The Fletcher Family Estates

Rowena nods to the staff, and a large cask of wine is rolled out.

"Somethings I've never seen before? Well, I look forward to it. I've seen a great many things in my time. As for my story..."

She thinks for a moment, then walks over to the sword on the wall and lifts it effortlessly. It must outweigh her by fifty pounds, and is a good foot and a half longer than she is. Still, she's able to lift it as easily as a broomstick. She carries it over to the table and places it down between the wine bottles.

"I used to be an adventurer. Roaming the lands, slaying great beasts, meeting new people. I was quite a good one, too. My name became etched into stories and stones. Everyone knew the name of Rowena Fletcher. It wasn't just me, mind you. It was all my younger siblings as well. All nine of them. And my fourteen cousins. But I was the oldest, so I got the glory. In any case, that went on for quite some time, until I decided to get married and settle down. And so I did. I met a nice man, we bought a little cottage, and had a couple of children."

She sighs, rubbing her face.

"Never marry an alchemist. The dammned fool blew himself up trying to manufacture cheese from beans. The kids and I were fine, but what were we to do? We need money. I left the children with their aunt for a little while, then went back adventuring. Eventually, I met another man, with another high-risk lifestyle. An elvish boat captain. Well, he eventually got lost at sea, but not before giving me another child. This went on for some time, you understand. I'd go adventuring, then settle down with a man who would invariably die from some dramatic explosion or something. I couldn't help it, boring men were...well, boring. But I eventually decided, after having 9 children from 6 fathers, that enough was enough. I set out alone to provide for my family, and boy did I strike it big. I singlehandedly cleared out an entire mine of goblins, and got all the gold and diamonds inside. With the money from that, I set up the family estate. All the lands, the serfs, and the manor. That mine still has gold in it, you know. It's still being dug out, as we speak. And it continues to provide more than enough for me and my family."

Smiling, she strokes the ridiculously enormous sword.

"This was my weapon. I carried it for decades. In all the little cottages for all those years, I would never hang it on the wall. Partly because it would have broken the wall, but mostly because I knew that I was going to have to pick it up again sooner or later. This manor that I had built is the first building to ever have my sword on its wall. That's because I knew that this was the place to call home."

She takes a sip of her wine.

"I've seen a lot of things in my time, Tavrinth."

"Oh?"

Rowena lays a bony finger on the golden coin. It duplicates itself, and golden dragon-headed coins roll across the table. She swiftly removes her hand and smiles.

"Thank you, Tavrinth. My family will treasure this gift forever and use it in our times of need."

She touches it once more, creating another cascade of jingling gold.

"My, that's a satisfying sound. Where did you find such an incredible item?"

Rowena smiles and raises her own glass, then takes a long sip.

"It's good to have met you, Tavrinth."

Taking a bite of her own piece of wyvern, she continues.

"So, where are you headed next? You're welcome to stay here for a while, of course. But do you plan to simply travel, or do you have a destination in mind?"

Rowena shrugs.

"I wouldn't know. I haven't been out and about in quite some time. I suppose Gauldin is nice this time of year, but that's just what I've heard. Isra is a good place for people who want to do things, I suppose. But I honestly don't know what's going on in the world these days. My grandchildren come by and fill me in sometimes, but they haven't come by in a while."

She smiles, and takes a sip of wine.

"I'm sure you'll be able to do something useful wherever you are, Tavrinth. You're quite a nice young man- er, dragon."

The little gnoll goes unnoticed by both the guards and the farmers. However, guards and farmers are not the only people on the estate. As Mirssa sneaks about, she would feel a tap on her leg. A small, white-haired child looks up at her.

"Hello, Miss! Are you playing hide-and-seek?"

He grins, showing off some missing teeth.

"You shouldn't pick the corn. The farmers get mad if we do that."

Unfortunately for Mirssa, the child doesn't turn. Instead, he so pens his mouth and shouts.

"FARMER BECKETT! SOMEONE HERE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU! SHE'S TAKING YOUR CORN!"

He grins happily. Moments later, a farmer comes running up, carrying a pitchfork.

"Hey! You there! Hold it!"

Mirssa would see nothing but corn all around her. However, she would hear more shouting, and the clank of armor.

"Over there! This way, follow the broken corn!"

Heavy footsteps approach, getting closer by the second. If she listened very closely, she would hear the soft creak of a bow being drawn.

"Stop right there, thief! Don't go anywhere and we won't shoot you! Just pay for the damages and the corn, and you'll be free to go!"

Tavrinth's ears twitch, and his head whips to the side.

His keen sense of hearing picks up a faint noise in the distance. His eyes flash a brilliant purple, and his throat lets out a low growl.

"I hear shouting, Lady Rowena. Something is amiss. It may be best if we end our meal, and investigate."

Standing suddenly, he moves to leave the manor at a brisk pace.

As he leaves, his voice echoes. "Bring the sword."

Tavrinth shakes his head, looking at Rowena. "I am not sure, but something is going on. You will forgive me if I don't walk."

Coming to a stop outside, he begins to become translucent, and take on a dull glow. He quickly transforms into his ninety foot long dragon form. His obsidian scales drink the sun as if they were a never ending pit. Spikes cover his head and back, threatening to impale anyone who would dare move too close.

Smoke billows from his nostrils, and purple flames lick at his monstrous teeth like a demonic tongue.

He looks at Rowena with his fierce, unforgiving eyes, and let's forth a low, rumbling voice, reminiscent of thunder at a distance.
"All shall despair."
With a beat of his wings, a gust of wind was forced out that threatened to topple the trees around him, and he was propelled into the sky as an arrow from a bow.