"Guarding the dragons." He snickers. "Get me! I'm guarding A DRAGON! I feel soooo useful."
"I am Alex."
You see a big, beefy, pasty-faced guard. He looks bored.
0
stnd
25
He thinks. "One of the first visitors brought a sphere that allowed flight. His name was Thralni. I've been trying to find out more, but have had no luck."
0
sphere
1
His ghostly form wavers briefly in his anger and excitement.
"I tell all I can, as my revenge. It lies beyond the lake, beyond his lair, beyond the entry cave. But there is a passage, so humans can get to it, should he pass on. I found it. There are no traps in it! I set them off!"
0
treasure
18
"On foul Motrax, who slew me while I looked, merely looked, at his treasure."
0
revenge
18
It speaks very quietly. "I wait here, trying for revenge."
It whispers "I was Zeld."
You see a dim, insubstantial figure, lurking in the back of the cave.
0
stnd
18
"Meow."
0
gnrc
17
"Meow!"
The tag says 'Delta.'
You see a fast-moving gray cat. It has a tag around its neck.
0
stnd
17
He shifts his mighty bulk. "I know not of that."
0
gnrc
1
"Meow."
0
gnrc
16
"Meow."
The tag says 'Epsilon.'
You see a small, very sedate black cat. It has a tag around its neck.
0
stnd
16
"When visiting Motrax, go through the main cave. He'll be in the second cave in. He throws trash into the tunnels to the west, and lives in the tunnels to the east. I recommend against going into the latter. He probably wouldn't like it. "
0
path
12
"Delta and Epsilon are their names. They should be in the cave. Motrax loves them."
0
cats
12
He straightens up. "It's a dull job. With Motrax around, only a fool would cause trouble. I mainly greet people, and take care of my cats."
0
guard
12
He goes into his spiel, quivering with happiness. "All visitors are welcomes to the cave of Motrax, to greet the ancient one, to teach and learn. The rules are simply: stay on the path, and behave."
0
visitor
12
"I greet visitors to the cave. I also guard things I need to be guarding."
He bounces up to shake your hand, a wild grin on his face. "Greeting! I'm Ko! Welcome to the Cavern of Motrax."
You see a skinny man in nice steel armor. He's almost manic - he can't seem to slow down.
0
stnd
12
"A bizarre mess of waterfalls, to the west of the Slithzerikai. Very dangerous and difficult to explore. I read an account that he went in, hoping to use to orb to save himself from disaster, and never came out again."
0
maze
11
"Hmm. I did find out that Thralni met his end while navigating the water maze."
"Sphere? Oh! You must mean Thralni's Orb. It was brought down here by the first visitors long ago. Years I spent trying to find it, knowing the gift of flight might help me escape. But I never did, and eventually gave up. I never could find it."
0
sphere
11
He nods solemnly. "Yes. It gives my spirit great comfort to know it will be mourned by something so ancient."
0
mourn
11
"We understand each other. Although he was as old as I as an infant, I still find we think surprisingly alike. And one day he will mourn me."
0
dragon
11
"I grow old. And I learn from the dragon."
He gives you a barely perceptible nod of his head. "I am Leith."
You see a tall, thin man with a long beard. He is old and frail, but you can feel great power coming from him.
0
stnd
11
She grins, very broadly. "Ko's the captain. If I left, I'd have to take him with. He's good to have around."
0
captain
10
"I hope, one day, to plumb into his memory and find knowledge of a tunnel to the surface world. Then, I can escape this horrid pit." She looks at you slyly. "And maybe take the captain with me."
0
tunnels
10
"The ancient dragon of the cave. He knows so, so much of these tunnels, and the races in them."
0
motrax
10
"I have been here for a year know, conversing with, teaching and learning from Motrax."
"Greeting, traveller. I am Marian. What brings you here?"
You see a woman in long sparkling robes. She has long brown hair, set off well by the sparkling crystal around her neck.
0
stnd
10
"Remarkable little creatures. I don't know how I lived without them."
0
cats
1
0
7
"A stone key, which they said they found somewhere far to the west. I was enraged at being attacked, so I threw them out, and their trinket with them. They can't have gotten far before the sliths got them. They went southeast."
(You take note of this.)
2
bribe
1
"My leftovers go to my pets - stupid, smaller cousins, who live down the tunnel to the west. I recall giving their trinkets to my pets to play with. Be careful, though. They anger easily."
0
treasure
1
"To a man and woman. A group of them came here, fleeing a band of sliths. They attacked. I slew them, and cast aside their paltry treasures. Another band came, humbly this time, asking for sanctuary. I refused them, though they offered a bribe."
0
slaugh
1
"They were arrogant. They were stupid. And they were slaughtered."
His head rears back in surprise. "You haven't learned of the Visitation yet? When those above found these caves, they sent a large force below, led by a small group of powerful adventurers, with much magic. The sorry band hoped to subdue us all!"
0
visit
1
"I met some of those in the First Visitation."
0
meeting
1
"I have humans come here, and I learn of their ways and of the land above ground. I would like to visit. Alas, your leaders would no doubt cast me below again, at best." He chuckles smokily. "I like you humans. Despite our first meeting."
0
pursuits
1
"I have humans come here, and I learn of their ways and of the land above ground. I would like to visit. Alas, your leaders would no doubt cast me below again, at best." He chuckles smokily. "I like you humans. Despite our first meeting."
0
scholar
1
He launches into a rambling tale of a battle between himself and some huge demon, which he calls a Haakai. He seems unsure if he's told you the story before.
0
battle
1
"There are five of them living in these caves. Myself. Reclusive Athron. Cruel Pyrog. Wise Khoth. And Sulfras, strongest of them all." He sighs. "They are all young. I prefer not to speak of them."
0
dragons
1
He tells the story, a story of blood and fire, ending in his victory.
"My brothers in cold-blood, but in no other way. There are many who are kind and wise, but the Slithzerikai who live nearby are exiles from their race. They are cruel and dangerous. I remember once, they had the gall to attack my home."
0
slith
1
"I call the other dragons in these caves my brothers, but don't be mistaken. We are not hatched from like broods."
0
brother
1
"I have fought many, many battles. With Slithzerikai. With humans. And with my brothers."
0
battle
1
"A thousand years I have been alive. I hope for a thousand more. But they will be quiet, filled with contemplation, not battle."
0
ancient
1
He sighs. A small wisp of flame comes out. "I am an ancient dragon, long past my prime. I do not roam the caves and hunt anymore, but devote myself to scholarly pursuits and playing with my cats."
His voice is so deep it seems to make the ground vibrate. "I am Motrax."
You see a dragon. He is green, with reddish highlights, and towers high above you. The dull color of his skin and the cracks in his wings indicate he is very old. He stares at you with frighteningly wise eyes.
