Most of you may think life as a dragon is very easy. We wake up, see what is
lying around to eat, find only bones of adventurers and set off to plunder and
plague you adventures left over. What you don't realize is the amount of
training, energy and time we have to put in before we are able to do the
above. Even our chances of becoming fully grown are numbered nowadays, what
with all the nasty heroes coming into our lairs and killing us!
I started off as a little hatchling in Zegsameks' lair. I was fortunate to be
born here, as very few adventurers are stupid enough to even try and kill my
father. I was brought up amidst violent power struggles between my older
siblings, who were trying to get as close to my powerful father as possible.
There were always fights and blood all over the place, not to mention the
incredible heat. I've no idea whose idea it was to put us youngsters in this
terrible inferno, but I curse them to this day. I still have the odd scar from
trundling over a steam vent!
As I grew older, I declined to participate in the power fights, as I was about
the only one who realized our father really didn't care flaming breaths about
us. I gradually moved farther and farther away from the rest of my siblings,
mainly to get away from the heat. After many months of exploring the lair, I
came upon a strange light coming from the end of the tunnel I was currently
investigating. I ventured forth to find what it was. It appeared to be a
portal to another world! As this was the first time I had ever seen
anything but the heat-choked tunnels I had been brought up in, I was a little
amazed at how boring it was. I had been told stories of grandiose castles and
fortresses and magnificent soldiers on horses from the many dragons who visited
our lair to pay their respects to my father (those dragons that did not bring
gifts of enough value unfortunately never got to see any of these sights again,
as they invariably ended up inside the cavernous stomach of my father).
Instead I saw a few listless trees, and absolutely nothing else.
Puzzled by this strange new world, I lumbered back into mine. I spent the
night deciding if I was ready to explore this world I had just discovered. The
morning sunlight (which I was somewhat surprised by) found me preparing myself
to leave the sanctuary of the lair. I pulled myself up to (what I thought was)
my most majestic height and scrambled out of the opening. Now this is one
of the things many of you don't realize. You think we all just spread our
wings and fly away - well I tried it, and after about five yards I fell flat
on my face. I was sure this wasn't the way it was supposed to be! Adding
insult to my injuries were a bunch of strange creatures, who had not been
there the previous day, laughing madly at me! I growled as fiercely as I could
at them and fled back to the safety of my home. It was obviously going to be
a while before I could fly away with any dignity.
The next day I spent practicing my take off and landings. By nightfall
(another new phenomena for me) I had just about perfected it. Dawn the next
day found me all ready to set off. I leaped into the air and soared around,
finally finding a nice thermal to assist me in my lift. I set off, looking for
somewhere I could make my new home. After three days of flying, I had seen
many new sights and killed my first traveler! I finally found a nice place to
make my home, on the face of a large cliff.
Now I was established, life became much more fun. I did what you all think we
do all day - plunder and plague. I thought I was untouchable until the fateful
day arose that I engaged in a situation beyond my abilities. I started chasing
after a traveler. He fled in panic off the road, and me being foolish and
young figured I had him now. In my hasty pursuit I didn't even notice the
large shadow in the air above me. Suddenly a huge beast bowled me over and
hopped on top of me, slashing at me with its huge claws. It was one of those
pathetic friendly dragons who had responded to the traveler's plea. I was
getting mauled, and even worse was the fact that the suddenly brave traveler
had decided to join in the attack on me. I fled for my life, and was pursued
for many a mile by the other dragon, until I finally made good my escape by
diving into a large chasm. That was my first near death experience. It has
been followed by many, many more since then.
Many more hunts followed - sometimes I had to flee, sometimes the prey fled too
fast to track, but often enough I ate well and my meager hoard grew over time.
It was my goal to become as fearsome as I could possibly be as soon as I could
and I often set out to find yet more travelers to kill. This was when I
learnt that not all travelers are defenseless. I saw a large group of nine of
them and decided to kill them, as this would really raise my notoriety amongst
the other dragons. I landed and went charging after them, breathing as much
fire as I could muster and growling as fearsomely as I could. Instead of
running for their lives like I expected, they turned and faced me, their swords
drawn. Puzzled by this, I stopped.
Then they did something which surprised me even more - they charged at me! I
reared up, ready to engage them still believing I would kill them all. It was
only after this that I learnt what the special robe made of dragon hides
wrapped around their armor and tunics meant. Needless to say, I ended up
fleeing blindly, panic stricken. From now on I was going to be more careful who
I attacked.
It was the middle of summer and once again I was to be found pursuing a
traveler. During the chase I sensed another dragon. I turned and faced up to
it - I had learned much about fighting and wanted to put myself to the test.
Fortunately for me, it was a dragon who was young in years. I was probably
slightly more powerful and experienced than him, and in the end I turned out
the victor. I leaped victorious into the air and set off with his head in my
claws, although the initial prey had escaped by now.
As you can see from my life's story, we evil dragons have it very tough. I have
to date, very nearly, been slain more than one hundred times - although I can
boast over two thousand kills of your type. I hope you appreciate the
hardships we endure just so we can make your lives a misery!
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