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The Dragonewt Temple in The Rubble

Posted on June 9, 2024

In 1539, the unusual event called the Dragonewts’ Dream took place. At that time all of the living dragonewts of Dragon Pass crawled into their ancient cities, sealed and booby trapped them, and disappeared from view.

Then, in numbers far greater than those of living Dragonewts, there appeared phantasmal images of Dragonewts, generally dressed in antique costume, going about a silent and mysterious ritual. In some cases, they caused other portions of their phantom reality to appear as well, such as the Pyramid of Caran, which has sporadically appeared ever since. It was possible to interfere with the ghostly creatures, but such attempts almost always led to severe retaliation by the apparitions. In those occasions where a ritual was entirely disrupted or destroyed by external forces, the Dragonewts always made at least one more try to perform it again.

The purpose and result of this five-year dream is quite unknown, although many theories have been put forth. Among other events forced by the Dragonewt’s Dream was the opening of Pavis. The magically-sealed doors hampered the easy passage of the Dragonewt ghosts, and when the defenses of the Wyvern Gate were breached by spectral Dragonewt magic, there was a terrible battle with the defensive spells and spirits, which destroyed the phantom Dragonewt procession. A second procession destroyed the gate’s remaining defenders, and the spooks continued on to the ruins of the ancient Dragonewt temple, built there during the heyday of the Empire of the Wyrm’s Friends. The ruins were spiritually erected for the occasion, and the ghosts completed their ceremony. Two more processions appeared later and performed the same ritual, and for a final time, the ghosts marched around the perimeter of the ruins hissing a song which is still heard by people on occasion.

This event broke the vice-grip of the trolls on the Rubble, and once again movement into and out of the Rubble was fairly easy. About fifteen years later, a band of Dragonewts populated their temple site in Pavis and began to erect the temple again. Although not at all the size of its ancient glory, this holy place is one of the few major Dragonewt sites maintained outside of Dragon Pass, Ralios, or Kralorela.

There are now some 150 dragonewts in the Rubble, including at least one full priest. They hunt on the southern side of the river, usually seeking non-sentient life. The temple has a flock of demi-birds. These are not so picky about what they hunt. The purpose of the temple is unknown to other races.

Dragonewts in the Gamemaster Screen Pack adventure book by Simon Roy

Now what I love about this is that it gives us an excuse to include the last of the Elder Races in any game set in Pavis/Big Rubble. Trolls? Check! Elves? Check! Dwarves? Check? Broos and ogres? Check! Dragonewts? Check!!!!

Now what the dragonewts are up to – who knows? Maybe they are trying to build a special dragonewt road between Dragon Pass and the Big Rubble? Maybe this is part of a great magical ritual of the Inhuman King that will tie Prax, Dragon Pass, and eventually Saird, the Elder Wilds, and even Ralios into magical draconic consciousness? Perhaps this is linked to the giants cradles, the dragon’s teeth, and even the Dragonrise?

It is entirely possible to read Gloranthan history as the attempt of the other sentient races to try to understand or react to whatever it is the dragonewts are doing. So for example:

World Council – the dragonewts are founding members. They support the Theyalan missionaries and even fight for the Second Council against the Pelorians. The dragonewts initially support the creation of the Perfect One until they left the project on the advice of the dragons. The dragonewts fought against the Broken Council, then submitted and fought for them, and then fought against them again.

Empire of the Wyrms Friends. Dragonewts cooperated with friendly humans to awaken draconic consciousness. They fight against the enemies of the project, build temples and other projects, and enter in a new even more profound cooperation with friendly races. Then upon the advice of the dragons, they break with their human partners, kill their leaders, and retreat to their nests. A century later when humans try to destroy their nests, the dragonewts call upon the dragons who kill all the humans in Dragon Pass.

Jeff Richard

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Big Rubble (ruin), Dragonewt Temple (Big Rubble), Dragonewts, Dragonewts' Dream 1539 ST, EWF, Population demographics, Wyvern gete (Big Rubble)

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