The Tale of Azdraka and Lady Tanamere

Come gather ye and listen well,
To a tale of yesteryear,
Of a fearsome dragon whose ire did swell,
And the hero that did appear!

Yes, 'tis the tale of Azdraka,
The Verdant Terror Old.
And the Lady Alagondar,
Heir of Neverwinter, oh so bold.

Deep mists vision do impair,
In Neverwinter Wood.
'Tis here Azdraka made her lair,
As well a dragon would.

Villages burned and cities fell,
As Azdraka's treasure grew,
So heroes rose, the beast to quelle,
Though each the dragon slew.

Well travelled by folks far and wide,
Was the High Road of the coast,
Much meat and treasure it did provide,
And thus the Wyrm did love it most.

Young Tanamere, first daughter of the King,
The terror would not stand,
And to this day each bard will sing,
Of their battle, fierce and grand.

Our heroine for aide did call.
And to her allies flew,
She led them one, she led them all,
The mighty parties two.

South-west of Thundertree,
Is where they laid their trap.
The Dragon's path they did foresee,
On an enchanted map.

And thus it was, one fateful dawn,
As Azdraka from the Wood emerged,
The group did prove their brawn,
As arrows on the beast converged.

They struck hard, and they struck true,
Great wings they tore asunder,
Yet the dragon was not through,
And bellowed out like thunder!

Her very presence too much to bear,
Our heroes shook with fear,
Yet Tanamere then did declare:
"Great Wyrm thy end is near!"

At this the dreaded drake did roar,
And spray the band with poison,
Thus fell the bard all did adore,
Sloane's death many eyes did moisten.

Our Lady fair raised up her sword,
Enchanted by the Blackstaff wise,
Arcane power in it stored,
To cut dragons down in size!

Claws sharp and long whirled all around,
Still Alagondar would not yield,
Yet Azdraka's fangs new marks had found:
Dead Randal dropped his shield.

A mighty beam impaled the Drake.
The work of cleric Dean,
Azdraka charged and in her wake,
She trampled him into the green.

The summer wind then turn to ice,
As Sam called forth a blizzard.
Alas, his efforts had a price:
The Verdant Terror ate the wizard.

Mare the ever-faithful squire,
Always by our Lady's side,
Through troubles deep and dangers dire.
Her aide she did provide.

Tanamere and Mare together,
Charged the mighty foe,
Braving the now icy weather,
To deal the killing blow.

Yet even though their swords pierced scales,
And struck the monster's heart,
They too were pieced by mighty nails:
The Drake tore them apart!

Tanamere, with dying breath,
Declared the terror ended,
And on the site of the Dragon's death.
Our Lady's soul ascended.

And thus our tale draws to an end,
And yet, perhaps there's more.
For I heard from a most trusted friend.
They buried the sword she bore…