We must try

"We must try" Her companions seemed uncertain, except for Rodrik, who said. "I have a plan. I will distract them... Altima, you find a good firing position. Nariel, can you take out the sorcerer?" The elf started to boast, but the guard cut him short. "Calcifer... when you see Nariel did it, you give everything you can on that dragon. But do it safe, ok? Altima, make every shot you have count."

"I have a song too that seems appropriate... I will also start when Calcifer does." Liandra felt good about Rodrik´s words, and their enthusiasm spread among the other companions "Well, at least it is a formidable way to die"

Before Rodrik could step out Liandra threw herself in his arms, and gave him the kind of passionate kiss she read in the novels. Their lips pressed together, his hands held her lithe body, and she got lost in the moment. "For good luck" She said when the moment was over.

The room was piled with riches, from gold coins to glistering jewels, tapestries and artwork. Rodrik walked boldly, shield and sword in hand, and declared "Your days of wickedness are over! I killed your armies, and now am here to face you!"

The dragon was midnight black, but far smaller than any of the adventurers imagined. It was slightly larger than a horse, with batlike wings, a very long tail, and a dangerous looking row of teeth. The woman was a young brunette with hourglass body, she wore an elegant black and fuschia dress that would be the envy of the Luxian court.

"My name is Rodrik, first of the daywatch, bravest among the Luxian warriors! Tell me your name, so the bards will know who to curse when my tale is told for ages to come!" Altima was the second to enter the room, and hid behind a thick stalactite.

"Rodrik, and no sir? hmrf, your demons were even worse than I imagined, Ophelia." The dragon took flight with just one beat of its powerful wings, shadows gathering to his might. "I am Darkyosthiphorenaux, but tell your bards to call me Dark" His long neck snaked a chuckle "that is, if they can speak to the dead" It spewed a stream of nepharious poison, and Rodrik barely had time to hide behind his shield.

Nariel sneaked on this woman called Ophelia, and successfully put his knife on her throat. "Surrender" He whispered, and she just nodded.

Calcifer stood from behind a large mount of treasure, and blasted fire and electricity at the dragon. Liandra flipped the pages of her book to the Song of Ice Fire, and wrecked equal havok in the room, columns of fire and blizzard balls appearing at random in the air. Eventually one of them got lucky, and the dragon fell to the ground.

Altima shot once, and the arrow bled Dark´s left eye. The dragon instinctively spit his venomous breath weapon in her direction, and she screamed as the deadly acid covered her. Mad with vengeance, the warlock gave his all in his next attack, incinerating the dragon´s back, but he also fell to the brutal counterattack.

Rodrik charged the wounded monster, but a couple of strikes against Dark´s hide was enough to break his sword. He grabbed weapon after weapon from the treasure, but each proved more useless than the last, and it was pure luck that he survived as long as he did.

"RODRIK!" Liandra screamed when she saw the dragon sink his teeths in the guardsman´s neck. She took hold of a spear sticking out from the dragon´s horde, and hurled it with a strength she never knew she possessed! And unlike all the guardsman blows, the spear buried deep inside the draconic body. She screamed as she stabbed it again and again, tears and blood spilled in equal amount.

Eventually she was exhausted, and crumbled to her feet. She spent what looked like ages crying, but knew she had to stand up eventually. They were all dead. Altima, Calcifer, Rodrik, and even Nariel. He was laid on the ground, naked, and with his dagger buried in his chest. Liandra didn't see a sign of Ophelia anywhere.