The Dragon's Cry

Holding your side and using the cane, you creep over and stand at the side of Sussurr, but before you fully approach him, clouds of black smoke rise from far below and draw your attention toward town. You peer over the edge and see the entire community of village-houses engulfed in smoking flames.

"What happened?" you say aloud.

Sussurr is transfixed on the scene below, and before you can turn to him for an explanation, you are startled from behind by a cold icy grip laid upon your shoulder. With a jump, you and Sussurr turn to see the diminutive figure of a woman dressed in a bright silver gown, lit by a glowing tiara.

"Shhh ..." her lips part. "I have been looking for the two of you, and now that I have found you, you must not be afraid."

The woman releases her grip and stands before you, glistening in the silver moonlight with feminine splendor. Her long, silky hair is silver, and her lashes and eyebrows as well. The moon is reflected in her ice blue eyes, and she smiles coldly at your expression of amazement. Behind her lips is revealed a sharp luster of silver glint amongst her teeth.

"You may call me Valeris. I am certain now that I have found you, and though I was en route to relieve you both from bondage, I honestly do not know your names."

The both of you give out your names simultaneously, to which Valeris smiles again, and after a brief pause to recap, Sussurr introduces himself first and then you, in which you both pronounce your weredragon names with pride. Valeris acknowledges you both and begins to speak with a more serious tone:

"The kingdom is falling apart because of a great schism between humans and were-things. Already the Kingdom of Rhalarli has fallen to a corrupted werewolf, who has slaughtered his political opponents and assimilated the voter's council..."

You and Sussurr gasp as she continues further.

"At this very moment, Royal Sandgar has been taken over by Shadow, known formerly as an elite smuggling group, which has now changed their cause to preserving human rule -- not with the letter or the law, but by prejudice and hatred toward were-people."

You and Sussurr glance at each other again as memories return to you, telling of how Shadow has long been regarded as shrouded in secrecy and mystique. Valeris continues:

"Shadow has recruited a large number of citizens, armed them and fed them on propaganda to strengthen their campaign. Led by Lord Shrike, their aim is to overthrow the ruling family and establish laws that will bind were-people to slavery."

The royal family Sandgar has ruled this territory peaceably for generations past. It has stood as example to other kingdoms for its constitution, which provides freedom and liberty for both humans and were-people alike.

You turn around to the same catastrophic play below, where scenes of smoke and fire dominate the land; voices echo with shouts and screams denoting tragedy, alarm, confusion and despair. And yet you pinpoint a situation somewhere near a home where hope has reunited a family who were separated by the fire.

A brief time-line of the explosion that occurred at your family's inn returns to your mind, and you play the sequence of events ever so slowly in order to articulate what transpired. Valeris returns her icy cold grip to your shoulder as she sense your emotions.

"All is not lost," she says. "Both you and your friend, Sussurr, can play vital roles in the future of our kingdom. That is why I have sought you, and that is why Providence has rendered me successful in my mission: I have a path for each of you to follow."

What do you say?

Contributed by Michael Marquez

Things to consider while writing in this branch

The clocks might be portals to different locations.
How much of what "Valeris" has said is true?
What does she have in mind for you?


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