How to Slay a Dragon

When his anger and despair flickered out, Fred leaned against a stalagmite and pondered whether there were any other ways to kill a dragon. He'd never heard himself of anyone killing a dragon other than by cutting its head off with a sword, but his own hadn't even made a dent in its skin. But there were a few old tales he remembered from his childhood, tales which neither he nor any of the other dragonslayers had taken seriously, and yet there might be some glimmer of truth in them. He remembered a song about a peasant who'd slain a dragon by feeding it a cake made with nails and toadstools. Such mundane ingredients would likely do little harm to such a dragon as this, but perhaps there was indeed some way to poison it.

Of course, Fred himself had no idea how to find poison strong enough to kill a dragon. He would have to seek the aid of an alchemist. There was one of no uncommon skill who lived near the village he'd stayed in before reaching the Shreken. But he found that he was angry and ashamed at the thought of running away from the caves. He would be seen as weak and this frightened him more than facing the dragon again. In a more rational state of mind he would have known that his duty was more important than his reputation and that his even surviving the dragon's attack was a sign of great strength. But he had just fought a long and taxing battle where he had only narrowly escaped death and was far from rational.

1. With a heavy heart, Fred leaves the caves, seeking the aid of an alchemist.
2. Fred ventures deeper into the caves, seeking the necromancer who was said to dwell there.

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