| abstract | - Deep within the forests came rumblings of a terrible beast who was ravaging a bloody trail through the kingdoms of the continent of Serenia, on the way to Daventry. The news of its path of destruction towards the kingdom of Daventry brought fear to land. As the years crept by the notoriety of the beast grew as great as the destruction it wrought, and each time a human was swallowed whole by the vicious beast. Soon the whole population of Daventry tremored with the news of the dragon's approach, and each homestead dwelt in terror. Time wrought many changes, and with it much sorrow. The kingdom of Daventry was ravaged by the deplorable dragon, and the young Princess Rosella was abducted. The entire kingdom was overcome by the brutal onslaught of the beast, and though forewarned, found themselves helpless to defend against its supernatural strength. Much weeping and wailing was heard throughout the land. Even with its power of prophecy, the Magic Mirror could provide no answers, not even a clue, for some bearer of black magic had cast a cloud of darkness upon its face... The people of the other lands put up walls surrounding Daventry to contain the dragon there and while those walls saved many lands it amplified the destruction inside of the kingdom. At the suggestion of Gerwain and by the demands of the dragon itself, a maiden was sacrificed to the dragon each year. Still the dragon continued to burn the land all around and drove many people away from the town of Daventry and killed many people. Those who remained were terrified to even come out of their houses. The town was left crumbling. Ultimately Graham was forced to send Rosella to be sacrificed to the dragon, despite the guilt he felt at doing so. She tried to remain brave, hoping her sacrifice would save the kingdom. She was taken to the land of the clouds above Daventry and was tied to a pole to await the coming of the dragon. Gwydion a young slave boy escaped the clutches of the evil wizard Manannan in Llewdor learned from an oracle that he was the son of royal family of Daventry, and that his sister was to be offered as a sacrifice to the dragon. After crossing the sea to the continent of Daventry, and making his way over the mountains, he finally reached the kingdom of Daventry and rescued the maiden just as the dragon was about to consume her. He cast the Storm Brew spell, the lightning of the storm struck the dragon killing it. Alexander wrote that the dragon was most likely under some ensorcellement. If it had been marauding on its own, it would have cindered Rosella quickly and moved on to new victims. It is still a mystery to all as to who set that particular dragon of fire to ravage Daventry, as it could neither have been Manannan or Mordack. Although at least Manannan took joy from watching the dragon's destruction from afar. Whoever was involved was likely the bearer of black magic who darkened the mirror as well.
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