Kiegarth excerpt

Here's another excerpt from The World of Kiegarth, the RPG sourcebook I'm working on. Hope you find it interesting.

Excerpt from The World of Kiegarth

The Blood Dragon

No one knows if Cartocian, the Blood Dragon, survived the Dragon War. We do know he led the dragons in a fierce battle again the nearly overwhelming armies of the Purifiers. We also know that, during the battle, Organa's Champion Reaper led a team of warriors into Dragonholm and destroyed all the dragon nestlings and eggs. We do know Cartocian went mad after this and killed thousands of humans before fighting Reaper in a battle so great that the earth quaked and the Burning Valleys resulted. And both Cartocian and Reaper were never seen again, although soon Organa raised up a new Reaper. There are rumors, however, that Cartocian escaped to the North with what remained of the dragons to found a new Dragonholm.

The Beast People, Cartocian’s allies in the Dragon War, have poems and sagas that claim Cartocian now rules the frigid Far North, and from there, has been planning his version of a Culling in which all humans are destroyed. This perhaps is wistful thinking on the part of the Beast People who have been sorely beset by the encroaching human civilization.

Still, ships and adventurers to the Far North rarely return from its white vastness. Although it is well known the Far North contains diamond and gold mines – some well marked on maps – the wealth stays hidden. Stories abound of expeditions that disappear with never a sign remaining. Even the Alchemist League with their huge machina has never attempted to exploit the Far North. Whether this is because the Blood Dragon rules there or that the climate and land is simply too inhospitable and deadly is anyone’s guess.

One last thing that was known about the Blood Dragon. He held a marvelous sword known as Kuri, The Lightbringer. This sword gave Cartocian access to powerful magics and psychic abilities. The Lightbringer was said to be so sharp that it could open doors between worlds. Whether or not this was possible is unknown. We do know the sword had been wielded by every Bahamat since the beginning of recorded history and that the dragons claimed Lightbringer was given to the dragons by their creator, whom they referred to as the First UrLord.

The Beast People have a legend that the Lightbringer was lost in the battle of the Burning Valley, and that until it is found, the dragons cannot rise. According to the legend, if a dragon finds the sword, all the Hidden Dragons will awake, the dragons will return from the Far North, and the Battle at World’s End will be begin. The Beast People have many legends, however, and this may be only a story.

The Purifiers, however, offer a 10,000 gold piece award for anyone who brings the Lightbringer or proof of its destruction.

End of excerpt from The World of Kiegarth. Copyright 2011 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved. No copying without express written permission from the author and the publisher.

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