Khûm – Chapter 19

Zhoraska lived! With a roar of outrages, the ancient red wyrm leapt to her wings and cast a ring of blazing fire about the battlefield, separating the Commander's Tent from the rest of the army. As the Kobold renewed their attacks, the four mercenaries were left to defend the downed dwarven queen from the dragon's wrath. "If I die," she growled through wounded jaw, "then the line of Durzov dies with me!"
The dragon made straight for Dûnya Dragonbane and attempted to sink her teeth into the prone queen. For all their blows, none of the mercenaries could pierce her hide – until The Messenger from on high finally scored a hit, grievously wounding the wyrm. Then Mouse threw mithril arrowheads – a gift from Willow – into the dragon's yawning mouth. True to his boasting, it was Umber who ultimately slew this dragon as well but, in her death throes, Zhoraska exploded, Umber throwing himself over Dûnya to shield her from the blast.
The dragon dead, the kobolds routed, the Menagerie and their Axebite allies declared victory.

“Spring of 68. Timberhall.
Well, that’s another one failed to kill me. One of these days.
In the aftermath of a battle, there’s a strange feeling, one that settles like a fog over the winning side. You’re relieved, ‘acourse, that you survived. You’re saddened, ‘acourse, that not everyone did. What you are more than anything, though, is terrified. Terrified of going back. Terrified of ever walking into a scenario where you could ever come that close to death.
And yet? We do. Looking over this blackened, arrow-studded field, each one of us has sworn an oath to march into battle after battle, all the Commander’s behest, me included. Me? I ain’t got no choice in the matter. I owe her too much. I made peace with the fact that some foreign field somewhere’d be my grave.
There’s others, though? For whom there’s life outside the company. All I can pray is that they take it.”
 – Beholder's Log, 60th of Hemson, Year 68 of Ondûn's Second Age

In the aftermath of the battle, Remorhaz sought out Nolqa Axebite and, asking after her revenge, convinced the young thane to rebuild Timberhall, grander than it was before. Griffon sought his mother, drinking wine on the dragon's skull, and confirmed her desire to retire – and to leave Griffon in command. Mouse broke the news to Xerk that their marux – Zhoraska the Red Matron – was slain and, upon hearing this, they dedicated themselves to Mouse. Umber visited Dûnya, disfigured from dragonfire, and she told him to seek the dragon's treasure at Cloudfall and for the company to keep it all for themselves.

Campaign: The Menagerie
Game Date: Hemson 60, 68 2A
Starting Point: Timberhall
Characters Present:

• Griffon
• Mouse
• Remorhaz
• Umber