Lore Writer's Blog: Part 3 - Dragonbane The Dune Devourer (Patreon)

Greetings once again Dragons, it's time for part 3 of our Lore Writer's Blog. Last month we talked about Nharogk, the red moon of Jrakhon, home of the Nharogks, or more commonly known as the Elementals. Today we will explore the legendary Sandslayer Worm known as Dragonbane - The Dune Devourer. 

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In the vast Desert Dunes there lurks a terrible creature of renown and legend. A creature whose very name strikes fear in the hearts of all Dragonkind. A foe as old as the desert itself. Dune Devourer is her name, Dragonbane her moniker; she is the Queen of all Sandslayer Worms. 

In the second age of Jrakhon when the Dragons reigned supreme over all dragonkind, Jrakhon the Firstborne led his Fire Dragon armies into the Desert Dunes to battle against Vhrelhyn the Secondborne, King of the Wyverns. This decision would prove to be his doom. 

The Dragons and Wyverns have had bitter wars for centuries. It all began in the first age of Jrakhon when all the tribes of every dragon race came together in what is known as The First Gathering of Dragonkind. The Fire Dragon elders had claimed of a new monstrous creature never seen before stalking the Lava Lands and killing dragons. They claimed these creatures posed a threat to all dragonkind, not just the dragons, and that these "Elementals" were not from this world. If these creatures were to grow in numbers, they warned, it would take the strength of all the armies of every tribe to stop them. "The tribes must unite as one kingdom under the rule of Jrakhon the Firstborne," the council of elders said. The Drakes agreed. The other races, however, were not so easily persuaded. "What gives Jrakhon the right to claim the title of first Jrakhonking?" demanded Vhrelhyn the Wyvern king. Jrakhon replied to Vhrelhyn claiming his birthright, he claimed he alone walked with El face to face in the Stones of Fire after The Birth, and that even the world itself bore his name. The dragon tribes were all in support of Jrakhon which was no surprise to the other tribes since no other dragon is as esteemed and respected as Jrakhon the Firstborne in the hearts and minds of the dragons being that he is not only their king but also the father of their bloodline. 

Many Drake tribes were in agreement with the Dragons that Jrakhon's birthright and accolades alone entitled him and him alone to be Jrakhonking. The fire and ice drakes pledged their allegiance to the new Jrakhonking joining the dragons in chanting, "Long live Jrakhon, king of all Dragons." 

Vhrelhyn, king of the Wyverns, however, disputed Jrakhon's claim as Jrakhonking, citing birthright is not enough to make one ruler of all dragons. A great debate broke out, like one never recorded in the annuls of history. All the tribes of the Amphitheres rejected the notion to merge the races into one kingdom. They strongly believed in keeping their decisions and way of life out of the hands of those who live in far away lands, they said, and will keep to their own. They then left the gathering and flew away back to their homelands. 

The Wyvern tribes were united with the decision of Vhrelhyn. As with the dragons and their king, there is no question of loyalty with the Wyverns and their king. Where Vhrelhyn goes, the Wyverns always follow. 

And so ended the First Gathering of Dragonkind. A new kingdom was formed with Jrakhon holding the title of Jrakhonking thus uniting all the tribes of the dragons and the tribes of the fire and ice drakes into one kingdom. This alliance with the great Ice Drakes would prove paramount to the survival of the Fire Dragons in the years to come as the Dragon's wisdom proved true when the Nharogks marched through the Lava Lands in what is known as the Great Fire Purge.

It was in the aftermath of the Fire Purge that tensions between the Jrakhonking and Vhrelhyn grew exponentially. Vhrelhyn refused to help Jrakhon fight the Elementals citing that the Fire Wyverns were just as powerless against the Fire Elementals as the Fire Dragons were and they refused to die in a hopeless war or leave their nests unguarded from the terrors that threaten their lives in the Desert Dunes. 

Many years passed since the Fire Purge, and relations between the two kingdoms had only worsened with time. Even to this day there is animosity and conflict between Dragons and Wyverns. 

At the end of what marks the second age, Jrakhon the Jrakhonking led his armies into the Dessert Dunes to face Vhrelhyn the Secondborne, king of the Wyverns. This battle was in response to Vhrelhyn's skirmishes with the Dragons over territory of rich hunting lands in the Forgotten Forests, with Jrakhon claiming to the Council of Elders that this was the only way to end the needless killing, protect their hunting grounds and food supply, as well as to stop the centuries-long conflict between their kingdoms, and unite the races once and for all. The Council agreed.

The Jrakhonic Drakes joined Jrakhon in what is known as the Doom of the Jrakhonking. Vhrelhyn knew he was outnumbered, so used his wit to his advantage. He knew Jrakhon was unfamiliar with the Dunes, and so pretended to retreat his armies deep into the Sandslayer pits. Jrakhon followed, full of confidence in his numbers and fueled by his righteous crusade to rid the world of the one who to his belief was the source of all conflicts and rebellions between the two kingdoms. His overconfidence would be his downfall. 

Vhrelyn led Jrakhon to the brood of the Dune Devourer, the Queen and mother of all Sandslayer Worms - giant worms that devour sand and tunnel through it. They wait quietly under the dunes, until they detect a creature on the surface, then spring from their burrows releasing their tentacles to latch onto and feast on any creature that is foolish enough to disturb their lair.

As the two armies gathered over the Dunes, Jrakhon and his great armies marched on foot over the sand. Drakes cannot fly and Jrakhon always led from the front, so the Dragons marched with their Drake brothers - their numbers so great outnumbering the Wyverns, they knew the battle would be theirs and over quickly.  Vhrelhyn's rebellion would soon be over and the Wyverns would submit to the Jrakhonking or die. They knew that the the Wyverns did not have an alliance with the other races as the Dragons had with the Drakes, and no one would come to their aid.

Then, out of the depths came a sight so terrible, all the dragons were shocked with fear, for they had only ever heard stories of what lurks below the sand and what devours it. It was the Dune Devourer, the Queen of the Sandslayer Worms. She sprung out of the sands in a torrential force so powerful the ground shook like a great earthquake. With lightning speed she launched her tentacles onto the Firstborne, the first to disturb her lair. Even the mighty Jrakhon was no match for the Dune Devourer. The Jrakhonic armies gathered themselves and rallied to aid their king. But it was too late. Sandslayer worms began erupting from the ground to the surface grasping onto and devouring the drakes and dragons. The dragons fled in terror, while most all of the Drakes perished in the Desert. Even the great Ice Drakes of the Winter Winds were no match for the Queen and her brood. 

Vhrelhyn looked on, then ordered the Wyverns to fly back to their tribes and nests. This was indeed a slaughter, but it was not Wyvern blood spilled on this day. From thenceforth, the Dune Devourer was known among Drakes and Dragons by her new name, that of Jrakhonbane, (now known through legends as Dragonbane) for she alone was mighty enough to slay the Jrakhonking.

And so ended the second age of Jrakhon and the end of the first Jrakhonking.