Chapter 8: Running with the Dragons
Ryland nods to Windfang. He steps out a few paces and picks up the story. "Ladies and dragons" he says, giving a low bow. "The vile'ek, as we were told they are called, stem from an unknown origin. I surmise they're hundreds of years old, given that when forced to revert out of their unnatural state, many became the likes of beings not seen for nearly an age: hobbits and elves. As Windfang said, they strongly dislike music; a discovery that yours truly pioneered as we fought back scores of the beasts. Well.. Mostly me, but I digress! I believe it to be something more akin to the positive energy of cheer and spirit, and not so much my virtuoso playing. Their strikes seems to drain the very cheer from ones soul - though admittedly this observation is mostly second hand, as it takes more than an amalgamated monstrosity of concentrated doom and despair to outsmart your friendly local bard. But again, I digress. At the center of it all there was some shadowy evil that we couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. I would like to presume it to be the source of these beasts, but I can neither confirm no deny at this time. As we made our valiant egress from the city of gloom, we were in fact chased by an incredibly large vile'ek, big enough to blot out the sun. We assaulted it with both wit and expertise, never giving quarter and accosting the thing until it shrank back into submission. The disturbing part about it all was what was underneath the evil outer shell. It appeared to be a Balrog. Something too like elves and hobbits, not seen for many, many years. But even still, Balrog or not, the wicked and sniveling thing knew when it was beaten, and back to the shadows it went, flame and all before our final glimpse showed the Vile'ek sickness reclaiming its body underneath. I do not claim to know the full strength of the enemy, but I can say that bit is great, and it is terrible".
Ryland gives a quick nod and steps back to his position.