Return to the Tribe

When Destorianaxe had said she was going to take Xing Lei to see his son he had thought the tribe had moved to better grounds near by, little did expect for her to transform into her large black Dragon form and scoop him up onto her back. Climbing back up into the darkness he was treated to the sight of her back up lair, or what was left of it. As they passed it could be seen it was one part Dragon sized and another part for her lizardess self, much like the tribal area any signs of personal effects were long gone, just the stone furniture remained.

"Did you want to take any of this with us?"

Destorianaxe thought for a moment and shook her head, twisting her serpentine neck to regard the kobold clutching the base of her throat while sat on her back, "Sadly where we're going luxury isn't something needed very much, the offer is nice though. Still better to have something to return to if I'm forced out."

Moving towards a large tunnel that winded upwards Xing Lei slipped into silence, earlier she'd mentioned the real battlefield and now she spoke as if defeat were a possibility, just what was she fighting? Holding to the ridges along her back he did his best to get comfortable but soon found her gait becoming more of a run, darting ahead a wide opening loomed ahead exposing the blue sky above the mountain. Rushing out Destorianaxe was briefly on a ledge before thrusting herself out into the air, her large leathery wings snapping out and flapping hard to gain altitude.

He could only hang on and shake his head, dragons of his old life didn't use wings to fly, ki and techniques allowed them to propel themselves effortlessly through the open skies, yet the dragons here actually used physical wings. It stumped him, just how was Destorianaxe flying? When he studied her large body versus her sail like wings there was simply no logical explanation of how she was able to stay in the air, sure with those wings gliding should be easy, but take offs? There's no way they should be strong enough to lift her weight.

Yet here they were thrusting through a chilly, damp cloud, bursting above the cover to bath in the unblocked majesty of the sun. Despite all logic these dragons were able to fly under their own physical power. To Xing Lei he just chalked it up to magic and let it go, lazing back a bit to take in the warm sunlight. He didn't bother trying to talk to her, at the speed they were flying along with the air rushing around them he just wouldn't be heard.

Glancing down he could see they were over grassland again, but without landmarks he really couldn't say which direction they flew, which in retrospect was likely why she climbed above the clouds, she didn't mind taking him with her but she wouldn't give him the chance to find the way back on his own. Contenting himself to relax and enjoy the flight he lapsed into meditation, organizing his thoughts, with the Lizardfolk issue apparently about to solve itself he needed to find his way back to Calissa, maybe he could convince Destorianaxe to fly him over the coast? He'd avoid the magical wood but flying into a pirate shanty town on the back of a Dragon would hardly be subtle.

Once the pirates were dealt with he could get back to cultivating, he was eager to get back on the road of spirit cultivation. The vastness of resources required would only increase but at least he would be able to actively get them. With the beasts maturing so too were the cultivation herbs he'd need for pills, with creating his dantian he'd be able to start cultivating his herb gardens to support his alchemy, it just built on itself. The question would be where to set down his own base though? The Heavenly Rose monestary was too sketchy, and doing it in the elven occupation area was begging to cause headaches, he'd have to take Fleet Spear far from these lands and find a quieter location to claim a land for himself and perhaps a family line.

Thoughts of that nature lifted his head to stare into the vast horizon, just what would his first born be like? Leaf Dancer was a capable female if somewhat self interested, coupled with the knowledge that the dragon beneath him had already hopped into his son's bed made his brow furrow. Xing Lei could only hope the corruption of Gruck and Grull were not being revisited on his kin. What of Leaf Dancer herself? Was she still alive, would she welcome his return after he and Fleet Spear just up and left? Lost to his thoughts he was rather surprised when the surrounding fog fell away revealing an immense stretch of swamp below, the greenish brown landscape was choked with a thick mist but here and there he could see battles being fought, who was fighting wasn't clear but the explosion of fireballs and the streak of mini magical arrows was unmistakable.

Banking Destorianaxe swept to the side as a hail of freezing shards erupted from the swamp land into the sky, in truth she was in no danger from the spell but getting coated in frost was inconvenient for continued flight. Sweeping away from the fighting below her head tilted looking for something then change direction again. What she was using to guide herself Xing Lei didn't note at first until she banked again avoiding yet another volley of ice shards. Come to think of it, every time she course corrected the shards had just missed her, perhaps it wasn't poor aim on the casters behalf but rather planted spell slingers that would give flyers a chance to reorient. Sure enough another course correction happened only instead of ice shards it was shards of flame this time.

On it continued as she flew deeper over the swamp, though at one point there was a break in the ice and fire, at several points the roar of lightning struck out from the ground and fightning in the region intensified, this third signal didnt seem to mean anything but fight harder and resolved himself to ask whenever they landed, which didn't seem to take much longer, their flight carried them over a thick corpse of trees, from the ground this twisted land of wood looked impassable but from the air Xing Lei could see a sprawling fort hidden in the dense twist of trees.

Coming in for a landing her body shifted and he found himself in the unwelcome appearance of receiving a piggy back ride from her. Scrambling down despite her chuckles a group of dark scaled Lizardfolk moved up saluting Destorianaxe, "Welcome back Mistress, your hunt was successful?" Many looked curiously at the kobold beside her tilting their heads slightly, it had been a long time since any kobolds were here, these swamps were not friendly to their original selves.

Many gave curious looks to their Mistress while a couple blinked and muttered, "Dull Scale?"

Hearing what they assumed was a name the others turned on the speaker, "You know this kin?"

The one that spoke chuckled, "Indeed, no one other than Dull Scale would come here like that." Glancing to Xing Lei, "But where is Fleet Spear, you two left together right?"

Xing Lei nodded, "Fleet Spear is currently enlisted with the elves under the title Lady Osilliaice."

"Fleet Spear is Lady Osilliaice?! Things make alot more sense now. We heard a kin was up north deeply rooted in the elven civil war and making a big name for herself... then Dull Scale, you wouldn't be Kobolicus would you?"

Xing Lei groaned, it had happened a name even more sad than Dull Scale had reached his kin. Still as he was about to ask them not to use it he was surprised when they started recounting his battles excitedly. Destorianaxe laughed to the side, "The name the humans gave you was meant to be insulting I know but those that knew Dull Scale was Kobolicus turned you into a hero, it is a name that brings no shame amongst your kin."

Sighing he nodded hearing a couple of the lizards practically going crazy over his kill counts, sounding even more excited that THE Kobolicus was in their fort. All dismissive looks were wiped away when the name was placed on his shoulders so he could hardly admonish them for glorifying what should have been a humiliation. Still a sharp voice tsk'ed at the Lizardfolk going all ape shit over the titled gladiators presence. "Figures Kobolicus is Dull Scale, never could go anywhere without being the most important person in the area could you?"

Glancing to one side Xing Lei frowned, almost as if melting out of the very air itself a smaller lizardfolk seemed to bleed out of the very air. Destorianaxe frowned slightly but said nothing, these two were bound to cross paths, the fact he had left her behind was a raw wound in the lizardfolk females heart, it was long overdue resolving, settling in the dragoness watched the two old friends meet again after years apart.

Xing Lei tilted his head, "Leaf Dancer, seems evolution was very good to you. A variant if I suspect right?"

The lizardess nodded simply, "Shadowscale Lizardfolk, rather fitting I lead the Mistress' espionage group now. And you, still a kobold, hard to believe you would stay weak."

Xing Lei shrugged, "My evolution is not as important as it is for others. I could have stayed a child and still give Destorianaxe a run for her money."

The dragoness frowned at his flippant tone but then recalled their 'fight', true he couldn't beat her in terms of causing a fatal wound but chances were good he could anger her to death by simply staying out of reach and using those aggrivating weapons. Before she could say anything the other Lizardfolk frowned, "Its good to see you alive Kobolicus but you should not so casually speak of the Mistress like that."

Xing Lei chuckled crossing his arms standing with stance open, Destorianaxe groaned inwardly, he really was going to do it wasn't he? Of course he was, this was Xing Lei. Showing off his powers was part in parcel with his raging ego. Still it shocked her not at all when the kobold stood easily before her hulking Blackscale warriors and said, "How I refer to my breeder is up to me, what are you going to do about it?"

Destorianaxe looked at Xing Lei with narrowed eyes, HIS breeder? When they coupled it was she using him not himself riding her with abandon. She grit her sharp teeth with near enough force to crack them one and all, her warriors were no different. The one who had recognized him growled, "You wish to challenge us Kobolicus?"

Destorianaxe groaned closing her eyes, bringing him here had been a mistake, this little arrogant overlord was about to undermine her generals entire authority, especially when the general himself joined the fight. She was about to speak up when she noted Leaf Dancer looking her way and shaking her head, it seemed her spymaster was just as eager to vent on Xing Lei as the offended warriors were. Falling silent she put on a look of detached boredom listening as Xing Lei nodded and spoke out, I challenge all of Destorianaxe's forces, one at a time, groups, or all at once. I welcome the battle."

Destorianaxe finally spoke up, "The battle will be a mix of singular then group fights, any who do not wish to fight will not be thought less of. This is Dull Scale, killer of Gruck and Grull, slayer of the goblin chief and his guard. He is also Kobolicus, Gladiator Master. The title you probably are unaware of is Xing Lei, Elf, drow and dwarf friend, disciple of the Heavenly Rose monestary."

Destorianaxe listed off his names and titles, the last one caught him off guard, turning his gaze to the dragoness she gave him a lazy grin, it would seem while he had learned her name she had come to grasp a far more detailed account of his doings. Truth be told the last title would hardly sway anyone, isolated as the tribe was becoming friends with three races was a moot point, as for his ties to the monestary they would care even less about it. Looking as more and more gathered he smiled, it was time to teach his evolved people that a mountain laid beyond a hill.