Ryland and Toben set out after a good meal and well-wishing from Gonhirrim and dragons alike.  With instructions on how to find Windfang, they make good time.  However, at sunset, Ryland's watchful eye catches sight of a flight of large dragons coming out of the west.  The two find cover in a small cave in the foothills and hope they have not been seen.  After an hour, it feels safe to talk, but neither yet wants to leave.  In the dark, the cave suddenly feels like a great place to weather the night.  Ryland knows legend enough to explain that dragons see just as well in the night as day, and the two travelers would be at a disadvantage in the dark.

"If we're shacking up here for the night, might as well see how far back this place goes. We'll probably want some sort of fire going, so best to keep the light from it out of sight".

Ryland casts dancing lights and sends them ahead into the cave

"Yes, let's move forward a bit." Toben pulls out that bluish white pelt from one of his special bags and throws it around his shoulders. "I can suffice without a fire, but if you don't have a means to keep warm, we'll need to make sure we aren't discovered here. Did Shock happen to mention how many days travel Windfang is?"

"Yeah, she said a day or so on foot, depending on how quickly we can cover the ground. We shouldn't be too far from our destination now, but no use in chancing it. And I suppose my bedroll can suffice for warmth. I doubt it will get too chilly, but chattering teeth make for a long night".

Ryland wills all but one of the dancing lights away, just enough to provide a bit of illumination, akin to a torch

"No need for that. A touch of warmth is all you need." Toben walks over and places a hand on Ryland's shoulder. He closes his eyes and a pulse of energy flows through his arm, down his hand, and into Ryland. Immediately, the nights chill begins to fade away.

"We'll need all the rest we can get, my friend."

Toben casts Endure Elements on Ryland. For 24 hours, he can comfortably endure temperatures between -50 and 140 degrees.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:22, Sat 20 Jan 2018.

"Oh? That is a handy spell there. Though if you ever tell anyone you gave me the warm fuzzies, I'll deny it to the day I die".

Toben chuckles. "I doubt that'll be the only secret you'll be taking to the grave."

Ryland muses "Oh the tangled web I've weaved my young friend. At any rate, we should get some shut eye... unless you want stories about debauchery and narrowly ducked bar room brawls ".

The cave is rather small with no hidden tunnels or anything.  The trip to Windfang is only an eight hour trip along the mountains to the west.

In the morning, rain has come and gone.  The stony ground has already dried from runoff and the path is easy to travel.  Twenty minutes out, the two men see an awesome and terrible sight.  Dragons in the sky, battling.  Three larger dragons seem to be attacking a smaller, faster moving dragon.

Much faster.  In fact, after watching for several minutes, it looks more like the smaller dragon is harassing the larger.

Toben points up to the spectacle. "10 gold says that's our Windfang."

Ryland feels at the coin purse on his belt. "I'll take that bet. Keep a low profile in the mean time while we try to cover the rest of our ground".

As the two move ever closer, picking their way through boulders and trees to keep hidden, they watch the titanic struggle.  It soon turns almost into an aerial comedy.  The smaller dragon flees, dives down toward the ground, to be followed by the three larger ones.  Moments later, it pops out its wings for a second, braking in the air, then writhes like a snake as the larger dragons pass by, trying futilely to snatch it.  As the last of these flashes past, the small dragon nips at the end of a tail causing its assailant to roar in pain.

Moments later, the smaller dragon finds itself surrounded by a triangle of the elders above him.  Some conversation must be happening as they hover there, but then the elders dive while the smaller struggles to climb.  Exultant in their impending victory, the three large dragons angle less steep toward him, extending claws at the last moment so that all three latch on to rip him to pieces.

Instead, just before their claws reach, the smaller dragon folds his body and does something so that it explodes downward.  The larger dragons slam into each other instead and reflexively tear at each other for a second before realizing what has happened.

Again and again the smaller dragon flies circles around the three big ones.  Their breath of fire or other, darker things only catch each other, not the one.  By the time Ryland and Toben arrive at the cave, the large dragons are limping home on torn wings and wounded pride.

The smaller dragon is nowhere to be seen.

Ryland peers into the cave and calls out "'Ello? Anyone home?"

"Aye mates.  I'm in 'ere.  C'mon in and rest a bit.  Shock said you was comin'.  The name's Windfang, at yor service."  Inside is a rather small tunnel with multiple offshoots.  However, there is an obvious main tunnel that leads down.  It eventually opens up into an underground cavern of immense proportions.  Wind and a soft song of low pitched pipes constantly waft through the cavern.  Light filters in through a network of cracks in the ceiling.

"Over here, mates.  Just tidying up a bit.  Got to wash up after playing outside."  The voice seems to come from everywhere at once.  It is a musical voice, a rich baritone with a wondrous timbre.

"That was quite a display you put on there. Those three will certainly think twice before making a move on the Heath."

Toben bows in no particular direction given that the voice doesn't betray its owner's location. "My name is Toben."

From one of the tunnels a dragon emerges.  It is somewhat smaller than shock and vastly different.  Fur covers much of its cat-like body.  In fact, the dragon looks a lot more like a gigantic cat with feathered wings than a dragon.  It's coloring is deep golden fading to white highlights, especially along the feathers.  When it sees the two humans, it stops, plops down on its haunches, and licks its paw with a decidedly forked tongue.  The dragon closes its eyes and its whiskers twitch as it cleans itself.

"Thanks, mate.  Those brutes barely do what anyone would call flyin'.  More like wallowin' in the sky, don'tcha reckon?  So, the famous Toben Ironsprings of the Dutchies of Man.  Wizard, adventurer, hero, smith, lots a hats yor wearin' there, kid."  He turns to Ryland.  "Sorry, mate.  I didn't catch your name."

Ryland nods. "Ryland. Ryland Vance. Bard, poet, object of women's eyes the world over. I'm sure my reputation precedes me as well"

He raises back up with a meek smile. "Fortune favors the prepared. Your kind words flatter me. Famous to some, I suppose. Infamous to others."

"If Shock sent word of our arrival then I presume she also mentioned our objective and timeline?"

"Wrylind Fancy?  Never heard of you."  Windfang shrugs.

"Shock said you needed someone fast to get two people over to the far west.  I'm the fastest there is, mates.  Though, weight can slow me down qui'e a bit."  He looks at Toben and nods, then at Ryland and cocks an eyebrow.  After a moment, he grimaces but nods.  "We'll work on it on the way.  I'm already to git.  Had t' take out those nosy neighbors before you arrived, or there'd be trouble.  I can outfly 'em, but with passengers, I can't outmaneuver 'em."

He finishes his bath and crouches down on his belly.  "Anything you need to know or say afore we depart?"

"Not me, I'm ready to get this show back on the road"