Standing around in the village of rather ugly, vaguely European dirt farmers among the bodies of moaning orkies, Ranma came to a new conclusion.
Even the human looking folks in this place didn't speak Japanese. The villagers sounded like they maybe spoke English, but it was like that Shakespeare stuff being badly mangled with an odd accent. Adding that in with the western styled dragon and other western styled stuff, Ranma surmised that he was in some remote part of Europe, similar to where Jusenkyou lay within China.
Rapidly realizing there was nothing for him in the village, Ranma felt like smacking himself when he realized something. That big dragon had understood what he was saying and even spoken to him, so maybe he could go back and ask big and scaly for directions.
The assembled elf girls were doing their best to track their human rescuer, but even with him apparently stopping to get in random fights, he moved darn fast. Already they had come across dwarves that said the boy had defeated hill giants of all things. Then he'd apparently gone through their elf village and saved it as well. Apparently he had some scroll and one of the lookouts had pointed him towards a wizard on a distant mountain. Finally there was the grove guardian that bid them to pass along thanks to the swift aiming human.
Thorn was making embarrassing comments about the boy having stamina. Mist was blaming Thorn for getting them indebted to the boy like this. Valoure was apparently suffering the blow to her ego quietly now. Tempeste was tiring but enthusiastic to see what was next. Dagger wanted the boy on the team now just for looting possibilities. Drijari the tracker and point girl was now rather enthusiastic about the boy as his ability to move and fight put many barbarians to shame.
Now they were staring at yet another battlefield in the boy's wake, the familiar beaten forms of Orks with their dented armor marking the battlefield. What brought the assembled elf girls to a stop however was the very large dragon also sitting in the clearing watching over a baby dragon.
At this point there was some debate about what to do. Tempeste seemed to think that gold dragons were fairly benevolent. Dagger was fairly sure that it was a frikking dragon and therefor far out of their leagues. Valoure seemed to be going into shock as she suggested they just go around.
It was at that point that Drijari helpfully pointed out that the boy they were looking for had just arrived from the opposite direction. The plains ranger was also fairly impressed at the way the boy was standing on a tree branch some twenty feet off the ground without bending the thin branch under his weight.
Standing on his perch in the tree, Ranma felt a bit better at being reasonably eye level with the big gold dragon this time. "Uhm, hey, 'scuse me. Uhm, well, no one else around here speaks my language, so could you give me some directions?"
Maneuvering her head to be roughly eye level with the young human, Aurieste considered him warmly. "Ah, young man, you've returned. The young one and I were talking about you, but yes, what do you wish to know?"
Watching from where they were all trying to hide behind a tree surrounded by shrubbery, the gathered elf girls watched raptly as the strange boy apparently had a friendly chat with the dragon. Then the boy pulled out a scroll and proudly displayed it to the dragon.
After a bit more conversing with the dragon he seemed to look sad about something before putting away the scroll. Then the boy hopped down and petted the boar sized dragon whelp before all three of them began leaving in the direction the dragon had clearly entered from due to the widely disturbed brush.
Mist and Dagger briefly argued about whether or not to follow, but that was quickly ended as their ranger was already leading the rest of the group after them.
After a while of cautiously following the dragon to the base of the nearby mountain, the girls stopped as a seemingly secret ruin came into view.
The entire group finally gave her some attention as Mist gasped in recognition at what the dragon and boy were entering. "That's Spring Veil Temple isn't it?"
Seeing the looks turned her way and knowing that Drijari and Dagger weren't even local, Mist continued for their benefit. "That's a sacred area that's off limits. The village elders consult the oracle there periodically and it's heavily guarded as there is something important hidden there."
As the girls turned back to the temple, they noticed that indeed the dragons and their human were all going inside. The temple was cut out of the side of the mountain in the shape of a wide v. Water flowing through a channel over the roof created two flat waterfalls at the inside of the V to gather in the courtyard's shallow pool.
Knowing the human's curse, it was of no surprise that he skirted around to the outside edge to walk in behind the waterfalls. It ended up doing him little good however as the gold dragon sent water cascading off her wings to turn the boy once more into a petite red-head.
As their quarry disappeared inside the temple, the girls were left with the quandary of whether or not they should enter.
Wringing out her shirt, Ranma glared up at the gleaming dragon. "Ya didn't have to splash me ya know."
Glancing down at the human, then back to see if the elven youngsters were following, Aurieste paused and shape shifted into a blond elf woman in a nice dress. "I take it that is somehow related to your shape shifting?"
Still fidgeting with her wet clothes to get them to fit a bit better, Ranma shook her head in annoyance. "Yeah, stupid curse. Cold water girl, hot water boy. Now I gotta get some hot water."
Nodding at her guest, the dragon-in-elven-guise motioned him further inwards. "Ah, then I'll have a hot bath prepared for you."
Annoyance levels rapidly going down as hospitality was readily offered, the red-head turned a small smile towards Aurieste. "That'd be nice, thanks. Now that I think about it, you think you can point me at a cure for this curse too?"
Smiling at the young man turned petite woman, the golden haired elf lead her still-dragon daughter with a hand upon her head. "Yes, such things are almost to be expected are they not? First things first though, we get you a Pearl of Tongues so that you might speak with others, and then you can get a bath and refresh yourself."
There had been much discussion among the elf girls, but in the end even Mist had to agree that they needed to go in after the human. As a priestess she was especially aware that going against her deity's decree of rewarding the human for his help would be a bad idea. Despite their agreement that they should enter the temple in pursuit of the boy, they were also more than a bit concerned about entering such a place. It wasn't that they expected hostilities just for entering peacefully, but it was quite possible they'd be in trouble with the village over this.
As such they were somewhat relieved to find one of the elf maidens that lived at the temple attending the entry way beyond the waterfall. As the representative of the moment, Mist spoke up for the group. "Pardon our intrusion, but a young human man entered here just a moment ago."
Getting a cautious nod from the attendant, Mist tried to continue as politely as she could as she didn't wish to offend and cause an incident. "Well, you see he rescued us from some Orks. He didn't speak our language so I did an augury and I was told that he was worthy aid but must be rewarded for his services. Then he rescued the rest of our companions. Then while we were discussing how to reward him, he wandered off and defended our village from invading orks. So, we need to finish the reward part before he racks up a bigger tab."
Nodding sympathetically as she started to understand their dilemma, the lobby attendant considered this news. "What sort of reward must you give him?"
Having the good grace to look flushed with embarrassment, Thorne hesitantly spoke up as Mist and Valoure glared at her. "I, uh, sort of promised him us. For, you know, the night."
Seeing that it was definitely something that had to be given in person, the attendant considered the girls. While she lived at the temple, the elven attendants here did visit the local elf village often for supplies and news, and as such she knew of the girls. It also didn't hurt that Aurieste had already anticipated their arrival. "very well then, wait here in the lobby. I will see if you can be accommodated, but I believe the young man is already being rewarded, though perhaps not in your manner."
Still blushing in embarrassment, Thorn tried to mollify her annoyed teammates. "Well, I'll take extra turns with studboy if that helps?"
Reaching both an intersection and a decision, Aurieste opened a door leading off the hall. Indicating the bedroom beyond the doorway, the dragon in elf guise spoke up. "If you would relax here for a bit, I need to take care of a few things and select an appropriate pearl."
Nodding at the elf and her dragon daughter, Ranma cautiously entered the room. The red-head was shortly followed by an elf maiden after Aurieste gave the girl appropriate instructions for caring for her guest.
Waiting a moment to make sure everything was in order, Aurieste began the task of guiding her daughter into her lair proper. It wasn't that she didn't trust the young boy, but in her experience it was best to avoid tempting others. Greed could do horrible things to a being.
Apart from the need to visit her hoard to grab a few trinkets, she also needed to have a proper talk with her daughter. "Now then young one, if you wish to go with Ranma, you must take on the form of a human girl. The actual magic of shape shifting should not be a problem for you, but having a proper image in mind can be. So, before we go back to young Ranma, let's work on your form."
The little dragon bobbed her head happily. "Then I can be with Poppa Ranma?"
Smiling warmly, the elf nodded down at her eager daughter. The silver striped golden wyrmling did so take after that rascal of a father of hers. "Of course dear, but only if he agrees. It's possible that he might simply be unable to take you with him at this time. Questing heroes tend to be like that little one. You'll have to visit me regularly though dear, about once a month would be good."
Bouncing with eagerness, the wyrmling was eager to practice turning human just as soon as they got to where they were going and had a moment. She had the image of a cute little girl from her imprinting on Poppa and was eager to see his reaction. Still though, she did want to spend time with Momma too. "You could marry Poppa Ranma Momma! He's a Hero right?"
Part way to correcting her daughter, Aurieste considered the suggestion. It might be a century if ever that she mated with a dragon again, so that left plenty of time. Even then silver dragons were known for consorting with humans regularly to the point of starting families, so the little one's real father likely wouldn't mind if they were to meet again. Still though the boy was young and inexperienced and needed guidance more than anything else. "Perhaps in time little one, but first things first."
Watching the elf woman fill the tub with water from a spout in the wall let Ranma at least know that the locals did have indoor plumbing. It certainly wasn't modern stuff though as the woman was using a brazier suspended from a chain to heat the water. Apparently whatever was heating the brazier was waterproof, as the woman let it dip into the water which steamed and boiled from the contact.
Frowning in thought, Ranma was pretty sure Europe had modern plumbing, so that must mean he really was in some secluded little area of the sub-continent.
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(Posted Sat, 10 May 2008 10:00)
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