The Keep

          Ah there! Finally, off in the distance, the last gold rays of the sun strike a halo against the elegant walls of Chancellor's Keep. A heartening sight, cool blues and violets of fey fire trace themselves around battlements and windows, as the magically talented denizens of the keep do their nightly duty in guiding wanderers back to the center of life. The stars, you had already noticed, are very dark here.

          Feeling new life enter your weary bones, you stride on, until a cold wave of fear passes through you, turning your bowels to water.

          Overhead, you feel the rush of air as from tremendous wings. Looking up, you can see nothing upwards for as far as you can see but flat, shining ruby scales. The breeze almost knocks you over as this enormous dragon backwings and lands scant yards from you.

          Eyes like star topaz glimmer with reflected light, and all fear leaves you with an almost audible sigh. The creature before you, roughly the size of the castle for which he is named, and considerably bigger than even the other remaining ancient dragons, is the Dragon King, the great Chancellor. Seeming almost to smile, his snakelike head turns, regarding you with a closed mouth and slitted eyes, almost catlike in their amusement. His voice is a rumble as of veiled thunder when he speaks, "Well-met, my friend. I'm glad you decided to visit me at my Isle. I can see the effort has left you rather tired, however. I'll send a steed to fetch you the rest of the way. Now, as for your stay here- I am about to retire. If you come by my Lair later this evening, perhaps you and I may discuss old times, or what I have learned these past years. The keep is open for you, I will have rooms readied. The Tower is a good place for the magically inclined, especially if they desire training. The Library is another good place, the general haunt of my hatchling Soulfire. He knows many stories, especially about this place, and the books there have a little information on almost any subject. The Chapel houses my dear friend Cariadoc. Another little two-legs," he says almost fondly, "but a very powerful priest. I'm sure you would find his wisdom enlightening. I've also heard he's very attractive to the females. Being neither two-leg, nor female, I wouldn't know. The salle is a good place to practice weapons and riding, and is located near the palace of horses, where my equine allies dwell. Sir Richard will even teach you how to be a Dragon Knight, if you so desire. The gryphons and dragonets dwell in the Eyrie, and the Forests hereabout house fae and elves of many kinds, with their own stories to tell, lore to impart, and adventures to give. And if its adventure you crave, well, we constantly have trouble-makers rousting about all over, especially in the Playroom. I recently, against my better judgment, took in a little spitfire called Dagon- a red like myself, which is probably the cause for my foolishness. He has since strained my patience considerably."

          The ancient dragon indeed looks more irritably amused than annoyed or impatient. "Ah, but I have kept you too long with my blathering. You may go as you will."

          Border set from Silverhair. The castle is in actuality Egeskov Castle in Denmark.