It was only two more days before the storm creatures got started on the road. It started from the end of their neighborhood and headed northeast through the desert, the path marked by Discord leaving large stones along it. Tempest was glad to have something new to do, and she joined them in digging holes and placing sandstone. It was a slow process, but bit by bit, the road began leading into the desert.
Discord took it upon himself to carry dozens of canteens on his long body, offering them to anyone who got thirsty. They usually only had about six people working a shift, but they went through the water quickly, as the Sun mercilessly beat down on them and the dry air made their mouths parched in minutes. Storm creatures scrambled to get night work, and Tempest and Curly often had to settle them and promise that day workers would be compensated for the effort.
Curly liked Grubber's plans for building a rest area along the road, but said they would work on that after the road itself was done. He agreed to that, but started planning things out himself in the meantime.
Tempest elected to work alongside Discord on the road during the day, as she rather enjoyed the heat as long as she kept hydrated and took breaks every so often. She was able to move things along fairly quickly, as she used her magic to move rocks and plant them. This magic usage was allowed by the storm creatures, as she was still using her own strength to work.
The project lasted for many days. Everyone always came home covered in sand and sweat, but feeling good about the hard work. Tempest often received massages from Discord, becoming more comfortable with letting him feel up and down her neck and along her barrel, and she even started letting him massage her legs. He was very respectful with everything. She offered to give him a massage in return, but he said he didn't need one, as that level of physical activity didn't affect him. It made her wonder what it would take to make him tired, but then figured he probably wouldn't admit to that.
Usually Tempest was so tired that she'd just go to bed upon getting back to Capper's house, but sometimes she'd be able to stay up, and they'd play Ogres & Oubliettes together. Their campaign was going well and Discord kept dropping hints that they were approaching the final boss.
“I still feel like this is kinda racist, considering that Spike is a dragon and he's perfectly friendly,” Tempest commented one day, as Discord talked about “the dragon king's soldiers.”
“Well yes, I know that,” Discord replied. “But there ARE vicious dragons out there, and this is a fantasy world. Let's just imagine a lot of other dragons don't like him either but he's so powerful they can't really stop his tyranny.”
“Alright, whatever,” Tempest said, playing with one of her dice.
“So, you said we just found a vine-covered chest nearly hidden toward the side of the path?” Capper asked.
Discord looked at him. “That's right. Do you want to do anything with it?”
Capper looked at Tempest. “What do you think?”
“Hm... I cast detect magic,” she decided.
“Roll for intelligence,” Discord replied.
She rolled the D-20. It came up with ten, which made her wince, but she checked her character sheet too. “Fourteen.”
“Very well. You detect no magic in the immediate area.”
“Hm, alright then... Got anything then, Capper?”
Capper considered the situation. “I think I'm going to take the risk. I mean we are out in the middle of nowhere, this chest could have just fallen off a trade caravan and been lost. Maybe we'll find some clothes or weapons. Discord, I open the chest.”
“Roll for acrobatics,” Discord said.
“Roll... roll for acrobatics?” Capper asked, confused.
“Yes, that's what I said. Acrobatics check, go.”
Capper exchanged a bemused look at Tempest but did as told. He read the die, his sheet, and then said, “Eleven. But I don't see-”
“You step forward and open the chest,” Discord interrupted him. “Immediately triggering a spring-loaded trap that fires an arrow directly from the front of the chest. You hear the clicking of the mechanism but not knowing what was going to happen, you try to just throw yourself backwards. The arrow pierces your leg and sticks.”
“Damn it!” Capper hit his fists on the table.
“What was your character's health again?” Discord asked him.
“40,” he replied.
“Mm, okay.” Discord rolled some dice, examined them, then said, “You've lost five HP and are now bleeding.”
“Was the arrow poisoned in any way?” Tempest asked with concern.
“The arrow was not poisoned but it hurts like a bitch,” Discord answered. “He is not in immediate danger as long as he keeps it in. Meanwhile, I investigate the chest.” He rolled for his own stats, then said, “The chest contains a pouch of twenty gold coins and a letter that says, 'If you lived, congratulations. If you died, I assume this is being read by someone else, so at least you don't have to share.' That's all.”
“That's all?” Tempest demanded. “Why would you troll us like that?”
Discord rested his elbows on the table and just stared at her.
After a moment, she cleared her throat and blushed. “Right. Discord, god of chaos. Okay. So, Captain Wuzz, what should we do about the druid?”
“The druid has a name, you know,” Capper said.
“Yes, yes, Felijor the Slow,” Tempest replied, getting into character as the sorceress Dreadful Dusk.
“Shut up, Dreadful Husk,” Capper replied.
“What we need to do is have Dusk use her healing magic,” Discord said.
“I don't use white magic,” Tempest said.
Capper sighed. “But you have the capability to do so. So do it.”
“I'd really rather not, with you injured I can take over as the lead.”
“You're so petty. Okay, I'm going to pull the arrow out,” Capper decided.
“If you do that, you could bleed out,” Discord pointed out.
“We have medical supplies on hand. So, I pull out some bandages and remove the arrow from my leg, bandaging it.”
Discord hummed, and said, “Roll for constitution.”
Capper did so, and reported, “Sixteen.”
“You scream so loudly that the birds take off from the trees as you remove the arrow, but quickly get it under wraps.” Discord snickered at his own joke. “You're able to properly bandage your leg and stem the bleeding, but you've now potentially alerted any nearby enemies.”
“All for twenty gold and a scrap of parchment,” Capper sighed. “Okay, then let's get moving. I'll ride on my leopard.”
“Very well, you continue on your journey.” Discord picked up his notes. “Honestly I was hoping you would think to put up a shield or something and ask Dusk to open the chest from afar, but you just bumbled right into that.”
“She wouldn't have done it,” Capper said.
“I might have,” Tempest said. “If I was promised a cut of the contents, of course.”
“Of course.”
Tempest was highly entertained by how much her character clashed with Capper's. It was only Captain Wuzz's eternal optimism (and impeccable aim with a bow) that kept them from killing each other. Their bickering drew out the campaign though and Discord was enjoying it.
“We can keep going but it's getting late,” Discord said. “How do you two feel?”
“I'm up for more,” Capper said. “Tempest?”
She yawned, and held a hoof over her mouth to try to hide it. “I mean, I can probably go for another thirty minutes.”
“Great! Because you come upon a fork in the road that leads up to a hill bathed in smoke,” Discord said dramatically.
“Should we wait to let Felijor heal?” Tempest asked. “I mean he just got an arrow in the leg.”
“You can wait, but this close to the dragon king's lair, you may get ambushed,” Discord pointed out.
Tempest grumbled. “Felijor, you're a druid. Heal yourself.”
“Right. Discord, I cast spontaneous healing on myself,” Capper declared.
“Roll for intelligence.”
Capper tossed the die. “Dang, twelve.”
“Your leg heals enough for you to walk but it hurts like a bitch.”
“It'll have to do. Onward then.”
They continued on, and Discord had them get attacked by small dragons a number of times, but they were able to fight them off. They got closer and closer to the hill, but finally Tempest had to ask for a stop, as she and Capper were both yawning and nodding off at the table.
“It's so cute how often you need to sleep,” Discord chuckled.
“Well I did spend most of the day hauling rocks around,” Tempest replied.
“And as usual I was loading and unloading airships,” Capper said. “I need a change of pace. Is the quarry hiring?”
“It might be, you'll need to talk to the guy in charge out there. A storm creature named Jimmy.”
“Those guys have such weird names,” Discord commented.
“Perhaps I'll talk to him tomorrow, then.” Capper stood, gathering up his character sheet and dice. Tempest and Discord helped clear the table, then headed to bed. As usual, Tempest climbed in first and then Discord curled up in all the available space left behind, which really wasn't much, but as she let him wrap his body around her, he was able to fit. Though there has been more than one morning where they've woken up and Discord has unwound most of his back half out of the bed and onto the floor. He confessed that it was comfortable either way.
When Tempest rested her head against his neck, he gently stroked her back, right between her withers where it was most relaxing. She smiled and closed her eyes, listening to his soft breathing as she drifted off to sleep.