Excerpt from journal of Callindra Tarisson:
“42 Autumn, 745 - We left Navisur at dawn this morning. We were well satisfied. Our carts were loaded with more than enough salted herring to see us through the winter, plus a goodly load of amber. The skies were cloudless, and the air held not a hint of the frigid winter which comes so early here.
“We were not five miles on the road to Teprison when we saw a wedge of black coming through the air from the east. At first, we thought it a flock of strange Capivan birds, flying in a solid wedge instead of the V seen at home in Auriland. As we moves slowly south, however, the wedge grew larger. Not a normal flock at all. Perhaps a great avian migration?
“We would be disabused of that notion. The caravan slowed as all eyes were turned to the skies. As the flock neared Navisur, Jotun passed me his spyglass. Whatever he had seen it had rendered him almost speechless. I soon saw why.
“For the flock was not made up of birds, but of strange beasts. They had membranous wings like those of bats. Unlike the wings of bats, which grew from what would be on us arms, these creatures’ wings grew directly from their backs.
“Even the spyglass could not reveal more details at the distance we were. I had handed his spyglass back to Jotun, thinking that these not-bats would make a good story for the tavern, when Mariel screamed.
“I turned back to look at Navisur. It looked like fire had leapt from the city towards the flock. Then I realized that it was the flock reigning fire down on the city. Neither birds nor bats, these things were something unheard of to me. Something inimical.
“That was several tens of minutes ago. Dark clouds of smoke billow from the city. A beast can occasionally be seen flying from the city before diving down into it again. Ansel, the caravan master, has called a meeting. We can do nothing for Navisur. Are we going to proceed as we intended? Are we to abandon our goods and impoverish ourselves to flee as fast as possible? Whatever we decide as a group, I’ll volunteer to take one of the fast horses and ride ahead. Someone has to get word of what we saw to Teprison as fast as possible.”
Fragment of a burned document discovered amongst the remains of a band of refugees between Navisur and Seamount:
“archers downed few. Columns of smoke were coming from the direction of the barrack and the Blue House. From our farm, we could see several gaps in the walls. The largest of the flying lizards alone burned the palace. We heard that the king and princes are all dead.
“We’re pulling together what we can. We have enough food on hand to get us to Seamount. The cash box is about empty, but it will have to do. Already, the road is crowded with those faster to flee than….”
Note found in Frandylshyn workshop:
“Dearest - I truly hope that you find this. I know not whether you yet live. So many do not. The dragons seem to have trouble advancing through the labyrinth of Frandylshyn that we dalibor know so well. But I doubt not that the city will fall, just as Navisur, Seamount, and Ashingtown did. The dalibor have no secret anti-dragon power that the humans had not. I am taking the tunnels under the river. If I can make it to the Great Forest, I can surely find refuge with the dwarves in Peroka. Please, my dear, follow as fast as you can. - Grintle”
Proclamation of Tramar Stout Anvil, King of Peroka, 57 Spring, 750 C.R.:
“As all our dwarven kindred know, our nation of Peroka has been beset by the Great Wyrm Xldanii and her flight of the winged serpents known to themselves as dragons. Many of our brave subjects have perished defending their communities from our foes. Unfortunately, much of their sacrifice has been in vain. Large regions of Peroka have been devastated by the dragons.
“We are a proud people. We will never surrender. But, at this time, continuing to fight would be folly. In consultation with the Great Council, we have decided to withdraw from the overworld for the time being. Under the earth, we will gather our strength until we are ready to drive our foe from our land.
“All citizens of Peroka, and any of our dalibor guests that wish to join us, are to move into the underworld by sunset, 62 Spring. At that time, our priests shall seal the Great Doors at Zalosk. All other entrances shall be destroyed, to deny them to our foes.
"Tramar Stout Anvil, Lord of the Dwarves, King of Peroka”
Excerpt from “Analysis of Dragon Hierarchy” by Derius harBlomz, D.M.IV, in the Annals of the Imperial College, Autumn, 751 C.R.:
“The senior-most dragons call themselves ‘Great Wyrms’. There are five of these wyrms in western Glorien.
Vorderan, the Ebon Wyrm, conquered and rules Navisur. Subordinate members of its flight do likewise in Teprison and Seamount. This gives Vorderan effective control over Capivan. The Ebon Wyrm has reduced the Capivan human population to little more than serfs. Any defiance of his rule is punished severely. As much as we understand the minds of dragons, it appears to enjoy this cruelty.
Manderia, the Shadow Wyrm, conquered Frandylshyn. Little more is known about this wyrm. Shortly after the wyrm consolidated its control over the city, a dense mist settled over it. As far as we can tell, no one - not dalibor, not dragon - has emerged from Frandylshyn since.
Errence, the Azure Wyrm, rules Ashingtown. It is possible that Errence is the least of the great wyrms, as Ashingtown was by far the easiest to conquer. Errence has also proved to be much more hedonistic than its compatriot Vorderan. As long as the Aurilanders keep it entertained, it seems content to let them govern themselves much as they had done before its arrival.
Xldanii, the Iron Wyrm, drove the dwarves underground. Apparently frustrated by the disappearance of those it meant to rule, the wyrm has set its flight to destroying anything left above ground in Peroka.
Aureus, the Golden Wyrm, is the only wyrm who has dared attack the Empire. Needless to say, he has had little impact on Krondak.
….
“The dragons organize themselves into ‘flights’, obviously named after the formation they take when invading a land. The great wyrms both lead a flight and fly at its point. Their lieutenants fly behind them, the most senior the closest to the wyrm. These adjutants share the designation ‘dragon’ with their species. The dragons serve as the wyrm’s court and administrators of towns and cities in the wyrm’s lands. The least of the dragons, those that fly at the rear of their formation, are the drakes. The drakes are much smaller than the rest of the species. It is speculated that they are a separate species altogether. The drakes are the commoners of dragonkind, servants of the wyrm and the true dragons.”
Den of the Red Wolf 