Human threat
Curious about the "danger" referred to by the guard, you accept the offer and the guard leads you further into the cave.
Inside is what looks like a tribe of humanoid dragons, who are of all colours, ages, and, by appearances, occupations. It feels like a mini-city inside the cave, which now appears to have limitless proportions. As you pass by, they all divert part of their attention to regard your passage with interest.
Past all the dragons and their working/living areas is a doorway with a wooden door. Beyond it is what appears to be a crude fashioning of a throne-room, like those found in medieval castles back in your world, except in stone. Sitting on a golden throne is what appears to be the largest dragon you've seen, even in morphic. You wonder at his size in full form.
"Welcome," he booms. "I am Dragonlord Vralylth, last of the Dragonlord of this realm as currently known. I sense you have come on a long journey for a reason, and I wish to know your business around here. Any who come here are either brave or foolish, as this place is fraught with hazards for those of the dragonkind."
You ask, "What danger could there be in this area? It seems deserted enough, with only forests and mountains as far as the eye can see."
He frowns. "I see that you must have come from far away, in order not to have known about the humans who attempt to exterminate all of the other beasts who occupy their land."
"Their society has long held a ideology centred around speciesism, and to this end, their current leader has declared a perpetual state of war against all other creatures. Most of the beasts in this area have been exterminated or have migrated away, and the only lifeforms here are either bloodthirsty humans or us dragons, and we are badly outnumbered by them. It is only a matter of time before they overrun even our mountain stronghold."
"I feel that most of this trouble originates with the change of leadership of the humans. The old king had always left us alone, but with his death, the usurper, who was always a radical, took over the throne. We have tried to get at the usurper many times, but he has almost completely isolated himself within the city. Not to mention we do not know the layout of his castle itself."
Having studied medieval castles in college, you may have a good chance at killing the usurper. However, the dragons may be suspicious of your "human" knowledge.
What do you do?
Written by drakrrth on 09 December 2008