Red Dragon of Cyell
A centuries-old tale exists of an infamous Red Dragon that legend names Akardiosix, which is Gnomish for heartless one. Akardiosix was said to be a particularly ferocious and violent beast that terrorized the region around the City of Cyell 500 years ago. The tales vary on the manner in which the dragon was eliminated or driven off, but what is universal in the tales is that the beast's horde was never located.
Summary
The Legend of the Red Dragon of Cyell is older then the Kingdom of Imesse. The oldest account of the events are recorded by a Gnomish document at least 500 years old. This document, written by a Gnome historian named Aryus Gabrix, names the dragon Akardiosix and described the beast as an ancient female red dragon of legendary ferocity and temper.
The legend states that Akardiosix landed near the present-day city of Cyell and lit the countryside on fire. She spent days burning and destroying everything she could find, from forest to plains, villages to fortresses. Where she could, she gathered the treasure and surviving loot from the devastation and began amassing a horde for her lair. She chose for her lair a series of caverns that opened out a group of low hills just to the west of where the city of Cyell now stands. Akardiosix spent the next several seasons burning, killing and eating everything she could find within her new territory. Her horde grew with each passing month, and her reputation amongst her fellow dragons also grew. Red dragons are renowned for their tempers and territorial nature, but Akardiosix was excessive for even that exalted group.
Historical Basis
In actual fact, there was a red dragon that ravaged the areas immediately around the city of Cyell almost exactly 500 years ago. There is no actual evidence of what the dragon called itself, or if it was a female, but there are several places near Cyell that show evidence of dragon fire damage done to stone. There are even caves in the hills across the river from the city that have evidence of claw marks and surface melting of the cave walls. What is certain is that there is no evidence or record that a mature Red Dragon's horde was ever discovered.
Variations & Mutation
There is no shortage of local or even regional stories associated with this myth and the legendary treasure associated with it. Since no definitive lair was ever located that could be directly associated with the myth, the rumor that the horde was undiscovered has persisted for five centuries.
In Literature
The Gnome scholar that documented Akardiosix as the female Red Dragon of Cyell detailed a picture of the dragon as it was described. The dragon in the picture has two tails, which is a trait not commonly seen in other Red Dragons. However, another picture has been found made by an entirely different observer that might detail the exact same dragon. In a hand written book found in a sealed cellar in Cyell and dated to only a few years after the dragon's attacks, an excceptional drawing has been found that also shows a ferocious Red Dragon, perched high on a hill and looking down on the devestation it has wrought... and it, too has two tails.
Date of First Recording
-264 AF
Date of Setting
More than 500 years ago
Related Species
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