent. Some lord of yesteryear had figured since they could talk and be reasoned with they could be dealt with and before you knew it dragons were as much a citizen of the kingdoms as anybody. You still didnt want to find one on your roof. Especially since, like humans, not all dragons abided by the law. So when the farmer prodded the dragon he did it very gently.
The dragon opened his eyes and craned his neck over to find out what had woken him. He'd been dreaming of mountains of warmed gold inside sheltered caverns and had woken to find the reality of cold morning wind and damp mudthatch straw. The tiny human stood beside his belly, wielding a flimsy trident and peering out from a comicly wide-brimmed straw hat. Zeverus snorted a plume of smoke to clear the nights crust from his nostrils, "Not often my dinner arrives with its own fork." The human visible gulped before shouting(there was no need, a dragons hearing is quite keen), "This building is my property, dragon and I request that you vacate it immediately." That was dissapointing. A dragon could get by laws simply by frightening populaces into inaction but this little one was going to stand his ground and make a nuisance of himself. Well if fear wouldnt work... "Good sir, I have injured myself in a valiant battle against goblins, defending your lands against hordes of their raiders," Zeverus lifted a torn wing for proof. "I merely needed a few days rest.... and perhaps meal." The dragon looked down suggestively toward the barn. He knew goblins and humans never got along and by claiming he was the enemy of one he'd endear himself to the other. He also knew the farmer hadnt a clue the real reason he'd damaged his wing was landing on a tree that couldnt support his weight.
The farmer scratched his beard and then shouted, "Very well dragon, but thats 10 gold a night and 50 gold per a head of cattle." "What?!" Zeverus whined, "But i fight on your behalf." The farmer smirked, "No, I think you fight on behalf of the bounties the magistrates have on goblinheads and if you will be taking advantage of my hospitality during your work you will pay for them just like any mercenary at the inn." Zeverus grumbles but acquienced. If only because he now had a new tip on how to get some gold about these parts. His lie was soon to be reality.
He collected a pitchfork, a ladder, and his courage and ascended to the roof of the barn. Legend had it dragons used to be terrible pest, stealing gold and livestock, but they were intelligent. Some lord of yesteryear had figured since they could talk and be reasoned with they could be dealt with and before you knew it dragons were as much a citizen of the kingdoms as anybody. You still didnt want to find one on your roof. Especially since, like humans, not all dragons abided by the law. So when the farmer prodded the dragon he did it very gently.
The dragon opened his eyes and craned his neck over to find out what had woken him. He'd been dreaming of mountains of warmed gold inside sheltered caverns and had woken to find the reality of cold morning wind and damp mudthatch straw. The tiny human stood beside his belly, wielding a flimsy trident and peering out from a comicly wide-brimmed straw hat. Zeverus snorted a plume of smoke to clear the nights crust from his nostrils, "Not often my dinner arrives with its own fork." The human visible gulped before shouting(there was no need, a dragons hearing is quite keen), "This building is my property, dragon and I request that you vacate it immediately." That was dissapointing. A dragon could get by laws simply by frightening populaces into inaction but this little one was going to stand his ground and make a nuisance of himself. Well if fear wouldnt work... "Good sir, I have injured myself in a valiant battle against goblins, defending your lands against hordes of their raiders," Zeverus lifted a torn wing for proof. "I merely needed a few days rest.... and perhaps meal." The dragon looked down suggestively toward the barn. He knew goblins and humans never got along and by claiming he was the enemy of one he'd endear himself to the other. He also knew the farmer hadnt a clue the real reason he'd damaged his wing was landing on a tree that couldnt support his weight.
The farmer scratched his beard and then shouted, "Very well dragon, but thats 10 gold a night and 50 gold per a head of cattle." "What?!" Zeverus whined, "But i fight on your behalf." The farmer smirked, "No, I think you fight on behalf of the bounties the magistrates have on goblinheads and if you will be taking advantage of my hospitality during your work you will pay for them just like any mercenary at the inn." Zeverus grumbles but acquienced. If only because he now had a new tip on how to get some gold about these parts. His lie was soon to be reality.