The New Star: Interlude 12

I. Once upon a time, in the dying years of the First Age, the great Solar hero known as the Golden Dragon lived in his Manse with his best friend and companion, a Lunar who was known both as the Dragon’s Hound and the Silver Dragon.
II. They were the keepers of the Metal Dragons, which were among the most powerful of the ancient weapons of the Exalted, dating as they did from the First War.
III. The Golden Dragon’s temper was so violent that they kept no servants, lest he kill them in one of his rages.
IV. One day he grew wrathful at his friend and strangled him to death. Overwhelmed by guilt over this action he committed suicide.
V. The rebellious Terrestrials found the Dragon they had come to slay was already dead, but his ghost haunted the Manse by night, and they fled from its wrath.
VI. Many years later, two strangers entered the Manse and discovered its secrets. Each left a trap for those that might come after them.
VII. The first was a Lord of Death, and his trap he placed in the dark vault beneath the Manse, to snare those whose who allowed their curiosity to master them.
VIII. The second was a Hidden Lord, and his trap was subtler, as befitted his nature. He changed the Manse to a place of Chaos, where none could go save the wise, and none would go save the foolish.
IX. They left their traps but took with them some of the Metal Dragons, for they were ancient enough to tame these terrible machines, but not so strong as to master them all.
X. But the most dangerous trap was still the ghost of the Golden Dragon, which is doomed ever to be hungry for the blood of the living, and cannot find rest.

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