Chapter 37 - 36: Eruption
In Katjana Volcano, within a cave on the side opposite the Red Dragon’s Lair, Pafila, having cleansed herself multiple times in a magma pool, carried the pile of ’scrap metal and trinkets’—an offering from David, sourced from the High Elves—to a relief carved with the likeness of a five-headed dragon.
It was, indeed, a shrine dedicated to Tiamat, the mother of the Chromatic Dragons.
However, compared to the dazzling mountains of gold and silver in Pafila’s own nest, both the crudely carved five-headed dragon relief and the meager silver and copper coins and Cat’s Eye Stones adorning the shrine appeared pathetically inadequate.
Taking a deep breath, Pafila unwrapped the canvas. With an air of indifference, she haphazardly placed its contents before the shrine of Tiamat, Mother of the Evil Chromatic Dragons, the Scales of Evil, and then spoke, "Oh, my lord Tiamat, Pafila, the Skanis town guard from the Elariya realm, has a report for you."
The elven junk, stripped from the ship by David and the Drow, was soon enveloped by an ethereal flame and gradually vanished.
After a moment, perhaps due to the immense distance to the lower realm, the faith connection was finally established. An evil gleam emanated from the pupils of the central red dragon head on the relief, "Oh? It’s my dear little Pafila. How rare. Speak, what is it?"
On the other side, the Dragon Mother of the Chromatic Dragons sounded like a perpetually busy CEO of a family enterprise, seemingly multitasking while receiving a cross-planar communication from a trusted regional manager.
Her words, though retaining their authority, were laced with favoritism.
She did not even seem to mind the offerings, which could only be described as pitiful.
Pafila, dispensing with pleasantries, stated bluntly, "Those white-skinned Goblins have encroached on my territory again. This is the third time. So, I plan to eliminate them, just as I did the first time. However, I anticipate the Elf deities will likely question you about it, so I’m reporting to you in advance. That’s all."
"Oh? Are they a Noble’s private soldiers or the regular army?"