Sword and Scale Summary

Rosara stands at the great oaken desk of her father, Lord Parcivaar Vinari, as he voices his concerns on her battle prowess. Even though Rosara tries to argue that she graduated top of her class, Lord Parcivaar cannot help but scold her for not setting records in the academy as her sister did. Rosara comes to terms with the fact that she won't be able to change her father's mind and promptly leaves him without uttering another word.

  She is met in the great hall outside of her father's office by her loyal squire Mogwin Hartel. The two greet each other as Mogwin hands over Rosara's halberd. She commands her squire to follow her to the private training grounds where she can blow off steam by sparring with him. The pair march through the grand gardens outside her father's estate and eventually find themselves at the training grounds. The two envelop themselves in a mock duel, but with each strike Rosara is angered by her father's words rattling around in her mind until she strikes Mogwin a little too hard over the head. She decides it would be better if they called it a day and they stroll through the yards so that she can clear her mind. As they stroll about Rosara makes an odd request to Mogwin. She asks if he would let her keep her armor with her for the night so she can inspect it herself. As the two continue Rosara notices a figure in her peripheral, one that stalks so silently and without falter. She calls out to figure who she identifies as her twin sister, Mari, clad in her usually black leather armor as opposed to the family's full plate. The sisters begin to bicker and argue as they usually do, but Mari is quick to point out her sister's one fatal flaw. She tells Rosara that everything Rosara has done in her life was to appease Parcivaar, but was Rosara truly content with only pleasing others? Rosara feels her blood begin to boil and attempts to stride away from this ridiculous conversation only to be met with her squire admitting he agreed with Mari. He believes Rosara should focus on something she wants rather than what her father makes her think she needs. Feeling almost betrayed by this, Rosara dismisses Mogwin for the day and heads to the stables.

    She collects her prized stallion and equips herself with her shield and a blunted training sword. Rosara rides toward the mountain that shadows the valley she calls home. When she reaches the base of the mountain, she ties her mount to a tree and ascends the peak by herself. Once at the top, she sees a cave entrance and smells a foul odor pouring from it. Rosara runs glowing fingers over her throat and then cast *Shield of Faith* on herself, steadying her nerves for the upcoming challenge. As she enters the caverns, the stench wafts up to her nose, burning her eyes and stinging her nostrils, yet even so, she continues further and further into the darkness.

    She sees a faint glow off in the distance, an eerie, orange light illuminating a huge cavern. She creeps towards the light and notices it is coming from a pool of a deep dark liquid. She stops at the edge of the pool and decides to head down into the liquid, but under the weight of her armor the soil gives way. She stumbles and falls with a loud echoing splash. She stands and takes a defensive position anticipating an ambush. Nothing happens. There are only ripples in the pool.

   Then she realizes the ripples are not originating from her but from the center of the pool. The glow emitting from the pool fades and Rosara is left in darkness. She hears a splash and the hiss of an object slicing through the air. In response, Rosara swings her blade but only connects with empty air. She steels her nerves and advances to the origin of the sound. A low growl rumbles through the cavern.

   Rosara freezes for a moment before announcing to the darkness, "My name is Rosara of House Vinari, and I am here to tame you as my mount."

    She hears something behind her and spins, pointing her blade at the sound. A powerful voice questions her. The creature is amused and mocks her proclamation. It asks if this is for her own personal glory or the approval of another? Rosara counters, calling on the beast to return the respect she gave it by introducing itself. In response, an orange glowing emits from the abyss of pitch black, and the beast sets the roof of the cavern ablaze in a fountain of flames fully revealing itself.

   Before Rosara stands a dragon, its scales black as a void, seeming to leech the light from its surroundings. Rosara approaches the dragon warily, preparing for their duel. The beast scoffs and tells Rosara she is brave but also foolish. Rosara lunges, striking the dragon. It retaliates but Rosara nimbly dodges and swipes at its paw severing one of its talons. The dragon screeches in pain and once again swipes at her, striking a blow that slices open Rosara's arm. The black acid dripping from the dragon's maw seeps into her blood rendering Rosara's shield arm useless. She is unable to block the next blow which knocks her completely into the pool.

    As darkness creeps into Rosara’s vision and her mind numbs, she feels a sudden jerk. She is jolted to awareness and sees Mogwin Hartel, her valiant squire. She begins to stammer, telling him to flee, that the beast is hers, but he only responds by putting a vial in her hand filled with what we presume is a healing potion. Rosara foolishly let's pride cloud her judgement and pushes the potion away, struggling to her feet. Mogwin picks up Rosara's battered shield and holds it up to her but notices her mangled arm and quickly equips it himself.

  Rosara moves to charge the hulking dragon, but Mogwin grabs her and begs her to drink the potion before she continues the fight. The dragon looks on, amused, allowing the exchange to continue. Rosara only agrees if Mogwin promises not to interrupt her duel. She tosses the potion down her throat and cast lay in hands to mend her shattered arm. Fully rejuvenated she takes her shield from Mogwin and rushes towards the dragon slashing it across its shoulder. As the blade makes contact, a bright light flashes as Rosara uses *Divine Smite*. The Dragon roars and once again swipes at Rosara but she dodges and turns to see the dragon’s next attack swipe at Mogwin who does not escape its reach.

  She watches in horror as the beast slams him down into the darkness of the pool. A cloud of blood stains the water and a severed leg floats to the surface. In shock, Rosara runs to Mogwin and attempts to pull him out of the water thinking to save him, that he will still be alive, but when she heaves Mogwin out of the pool by his breastplate, all that is left is a mangled, headless corpse.

    The dragon’s teeth sink into Rosara's leg. It whips its head and flings her across the cavern. Fueled by grief and anger, she struggles to her feet and limps toward her monstrous foe, making a futile attempt to stab it. The sword clangs against the stone floor and she looks up at the dragon’s maw as it spews it's horrible black bile at her, searing her side and making her crumple to the floor. Once again darkness closes in, but this time, as the world fades, she hears muffled yells, a roar, and the clash of steel.

 Rosara blinks in and out of consciousness. She feels herself being pulled from the cave and sees her sister, Mari, tugging at her. Mari is coated in a thick layer of black blood. Rosara finally regains consciousness on the cliff overlooking her home. She sees a shield and sword next to her and a twinge of guilt surges in her heart. They belonged to Mogwin.

    She embraces the now beaten and broken equipment and begins to sob. As she grieves for her fallen friend, she looks up to see Mari holding the hilt of a broken sword. Rosara cries out, "What did you do?"

   Mari tells Rosara she did what she needed to do to get Rosara out of that cave alive. Rosara notices the cave entrance is blocked by boulders and mounds of loose soil. Rosara stares in disbelief as her sister admits to killing the dragon. In Nov Romara, it is a sin to kill these majestic creatures and to do so means forfeiting one's title, honor, or in extreme cases, one’s life. Mari says she'd rather live in exile than to live knowing she let her sister die. She heads down the mountain path but stops after a few paces and tells Rosara that she is not ready learn the truth. Her father doesn't hate Rosara. He fears her. With that unsettling statement Mari rounds the mountain bend leaving her sister doubled over, grieving for her fallen squire and for the sister who now must leave her.