The lycan camp was far behind them by midmorning the following day. Mu'tumbo had recommended they avoid flying straight into Shu'zet's lair. With that advice the group decided to approach the dangerous swamp from the north. Their information from the Erjornian high priest back in Port Sept told them their target called the southwestern corner of the Wilds home.

Their plan of approach was simple, they flew straight to the western coast of Vairhon and followed the coastline south.

When the land started its transition from solid robust forest to soggy decay ridden swampland, the men knew they were nearing Shu'zet's lair.

"God it smells fucking awful around here!" Roden said in a stage whisper.

Errrkkkk turned to look in Roden's direction, his face covered with a brown leather mask with two bulbs handing off the front looking like a medieval respirator.

"Awe fuck me throw me one." Roden said, holding a hand up.

With his mask on Roden took as deep of a breath as he could. The air wasn't exactly fresh, but it lacked the unbearable overwhelming scent of putrescence that permeated the bog they were currently hovering their way through, courtesy of Errrkkkk's ability.

Roden was rightly wary of their current plan. With Mu'tumbo's help they had a better idea of what to expect from Shu'zet than they did the dragon in the mountains. Mu'tumbo was confident in his assumption they would find the dragon awake and most likely in the middle of a meal. Apparently, because Shu refused to sleep she had a voracious appetite that required constant snacking compared to her more drowsy kin who could eat a large meal then sleep it off for months.

Mu'tumbo also warned them of a tribe of subservient goblin-like creatures who worshiped Shu and served as her stewards. Mu'tumbo couldn't say whether they would interfere in their fight with Shu, but did warn them they would expose their presence if they were seen by one. Mu'tumbo's final piece of advice was to abandon any hope of catching Shu unaware. Her paranoia was too great and guaranteed she would have methods of observing anything that entered her domain.

The group took Mu'tumbo's words to heart and crafted their various plans before they left the lycan village. Roden was not terribly happy with their main plan, but couldn't object without revealing he knew more than he let on. Their plan was not consistent with what his friends had done at the table and Roden was worried too much would be altered by what was about to happen.

By midday the adventurers had reached the part of Shu'zet's domain that contained her home. The bog turned into more solid land with pools of bubbling liquid. Roden knew the disgusting fluid was a type of acid born from Shu's breath weapon of choice.

Way back when they had done their original research, they had discovered reports of dragon's using acid and Riakon's version of the attack confirmed the reports in their mind. The reports were mostly derived from accounts of dragon on dragon disputes that resulted in the death of the non-acid spewing dragon. From what they had deduced at the time, acid using dragons were more adapted to killing other dragons than most.

They knew they had found their target when a voice boomed out from ahead of them.

"I know you are there! You can't hide from me!" the voice was pervasive. The hiss that bookended their speech sent a shiver down Roden's spine.

Riakon knew his role, he nodded to the group and strode forward as everyone else followed slowly. They walked out of the tree line and into a large clearing of mostly solid ground. On the far side, Roden could see a large yet sleek scaled figure hidden in the shadow of a massive gnarled willow. He guessed they were about a hundred feet away which put the dragon within range of some of his spells, but hoped they were too far for her acid to reach them if things got hairy.

Its head bobbed and swayed like a snake as Riakon made himself known. It fanned out its wings and hissed a sharp note.

"So you've come for me too!" the accusation was biting, but the men anticipated such from a paranoid dragon.

"Yes and no, we have come for information, oh great Shu'zet." Riakon said without a hint of fear.

Even Roden could tell his words had taken Shu off her guard. Flattery was always a dragon's weakness.

Shu scoffed, "Information about what?"

By then Riakon had covered nearly half the distance between the dragon and the rest of the group. He stopped walking and stood tall with his head high and chest up. He held out his dimensional bag and out plopped a bag drawn tight.

"Do you know anything about the gremlins that are popping up around Vairhon?"

Shu spit to the side at the mention of gremlins. "Those little vile things do not come here."

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Riakon shrugged, "well I hear they are—"

"They wouldn't dare!" Shu snapped in a belligerent interruption.

Riakon was doing a phenomenal job of remaining nonplussed,

"I wouldn't be so sure. They are growing quite bold. They are pursuing the Confluxes and creating crystals to tap into their power. We hoped a great and wise dragon such as Shu'zet would know something to help us."

Roden saw Shu's large yellow eyes narrow and focused on Riakon,

"and why would I help you?! You killed my brother!"

As she spoke her wings fanned out behind her head and neck giving her the appearance of a cobra with its hood on display. Roden took it as a warning and mentally prepared to act.

"I won't lie to you. I slayed the dragon in the north, but that was his own fault. I merely sought him out for information as I have you. He attacked me and suffered the consequences."

"And what did he say of these gremlins?" her tone remained neutral, Riakon's ploy seemed to be working.

Riakon dismissed her question, "He didn't know anything, he was too busy sleeping."

Shu spit again, "Lazy." she said with a hiss.

"That's what I thought too. Then I heard of your wakeful magnificence and thought you must be more knowledgeable than any other." Riakon infused his words with all the obsequiousness he could muster.

The she-dragon breathed in and let out a haughty huff,

"Well you would be right, I know a thing or two, but what do I get in return for my help?"

Riakon motioned to the bag at his feet, "I have put together an offering of fish, gold, and enchanted items. If you help us it can be yours with almost no effort on your part."

Shu's wings lowered and she shifted her torso to a more relaxed posture with her forelegs poised in a thoughtful pose resting her head on one clawed hand.

"Those gremlin's crystals are tapping into the confluxes, yes?"

Riakon nodded, "That is what we think. I myself have fought a gremlin who had just forged one out of a conflux."

For a moment Roden could see surprise flash across Shu's face before she concealed it.

"Hmmmmm Conflux magic is not something to be taken lightly. It is an ocean of power unmatched by you lesser beings."

"That is why we thought to ask a greater being such as you."

Shu tapped her chin, "I say these gremlin's must have a powerful ally."

"They made mention of a Great God."

A cackle escaped Shu'zet, "Gremlins have no gods, they are mistaken."

"They seem pretty convinced–"

"Then they are being deceived! Only you mortal beings can create gods."

"Deceived by who?"

Shu paused and looked deep in thought then shook her head,

"It would have to be something strong enough to access the Confluxes on their own. These crystals are not natural. They are just foci forged from wells of great magical energy."

"Have you seen them before?"

Riakon had made a mistake in not assuming she had. His error irked the dragon, but he'd built up enough credit for her to dismiss the slight.

"Of course I have! The elves of the Fey first brought them long ago."

Riakon's eyes went wide, "Wait so they are from the elves?"

Shu shook her great serpentine head, "No, those are long gone and only worked in the Fey as they were tied to their Great Trees. The last of those great trees on Mir were destroyed long before the elves returned."

"Forgive me, but my simple mortal mind does not understand the connection."

"Of course you don't." Shu said knowingly, "But perhaps one smarter than you will. So tell them this, the gremlins are being helped by a being on the level of an archfey or…they are being manipulated by one of your own gods."

"Which god?"

"Tisk tisk, that is all this offering will grant you little lizard. Bring me more and I could possibly give you something greater."

As she spoke her long sinuous lower body worked its way out from beneath her. She had to pull herself forward enough for her tail to reach where Riakon had laid the bag. Her tail encircled the bag and pulled it toward her mouth.

Even from Roden's vantage he could see her mouth was full of hooked teeth as she opened her maw and dropped in their offering. Little drops of green spittle fell to the ground as she crunched down on the bag of fish and gold. Riakon made no move until a faint glow began to radiate from between her lips. That light was a clear indication the Annul Beads they had hidden within the fish were about to mark the start of their attack.

Shu didn't have enough of a warning to prevent the eruption of magical energy that ripped through her jaw. The initial blast was rather anticlimactic being just a shockwave of force. The guttural screaming hiss and roar that followed was more along what they had imagined. Shu whipped her head around in agony, and spat out a pool of blood, fish, gold, and most importantly teeth.

Shu'zet's eyes flared with an intense hatred at their betrayal. Despite her mouth injury the mighty she-dragon reared back on her serpentine lower half and sprayed a sputtering stream of magically charged caustic fluid over Riakon, who vanished beneath the deluge. When the stream petered out, Riakon was standing with his glowing shield raised. His newly acquired magical bracer had allowed him to call his shield to his defense in seconds. Which had given him time to activate one of his prayer beads. Roden for his part had hooked his Nimbus to Riakon before they'd separated, granting Riakon even more shielding from the draconic spray.

Shu looked down at her prey expecting to see a servile lesser being put in its place. What she saw was the platinum Dragonkin glowing with golden divine energy shrouded by clouds. With all of their defenses and preparation Riakon was nearly untouched by the acid and what little did splash onto him was easily resisted by his gift from Tiamat.

What Shu didn't see was Riakon call his hammer from its loose hook on his pack. As soon as the handle touched his hand, Riakon launched himself into the air toward Shu's exposed chest. With his grip near the head of his hammer the blow was closer to a punch. Upon impact Riakon's spell activated and a thunderous boom set the dragon reeling.

Roden saw his chance to act. He grabbed Grok and pulled him toward the tree he had chosen as his entrance. Roden's spell responded to his intent causing a thin line of bright green energy to appear along the truck before opening up into a portal big enough for the two of them to walk through. There was a windless rush of motion as if they had stepped onto a speeding train. They emerged from a similar portal opened on a tree in the midst of Riakon's battle.

Riakon had thoroughly prepared Grok for that moment. Grok bounded into the action. His eyes glowed in the midday light as he flew toward his target. The big garg drew back a meaty forearm before raking it across the dragon's midsection as he flew by. Grok's strength was put on display as his claws ripped through the dragon's scales leaving a bloody line where each of his four claws touched the creature of myth.

Shu had stumbled back from Riakon's blow, and twisted away from Grok's powerful slash. The assault took the dragon by surprise. In an attempt to regain her guard she began to coil and crouch. Her snake-like body looped around in lazy circles, while her wings shot up. Even with her two forelegs gripping the ground, her sleek scales and dark coloration made her look every bit like a threatened cobra.

With her focus on Riakon and Grok she didn't notice Errrkkkk's chi blasts from high above. His shots peppered Shu's defenses. With three targets fighting for her attention, the dragon swayed. In a flash she rushed to her left and slipped into one of the many pools of burbling liquid that pockmarked her home.

The period of silence that followed had sweat running down Roden's spine. Three pairs of eyes stared unwaveringly at Shu's chosen exit, but Roden knew better so he clued in her team.

"The pools are connected! She could come from any of them!"

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