A Bastard's search for Dragonflesh

[Pericles of Athens]

Hugh looked up at the Dragonmont, its fog shrouded and blackened visage was a daunting sight and the castle that sat upon the southern embankment was a testament to the power of Old Valyria. Dragonstone had been his home since his birth, he was raised in the village at the foot of the Dragonmont - one of and amongst the smallfolk, born to a life of hard smithing work and nameless poverty. He'd been raised in the shadow of the mountain and that of his parentage that refused to recognize him, that denied he was one of them.. that refused to acknowledge he even existed. This life that was thrusted upon him had made Hugh bitter and angry, but at the same time it made him physically and mentally strong - strong as any man could hope to be.

A stiff breeze came up from the south, not an uncommon thing on the island in summer, it smelt of salt and sea spray. His smithing hammer hung from his belt as he watched the grey steam rise from the vents scattered about the volcano. With his right arm he held a goat tightly to his side, the creature looked bored as it chewed. Rumor held that there were six dragons on the island, but he was hunting for a particular one.. the mount of the Old King and one of the largest dragons on the island. Stories held that Vermithor had spit roasted the last man foolish enough to try and claim him as their mount, but Hugh felt a strange drive toward the creature.. a drive for the possibility of greatness the flying beast could afford him.

Hugh was a mountain of a man, all muscle and grit, hardened by a life of swinging his hammer and forging steel. His heavily calloused hands wiped away a layer of fresh sweat that had formed on his forehead, he raised his hand blocking the sun's rays from afflicting his eyes. He tied his hair back into a silvery ponytail, a determined scowl upon his face. With that he set off up the side of the volcano, the incline growing stepper and stepper as he made his way farther and farther up that mountain.. where it was rumored the dragons had made their nests.

[Pericles of Athens]

The dragonmont was a horrible and jagged thing. Riddled with deep caves and cavernous tunnels, any one of which could be home to one of the most fearsome creatures in the known world. His eyes searched for any irregularities, he took a gulp of the fresh air and felt sweat growing heavy on his brow - the heat on the mountain was unbearable, no wonder dragons nested in a place like this. Hammer looked down at his hoofed companion, You wouldn't know which cave exactly Virmithor rests his head.. would you? The creature simply maaaaaaaahed in return. Hugh sighed, Thought as much.. well come one, we aren't getting anywhere just sitting here. He marched on further, eyes scanning for the creatures nest. He'd been told Virmithor laid claim to a large cave high up on the western side of the volcano, the entrance would be littered with the bones and corpses of its victims.. some fresher than others.

[Honors Bastion]

There were plenty of corpses of sheeps and goats that were around them. A dragon definitely roosted here but was it Vermithor?

[Pericles of Athens]

Midday sun gave way to evening by the time he'd found a suitable sight. He gulped down a smidgen of fear that had welled up in his throat. No dragon bones at the least, he convinced himself this was a good sign that it wasnt the Cannibal's roosting spot. The goat maahed sheepishly at the sight of its consumed kin. Don't be such a coward. Hugh demanded, absentmindedly scratching lightly behind the creature's ear. The place smelt of death.. and mutton, a strange combination that made Hugh's stomach growl. He tied the goat to a rock just outside the cave and approched cautiously, the smell became progressively worse the closer he drew to the cave's mouth. His eyes peered into the blackness of the creature's lair.. A heat rising from it rushing against his face, if it was from the mountain or the dragon itself he could not tell. Hello! The smith called into the abyss, his deep voice echoing off the black walls of the cave system. Hello.. Hello.. Hello..

[Pericles of Athens]

*cough*

[Honors Bastion]

There was no response as the echo carried through the cave. The only thing he heard was the neighing of the goat near him.

[Pericles of Athens]

Hugh took a step back, Empty? Perhaps it isn't home. He stepped into the cavern, the scent of burnt flesh and broiled mutton permiating the stone itself. Every step he took was met with the crunch of one bone or another, no one would accuse a muscular bull like Hugh of being stealthy. He noticed deep claw marks through the solid stone near the entrance and more further in, no doubt this was a dragon's roosting spot and judging by the bones scattered every which way a hungry one too. He tried to judge the size of the cave, only to realize he had no idea what the corrilation was between the size of a dragon and its nesting ground. All he knew for sure was that the cave was large and that meant the creature must be large too. This could be it.. Gods I hope this is it. he thought wistfully. He stepped back outside into the fresh air and made his way toward a ledge with a good view of the cave's opening and some bushes for cover, his goat close at his heels. The sun was beginning to sink, soon it would be dusk and the beast would return.. Assuming it ever planned to return.

[Honors Bastion]

The dragon returned hours later, carrying a fresh catch in it's mouth and two in it's claws. However, to Hugh's surprise, this dragon was not one that he expected. It was much larger in size than Vermithor or Silverwing. This, was the lair of the dreaded Cannibal, a dragon that many say is untameable. The Cannibal had not yet noticed the goat or Hugh but it would only be a matter of time. If he wanted to escape, now would be his chance.

[Pericles of Athens]

In that moment Hugh knew for certain he could die having seen all a man must in the world. The creature was as large as a mountain, if it weren't night it's ebony wings would block out the sun. His scales were dark as charcoal and reflective as an undisturbed pond, it's teeth were large as swords and its claws as big as meat hooks. It was the largest dragon in living Westerosi memory and next to the Black Dread the most feared. Old rumor said this dragon came to the mont long before the Targaryens themselves, as if it sensed the doom with its beastial aura, the same rumor held that no man could take the beast born of dragon's blood or not. The three kills it carried were nothing more than snacks.. and if Hugh wasn't careful he and his goat would be the main course.

Hugh took his goat and slunk a bit down the mountain, carefully attempting to avoid the monstrous gaze of the Cannibal. He made a mental note of its nesting ground.. If I must I can return to this one. Once out of sight Hugh made his way toward another part of the mont, dragons of smaller stature wouldn't nest near this beast.. and for good reason. The trek across the mountain was steep and with nothing but the light provided by his torch and the moon above to guide him it was treacherous as well. But he needed to find a nest before sunrise when the beast would awaken again, he wonder as he climbed from ledge to ledge if Virmithor was really as proud as they said, if Silver Wing was really as beatiful, if Sheepstalker was really as swift.. He'd seen dragons in passing before but his brush with the Cannibal was the closest he'd ever been.

[Honors Bastion]

He soon found another nest of a much smaller dragon then the Cannibal, about a tenth as small. There was no sign of which dragon roosted within.

[Pericles of Athens]

Hugh wiped the sweat off his brow, the moon's light illuminating the sea below him and dancing off the dragonglass formations jutting from the mont. The putrid smell of death from the Cannibal's lair still clung tightly to his body, mixing with stench of his own body odor after a long day trekking about the mountain. The goat was too exhausted to move and Hammer could feel himself weakening despite his determination. He ate a small amount of bread from his satchel and took a swig from his sac of wine, he took a short nap waiting for the sun to move closer toward dawn. He looked over the cave's opening, this one was smaller than the last but that didn't narrow down the options.. it could still be any of the island's other scaled occupants, after all they were all dwarfed by the Cannibal. Hugh hefted the goat over his broad shoulders and moved toward the cave. I am Hugh Hammer, dragon! He called into the blackness of the abyss, waiting for a response from within. If no response was forthcoming he encroaches upon the cave opening, this would be his greatest success or his greatest failure. He calls again and if no answer comes he enters.

[Honors Bastion]

Hugh wiped the sweat off his brow, the moon's light illuminating the sea below him and dancing off the dragonglass formations jutting from the mont. The putrid smell of death from the Cannibal's lair still clung tightly to his body, mixing with stench of his own body odor after a long day trekking about the mountain. The goat was too exhausted to move and Hammer could feel himself weakening despite his determination. He ate a small amount of bread from his satchel and took a swig from his sac of wine, he took a short nap waiting for the sun to move closer toward dawn. He looked over the cave's opening, this one was smaller than the last but that didn't narrow down the options.. it could still be any of the island's other scaled occupants, after all they were all dwarfed by the Cannibal. Hugh hefted the goat over his broad shoulders and moved toward the cave. I am Hugh Hammer, dragon! He called into the blackness of the abyss, waiting for a response from within. If no response was forthcoming he encroaches upon the cave opening, this would be his greatest success or his greatest failure. He calls again and if no answer comes he enters.

A roar was heard from within the cave and slowly a medium sized dragon appeared before Hugh and his goat. While it momentary thought about merely engulfing the man in flames, the dragon was curious at his intentions and let him be ... for now. It was grey and white in color and still be quite young.

[Pericles of Athens]

*cough*

[Pericles of Athens]

A pillar of steam and smoke bellowed out of the creature's den. For a moment Hugh didn't think there'd be an answer, until he heard something stirring within the cave. The sound of claw scratching over black stone, the pitter patter of leathery bat like wings, the sound of a barbed tongue sliding over grooved teeth. The answer to Hugh's statement came back toward him at muzzle velocity, sending an unknown chill down his spine. It was a shriek powerful enough to wake the dead, both high and low in pitch, quiet as a whisper and at the same time loud as a thousand thousand war drums. This was a primordial sound of a by gone era when giants still roamed the earth and dragons ruled the skies.

He kept his eyes glued to the darkness. A shadow in the abyss seemed to move, What was that? he thought skittishly. A reflection of the moon's light for one instant, Was that him? he mused. The sound of a scaled creature scuttling across the cave's stone floor.. Good gods.. A quake of the very earth itself, Seven Hells.. The creature barreled out of its cave lightly shacking off the steam and smoke that clung to its scaled form. It looked Hugh over, and exposed its teeth in an almost sinister snarl. The dragon began heaving lightly as it took in air, building up a pillar of flame in its chest only to rethink its decision and swallow its inner fire for the moment.

When the dragon revealed itself Hugh couldn't even comprehend the situation that he had gotten himself into, the goat fainted in fright and Hugh could feel its body go limp on his shoulders. This beast was nothing like the Cannibal. That rogue monstrosity had been a literal mountain of bulging muscles and ebony scales formed into three hundred years of seething hatred for humanity, this creature was large and fearsome.. yes, but there was a slender almost delicate beauty to its form and a reclusive shyness hidden behind its eyes. His grey and white scales swirling together and fading into one another with an almost unnatural grace, it was easily the most beautiful thing the bastard smith had ever laid eyes upon.

The creature puffed out its chest as if to make itself look larger than it was and Hammer's heart leapt into his throat. His eyes went wide as saucers as he remembered himself and attempted to speak but his tongue failed him and all that escaped his lips was a long hollow wheezing sound. His chest constricted and his lungs struggled against him for air, he felt like a boy of eight name days again powerless to defend himself from the man who raised him.. the one he called father for a time. He was a man grown now but he still remembered that horrible man's hard fists against his soft flesh, whack.. whack.. whack.. He was born of the dragon's blood, but what had that ever gotten him but pain? His stomached flipped and he very nearly threw up his meal from earlier.

The dragon eyed him curiously and made a quire sound, half way between a hiss and a purr. With its position made the creature rustled the frills on its neck as if to listen to the man or inspect him or maybe a bit of both. The bastard took a deep gulp of air to calm himself and finally found his voice again. You're not Vermithor.. are you? He questioned dumbly. He looked it over, the creature was like a mist made flesh.. beautiful and mysterious. You.. you're Ghost aren't you? He questioned with genuine curiousity, as if the creature would know the name the villagers of Dragonstone had given it. This creature was more a legend than fact, an apparition always at the fringes of human society. You're a beauty you know, but I bet all the would be dragon riders tell you that. He smirked slightly, as if the dragon could even understand him. I got you.. I mean I brought you.. Hugh stumbled over his own words, as if he were five and ten again asking Danna to have dinner with him by the docks. Truth be told he wasn't exactly sure how to offer breakfast to a beast that could very well eat him. I've got some breakfast for you. He finally blurted out, smooth he thought to himself reassuringly. Thought you might be hungry. He hefted the goat off his shoulders and placed it on the ground in between them, hoping not to set the beast off with the sudden movement. He nudged the goat's body forward to assure Ghost that the meat was his, in that moment the goat opened one eye to see what was happening..

[Honors Bastion]

The goat was gone within a few seconds as the speed of the Grey Ghost was quite evident. It quickly snapped the hairy beast within it's jaws before the goat even realized was happening quickly tearing it apart within a few short seconds before devouring it almost whole. The only thing that was left of the goat was part of it's leg that had been sheered off. The dragon then let out a great roar and started to spread it's wings.

[Pericles of Athens]

The goat was no match for its scaled adversary, the winged beast swiftly drove its teeth deep into its soft flesh and before it could even belt its last sound it was swallowed whole. The only evidence it had ever lived was a mangled leg cast aside against the stone and forgotten. Hugh was surprised the large reptile could move so fast, Grey Ghost was renowned for his speed but this was unreal. The roar that followed shook Hammer to his core and he very nearly lost his footing from the sheer force of it. I'll bring more next time.. He remarked flippantly.

Hugh couldn't recall the last time he'd laughed, but seeing that beautiful creature spread its leathery wings for the first time brought laughter to the bastard's lips. As the breeze from their unfurling washed over him he saw dawn's first light rising far to the east kissing the mists of the Dragonmont, dancing through the fog and shimmering off the beast's white and grey scales. Tomorrow, I'll be back tomorrow.. you better be too.

OOC: I'm assuming Grey Ghost planned on flying off at this point.

------

Hammer made the long decent back toward his home town, nearly slipping more than once. The terrain was brutal but the view was fantastic, it dawned on him how strange it was that no one living on Dragonstone seemed to take stock of the beauty in the lands around them. Too busy struggling to make a living off the desolate stain of an island he supposed. His decent disturbed a flock of sea birds which promptly took to wing and headed out toward the sunrise, he couldn't help himself from conjuring up thoughts of the winged beasts he'd spent the night hunting as he saw them flap away. It was at least noon when he reached the bottom of the mont.

Hugh had spent his whole life in this of a town, more like a village, but it never seemed as small as it did now.. after having seen the Cannibal whose size seemed to dwarf the dragonmont itself. Every rustle of the wind made him think dragon, every song spun by the wind chimes and every word exchanged between neighbors. All these smallfolk were going about their daylily lives as if a creature capable of burning them all beyond recognition wasn't living half way up a mountain. That got him thinking, why didn't the beast just kill them all? He certainly didn't have to fear humans, nothing that big has to fear much of anything.

He needed a drink, two drinks more like. He stopped by the local tavern, a flimsy shack that smelt of stale piss. It was empty besides the resident drunk who was passed out in the corner, what could he expect this early in the day. The barkeep looked him over cautiously, Hugh was a large man, intimidating and well known for his short temper. What do you want Hammer? He questioned as he wiped the bar top down with a filthy rag, probably doing more smearing of bacteria than actual cleaning. What do you got? He grumbled. We got stuff that tastes like horse piss and stuff that tastes like goat piss. The grouchy barkeep retorted. I'll take the goat piss. In honor of you little guy, he thought in passing. Fine choice. He filled a mug with ale, it seemed there was only one casket of the stuff anyhow.

He sat there downing mug after mug racking his brain in a futile effort to come up with a way to get the funds he needed. He needed money to get the walking meat to get the dragon, but he had no money so he had no meat so he had no dragon. He began smashing his head against the isolated table where he'd camped out and that's when it dawned on him, his father had coin.. but he'd never lend any of it to him.. he'd have to take it. He finished the last of mug and stumbled out onto the lined streets of mud. He made his way down the road toward his stepfather's shop, he was a quire man and reclusive. The walk wasn't long but it wasn't along the way by any stretch of the imagination.

Hugh hadn't been there in years, but the place hadn't changed one bit. Beat up wooden walls, a rusted old sign Hammer couldn't read and a roof covered in lichen. He rapped upon the door and waited for an answer, the door opened revealing a stocky man with dark black hair and green eyes.. his stepfather looked nothing like him, but they had the same personality. Hugh. Jon. You smell like death boy. The older man covered his nostrils with the backside of his left hand. Yeah, well you smell like piss. Hugh pushed his way past his father and into the building, the place reeked of alcohol no surprise there. What do you want? I want the money, Jon. What money? The money you have saved up, the money you want to spend to get off this shitstack island. That money ain't yours boy.The older man stated, shoving the silver haired bastard toward the door.You're a stupid one, always have been. Isn't my fault you couldn't make nothing of yourself, now get on going. Jon turned to grabbed some liquor from the bottom cabinet, Hugh looked between his father's exposed back and a small hammer sitting on the desk. The hammer, his father.. the hammer, his father.. the hammer his father.. He gripped the wooden shaft tightly and smashed it over his stepfather's head, the man went tumbling to the floor. You .. he murmured as his mouth filled with blood. Hugh fell upon him smashing his head again and again and again, he kept going long after the black haired man was dead. At first it felt like nothing but the emotions began to pour from his body, That's for hitting me.. That's for hitting my mum.. tears began to roll down his cheeks, and it started to feel good even though he knew it shouldn't. Just letting the pain and the anger and the hate flow out of him it felt right, it felt free.

He found the money behind the booze bottles where it had always been kept, a few pouches filled with gold dragons. He quickly seized them and piled them into his ratty satchel, he had to get away from the scene of the crime as quickly as possible. He stumbled out into the street, licking the blood from his lips taking note of the taste.. salty. He rushed toward the village shop, he needed supplies.. he couldn't come back here, not after they found out what he did. He pushed his way past the door, being greeted by a high pitched welcome bell. He looked the shop keeper open, a thin man with a wiry mustache. I need food for the next two months and a cart to carry it. He stated, trying not to sound to obvious or allow his slipping sanity to show. Alright sir. The small man scuttled along to get together the needed supplies, bread mostly and some dry meat. Anything else? I'll take a barrels of wine too. He added. What kind? We have a sweet wine from the Reach and - The sweet will be fine. Certainly, now for the matter of payment.. Hugh threw two bags of gold at the man. That should cover it. The shopkeep grinned. Certainly, will you need help loading the cart. No. He hefted the junk into his new cart and made his way to his next destination.

A farmer on the outskirts of town, she was a young girl with dark skin and hair. Rather a strange combination for the island's usual residents. I need your animals. What? She questioned raising an eyebrow. The animals, I need them. What kind of animals do you need? The goats and the sheep, an ox to pull the cart too. Nearly all of them are goats or sheep, kid, what do you want them for anyhow? That's not your business, this is. He stated pulling out a bag of coins and tossing it to her. That'll only get you the goats.. he tossed a second bag. And that'll be the sheep right there. He sighed tossing his last bag of gold. And that's your ox. She grinned. I don't like seeing a gullible sap like you going dark, try to keep yourself not dead. She winked and Hugh grunted in return, grabbing the girl's shepherd's staff. He herded them out of the fields, two dozen goats and nearly as many sheep.

The ox pulled the loaded cart up the dragonmont followed by Hugh and his herd of animals, the procession stank to high heavens. They went as far as they could before the terrain became too rough. Hammer found a nice cave with a small enough entrance to inhibit dragons from entering.. this would make a fine home for him and these filthy creatures. He unloaded the contents of his cart and began making himself at home, setting up his sleeping corner and tying the animals within the cave. It would be a simple existence on this mountain but it'd be free and if he could get a dragon for the trouble it'd be worth it. They were low enough down the mont to still have grass on the slope, it'd make good grazing for the animals he hoped. With that thought the bastard yawned deeply, he'd been up for nearly thirty eight hours straight he needed some shut eye. I'll close my eyes.. just for one moment.. With that he was fast asleep for the next eight hours, it would have been a good night's rest of it hadn't been for the nightmares. He dreamt of the Cannibal, of being rooster alive but mostly he dreamt of his stepfather.

He woke up suddenly to a goat gnawing on his hair, it was long past midnight he judged while scratching the sleep from his eyes. Probably a good time to make the climb toward Grey Ghost's home. He unhinged the Ox from the cart, wouldn't be of much use if the cart couldn't get farther up the mountain. The trek was long and arduous but at least knowing the destination had taken the guess work out of it, he pulled the ox along behind him by its nose ring.. he couldn't carry it like he did with the goat. He waited on the same ledge he'd waited the night before, waiting for dawn's first light. When the sun crested the horizon for the second night on this mountain he approached the cave's mouth whistling loudly through his fingers to awaken the dragon and draw its attention to him.

OOC: The whole story there was just an IC reason for him to have all his cash money from his freedmen income. I'm considering his accounts drained at this point.

[Honors Bastion]

The dragon did not appear again that evening as his simple whistle could not awaken the beast from it's slumber that day. From deep within the bowels of that cave, the Grey Ghost slumbered and the many twists and turns of the cave weakened the sound before it ever reached the magnificent beast. He was out of luck that day. As he awoke from his own slumber the next morning after, the cave air around him was filled with a dense pale fog that shrouded the vision of everyone who was caught in it, even a dragon.

[Pericles of Athens]

Hugh had fallen asleep without even realizing it.. must have been more tired than he'd previously thought. When his eyes slowly opened he realized he was being pulled along slowly but surly by his Ox, who was dumbly chewing on a few blades of grass. He quickly realized the fog this morning was one of those extremely thick and heavy mists, like too much cream in coffee, that tended to hang over the mont for days at a time. Hugh ran his fingers over his cheeks slowly as he regained his senses, a thick stubble was forming there.. how long had he been on this fruitless mission, he wondered. The bastard searched through his belongings and causally lite a torch to burn away the fog, but it could only go so far in cutting through mist this thick.

A thought came to mind, the fog was thick, very thick perhaps thick enough to ground a dragon even one like Grey Ghost. If he was grounded he wouldn't be able to hunt and if he couldn't hunt he'd need someone to bring him food.. the perfect opportunity to make nice with the creature. He pulled on the rope attached to the Ox's nose ring. With that thought in his mind Hugh climbed up the steepness of the hill, the obstinate Ox following close behind him led by the snout. He knew all too well that each step could mean his death, particularly with the limited visuals caused by the dense mist. He made the climb mostly based on memory, luckily had made the trek to Ghost's roosting ground a number of times prior and knew the most dangerous pitfalls like the pitter patter of his own heart. With the mist, the hike up the mont had taken twice as long as it did without the obstruction. He had to focus every ounce of energy to keeping his steps light and avoiding the crumbling parts of the trail.. one missed step and he could slip, trip, fall a couple hundred feet to a grisly death dashed against the exposed dragonglass near the bottom.

Once there Hugh looked over the cave it was such a simple looking cave, just like any other but within was the greatest treasure in the world. For a moment he wondered why he even thought he was worthy to ride the beast, but no.. he was the first person to ever find Ghost's nesting ground and that had to mean something, didn't it? Hugh had set off days prior wanting to catch Virmithor, the mount of the Old King, but only after seeing the creature in its true glory could he realize he belonged with Grey Ghost. For a moment he took stock looking out over the edge of the precarious ledge, he couldn't see more than a few feet toward the horizon but he could see the sun's light dancing through the mist and becoming lost in a perfect mess of grey and white.. it was an existential representation of Ghost.

He called into the cave his voice low and booming, Ghost! He cried into the deepness of the abyss. Chow time! He whistled loudly to add to the commotion. Hugh's got some lunch for you big guy! The Ox groaned behind him, licking the inside of its leg with its naturally coarse tongue. If a response didn't come he'd be forced to enter, he hoped he didn't have to do that.. not after spending time inside the Cannibal's den.

[Honors Bastion]

No sound was heard stiring from within the cave, making Hugh wonder if the dragon was even in there at all? Perhaps the Grey Ghost had ventured off before the fog had settled in and was off flying and had yet to return. That was his thought until he heard something move behind him.

[Pericles of Athens]

Hugh stared into the abyss but it seemed as if the abyss wouldn't stare back at him today. .. He muttered under his breath through the mist, though there didn't seem to be anyone to answer him. Maybe he took to wing this morning.. He sighed, massaging his temple lightly. One disappointment after another.. His clothes were covered in dirt and stained with human and animal blood, with permanent sweat stains about the armpits. The smell of death still clung tightly to his body as did some extremely ripe body odor, he hardly looked the part of a triumphant Dragonrider.. more like a very large beggar.

Just as he resigned to moving toward the ridge to settle in for the long wait he heard something behind him, a sound he couldn't quite pin but it was definitely there. Just a bird.. He thought, a lump forming in his throat. Or a lizard.. or perhaps a bit of both. His heart audibly pounded in his chest against the oppressive silence that followed the sound that came from behind him, thump.. thump.. thump..A dragon was one thing when it approached you from the front, but if it came from behind.. he wouldn't even be able to see the scaled death come upon him. Ghost? Came the bastard's voice, tempered and carefully measured. Hugh had fed Grey Ghost and perhaps he even had a rapport of some kind with him, but if it were any of the mont's other residents he wouldn't have the same luck. He pushed his silvery hair out of his face and his body turned as his deep purple eyes fell upon the source of the disturbance..