The Dragon's Fate (Patreon)

This is a commission made for Rilas on FA, who wanted to include one of my characters for an idea he has on a medieval fantasy setting. I asked if it could be Vaathur, cause I saw a lot of interest in this character, and he liked the idea, and so did I!

We discussed about the background, and I think the final result looks very good. I hope you like it as much as I do!

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There's also a story written by Rilas,  he gave me permission to share it here. We hope you to like it!


It was a meltingly hot day when three dragon adventurers reached the almost hurried entry of the just recently rediscovered underground ruin. „Alright!“ Rilas said. „That should be the place that annoying fox mentioned. I’m still surprised how willingly he told me the location. Normally he never gives me anything for free.“ He shivered when thinking about the „cost“ he usually had to endure to get just about anything from Dasos. He must have been in a good mood when the Opal dragon asked him if he knew anything about the object they were looking for, as he not only willingly stated the location but also drew a quick map. Still it was somewhat suspicious how cooperative the usually mischievous fox Druid was. „What is that thing again we are looking for?“ Vaathur looked into the dark of the tunnel with a hint of skepticism. „This doesn’t look like much. And I never heard of any sort of strong monsters in this area. It can’t be to valuable if it’s guarded by a bunch of measly goblins.“ Rilas scratched his head. It could be a trap, but if it were truly dangerous the fox would likely have warned them. „I assume you don’t have any sort of detection magic to confirm that, Frostburn? I don’t want that fox to play any tricks on us here.“ The blue dragon mage shook his head. „Not my specialty at all. I can only use it over a few meters, definitely not deep into a tunnel. But I doubt there is anything in there some lightning can’t deal with. Also I’m pretty sure if there were anything in there then there wouldn’t be a village so close without any incidents ever recorded.“ Rilas nodded. The villagers who sent them there mentioned a few goblins, but even those never were dangerous enough to even attack anyone.

„Well. The item we are searching for is a magic pendant with about the size of a small orange. It should be a color changing sphere from how it was described. Apparently it’s some sort of protective charm used by a strange old geezer who used to live in this cave to research monsters. It’s called the piece of peace, and somehow prevents harm from its wearer and its Allies as long as they themselves don’t plan to hurt anyone. It seems to be very old. The mayor wanted it so they can protect their vegetable deliveries on the way to the next trade port. Seems to be some village legend. They apparently never found his place due to him almost only ever talking about monster biology and literally nothing else when he came to town.. Weird figure. Maybe just a myth, but if the fox knows that object it’s likely real. His book doesn’t lie in such regards… “ „Let’s not waste any time with village gossip! Get going!“ Vaathur cut of the opal dragons monologue, walking towards the entry. „I don’t have all day to hear your babbling here!“ The other two just looked at each other for a second, then Frostburn held his staff into the air, resulting its blue crystal tip and his own horns to emmit a blue glow, before walking into the dark tunnel.

The inside was completely empty for the most part, just a straight, pretty wide corridor with the occasional water dripping crack. Large brown sandstone bricks formed the floor, feeling cold and wet under the dragons feet. Everything was silent safe for an occasional tapping noise. „They noticed us.“ Vaathur remarked. „I can hear them in the dark. Sounds pretty small.“ „Sounds like it’s really only goblins.“ Rilas added. „I can smell their food as well. Looks like they are not out for conflict. Considering how goblins alone usually are quite cowardly it’s not surprising. Good thing they love to collect trash. Makes it easy enough to locate their nests.“ after a while they finally reached a split in the corridor, as a collapsed wall revealed a what looked like a small cave. „I doubt that the old guy would have used that hole for anything.“ Rilas looked disgusted. „Smells like they use that as a storage room for their disgusting idea of food. I doubt we will find anything in there.“ „Still.“ Vaathur chimed in. „It would be a huge risk to give them a chance to encircle us. One should stay here and guard that cave. I don’t like surprises.“

„I don’t know if splitting up is a good idea“ Frostburn looked a bit concerned. „Those little guys are not the brightest but they still can be surprisingly annoying in numbers.“ „Are you implying I could be taking out by a bunch of goblins?“ The red dragon laughed. „Those things barely can bite my ankles. Leave me one of your magic light sources here and I’ll take care of it . Welcome excuse to not be here when Rilas starts monologing again the second he finds just about anything.“ he added mockingly, causing said Dragon to throw him a dirty look. „Very well. Don’t come crying to us if something scares you in the dark, big guy!“ he said, while Frostburn caused a glowing dot to appear at the stony wall. „Who knows, maybe the goblins find a way to finally shut you up!“ Vaathur countered as the others walked deeper into the tunnel. „Do you think he will be ok?“ Rilas asked as they ventured further and further into the darkness of the subterranean dungeon. „He should be.“ Frostie replied. „He doesn’t carry that showed around as decoration after all. I’m honestly pretty sure that he’s physically the strongest of…“ He cut off the sentence, stopping abruptly. „Did you hear that?“ Rilas only looked confused. „Grinding rock! But not from above!“ Frosty quickly turned around, just in time to see a bunch of glowing yellow eyes stare in the dark. At the same time the same noise sounded from multiple locations in front of them. „Those damn little bastards dug some sort of tunnels!“

Rilas readied his spear. „Look at their eyes. Something is strange about them. It almost looks like some sort of magic. I didn’t hear of goblins using that outside of fairytales!“ he shouted, with a mix of fascination and concern. He quickly charged forward, trying to impale one of the tiny monsters with his spear, while Frostburn prepared a spell, causing a purple ball of energy to form over his hand. But to both their surprise and Rilas frustration his spear didn’t even seem to reach the goblin, who just laughed at him. „Something is weird!“ he shouted, swinging his spear at the enemy, missing every hit. „It is almost as if the distance between me and them is growing whenever I try to hit.“ „Let me try!“ the blue dragon answered, as he unleashed his spell, causing a brightly shining beam of energy to surge towards the goblins blocking the way on his side. But to the mages massive disbelieve not only once the light faded the goblins were unscathed but the spells seared trace clearly suggested that it split the middle down, essentially avoiding the goblins. And not only that but the small monsters had actually closed the distance and before he could even react one jumped at him. Rilas quickly tried to punch it off his friend but again it seems like he just couldn’t hit him. Then suddenly he felt a weight landing on his back as some also lunged on him, and before they could react both of them were pinned belly down on the ground, arms secured by many small hands.

Then they spotted him. A smug looking goblin, with in his hand a glowing orb with changing color. „Dammit. Ugh.“ Rilas cursed as the goblins crawled all over him, restraining him further and further. „They are using the pendant.“ „But how?“ Frostburn wondered, with a concerned voice. „They should not have access to its power. What exactly did this guy research here? Did he somehow change… Aaahhhhfff!“ The mages wondering was suddenly interrupted as one of the goblins grabbed his mouth and forced it open, quickly inserting a metal ring gag with strange runes around the ring, strapping hit in place. Seeing this Rilas quickly pressed his lips shut, trying to avoid the same fate, but finally the goblins just stemmed his mouth open and forcing in the gag, making sure his tongue went through the ring. Still smugly grinning the goblin with the pendant, apparently their leader, walked up to rilas, placing one foot on his gagged head. Then to both their surprise he started speaking. „As late great teacher said. We no plan hurt them, we safe. But capture no hurt.“ he said with a shrill voice, before laughing maliciously. ‘Somehow the old guy must have advanced their intellect!’ Rilas thought panicking. Then the goblin placed a hand on his forehead. „Sleep!“ he said, with a glowing hand, as Frostburn just stared at him with a muffled „Haaaahff“ noise, whatever he tried to say completely understandable. ‘He even taught them magic!‘ was the last thing rilas thought as he slowly drifted off, seeing the goblin walk up to the scared looking blue mage before everything went black.

When he woke up again he quickly felt that something was not right. He was still gagged, but his hands now were stretched up, and as he looked up his own spear was right above him, driven into the wall. His wrists were tethered to the weapon with some rope, pulled over the spear so he could barely move them and was completely unable to pull them down, keeping him slightly suspended in the air. On top of that the same thing was done to his ankles and his two inner toes, making him entirely helpless. But what made it even worse was what was next to him. Not only Frostburn was dangling there, arms also tied to his staff, also rammed into the wall, but also Vaathur with his sword. The big dragons arms were fully restrained with some sturdy looking chains, again tethered over his sword, and his ankles were also restrained with some ropes to the blades handle, also hanging in the air. So much for his hope that he would come to save them. „Haah ouhh ahhhhrrr“ he said, trying to ask the others if they are alright. But before anyone could answer the goblin leader appeared before them again, looking at them in a menacing look. „Don’t worry. We no hurt. We can’t hurt. You safe. But you intruder. Intruder needs punish!“ he said, causing loud cheering from the surrounding goblins. „And tickle is no hurt!“ „whaaaaahhf?“ the dragons asked almost simultaneously. Did he just say tickle? Then all of a sudden the goblin leader took a few steps back, sitting down on what looked like a throne made of sticks on the opposite side of the wall they were pinned against. He stretched out a hand, causing a purple light to appear. Then all of a sudden Rilas saw the same light comming from his companions mouths. Then for a second he didn’t feel his tongue anymore, before feeling it again, but now tasting the cold subterranean air even more. It’s earthy wet taste. Then he spotted it. All of their tongues were floating in the air in front of them, sticking to a purple disk of light with a weird rune. „Haaahhhrhht“ he tried to formulate words in shock, only resulting in his own green tongue wiggling strangely in the air. „heah! Ohhf fooh fhaaah!“ he pleaded, as the tongue Vaathurs dark red tongue slowly floated towards his Paw, which the goblins had stripped of its armor. Then he felt the tongue slowly move up and down his whole foot, causing him to have to suppress a muffled laughter while the big red dragon the tongue belonged to looked more then embarrassed and angry, resulting in a lot of muffled cursing, which however only caused his tongue to move, making it even worse for Rilas. Then suddenly the opal dragon started to taste some foot as well. Looking to the side he saw that now his own tongue traced the glowing snowflake mark on Frostburns foot, while a goblin grabbed the disk with the blue dragons tongue, pressing it against Vaathurs sole. But in a strong contrast to his involuntary lick victims Frostburn seemed… happy?

Muffled moans seemed to come from the slightly embarrassed looking elementalist. Then all of a sudden more and more goblins appeared to watch the embarrassing exhibit of formerly confident dragons, adding plants with tongue like tendrils and some even broth feathers on a stick, tickling the dragons feet. At this point all three of them bursted into laugher. „This will teach everyone to leave goblins alone. Master gifted us cave when he passed. Master improved us. Master have us treasure! It’s ours!“ the Goblin leader proudly announced. The ticking went in for a while, with once in a while goblins walking up to the embarrassed and helpless dragons feet, tickling them with their tiny hands and nails.

All 3 crying from laughter at this point. Rilas attempted (and failed) to keep some composure while just staring at the goblin leader. Frostburn being the only one with free legs thrashed around as much as possible, until the goblin leader raised his hands, causing ghost hands to appear and grab his ankles, also further restraining the other dragons and on top of it tickling his sides and belly through his robes, causing even more violent yet somewhat happy muffled laughter. Vaathur also got some extra hands, ticking his exposed armpits. He had managed to for a while just hang there, suppressing his laughter largely by keeping his eyes shut and biting onto the gag, taking it and trying to not give the goblins satisfaction, but with the additional ticking he now, after a sideglare to Frostburn for causing it to get worse, erupted into the loudest laughter of them all, struggling heavily against his binds. Due to the rules of the talisman they know they will eventually get out. The question is when. Only time can tell.

The end?