Morden knew when someone was trying to steal from him. He didn't have to look in a scrying pool, or even keep an eye on his hoard. He just knew. And no skinny human was going to take one gold piece from that pile of beautiful treasure and live to tell about it.
Even when he was hunting, Morden knew. And so it was that the red-scaled dragon stopped watching the herds of fine, juicy cattle (much to his dismay) and launched himself into the air, wings spread, with the prospect of flame and death making his eyes sparkle. The great dragon soared above the rocky peaks of the Northern Mountains, until he saw a familiar crater below. And there, down deep in the extinct volcano that was his home, Mordenakolos saw the intruders.
There were three of the human creatures. Maybe one was an elf; to Morden, they all tasted alike. One with that blasted metal stuff all over him; Morden knew he'd be picking bits off metal out of his teeth for hours. The second was short and stumpy, with lots of hair, and a silly looking axe. Well, Morden thought it was silly, and no-one was going to argue with _him_. And the third was dressed in a purplish robe - a spellcaster, Morden realized. That one would have to go quickly.
Morden whispered a few phrases in the ancient draconian tongue, and immediately was cloaked in a veil of invisibility. He swooped down to the rim of the crater, and perched there, waiting for his prey to get into a suitable position. He listened as they jabbered.
"Jasta, the drake isn't here. Let's be findin' this staff of yours, and gettin' out o' this place. I've got the willies." This from the stumpy one.
The one in the metal looked around the crater, and up into the sky. "No signs of any guardian beasts, Jasta. I think it's safe to proceed."
Morden grinned. That's because _I'm_ guardian enough, he thought, repressing a chuckle. He continued listening.
The purple robed one - a female, Morden realized - started to sift through the dragon's hoard. "Would you two lunks get over here and help me? The more the merrier, after all." As Morden watched, the other two human creatures began sifting as well. Time to make the grand entrance, he thought.
Morden silently flew from his perch on the rim to a spot just behind the intruders. He willed the invisiblity away, and spoke in soft, low tones, "Looking for sssomething?"
The creatures turned in shock at the sound of Morden's voice. "Gar!! It be the drake!" shouted Stumpy, who immediately raised his axe and charged.
Morden batted the annoying thing away with a light smack, that sent the creature, a dwarf by the looks of it, rolling away into a pile of copper pieces. "I am Mordenakolos, dragon of the Northern Lands. These mountains are mine. You are trepassing." Morden moved in close to the two still standing and glared at them. "Explain yourselves." He felt like playing with his food.
The female wizard, Jasta, spread here arms wide. "Oh, Mighty Wyrm, we are but poor mortals, humbled by your presence."
The dragon smiled a toothy smile. He liked how this was starting. "Go on."
The dwarf stood and dusted himself off. "It'll take more than that to -"
"Shush, Morri!" the wizard whispered harshly. She smiled (somewhat forced, thought Morden), and continued. "We seek not to plunder your hoard. We only seek a stick of no possible importance to a great dragon such as yourself."
Despite the oozing flattery, Morden was nearly tempted to eat the wizard then and there, her flash looked so wonderfully tender. He resisted the urge however, and only licked his lips. "I ssssee. What would thisss... ssstick... look like? Hmmm?"
"Oh," the wizard said, "it is only a gnarled length of wood, blackened by fire, with a few simple runes detailing it. Nothing terribly special."
Morden lifted a claw, and used his minor powers of telekenisis to lift a staff out of the great hoard. "Would it be thisss mere length of wood, perchance?" He nearly laughed at what was about to happen.
The three heads turned and looked at the staff. Jasta nodded. "Oh, Great Flamebreath, please allow us pitiful creatures to depart your magnificent presence with this stick in our hands. We shall not trouble you again."
Morden kept the staff hovering as he drew himself to his full height. "Wizard, I would be delighted to part with an insssignificant piece of treasssure from my collection. However," here he paused, "I must remind you that NONE of my treasure is insignificant!" The creatures were startled. How lovely. "AND YOU ARE STILL TRESPASSING!!" This was said with a mighty roar, and Morden flew up into the air.
The wizard began weaving a spell. A swing of Morden's tail took care of her. The dwarf shook his axe at the dragon. "I'll see ye in Hell, dragon!"
Morden grinned. "But you'll go there first, dwarf." A deep breath, and then there was a great gout of flame, scorching the crater, turning everything into a small inferno. The dragon nearly giggled at the squeaky screams that came from the three intruders, and finally they stopped. Morden spewed out as much fire as he could, and then turned around and soared up to survey the damage he'd done.
Upon reflection, Morden decided that his meal had been a little over done, and perhaps less filling than a cow or three. Still, it was far more satisfying, even if he had to pick metal out of his teeth.
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