Road Trip to the Dragon Isles - Salah Khan

17 Newkolt 349 AC

"Take care, Chimeg. I hope all is well when you return." Arthur turns to Davaa and Altan, "We should resupply   on the time, either head out or spend the night."

"Staying tonight makes the most sense," Davaa replies. He looks up at the sky. "It looks like the weather is going to hold. It doesn't snow much this side of the Khalkists."

A patrol of Green Dragonarmy soldiers comes to a halt, "Travelers, state your business in Alek-Khan."

Altan is the first to speak "Just stopping to resupply. We are heading to our clan hold in Ak-Baral to represent our Khan at his cousin's wedding."

The soldiers look over the party's horses and notice the chest taken from the Blinded God's Temple and ask about it as well.

"Gifts for the bride and groom," Davaa replies.

"Open it up," the patrol leader orders.

The two Khurs sigh as they take the chest down from the pack horse and open it in front of the soldiers.

The eyes of the entire patrol go wide. The leader stares in awe at the literal fortune laid out before him. He blinks a couple of times, "We are going to need you to come with us. This needs to be taken to our superiors."

Arthur remains calm and alert keeping a close eye on all of the movements they are making. "May I ask why it must be taken?"

"You can ask. Just don't expect an answer," the leader replies. He motions for two of his men to grab the chest and pauses. "If you have concerns, you can come with us to headquarters." He laughs, "I would want you to think that we're thieves, after all."

Arthur dismounts. "That sounds like a great idea, I'll take you up on that offer. Considering that's a gift and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to it," he gives him a genuine smile.

The patrol exchanges smirks with each other but say nothing as they start walking. Every so often they rotate chest bearers but for the most part walk in silence. The road begins to climb as the entourage heads uphill toward a more affluent section of town. After about fifteen minutes, the group turns and heads directly toward a fortress made of fitted stone. Multiple towers anchor a curtain wall patrolled by at least four squads of archers. The gatehouse is massive and looks like it was either built or reinforced recently. The gate's massive double doors are bound with iron and are engraved with several runes that Arthur does not recognize and isn't given time to study.

After passing through the main gate, the group is led to the central keep. This door is also massive and stands twenty feet high. Runners come and go, likely bearing messages and the guards are armored in scalemail with open helms, all enameled in various shades of green. While they have swords and daggers sheathed at their hips, they hold halberds at attention as the party heads inside.

That's when the smell hits Arthur, a dry, almost cold, animal smell that warns of danger. The patrol stops in front of a pair of double doors. The guards station in front of the doors ask their business and the leader replies that they "found something the Highlord will want to see" and open the chest.

Salah Khan - as described
in Dragons of Triumph 

The guards' mouths drop and they quickly agree, opening the door and announcing the arrival of the soldiers and Arthur's party. A large table stands in the center of the room with flags representing the army at both ends. A tall and muscular Khur with a shaved head drooping mustache, dressed in the finest of robes common to the area with golden toggles and fur lining at his collar and hem, stands at one end, dictating orders to some subordinate but looks up when the group enters. Behind him, a green monstrosity, thirty feet long, covered in verdant scales, and watching those approaching with a gaze that conveys the intention of eating someone should the mood strike. The dragon raises its head, yellowish gas leaking from the corners of its mouth.

"Highlord Salah Khan, we found these travelers in the city. They were carrying this chest filled with gold," the patrol leader begins.

The dragon raises its head. Davaa and Altan both back away and Agnes inhales very slowly.

Salah Khan walks over to the chest and opens it. His dragon snakes its head forward, wanting a bettter look. A smile, if that is what it can be called, spreads across its face.

"Why do you carry such wealth with you?" The Khan closes the chest and steps around it.

"A wedding gift, is it against the law to carry such a gift? If not, I see no reason as to why we are here?" Arthur looks around taking count of how many guards are here and what they wear. "I mean no disrespect. I'm just a bit tired from traveling and now being stoped like this is somewhat peculiar for just gold."

Salah Khan smiles. "Of course there is no law against a wedding gift! Tell me, though. Batu Khan is your chieftain?"

Davaa nods.

"Hmmm... last time I checked, both of Batu's parents were only children so it would be impossible for him to have a cousin, let alone one who would rate such a vast fortune as a wedding gift," Salah smiles again. "Perhaps, you were lying about who this gold was intended for..."

The Dragon Highlord takes a few steps and turns, walks a few more steps before turning again. Arthur quickly scans the room. In addition to the Highlord himself, there are two guards standing inside the room in addition to the two standing just outside. There is a handful of functionaries, secretaries, messengers, another one of those yellow-robed priests.

And then, there's the dragon.

Arthur's eyes snap back just as Salah begins speaking again. "Perhaps, this gold was intended for our less open-minded clansmen in the north, the ones who object to the peace and order delivered by our liberators, who object to the ending of the never-ending conflict between our clans. If that were the case, that would be a crime."

Salah pauses, seemingly lost in thought. "It is, however, not a crime to lie to me. My son lies every time I ask if he's eaten his vegetables. My wife lies whenever I ask how much money she spent at the market."

The Khur stops in front of Altan, staring him squarely in the eye. "But, maybe you simply..." the Khan smiles again, "mistaken and, again, there is no crime in just being wrong. The only crime, or a 'moral failing,' if you will, is not correcting that mistake. Don't you think?"

Arthur ponders, "And let's say half of said gift were to end up as a donation to Salah Khan and his mighty dragon and said "mistakes" never happened and we part ways in peace?" Arthur looks at the robed man to make sure he's not trying anything before returning his gaze to look the Khan in the eyes, "What say you, great Salah?"

Salah smiles, "I'd say, 'Enjoy your wedding' and wish you safe travels."

Arthur extends his hand, ""So it shall be."

Half of the gold is removed from the chest, the chest is returned, and the group leaves Salah Khan's fortress.

The Highlord turns to the priest in yellow. "Have them followed."

As Arthur and the others make their way back down the hill, Altan apologizes. "I am sorry, I should have kept my mouth shut."

Arthur places a hand on Altan's shoulder. "Don't feel bad, friend. It was going to happen eventually. Let's just be glad we left with what we have and our lives. Let's stay at the best inn in town, my treat. I'll get you and Davaa your own rooms. How about that? He gives Altan a smile. "Let's get a good night's rest."

Despite Arthur's assurances, rooms are difficulty to come by. The Green Dragonarmy has commandeered most of the inns in the city to serve as troop barracks. After close to an hour of searching, the two adventurers and their guides end up at a smaller place called the Open Sky. It's a two-story inn run by an elderly couple close to the city's main paddock. The sounds of horses carry through the narrow windows but, luckily, the cold keeps the smell of manure down.

Dinner is thin slices of mutton served with berries and some sort of white sauce that Altan says is called "tarag".

As the meal comes to an end, a round of Airag is shared with Arthur, Agnes, and the others and while the innkeeper's wife is cleaning up in the kitchen, a secret, second round of the mildly alcoholic milk is shared as well.

The innkeeper, whose name Arthur failed to learn, lifts a squared-off fiddle from above the mantel and begins to play. He sings a song about a young man whose days are spent in the desert and herding goats on a mountain. The entire ballad takes almost an entire hour and after he reaches the end, the innkeeper rises, returns the fiddle to its place, and bids the group good night.

Arthur sips his drink and smiles. "It may not be the most expensive place, or the most popular but damn, if this isn't one of the best nights in an inn I've ever had." He holds Agnes’s hand, smiles and raises his cup. "To new friendship and safe travels." After they have finished eating and drinking, Arthur will head to his and Agnes’s room and sleep for the night, making sure to be up bright and early the next day.

- - - - -

Note: DL13: Dragons of Truth lists Salah-Khan as the Highlord for the Black Dragonarmy. He is a 13th level Fighter with Chainmail +5 and a Two-handed Sword +3. Additionally, it days "Salah Kahn always hides his face behind wrapped black cloth. This is more than just mystique, for Khan has no face. His features were destroyed in a long-ago duel with a wizard, leaving nothing but gaping holes."

In DL14: Dragons of Triumph, Salah Khan is now Highlord of the Green Dragonarmy and has advanced to 17th level as a Fighter, wears Dragonarmor Plate Mail +4 and is armed with a Scimitar +3. This book says that he is bald and has long mustache trailing down to his chest.