Royal Treasure (Closed w/Dragonknight)

[Klayko]

It has been many years since peace came unto the lands after kingdoms and nations united to rally against the Dragon horde. Arrows were flown, spells flung and swords clashed. It came with casualties, but one by one, the Dragons dwindled until now there were none. Outwardly, anyways. Many years had since passed and while to say that peace is by far an understatement, the threat against the sentient dragons has since passed. As a result, they became legends and something eventually blotted out. All that leaves are for these kingdoms to continue their arduous work of excavating the caves of vast glories. Our story picks up on a royal male who’s the third eldest of his siblings and now of proper adult age to survey a cave. He’s received all the training he will ever need, the male adept with a blade, but not on the vast tricks a Dragon would ever lay out. As a result, the third child to the Vermillion throne was sent to retrieve a royal heirloom one crafty dragon stolen ages ago. While he may come across the royal treasure, it’s this dragon who has a treasure of his own to give upon anyone who’d take from his collection.

Dawid Vermillion looked upon the cave at the entrance. The men he traveled with were royal guards, Knights to be exact, but maybe it was the confidence on him that made him feel as if they weren’t needed in the first place. That or he thought of their well-being at times. For someone like him, who stood at a solid six feet two with lean muscles to boot -By-products of him learning to use a sword, shield and otherwise roaming around his kingdom, from the slums to the palace-, he felt that protection was too much at times, especially on a simple trip of going into the caves.

“You know,” the dark brun stated with alluring blue eyes and an otherwise charming smile to his partially scruffy face. “You all don’t have to exactly follow me verbatim. Moving to the left just a little because I do won’t make much of a difference.”

He sighed when it seemed like it was going in one ear and out the other. The Prince just lit the torch, much to their chagrin, and began to enter into the cave. From what the old maps showed, there was a small descent before then came across the wide opening of treasure. That sounded really easy; to just come across what they needed, but it wasn’t. He was told many had searched, but never found the royal heirloom. Dawid probably wouldn’t be lucky himself, but what had he to lose? If he didn’t succeed, he’d become a duke, which was just as royal as it got, like being a King. He’d have a wife and she would have his children. They all would have a throne one way or another. Still, he would try because he liked to solve puzzles and challenges. That was why he sought adventure in the first place.

“It’s like the tales out from the deserts,” he said to the men when seeing all the gold valuables before them. “Let’s just hope you don’t come across a Genie who grants the wish you ask for, but not in the way you were thinking.”

Dawid slowly walked towards the horde of treasures only after lighting various torches on the walls to keep things bright for them to see.

[DragonKnight]

There were only a few things a dragon enjoys in life, sleep and treasure. The latter was exceptionally true as dragons were well known for hoarding mountains of gold and jewels and even living in places rich with valuable crystals. Dragons love treasure but they are willing to kill to protect it. Kage was no different from any other dragon. He was well known for protecting his treasure with such ferocity that it was feared from all, even other dragons. Buried underneath what could only be described as a small mountain of gold, slept the giant dragon. He was peacefully unaware of those who entered his cave.

Kage was unique as a dragon as most dragons stood on four legs. Kage was a unique species as he still on two legs. His massive body was supported by two giant wings that could lift him into the sky. Jet black scales covered his body and his tail ended in a sharp trident shape.

[Klayko]

As it’s been close to a thousand years, the last thing any of them would ever expect was a dragon. Maybe a goblin or booby trapped chest, but to say Dawid hadn’t a care in the world was an understatement. He exerted caution when it was needed, making sure the guards were within his eyesight, but away from them at the same time. Every once in a while, he’d check his journal on what to be on the look out for. He was looking for...an embroidered crimson egg jewelry box...?

“Of all the things,” he scoffed. Maybe it was his mother’s grandmother treasure or something. He’d probably have to pluck through a few things amid the various large piles of other treasures before he would find what he would need. His hand reached for a golden sword hilt. It wasn’t to take it as his own as someone who had to forge his own blade, he learned gold wasn’t exactly as grand as most thought when it came to being made as a weapon. Slowly and surely, he removed it, not wanting to bring the large pile of treasure before him down upon himself.

[Klayko]

As it’s been close to a thousand years, the last thing any of them would ever expect was a dragon. Maybe a goblin or booby trapped chest, but to say Dawid hadn’t a care in the world was an understatement. He exerted caution when it was needed, making sure the guards were within his eyesight, but away from them at the same time. Every once in a while, he’d check his journal on what to be on the look out for. He was looking for...an embroidered crimson egg jewelry box...?

“Of all the things,” he scoffed. Maybe it was his mother’s grandmother treasure or something. He’d probably have to pluck through a few things amid the various large piles of other treasures before he would find what he would need. His hand reached for a golden sword hilt. It wasn’t to take it as his own as someone who had to forge his own blade, he learned gold wasn’t exactly as grand as most thought when it came to being made as a weapon. Slowly and surely, he removed it, not wanting to bring the large pile of treasure before him down upon himself.

[DragonKnight]

As Dawid removed the treasure, piece by piece, he slowly started to uncover what laid underneath. When he finally took the last piece of treasure off of Kage, he could see the massive dragon's sleeping eye. One of the guards accidentally hit an ornate dining piece, causing it to fall to the ground and make a loud clang noise. Kage woke up from the loud noise, his blood red eye opening up to see the intruders before him.

[Klayko]

Now, that was a sight he didn’t want to come across. Jet black scales were almost everywhere underneath the treasure and it was only when one of his guards made the noise that Dawid found himself staring at large crimson coated reptilian eyes. The male wasn’t nervous, but to say he was calm was a lie. It took himself mentally saying “Deep breaths” amid a slowly racing heart that kept him steady. Should he try to go for his blade or not chance it at all and slowly back away with an eventual run? As he did back away, his leather boot bumped up against one of the assorted heap a treasure now scattered almost everywhere. When he glanced down, he noticed it was exactly what he was looking for.

“No hard feelings, right,” he asked, though he wasn’t really thinking if this now awoken dragon was sentient or not. Instead, he let his foot do the work, casually hefting the medium sized length jewelry box in between the arch of his foot and ankle before kicking it up into his hand.

He regretted it in a way, because something slimy was on it and his hand got a full dose of it, but his guards were rising to their job, some thinking it wise to swing their torches around. Dawid didn’t have experience fighting a dragon and neither did they, clearly. Running was the best option and so, he took off for the exit, his reward now in hand.

[DragonKnight]

Kage became angry as he watched Dawid take his treasure. Rising from the pile of treasure, easily standing over 40ft tall, he gave a thunderous roar before he unleashed a powerful fire breath. A single streak of red hot fire shot through the cave, searing the very walls and burning anyone even close to the fire breath with the heat. Kage then started to chase Dawid, his massive body surprisingly fast as he chased the thief.

[Klayko]

Now that was a sight to see. Frightening, but still incredible. Dawid had to look back for a few to see the Dragon fully rise out, but he made sure he got towards the small crevices made for humans and other small animals to enter and exit with because he was not taking chances to contend with a massive dragon trying to kill him. He held on to the treasure despite it being slicked with some form of gel like substance. He would just have to wipe it off when he got the chance, but he felt the immense fire being let loose in the cave. A guard screamed and truth be told, Dawid cared, but the fear inside of him told him to keep running as the Dragon itself drew close. He slipped through the tunnels they made when beginning to excavate the cave, Dawid focused on getting out the cave and into the forest where their horses were at more than anything else. Unknown to him was the effect this substance on the tainted jewelry had.

[DragonKnight]

Kage smashed against the walls as he made his way to the entrance, he could smell the human carry his treasure away. He chased the human as best he could but his body was too large to fit through the small caverns the humans made.

[Klayko]

Dawid heard the fierce rams against the cave walls. The Dragon tried numerous times to tear through and get him, but perhaps there were mountainous walls too thick for even that massive dragon to tear through. How long had it been down there? For it to be that big, Dawid had to guess it was really into its adulthood, but dragons were from a time long thought to be over, thousands of years to be exact. If he needed to find references, he would have to go to the history archives in the library at his castle. For now, he could safely assume the dragon failed to achieve its task in getting him.

“Ugh,” he said in disgust when looking at the vast amount of translucent slime which covered the the jewelry box. “What did this thing do? Slob all over it?”

He wiped it off on the ground and managed to get most of the slime on his hands off with a cloth. Climbing on the horse, he rode off, needing to warn the others, especially if his guards had died trying to protect him. Unknown to him however, but perhaps known to the dragon was that there was more to the slime as Dawid would eventually discover.

[DragonKnight]

Inside Dawid, a change started to happen without his knowledge, his body began to become more suitable to carry. Back at the kingdom, the royal family waited patiently for Dawid to return.

[Klayko]

There was a slight discomfort around his stomach, but Dawid was positive it was just the adrenaline in his body finally leaving as he arrived to the castle. The masculine young male hopped off his horse, hurrying almost right away to the royal throne room. Not every sibling was there. His older brother and sister were out on voyages and some of the younger figures were out training at the Academies, some in spells and some in swords should they ever find themselves in a situation of which they needed to defend themselves.

“Mother,” he announced. “I think I found your family’s heirloom, but it comes with a rather large problem. I’m afraid a very large dragon has taken itself to roost within the treasures, but I did secure the jewelry box. I’m not sure if the guards who accompanied me survived however.”

He walked down the steps, handing the item over to them.

[DragonKnight]

"I'm just glad you're safe. What about the dragon though, did it follow you?" Dawid's mother ask as she took the heirloom.

[Klayko]

Dawid shook his head. “I’m fine and no, it actually couldn’t get through the small tunnels we made earlier when surveying the cave. I escaped through there.”

The dragon probably would never need to worry about Dawid getting far though, not when by now it’s nose could no doubt tell he had a rather nice opportunity to seek an unsuspecting mate.

[DragonKnight]

Kage nearly went back to sleep before he started to catch a familiar scent, one that smelled like his own. He tried to catch the scent but it was too faint.

[Klayko]

Of course, there was cause for celebrations to be in order. Dawid had completed a task, which only bore more fruit when the revelation had been revealed about the dragon being alive. To not only survive from it and complete his task had certainly proven him to be an effective adventurer and perhaps now worthy to receive his royal heritage. Soldiers were also informed about the dangers of the dragon as well. For now, the best wine was being prepared and meals were beginning to be prepped. As Dawid washed up to freshen up, the scent had only grown stronger, unknown to him of course.