------------- Tales of the Raptors – One Night in Draknan

It was the end of Meldue when Rose had completed the work on her own new suit of armor. It looked a little different than the old. It wasn’t necessarily revealing, but its unbelievable thinness and flexibility due to a liberal incorporation of star metal alloys made it skin tight. The magics worked into it further reduced its weight and encumbrance until she almost felt naked when she wore it. She was beginning to wonder if she’d gotten it too thin, too tight. So, to get an opinion that actually meant something to her, she suited up and headed down to Barragon’s Forge to see her former employer.

The ride through Draknan-Gar got a few stares, though she’d expect that no matter where she went these days after Miri “improved” her looks so much. She didn’t really think it was the new armor. Dismounting at Barragon’s Forge, however, she noted that she could feel the breeze like she was wearing a thin cotton shirt and tights. Perhaps the armor was too thin after all.

Again, she noted how her mere presence in the forge brought everything to a sudden and conspicuous halt. She ignored the leers of her former co-workers and headed on up the stairs and pounded on the door. Barragon answered with his normal gruff “what is it” and she simply opened up the door and walked in.

He could have told her that he had company. He hadn’t. The other man in the office was a towering orange-brown skinned hulk, one of the Orcs from Fortress Draknan. She vaguely remembered him from the Orc Stew bar some few weeks past, but hadn’t met him yet. However, when his eyes fell on her, he immediately grinned, caught himself and quickly looked away. Barragon was so shocked at her appearance; he didn’t think to berate her for breaking in on his meeting.

“Uh,… Roselyn. I,… uh.”

“Barragon. Hey, sorry to drop by unannounced like this, but I finished my latest work and wanted your opinion.”

His head nodded up and down a few times and somewhat sideways once or twice, but no sound came out of his mouth other than a noncommittal “ummm”.

“I made it as thin and light as I could, just wondering if I made it too light. What do you think?”

Again, Barragon seemed fixated on her chest and simply nodded in strange, semi-random circles. The Orc managed to squirrel up his discipline and looked back at her as though he was looking at a prize piece of artwork he wasn’t sure he liked.

“If I may?”

“And you are?” Rose looked at him sideways, not really talking to him.

“My apologies. Captain Tanas of the House of Khollof, a recent transfer to Fortress Draknan.”

“Very well Captain, what do you think?”

“Well, it’s very attractive, but of what possible use would it be? It’s obviously too thin to be any practical defense.”

Barragon’s eyes widened. He thought for a second about warning the Captain about his obvious misstep, but realized it was far too late for that. Rose’s face grew flushed and Barragon thought he saw smoke rising from her scalp. Then again, it was probably just the smoke from the fires of the forge coming through the open door.

“Really? Would you like to put that observation to the test, Captain?”

-------------