The elf looks up, grabbing at every bit of courage.  This battle was gonna be a tough one.  Even though he had been known to be a very brave warrior, looking up
And his opponent made him uneasy.  The shear size of this dragon was immense.  But this wasn't his first one.  Ray Goldentree had taken the name dragoon, and was
Gonna take out all the dragons that took pleasure in the pain of others.  Ray was not purposely looking for a sapphire dragon to begin with.  King Arcus had asked for
Help with Axhind, and Osen in respond volunteered his new citizen.  Suddenly, a bit of movement came from the dragon.  Ray was wondering if he was sensed by the
Sleeping dragon.  The dragon went back to a calm sleep, probably dreaming of eating humans and elves alike.  This was Axhind's pet, and Ray was gonna make sure
Axhind didn't have its help anymore.  Ray put his hand on his weapons hilt.  It was a beautiful, a dazzling blade given the name configuration.  A rare blade to see, its
Sheer power overwhelmed most, and struck lightning bolts at the sword's victim.  Many trolls had suffered the wraith of the sword on his way here.  How gratifying
Was it to hear the end of an evil creature?

Ray drew the blade, every so quietly.  Trying not disturbing his prey.  The shinny blade was reviled, reflecting all light that hit its surface.  Ray crept every so quietly
And cautiously towards the dragon, every so often having to avoid a skull, or gnawed on bone.  Looking around Ray felt sick to his stomach.  The stench of death
Was new to the room and only the most vial of creatures could stand it.

Ray strengthens his grip on his new shield, rumored to have been great at withstanding a dragons breath to a degree.  Ray lifted the sword above his head, and
Brought it down hard ramming it into the dragon’s snout.  Launching a lighting bolt directly in the wound.

The dragon awoke in pain, and pretty much pissed.  Its evils eyes glaring and looking at the intruder.  His sword stuck in its snot cause an electric pain to his nose.  A
Loud roar, one mighty enough to make the greatest of heroes piss and run, emitted from the mouth of the bleeding dragon.  He immediately clamber to his feet taking
Poor Ray in the air with him.  The dragon then began shaking his head trying to get his hands on the little elf, and get him off his freckin snout.  Pure angry came from
The dragon, and shaken his head even harder, so hard it was making him dizzy.

Ray was basically shitty himself, 'well this was just another one of your stupid ideas now was it not Ray'.  Ray nose started to bleed from the force the shaking.
Rays only plan was to hope it tired the dragon out, then make a run back to regroup.
Unfortunately, the sword started to dislodge and come out. 'AHHH SHIEEEEEE.........'

The sword gave way-sending ray flying.  Ray was taken out of the air violently by a rocky wall, and then put back on the ground.  His shield flew several feet from Him, and his sword right next to him.  Ray let out a bloody cough, and a painful moan.  He was hurt bad and he knew it.  His arm was bent in the wrong direction and he was bleeding from his nose and mouth.  He had trouble getting up; well that was until he saw the dragon looking at his injured pray. ' My have the tables have turn dragon'.

The Dragon let out a large roar and charge for Ray raking his claws.  In response Ray rolled, and picked up his sword then screaming in pain.  Ray went to parry the attack of the dragon and was slashed across the arm to the bone.  The dragon then took the other had and backhanded ray cause large gashes across his chest.  A painful cough came from the elf, uncertain if he was still alive or not.  The Dragon the spun around and swung his tail violently knocking ray up in the air, and into another wall, then dropping to the floor.  A few seconds later ray cough out a ton of blood and lying in a puddle of his own.  Unsure of how much more time of conscience actions he still had left, he knew when it was time to flee.  Summoning the clerical powers he had been blessed with Ray uttered the words 'word of recall' and with that he disappeared.

The Dragon stomped around fuming mad, trying to find the little elf that causes him such pain.  Wanting to eat him, devouring him slowing making sure pain would be long.  A loud roar came from the beast.  Next time he would not be so lucky thought the dragon.  And with that he sat and rested awaiting the return of the elf.

The priest of Ba-ul was sitting in the temple giving his daily prayer to Phaet, high god of all.  Contemplating how well of a job he did in cleaning the temple.  He had worked for three days straight cleaning it so Phaet would take notice and maybe give a special blessing to him.  A flash of pure light, radiating the room emitted form the center of the room.  In an instant it was gone, and they’re lying in a bloody heap laid Ray.  The Cleric immediately rushed to the bleeding elf, yelling ' Help, all clerics toe the temple, GET NERAZ!'

The vortex, the mind, the chaos, floating endlessly, threw his mind into a state of nothingness, he came to an area dark all around, no life could be seen anywhere, in the darkness a coldness arose....

'You can not kill me elf,’ spoke the ghoul with a low-pitched voice form behind him.  The eyes of Ray Goldentree open and he spun around, to face a ghostly apparition.  'Like I said Ray you can not get rid of me that easily, I live within' you, I am your hate, I am you fear, I am your lust,'

A blinding flash made the room bright, almost cheery, but with out the right atmosphere.  A loud roar screeched the air, banishing the apparition.  'It is true Ray, he still lives, and will stop at nothing to kill you' the loud roar ending with a long echo through the wall less world he was now in, no floor, no walls, no ceilings, nothing ... nothing at all.

'You are worthy Ray, you have proved yourself.  Go retrieve what is yours, what will make you a better elf.'

Neraz had done all that she could to restore her love, for six days she and other clerics had be working on recovering the elf.  He looked better, all the wounds had been patched up, and all the body parts were back in order.  She could not realize what was wrong, why wouldn't Ray wake up.  She hadn't eaten in a day, or so, but that wasn't matter. She was one of the best clerics in Ba-ul, so why couldn't she get her love. The one and only that made her smile in the morning, the one and only that threw himself in front of here to protect her from danger.  A tear dripped from the face of the sad female elf, another dripped on the sleeping corpse of her love, tied hand and hand in a matrimony of great love, she would never let go of Ray, she would die her before she would accept his death.

Ray opened his eyes; he stared at the face of his love.  The face looked to the ground, a tear or two dripping.  Ray drew his hand up and touched her beautiful face, wiping the tears away with his gentle touch, the touch of love.

A touch invaded her person, but this touch was a touch to accept. She looked up and saw her man, her love, staring deeply into her eyes, she thought this moment could last forever, or so it seemed. Neraz knocked Ray's hand to the side and she embraced him with love, a hug that would never be topped. A kiss more
Passionate then a pair of star crossed lovers. Touch explained what words could not, and all it took was a hug of love to replace hours of words.

The wind was at its peak that day, the sun drifting down into the unforgiving darkness.  Ray sat on the wall above the highway entrance, staring towards the horizon.  Lost in complete thought, tomorrow he would travel to his birthplace, the place where his father’s sword would be, ready to be used again to defend from evil.  Neraz sat down beside him, she felt cold 'so wanna tell me what is wrong, I see a troubled look on your face', Ray did not turn to his love but only said in a whisper ‘.... He is back'. Neraz shocked at those words, began her own trail of thought, she knew of who he was referring to, a cold evil elf, Cyrus, killed by Rays father and brought back to life from the gods.  When last she saw of him, Ray was driving "Rikimaru" the sword of Helcrom in ending Cyrus’s life. ' But. bu .but how you kil.... ', This time turning his head he faced his love 'let us not worry, I have a journey to make and a troll king to stop.'

Neraz was looking very worried, 'let me come to my l.... '.

'No, I go alone' Ray realized the harness of his words, turned and comforted Neraz, 'Please, let me do this alone'.  Neraz nodded in aggreement, 'but don't die on me, when ever you go on these heroic adventures of yours you make me worried, I want to have a family, not see my husband burned by a dragon or killed by some hobgoblin trying to make a name form himself.  I do worry, and when I don't know how you are it scares me, I jus... '.  Ray started to comfort Neraz, trying to calm her, maybe she was right he was carefree and wild, a family sounded nice to him. But, not now 'lets get some rest'.

The rustle of the city in the morning was unusually busy, Ray decided to let Neraz sleep and he did not wake her when he left the house. Walking up Center Street, he approached the highway gate. The sentinel guards nodded at him 'pleasant journeys, noble paladin' said one the sentinels. Ray gave his usual smile and walked out.

It had rained for the last couple of days during his traveling, but the rain did not bother him one bit, he felt intone with nature, embracing its very happily.  The area had been becoming more and more recognizable, he knew he was close.  He rushed forward in excitement.

The Sword Glistened in the sun, deflecting particles of light throughout the atmosphere.  It stood there between the graves of Rays Parents, awaiting its new owner.  The sword labeled "Rikimaru" by its previous owner, was a name the sword liked.  Helcrom had awarded one of his servants the honor in making his blade one of the most powerful.  Helcrom put his soul in the sword, and then let it grow in power for years.  The sword had been a powerful weapon indeed, and was later rewarded to one of the very first Goldentree's to walk the land, a simple warrior, not of any nobility, but just one trying to make a name for himself as hero.

Ray neared the farm, the house of his childhood stood before him, gasping for every once of strength to retrieve what was gonna be his, he marched into the front yard, before the graves and the blade that would repel evil.  Ray stood before it, looking small it the sheer power it possesses. Knowing very well the sword was judging him.  He could not reach out, just reach out and touch it, gasping for a dear life, gasping for the courage to touch this blade.

The hilt was grabbed by the right hand molding into the hilt, then followed by the left hand.  Cursing energy from the blade went through his arms, and all throughout his body.  Lifting the blade high in the air, letting the sun be reflecting all over the barn, finally genitally sheathing it across his back.  With newfound enthusiasm, he turned his mindset on a certain dragon, and a certain troll.  He started his steady pace toward Tansar, and towards redemption.

After resting up in the inn of Tansar, Ray began his march towards the mountains, discovering a secret passage behind a rock in the plateau farmlands.  Many foot prints of large creatures littered the ground, he pondered to him self and realized that he was going out in dangerous territory alone and with out help, and he knew Axhind did not appreciate his pet being hurt and would have put more guards.

'ROOOARRRR, silly trolls you listen to me!' the angry fire giant bringing the attention form the 3-troll sentry's.  'err yes gunga sir!' all saying together at once, 'Me, beginnaren, say follow me, me smell something.  The giant sniffing into the air following the scent that had picked up his nose, while signaling to the trolls.

The warmth of the land told Ray he was close, he had been traveling downward all day now and was glad to see he was making progress.  He had taken a break earlier to cast his holy spells of protect just in case something were to happen, but he doubted it.  He suspected that this trip back would be calm and, 'SILLY MAN CUB PREPARE TO DIE!' came a shout from behind him.  Cursing to himself he raised his hand to his swords hilt that laid across his back, he shouted in reply 'Don't insult me ugly, I am elf!’  'You WILL DIE, You little PEACE OF MEAT', ray turned around slowly ' I think not...' where his only words followed by him draw his two handed sword, his eye started glowing white.  At that moment the three trolls dived at the elf.  They had underestimated there opponent.  They fell to the ground one by one, right after another.  This just pissed of the dragon even more, Ray took advantage of the Giants silly roars and dove in, running full speed toward the Giant.  The Giant seeing this tried to knock the elf to the ground.  Ray easily side stepped to the left and took one mighty slice and cut cleaning through the giant’s leg taking him down, to the ground.  Ray then took a final swing and ended the misery of the giant, sending him to another place.

The lair was just as he left it, the dragon in the center sleeping, treasurers surrounding the whole place, seemed to easy, he crept up close to the dragon, ready for redemption.

The Sapphire had been dreaming of terrorizing and eating humans, oh had he loved to do thi ... a smell entered his nose, a familiar smell, one of a silly elf that had come and gr.....

As Ray crept closer and closer the dragon’s eyes shot up and it used its snot to send the elf rolling across the ground losing his sword.  Ray settled next to his old shield, hearing the Dragon clambering to his feet and taking deep breaths he immediately clambered to his feet grabbing the shield preparing, and hoping to survive the attack.

And out it came the breath of a thousand sunburns, blowing in a river pattern towards the elf, standing there with his shield raised hoping Helcrom was with him.  The very force of the fire pushed Ray back couple feet while only stinging his lags.  The shield had worked he was still alive, but he had to act quickly the dragon would soon notice that his victim was still standing there unharmed. Ray rushed in like a vulture to a dead animal. On the way, jumping up, dropping the shield and grabbing the sword with his other hand he was slashing madly into the beast.  Rushing to the legs he began work, hacking and slashing trying to take down the beast.

Stings and pains were felt all threw the dragons body, dragon scales are naturally strong and could resist allot but these elves sword had made him feel pain, a pain that he had not felt in awhile.  For some reason he could not stand. He was tipping and he knew if he did he would have trouble getting up and that he would be a very good target.  In rage the dragon spun to fast to try to slash its attacker, but instead tipped himself over.   The dragon knew it would die and gave up, all forms of struggle stopped.  Death had finally caught up to the elf, he would now accept it and embrace it for he would not have to serve no one, he would also be with his brethren in the sky's free.  Darkness came to him....

Ray standing on top the dragon with his might sword stuck into the heart area of the dragon, breathing heavily, he yank his sword and strapped it back to his back.  Drawing out his blade of configuration from his belt he began to cleave dragon scales from his fresh kill.

Axhind sat on his throne, and ruled his kingdom with fear and power.  A freighted Troll priest ran up to the King 'sir, sir, there a. a el... El’ just then Ray walked into the throne room, bringing the Troll kings gaze to the intruder.  'Guards!' bellowed the Troll king, and the room was surrounded at ever exit with Trolls and giants. 'Hmmm’ came a noise from the elf, pondering a new tactic for he knew fighting would lead to his death right here right now.  Axhind looking even madder every time he looked at the elf began huffing and puffing.  'Calm down troll, I have come here for only on reason...' reaching into his sack he pulled out several scales.  Then throwing them in front of Axhind.  'Did those belong to a friend of yours, his rotting corpse was an easy one to take out,' hoping his bluff would work, actually praying.  Everyone around the room gasp in amazement, even Axhind. ' Grrrrr what do you want elf! How dare you kill my Dragon!’  'Let me warn you right know, you ever come near Tansar again I will personally come and you'll end up like your friend'.  'KILL HIM!' bellowed Axhind and all of his loyal followers came in charging, Ray fully expecting this called his holy powers and disappeared from the room.

Neraz has spent everyday in the temple waiting for her love to come, ready to revive him or hug him.  A flash of light flooded the room and then appeared Ray Goldentree.  Neraz ran over to him and whapped him across the head 'DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!’  Ray grabbed the last dragon scale from his sack and gave it to his only treasurer Neraz.  They embraced each other in a long hug.

'Lets go my love I am really sick of mushrooms and I am hungry'

The sunset was romantic that night for the two, but what kept Ray from fully enjoying being with his wife was the simple words that repeated over and over in his head ‘ ... I am back, and you will die...’
 
 

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