In my travels across the lands of Britannia, I have seen and heard many things, 
both fell and fortuitous. Among them is the tale of the DragonLord. 
I had been travelling from the town of Yew to Minoc, to "freshen my view" as I
like to say. The journey itself had been uneventful, as I took a round-about path
in order to foil evil-doers. 

Upon the third day of the journey, I came around an outcropping of rock and 
stopped, my stomach roiling. A stench of blood and foul swamps wafted from a 
battlefield of horrors. 

It had been several days evidently, since the battle I viewed, and most of 
the bodies were unrecognizable in their state of decomposition. Among the bodies
were bones and entrails of things... I shuddered to think what they could be. 
A cloud of darkness seemed to roil around the place, darkening the sun. I crept 
around the outskirts of the area, listening and watching for anything fell. 
As I came near the far side, I saw a small golden harp shining underneath a pile 
of bleached bones. Being unable to resist such a beautiful instrument, I took a 
careful survey of the area. No one seemed to be around. I stole over to the instrument, 
moved the bones of (I supposed) its poor owner, and started back to the safety 
of the covering trees. 

As I came to the first tree line, a dread laugh filled the field, stopping me 
in my tracks. A figure in dark armour and golden helm appeared before me, 
ten paces ahead. I swallowed hard, as the stranger stood ready, a dark, 
glowing sword appearing in his (its?) hands. 

"Stand ready, small one," he bellowed. "That harp shall cost thee dearly!"
Shaking inside, I said, "Who art thou?"
"I am the Dragon Lord." he said, laughing. "Think thee a match for me? I have 
killed all you see around you!"
He waved dismissively at a shield with a serpent upon it. 

Knowing I was dead in any case, I yelled, "Thy foul deeds shall be visited 
upon thee a hundred fold, if not by me, by another with more skill!" I took out my 
bow and began sending shafts at him as quickly as they could leave my quiver. 

Laughing at me in derision, he ignored my barrage. "For thy courage, I cannot 
fault thee. For thy wisdom, however, thee needeth a lesson!" He strode towards me 
as quick as thought. I tried to move back and draw my trusty axe, but it was too late. 
With one mighty blow he shattered my bow, nearly severing my hands. Next, he dropped 
his sword, grabbed me in a gauntletted hand, and threw me against a tree. With blood 
streaming from my head, I tried to get up, but he casually picked me up again and threw 
me against another tree. 

As consciousness left me, he laughed "Tell others of my powers, boy. Use that 
damn harp and spin those tales. Since they won't believe my power, I will have more 
blood and gold for my tasks..." Everything went dark. 

When I awoke, the dark figure was gone, my belongings strewn about me in a strange
pattern. Healing myself with a cantrip I learned from a drunken mage, I limped around
and gathered my things. My breath caught as I beheld my golden harp, beneath the 
splinters of my trusty bow. A boon, and a warning... I then continued towards Minoc,
composing a song to tell the tale....
 

-Jhym Farstrider [Chesapeake] 

To read other stories by Jhym and the other SongSmiths of Sosaria go here.