Serpentina didn't travel to Eltica with the intention of finding a dragon, nor did she aspire to collect their treasure and harness their power. But that soon changed. After about a week at the trading post, the young woman heard talk of the powerful beasts' gems, but to date, she had never met anybody who harvested them and came back alive. "It's impossible," they all told her. "You'll get yourself killed!"

But Serpentina wasn't the kind of person to give up before she even tried. Worshiped as a near-goddess back in the desert - all due to myths and misunderstandings - she held the belief that she could accomplish anything. After all, she was the spawn of a half-demon, half-god serpent...or so the tale went, inspired by the superstitions of her people. All in all, she was a normal human. But she didn't know that.

Dressed in the tan hide of a reindeer, Serpentina belly-crawled up and down hills. In her hands was a weapon, partially used as an anchor in the frosty grass It was a stone rod about 2.5 feet long with a heavy wedge on the end, used mainly as a wood splitter but also an effective mining tool, and even more importantly, a dangerous weapon. It was capable of shattering bones and smashing vital organs, not just in humans but in some larger animals as well. It probably wouldn't work so well on a full-grown dragon, but a hatchling or young drake might be in danger.

She didn't want to use the splitter as a weapon, really; she had brought it along as a mining tool and would only use it to defend herself if she was attacked. Hopefully these dragons weren't hostile.

Reaching the side of a rocky cliff, Serpentina sidled up close to it and began searching for any kind of gem that might be the prized minerals of one of the dragon broods.

Wh was I out here again? I let out a soft snort as my dark blue bodice moved quietly as I moved on. I was bored out of my mind, and was intersted in humans. I was odd like that, liking humans. I didnt care though, most dragons shunned me for my interest. That and my looks. I wasnt very big either, a runt like lithium. I was smaller than him, which pissed me off. I gave another snort and looked around.

My eyes shift around to see nothing. Then the scent hits my nostrils, small and hardly there. I could smell it, human! Inside I was happy, and maybe curious. I leapt into the air and flew low to the ground looking. Then I saw it, a hide. It was odd in movement compared to the real deer, but this one had asome type of weapon.

I landed a good few feet away My head lowered a bit as I just looked at her, just looking with my one dark blue eye while the other pale eye was closed. I shook my head once and gave a soft snort. My vocals rang out as my voice came, cautious. Was I scared of the human? No, but still I didnt want to fight or kill anyone.

"What brings a human out here? You know the other dragons wont like seeing you in the terra, so close to their presise minerals. Im raven, may I ask of your name?"

I was cautious but still I informed her of what other dragons might do if they see her, here, so close to the minerals. I had little o no interst in magic, those freaks could have it all for what I cared.

Serpentina wasn't going to lie; she was scared. Scared of what the dragons might do if they saw her. Even with her camouflage and rudimentary weapon, she would still be a snack-sized treat for a dragon who had a beef with humans. But confident that there was a chance the dragons had more curiosity than aggression - despite what some adventurers in Eltica said - she pressed on.

Seeing a portion of the cliff wall with blue crystals on it, she reached out to investigate it. It was then, and either the most perfect or the worst time that Raven showed up. Serpentina first ducked down and covered her head, but it was too late. The dragon had clearly already seen her. Gathering her composure, the young woman left the heavy stone wood splitter on the ground and stood up slowly. Remembering he manners, she bowed deeply to the majestic dragon. "Please pardon my sneaking, Raven. I am Serpentina Wolfram, an explorer, and I mean your kind no harm at all, and I hope you can grant me the same." She slowly lifted her head. After a momentary pause, she decided to tell the truth. "You see, I've heard tales of the crystals that grow in Your Majesty's land, and I was hoping to gather some, if that's alright. I can grant you protection among my people; I will do my best to make sure none of my kind hurts any of your kind. I have a rather high standing in my culture, so my people will obey my request to not harm you in any way." Of course, she didn't know how many of her own culture were scattered around Eltica, but she tended to be very persuasive. She was confident that she could get a majority of humans to leave the Broods unharmed. Well, as long as the dragons did the same for the humans.

I listen to her talk, my head lowers a bit to make myself seem not so threatining. My dark blue eye watches her, so she did want those crystals. I didnt care, let her have them, hell I'll ven help her. After she finnishes I speak.

"I wont harm you, I atuly like humans. If you want, I'll even help you collect the crystals."

I smile then, a nice kind one I would only let hummans see. I never liked other dragons, not after they scarred me. I still kept my other eye closed. I wanted to go with her, to see the humans. I liked observing them, watching and learning.