The Death Of Uthundor: Andras's Account

He had made this trek, from Hamley to the Wastes, a hundred times or more over the long years. Despite the enormity of their quest, the trip was quite routine. Those he traveled with, both friends and enemies alike were skilled and for the most part disciplined and the vile creatures they encountered posed little real threat. Ash had come to him with talk of how Pariah was to defeat the Stormlord Uthundor, all his arguments about coming to help seemed reasonable enough, and against his better judgment Andras vowed to assist when the time came. Had he known a Red Wizard was coming along he might just have broken that promise. Seven set out that day, bound for the Wastes. Four servants of The Light and three pawns of Darkness in common cause to rid Thain of the hated Dragoneater. The power of the storm, which had passed from the rest of Thain, still savaged the Wastes assaulting them with stinging rains and flashes of lightning. They traveled onward towards the heart of the storm, the children of Uthundor causing them little more trouble than the creatures of the Drakemyre did, and all fell before their combined might. Andras gripped Nykia’s Song tightly, an all too familiar feeling creeping over his senses. The Dragon was near. The maelstrom above them reached a furious peak, the air itself an unnatural blue haze obscuring their view. The seven spread out across the sands, their quarry illusive despite it’s size. Lightning flashed in an almost constant rhythm turning the darkness to day and back again. Andras peered into the darkness and in a flash of searing light he saw it. Uthundor towered above him, the dragon no less impressive for having lost its relic. He called out to the rest and the battle was joined, no quarter was given or received. The great Blue roared in rage and defiance and despite will, despite discipline, despite experience, the dragonfear ripped through their ranks, scattering the seven to the perils of the Wastes. Some fell to the sinking sands, some to the beetles that waited just beyond the battleground, others to the rage of the great Blue. The battle seemed lost almost as soon as it was begun. His reason returning, Andras peered through the darkness trying to find the others. What he saw filled him with hope. Another great dragon, it’s scales shining metallic in the flickering light was locked in combat with Uthundor. With desperate speed they aided their fallen, and rejoined the battle. Sword and spell, axe and bow joined with claw and fang against the Blue. Andras moved to support the metallic dragon, Nykia’s Song singing clear and true through the melee bedlam and through blue scales alike. Uthundor was sorely pressed by their combined fury and once again roared in defiance. Again the dragonfear overcame some; those still able continued the fight. Which one of them had opened the gap in the great Blue’s scales was uncertain, but the opportunity lay revealed. Andras drew upon the weave around him to imbue his arrow with powerful magic, and as he drew the missile back he asked the Light to guide his aim. A calm descended upon him then, and the darkness cleared for a brief moment. The enchanted arrow flew straight and true and pierced deep into the vulnerable flesh of the great Blue. Uthundor fell heavily to the ground, which shook from the sudden impact. With a brief word of thanks to The Light, Andras sighed in relief. Quickly he scanned the battlefield for anyone in need, his eyes fell upon the red robed wizard Lorman still overcome by dragonfear and at the mercy of a desert beetle. Andras took aim but stayed his shot, and then shifted his aim ever so slightly. Knuckles strained white against the handle of his bow; he closed his eyes and released his arrow. When he opened them again a beetle lay dead, the Thayan alive. Rejoining the others he watched as Pariah claimed her prize, the head of Uthundor. The massive head rolled to the side as she cleaved through the neck with her foul sword. Andras felt a wave of nausea as he watched her work, the pain inside growing with every moment. Something was wrong! It was then that Pariah fell to her knees as a great shape took form before her; the immense shape clearly that of a dragon, but with five fearsome heads! Tiamat had come! Clearly pleased with the outcome the beast thanked her servant, and those who came at her bidding, and then gruesomely devoured Uthundor’s head, all five maws tearing it asunder. Andras had not encountered a being of such a being of loathsome malevolence since Zentarus, and her blessing was as vial as a curse. How long would it take for his soul to be cleansed of this abhorrent stain? Still, at least some good had come of it, the return of some ancient relics and answers to a very old mystery … As he vowed, so was a promise kept, to a friend, to duty and to The Light.