<em>Quest Failed</em>. Telethrax's escape was a black mark on Rayne's quest log, but not the end of the story. A new quest hook appeared below it in her log:<em>A Dragon's Rematch: Telethrax is still at large and holding a grudge...</em>Even though it was more of a reminder than anything, with neither quest arrow nor further hint as to how to find Telethrax, apparently forcing her to wait for the quest's development to happen to her, it was still a promise that there would be another chance, some day.<br/><br/>This day, though, Rayne would have to settle for handily dispatching Telethrax's servants. What with the arcane archer peppering the monsters with arrows while Sabrith kept them at bay and Starstrike supported with her magic, the mobs never stood a chance. They were a few levels lower, routine enough pickings for Rayne and company, but they would have been a challenge to the other team even at their best - Rayne could draw some consolidation from the fact that her decision had almost certainly saved the B team from the stereotypical fate worse than death.<br/><br/>In the end, even though Telethrax himself escaped, the players had managed to defeat a dragon forcing him to retreat, captured his treasure hoard, and liberated his slaves - no mean feat! The game's quest system seemed to recognize it as such too, showering them with experience points to accompany their newly acquired gold.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>Rayne gains 30,000 XP (it should be enough to level up! Remember to gain max HP per level) and 20,000 gold pieces to spend/hoard.</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>A few days later...</em><br/><br/>All's well that ends well, so the saying went, and things ended pretty well. With the monsters' leadership and way to replendish their numbers gone, their hold on Port Lannis was tenuous and quickly broken, and soon the city was liberated once more. The rescued players were recovering and the NPCS were returning to their routines, repairing the city back to its pre-cataclysm state.<br/><br/>Zombs and Grogza respawned, having been "killed" by the wave of water. Fortunately Rayne's stand had eliminated the monsters in the sewers near where they ended up, and after a bit of time unmolested they had gotten and used the option to respawn. "Don't feel bad," Zombs told Rayne. "Something as powerful as a dragon always has an escape plan for when things go south, if not several. Even if your arrow didn't accidentally trigger it, he would have done it himself anyways. The important thing is that we managed to get everyone out safely, thanks to you."<br/><br/>Indeed, Rayne had become something of a hero among the players for her actions in the battle against Telethrax. That included Lizzy, who had a tearful but joyful reunion with her big brother who had been rescued from the breeding chambers. Although, he could have been understandably mistaken for her elder sister, seeing as how he meticulously stayed in character as a busty blonde elven ranger, perhaps roleplaying a little more than strictly necessary. For someone who had been unwillingly impregnated and forced to give birth to monsters while the dragon's prisoner, however, he seemed to bear it well. For the most part, the others tried their best to put their ordeals behind them as well and settle into their new lives in a digital world.<br/><br/>A grateful Lizzy had reforged Rayne's dragonslaying arrow into something a little more unique, new options opened up by the system's recognition of her efforts against Telethrax.<em>Rayne's Resumption</em>functioned as a mundane arrow against all foes except Telethrax, against whom it would hit as a +3 arrow and immediately shave off 50% of his HP - in effect, resuming the fight against the dragon with the damage she had already dealt him before, as its name suggested. A truly fitting souvenir of their encounter!<br/><br/>Finally, the taverns reopened, and with them the quest boards! Most of the quests on offer were too low-level to be of much interest or use to Rayne, but one in particular caught her eye.<em>The White Stag: Rumours say the mythical white stag has been spotted near the northern city of Stag's End. According to legend, anyone who catches the white stag will be granted one <strong>Wish</strong>..."</em>