Dragon Master's Temple
Extravagant halls fit for a dragon...
Being a senior member of Thorolk's Council of Dragons, the incredibly ancient and powerful lung known only as Dragon Master calls this colossal structure home. Nestled on an immense stone ledge and built deep into the walls of the Great Chasm, the complex serves as a base of operations for Dragon Master. From here he keeps an eye on satellite villages built throughout both the rocky cliffs of the chasm as well as the forests, plains, and steppes on the surface. While Dragongirls such as Grytha in the past and Drega in the present day serve as intermediaries, the great lung will not hesitate to get his paws dirty and take off from the ledge to engage in combat.
Demographics
Most of the surrounding satellite villages trace lineage from steppe-folk or East-Asian populations back on Earth. A handful of people from the Rurals region to the north boast Slavic stock.
Government
Despite his name, Dragon Master is a teacher, not a lord, and the members of his staff are given free reign to spend their time as they wish provided the grounds are properly maintained.
Defences
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Dragon Master Concept
by
Mardrena
Pencil and ink pen sketch
It'd be foolhardy to attack the cliff-side stronghold of a dragon, but every now and then a persistent warlord will rally an army and rampage throughout the chasm. Most recently the ogre Furugoror laid waste to several villages with his eye on toppling the lung once and for all only to encounter unexpected interference in the form of a new White Ryder. Dragon Master personally laid waste to the remainder of his army, but the honor of slaying the ogre warlord went to the newcomer Yulie Yamano.
The temple's location on a isolated ledge makes it a poor target for a ground army, but those attempting to target Dragon Master tend to attack nearby settlements in an effort to draw him out into the open, not that he can maneuver well inside his own temple to begin with. Aside from the gear-operated gate, there are multiple levels of warding charms in place as a precaution.
Dragon Master's nature as a lung-type has earned him the scorn of Dark Dragons who view him as a "false dragon". To date no dragon has successfully attacked the stronghold, but there have been situations where Dragon Master's size works against him such as against the piasa-type Goretsoku. Other powerful spellcasters such as Deryrdikus require outside intervention to circumvent their magical defenses.
Industry & Trade
Satellite villages will tithe food and supplies to support the citadel staff and upkeep, but Dragon Master himself needs little by way of goods aside from the occasional oxen snack in between meditation sessions.
Infrastructure
Being a capable spellcaster in his own right as well as a lung, Dragon Master can conjure up a rainstorm if needed, but prefers to conserve his energy. Water is stored in cisterns built into the cliff and crops maintained in small gardens out on the main ledge. There is a cliffside path that leads to the ledge, but only those capable of flight can access the grounds with ease.
Districts
Outside the temple there are numerous structures dedicated to human residents such as dwellings, storehouses, eateries, and gardens. Only those with special invitation are allowed to enter the temple complex itself as the immense doors require nearly two-dozen strong men to open even with the specialized mechanisms.
Assets
The opulent interior and exterior is an impressive sight to behold for sure with floors of exquisite stone and gold-leaf detailing and the impressive historical murals decorating the walls, but the true treasure lies in Dragon Master's vast personal library of scrolls, tomes, manuscripts, and artifacts in his inner sanctum. Lung-types are extraordinarily long-lived, and dragons of this caliber need interests to pursue. Dragon Master keeps a up-to-date list of known dragons in Thorolk both Light and Dark and those known to still live on Earth.
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Temple Exterior 2
by
Mardrena
Made with Flowscape and Paint.net
History
When faced with extinction on Earth a.k.a. the Mortal Realm, a coalition of powerful dragons pooled their magic into opening a portal into an adjacent Realm and establishing it as a home where dragons and humans could coexist peacefully. As one of the founding members of the Council, Dragon Master chose the Great Chasm to establish a base of operations since it appears reminiscent of the mist-cloaked cliffs of his native land. Throughout his long life he has bequeathed numerous iterations of his chin pearl to promising warriors, dubbed Ryders in honor of the first to bear that honor. Dragongirls such as Grytha and Drega have called the temple grounds home.
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Temple Approach
by
Mardrena
Made with Flowscape and Paint.net
DragonTemple1b.jpg
Temple Exterior
by
Mardrena
Made with Flowscape and Paint.net
Thorolk itself sports a fairly low-tech agrarian society and communities are slow to adopt new technology, instead preferring to stick to tried and true methods or magic from various draconic and human spellcasters. While Dragon Master himself excavated the stone halls in the cliff face with his own claws, he enlisted the aid of a company of magison-mages specializing in construction-to fashion the temple to his exact specifications. As a lung, he maintains a good reputation among the populace and paid the mages handsomely...as opposed to eating them like some Dark Dragons are known to do...
Points of interest
Inner Sanctum
-A vast circular chamber lined with shelves and shelves of intellectual paraphernalia where Dragon Master slumbers on a bed of his own scaly coils.Bedchambers
-Numerous rooms to house members of the temple staff and guests. A single room would feel like a palace to a newcomer.Training Rooms
-Chambers filled with practice dummies, wooden weapons and assorted equipment. Each wall bears a mural dedicated to a pivotal event in Thorolk's history.Mural of Grytha and Arthragor
-The room Yulie uses to break in his new Pearl Armor boasts this striking portrayal of the battle between the previous Dragongirl and an accused Dark Dragon. The opposite wall is renovated with a new mural showing their reconciliation and redemption in their final battle.Temple Gate
-Colossal gear-operated structure that requires a dedicated staff of its own to open either for visitors or for Dragon Master himself when departing the temple.Main Arch
-Towering wooden structure marking the proper entryway to the grounds. Even as tall as it is, Dragon Master's horns barely clear it when walking.Tourism
To date only a handful of visitors from Earth have been to the temple proper. Yulie visits frequently when needed for his duty as White Ryder of the Realm. Aurora's sons Ph'li and Ko'li attended the briefing concerning the rogue piasa Goretsoku. Among the Ronin only Ryo and Rowen have been to Thorolk but did not swing by the temple in pursuit of Yulie or Kayli. Among the populace of the Great Chasm, villagers aspire to have their children study under the tutelage of the ancient lung or serve in the temple staff.
Architecture
Traditional Chinese style comprises the majority of the temple exterior and interior.
Geography
The complex's position in the Great Chasm makes it nearly impregnable. Due to the unmapped depths of the chasm itself, an accidental fall would be most unfortunate...
Climate
The exterior grounds tend to be misty and cool with rays of sunlight peeking in from time to time. The interior is moderate and dry.
Natural Resources
Black basalt comprises the sheer cliffs of the chasm so there is stone aplenty. Crops require special care to maintain without use of Dragon Master's powers, however. The site is host to a small bamboo forest so associated products are readily available.
Temple Approach by Mardrena
Yulie only dared open his eyes when he heard a reassuring chirp from White Wind. He looked up and saw the jagged face of a cliff as they flew through a fog-shrouded mountain range. “No, I trust you just fine. I just don’t trust my head to stay on my shoulders,” Yulie grimaced and ducked down, wary of stringy trees that grew out from the rock. One passed over his head a good distance, but Yulie cringed nonetheless. He glanced ahead and saw Razzie gliding through the mist like a festive kite. As they rounded a bend, a huge temple of vaguely ancient Chinese architecture came into view.
Founders
Type
Citadel
Population
-100 (monks, priests, scholars, and other attendees)
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Dragon Master Shiny by Mardrena
“Ah! Drega you’ve returned! Now, let’s see if this candidate you’ve brought has any potential,” a deep rumbling voice echoed through the recesses of the temple. Yulie had his gaze on the floor, expecting someone to walk towards them. Then he noticed a most curious reflection moving over the polished tiles, and it seemed the distant back wall itself moved towards them. A shadow fell over the floor and the flames lighting the walls of the temple bowed as if in respect.
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