>>5290509You take your helm from your head at the last, as lengthening horns render it an ill-fit, and your red locks cascade down as you shake them free. The elves watch in fascination, as do even your own forces. They’ve seen this spell in action before, but not to this sheer extent, nor without your armour to conceal the scope of the changes. You glisten like a coppery god, your scales taking on a true draconic lustre. Your Fearsome Presence swells force, your will made manifest, and its oppression weighs heavily upon each and every being present. Even the Novice struggles to keep her head unbowed, and to keep the not-kobold you named for her from fleeing. Glowie gasps and her tail begins to positively wag, as she stares at you with an emotion you can’t parse—almost a hunger.
>15The elven leader stares you down as you turn your eyes back upon her red ones. She tries to look fierce, but you see them widen slightly.
“So?” you ask, in your admittedly-broken rendition of the local elven dialect, “can the gods you know do this?”
“Likely,” she says, trying to remain cool and controlled.
Then, she breaks the façade—you see her eyes trail down your bare abdomen’s musculature, lingering upon your impressive augmented physique, before meeting your gaze once more.
“…But it does not make it unimpressive, that gods can do a thing.”
You nod to your allies, and they instinctively jump to do your draconic bidding. Your intellectuals brought with them a few simple, but ornately-designed, religious charms bearing a simple protective spell against misfortune and physical harm. It is scarcely more protective than simple leather armour, but for those ill-sued to such attire, or who wish to maintain mobility, it can still be useful. For your part, you offer up one of your daggers—the more ornate of the two you looted on your day-trip with the Green Dragonborn.
The elven leader accepts the dagger directly, while she directs her two chiefmost guardsmen to accept the other gifts on her behalf.
“We will allow you to stay here for a time,” she says. “During this time, tell us of your gods.”
“We accept your gracious offer,” you say.
