Page 6
DRAGONIA: Tales Of The Golden Talon
Presents
The DRAGONOPOLIS COLORING STORY BOOKS
Book I
Characters from A Portal In The Storm
|
Book II
Characters from Flames Of Fortune
|
Book III
From The Hope For Zargahn
|
So much more than your average coloring books
1st editions / Issue date: 2001
No reprints / Supplies extremely limited
Own a complete set of the original black and white character drawings
used to illustrate the DRAGONIA trilogy of novels.
For Collectors, three fascinating companion pieces
to the original DRAGONIA Trilogy.
For kids (big and small), three new and exciting coloring books
full of fun, humor, and almost recognizable animals.
Each of them part dragon, but every one of them amazing and "dragonderful"!
Sold as complete sets only / Volumes 1, 2, & 3
Remaining boxed sets are very limited. First come, first serve.
Each high-quality, 70-page Coloring book:
1) Contains previously unpublished story text available only with these volumes.
2) Contains original, previously unpublished artworks available only with these volumes.
3) Offers hours of coloring fun for children of all ages.
4) Makes an unusual and fascinating gift for family, friends, and enthusiasts of all ages.
5) Is synched with each volume of the DRAGONIA Trilogy.
6) Perforated, high-quality paper make for easy removal.
Printed entirely by the artist
Not available on Amazon.com / Not an eBook version
Only available dragonline
@
www.dragonia.net
www.dragonopolis.com
Fig. 1.
T h e C o l o r i n g S t o r y B o o k s
The three volumes of the DRAGONOPOLIS Coloring Story Books are far more than a collection of pictures intended to amuse children or others who choose to fill them with color. The least purpose the books might serve is to occupy an otherwise bored, disinterested child.
More to the point, the DRAGONOPOLIS Coloring book series represents a multitude of themes, some philosophic, others purely aesthetic. In one or more ways the coloring books represent an important adjunct, a superior supplement to the main set of novels they complement. While these secondary volumes increase an already serious commitment of a reader’s time and money, they provide both an entertaining and educational bonanza for the DRAGONIA enthusiast.
The DRAGONOPOLIS trilogy of coloring books is a golden opportunity to view and examine many of the artworks (and all of the character drawings) in their raw, original form. Using the DRAGONIA novels together with the coloring books, side-by-side comparisons are possible between the same character image, especially as it appeared prior to the months of intensive work required to color, shade, and refine the initial line art. Other drawings portray the many explorations that toyed with an almost unlimited number of variations, all of them based on a multitude of themes.
Another exciting feature built into the DRAGONOPOLIS series (uncommon to most coloring books) is the perforation of each page of every volume. Printed on 70lb archival, 100% acid free papers, all images are suitable for easy removal, making them easier to handle and color accordingly (or frame?). If preferred, the pages can, of course, remain intact within the book.
Though a bit pricey compared to standard, more typical coloring books, the DRAGONOPOLIS coloring suite is possibly the highest quality product of its kind available anywhere at any price. Worth repeating is the wonderful connection between the coloring books and the main trilogy of novels from which this secondary series was spawned.
Left in its original pristine condition, the Coloring Story Book trilogy augments, expands, and enriches its DRAGONIA counterpart, acting as a logical extension to the original novels. In addition to the parade of artworks displayed in their somewhat incomplete form, brief text narratives accompany each of the individual character drawings. Anecdotal in nature, the added descriptions highlight story details not included in the main DRAGONIA volumes.
Ultimately the Coloring Story Books are still, of course, coloring books. And they can and maybe should be treated as such. Other than their collectible or sentimental value, the books are made to be colored, whether with crayons, pencils, paint, chalk, or pen. Their pages are designed to be torn out, scattered around, stuck on refrigerators, bedroom walls, used to line the bottoms of birdcages, folded into airplanes, wadded up into balls, tossed about, and otherwise abused as any proper coloring book ought to be.
Having fun experimenting with different color combinations and techniques, plus having fun just having fun, are all that anyone should or could expect from any coloring book. And in this regard, the DRAGONOPOLIS Coloring Story Books are well worth the price of admission.
For ordering purposes, please reference the following serial number: CSB123
More to the point, the DRAGONOPOLIS Coloring book series represents a multitude of themes, some philosophic, others purely aesthetic. In one or more ways the coloring books represent an important adjunct, a superior supplement to the main set of novels they complement. While these secondary volumes increase an already serious commitment of a reader’s time and money, they provide both an entertaining and educational bonanza for the DRAGONIA enthusiast.
The DRAGONOPOLIS trilogy of coloring books is a golden opportunity to view and examine many of the artworks (and all of the character drawings) in their raw, original form. Using the DRAGONIA novels together with the coloring books, side-by-side comparisons are possible between the same character image, especially as it appeared prior to the months of intensive work required to color, shade, and refine the initial line art. Other drawings portray the many explorations that toyed with an almost unlimited number of variations, all of them based on a multitude of themes.
Another exciting feature built into the DRAGONOPOLIS series (uncommon to most coloring books) is the perforation of each page of every volume. Printed on 70lb archival, 100% acid free papers, all images are suitable for easy removal, making them easier to handle and color accordingly (or frame?). If preferred, the pages can, of course, remain intact within the book.
Though a bit pricey compared to standard, more typical coloring books, the DRAGONOPOLIS coloring suite is possibly the highest quality product of its kind available anywhere at any price. Worth repeating is the wonderful connection between the coloring books and the main trilogy of novels from which this secondary series was spawned.
Left in its original pristine condition, the Coloring Story Book trilogy augments, expands, and enriches its DRAGONIA counterpart, acting as a logical extension to the original novels. In addition to the parade of artworks displayed in their somewhat incomplete form, brief text narratives accompany each of the individual character drawings. Anecdotal in nature, the added descriptions highlight story details not included in the main DRAGONIA volumes.
Ultimately the Coloring Story Books are still, of course, coloring books. And they can and maybe should be treated as such. Other than their collectible or sentimental value, the books are made to be colored, whether with crayons, pencils, paint, chalk, or pen. Their pages are designed to be torn out, scattered around, stuck on refrigerators, bedroom walls, used to line the bottoms of birdcages, folded into airplanes, wadded up into balls, tossed about, and otherwise abused as any proper coloring book ought to be.
Having fun experimenting with different color combinations and techniques, plus having fun just having fun, are all that anyone should or could expect from any coloring book. And in this regard, the DRAGONOPOLIS Coloring Story Books are well worth the price of admission.
For ordering purposes, please reference the following serial number: CSB123
Introducing:
Fig. 2.
Coming in 2K17-18-19-20-21 (or whenever)
D R A G O N E E R S
The Club
Fig. 3. Enlistment poster for Dragoneers. "Timtu Wants Yu!"
Timtu Wants Yu!
Become a warrior of the Royal Dragoknights
Official Guardians of the DRAGONOPOLIS Credo.
Protectors of Truth, Justice, and the Dragonian way.
Official Motto:
"One Part of All,
All Part of One."
The Dragoneers enrollment [enlistment] form is listed
in the Customer Service / Contact Me drop-down menu.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Each Official Draft Notice [ODN] includes:
Embroidered patch, membership card, induction certificate.
Merit Awards for Community Service.
Corporeal punishment permission slips.
------------------------------------------------------------
Share your ideas and talents,
Give voice to your concerns, complaints, and compliments.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Parents: Order ODNs in bulk. Inquire within.
D r a g o n e e r s / D r a g o k n i g h t s o f t h e R e a l m
"The greatest good for the largest number.
the least harm to the fewest."
Each Official Draft Notice [ODN] includes:
Embroidered patch, membership card, induction certificate.
Merit Awards for Community Service.
Corporeal punishment permission slips.
------------------------------------------------------------
Share your ideas and talents,
Give voice to your concerns, complaints, and compliments.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Parents: Order ODNs in bulk. Inquire within.
D r a g o n e e r s / D r a g o k n i g h t s o f t h e R e a l m
"The greatest good for the largest number.
the least harm to the fewest."
Recycle kindness.
Fig. 4.
DRAGONIA: Tales Of The Golden Talon
A Look Back
Archival Promotional Blurbs, Excerpts & Miscellaneous Ad Verbiage
(all editions are sold out with no reprints)
Cook Books. Sorta.
The Perfect DraGift!
Three deluxe soft-bound full-length novels, beautifully illustrated
Each containing nearly 400 pages of original text and art.
Every volume an exciting adventure fable designed for readers of all ages.
Revised cover / 2013 eBook
Below the hilltop where the two had paused in their descent, the blurry darkness stank of burnt leaves and bark. The smell reminded the guardian of a day he would rather forget. He looked into the nearby stream, its waters shimmering like currents of profusely shed tears. As his stare deepened, the brook’s babble changed to gurgled screams of terror, its sparkles blazing with fire. Images of his fateful call to a royal chamber rekindled in Shelldon’s mind. He remembered Boja’s mother and father, Jonaf and Melia, their bodies blackened by hot fumes and smoke that roiled into breathless throats, choking everything, everyone, everywhere. While Jonaf held a hatchling in his arms and rocked it back and forth, Melia leaned down and placed her other swaddled newborn into the dragurtle’s outstretched foreclaws. The summoned trustee recalled how the mother’s tears had mixed with soot, and formed long dark streaks across her anguished face. He again heard Grandohr shouting, “Go! Go before it is too late!”
". . . yes, Earth,” the Mistress affirmed. “I know of your exile to the blue world. The lore of countless legends and myths reside there, spawned by the many travels and feats of the Truebloods. Stories of great dragons who had long ago roamed the distant lands, far and wide. On Earth, the once-peaceful Dragonians were worshipped and feared. Tragically, they became corrupted and seduced by the superior powers they wielded over that world’s less endowed inhabitants. In time, many refused to return. Of those who stayed, all were eventually slain. All but one. On that long-forgotten day, the last of the wayward Truebloods, wounded, sick and dying, escaped through the Portal and fled back to Dragonia.”
-- Excerpts / Book I / A Portal In The Storm
". . . yes, Earth,” the Mistress affirmed. “I know of your exile to the blue world. The lore of countless legends and myths reside there, spawned by the many travels and feats of the Truebloods. Stories of great dragons who had long ago roamed the distant lands, far and wide. On Earth, the once-peaceful Dragonians were worshipped and feared. Tragically, they became corrupted and seduced by the superior powers they wielded over that world’s less endowed inhabitants. In time, many refused to return. Of those who stayed, all were eventually slain. All but one. On that long-forgotten day, the last of the wayward Truebloods, wounded, sick and dying, escaped through the Portal and fled back to Dragonia.”
-- Excerpts / Book I / A Portal In The Storm
Fig. 5.
No single momentous battle will ever defeat
the great evils of the world.
When confronted by great good,
Darkness does not contend or compete with the Light;
It shrinks away much as the dawn forces aside the night.
Evil never engages in a fight whose outcome
Is not predetermined in its favor.
Rather it lies complacent, patient,
Ever vigilant and opportunistic.
Ever awaiting the light's decline when,
Once again for a time,
Night may rule the day.
Fig. 6.
Book I / Season I
A Portal In The Storm
After their long trek from the far-off shores of Stormport, Boja and Shelldon have finally arrived at the foot of the sacred volcano, Mamag. High upon the steep slopes of the mountain, well above the Cave of Queens, Boja’s grandfather, Grandohr, awaits her fateful return.
Barring the way, Dragragon, the ruthless Trueblood renegade, tyrant and usurper of the Dragle monarchy, also waits to embrace the princess. To enfold her in talons of fire and put a swift end to any hope that a Golden Queen might once again rule DRAGONIA.
Barring the way, Dragragon, the ruthless Trueblood renegade, tyrant and usurper of the Dragle monarchy, also waits to embrace the princess. To enfold her in talons of fire and put a swift end to any hope that a Golden Queen might once again rule DRAGONIA.
Fig. 7.
Book II / Season II
Flames Of Fortune
Revised cover / 2013 eBook Edition.
Within the dark, leaky foyer of his chamber, Grandohr leaned against his cane and stared into the rain-soaked tunnels that adjoined the anteroom. Emblazoned by harsh, silvery glares of lightning, the main corridor to the outside flightledge glimmered with an all-too-familiar crimson glow. The venerable patriarch steadied himself along an adjacent wall as the sacred mountain rumbled and trembled beneath his feet.
Aware of how, somewhere amid the nighttime deluge, his granddaughter and the others fought for their very lives, Grandohr, sullen and devoid of hope, slumped his head and muttered, “The Lords have forsaken us, my friends. Even they cower before Dragragon’s terrible might.”
More than any other feature, Boja thought, Dragragons’s soulless eyes pierced her heart with dread. The equivalent of twin, obsidian mirrors, the orbs reflected inward rather than eyes that stared outward. Here at last, towered the living embodiment of the shadowy figure who stalked and haunted her nightmares.
-- Excerpts / Book 2 / Flames Of Fortune
As the DRAGONIA series continues, witness one of the most spectacular, overly hyped but still exciting battles ever presented in the fantasy genre. Seriously, the final, climactic confrontation between Boja and Dragragon presented a lot of interesting challenges with respect to describing a protracted aerial battle sequence. One almost needed to become a pilot who was good at dog-fighting. Or in this case, dragon-fighting.
Aware of how, somewhere amid the nighttime deluge, his granddaughter and the others fought for their very lives, Grandohr, sullen and devoid of hope, slumped his head and muttered, “The Lords have forsaken us, my friends. Even they cower before Dragragon’s terrible might.”
More than any other feature, Boja thought, Dragragons’s soulless eyes pierced her heart with dread. The equivalent of twin, obsidian mirrors, the orbs reflected inward rather than eyes that stared outward. Here at last, towered the living embodiment of the shadowy figure who stalked and haunted her nightmares.
-- Excerpts / Book 2 / Flames Of Fortune
As the DRAGONIA series continues, witness one of the most spectacular, overly hyped but still exciting battles ever presented in the fantasy genre. Seriously, the final, climactic confrontation between Boja and Dragragon presented a lot of interesting challenges with respect to describing a protracted aerial battle sequence. One almost needed to become a pilot who was good at dog-fighting. Or in this case, dragon-fighting.
Fig. 8.
Book III / Season III
The Hope For Zargahn
Revised cover / 2013 eBook Edition.
In a reenactment of a scene played out several seasons prior, a gigantic, shadowy form stalked up Mamag’s frontal slopes. As if awakened from the bowels of Dragonia itself, the nightmarish figure culled strength from the power of his will alone. Steadily, the gargantuan shape pulled and dragged his bleeding, burned but unbeaten body along the mountainside, and drew murderous plans against those who peacefully slumbered high overhead.
Brimstone brooded over his kindred, prostrate prisoner. He scanned the lowland haze, the scorched hills and woodlands visible through its open patches. The leader then lowered his disdainful eyes to Dragragon’s unrepentant face. “The evils you have wrought upon this fair land. Before you breathe your last, tell me if you can, why have you brought such shame to this peaceful world? Why should you so disgrace yourself and all of our kind as well? Answer my questions for many will want to know. Afterward, you will answer for your crimes.”
-- Excerpts / Book 3 / The Hope For Zargahn
Follow the ultimate, final finale as the DRAGONIA story concludes its bitter-sweet celebration of victory, unlikely heroes, and an unexpected arrival.
Brimstone brooded over his kindred, prostrate prisoner. He scanned the lowland haze, the scorched hills and woodlands visible through its open patches. The leader then lowered his disdainful eyes to Dragragon’s unrepentant face. “The evils you have wrought upon this fair land. Before you breathe your last, tell me if you can, why have you brought such shame to this peaceful world? Why should you so disgrace yourself and all of our kind as well? Answer my questions for many will want to know. Afterward, you will answer for your crimes.”
-- Excerpts / Book 3 / The Hope For Zargahn
Follow the ultimate, final finale as the DRAGONIA story concludes its bitter-sweet celebration of victory, unlikely heroes, and an unexpected arrival.
Fig. 9.
Manipulating Words and Language for a Phantasmagorical Landscape
I sometimes (okay, a lot) played fast and loose with the English language when writing the final drafts of the DRAGONIA Trilogy. The word dragon fits so well with and into so many different kinds of words, it wasn't difficult to invent a slew of original terms and terminologies that both reflected and projected the spirit of all things dragon and dragonish. Lighthearted and fanciful at their heart (with bifurcated tongues planted firmly in all cheeks), the three books want to poke fun at language itself, and illustrate how words and phrases can be twisted and manipulated in any number of ways -- and still make their own kind of sense. In order to assist readers (who might find it helpful) a glossary (draglossary) was included in every book. The new eBook versions of the trilogy each contain this same draglossary, which allows quick access to most major terms and themes important to the overall story.
On page DRA28, a special section is devoted entirely to the animal names invented for DRAGONIA Trilogy. Called Taming the Name Game, it's designed for kids, but I think adults might have fun with it also. Then again it's hard to judge because I'm not an adult yet. Nor am I sure I ever want to be.
On page DRA28, a special section is devoted entirely to the animal names invented for DRAGONIA Trilogy. Called Taming the Name Game, it's designed for kids, but I think adults might have fun with it also. Then again it's hard to judge because I'm not an adult yet. Nor am I sure I ever want to be.
D R A G L O S S A R Y
DRAGONIA
An island dragontinent. The home of all dragreatures. And others.
DRAGONTINENT
The landmass known as Dragonia. An island the size of a small continent. The dragontinent is composed of many different regions and environments. The prominent features of Dragonia include plains, forests, snowfields, desert, and jungle. Waterways such as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and marshes also abound. A single, gigantic volcano occupies one entire end of the dragontinent and is surrounded by lesser mountains, steam vents, geysers, boiling pools, plus numerous caves and caverns.
DRAGREATURE
A native inhabitant of Dragonia. A hybrid ’greature who is equal parts dragon and more typical reptile, fish, mammal, bird, or insect. A pyroptile. Pyroptiles, commonly known as winged dragons, are flame-expelling (fire-breathing) uncommon members of the reptile family. All dragreatures including Truebloods are, in addition to their other characteristics, flying pyroptiles. The abbreviated terms ’greature and ’gritter are slang substitutes for the word dragreature.
TRUEBLOOD
The largest member of the pyroptile family. A true dragon who does not share the split attributes of other dragreatures. The original ancestral occupants of Dragonia from whom all others evolved. Truebloods are independent, exist under their own rule, and are not governed by the Dragle matriarchy. They live in peace among the empire’s many different residents, respect the queen’s reign, and do not interfere with her authority.
The SEA Of DRAGONIA
The near bodies of water that encircle Dragonia. The sea is inhabited by a wide variety of aquatic ’greatures. Farther from land it is called the dragocean. The sea, which includes many inlets, bays and coves, separates the mainland from the island lagoon known as Moon Hala.
MOON HALA
Dragonia’s largest island. An inhospitable, circular lagoon surrounded by sparse beaches of salt and sand.
ZARGAHN
A legendary extension of land located somewhere beyond the mountains that foot the sacred volcanic summit known as Mamag. A Myth of Salvation largely disbelieved by most Dragonians. Travel above or around the jagged peaks is forbidden to all dragreatures, who fear that intrusive ventures into the headlands will incur the wrath of Mamag’s reclusive Lords.
MAMAG
The holy mountain. A stupendous, snow-capped volcano which spans one full side of the dragontinental shoreline. A cinder cone of extraordinary height and breadth whose mostly dormant crater emits periodic steam and smoke. Considered as a home to the Lords of Mamag, the mountain is revered by all Dragonians. The Cave of Queens lies at the craggy base of the volcano. Along the high cliffs above the temple are located the Dragle nesting caves and above these, the royal chambers. A thousand seasons (approx. 4000 Earth years) in the past, a cataclysmic eruption had devastated much of the dragontinent. The event, known as the Great Upheaval, marked an end to the previous epoch and the beginning of the Dragle dynasties.
The LORDS Of MAMAG
Powerful unseen gods presumed to dwell among the fires that burn deep within the interior of the great mountain. The inscrutable deities are thought to bestow the Power of Flame to all Dragonians, and to influence the destiny and fortunes of each.
The GREAT UPHEAVAL
A period in the ancient past of Dragonia when Mamag erupted and forever changed the course of Dragonia’s history. A Creation Myth passed among successive generations whereby the Lords are presumed to have exacted punishment upon those who led lives without purpose. The source of Becoming as a traditional way of life. Finally the advent of Dragle empresses as supreme rulers of a unified and organized Dragonian empire.
The CAVE Of QUEENS / The CAVERN Of ANCESTORS
A mammoth cave located among the foothills of Mamag. The Cavern of Ancestors is a separate subterranean chamber situated below and at the rear of the main Cave. Also located inside the Cave, the royal log is a massive, lengthwise timber perch that rests within the center of the temple. A huge courtyard (plaza/square) lies in front of the Cave entrance. The lower Cavern is a revered sanctum where queens are taken after their death. According to custom, only the sovereign, her mate, and courtiers are allowed to enter the Cavern.
STORMPORT
A strange and dangerous portal to other dimensions, other realities perhaps. No one knows for sure. A giant vortex once used by the Truebloods to visit alien worlds. The feared Cave-of-Clouds hovers high above the extreme other end of the island dragontinent, opposite Mamag. Since the time of the Great Sickness, all Dragonians are prohibited from entering Stormport’s vertical, airborne whirlpool.
The SICKNESS
A deadly contagion brought to Dragonia from another world. Carried through Stormport by a dying, infected Trueblood, the disease afflicted only their kind. Over the course of a hundred seasons, the Sickness decimated the Trueblood population and drove them to the brink of extinction. Eventually the once-mighty herds of saurians disappeared completely from Dragonia. Though the illness spared all other Dragonians, they fear its residual presence. As a further result of the tragedy, Stormport remains a quarantined, long abandoned landmark.
MIDLANIA
An enormous freshwater lake fed by the melting snows from the great mountain. Midlania lies in the very center of Dragonia, and is a historical gathering and leisure spot for many dragreatures. The mighty river, Aguanji, carries the mountain runoff into the lake.
The VALLEY Of GLOOM
A large valley blanketed in perpetual fog. The region is located between the immense Khalisan desert and Mamag. The dismal depression contains a mysterious and eerie cemetery known as Darcklan. Most Dragonians avoid the Valley, which is rumored to harbor draghosts and other scary stuff.
DARCKLAN
A vast dragraveyard for all Dragonians except queens, who are laid to rest in a special Cavern. When dying, a dragreature journeys to Darcklan or, if already deceased, is taken there by friends. The ’yard is located within the Valley Of Gloom, in a sector nearest the holy mountain. Dragonia’s residents share the boneyard with countless generations of deceased Truebloods. Considered hallowed ground, Darcklan is home to the feared Mistress of Rest and Peace.
The MISTRESS Of REST And PEACE
A fearsome governess who inhabits and oversees Darcklan’s sprawling domain. A translucent spirit who protects and enforces the serenity of the innumerable skeletons which lie within the dragraveyard. Also known as the Overseer of the Unforgotten, Lucent (the true name of the Mistress) should never be spoken outside the premises of Darcklan. To do so is to incur the immediate wrath of the governess.
BECOMING
All dragreatures must Become (become purposeful). Becoming is a process whereby one’s role in life, his or her individual potentials, are taught, learned, understood and practiced. The endeavor is considered a lifelong pursuit.
The GOLDEN TALON (The Royal Mark Of)
The physical trait of a ruling queen, inherited from a prior lineage of related matriarchs and passed only among female Dragles. An heir to the throne (royal log) of Dragonia. A daughter (princess) destined to reign as empress. Her mate must come from a non-royal, unrelated family. Queen Dragles possess a unique characteristic that identifies them from all other dragreatures; a single talon on one of their feet is brilliant gold in color. Nearly absolute, the sovereign’s dominance is secured by the Aakylan Council and the elite members of Her Majesty’s Royal Guards.
The AAKYLAN COUNCIL Of ARDENS
A chosen group of five Dragles (Ardens) whose power is second only to the queen. Acting mainly as advisors, the Council can, if deemed necessary, overrule the empress. Should she issue a royal decree or proclamation, however, the queen’s authority is considered complete. During the millennial reign of a hundred monarchs, the judgment of a presiding empress has never been questioned.
The ROYAL LOG
The official perch of a Dragle empress from where her justice is dispensed. An enormous treetrunk, stripped of branches, burnished, then braced between two tall and massive stone pillars. The great boom is found just inside the main entrance to the Cave of Queens. Atop each of the timber’s twin, columnar supports, deep pools of flammable oil feed perpetual torch fires that illuminate both the Cave’s interior and the spacious courtyard that fronts it.
The SHAFRAH
A special necklace/wreath worn by a reigning monarch. Passed from one ruler to the next, the Shafrah is composed entirely of scathers. A composite of three separate qualities, a Dragonian scather is equal parts reptilian scale, bird feather, and hair or fur. Unique solely to dragreatures, Truebloods do not possess scathers; their saurian skin is an armored mantle of scaly plates and scutes. A single scather from a prior empress is added to the Shafrah whenever a new heir ascends the log. Once worn by the queen, the royal neckpiece signifies her continuance of a sacred covenant known as the Vow of Honor. All sovereigns are expected to live and if need be, die by the Vow.
The VOW Of HONOR
A pledge of mutual sacrifice. An unspoken oath (bond) between the queen and her subjects wherein she is obligated to forfeit her life if by the act, it saves the endangered life of another Dragonian. A reciprocal arrangement whereby loyal citizens would willingly surrender their own life to prevent the queen from fulfilling her Vow. In a land occasioned by many hazards of one form or another, the monarch’s safety is enforced by the twenty-six members of her Royal Guards.
The ROYAL GUARDS
A superior group of highly trained Dragle knights who sustain the queen’s authority and protect her from harm. Known as Blood Spillers, the talons on their feet are long and sharpened, mostly ceremonial, but intended for use in combat as well. Due to the queen’s Vow of Honor, the select members of the Guard must ensure that she does not needlessly sacrifice her life. It is the sworn duty of the royal bodyguards to offer themselves on behalf of the empress and if necessary, to perish in her stead.
An island dragontinent. The home of all dragreatures. And others.
DRAGONTINENT
The landmass known as Dragonia. An island the size of a small continent. The dragontinent is composed of many different regions and environments. The prominent features of Dragonia include plains, forests, snowfields, desert, and jungle. Waterways such as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and marshes also abound. A single, gigantic volcano occupies one entire end of the dragontinent and is surrounded by lesser mountains, steam vents, geysers, boiling pools, plus numerous caves and caverns.
DRAGREATURE
A native inhabitant of Dragonia. A hybrid ’greature who is equal parts dragon and more typical reptile, fish, mammal, bird, or insect. A pyroptile. Pyroptiles, commonly known as winged dragons, are flame-expelling (fire-breathing) uncommon members of the reptile family. All dragreatures including Truebloods are, in addition to their other characteristics, flying pyroptiles. The abbreviated terms ’greature and ’gritter are slang substitutes for the word dragreature.
TRUEBLOOD
The largest member of the pyroptile family. A true dragon who does not share the split attributes of other dragreatures. The original ancestral occupants of Dragonia from whom all others evolved. Truebloods are independent, exist under their own rule, and are not governed by the Dragle matriarchy. They live in peace among the empire’s many different residents, respect the queen’s reign, and do not interfere with her authority.
The SEA Of DRAGONIA
The near bodies of water that encircle Dragonia. The sea is inhabited by a wide variety of aquatic ’greatures. Farther from land it is called the dragocean. The sea, which includes many inlets, bays and coves, separates the mainland from the island lagoon known as Moon Hala.
MOON HALA
Dragonia’s largest island. An inhospitable, circular lagoon surrounded by sparse beaches of salt and sand.
ZARGAHN
A legendary extension of land located somewhere beyond the mountains that foot the sacred volcanic summit known as Mamag. A Myth of Salvation largely disbelieved by most Dragonians. Travel above or around the jagged peaks is forbidden to all dragreatures, who fear that intrusive ventures into the headlands will incur the wrath of Mamag’s reclusive Lords.
MAMAG
The holy mountain. A stupendous, snow-capped volcano which spans one full side of the dragontinental shoreline. A cinder cone of extraordinary height and breadth whose mostly dormant crater emits periodic steam and smoke. Considered as a home to the Lords of Mamag, the mountain is revered by all Dragonians. The Cave of Queens lies at the craggy base of the volcano. Along the high cliffs above the temple are located the Dragle nesting caves and above these, the royal chambers. A thousand seasons (approx. 4000 Earth years) in the past, a cataclysmic eruption had devastated much of the dragontinent. The event, known as the Great Upheaval, marked an end to the previous epoch and the beginning of the Dragle dynasties.
The LORDS Of MAMAG
Powerful unseen gods presumed to dwell among the fires that burn deep within the interior of the great mountain. The inscrutable deities are thought to bestow the Power of Flame to all Dragonians, and to influence the destiny and fortunes of each.
The GREAT UPHEAVAL
A period in the ancient past of Dragonia when Mamag erupted and forever changed the course of Dragonia’s history. A Creation Myth passed among successive generations whereby the Lords are presumed to have exacted punishment upon those who led lives without purpose. The source of Becoming as a traditional way of life. Finally the advent of Dragle empresses as supreme rulers of a unified and organized Dragonian empire.
The CAVE Of QUEENS / The CAVERN Of ANCESTORS
A mammoth cave located among the foothills of Mamag. The Cavern of Ancestors is a separate subterranean chamber situated below and at the rear of the main Cave. Also located inside the Cave, the royal log is a massive, lengthwise timber perch that rests within the center of the temple. A huge courtyard (plaza/square) lies in front of the Cave entrance. The lower Cavern is a revered sanctum where queens are taken after their death. According to custom, only the sovereign, her mate, and courtiers are allowed to enter the Cavern.
STORMPORT
A strange and dangerous portal to other dimensions, other realities perhaps. No one knows for sure. A giant vortex once used by the Truebloods to visit alien worlds. The feared Cave-of-Clouds hovers high above the extreme other end of the island dragontinent, opposite Mamag. Since the time of the Great Sickness, all Dragonians are prohibited from entering Stormport’s vertical, airborne whirlpool.
The SICKNESS
A deadly contagion brought to Dragonia from another world. Carried through Stormport by a dying, infected Trueblood, the disease afflicted only their kind. Over the course of a hundred seasons, the Sickness decimated the Trueblood population and drove them to the brink of extinction. Eventually the once-mighty herds of saurians disappeared completely from Dragonia. Though the illness spared all other Dragonians, they fear its residual presence. As a further result of the tragedy, Stormport remains a quarantined, long abandoned landmark.
MIDLANIA
An enormous freshwater lake fed by the melting snows from the great mountain. Midlania lies in the very center of Dragonia, and is a historical gathering and leisure spot for many dragreatures. The mighty river, Aguanji, carries the mountain runoff into the lake.
The VALLEY Of GLOOM
A large valley blanketed in perpetual fog. The region is located between the immense Khalisan desert and Mamag. The dismal depression contains a mysterious and eerie cemetery known as Darcklan. Most Dragonians avoid the Valley, which is rumored to harbor draghosts and other scary stuff.
DARCKLAN
A vast dragraveyard for all Dragonians except queens, who are laid to rest in a special Cavern. When dying, a dragreature journeys to Darcklan or, if already deceased, is taken there by friends. The ’yard is located within the Valley Of Gloom, in a sector nearest the holy mountain. Dragonia’s residents share the boneyard with countless generations of deceased Truebloods. Considered hallowed ground, Darcklan is home to the feared Mistress of Rest and Peace.
The MISTRESS Of REST And PEACE
A fearsome governess who inhabits and oversees Darcklan’s sprawling domain. A translucent spirit who protects and enforces the serenity of the innumerable skeletons which lie within the dragraveyard. Also known as the Overseer of the Unforgotten, Lucent (the true name of the Mistress) should never be spoken outside the premises of Darcklan. To do so is to incur the immediate wrath of the governess.
BECOMING
All dragreatures must Become (become purposeful). Becoming is a process whereby one’s role in life, his or her individual potentials, are taught, learned, understood and practiced. The endeavor is considered a lifelong pursuit.
The GOLDEN TALON (The Royal Mark Of)
The physical trait of a ruling queen, inherited from a prior lineage of related matriarchs and passed only among female Dragles. An heir to the throne (royal log) of Dragonia. A daughter (princess) destined to reign as empress. Her mate must come from a non-royal, unrelated family. Queen Dragles possess a unique characteristic that identifies them from all other dragreatures; a single talon on one of their feet is brilliant gold in color. Nearly absolute, the sovereign’s dominance is secured by the Aakylan Council and the elite members of Her Majesty’s Royal Guards.
The AAKYLAN COUNCIL Of ARDENS
A chosen group of five Dragles (Ardens) whose power is second only to the queen. Acting mainly as advisors, the Council can, if deemed necessary, overrule the empress. Should she issue a royal decree or proclamation, however, the queen’s authority is considered complete. During the millennial reign of a hundred monarchs, the judgment of a presiding empress has never been questioned.
The ROYAL LOG
The official perch of a Dragle empress from where her justice is dispensed. An enormous treetrunk, stripped of branches, burnished, then braced between two tall and massive stone pillars. The great boom is found just inside the main entrance to the Cave of Queens. Atop each of the timber’s twin, columnar supports, deep pools of flammable oil feed perpetual torch fires that illuminate both the Cave’s interior and the spacious courtyard that fronts it.
The SHAFRAH
A special necklace/wreath worn by a reigning monarch. Passed from one ruler to the next, the Shafrah is composed entirely of scathers. A composite of three separate qualities, a Dragonian scather is equal parts reptilian scale, bird feather, and hair or fur. Unique solely to dragreatures, Truebloods do not possess scathers; their saurian skin is an armored mantle of scaly plates and scutes. A single scather from a prior empress is added to the Shafrah whenever a new heir ascends the log. Once worn by the queen, the royal neckpiece signifies her continuance of a sacred covenant known as the Vow of Honor. All sovereigns are expected to live and if need be, die by the Vow.
The VOW Of HONOR
A pledge of mutual sacrifice. An unspoken oath (bond) between the queen and her subjects wherein she is obligated to forfeit her life if by the act, it saves the endangered life of another Dragonian. A reciprocal arrangement whereby loyal citizens would willingly surrender their own life to prevent the queen from fulfilling her Vow. In a land occasioned by many hazards of one form or another, the monarch’s safety is enforced by the twenty-six members of her Royal Guards.
The ROYAL GUARDS
A superior group of highly trained Dragle knights who sustain the queen’s authority and protect her from harm. Known as Blood Spillers, the talons on their feet are long and sharpened, mostly ceremonial, but intended for use in combat as well. Due to the queen’s Vow of Honor, the select members of the Guard must ensure that she does not needlessly sacrifice her life. It is the sworn duty of the royal bodyguards to offer themselves on behalf of the empress and if necessary, to perish in her stead.
The Story Begins . . .
Also included here is the complete Prologue (Pro-log because the story incorporates a huge, horizontal log) that precedes Chapter One of the first book, A Portal In The Storm. Whether or not to substitute a prologue for what would otherwise have been several lead-in chapters is not an easy decision for any author. In the case of DRAGONIA, I chose to let readers "discover" the land in the same way as does the story's lead character, Boja, who has no memory of the place. As a result, the Prolog only hints at what's to come and it's hoped readers will be as anxious for the return trip as Boja is. Prologues also set the stage for prequels, which is a nice option in the event one is called for. Here then, is the full text of the Prolog to DRAGONIA: Tales Of The Golden Talon.
Fig. 10.
DRAGONIA: Tales Of The Golden Talon
from
Book I / Season I
A Portal In The Storm
P R O L O G
Atop the scorched bones of the gilded Dragle, a Trueblood king would rule Dragonia.
Like the slow descent of a heavy curtain over a darkened stage, the thousand seasons of the Dragle dynasty drew towards an uncertain and tragic close. Queen Fahrna, the reigning monarch, had failed to bear a female successor who, at the appropriate time, would have taken her place as empress over all of Dragonia. Distraught by the lack of an heir, the aged sovereign fell gravely ill, unable to rule. Until a rightful descendant hatched from among her only son’s offspring, the scattered territories must struggle to endure without guidance. In Fahrna’s absence from the great log, mistrust and confusion governed the empire.
To perch as the queen of Dragonia, a Dragle princess must possess the Royal Mark of the Golden Talon, a single claw with the color and luster of the purest gold. A hatchling who bore the hereditary trait signaled the birth of a new matriarch, and the celebrated event preserved the realm in a state of confidence and calm. Whenever a ruling queen grew old and weak, the youthful heir assumed her rightful stance upon the log inside the Cave of Queens. As with all previous generations, the many regions of Dragonia honored the ascent of a new ruler, remained allied, and continued their traditions of peace and prosperity.
A large and separate, much older group of inhabitants also shared the ancient dominion. Called Truebloods and many times greater in size and power than other dragreatures, they lived in harmony with their neighbors. Never subject to the authority of the Golden Talon, the Truebloods ruled themselves. Long before the reign of queen Fahrna, a mysterious and terrible plague had scourged the island dragontinent. The Great Sickness, as it came to be known, afflicted only the Truebloods and in its slow but steady progression, the disease ravaged their population.
As if borne by the plague itself, word of the Dragle sovereign’s illness had spread among the realm’s anxious, frightened subjects. Against a backdrop of perpetual conflicts and unresolved disputes, anarchy wracked the disintegrating regime. Distressed by an unfulfilled, time-honored obligation, Fahrna blamed herself for Dragonia’s plunge into unprecedented chaos. During the course of a millennium, no prior ruler had ever left the land both leaderless and disordered. Within her lofty chamber cave the despondent, bedridden queen lay dying beside her mate, Grandohr.
Jonaf, son of the Royal Mother, and his mate, Melia, represented the family’s last hopes for a daughter of imperial lineage. A final opportunity whereby a Golden Empress might once again perch upon the log. Too frail to attend the imminent hatching of Melia’s two eggs and with Grandohr at her side, Fahrna’s broken heart finally fluttered and stopped. Sadly ironic, her death preceded a grand and glorious event, for one of Jonaf and Melia’s newborn chicks bore the Royal Mark.
Another, less noble occurrence accompanied the birth of the new queen. The last herds of healthy Truebloods marked the unheralded procession. Still free of the fever, but devoid of hope, they sought refuge within Dragonia’s innermost sanctums. Elsewhere droves of stragglers succumbed to the plague, and their singular demise dampened the joyous arrival of the nestling princess. Death and disquiet soon tormented the land everywhere and even Mamag, the sacred mountain, darkened the sky with angry plumes of steam and smoke. Amid echoes of bewailed cries, turmoil and fear blighted the whole of the realm.
Grief-stricken and bitter over the recent loss of his mate, Sarene, the mighty Trueblood, Dragragon, welcomed the news of queen Fahrna’s death. Rumors of a newly hatched Golden Talon had also reached his ears. With crazed, obsidian eyes, he watched as more of his kind limped towards the Valley of Gloom and Darcklan, their ancestral place of final rest. His resentful thoughts turned to the Dragle sovereign and imagined the happiness her birth would bring to Dragonia’s robust, unaffected, non-Trueblood residents.
Somehow immune to the contagion himself, Dragragon’s ire infected his once-gentle spirit. Blinded by hatred and envy, he came to believe the lesser Dragonians had, with purposeful intent, brought the malady upon those of his kind.
Convinced that these smaller, least powerful occupants had conspired against his superior breed, the bereaved Dragragon sought vengeance against them. What better retribution for their jealous and evil deeds, he contrived, than to be ruled by a Trueblood? Surely for this divine purpose, the inflamed avenger reasoned, the Sickness had spared his otherwise meaningless life.
While the impending coronation of the immature princess should quickly restore order, the precarious absence of a queen upon the log afforded Dragragon a unique opportunity. While the realm languished in disarray, he could easily subdue any who opposed his takeover. Before long they and every other Dragonian would grovel before his invincible authority, their cries of anguish mingling with those of the Truebloods’ own. Atop the scorched bones of the gilded Dragle, a Trueblood king would rule Dragonia.
The Dragle colonies lay nestled against Mamag’s upper slopes. On the brink of a hasty celebration designed to revive the troubled sovereignty, their galleries suffered the first of Dragragon’s fearsome wrath. Minus all warning and in the blood-red glow of a setting sun, the gigantic dragon attacked with violent, pitiless fury.
Spurting crimson blasts of infernal terror, the Trueblood clawed his way up the side of the holy mountain and incinerated everything—and everyone—in his path. Along the volcanic bluffs and escarpments, the flocks of panicked Dragles scurried throughout their nesting caves. As Dragragon drew ever nearer, mothers shrieked and clutched their young, others helped the elders, and all hastened to abandon their lifelong abodes.
Asleep in a royal chamber, but awakened by dreadful screams, Jonaf and Melia found themselves surrounded by flames and smoke. Grabbing their twin newborns and accompanied by guards, they fled to an inner network of adjoining tunnels and caves. Other victims retreated there, wept, and cursed the Trueblood’s unprovoked rampage. Little time for escape remained. Should the usurper take to the sky, an aerial assault could spell a swift and fiery doom for any who lingered. But wary of the Royal Guards and his aim focused solely on finding the nestling princess, Dragragon chose instead to stalk the mountainside on foot. Caring little for who lived or died, his cautious, deliberate climb gave most of the Dragles their chance to depart.
Jonaf and Melia realized they must prevent the murderous Trueblood from slaying the infant queen. She above all others needed protection regardless of the risk. Though all seemed lost, a messenger soon arrived and informed the royal couple that Jonaf’s father, Grandohr, wished to meet with them in his private chamber. Instead of escaping with the rest, the family patriarch had forged a desperate and quickly calculated course of action.
Aware of the urgent necessity to save his granddaughter, princess Boja, the esteemed First Arden to the Aakylan Council had, together with the four other members, drawn upon a daring plan. The perilous plot also involved summoning the help of Shelldon, an inconspicuous dragurtle known for his stalwart loyalty to the royal family. Before the widespread conflagration forced Jonaf and Melia to slip away, the brief confab first brought them all to Grandohr’s deep-set quarters.
Upon Shelldon’s prompt arrival, the venerable consort of the deceased queen asked that his young compatriot accept a dangerous but vital mission. Honored to serve the prestigious family and his beloved homeland, the dragurtle without hesitation, agreed to Grandohr’s dire proposal. Moments later, the private gathering had swiftly disbanded while Shelldon already pursued a long flight which would take him to a far region at the very edge of the dragontinent—and beyond.
As the ember-choked evening sky clouded with fleeing Dragles, Dragragon’s ferocious onslaught brought him to the large flightledges outside his quarries’ evacuated caves. With tremendous projectile bursts, his exhaled flames roared into the numerous tunnels, vaporizing whatever, and whomever remained. Too old and weak to fly, Grandohr stayed behind, his remote cave temporarily secure from the rage of the Trueblood.
Well below the scarred, blackened cliffs, the thunderous raid wrought by Dragragon reverberated throughout the frontier. Near and far, Dragonians gazed towards the volcanic summit and stared upward in shock and disbelief.
With plumes of smoke billowing from the charred cavities along the smoldering face of the peak, the dragon turned his unquenched frenzy to the dragontinent’s sprawl of lowlands. Hurling his lethal firestreams in every direction, he stampeded through forest and meadow, desert and jungle. In his aimless quest for justice, the maniacal Trueblood came upon no others of his kind. Isolated and alone, he surmised that he survived as the last of his kind, and the desolation fueled his madness more than ever.
Amid promises of power and independence, the self-proclaimed king enlisted the aid of one other sulky saurian. A dragodactyl loner named Rak, himself the sole survivor of his breed, consented to support Dragragon’s unlawful scheme. Together they would ensure a long remembrance of the Trueblood’s merciless reign.
Far from the carnage, Shelldon winged his way through the nighttime air, cradling in his foreclaws a small and delicate satchel. Ahead of him the weary traveler spotted a secluded, familiar pond, descended there and rested. But shortly he again whisked aloft and thought only of the responsibility entrusted to him by Jonaf, Melia, and Grandohr. He knew the fate of Dragonia balanced upon the success or failure of his crucial mission.
Leaving the pond far behind, the determined guardian finally neared his destination, a dangerous, forbidden outskirt. He did not look back. The acrid scent of soot and distant sounds of destruction pushed him ever onward. Shelldon preferred that his final memories of Dragonia remain unsmudged by the dismal sight of homes blazing under an ashen haze. Most of all, a duty to safeguard the jostling bundle handed him by the royal family burned as a solitary image in his mind.
Beneath the skyward, gaseous jaws of Stormport, the dragurtle slowed, hovered, and only for a moment, hesitated. He feared entering the awesome portal much less than the unknown world that awaited him at its other end. Wrapping his forelegs about the swaddled pouch, Shelldon soared into the whirlpool’s dark, enormous funnel -- and disappeared from view.
* * * *
You're currently on page DRA6
listed under DRAGONOMICON
Starting on page DRA7 are the The Main Galleries (Dragalleries)
Like the slow descent of a heavy curtain over a darkened stage, the thousand seasons of the Dragle dynasty drew towards an uncertain and tragic close. Queen Fahrna, the reigning monarch, had failed to bear a female successor who, at the appropriate time, would have taken her place as empress over all of Dragonia. Distraught by the lack of an heir, the aged sovereign fell gravely ill, unable to rule. Until a rightful descendant hatched from among her only son’s offspring, the scattered territories must struggle to endure without guidance. In Fahrna’s absence from the great log, mistrust and confusion governed the empire.
To perch as the queen of Dragonia, a Dragle princess must possess the Royal Mark of the Golden Talon, a single claw with the color and luster of the purest gold. A hatchling who bore the hereditary trait signaled the birth of a new matriarch, and the celebrated event preserved the realm in a state of confidence and calm. Whenever a ruling queen grew old and weak, the youthful heir assumed her rightful stance upon the log inside the Cave of Queens. As with all previous generations, the many regions of Dragonia honored the ascent of a new ruler, remained allied, and continued their traditions of peace and prosperity.
A large and separate, much older group of inhabitants also shared the ancient dominion. Called Truebloods and many times greater in size and power than other dragreatures, they lived in harmony with their neighbors. Never subject to the authority of the Golden Talon, the Truebloods ruled themselves. Long before the reign of queen Fahrna, a mysterious and terrible plague had scourged the island dragontinent. The Great Sickness, as it came to be known, afflicted only the Truebloods and in its slow but steady progression, the disease ravaged their population.
As if borne by the plague itself, word of the Dragle sovereign’s illness had spread among the realm’s anxious, frightened subjects. Against a backdrop of perpetual conflicts and unresolved disputes, anarchy wracked the disintegrating regime. Distressed by an unfulfilled, time-honored obligation, Fahrna blamed herself for Dragonia’s plunge into unprecedented chaos. During the course of a millennium, no prior ruler had ever left the land both leaderless and disordered. Within her lofty chamber cave the despondent, bedridden queen lay dying beside her mate, Grandohr.
Jonaf, son of the Royal Mother, and his mate, Melia, represented the family’s last hopes for a daughter of imperial lineage. A final opportunity whereby a Golden Empress might once again perch upon the log. Too frail to attend the imminent hatching of Melia’s two eggs and with Grandohr at her side, Fahrna’s broken heart finally fluttered and stopped. Sadly ironic, her death preceded a grand and glorious event, for one of Jonaf and Melia’s newborn chicks bore the Royal Mark.
Another, less noble occurrence accompanied the birth of the new queen. The last herds of healthy Truebloods marked the unheralded procession. Still free of the fever, but devoid of hope, they sought refuge within Dragonia’s innermost sanctums. Elsewhere droves of stragglers succumbed to the plague, and their singular demise dampened the joyous arrival of the nestling princess. Death and disquiet soon tormented the land everywhere and even Mamag, the sacred mountain, darkened the sky with angry plumes of steam and smoke. Amid echoes of bewailed cries, turmoil and fear blighted the whole of the realm.
Grief-stricken and bitter over the recent loss of his mate, Sarene, the mighty Trueblood, Dragragon, welcomed the news of queen Fahrna’s death. Rumors of a newly hatched Golden Talon had also reached his ears. With crazed, obsidian eyes, he watched as more of his kind limped towards the Valley of Gloom and Darcklan, their ancestral place of final rest. His resentful thoughts turned to the Dragle sovereign and imagined the happiness her birth would bring to Dragonia’s robust, unaffected, non-Trueblood residents.
Somehow immune to the contagion himself, Dragragon’s ire infected his once-gentle spirit. Blinded by hatred and envy, he came to believe the lesser Dragonians had, with purposeful intent, brought the malady upon those of his kind.
Convinced that these smaller, least powerful occupants had conspired against his superior breed, the bereaved Dragragon sought vengeance against them. What better retribution for their jealous and evil deeds, he contrived, than to be ruled by a Trueblood? Surely for this divine purpose, the inflamed avenger reasoned, the Sickness had spared his otherwise meaningless life.
While the impending coronation of the immature princess should quickly restore order, the precarious absence of a queen upon the log afforded Dragragon a unique opportunity. While the realm languished in disarray, he could easily subdue any who opposed his takeover. Before long they and every other Dragonian would grovel before his invincible authority, their cries of anguish mingling with those of the Truebloods’ own. Atop the scorched bones of the gilded Dragle, a Trueblood king would rule Dragonia.
The Dragle colonies lay nestled against Mamag’s upper slopes. On the brink of a hasty celebration designed to revive the troubled sovereignty, their galleries suffered the first of Dragragon’s fearsome wrath. Minus all warning and in the blood-red glow of a setting sun, the gigantic dragon attacked with violent, pitiless fury.
Spurting crimson blasts of infernal terror, the Trueblood clawed his way up the side of the holy mountain and incinerated everything—and everyone—in his path. Along the volcanic bluffs and escarpments, the flocks of panicked Dragles scurried throughout their nesting caves. As Dragragon drew ever nearer, mothers shrieked and clutched their young, others helped the elders, and all hastened to abandon their lifelong abodes.
Asleep in a royal chamber, but awakened by dreadful screams, Jonaf and Melia found themselves surrounded by flames and smoke. Grabbing their twin newborns and accompanied by guards, they fled to an inner network of adjoining tunnels and caves. Other victims retreated there, wept, and cursed the Trueblood’s unprovoked rampage. Little time for escape remained. Should the usurper take to the sky, an aerial assault could spell a swift and fiery doom for any who lingered. But wary of the Royal Guards and his aim focused solely on finding the nestling princess, Dragragon chose instead to stalk the mountainside on foot. Caring little for who lived or died, his cautious, deliberate climb gave most of the Dragles their chance to depart.
Jonaf and Melia realized they must prevent the murderous Trueblood from slaying the infant queen. She above all others needed protection regardless of the risk. Though all seemed lost, a messenger soon arrived and informed the royal couple that Jonaf’s father, Grandohr, wished to meet with them in his private chamber. Instead of escaping with the rest, the family patriarch had forged a desperate and quickly calculated course of action.
Aware of the urgent necessity to save his granddaughter, princess Boja, the esteemed First Arden to the Aakylan Council had, together with the four other members, drawn upon a daring plan. The perilous plot also involved summoning the help of Shelldon, an inconspicuous dragurtle known for his stalwart loyalty to the royal family. Before the widespread conflagration forced Jonaf and Melia to slip away, the brief confab first brought them all to Grandohr’s deep-set quarters.
Upon Shelldon’s prompt arrival, the venerable consort of the deceased queen asked that his young compatriot accept a dangerous but vital mission. Honored to serve the prestigious family and his beloved homeland, the dragurtle without hesitation, agreed to Grandohr’s dire proposal. Moments later, the private gathering had swiftly disbanded while Shelldon already pursued a long flight which would take him to a far region at the very edge of the dragontinent—and beyond.
As the ember-choked evening sky clouded with fleeing Dragles, Dragragon’s ferocious onslaught brought him to the large flightledges outside his quarries’ evacuated caves. With tremendous projectile bursts, his exhaled flames roared into the numerous tunnels, vaporizing whatever, and whomever remained. Too old and weak to fly, Grandohr stayed behind, his remote cave temporarily secure from the rage of the Trueblood.
Well below the scarred, blackened cliffs, the thunderous raid wrought by Dragragon reverberated throughout the frontier. Near and far, Dragonians gazed towards the volcanic summit and stared upward in shock and disbelief.
With plumes of smoke billowing from the charred cavities along the smoldering face of the peak, the dragon turned his unquenched frenzy to the dragontinent’s sprawl of lowlands. Hurling his lethal firestreams in every direction, he stampeded through forest and meadow, desert and jungle. In his aimless quest for justice, the maniacal Trueblood came upon no others of his kind. Isolated and alone, he surmised that he survived as the last of his kind, and the desolation fueled his madness more than ever.
Amid promises of power and independence, the self-proclaimed king enlisted the aid of one other sulky saurian. A dragodactyl loner named Rak, himself the sole survivor of his breed, consented to support Dragragon’s unlawful scheme. Together they would ensure a long remembrance of the Trueblood’s merciless reign.
Far from the carnage, Shelldon winged his way through the nighttime air, cradling in his foreclaws a small and delicate satchel. Ahead of him the weary traveler spotted a secluded, familiar pond, descended there and rested. But shortly he again whisked aloft and thought only of the responsibility entrusted to him by Jonaf, Melia, and Grandohr. He knew the fate of Dragonia balanced upon the success or failure of his crucial mission.
Leaving the pond far behind, the determined guardian finally neared his destination, a dangerous, forbidden outskirt. He did not look back. The acrid scent of soot and distant sounds of destruction pushed him ever onward. Shelldon preferred that his final memories of Dragonia remain unsmudged by the dismal sight of homes blazing under an ashen haze. Most of all, a duty to safeguard the jostling bundle handed him by the royal family burned as a solitary image in his mind.
Beneath the skyward, gaseous jaws of Stormport, the dragurtle slowed, hovered, and only for a moment, hesitated. He feared entering the awesome portal much less than the unknown world that awaited him at its other end. Wrapping his forelegs about the swaddled pouch, Shelldon soared into the whirlpool’s dark, enormous funnel -- and disappeared from view.
* * * *
You're currently on page DRA6
listed under DRAGONOMICON
Starting on page DRA7 are the The Main Galleries (Dragalleries)
The Man Behind The Curtain.
