>>5303954>>5303958>>5303973>>5304004>>5304007>>5304015>>5304036>>5304096You have the one-armed kobold , called ‘Hapo’ you suppose, brought before you. The kobold practice of using their true-names for casual introduction and discussion is still bizarre to you, but interaction with your realm’s new vassal-subjects informs you that ‘One-Armed One’ is actually not specific enough—warfare and hard labour in their mines have robbed several kobolds of their limbs, aside from he who you personally maimed. As his fellows—former followers—haul him before you and throw him at your feet, you force yourself to adapt.
“Hapo,” you greet him. “You survived your blood-loss and concussion.”
You are seated in his cushioned chair, in his house… Or, well, the human headman’s house, which he and Hako once occupied as the Dragonwrought. What once was his place of power is now his interrogation-room. Hapo cringes and trembles somewhat, as is his people’s custom, but his overwhelming posture is still resentment, defiance.
“…Dragon,” he sneers. “So-called.”
“More dragon in truth than you were,” you reply, wit honed and quick from endless sparring with the Novice. “Certainly more than you are now, would you not agree?”
Hapo lowers his head, not in agreement, but in shame.
“Tell me how you became Dragonwrought,” you command.
He is quiet for a moment, as if considering whether to comply… But then, he seems to realize there is nothing more to lose, and perhaps mercy to be gained.
“Hako and Hapo miners. Mining iron for kill, shinies for nice. Mine collapsed, trapped other miners. Hako and Hapo tasked with reopen, pull out bodies, make ready for work again. But where collapsed… Found chamber. OLD chamber, from Big Red times, when there still king under the mountain.”
You nod. This lines up with the rumours your people had heard.
“Hako said: why tell other kobolds? Talk too much. TAKE too much. Could be ours!”
They had a dragon’s greed down, at least.
“Was slow-slow work, but opened up every shift, bit more, in secret. Then… Found place, treasure-place!”
Even the memory of it, even in this lowly circumstance, seems to bring the light of excitement back to Hapo’s previously misery-dulled eyes.
“There was little cache of it… Small creche, full of magic-shinies, like trap-toys for young kobold, maybe. Things to entertain, teach… For young DRAGONS.”
