Thrak Haff-Orken and the Valley of Death

There weren't always dragons in the valley. At least, not recently. Thrak surveyed the damage to the village. A burnt down cottage here, a charred corpse there.

"Well?" the knight asked. Thrak ran his hand across the crisp, burnt wood.

"It was a dragon, no doubt." Thrak replied. The knight glared at him.

"Really? Well, I'm glad we called you in to confirm it. Thank the Goddesses that the peasants here weren't slaughtered by something else that flies, breathes fire and eats people." The knight said with a snarl.

"Be thankful." Thrak said, still lost in thought as he examined the damage. "Other wise there was a different beast here for me to manage. Imagine if it were a griffin that did this. Sentiel's blessing doesn't extend to those fiends."

"I can't tell if you're messing with me or not." the knight said. Thrak turned to face the knight.

"How many survivors?"

"Three." the knight said. "A maiden, her lover, and her sister. They weren't at the attack."

"Why not?" Thrak asked, adjusting his wolf's skin hood.

"According to them, they were out picking berries." the knight said. "But I think they were copulating."

"All three?" Thrak asked, sounding impressed.

"You can tell by looking at them." The knight said, crossing his arms as he looked down at a burnt crib. "Such an act would attract a demon such as this."

"This was a dragon." Thrak said with a scowl. "Not a demon."

"There's a difference?" the knight asked innocently.

"Demons are leftover spirits from before the Goddesses were born to the Divine Couple." Thrak explained. "Dragons are creations of Sentiel to enact Her will."

"And what did Sentiel's will want with this village being destroyed?" the knight asked.

"Good question. But I doubt a three way in the woods would be enough to anger Sentiel. Rooka, maybe. Hell, it would stand to reason that Qinta would give them her blessing. Her clerics are always screwing each other." Thrak said.

"You would dare blaspheme here?" the knight asked angrily.

"It's not blasphemy if it's true. The Clerics of Qinta don't wear anything beneath those robes. I know that from experience." Thrak said. Thrak walked further into the village, the knight following him. Thrak frowned as he looked around the village. Finally, he came to the center, where a large charred structure was standing in the center.

"What was here?" Thrak asked, pointing at the mess.

"Market, I believe." The knight said.

"No, the stalls are further east." Thrak said. He stepped closer and sifted through the ashes. He let out a snarl of disgust when he found the body. It's mouth was locked in a snarl from when it died, showing off a set of sharp tusks from the lower jaw.

"Here we go." Thrak said.

"You found something?" The knight asked.

"Half-orc was killed here." Thrak said.

"You half-breeds can recognize each other that well?" The knight asked.

"No, you moron." Thrak snarled. "He's not tall enough."

"Ah." The knight said.

"This was a gallows." Thrak said, looking around the wreckage. "They lynched him in the center of town, and he must've called on Sentiel's wrath."

"Why would Sentiel care about some half-breed?" The knight asked.

"Sentiel is the patron goddess of pariahs, outcasts and the forgotten." Thrak answered. "Those who mistreat the poor and desperate will feel her wrath."

"You're telling me that a dragon dropped out of the sky and roasted a village because they hanged a half-breed?" the knight said.

"I am." Thrak said. The knight frowned.

"Half-orcs get killed all the time. Half of the criminals we catch are half-orcs." The knight said.

"So?" Thrak asked.

"So what makes this poor bastard special?" the knight asked, pointing at the corpse.

"The ways of the Goddesses are a mystery to all." Thrak said. The knight snorted.

"Aren't you a Priest of Sentiel?" the knight asked. "Her ways should be less mysterious to you of all people."

"We'll see about that." Thrak said. He began walking back to where the horses were tied.

"So, with this being an act of divine fury and all, will you still take the job?" the knight asked.

"The Priests of Sentiel take an oath of poverty." Thrak answered. "We aren't in this for the money."

"But will you handle the dragon?"

"If it proves to be a threat to other villages in the valley, then I will try to manage it. There are more than one way to spread Sentiel's will." Thrak said. The knight nodded.

"There's still the commission." the knight said. "If you're doing a job for us, I can't go without giving you some sort of payment. It wouldn't be right."

"Tell you what. Take whatever gold you would pay me for this job, and use it to buy food for the servants in your lord's castle. Donate the money to the poor who live outside the gates. Give the money to the people under Sentiel's grace and we will be fair. Deal?" Thrak prompted. The knight looked more relaxed.

"Deal."

"Good. Let's get back to your lord. I'm sure the prince will want to hear about this."