Ragathor

**Ragathor** is a ruby dragon who guards the wealth of Lacey Stain.

## Biography

### Early Life

Born into a commune of ruby dragons known as the Wyrld, Ragathor was raised to believe that only their kind understood the inherent danger posed by the power of illusionists. Taught that illusion magic had the potential to starve the Material Plane until it withered and was replaced by a phantasm, Ragathor was expected to follow in the footsteps of the dragons before him and sequester himself within the Wyrld until that threat became reality.

Focusing the energy contained within their rubies, Ragathor's people meditated throughout their lives in order to sense any impending danger to the fabric of reality. Should a sufficiently powerful illusionist harness the true devastating potential contained within their spells, only then would the dragons of the Wyrld surface, recruiting mortals to aid in their cause and protect the Real. Otherwise, the outside was not for them.

### Leaving the Wyrld

Though initially dedicated to this cause, over the years Ragathor grew weary and listless, forever curious about what else lay beyond the walls of the Wyrld. His impatience and boredom quickly drew the ire of his elders, who failed to satisfy his questioning of their millennia-old practices and traditions. Feelings of purposelessness turned to frustration, until one day Ragathor detected a minor disturbance in the Real over a town in Enisti. Though this disturbance was not sufficient to warrant any action (as was always the case), Ragathor began to toy with the idea of leaving the walls of his home.

The smallest of his siblings, Ragathor had always been an outcast in his own right and, now increasingly disillusioned with the commune's ways, continued to openly question their cause. After one particularly heated argument with his great-uncle Sleiptsis, Ragathor decided to do what no dragon of the Wyrld had done for millennia and strike out on his own. Seeing as the clan had a handle on all things illusionary, the young dragon determined it was time he try to find his own place in the outside world. Before leaving, he took one last look at all the familiarity of the place he'd called home for so many years and without a word, made his way.

Under cover of night, he flew to the top of the commune walls, hundreds of in the air. As the Wyrld disappeared beneath the mist and into the darkness below, he dragged his exhausted body higher and higher, continuing on as the air thinned. Finally reaching the summit of the flat surface, he clambered his way up to the very top of the wall and, perching precariously, looked below into the abyss of the sheer drop that dove straight down - far beneath the commune itself. With one last deep breath of air from within the Wyrld, Ragathor silently said goodbye to his home and as his lungs filled with the thin, cool breeze, leapt off of the high wall and glided straight down into the misty darkness below.

### Enisti

Directionless, Ragathor arrived on the continent of Patamei with only a faint recollection of where he had previously sensed some illusionary disturbance. The young dragon, tired from his long journey, was drawn to Enisti and further toward the town of Broadford, where he felt the strongest pull of the magic. However, having left the focus of the Wyrld, Ragathor found himself disorientated by the magicks around him and struggled to focus his attuned senses. Seeking shelter in a nearby forest, the dragon slumbered amongst the unfamiliar noises of distant local settlements and the surrounding fauna, both mundane and supernatural.

Ragathor's disturbed sleep was melted away by the rising sun leaking through a tight web of leaves. A lifetime behind the tall walls of the commune had not prepared him for such strong and long-lasting sunlight. Ragathor spent his waking moments unsure if he was still trapped within the disturbing dream he had just woken from, as he withdrew his aching muscles from their uncomfortable bed of foliage. Curiously, as he wandered into a clearing in the forest, Ragathor sensed another flavour of illusion magic surrounding a small cottage with a very comfortable-looking patch of grass round the back that was shaded from the sunlight by cottage's thatched roof.

### Meeting Granny Ragna

As Ragathor woke later that morning, he discovered the cottage's sole resident; a elderly tiefling who seemed at first unaware of the large dragon on her land. Staring with intense curiosity, Ragathor watched the woman all day as she gardened, cooked and surprised him with a magical mastery that she effortlessly utilised throughout her daily routine to complete all manner of tasks. Only as the sun began to dim amidst the treetops did the woman address the young dragon while stirring a cauldron in her front garden.

Taken aback by the realisation his efforts to hide his hide behind the corner of her cottage had likely never been successful, Ragathor was stunned into nervous silence. Without turning from her cauldron, the woman told him he was welcome to stay on her land while he rested and was equally welcome to the remaining soup in the cauldron, from which she had filled her bowl and now returned indoors. Cautiously, Ragathor accepted the woman's hospitality and drank from the cauldron, which almost immediately sent him back to sleep behind the cottage.

Over the new few days, Ragathor came to know the woman as Granny Ragna and would watch her each day, occasionally delivering freshly-killed badgers and rabbits as thanks for her continued hospitality, though despite her offering indoor shelter, he only ever slept outside. As he became more confident in his curiosity, the two began to talk and discussed all manner of things, mostly relating to his inexperience of the outside world and her use of illusion magic. During this time, Ragna revealed to Ragathor that dragons in the outside world were not limited by strict societal rules or expectations and that many simply enjoyed sleeping amongst mountains of treasure - a rather decadent consumerist existence, he thought.

She explained that he was likely attracted to the ruins of Broadford due to the false hydra that had plagued the town, having noticed the shimmer of arcane illusion left over from the dead false hydra's song. She also speculated that he must have been further attracted to her cottage by the magic that keeps it hidden, allowing only those who are in need to find it. When Ragathor finally detailed his origins to Ragna, she imparted some wisdom by telling him that his life cannot be measured by a failure to succeed at being the dragon it was determined he should be, but rather discovering who he is. This concept was especially alien to Ragathor and was one that he pondered deeply.

### Following Lacey Stain

Soon enough, another individual in need located Granny Ragna's cottage and Ragathor made himself scarce, secretly watching from a distance. He learnt through their conversation that this Lacey Stain was a former associate of Ragna's and unbeknownst to Lacey, she caught the young dragon's attention. With his keen senses he was able to recognise the fading glimmer of the false hydra's magic on her and overheard her request for Ragna to cast illusionary magic on her. Though no such magic was ultimately employed, Ragna recommended Stain to a colleague of hers in Broadford and Ragathor decided to follow her to see what illusion magic she would have cast.

Following Stain from a safe distance, Ragathor flew into the smoking remains of the town of Broadford and spied on her dealings with the wizard Welfer. Observing from the ruins outside the shop where she had her spells cast, Ragathor watched as Stain had two rings enchanted, determining from her interactions that since she was under the false hydra's effect, she had understood the toll of magical deception, even if she did not understand the threat to reality illusions can have.

He continued to follow her as she ventured into the Valley of Tombs, flying at a distance so as not to be seen. As he landed, he watched Stain enter a tomb where she appeared to mourn a fallen friend at their grave, before heading back into Broadford. Deducing this was likely a victim of the hydra, Ragathor curiously peered into the tomb, but found the exposed remains rather distasteful. As he continued to follow Stain, who was now travelling with Welfer's assistant, Ragathor ended up in Axis, Plostri. Here he learnt of Stain's averting an alien threat different than that of illusionary beings and the group with which she did so.

### Ragathor, Keeper of the Vault

Impressed and intrigued by Stain, Ragathor decided to spend some time learning about her and the Summer Knights while she journeyed to Skenesos. Knowing of her true identity and the magic she had employed to keep it hidden, he was able to determine her to be the proprietor of the Tits & Slither tavern, a location he scoped out and became familiar with. Knowing that her and Isabella Crumpet were one in the same, Ragathor observed the further establishment of the identity in the tavern's local community and eventually found bouts of conflicting information beginning to circulate regarding Stain and another of the Summer Knights that made him even more curious.

Likening Stain to the kind of mortal allies the Wyrld dragons spoke of one day recruiting to help stop the illusionist apocalypse, Ragathor finally made himself known to her the night she returned to Axis by entering her bar. After some brief tension, he managed to introduce himself eloquently enough to put her at ease and the two shared a drink, which the young dragon very quickly felt and very much enjoyed the effects of.

Taking an interest in Lacey's accumulated wealth and noting that she had a very draconic relationship with it, Ragathor wondered if perhaps the kind of dragon he wanted to be was more akin to dragons of the outside, as Ragna had described them. Since Lacey had little trust in banking establishments (and others in general) and was attempting to reclaim her anonymity, she revealed all her wealth was currently stored on her person and in her tavern.

Feeling indebted to Stain for inspiring him, the tipsy dragon offered to guard her wealth in a more secure location and after discussing the particulars of the arrangement, the two made an agreement that if Ragathor were to guard her wealth with his life, Lacey would house the dragon and that he would always be welcome at her tavern. Ragathor was additionally thrilled to be permitted to enjoy counting and bathing in Stain's wealth and looked forward to watching it grow.

After putting him up for the night, Lacey fed the hungover Ragathor the next morning and the two located a nearby hidden cavern where Stain deposited her excess cash and priceless items. As the young dragon began converting his new cavern into a home, he swore his servitude to Stain while he sought to discover what else his new life had to offer.

Within a few short months, Ragathor had successfully turned the cavern into a comfortable and tastefully decorated habitat, housing Lacey's riches in an organised display that he frequently enjoyed rearranging. With a set of magical paints she had acquired, Lacey provided a unique and much more secure locking mechanism that camouflaged the entrance to the cavern, allowing Ragathor to come and go with ease.

## Personality

Like most ruby dragons, particularly those raised in the Wyrld, Ragathor is somewhat measured and formal and is used to seeing traditions upheld and laws obeyed. Having been raised to both show and command respect from all beings, Ragathor expects as much from others and as such, his opinions of people are easily soured should they fail to impress him.

Typically, he is a calm, cool and collected individual of few words. Though endlessly curious, he is cautious and was very slow and careful in his meeting Granny Ragna, watching her for days from a safe distance. Likewise, he is slow to give trust and followed Lacey for a some time before deciding to make himself known to her. Similarly, he is not used to interacting with others outside of his people and does not always appreciate the subtleties of social interaction, such as with his abrupt introduction to Lacey. It seems his socially awkward leanings, as well as a shared appreciation of money, are why he gets on so well with Lacey.

Though most of his clan are happy to sequester themselves within the Wyrld, Ragathor has a curious and free spirit and eventually tired of endlessly meditating with his kind, locked away with their knowledge. However, despite his wanderlust, he is still perfectly happy indulging in alternative draconic habits, such as guarding money and treasure. He is content to spend a majority of his time organising, sleeping in and guarding over Lacey's wealth and he enjoys both the freedom to come and go as he pleases, as well as the seclusion away from the literal and magical noise of the outside world.

Though dedicated to protecting the knowledge of reality, Ragathor was always unsure he fit within the rigid structure of the life that had been determined for him. Despite this, he still believes that illusions are manifestations of powers alien to this world that seek to replace it.

## Abilities

The rubies imbedded in Ragathor's skin all across his body contain a substance referred to as *realitas*, which the dragons of the Wyrld describe as an essential element that separates reality from illusion. It is through this element that ruby dragons gain their natural affinity for discerning illusion from reality, though it takes years of practice and meditation to harness enough of a refined sensitivity to become a detached observer the way the Wyrld dragons are.

Ragathor, through many years of practice and training, has developed a keen sense that allows him to discern the Real from illusory magicks, although his sense is so keen that he is somewhat overwhelmed by the volume of magic at play around him since leaving the walls of the Wyrld.

As a young and healthy dragon, Ragathor possesses powerful flying abilities and the normal strength and endurance of a dragon his size (though he is somewhat smaller than the average ruby dragon).

## Equipment

* **Lacey Stain's Wealth:** Ragathor guards all of Lacey's riches in a secret location near the Tits & Slither tavern in Axis.

## Relationships

* Tyriana, Buluu, Saab, Karthagor & Droll - Siblings
* Dragons of the Wyrld - Family and Friends

Allies* Granny Ragna - Ally and Former Host
* Lacey Stain - Friend and Charge

## Trivia

* Ragathor is the only individual other than Lacey to know the location of her wealth and how to access it.