As the last of the vampire clones are going up the stairs to the tree top, a spot a glowing fall of light in the forest approaching the wall and nine dark figures in the night. Tako, Justine and Hiper turns into dragonkin and fly down to the wall on the the opposite side from the approaching party so they don't see the hair flames. Then after Hiper and Justine have turned back into a human and a tiefling, they go partway around the to drawbridge tower. Once at the drawbridge tower the three of them cast several light ball spells to create a beacon to guide the party to the drawbridge tower. However they keep the drawbridge raised and wait for the party to approach.
The three clones stand faintly, illuminated by the light spells as the party of nine slowly approaches the drawbridge.The party of nine consists of three elves in the rear with bows and sneers plastered on their faces. Up front are two dwarves wearing armor and carrying tower shields with collars around their necks. In the middle are four humans wearing light armor and carrying two spears and two swords. Also with collars around their necks.
Tako steps forward to the edge of the drawbridge tower fully illuminated by the light spells, it's obvious the elves don't respect humans or dwarves given what are probably slave collars. the clones don't know how they will react to tieflings but maybe they will respect a strong species such as dragonkin. Tako speaks up loud enough to be heard clearly in the quiet night of the forest.
"Who approaches the Tako Tree Tower? And with what purpose? This forest is vast and this fort small there is a chance you wandered here by happenstance. But we spotted your light headed straight in this direction before our tower would have been visible in the night. Please tell us why you have come this way, there is no trail in this part of the forest even the animals rarely stray nearby." The language blessing allowing for easy communication.
The three Tall, slender elves at the rear, stopped their measured advance first. Their sneers deepened partially, a subtle shift that tightened the corners of their mouths, revealing the faint lines of contempt already etched there. One of them, a female with an intricate silver circlet braiding through her silver hair, let her hand rest lightly on the bowstring, her gaze flickering from the light spells to Tako on the drawbridge tower, then to the unraised drawbridge itself.
A stocky dwarf in the front, his armored shoulder brushing against the immense tower shield strapped to his left arm, grunted a guttural sound. The collar around his thick neck was dull iron, but it caught the ambient glow from the light spells with a faint, metallic sheen as he shifted his weight. His eyes, small and deep-set beneath a heavy brow, scanned the height of the tower and the darkness that still cloaked the forest beyond the Light.
One of the human men in the middle, a lean individual with a jagged scar cutting through his left eyebrow, ran a hand back through his short, light brown hair. He looked toward the elves behind him, a quick, almost imperceptible glance. Then, his eyes narrowed as he returned his attention to Tako. The collar around his own neck seemed less substantial than the dwarves', but no less a mark of ownership.
The central elf, a male whose face bore an expression of bored superiority, finally chose to speak. He didn't raise his voice, yet his words carried with a certain cutting precision. "My mistress, the Lady Solara of the Twilight Weavers, seeks a rare purple iridescent dragon we spotted flying from a distance in these uncharted woods. We Followed it 3 hours ago as such a quarry is highly sought after. We spotted the spells you rose as a beacon as we approached this as you call it Tree tower. But a beacon for what purpose, if not to signal your own ignorance of the true inhabitants and owners of these lands?" He paused, his sharp eyes looking Tako up and down, dismissing any sense of threat.
"Do you truly not know the Twilight Weavers' reach? Your fort is on our charted territory. State your business clearly, lest you find yourselves tangled in a mess you cannot unravel." His tone held an undercurrent of cold threat, barely concealed beneath a heft of aristocratic disinterest.
"You do realize you just contradicted yourself pointy ears." Tako up it says with a scoff returning the haughty a tone of the elf who spoke. " you just called these woods uncharted, yet your claim that this tree falls in the charted territory of you Twilight Weavers? And don't try to backtrack and say that you meant these woods in general are uncharted. If this is truly your territory, why have we not seen any petrols in the past week that We have spent here building this fort? Surely, you would have spotted me flying from a distance. As I can tell you, I flew a two hour out radius from this tree while gathering resources. Now we do know of the dragon you speak of but we do not believe you should seek to hunt it. We may not know much but we do know it has quite the appetite. Seek to make that dragon your prey. And you may just become the prey yourselves."
The central elf's pale, chiseled face hardened, a thin line forming between his brows. His gaze, previously conveying bored superiority, now held a sharp look of disdain. He took a deliberate step forward, the light armor rustling with the movement, and folded his arms across his chest. The other two elves subtly shifted their weight, their hands still hovering near their bows, but their eyes remained fixed on Tako.
"Your insolence is as vast as your ignorance." The elf stated, his voice low, and precise. "To claim contradiction where there is none speaks volumes of your insignificant intellect. These are the uncharted lands of the forest, boy. We come from the periphery 2 days journey away. Which falls squarely within Twilight Weavers' dominion. Patrols are assigned to zones of strategic value, not every forgotten patch of wilderness. Why waste resources on areas that hold no discernible threat or value? You, flying about like a bothersome insect, were likely beneath our notice, if seen at all." He paused, a flicker of cold amusement in his eyes. "Unless, of course, your definition of 'flying' involves a child's tantrum and flailing limbs."
One of the dwarves grunted again, the sound rough and dismissive, before spitting a bunch of dark phlegm onto the ground. The lead human, the one with the scar, kept his silence, but his grip on his spear tightened, knuckles whitening. He exchanged another quick glance with the elf, a silent communication passing between them, before returning his attention to Tako.
The central elf continued, his tone devoid of warmth. "As for the dragon, your feeble warnings are noted, but entirely unconvincing. The Lady Solara is well-versed in handling prey, regardless of its appetite. We are not naive children chasing shadows in the woods. This is not a request; it is a declaration. The purple iridescent dragon is a prize worthy of the Twilight Weavers. Your claims of understanding of its nature are irrelevant to our pursuit." A faint, dry smile touched his lips. "Perhaps you merely wish to claim it for yourselves, little fort builder? A rather ambitious endeavor for one who just admitted to 'not knowing much'."
Tako lets the stuck up elf drawl on with his nonsense while silently communicating a plan to Talon, Dalman, and Patches telepathically. Finally once the elf has finished saying their piece Tako speaks up.
"That was a lot of words to say this isn't your territory and that you aren't going to listen to me. But unfortunately for you my warning wasn't unfounded. I was hoping that we could be diplomatic and friendly but unfortunately I am going to have to see you on your way."
Suddenly there is a a loud flap of three sets of wings breaking the fall of three dragons who dropped from one of the entrance platforms to the Tree Top Dragon lair. And with 3 synchronized snaps of mighty jaws the elves were bitten in half, their legs promptly following the upper half down the throats of the dragons. The Slaves brace for a battle to start but nothing happens aside from their slave collars falling off.
"Don't worry we won't attack you without a good reason." Talon the center dragon says. "And it seemed to me that we had plenty of good reason to attack those haughty, self-important elves. Now make your choice Friends or foes and food?" The dragons all smile and lick their lips in anticipation.
The sudden, violent demise of the three elves sent a shockwave through the remaining party. The two dwarves, who had been sneering moments before, now stared wide-eyed at the massive dragons before them, their tower shields held trembling in their hands. The four humans, previously poised for a confrontation, froze in place, their weapons lowered slightly as they processed the gruesome sight.
The scent of blood and the sound of tearing flesh hung heavy in the air. Talon's words echoed in the sudden silence, a chilling promise that seemed to hang over them like a guillotine. The slaves looked back and forth at the dragons bloody maws, then to each other, confusion and disbelief warring on their faces.
One of the dwarves finally broke the silence with a low growl. "You... you killed them." It wasn't a question so much as a statement of stunned realization.
Talon licks the blood of their teeth. " And they came to do the same to me, got a problem with me returning the favor? Answer the question, friends foes or food?"
The dwarves exchanged a nervous glance, their grips tightening on their shields. The humans shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between the dragons and the now-freed slaves. The air was thick with tension and the coppery tang of blood.
One of the human men, a burly fellow with a thick beard, finally spoke up. "We... we were their slaves," he said, his voice rough. "They collared us and forced us to serve them." He gestured to his now-limp collar on the ground. "If you're offering us a choice... we'd rather not be food."
His words seemed to break the spell of shock holding the others. The remaining dwarf nodded vigorously in agreement. "Aye, we'll not be eaten! We've had enough of being treated like livestock."
The lead human with the scar looked at Tako on the drawbridge tower, his expression a mix of fear and cautious hope.
Talon chuckles and the three dragons crouch down and lower their shoulders. 2 of the 3 clones on the tower turning into dragonkin again and the 3 fly up to the treetop cavern again "Then, come friends, climb upon our backs I was just about to have a feast with all of myself. If that sounds confusing don't worry, everyone you see here is but a clone and an extension of one mind. I will gladly give you shelter as long as you choose not to fight me and don't mind my large appetite and variety of forms.in exchange why don't you teach me about this world"
The slaves looked up at the towering dragons, then to the clones flying above, their minds struggling to comprehend the offer. The idea of riding on a dragon's back was both terrifying and exhilarating. The dwarves exchanged another glance, then the stockier one took a tentative step forward.
"We... we can teach you about the world?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "In exchange for shelter and not being eaten?"
The scarred human nodded slowly, his gaze shifting from the dragons to the now-empty drawbridge tower. The lead dwarf meets his eyes and nods. "Aye," he said, his tone cautious but hopeful. "We know much of these lands and the powers that be."
The other humans and dwarf murmured amongst themselves, their fear slowly giving way to a desperate sort of acceptance. They had been slaves; now they were being offered a chance at freedom and safety, even if it meant associating with a creature that had just devoured their former masters.